Magnetometer experiment.
Magnetometer experiment for Apollo project to measure lunar surface magnetic field, describing mission requirements and instrumentation
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Magnetometer experiment for Apollo project to measure lunar surface magnetic field, describing mission requirements and instrumentation
Boundary conditions for theory of solar system origin, discussing planetary atmospheres, surfaces, magnetic fields, composition and early solar wind
OGO-2 rubidium vapor magnetometer measurements comparison with surface magnetic observatory data during geomagnetic storms, considering asymmetric ring current
A sounding-rocket observation of the pulsating X-ray binaries 4U 0900-40 (Vela X-1) and 4U 1223-62 (GX301-2, Wray 977) over the energy range from 0.5 to 27 keV is reported. No short-time-scale periodicities in the range from 2 msec to 20 sec are found for either source, although both exhibit some minor flaring activity on time scales of a few seconds. The data for Vela X-1 suggest that the time-averaged spectra are complex and that the pulse-resolved spectra are also complex and variable, with significant fluctuations above 10 keV. When compared with other observations at different epochs, the spectral data for 4U 1223-62 confirm large variability in both intensity and spectral characteristics. It is concluded that the intrapulse changes observed in the spectral behavior of Vela X-1 must reflect changes in the surface magnetic fields and the plasma flows near the neutron star.
A three-dimensional quantitative model of Mercury's magnetosphere based on Mariner 10 data is presented. The model assumes that the Mercury surface magnetic field consists of a dipole, a quadrupole, and an octupole. The dipole moment is determined, noting that the intensity of the quadrupole moment is 45% of the dipole, and that of the octupole moment is 29% of the dipole. The model meets four critical tests: (1) it produces the smallest residuals, (2) it can reproduce the crossing of a tail current sheet by Mariner 10, (3) all planetary field lines are confined inside the model magnetosphere, and (4) the size of the model agrees with the magnetopause crossings observed from Mariner 10. In addition, the plasma characteristics and regions of quiet and disturbed signatures observed from Mariner 10 are discussed.
An adequate description of the average statistical properties of Saturn's radio emissions is needed for a study of these emissions. Data regarding these properties are presented, and the implications for source location, beaming, and magnetic surface anomalies are discussed. A description is presented of the average properties of the Saturn kilometric radiation (SKR) as observed from two locations by the Voyager 1 planetary radio astronomy (PRA) instrument for a 2-month period centered on the November 12, 1980 encounter. An analysis of the occurrence pattern of SKR as a function of Saturn's rotation phase has shown that SKR occurrence is not continuous, but variable and roughly periodic. The statistical SKR properties obtained strongly constrain possible source locations. Several source locations are possible, but most intriguing is the region at high latitudes near the noon meridian.
In many investigations, a study of the Mg II 2800 A emission was conducted in order to derive more information about the correlation of chromospheric emission with the properties of the convection zone. It has been suggested by Ayres and Linsky (1980) that there is a positive correlation between rotation and chromospheric emission at least for binary stars. The present investigation is concerned with such a correlation between rotation and chromospheric emission. Since large differences in rotational velocities are observed for F stars for which also strong chromospheric emission is observable, this particular study deals mainly with F stars. On the basis of observations of the Mg II emission in F and G stars, it is found that the emission is abnormally strong in close binary F stars. This may be explained by the generation of a large differential rotation due to tidal effects which may give very efficient dynamo generation of a surface magnetic field.
The Einstein Observatory's and the IUE's contributions to knowledge of coronal formation in late-type stars are discussed. The HR diagram of stars seen as X-ray sources by these observatories is presented, and the influence of rotation on X-ray emission is reviewed. Emission from the Alpha Cen system and from active stars with quiescent coronae is examined, and the extent of the contribution of emission from normal stars to the soft X-ray background is addressed. The quiescent and flare emission from Alpha Cen, the temporal variability of X-ray emission from a sample of active chromosphere stars, and the predicted contribution of chromospheric emission to the diffuse soft X-ray background are depicted. Chromospheric indicators of activity are discussed, the connection between surface magnetic fields and X-ray emission in the chromosphere is briefly reviewed, and the quantitative links between X-ray data and magnetic fields is summarily presented.
An upper bound is calculated for the X ray luminosity of the binary pulsar PSR1953+29 and discussed in terms of effects on theretical models for the pulsar's formation and spin-up. The upper limit was obtained by summing the detected counts measured by the Einstein Observatory within a circle of radius 150 arcsec and subtracting local background fluxes. A flux upper bound of less than 4 x 10 to the 32 erg/sec, a neutron star radius of 15 km, a temperature less than 1,000,000 K, and a pulsar age of at least 3000 year are obtained. The neutron star could be much older than 10,000,000 yr, the spin-down rate is up to 10 to the minus 17 str/sec, and formation occurred by accretion when the companion was in a red giant phase. The pulsar has a mass of about 0.3 solar mass, travels an orbit of about 10 to the 13 cm, and evolved from a white dwarf near its Chandrasekhar limit. It is suggested that the magnetic surface field of the pulsar has stabilized near 1 billion G.
New results on the spatial and temporal variability of the auroral emissions from Jupiter have been obtained from three IUE observations of the south pole made during the period July 1983 to March 1984. The current observations, together with previous IUE studies of the north pole aurora, provide convincing evidence for persistent longitudinal asymmetries in the Jovian auroral emissions. The strongest emissions appear to originate from regions centered near lambda-III of about 0 deg at the south pole and lambda-III of about 185 deg at the north pole. Differences in surface magnetic field strength seem inadequate to explain the extent to which particles precipitating along field lines into a given longitude sector in one hemisphere are inhibited from precipitating along the same field lines into the opposite hemisphere. Thus, the IUE auroral results present a challenge to existing models of auroral production.
The development of currents within an arbitrary distribution of particles trapped in the geomagnetic field is described. These currents combine to form the earth's ring current and thus are responsible for the worldwide depressions of surface magnetic field strength during periods of magnetic activity known as magnetic storms. Following a brief review of trapped particle motion in magnetic fields, ring current development is described and presented in terms of basic field and particle distribution parameters. Experimental observations then are presented and discussed within the theoretical framework developed earlier. New results are presented which, in the area of composition and charge state observations, hold high promise in solving many long standing ring current problems. Finally, available experimental results will be used to assess the present understanding as to ring current sources, generation, and dissipation.
New measurements of frequencies of various modes of acoustic waves trapped within the sun are reported for degrees up to 98 which allow the convective envelope to be isolated. For degrees between 20 anad 98, no evidence is found that internal rotation differs significantly with depth or latitude from the rotation of surface magnetic field patterns. Modes covering a wide latitude range have systematically lower frequencies than those confined near the equator, indicating the existence of a structural asymmetry within the sun.
The equations describing the linear evolution of resistive ballooning modes are obtained by using a modified WKB expansion in the short perpendicular wavelength, while variations of the perturbations along the field are described by a slowly varying amplitude, on which the tying boundary conditions are imposed. In general, given an equilibrium, there are certain ranges of magnetic surfaces for which the system predicts instability even without dissipation. The main conclusion is that within the resistive MHD approximation cylindrically symmetric arcades with pressure falling with radius are unstable to resistive localized modes; the growth rates, close to ideal marginal stability, are large, so that it would appear that energy could be released during 10 to 100 Alfven times. The wavelength of the modes is expected to be limited by the ion gyroradius, when stabilizing drift effects must be taken into account. The nonlinear evolution of resistive ballooning modes should be studied to assess their overall relevance to the violent and rapidly evolving phenomena observed on the sun.
The chemisorption of CO on Ni(100) is studied with a cluster model. The calculations suggest that chemisorption changes the nature of the Ni 3d orbitals. The open shell Ni 3d accepts charge from the Ni valence 4s4p orbitals, reducing the open shell 3d character on the Ni. The closed shell Ni 3d orbitals also mix with the Ni valence 4s4p orbitals and donate charge to the CO; thus helping to maintain the Ni 3d population near 9. These changes should affect the density of 3d states near the Fermi level and the surface magnetic moment. The variation in the bonding with the size of cluster is also discussed.
The following is a summary of work done during the period of Mar. to Oct. 1989. Three major topics were extensively looked into during this time: the reported 2,000 Hz optical signal from the direction of SNR1987A, the possibility that neutron stellar surface magnetic fields do not decay except when the star is accreting, and the 6 Hz QPOs of LMXBs.
The Ginga satellite observatory has been used to measure a cyclotron feature in the hard X-ray spectrum of the 1.24-s binary pulsar Hercules X-1 with a much greater energy resolution than in previous observations. The spectrum from 10-60 keV can be described with a simple analytical formula which indicates an absorption feature at about 34 keV rather than an emission feature at about 50 keV. From this, the surface magnetic field strength of Her X-1 is estimated to be (2.9 + or - 0.3) x 10 to the 12th G.
The MSFC's Experimental Vector Magnetograph (EXVM) is an instrument that observes a 4.4 x 8.8 arcmin field of the sun. The transverse and longitudinal components of the surface magnetic field and the line-of-sight velocities of the photospheric gases can be determined from polarimetric and spectral analysis of the 525.02 nm absorption line of Fe 1. The EXVM has been breadboarded and tested in the laboratory. The optics of the EXVM were tested with a point-diffraction (Smartt) interferometer. The 12 inch Cassegrain telescope was found to have 0.20 waves RMS (at 525.02 nm) of aberration. The post-telescope relay optics were nearly diffraction limited on-axis and had about one wave of primary coma as the predominant aberration at full-field. From theoretical modulation transfer function (MTF) curves of known aberrations, it was concluded that the EXVM should attain a maximum spatial resolution of about 0.5 arcseconds. A resolution test target indicated maximum angular resolutions better than 0.6 arcsec on-axis and 0.7 arcsec at full-field-of-view. A 2D inch heliostat (sun-tracking mirror) was used to direct sunlight into the lab and into the EXVM. Solar images obtained were limited by atmospheric seeing effects. During brief moments of good seeing, angular resolutions of about 1 arcsecond were realized with the EXVM.
The IMP 8 and Pioneer Venus Orbiter (PVO) spacecraft explore the region of heliographic latitudes between 8 deg N and 8 deg S. Solar wind observations from these spacecraft are used to construct synoptic maps of solar wind parameters in this region. These maps provide an explicit picture of the structure of high speed streams near 1 AU and how that structure varies with time. From 1982 until early 1985, solar wind parameters varied little with latitude. During the last solar minimum, the solar wind developed strong latitudinal structure; high speed streams were excluded from the vicinity of the solar equator. Synoptic maps of solar wind speed are compared with maps of the coronal source surface magnetic field. This comparison reveals the expected correlation between solar wind speed near 1 AU, the strength of the coronal magnetic field, and distance from the coronal neutral line.