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At least 307 records · Page 17

VLBI2020: From Reality to Vision

The individual apparent motions of distant radio sources are believed to be caused by the effect of intrinsic structure variations of the active galactic nuclei (AGN). However, some cosmological models of the expanded Universe predict that systematic astrometric proper motions of distant quasars do not vanish as the radial distance from the observer to the quasar grows. These systematic effects can even increase with the distance, making it possible to measure them with high-precision astrometric techniques like VLBI. The Galactocentric acceleration of the Solar System barycenter may cause a secular aberration drift with a magnitude of 4 uas/yr. The Solar System motion relative to the cosmic microwave background produces an additional dipole effect, proportional to red shift. We analyzed geodetic VLBI data spanning from 1979 until 2009 to estimate the vector spherical harmonics in the expansion of the vector field of the proper motion of 687 radio sources. The dipole and quadrupole vector spherical harmonics were estimated with an accuracy of 1-5 as/yr. We have shown that over the next decade the geodetic VLBI may approach the level of accuracy on which the cosmological models of the Universe could be tested. Hence, it is important to organize a dedicated observational program to increase the number of measured proper motions to 3000.

Titov, Oleg↗

Tidal parameters from the variation of inclination of GEOS-1 and GEOS-2

Analysis of the luni-solar tidal perturbations of the inclination of GEOS-1 and GEOS-2 has yielded the values 0.22 and 0.31 respectively for the apparent second degree Love number. For GEOS-1 a new purely numerical method involving osculating elements was employed. For GEOS-2 it was necessary to analyze the variations of the mean elements because of the very long period (450 days) of the dominant solar tidal perturbation. The disparate values indicate that the simple second degree zonal harmonic model of the tidal potential is accommodating other effects in addition to those caused by the solid earth tides. A recent paper by Lambeck et al. (1973) indicates that ocean tide effects have significant perturbations on satellite orbits and cannot be neglected.

Douglas, B. C.↗

AB Initio Characterization of MgCCH, MgCCH(+), and MgC2, and Pathways to their Formation in the Interstellar Medium

A study of Mg-bearing compounds has been performed in order to determine molecular properties which are critical for planning new astronomical searches and laboratory studies. The primary focus of the work is on MgCCH, MgCCH(+), and the isomers of MgC2. Only MgCCH has been identified in laboratory studies. Additional calculations have been carried out on MgH, MgNC, MgCN, and their cations in an effort to evaluate pathways to the formation of MgCCH and MgCCH(+) in the InterStellar Medium (ISM) or in circumstellar envelopes. Correlated ab initio methods and correlation-consistent basis sets have been employed. Properties including structures, rotational constants, dipole moments, and harmonic frequencies are reported. A transition state between linear MgCC and cyclic MgC2 has been characterized and was found to yield a minimal barrier (approx. 0.5 kcal/mole), indicating easy interconversion to the cyclic form. Direct reactions in the ISM between Mg or Mg(+) and HCCH are precluded by energetic considerations, but a number of ion- molecule or neutral-neutral exchange reactions between CCH and various Mg-containing species offer plausible pathways to MgCCH or MgCCH(+). Weakly bound MgH may react with CCH to form MgCCH, but MgH has not been detected. Both MgNC and MgCN have been observed, but reactions with CCH are slightly endothermic by 1-3 kcal/mole. Although MgH(+), MgNC(+), and MgCN(+) have not been detected, their reactions with CCH to form MgCCH(+) are all exothermic. With only a small barrier separating linear MgCC and cyclic MgC2, the dissociative recombination of MgCCH(+) with an electron is expected to yield cyclic MgC2, and regenerate Mg and CCH. New astronomical searches for MgCCH, MgCCH(+), cyclic MgC2, MgNC(+), and MgCN(+) will provide further insight into organo-magnesium astrochemistry.

Woon, David E.↗

The Effect of the Weight Scheme on DFT Vibrational Frequencies

All-electron B3LYP harmonic frequencies of Ge2H5 and Ge2H6 are computed for several choices of grid and using both the Becke and the Stratmann, Scuseria, and Frisch atomic partition functions (weight scheme). For large grids, the results are independent of the weighting scheme. The lowest frequency mode is much more stable with respect to the number of grid points when the Stratmann, Scuseria, and Frisch weights are used.

Bauschlicher, Charles↗

Effects of mistuning on blade torsional flutter

An analytical model for the prediction of fan blade flutter is presented and evaluated using data from NASA tests on an advanced high performance engine. For the cascade conditions appropriate to the test points studied, the aerodynamic theory cannot predict subcritical flutter. Under the assumptions of a tuned assembly, the imaginary part of the aerodynamic coefficients does indicate flutter for a limited number of interblade phase angles, but these interblade phase angles are close to those at which the acoustic resonance is predicted. Upon using the individual blade frequencies and solving the mistuned system with aerodynamic coupling only, the results show a stable system. Eigenvectors calculated for the mistuned system demonstrate the presence of several harmonics in each mistuned mode. Inclusion of both mechanical and aerodynamic coupling in the solution of the eigenproblem influences not only the frequencies but also damping in the system with a trend toward stability.

Srinivasan, A. V.↗

Scatter of elastic waves by a thin flat elliptical inhomogeneity

Elastodynamic fields of a single, flat, elliptical inhomogeneity embedded in an infinite elastic medium subjected to plane time harmonic waves are studied. Scattered displacement amplitudes and stress intensities are obtained in series form for an incident wave in an arbitrary direction. The cases of a penny shaped crack and an elliptical crack are given as examples. The analysis is valid for alpha a up to about two, where alpha is longitudinal wave number and a is a typical geometric parameter.

Fu, L. S.↗

Estimation of geopotential from satellite-to-satellite range rate data: Numerical results

A technique for high-resolution geopotential field estimation by recovering the harmonic coefficients from satellite-to-satellite range rate data is presented and tested against both a controlled analytical simulation of a one-day satellite mission (maximum degree and order 8) and then against a Cowell method simulation of a 32-day mission (maximum degree and order 180). Innovations include: (1) a new frequency-domain observation equation based on kinetic energy perturbations which avoids much of the complication of the usual Keplerian element perturbation approaches; (2) a new method for computing the normalized inclination functions which unlike previous methods is both efficient and numerically stable even for large harmonic degrees and orders; (3) the application of a mass storage FFT to the entire mission range rate history; (4) the exploitation of newly discovered symmetries in the block diagonal observation matrix which reduce each block to the product of (a) a real diagonal matrix factor, (b) a real trapezoidal factor with half the number of rows as before, and (c) a complex diagonal factor; (5) a block-by-block least-squares solution of the observation equation by means of a custom-designed Givens orthogonal rotation method which is both numerically stable and tailored to the trapezoidal matrix structure for fast execution.

Thobe, Glenn E.↗

Positron annihilation in gamma-ray bursts

Emission features appear at energies of 350 to 450 keV in the spectra of a number of gamma ray burst sources. These features were interpreted as electron-positron annihilation lines, redshifted by the gravitational field near the surface of a neutron star. Evidence that gamma ray bursts originate at neutron stars with magnetic field strengths of approx. 10(exp 12) Gauss came from recent observations of cyclotron scattering harmonics in the spectra of two bursts. Positrons could be produced in gamma ray burst sources either by photon-photon pair production or by one-photon pair production in a strong magnetic field. The annihilation of positrons is affected by the presence of a strong neutron star magnetic field in several ways. The relaxation of transverse momentum conservation causes an intrinsic broadening of the two-photon annihilation line and there is a decrease in the annihilation cross section below the free-space value. An additional channel for one-photon annihilation also becomes possible in high magnetic fields. The physics of pair production and annihilation near strongly magnetized neutron stars will be reviewed. Results from a self-consistent model for non-thermal synchrotron radiation and pair annihilation are beginning to identify the conditions required to produce observable annihilation features from strongly magnetized plasmas.

Harding, Alice K.↗

Experiments on swept-wing boundary layers

Three-dimensional boundary-layer experiments are currently being conducted on a 45-deg swept wing in the Arizona State University Unsteady Wind Tunnel. Crossflow-dominated transition is produced via a model with contoured end liners to simulate infinite swept-wing flow. Fixed-wavelength stationary and traveling crossflow vortices are observed. The stationary vortex wavelengths vary with Reynolds number as predicted by linear-stability theory, but with observed wavelengths which are about 25 percent smaller than theoretically predicted. The frequencies of the most amplified moving waves are in agreement with linear stability theory; however, traveling waves at higher frequencies than predicted are also observed. These higher-frequency waves may be harmonics of the primary crossflow waves generated by a parametric resonance phenomena. Boundary-layer profiles measured at several spanwise locations show streamwise disturbance profiles characteristic of the crossflow instability.

Dagenhart, J. R.↗

Time-dependent mapping of the magnetic field at the core-mantle boundary

We consider the problem of constructing a time-dependent map of the magnetic field at the core-mantle boundary. We use almost all the available data from the last 300 years to produce two maps, one for the period 1690-1840 and the other for 1840-1990. We represent the spatial dependency of the field using spherical harmonics, the time dependency using a cubic B-spline basis, and seek the smoothest solutions compatible with the observations. We argue that, for observations from permanent magnetic observatories, the most efficient strategy is to use the first differences of annual means; for satellite data, the most efficient strategy is simply to limit the number of data used so as to minimize any tendency to map the crustal field into the core field. The resulting model fits the observatory data better than any previous model. The resulting time-dependent field map exhibits much of the same structure in the field and its secular variation identified in earlier studies.

Bloxham, Jeremy↗

Analysis of the physical atomic forces between noble gas atoms, alkali ions and halogen ions

The physical forces between atoms and molecules are important in a number of processes of practical importance, including line broadening in radiative processes, gas and crystal properties, adhesion, and thin films. The components of the physical forces between noble gas atoms, alkali ions, and halogen ions are analyzed and a data base for the dispersion forces is developed from the literature based on evaluations with the harmonic oscillator dispersion model for higher order coefficients. The Zener model of the repulsive core is used in the context of the recent asymptotic wave functions of Handler and Smith; and an effective ionization potential within the Handler and Smith wave functions is defined to analyze the two body potential data of Waldman and Gordon, the alkali-halide molecular data, and the noble gas crystal and salt crystal data. A satisfactory global fit to this molecular and crystal data is then reproduced by the model to within several percent. Surface potentials are evaluated for noble gas atoms on noble gas and salt crystal surfaces with surface tension neglected. Within this context, the noble gas surface potentials on noble gas and salt crystals are considered to be accurate to within several percent.

Wilson, J. W.↗

Observations concerning the generation and propagation of Type III solar bursts

A number of Type III bursts were observed during the Helios missions in which the burst exciter passed over the spacecraft, as evidenced by strong electric field fluctuations near the plasma frequency. Six of these were suitable for detailed study. Of the six events, one was ambiguous, one showed what is interpreted as a switchover from harmonic to fundamental, and the rest all generated fundamental at onset. This would be expected if both fundamental and harmonic are generated, as, at a fixed frequency, the fundamental will be generated earlier. For the event which seems to show both fundamental and harmonic emission, the frequency ratio is not exactly 2. This is explained in terms of a time delay of the fundamental, due to scattering and diffusion in the source region. A time delay of the order of 600 seconds at 1 AU and 20 kHz, and inversely proportional to frequency, is required to explain the observations. Crude estimates show that delay times at least this long may be attributed to trapping and scattering.

Kellogg, P. J.↗

The development of crossflow vortices on a 45 degree swept wing

Three-dimensional boundary-layer experiments are currently being conducted on a 45 deg swept wing in the Arizona State University Unsteady Wind Tunnel. Crossflow-dominated transition is produced via a model with contoured end liners to simulate infinite swept-wing flow. Fixed-wavelength stationary and traveling crossflow vortex are observed. The stationary vortex wavelengths vary with Reynolds number as predicted by linear-stability theory, but with observed wavelengths which are about 25 percent smaller than theoretically predicted. The frequencies of the most-amplified moving waves are in agreement with linear-stability theory; traveling waves at higher frequencies than predicted are also observed. These higher-frequency waves may be harmonics of the primary crossflow waves generated by a parametric resonance phenomena. Boundary-layer profiles measured at several spanwise locations show streamwise disturbance profiles characteristic of the crossflow instability. Near the transition location, severe distortions of the laminar boundary-layer profiles are observed. Mean-profile measurements are compared to theoretical predictions.

Mousseux, Marc C.↗

Fuel optimal control of an experimental multi-mode system

In this paper, the dynamic characteristics associated with the fuel optimal control of a harmonic oscillator are utilized in the development of a near fuel optimal feedback control strategy for spacecraft vibration suppression. In this scheme, single level thrust actuators are governed by recursive computations of the standard deviations of displacement and velocity at the actuator's locations. The algorithm was tested on an experimental structure possessing a significant number of flexible body modes. The structure's response to both single and multiple mode excitation is presented.

Redmond, J.↗

Receptivity in parallel flows: An adjoint approach

Linear receptivity studies in parallel flows are aimed at understanding how external forcing couples to the natural unstable motions which a flow can support. The vibrating ribbon problem models the original Schubauer and Skramstad boundary layer experiment and represents the classic boundary layer receptivity problem. The process by which disturbances are initiated in convectively-unstable jets and shear layers has also received attention. Gaster was the first to handle the boundary layer analysis with the recognition that spatial modes, rather than temporal modes, were relevant when studying convectively-unstable flows that are driven by a time-harmonic source. The amplitude of the least stable spatial mode, far downstream of the source, is related to the source strength by a coupling coefficient. The determination of this coefficient is at the heart of this type of linear receptivity study. The first objective of the present study was to determine whether the various wave number derivative factors, appearing in the coupling coefficients for linear receptivity problems, could be reexpressed in a simpler form involving adjoint eigensolutions. Secondly, it was hoped that the general nature of this simplification could be shown; indeed, a rather elegant characterization of the receptivity properties of spatial instabilities does emerge. The analysis is quite distinct from the usual Fourier-inversion procedures, although a detailed knowledge of the spectrum of the Orr-Sommerfeld equation is still required. Since the cylinder wake analysis proved very useful in addressing control considerations, the final objective was to provide a foundation upon which boundary layer control theory may be developed.

Hill, D. Christopher↗

Study of noise sources in a subsonic fan using measured blade pressures and acoustic theory

Sources of noise in a 1.4 m (4.6 ft) diameter subsonic tip speed propulsive fan running statically outdoors are studied using a combination of techniques. Signals measured with pressure transducers on a rotor blade are plotted in a format showing the space-time history of inlet distortion. Study of these plots visually and with statistical correlation analysis confirms that the inlet flow contains long, thin eddies of turbulence. Turbulence generated in the boundary layer of the shroud upstream of the rotor tips was not found to be an important noise source. Fan noise is diagnosed by computing narrowband spectra of rotor and stator sound power and comparing these with measured sound power spectra. Rotor noise is computed from spectra of the measured blade pressures and stator noise is computed using the author's stator noise theory. It is concluded that the rotor and stator sources contribute about equally at frequencies in the vicinity of the first three harmonics of blade passing frequency. At higher frequencies, the stator contribution diminishes rapidly and the rotor/inlet turbulence mechanism dominates. Two parametric studies are performed by using the rotor noise calculation procedure which was correlated with test. In the first study, the effects on noise spectrum and directivity are calculated for changes in turbulence properties, rotational Mach number, number of blades, and stagger angle. In the second study the influences of design tip speed and blade number on noise are evaluated.

Hanson, D. B.↗

Statistical studies of Pc 3-5 pulsations and their relevance for possible source mechanisms of ULF waves

A number of statistical studies using spacecraft data have been made of ULF waves in the magnetosphere. These studies provide an overview of ULF pulsation activity for r = 5-15 R(E) and allow an assessment of likely source mechanisms. In this review pulsations are categorized into five general types: compressional Pc 5, poloidal Pc 4, toroidal harmonics, toroidal Pc 5 (fundamental mode), and incoherent noise. The occurrence distributions and/or distributions of wave power of the different types suggest that compressional Pc 5 and poloidal Pc 4 derive their energy locally, most likely from energetic protons. The toroidal pulsations, both harmonic and fundamental mode, appear to be driven by an energy source outside the magnetopause - directly upstream in the sheath and solar wind for harmonics and the flanks for fundamentals. Incoherent pulsations are a prominent pulsation type but from their occurrence distribution alone it is unclear what their dominant energy source may be.

Anderson, Brian J.↗

A three degree-of-freedom, typical section flutter analysis using harmonic transonic air forces

Typical section flutter solutions are obtained using generalized air forces calculated with OPTRAN2, a program based on the transonic small perturbation potential equation, which uses potentials from a nonlinear solution to the steady flow to obtain linear unsteady air forces. Flutter results are calculated with a conventional, linear V-g type solution. Results are presented for a NACA 64A010 airfoil oscillating in plunge and pitch, and with a quarter-chord control surface in the Mach number range of 0.80 to 0.90. The flutter boundary shows a significant 'transonic' bucket, together with changes in flutter mode as, with increasing Mach numbers, a shock appears on the airfoil and then moves aft. Single degree-of-freedom instabilities associated with both the pitch and the control surface motions are identified.

Weatherill, W. H.↗