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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 37 records · Page 2

Simultaneous observations of auroras from the South Pole Station and of precipitating electrons by Isis 1.

On the basis of the simultaneous observations of auroras from the South Pole and of precipitating electrons by the Isis 1 satellite it is shown that (1) a midday auroral arc (photographed on black and white film) occurs within the cleft (cusp) region projected to the appropriate auroral height along the geomagnetic field; (2) in the evening sector an aurora, observed by Isis 1 and the South Pole all-sky camera, extended for at least 5 hours of local geomagnetic time in the expected position of the auroral oval; and (3) during a period of extreme magnetic quiet, cleftlike electrons were observed just poleward of a narrow region of intense precipitation in the midnight sector. An earth-sun oriented arc was seen at the projected location of the intense electron flux.

Winningham, J. D.↗

Electric field observations by incoherent scatter radar in the auroral zone.

Analysis of ion drift velocity measurements, made for a 24-hour period in February 1972 by the incoherent scatter radar at Chatanika, Alaska (L = 5.7), provides a detailed view of electric fields and currents in the auroral zone. Large northward electric fields were seen in the evening sector, and an abrupt change to southward occurred at the start of a midnight sector substorm. The westward electric field was generally much smaller than the north-south electric field but showed a rapid increase at the time of a westward auroral surge. Study of global magnetograms and all-sky camera photographs has led to the identification of five substorms during the 24-hour observation period. These substorms were sufficiently separated in time to allow identification of the electric field and current variations in late afternoon, evening, and morning local time sectors.

Banks, P. M.↗

Direct comparison between satellite electric field measurements and the visual aurora

Electric field data from two passes of the Injun 5 satellite, one corresponding to magnetically quiet conditions and one corresponding to substorm conditions, are compared with simultaneous all-sky camera data from College, Alaska. In each case, a significant deviation of the electric field from the expected V x B field (where V is the satellite velocity) was evident, and a distinct electric field reversal could be identified. In the region of substantial electric field equatorward of the electric field reversal, a diffuse auroral arc was observed during the magnetically quiet pass, and auroral patches were observed during the substorm pass. In the substorm case, the electric field reversal occurred very near a discrete auroral arc at the poleward side of the diffuse arcs and patches. Comparison of the quiet time and substorm cases suggests that the convection electric field penetrates deeper into the magnetosphere during a substorm.

Swift, D. W.↗

The SAS-A aspect system

On Dec. 12, 1970, the United States Small Astronomy Satellite-A was launched into orbit around the earth. The X-ray instrument carried by the spacecraft was the first satellite instrument to be devoted exclusively to the study of stellar X-ray sources. The primary objective of the instrument was to perform an all-sky survey to detect and locate stellar X-ray sources with location accuracies of one arc-minute for the stronger sources. A system description is given together with details of circuits, alignment procedures, and calibration sequences.

Jagoda, N.↗

Auroral displays near the 'foot' of the field line of the ATS-5 satellite

Summary of an extensive correlative study of ATS-5 particle and magnetic field data with all-sky photographs from Great Whale River which is near the 'foot' of the field lines passing through the ATS-5 satellite. In particular, an effort is made to identify specific particle features with specific auroral displays during substorms, such as a westward traveling surge, poleward expansive motion, and drifting patches. It is found that, in early evening hours, the first encounter of ATS-5 with hot plasma is associated with the equatorward shift of the diffuse aurora, but not necessarily with westward traveling surges (even when the satellite is embedded in the plasma sheet). In the midnight sector, an injection corresponds very well to the initial brightening of an auroral arc. Specific features of morning sector auroras are difficult to correlate with specific particle features.

Akasofu, S.-I.↗

Observations of He I 584 A nighttime radiation - Evidence for an interstellar source of neutral helium

The intensity and spatial variations of the He I 584 A radiation in the night sky were measured to an altitude of 264 km from a sounding rocket launched from Thumba, India. The flux varied in intensity with look angle from a high of 16 plus or minus 5 rayleighs to a low of less than 1 rayleigh. The data obtained are presented in the form of an all-sky map. Since the peak flux levels observed are approximately two orders of magnitude larger than that expected from geocoronal resonant scattering, we have compared our results with those expected from two interplanetary sources of neutral helium: the penetration of the local interstellar medium into the solar neighborhood and the dust deionization of solar-wind alpha particles. The dust deionization-model predictions using currently accepted input parameters appear to be inconsistent with the observations. The interstellar helium source is compatible with the data to within the uncertainties of the models.

Paresce, F.↗

Temporal X-ray astronomy with a pinhole camera

Preliminary results from the Ariel-5 all-sky X-ray monitor are presented, along with sufficient experiment details to define the experiment sensitivity. Periodic modulation of the X-ray emission was investigated from three sources with which specific periods were associated, with the results that the 4.8 hour variation from Cyg X-3 was confirmed, a long-term average 5.6 day variation from Cyg X-1 was discovered, and no detectable 0.787 day modulation of Sco X-1 was observed. Consistency of the long-term Sco X-1 emission with a shot-noise model is discussed, wherein the source behavior is shown to be interpretable as approximately 100 flares per day, each with a duration of several hours. A sudden increase in the Cyg X-1 intensity by almost a factor of three on 22 April 1975 is reported, after 5 months of relative source constancy. The light curve of a bright nova-like transient source in Triangulum is presented, and compared with previously observed transient sources. Preliminary evidence for the existence of X-ray bursts with duration less than 1 hour is offered.

Holt, S. S.↗

The measurement of meteor winds over Atlanta /34 N, 84 W/

An all-sky, continuous wave radio meteor wind facility has been installed in Atlanta. A double sideband suppressed carrier CW transmitter, operating at around 32.5 MHz, with an rms output of 2 kW, has been installed, and a receiving site was established at 27 km away. Details of the equipment, together with height/time profiles of mean wind circulation and tides between 80 and 100 km, measured from August 9 to September 4, 1974, are presented.

Roper, R. G.↗

Observations of a new transition in the emission from Cyg X-1

Data from the all-sky X-ray monitor aboard Ariel V were used to establish that a sudden transition had occurred in emissions from Cyg X-1 on April 22, 1975. Cyg X-1 has been observed almost continuously since around November 1, 1974, and has been relatively constant in apparent magnitude until the reported effect. The results of these observations are discussed.

Holt, S. S.↗

Decay of X-ray source A 0535+26

The All-Sky Monitor aboard Ariel V is described, and observations with it are reported for the transient X-ray source A 0535+26. It is noted that the observations were conducted in such a way that the decay phase of this source could be studied. The source's overall light curve between 3 and 6 keV is presented, and some decay features are described. The decay effects are compared with those observed in other transient sources, including Cen X-4, 2U 1543-47, and A 1524-62.

Kaluzienski, L. J.↗

Evidence for an 11.2d periodicity from Cyg X-2

Evidence for a persistent 11.17 + or - .10d period from Cyg X-2 is presented from one year of accumulated data from the Ariel-5 all-sky monitor. The effect is not a simple sidereal alias of a true source period close to one day.

Holt, S. S.↗

An X-ray red-shift test for clusters of galaxies up to Z greater than or equal to 1

Correlated measurements of red-shifted iron line emission and apparent surface brightness are suggested for unambiguously defining intrinsic X-ray characteristics for clusters of galaxies up to z greater than or equal to 1. If some of the weak unidentified high galactic latitude X-ray sources are clusters at z approximately 1-3, then such correlated measurements should be feasible witin the complement of instruments aboard the HEAO-B orbiting X-ray telescope observatory. In addition, those clusters at z less than 1 would require spectral data from broader bandwidth experiments, such as the all-sky survey to be provided by the proportional counters aboard the first mission of the High Energy Astronomy Observatory (HEAO-A).

Boldt, E. A.↗

Long-term X-ray studies of Scorpius X-1. II - Evidence for flare-dominated intensity variations

Data on Sco X-1 obtained with the Ariel-5 All-Sky Monitor are analyzed for variability, and it is found that a large fraction of the X-ray emission at 3 to 6 keV can be represented by shot noise. The results indicate that almost all the emission in this range can be sensibly associated with a multiplicity of shotlike flares (about 200 a day), each having a duration of about 0.33 day. It is concluded that the overall consistency with a multiplicity of long-duration shots (rather than single flares superposed on a baseline continuum) may be generally characteristic of sources with an accretion disk.

Holt, S. S.↗

An X-ray redshift measure for clusters of galaxies up to z not less than 1

Correlated measurements of redshifted iron line emission and apparent surface brightness are suggested for unambiguously defining intrinsic X-ray characteristics for clusters of galaxies up to z not less than 1. If some of the weak unidentified high-galactic-latitude X-ray sources are clusters at z roughly equal to 1-3, then such correlated measurements should be feasible within the complement of instruments aboard the HEAO-B orbiting X-ray telescope observatory. In addition, those clusters at z less than 1 would require spectral data from broader bandwidth experiments, such as the all-sky survey to be provided by the proportional counters aboard the first mission of the High Energy Astronomy Observatory (HEAO-A).

Boldt, E.↗

Evidence for a 16.6 day period from Circinus X-1

Analysis of All-Sky Monitor observations of Cir X-1 (3U 1516-56) over the period from October 1975 to April 1976 has revealed a well-defined modulation of the 3-6-keV flux at a period of 16.585(+ or - 0.01) days. The light-curve is characterized by an abrupt drop in emission occurring on a time scale of no more than about 0.07 day, with epoch JD 2,442,877.181(+ or - 0.07). No clear correspondingly sharp increase in emission is observed during the cycle, so a noneclipse origin for this effect cannot be ruled out.

Kaluzienski, L. J.↗

Topside optical view of the dayside cleft aurora

Photometers on the ISIS-II spacecraft provide a view of the atomic oxygen 5577-A and 6300-A emissions and the N2(+) 3914-A emission detected as dayside aurora in the magnetospheric cleft region. The 6300-A emission forms a continuous and permanent band across the noon sector, at about 78 deg invariant latitude, with a defined region of maximum intensity that is never less than 2 kR (uncorrected for albedo) and is centered near magnetic noon. There are significant differences in the intensity patterns on either side of noon and their responses to geomagnetic activity. Discrete 3914-A auroral forms appear within this region at preferred locations that cannot be precisely specified but which tend to the poleward edge of the 6300-A emission in the evening and the equatorward edge in the morning, where the difference between the two emissions is greatest. It is concluded that the discrete auroras observed by all-sky cameras in the day sector follow the 6300-A emission through the cleft region, though a definite cleft boundary is not defined.

Shepherd, G. G.↗

A Radiometric Consistent Spectral Fingerprinting Algorithm for Continuity Products of Hyperspectral Sounders

A radiometric consistent climate fingerprinting methodology has been developed to derive long-term temperature, water vapor, cloud, trace gases, and surface skin temperature anomaly time series from the hyper-spectral sounder measurements of multiple platforms. The spectral fingerprinting methodology requires the use of radiative kernels that are radiometrically consistent with observations. Radiative kernels are built using space-time averaged Jacobians that are physically retrieved from observations under all sky conditions. The physical retrieval algorithm uses the Principal Component based Radiative Transfer Model (PCRTM) for the forward simulation. The incorporation of multiple scattering simulation in PCRTM allows the direct radiative relationship between single field-of-view (FOV) radiance observations and corresponding thermal dynamic variables including cloud properties to be established. Therefore, radiance ?closure? can be achieved under all-sky conditions by the fingerprinting scheme. This methodology has been used to derive climate anomalies from the space-time averaged spectra of AIRS/AMSU and CrIS/ATMS. The use of a consistent fingerprinting scheme provides an effective mean of generating continuity product by merging observations from different platforms and therefore facilitating the long-term climate trend study.

Wan Wu↗