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At least 361 records · Page 20

Observing Solar Radio Bursts from the Lunar Surface

Locating low frequency radio observatories on the lunar surface has a number of advantages, including fixes locations for the antennas and no terrestrial interference on the far side of the moon. Here, we describe the Radio Observatory for Lunar Sortie Science (ROLSS), a concept for a low frequency, radio imaging interferometric array designed to study particle acceleration in the corona and inner heliosphere. ROLSS would be deployed during an early lunar sortie or by a robotic rover as part of an unmanned landing. The prime science mission is to image type II and type III solar radio bursts with the aim of determining the sites at and mechanisms by which the radiating particles are accelerated. Secondary science goals include constraining the density of the lunar ionosphere by searching for a low radio frequency cutoff of the solar radio emissions and constraining the low energy electron population in astrophysical sources. Furthermore, ROLSS serves a pathfinder function for larger lunar radio arrays designed for faint sources.

MacDowall, R. J.↗

Radio evidence for nonthermal particle acceleration on stars of late spectral type

Radio evidence for nonthermal particle acceleration on stars of late spectral type (G, K, and M) is reviewed, including the pre-main-sequence T Tauri stars, the dwarf M flare stars, and the RS CVn binary stars. Both the long-lasting radio emission and the transient radio flares can be attributed to nonthermal electrons accelerated in magnetically confined coronae, radiating by either incoherent gyrosynchrotron radiation or by coherent processes. Related observations of the Sun provide the framework for interpreting the radio emission of late-type stars. We review recent Very Long Base Interferometry (VLBI) observations of single and binary stars, observations of rapid acceleration and dynamic spectra of dwarf M flare stars, and models for long-lasting radio emission from dwarf M flare stars and RS CVn stars. The VLBI data provide evidence for nonthermal particle acceleration in large-scale magnetospheres several times larger than the stellar radius for T Tauri and RS CVn stars. In contrast, rapid radio flares on dwarf M stars require sources much smaller than the visible star in size, and this is consistent with the VLBI data. Dynamic spectra suggest particle acceleration by relativistic electron beams on dwarf M stars. The long-lived radio radiation of dwarf M stars and RS CVn stars requires more-or-less continuous particle acceleration over periods of hours, perhaps by persistent low-amplitude flaring.

Lang, Kenneth R.↗

Fine structure of Langmuir waves produced by a solar electron event

Observations of highly structured bursts of Langmuir waves produced by energetic electrons ejected from a solar flare using wideband plasma wave measurements on the Galileo spacecraft are reported. Attention is given to the solar flare that occurred on December 10, 1990, while the spacecraft was at a radial distance of 0.98 AU from the sun. This flare emitted a stream of energetic electrons and an associated type III radio event, both of which were detected by Galileo. A large number of intense Langmuir wave bursts were detected near the local electron plasma frequency, which was about 25 kHz. The bursts, which lasted about 1.5 hr, coincided with the arrival of the solar electrons. The bursts are highly structured and consist mainly of isolated wave packets with durations as short as 1 ms and beat-type waveforms with beat frequencies ranging from 200 to 500 Hz. The highly structured envelopes of these waves are strongly suggestive of nonlinear parametric decay processes such as those predicted by various theories dealing with the saturation of beam-driven electrostatic instabilities.

Gurnett, D. A.↗

Stereoscopic direction finding analysis of a type III solar radio burst - Evidence for emission at 2f/p-/

Stereoscopic direction finding measurements from the Imp 8, Hawkeye 1, and Helios 2 spacecraft over base line distances of a substantial fraction of an astronomical unit are used to directly determine the three-dimensional trajectory of a type III solar radio burst. By comparing the observed source positions with the direct in situ solar wind plasma density measurements obtained by Helios 1 and 2 near the sun, the relationship of the emission frequency to the local plasma frequency can be determined directly without any modeling assumptions. These comparisons show that the type III radio emission occurs near the second harmonic of the local electron plasma frequency. Other characteristics of the type III radio emission, such as the source size, which can be obtained from this type of analysis, are also discussed.

Gurnett, D. A.↗

Crab pulsar giant pulses: Simultaneous radio and GRO observations

Observations are reported of the Crab pulsar made at radio frequencies concurrent with Oriented Scintillation Spectrometer Experiment (OSSE) observations from 15 to 27 May 1991. Using the 43 m telescope at Green Bank at 0.8 and 1.4 GHz, samples were made continuously for 10 hrs/day at intervals of 100 to 300 microsecs. The analysis of the radio data includes calculation of histograms of pulse intensities, absolute timing to about 20 microsec precision, and characterization of intensity variations on time scales from the 33 ms spin period to days. The most detailed analysis is presented made of giant pulses. The ultimate goal is to bin the radio data into giant and nongiant pulses and to form average waveforms of OSSE data for the corresponding pulse periods. A test is done to see whether the violet radio fluctuations (which are not seen in other radio pulsars to the same degree) are correlated with low energy gamma rays, yielding constraints on the radio coherence mechanism and the steadiness of the electron-positron outflow in the magnetosphere. Timing analysis of the radio data provides a well defined ephemeris over the specified range of epochs. The gamma ray pulse phase was predicted with an error of less than 70 microsecs.

Lundgren, Scott C.↗

Solar radio continuum storms

The paper reviews the current status of research on solar radio continuum emissions from metric to hectometric wave frequencies, emphasizing the role of energetic electrons in the 10-100 keV range in these emissions. It is seen that keV-energy electrons generated in active sunspot groups must be the sources of radio continuum storm emissions for wide frequency bands. These electrons excite plasma oscillations in the medium, which in turn are converted to electromagnetic radiation. The radio noise continuum sources are usually associated with type III burst activity observed above these sources. Although the mechanism for the release of the energetic electrons is not known, it seems they are ejected from storm source regions in association with rapid variation of associated sunspot magnetic fields due to their growth into complex types. To explain some of the observed characteristics, the importance of two-stream instability and the scattering of ambient plasma ions on energetic electron streams is pointed out.

Sakurai, K.↗

Theoretical investigation of plasma wave generation by pulsed electron beams in space

Here, we report theoretical calculations of plasma wave generation in the whistler modes and in the extraordinary modes, by pulsed electron beams in a magnetized plasma. The numerical simulations of the wave generation take into account the longitudinal expansion of the electron beam due to the space charge force and the energy spread. The work presented in this article provides predictions for the wave generation performance of the beam plasma interactions experiment (Beam PIE), where pulsed electron beams were produced by a spaceborne radio frequency (RF) linear accelerator. We also theoretically explore the desirable properties of the pulsed electron beam for future space experiments, which will be the next step toward eventually demonstrating the radiation-belt remediation (RBR).

70 PLASMA PHYSICS AND FUSION TECHNOLOGY↗

A study of electron density profiles in relation to ionization sources and ground-based radio wave absorption measurements, part 2

The D-region ion production functions are used to calculate the relationship between radio wave absorption and the flux level of X-rays in the 1-8A wavelength band. In order to bring this calculation into agreement with the empirically established relationship, it was found necessary to reduce by, a factor of about 5, the Meira nitric oxide densities below 90 km.

Gnanalingam, S.↗

Precision-controlled ultrafast electron microscope platforms. A case study: Multiple-order coherent phonon dynamics in 1T-TaSe2 probed at 50 fs–10 fm scales

We report on the first detailed beam tests attesting the fundamental principle behind the development of high-current-efficiency ultrafast electron microscope systems where a radio frequency (RF) cavity is incorporated as a condenser lens in the beam delivery system. To allow for the experiment to be carried out with a sufficient resolution to probe the performance at the emittance floor, a new cascade loop RF controller system is developed to reduce the RF noise floor. Temporal resolution at 50 fs in full-width-at-half-maximum and detection sensitivity better than 1% are demonstrated on exfoliated 1T-TaSe2 system under a moderate repetition rate. To benchmark the performance, multi-terahertz edge-mode coherent phonon excitation is employed as the standard candle. The high temporal resolution and the significant visibility to very low dynamical contrast in diffraction signals via high-precision phase-space manipulation give strong support to the working principle for the new high-brightness femtosecond electron microscope systems.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Effects of gamma-ray, neutrino, and particle production on the energetics and dynamics of compact extragalactic radio sources

Consideration is given to particle production and high-energy radiation within apparently superluminal radio components of extragalactic radio sources forming within the apparent region of nuclear activity of a quasar or active galaxy. The physical conditions in compact components observed as radio emitters are derived for the quasars 3C 273 and 3C 345 and extrapolated to those of initial components of sizes on the order of 10 to the 15th cm on the basis of two-dimensional relativistic jet and relativistic three-dimensional models of component expansion. Probabilities that a given particle avoids an inelastic collision in the relativistic plasma are calculated for both cases which show that collisions which produce particles and radiation may be very important during the formation of a compact radio component. The consequences of electron-positron production, bremsstrahlung and proton-proton inelastic collisions ultimately giving rise to neutrinos and gamma rays for the development and energetics of the radio component are then examined, and upper limits to the amount of energy which can be channeled into radio components from an active region without giving rise to a high-energy X-ray source are derived.

Vestrand, W. T.↗

RFID and Memory Devices Fabricated Integrally on Substrates

Electronic identification devices containing radio-frequency identification (RFID) circuits and antennas would be fabricated integrally with the objects to be identified, according to a proposal. That is to say, the objects to be identified would serve as substrates for the deposition and patterning of the materials of the devices used to identify them, and each identification device would be bonded to the identified object at the molecular level. Vacuum arc vapor deposition (VAVD) is the NASA derived process for depositing layers of material on the substrate. This proposal stands in contrast to the current practice of fabricating RFID and/or memory devices as wafer-based, self-contained integrated-circuit chips that are subsequently embedded in or attached to plastic cards to make smart account-information cards and identification badges. If one relies on such a chip to store data on the history of an object to be tracked and the chip falls off or out of the object, then one loses both the historical data and the means to track the object and verify its identity electronically. Also, in contrast is the manufacturing philosophy in use today to make many memory devices. Today s methods involve many subtractive processes such as etching. This proposal only uses additive methods, building RFID and memory devices from the substrate up in thin layers. VAVD is capable of spraying silicon, copper, and other materials commonly used in electronic devices. The VAVD process sprays most metals and some ceramics. The material being sprayed has a very strong bond with the substrate, whether that substrate is metal, ceramic, or even wood, rock, glass, PVC, or paper. An object to be tagged with an identification device according to the proposal must be compatible with a vacuum deposition process. Temperature is seldom an issue as the substrate rarely reaches 150 F (66 C) during the deposition process. A portion of the surface of the object would be designated as a substrate for the deposition of the device. By use of a vacuum arc vapor deposition apparatus, a thin electrically insulating film would first be deposited on the substrate. Subsequent layers of materials would then be deposited and patterned by use of known integrated-circuit fabrication techniques. The total thickness of the deposited layers could be much less than the 100- m thickness of the thinnest state-of-the-art self-contained microchips. Such a thin deposit could be readily concealed by simply painting over it. Both large vacuum chambers for production runs and portable hand-held devices for in situ applications are available.

Schramm, Harry F.↗

Phase Coupling in Langmuir Wave Packets: Evidence for Four Wave Interactions in Solar Type III Radio Bursts

The four wave interaction process, known as the oscillating two stream instability (OTSI) is considered as one of the mechanisms responsible for stabilizing the electron beams associated with solar type III radio bursts. It has been reported that (1) an intense localized Langmuir wave packet associated with a type III burst contains the spectral characteristics of the OTSI: (a) a resonant peak at the local electron plasma frequency, f(sub pe), (b) a Stokes peak at a frequency slightly lower than f(sub pe), (c) anti-Stokes peak at a frequency slightly higher than f(sub pe), and (d) a low frequency enhancement below a few hundred Hz, (2) the frequencies and wave numbers of these spectral components satisfy the resonance conditions of the OTSI, and (3) the peak intensity of the wave packet is well above the thresholds for the OTSI as well as spatial collapse of envelope solitons. Here, for the first time, applying the trispectral analysis on this wave packet, we show that the tricoherence, which measures the degree of coherent four-wave coupling amongst the observed spectral components exhibits a peak. This provides an additional evidence for the OTSI and related spatial collapse of Langmuir envelope solitons in type III burst sources.

Thejappa, G.↗