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At least 379 records · Page 21

The relationship of solar flare electrons to the flare flash phase and type 3 radio bursts

The energy spectrum and temporal behavior of the 10 to 100 keV solar flare electrons observed at 1 AU are interpreted in terms of: (1) the location of the acceleration region, (2) the time of acceleration and duration of the injection into the interplanetary medium, and (3) type 3 radio burst origin at the sun and at 1 AU. For at least some and possibly the majority of electron flare events the density of the acceleration region is approximately 2 X 10 to the 9th power cu/cm, the time of acceleration and release coincides to within minutes of the flash phase as indicated by the type 3 radio burst, and the duration of the release less than or approximately 3 minutes. Evidence for the origin of type 3 radio bursts in 10 to 100 keV electron streams is shown and discussed.

Lin, R. P.↗

Radio-emitting electrons and cosmic ray confinement

Evidence from radio data obtained at frequencies of 10 to 8000 MHz for steepening of the observed background-radio-continuum spectra in the directions of the galactic Anticenter (A) and Halo Minimum (H) is used to deduce quantitative information on the variation of the magnetic field with distance from the galactic plane. The radio data are analyzed in the framework of the cosmic-ray diffusion model developed by Bulanov and Dogel (1975), and some inferences are drawn regarding the injection spectrum of cosmic-ray electrons as well as their propagation in the Galaxy. The results indicate that: (1) radio-spectrum steepening is centered around 200 MHz in the direction of H and around 330 MHz in the direction of A, implying a lower mean magnetic field toward H and supporting the existence of a radio halo; (2) an injection electron spectrum with a single power law up to the lowest energies cannot explain the radio observations satisfactorily in terms of the diffusion model; and (3) the observed spectral steepening can be satisfactorily understood as being due partly to the deviation from a power-law injection spectrum below a few GeV and partly to the first break arising from electron energy losses in approximately the same energy region.

Badhwar, G. D.↗

Design and Characterization of the Engineering Model of the Spectrometer Onboard LuSEE‐Night

Abstract The Lunar Surface Electromagnetics Explorer—Night, LuSEE‐Night, is a low‐frequency radio astronomy experiment that will explore the cosmic Dark Ages signal on the radio‐quiet farside of the Moon. The LuSEE‐Night carries a radio frequency spectrometer consisting of a set of antennas, analog and digital processing electronics, and will be launched by NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services in 2025. The spectrometer is designed to observe the spectrum of the radio sky in the 0.5−50 MHz band. The engineering model (EM) of the four‐channel spectrometer has been developed. The EM has been characterized for linearity, gain, noise, and their temperature dependence, confirming that the EM meets all the requirements for LuSEE‐Night. Three mitigation techniques have been implemented and verified to suppress self‐induced electromagnetic interference. The flight model of the spectrometer is currently being developed and is scheduled to be shipped to the integration site in early 2024.

Tamura, Emi↗

Development and characterization of the flight model spectrometer onboard LuSEE-Night

The Lunar Surface Electromagnetics Experiment - Night, LuSEE-Night, is a low-frequency radio astronomy experiment that will explore the cosmic Dark Ages signal on the radio-quiet far side of the Moon. Here, the LuSEE-Night carries a radio frequency spectrometer consisting of a set of antennas, analog and digital processing electronics, and will be launched by NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services in 2025. The spectrometer is designed to observe the spectrum of the radio sky in the 0.5-50MHz band. The flight model (FM) of the four-channel spectrometer has been developed. The FM has been characterized for linearity, gain, noise, and their temperature dependence, confirming that the FM meets all the requirements for LuSEE-Night.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

Design and Characterization of the Engineering Model of the Spectrometer Onboard LuSEE-Night

The Lunar Surface Electromagnetics Explorer - Night, LuSEE-Night, is a low-frequency radio astronomy experiment that will explore the cosmic Dark Ages signal on the radio quiet farside of the Moon. The LuSEE-Night carries a radio frequency spectrometer consisting of a set of antennas, analog and digital processing electronics, and will be launched by NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services in 2025. The spectrometer is designed to observe the spectrum of the radio sky in the 0.5−50MHz band. The engineering model (EM) of the four-channel spectrometer has been developed. The EM has been characterized for linearity, gain, noise, and their temperature dependence, confirming that the EM meets all the requirements for LuSEE-Night. Three mitigation techniques have been implemented and verified to suppress self-induced electromagnetic interference (EMI). The flight model of the spectrometer is currently being developed and is scheduled to be shipped to the integration site in early 2024

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

The complex optical to soft x-ray spectrum of the low-redshift radio-quiet quasars

Eight high signal-to-noise ROSAT Position Sensitive Proportional Counter (PSPC) observations of six low-redshift (o.048 less than z less than 0.155) radio-quiet quasars have been analyzed to study ant soft excess. All the spectra can, at least roughly, be described int eh 0.1-2.5 keV band by simple power laws reduced at low energies by Galactic absorption. The strong oxygen edges seen in the PSPC spectra of several Seyfert galaxies and quasars are not observed in this sample. The limits implied for the abount of absorbing gas intrinsic to the quasars are particularly tight: of the order of approximately 10(exp 20)/sq cm. THe range of energy indices is broad: 1.3 less than alpha(sub E) less than 2.3. The energy indices are systematically steeper than those found in the same sources at higher energies (by DELTA alpha(sub E) approximately 0.5-1 with respect to Ginga or EXOSAT (2-10 keV) measurements, and by DELTA alpha(sub E) approximately 0.5 with respect to IPC (0.2-3.5 keV) measurements). This suggests a break between the hard and soft components in the keV region and, therefore, that the PSPC spectra are strongly dominated by the soft compnents. In fact, a fit tot he composite, high signal-to-noise spectrum reveals a significant excess above approximately 1 keV withrespect to the simple power-law model. No evidence for strong emission lines is found in any of the quasars. This argues against emission from an ionized plasma as the main contributor to the soft X-ray compnentunless there is a distribution of te mperatures. If the soft X-ray spectrum of thee quasars is dominated by radiation reflected by the photoinonized surface of an accretion disk, the absence of strong emissionlines suggests high ionization parameters and therefore high accretion rates. We include in two Appendices a comarison of the two official PSPC resolution matrices, those released on1992 March and on 1993 January, a discussion of the amplitude of the residual systematic uncertainties in 1993 January matrix, and a compaison between the PSPC and IPC spectra of a sample of sources.

Fiore, Fabrizio↗

Toward Practical Federal Spectrum Sharing for Advanced Wireless Technologies

Wireless communications have become critical to modern society as the foundation of vital services, business interactions, and social connections. As technology develops and new scenarios emerge, wireless communications become increasingly entrenched as a foundation for modern life. The materialization of 5G has been especially impactful as an enabler for a wide range of new scenarios and increased dependence. With increasing demand for wireless communications comes increasing demand for the radio frequency (RF) spectrum necessary to support these communications. This spectrum demand, largely driven by desire to realize ubiquitous 5G networks, both public and private, is currently driving a reconsideration of spectrum assignments and forcing legacy users of spectrum to update their use of spectrum. As one of the largest legacy users of spectrum, the U.S. Government (USG) is particularly impacted by the increasing demand for spectrum for non USG use. Unfortunately, there is no clear pathway for U.S. federal agencies to modernize their spectrum use and instead these agencies are forced to simply react to spectrum repurposing driven by overwhelming demand. Here we present preliminary work toward a roadmap for federal agencies to modernize their spectrum use through practical analysis and leveraging emerging spectrum sharing (SS) technologies. This effort utilizes the example of DOE spectrum use in the context of National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and Federal Communications Commission (FCC) repurposing to examine the factors that must be considered to facilitate spectrum sharing by federal agencies. Furthermore, this work provides an initial survey of the SS models and SS technologies of highest relevance to federal use. We particularly examine the emerging capabilities of 5G itself to enable SS and unlicensed access through transformative capabilities such as new radio unlicensed (NR-U). This work is a step toward translating the large body of academic discussion on SS into a practical roadmap for federal agencies.

5G↗

Chandra Observations of NGC 4698: A Seyfert 2 Galaxy with No Absorption

We present Chandra ACIS-S observations of the enigmatic Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 4698. This object, together with several other bona fide Seyfert 2 galaxies, shows no absorption in the low spatial resolution ASCA data, in contrast to the standard unification models. Our Chandra observations of NGC 4698 probe directly the nucleus, allowing us to check whether nearby sources contaminate the ASCA spectrum. Indeed, the Chandra observations show that the ASCA spectrum is dominated by two nearby AGNs. The X-ray flux of NGC 4698 is dominated by a nuclear source with luminosity L(sub 0.3-8 keV) approximately 10(exp 39) ergs per second, coincident with the radio nucleus. Its spectrum is well represented by a power law, GAMMA approximately equal to 2.2, obscured by a small column density of 5 x 10(exp 20) per square centimeter, suggesting that NGC 4698 is an atypical Seyfert galaxy. On the basis of its low luminosity, we then interpret NGC 4698 as a Seyfert galaxy that lacks a broad-line region.

Georgantopoulos, I.↗

Imaging of the Field of 4C41.17 Below the Lyman Limit

Imaging of zeta greater than or equal to 3.4 radio galaxy fields below the Lyman continuum wavelength allows companion galaxies to be identified on the basis of red colors across the wavelength of redshifted Ly(alpha) and very red colors across the redshifted Lyman continuum. These arise due to a combination of absorption by intervening Ly(alpha) forest and Lyman-limit systems, and intrinsic Lyman-limit breaks in the galaxy spectral energy distribution caused by an Hi screen or breaks in stellar spectra. As a pilot study, we have imaged the field of the zeta = 3.8 radio galaxy 4C41.17 in U, V and R with the Auxiliary Port of the WHT. We find a number of potential companion galaxies, which require confirmation via spectroscopy or narrow-band imaging. The Lyman-limit in the spectrum of the radio galaxy itself and its implications for the origin of the UV flux is also discussed.

Lacy, Mark↗

Radio wave scattering observations of the solar corona First-order measurements of expansion velocity and turbulence spectrum using Viking and Mariner 10 spacecraft

Radio wave scattering data were collected at 3.6 and 13 cm wavelengths by means of the radio link between the Viking orbiters and the earth during the Nov. 25, 1976 solar conjunction of Mars, which occurred near the beginning of solar cycle 21; Mariner 10 solar activity observations during 1974 are also used. It is found that the temporal frequency variance spectrum of amplitude fluctuations is useful for characterizing the bulk motion of the plasma, and the spectral index of electron density turbulence is obtained. The measurements of solar wind velocity and spectral index cover 78 days for Viking and 49 days for Mariner 10 and show the combined effects of changing heliocentric distance, solar latitude, and solar longitude as well as solar activity. It is concluded that the observational velocity profile differs significantly from the theoretical profiles in two ways: (1) the theoretical profile does not show the abrupt change in velocity at about 15 solar radii, and (2) the observational profile shows acceleration at larger radial distances than the model profiles. The observational profiles indicate velocities of less than about 150 km/sec out to 15 solar radii.

Tyler, G. L.↗

Planetary radio astronomy from Voyager

The technique of radio astronomy makes it possible for a remote observer to detect the presence of magnetic fields and plasmas in planetary environments. Prior to the flights of the Voyager spacecraft, radio astronomical studies of Jupiter from earth and from earth orbit had correctly predicted the strength and orientation of Jupiter's magnetic field and trapped radiation belts. The Voyager Planetary Radio Astronomy investigations have now provided measurements of the complete spectrum of low frequency radio emissions from both planets. Each Voyager instrument consists of a pair of orthogonal, 10-m, electric monopole antennas which are connected to a step-tuned, superheterodyne receiver operating over the frequency range from 1.2 kHz to 40.5 MHz. The Voyager trajectory provided observations from above both the sunlit and nightside hemispheres of Jupiter. Saturn's nonthermal radio emission has been observed at frequencies as low as 3 kHz and as high as 1.2 MHz.

Alexander, J. K.↗

SN2020bvc: A Broad-line Type Ic Supernova with a Double-peaked Optical Light Curve and a Luminous X-Ray and Radio Counterpart

We present optical, radio, and X-ray observations of SN 2020bvc (=ASASSN-20bs, ZTF 20aalxlis), a nearby (z = 0.0252; d = 114Mpc) broad-line (BL) Type Ic supernova (SN) and the first double-peaked Ic-BL discovered without a gamma-ray burst (GRB) trigger. Our observations show that SN 2020bvc shares several properties in common with the Ic-BL SN 2006aj, which was associated with the low-luminosity gamma-ray burst (LLGRB) 060218. First, the 10 GHz radio luminosity (L(radio) ≈ 10^(37) erg/s) is brighter than ordinary core-collapse SNe but fainter than LLGRB SNe such as SN 1998bw (associated with LLGRB 980425). We model our VLA observations (spanning 13–43 days) as synchrotron emission from a mildly relativistic (v ≳ 0.3c) forward shock. Second, with Swift and Chandra, we detect X-ray emission (L(X) ≈ 10^(41) erg/s) that is not naturally explained as inverse Compton emission or part of the same synchrotron spectrum as the radio emission. Third, high-cadence (6 × per night) data from the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) show a double-peaked optical light curve, the first peak from shock cooling of extended low-mass material (mass Me < 10^(-2) Mꙩ at radius Re > 10^(12) cm) and the second peak from the radioactive decay of 56Ni. SN 2020bvc is the first double-peaked Ic-BL SN discovered without a GRB trigger, so it is noteworthy that it shows X-ray and radio emission similar to LLGRB SNe. For four of the five other nearby (z ≲ 0.05) Ic-BL SNe with ZTF high-cadence data, we rule out a first peak like that seen in SN 2006aj and SN 2020bvc, i.e., that lasts ≈1 day and reaches a peak luminosity M ≈ −18. Follow-up X-ray and radio observations of Ic-BL SNe with well-sampled early optical light curves will establish whether double-peaked optical light curves are indeed predictive of LLGRB-like X-ray and radio emission.

Anna Y. Q. Ho↗

SN 2020bvc: A Broad-line Type Ic Supernova with a Double-peaked Optical Light Curve and a Luminous X-Ray and Radio Counterpart

Here, we present optical, radio, and X-ray observations of SN 2020bvc (=ASASSN20bs; ZTF20aalxlis), a nearby (z = 0.0252; d = 114 Mpc) broad-lined (BL) Type Ic supernova (SN) and the first double-peaked Ic-BL discovered without a gamma-ray burst (GRB) trigger. Our observations show that SN 2020bvc shares several properties in common with the Ic-BL SN 2006aj, which was associated with the low-luminosity gamma-ray burst (LLGRB) 060218. First, the 10 GHz radio luminosity (L radio ≈ 10 37 erg s -1 ) is brighter than ordinary core-collapse SNe but fainter than LLGRB-SNe such as SN 1998bw (associated with LLGRB 980425). We model our VLA observations (spanning 13–43 d) as synchrotron emission from a mildly relativistic (v ≳ 0.3c) forward shock. Second, with Swift and Chandra we detect X-ray emission (L X ≈ 10 41 erg s -1 ) that is not naturally explained as inverse Compton emission or as part of the same synchrotron spectrum as the radio emission. Third, high-cadence (6×/night -1 ) data from the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) shows a double-peaked optical light curve, the first peak from shock-cooling of extended low-mass material (mass M e < 10 -2 M ⊙ at radius R e > 10 12 cm) and the second peak from the radioactive decay of 56 Ni. SN 2020bvc is the first double-peaked Ic-BL SN discovered without a GRB trigger, so it is noteworthy that it shows X-ray and radio emission similar to LLGRB-SNe. For four of the five other nearby (z . 0.05) Ic-BL SNe with ZTF high-cadence data, we rule out a first peak like that seen in SN 2006aj and SN 2020bvc, i.e. that lasts ≈ 1 d and reaches a peak luminosity M ≈ -18. X-ray and radio follow-up observations of Ic-BL SNe with well-sampled early optical light curves will establish whether double-peaked optical light curves are indeed predictive of LLGRB-like X-ray and radio emission.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Passband Signal Detection at the Edge

Algorithms for radio frequency (RF) spectrum awareness need to be compatible with edge hardware to be practical for many applications. We developed a signal detection and classification model for the ZCU111 RF System-on-a-Chip (RFSoC) that operates on the fast Fourier transform of passband RF data. The system can detect and classify multiple signals of interest and display the predictions in real-time. The model consists of a modified ConvNeXt backbone and YOLOv3 head to operate on the Deep Learning Processing Unit on the RFSoC. We gathered datasets for training and testing by using a software defined radio to transmit example signals of Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g, Wi-Fi 802.11 n, FM Radio, LTE and LTE-M. By leveraging multiple inputs on the RFSoC frontend, the datasets span up to 4 GHz of bandwidth. The models showed high performance in classification accuracy, center frequency error, bandwidth error, and detection accuracy for both single and multi-signal datasets.

42 ENGINEERING↗

NH3, H2S, and the Radio Brightness Temperature Spectra of the Giant Planets

Recent radio interferometer observations of Neptune enable comparisons of the radio brightness temperature (T(sub B)) spectra of all four giant planets. This comparison reveals evidence for fundamental differences in the compositions of Uranus' and Neptune's upper tropospheres, particularly in their ammonia (NH3) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) mixing ratios, despite those planets' outward similarities. The tropospheric abundances of these constituents yield information about their deep abundances, and ultimately about the formation of the planets from the presolar nebula (Atreya et al.). Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 show the T(sub B) spectra of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, respectively, from 0.1 to tens of cm wavelength. The data shown are collected from many observers. Data for Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus are those cataloged by de Pater and Massie (1985), plus the Saturn Very Large Array (VLA) data by Grossman et al. Figure 3, Uranus, shows only data acquired since 1973. Before 1973 Uranus' T(sub B) increased steadily as its pole moved into view, causing significant scatter in those data. Neptune data at greater than 1 cm, all taken at the VLA, are collected from de Pater and Richmond, de Pater et al., and Hofstadter. For a variety of reasons, such as susceptibility to source confusion, single-dish data at those wavelengths are much noisier than the more reliable VLA data and have been ignored. Single-dish data by Griffin and Orton shortward of 0.4 cm are shown, along with the Owens Valley Radio Observatory (interferometer) datum at 0.266 cm by Muhleman and Berge. Spectra of Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune share certain gross characteristics. In each spectrum, T(sub B) at 1.3 cm is approximately 120-140 K, less than approximately 30 K different from that at 0.1 cm. All three spectra show a break in slope at or near 1.3 cm, with T(sub B) increasing fairly rapidly with wavelength longward of 1.3 cm. Visible and IR spectroscopy show that NH3, whose strong inversion spectrum peaks at appropximately 1.3 cm, is an important tropospheric species at Jupiter and Saturn. Its signature on the Jovian radio spectrum is obvious, causing the prominent "hole" at 1.3 cm. At Saturn it is more subdued but is the source of that spectrum's change in slope at 1.3 cm. Radiative transfer models of Jupiter and Saturn with near-solar deep NH3 abundances agree well with the data (e.g., de Pater).

Spilker, Thomas R.↗