Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons^™

One-Gas Models With Height-Dependent Mean Molecular Weight: Effects On Gravity Wave Propagation, R. L. Walterscheid, Michael P. Hickey Ph.D.

Publications

Many models of the thermosphere employ the one-gas approximation where the governing equations apply only to the total gas and the physical properties of the gas that depend on composition (mean molecular weight and specific heats) are height-dependent. It is further assumed that the physical properties of the gas are locally constant; thus motion-induced perturbations are nil. However, motion in a diffusively separated atmosphere perturbs local values of mean molecular weight and specific heats. These motion-induced changes are opposed by mutual diffusion of the constituent gases, which attempts to restore diffusive equilibrium. Assuming that composition is locally constant is equivalent …

Reflection Of A Long-Period Gravity Wave Observed In The Nightglow Over Arecibo On May 8–9, 1989?, Michael P. Hickey Ph.D.

Publications

During the Arecibo Initiative for Dynamics of the Atmosphere (AIDA) campaign in 1989 a characteristic of gravity wave perturbations observed in mesopause region airglow emissions was that airglow brightness fluctuations and airglow-derived temperature fluctuations often occurred either in phase or in antiphase. This stimulated the development of a theory suggesting that such in-phase fluctuations were most probably the result of strong reflections occurring in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere region. Recent examination of a particular wave event and application of simple WKB-type theory has appeared to support this hypothesis. Here we use a full-wave model and a WKB-type model, each …

Three-Dimensional Spectral Classification Of Low-Metallicity Stars Using Artificial Neural Networks, Shawn Snider, Ted Von Hippel, Et Al.

Publications

We explore the application of artificial neural networks (ANNs) for the estimation of atmospheric parameters (T_eff, log g, and [Fe/H]) for Galactic F- and G-type stars. The ANNs are fed with medium-resolution (Δλ ~ 1-2 Å) non-flux-calibrated spectroscopic observations. From a sample of 279 stars with previous high-resolution determinations of metallicity and a set of (external) estimates of temperature and surface gravity, our ANNs are able to predict T_eff with an accuracy of σ(T_eff) = 135-150 K over the range 4250 ≤ T_eff ≤ 6500 K, log g with an accuracy …

Acoustic Wave Heating Of The Thermosphere, Michael P. Hickey Ph.D., G. Schubert, R. L. Walterscheid

Publications

A numerical model is used to study the dissipation in the thermosphere of upward propagating acoustic waves. Whereas dissipating gravity waves can cool the upper atmosphere through the effects of sensible heat flux divergence, it is found that acoustic waves mainly heat the thermosphere by viscous dissipation. Though the amplitudes of acoustic waves in the atmosphere are poorly constrained, the calculations suggest that dissipating acoustic waves can locally heat the thermosphere at rates of tens of kelvins per day and thereby contribute to the thermospheric energy balance. It is shown that viscous heating cannot be calculated from the divergence of …

Plasma Transport At The Magnetospheric Boundary Due To Reconnection In Kelvin-Helmholtz Vortices, K. Nykyri, A. Otto

Publications

The Kelvin-Helmholtz( KH) mode has long been considered for viscous interaction at the magnetospheric boundary but it is not expected to produce significant mass transport. The presented results indicate that the Kelvin- Helmholtz instability can indeed cause a transfer of mass into the magnetotail during times of northward IMF. The vortex motion of KH waves can generate a strongly twisted magnetic field with multiple current layers. Magnetic reconnection in the strong current layers inside the vortices can detach high density plasma filaments from the magnetosheath. This may explain observed high density and low temperature filaments in the magnetosphere and the …

Airglow Variations Associated With Nonideal Ducting Of Gravity Waves In The Lower Thermosphere Region, Michael P. Hickey Ph.D.

Publications

A numerical full-wave model is used to study the response of the O2 atmospheric airglow to ducted gravity waves in the mesopause region. For an isothermal, quasi-adiabatic, and motionless background atmosphere the calculated phase differences between airglow brightness fluctuations and fluctuations of temperatures derived from the airglow, as given by Krassovsky's ratio, are in good agreement with the predictions of published theory. Significant departures from the predictions of the basic theory are obtained when we consider ducting in the presence of the eddy and molecular diffusion of heat and momentum in a nonisothermal background atmosphere. Wind shears also affect the …

Simulation Of Engineering Systems Described By High-Index Dae And Discontinuous Ode Using Single Step Methods, Marc Compere

Publications

This dissertation presents numerical methods for solving two classes of or-dinary diferential equations (ODE) based on single-step integration meth-ods. The first class of equations addressed describes the mechanical dynamics of constrained multibody systems. These equations are ordinary differential equations (ODE) subject to algebraic constraints. Accordinly they are called differential-algebraic equations (DAE).

Specific contributions made in this area include an explicit transforma-tion between the Hessenberg index-3 form for constrained mechanical systems to a canonical state-space form used in the nonlinear control communities. A hybrid solution method was developed that incorporates both sliding-mode control (SMC) from the controls literature and post-stabilization from …

Three-Dimensional Spectral Classification Of Low-Metallicity Stars Using Artificial Neural Networks, Shawn Snider, Ted Von Hippel, Carlos Allende Prieto, Timothy C. Beers, Christopher Sneden, Et Al.

Publications

We explore the application of artificial neural networks (ANNs) for the estimation of atmospheric parameters (Teff, log g, and [Fe/H]) for Galactic F- and G-type stars. The ANNs are fed with medium-resolution (Δλ ~ 1-2 Å) non-flux-calibrated spectroscopic observations. From a sample of 279 stars with previous high-resolution determinations of metallicity and a set of (external) estimates of temperature and surface gravity, our ANNs are able to predict Teff with an accuracy of σ(Teff) = 135-150 K over the range 4250 ≤ Teff ≤ 6500 K, log g with an accuracy of σ(log …

Interfering Solutions Of A Nonhomogeneous Hamiltonian System, Gregory S. Spradlin

Publications

A Hamiltonian system is studied which has a term approaching a constant at an exponential rate at infinity. A minimax argument is used to show that the equation has a positive homoclinic solution. The proof employs the interaction between translated solutions of the corresponding homogeneous equation. What distinguishes this result from its few predecessors is that the equation has a nonhomogeneous nonlinearity.

Cluster Computing In The Classroom: Topics, Guidelines, And Experiences, Amy Apon, Rajkumar Buyya, Hai Jin, Jens Mache

Publications

With the progress of research on cluster computing, more and more universities have begun to offer various courses covering cluster computing. A wide variety of content can be taught in these courses. Because of this, a difficulty that arises is the selection of appropriate course material. The selection is complicated by the fact that some content in cluster computing is also covered by other courses such as operating systems, networking, or computer architecture. In addition, the background of students enrolled in cluster computing courses varies. These aspects of cluster computing make the development of good course material difficult. Combining our …

Climatology And Modeling Of Quasi-Monochromatic Atmospheric Gravity Waves Observed Over Urbana Illinois, J. H. Hecht, R. L. Walterscheid, Michael P. Hickey Ph.D., S. J. Franke

Publications

From analyzing nine months of airglow imaging observations of atmospheric gravity waves (AGWs) over Adelaide, Australia (35°S) [Walterscheid et al., 1999] have proposed that many of the quasi-monochromatic waves seen in the images were primarily thermally ducted. Here are presented 15 months of observations, from February 1996 to May 1997, for AGW frequency and propagation direction from a northern latitude site, Urbana Illinois (40°N). As Adelaide, Urbana is geographically distant from large orographic features. Similar to what was found in Adelaide, the AGWs seem to originate from a preferred location during the time period around summer solstice. In …

Gravity Wave Propagation Directions Inferred From Satellite Observations Including Smearing Effects, Jason S. Brown, Michael P. Hickey Ph.D.

Publications

We simulate space-based, sublimb viewing observations of airglow brightness fluctuations caused by atmospheric gravity wave interactions with the O2 atmospheric airglow, and we demonstrate that because of the geometry associated with such observations, the brightness fluctuations observed for the optically thick 0–0 band emission will always appear stronger for waves traveling toward the observer (the satellite). The effect should be most noticeable for waves having relatively small vertical wavelengths (∼10 km) and horizontal wavelengths of 50 km or greater. For waves of short (∼100 km) horizontal wavelength, the brightness fluctuation anisotropy with respect to viewing direction may also be evident …

Secular Variations Of Oi 5577 Å Airglow In The Mesopause Region Induced By Transient Gravity Wave Packets, Michael P. Hickey Ph.D., R. L. Walterscheid

Publications

We employ a 2-dimensional, time-dependent, fully nonlinear model of minor species in the mesopause region and our Spectral Full-Wave Model to simulate the response of minor species and the OI 5577 Å airglow to a gravity wave packet in the mesopause region. Gravity waves affect the time-averaged distribution of minor species in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (MLT) region through constituent fluxes induced by violation of the non-acceleration conditions due to wave transience and dissipation. In addition, wave perturbed chemistry can induce a flux of chemically active species. Simulations are performed with nominal values of eddy diffusion coefficients in the …

A Determination Of The Local Density Of White Dwarf Stars, J. B. Holberg, Terry D. Oswalt, E. M. Sion

Publications

The most recent version of the Catalog of Spectroscopically Identified White Dwarfs lists 2249 white dwarf stars. Among these stars are 109 white dwarfs that have either reliable trigonometric parallaxes or color-based distance moduli that place them at a distance within 20 pc of the Sun. Most of these nearby white dwarfs are isolated stars, but 28 (25% of the sample) are in binary systems, including such well-known systems as Sirius A/B and Procyon A/B. There are also three double degenerate systems in this sample of the local white dwarf population. The sample of local white dwarfs is largely complete …

White Dwarfs In Common Proper Motion Binary Systems: Mass Distribution And Kinematics, Nicole M. Silvestri, Terry D. Oswalt, Matt A. Wood, J. Allyn Smith, I. Neill Reid, Edward M. Sion

Publications

We present the mass distribution, gravitational redshifts, radial velocities, and space motions of white dwarf stars in common proper motion binary systems. The mass distribution we derive for the 41 DA white dwarfs in this study has a mean of 0.68 ± 0.04 M_Ꙩ. This distribution has a slightly higher mean and larger dispersion than most previous white dwarf studies. We hypothesize that this is due to a higher fraction of cool (average T_eff ̴ 10,000 K), hence old, white dwarfs in our sample. Our results indicate that samples made up of predominantly cool, old white dwarf stars …

White Dwarfs In Open Clusters: New Tests Of Stellar Evolution And The Age Of The Galaxy, Ted Von Hippel

Publications

White dwarf cooling theory and very deep observations in star clusters provide a new tool to test stellar evolution theory and time scales. In particular, white dwarf cooling theory is now testing the degree of enhanced core mixing in stars with turnoff ages of 1 to 2 Gyr. More generally, I show the good overall agreement between white dwarf and modern isochrone ages over the range 0.1 to 4 Gyr.

Break Out Session: The Future Of White Dwarf Observing, Ted Von Hippel

Publications

On Thursday, June 15, 2000 the conference participants joined on of four afternoon break out sessions. Our break out session was charged with addressing the the following questions: Astronomy is changing. Eight to ten meter telescopes looking towards the edge of the Universe will dominate the astronomical landscape. Queue scheduling, large surveys, and the current emphasis towards the red end of the spectrum will also affect us. What consequences do these changes imply for our field? How can we convince telescope assignment committees to grand observing time to proposers from our community?

Two Photon Absorption In Chromophore Doped Solid Matrices, S.C. Mancas, Michael Canva, Yves Levy, Kathleen A. Richardson, Giselle Roger

Publications

Over the past decades organic materials have shown an important potential for applications in the field of nonlinear optics. Two-photon absorbing materials can be optically addressed in three dimensions of space, which make them unique for many new applications, including 3D displays, optical memories, bio-sensors, etc. Fluorescent organic chromophores can be synthesized with structures especially optimized for this nonlinear optical property. Yet, for some applications, they have to be incorporated in solid state matrices. We especially investigate hybrid organic/inorganic doped matrices synthesized by solgel process. However , the linear transmission for such molecules is often significantly less than unity. Two-photon …