The Sun and the Solar System Commons^™

Identifying Ion-Scale Waves In Parker Solar Probe Sub-Alfvénic Intervals, Nicholas Henry Androski, Kristoff Paulson

Physics

Identification of coherent quasi-parallel ion-scale (1-32 Hz) wave activity in sub-Alfvénic regions of the solar wind observed by NASA's Parker Solar Probe during perihelion encounters 8 to 16. Wave activity is filtered computationally by coherency, circular polarization and propagation angle with respect to the mean magnetic field. Initial statistical results are presented with suggestions for future improvements and studies. A general overview of the heliosphere and the context of ion-cyclotron waves (an ion-scale wave) in the coronal heating problem. Along the way to identify ion-scale wave activity, tables of sub-Alfvénic intervals and current sheet crossings for encounters 8 to 16 …

Thermal Evolution Of Moon, Arshdeep Singh Gill

Master's Theses

In August, 2014 three experiments were conducted using infrared systems deployed at White Mountain Research center, CA. The data was acquired for the whole month of August. Teams of 3-4 students from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and UC Santa Barbara were stationed at the research center for 2-3 days to operate the equipment. The three experiments were:(1) creating spatial-temporal time series of lunar surface temperatures;(2) identifying atmospheric meteor trails;(3) search for meteor impacts on the Moon surface. Out of the three this thesis focusses on experiment 1 and the results from this experiment could also help with the other …

Low Intensity Gamma-Ray Spectroscopy Of The Lake Labyrinth Meteorite, Tristan C. Paul

Physics

A 23.7g fragment of the Lake Labyrinth Meteorite (fell in 1924, collected in 1934 at Lake Labyrinth in South Australia, Australia) was re-investigated for evidence of the presence of 98Tc using a two dimensional low-intensity gamma-ray spectrometer. A new calibration technique using 26Al sources found the gamma-rays previously thought to be due to 98Tc are more likely from 166Ho. The presence of 166Ho is most likely due to activation of the stable 165Ho in the meteorite from terrestrial background sources where it was stored.

Resolving Emission Lines Of Sodiumlike Fe Xvi Using Ebit, Sandi Lavito

STAR Program Research Presentations

High resolution crystal spectrometers on sounding rockets and orbiting satellites, such as the Solar Maximum Mission, show strong X-ray emission from the n= 3 to 2 transitions in neon-like Fe XVII. Two of the strongest lines are the 3d to 2p resonance and inter combination lines at 15.01 Å (3C) and 15.26 Å (3D).

Intensity ratios of these solar lines range from ~ 1.6 to 2.8. The lower ratios are a result of a line from Na-like Fe XVI inner shell satellite line blending with the Fe XVII inter combination line, 3D. The wavelength of the Na-like line is not …

Hunting Starstuff: Searching For Calcium-Aluminum-Rich Inclusions In Cometary Dust, Christian Engelbrecht

STAR Program Research Presentations

NASA’s Stardust mission (1999 - 2006) returned physical samples of the particles ejected by the comet 81P/Wild 2, collected in ultralight and extremely low density aerogel. These samples have been extensively analyzed using X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), among other techniques, to determine the elemental, chemical and mineralogical composition of Wild 2. Because comets are thought to be formed in the icy outer regions of the solar system, billions of years ago, the Stardust data gives us details of the composition of the ancient solar system and its subsequent evolution. One of the surprises to come out of the data is the …

An Analysis Of The Location Of White Light Flares In The Sun's Atmosphere, Michelle D. Wilbur

STAR Program Research Presentations

When flares occur in the Sun’s atmosphere, electromagnetic radiation in all wavelengths is emitted. Flares observed at visible wavelengths are called "white light" flares. Little is known about white light flares since the radiation from the Sun in the visible range greatly outshines what is produced during solar flares. Since white light flares are hard to see, it is not clear in what part of the solar atmosphere they occur. The point of this research is to identify where in the corona white light emission in produced during a flare. Depending on what will be discovered affects the validity of …

Observing Magnetic Fields And Currents At The Night And Terminator Sides Of Mars Through The Mars Global Surveyor Data, Nicole Ponce, Matthey Fillingim, Alexander Fogle

STAR Program Research Presentations

Mars has no global magnetic field. Changes in the solar wind and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) can impact the upper atmosphere and induce currents in the ionosphere of Mars. During aerobraking maneuvers, Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) made over 1000 passes through Mars’s ionosphere. During these passes, MGS measured the local magnetic field. From these measurements, we can determine the ionospheric currents. We restrict our analysis to passes where the radial component of the magnetic field is nearly zero. This restriction, along with some assumptions about the gradients in the magnetic field, allows us to estimate the horizontal ionospheric currents. Additionally, …

Probing The Alfvén Speed Profile Using Type Ii Radio Bursts, Peter Sullivan, Hazel M. Bain

STAR Program Research Presentations

Type II radio bursts can be produced when a coronal mass ejection (CME) traveling faster than the local plasma speed of the ambient medium produces a shock. From the drift rate of type II bursts it is possible to calculate the velocity of the CME. We present a statistical survey of type II radio burst events during 2012-2013. Using radio observations we determine speeds of CME shocks as a means of setting limits on the Alfvén speed profile of the interplanetary medium as a function of distance from the sun. In particular we use observations from the WAVES instruments onboard …

Survey Of Meteorite Samples For 92nb, 98tc, And 60fe Using Gamma Ray Spectroscopy, Robert Maxwell

Physics

The focus of this senior project was the use of gamma ray spectroscopy to survey meteorite samples for 92Nb, 98Tc, and 60Fe. The presence of measurable amounts of 26Al (half-life 717,000 years) in meteorites leads astrophysists to believe that 92Nb, 98Tc, and 60Fe should also be present in detectable amounts, though they have not yet been conclusively found. Since the isotopes that were looked for in this senior project are not long lived in comparison to the age of the solar system, their presumed presence indicates that they are continuously being made in outer space and deposited on space objects.