The Sun and the Solar System Commons^™

In-Situ And Simultaneous Measurements Of Size And Charge Distributions Of Dust On Mars: Instrumentation And Analysis, Praveen Kumar Srirama

Theses and Dissertations

Martian dust characterization is important for minimizing the effects of abrasion, adhesion, corrosion, and damage to mission hardware, and also to reduce the effect on human health during future robotic and human exploratory missions. Characterizing the particle size and charge on Mars dust will help in the development of techniques for dust mitigation. Presently there is no miniature instrument which is capable of in-situ and real time measurements on Mars. In order to simultaneously analyze the particle size and charge of Mars dust, a Dust Particle Analyzer (DPA) has been developed and tested which is based on a Laser Doppler …

Radial Velocity Observations Of The Extended Lunar Sodium Tail, E. J. Mierkiewicz, M. Line, F. L. Roesler, R. J. Oliversen

Physical Sciences - Daytona Beach

We report the first velocity resolved sodium 5889.950 Å line profile observations of the lunar sodium tail observed in the anti-lunar direction near new Moon. These observations were made on 29 March 2006, 27 April 2006 and 28 April 2006 from Pine Bluff (WI) observatory with a double etalon Fabry-Perot spectrometer at a resolving power of ∼80,000. The observations were made within 2–14 hours from new Moon, pointing near the anti-lunar point. The average observed radial velocity of the lunar sodium tail in the vicinity of the anti-lunar point for the three nights reported was 12.4 km s⁻¹ (from …

Detection Of Diffuse Interstellar [O Ii] Emission From The Milky Way Using Spatial Heterodyne Spectroscopy, E. J. Mierkiewicz, R. J. Reynolds, F. L. Roesler, J. M. Harlander, K. P. Jaehnig

Physical Sciences - Daytona Beach

Using a newly developed spatial heterodyne spectrometer (SHS), we have obtained the first radial velocity resolved emission-line profiles of diffuse [O II] 3726 and 3729 angstrom emission lines from the warm (10,000 K) ionized component of our Galaxy's interstellar medium. These [O II] lines are a principal coolant for this widespread, photoionized gas and are a potential tracer of variations in the gas temperature resulting from unidentified heating processes that appear to be acting within the Galaxy's disk and halo. By spectrally isolating for the first time Galactic [O II] from atmospheric [O II] emission, we were able to detect …

Heliospheric Response To Different Possible Interstellar Environments, Hans-Reinhard Muller, Priscilla C. Frisch, Vladimir Florinski, Gary P. Zank

Dartmouth Scholarship

At present, the heliosphere is embedded in a warm, low-density interstellar cloud that belongs to a cloud system flowing through the local standard of rest with a velocity near ~18 km s^-1. The velocity structure of the nearest interstellar material (ISM), combined with theoretical models of the local interstellar cloud (LIC), suggest that the Sun passes through cloudlets on timescales of ≤10³-10⁴ yr, so the heliosphere has been, and will be, exposed to different interstellar environments over time. By means of a multifluid model that treats plasma and neutral hydrogen self-consistently, the interaction of the …

Prediction Of Flight-Level Radiation Hazards Due To Solar Energetic Protons, Matthew P. Sattler

Theses and Dissertations

The radiation environment at aircraft altitudes is caused primarily by high-energy particles originating from outside the near-earth environment. These particles generally come from outside our solar system and are called galactic cosmic rays. Occasionally however, a transient solar event will also accelerate energetic protons toward the earth. If these protons reach the upper atmosphere, they produce secondary particles via collisions, resulting in increased radiation levels in the atmosphere. Air crews and electronic systems flying at high altitudes during one of these events are subjected to these increased levels of radiation which can result in health problems for personnel and soft …

Unfolding The Labyrinth: Open Problems In Physics, Mathematics, Astrophysics, And Other Areas Of Science, Florentin Smarandache, Victor Christianto, Fu Yuhua, Radi Khrapko, John Hutchison

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

The reader will find herein a collection of unsolved problems in mathematics and the physical sciences. Theoretical and experimental domains have each been given consideration. The authors have taken a liberal approach in their selection of problems and questions, and have not shied away from what might otherwise be called speculative, in order to enhance the opportunities for scientific discovery. Progress and development in our knowledge of the structure, form and function of the Universe, in the true sense of the word, its beauty and power, and its timeless presence and mystery, before which even the greatest intellect is awed …

Book Review: The Amateur Astronomer's Introduction To The Celestial Sphere, T. D. Oswalt

Publications

This document is Dr. Oswalt’s review of The Amateur Astronomer's Introduction to the Celestial Sphere by William Millar. Cambridge, 2006 299p, 052167123X $40.00, 9780521671231 $40.00.

Longitudinal Magnetic Field Changes Accompanying Solar Flares, Jeffrey J. Sudol, J. W. Harvey

Physics & Engineering Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

A Look At The Astrolabe, Emily Storrar

Honors Capstones

Capstone submitted as a graduation requirement for the BSU Honors program.

Customization Of Discriminant Function Analysis For Prediction Of Solar Flares, Evelyn A. Schumer

Theses and Dissertations

This research is an extension to the research conducted by K. Leka and G. Barnes of the Colorado Research Associates Division, Northwest Research Associates, Inc. in Boulder, Colorado (CORA) in which they found no single photospheric solar parameter they considered could sufficiently identify a flare-producing active region (AR). Their research then explored the possibility a linear combination of parameters used in a multivariable discriminant function (DF) could adequately predict solar activity. The purpose of this research is to extend the DF research conducted by Leka and Barnes by refining the method of statistical discriminant analysis (DA) with the goal of …

Today's Take On Einstein’S Relativity: Proceedings Of The Conference Of 18 Feb 2005, Florentin Smarandache, Homer B. Tilton

Branch Mathematics and Statistics Faculty and Staff Publications

Non Sequiturs in Relativity Four in number at this point Dr. Smith of "Lost in Space" had a knack of easing out of binds that he'd gotten himself into. Dr. Einstein was a little like that. Einstein originally declared that the distortions of special relativity reflect real changes to the objects being remotely observed, then reconsidered. The first non sequitur is quoted here from Sachs:[1] In a lecture that Einstein gave to the Prussian Academy of Sciences in 1921, he said the following: "Geometry predicates nothing about relations of real things, but only geometry together with the purport of physical …

Observations Of Solar Cyclical Variations In Geocoronal Hα Column Emission Intensities, S. M. Nossal, F. L. Roesler, E. J. Mierkiewicz, R. J. Reynolds

Physical Sciences - Daytona Beach

Observations of thermospheric + exospheric Hα column emissions by the Wisconsin Hα Mapper (WHAM) Fabry-Perot (Kitt Peak, Arizona) over the 1997–2001 rise in solar cycle 23 show a statistically significant solar cyclical variation. The higher signal-to-noise WHAM observations corroborate suggestions of a solar cycle trend in the Hα emissions seen in Wisconsin observations over solar cycle 22. Here we compare WHAM 1997 and 2000–2001 winter solstice geocoronal Hα observations toward regions of the sky with low galactic emission. The observed variation in geocoronal hydrogen column emission intensities over the solar cycle is small compared with variations in hydrogen exobase densities. …

Reflections On Apollo, Eugene A. Cernan

IMSA Great Minds Program ®

During 20 years as a Naval Aviator, including 13 years with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Captain Eugene A. Cernan left his mark on history with three historic missions in space as the Pilot of Gemini IX (1966), the Lunar Module Pilot of Apollo X (1969), and the Commander of Apollo XVII (1972). After flying to the moon not once, but twice, he also holds the distinction of being the second American to walk in space and the last man to have left his footprints on the lunar surface.

Captain Cernan received a Bachelor of Science degree in …

A Model Of Zebra Emission In Solar Type Iv Radio Bursts, J. Labelle, R. A. Treumann, P. H. Yoon, M. Karlicky

Dartmouth Scholarship

Solar type IV radio bursts present a theoretical challenge because they are composed of both continuum emission and fine structures. The latter include "zebra bursts," which appear as harmonically spaced multiplets that shift in frequency with time. Similarities between these features and terrestrial auroral emissions suggest a new model to explain zebra-structured type IV emissions. In this model, the basic generation mechanism is identical with that proposed by Winglee and Dulk: mode conversion of Z-mode waves generated by the cyclotron maser mechanism under the condition fuh = Nfce, with N an integer; however, we propose a twist …

Production, Outflow, Velocity, And Radial Distribution Of H2o And Oh In The Coma Of Comet C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp) From Wide-Field Imaging Of Oh, Walter M. Harris, Frank Scherb, Edwin Mierkiewicz, Ronald Oliversen, Jeffrey Morgenthaler

Physical Sciences - Daytona Beach

Observations of OH are a useful proxy of the water production rate (Q H2O) and outflow velocity (VH2O) in comets. From wide-field images taken on 1997 March 28 and April 8 that capture the entire scale length of the OH coma of comet C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp), we obtain Q OH from the model-independent method of aperture summation and Q H2O from the OH photochemical branching ratio, BROH. Using an adaptive ring summation algorithm, we extract the radial brightness distribution of OH 0-0 band emission out to cometocentric distances of up to 10 to the sixth power km, both as azimuthal …

Book Review: Neptune: The Planet, Rings And Satellites, T. D. Oswalt

Publications

This document is Dr. Oswalt’s review of Neptune : the Planet, Rings and Satellites by Ellis D. Miner and Randii R. Wessen Springer/Praxis, 2002 297p, 1-85233-216-6 $44.95

Chasing Solar Eclipses Around The World, Martina B. Arndt

Bridgewater Review

No abstract provided.

Stellar Pollution In The Solar Neighborhood, N. Murray, B. Chaboyer, P. Arras, B. Hansen, R. W. Noyes

Dartmouth Scholarship

We study spectroscopically determined iron abundances of 640 solar-type stars to search for the signature of accreted iron-rich material. We find that the metallicity [Fe/H] of a subset of 466 main-sequence stars, when plotted as a function of stellar mass, mimics the pattern seen in lithium abundances in open clusters. Using Monte Carlo models, we find that, on average, these stars appear to have accreted ~0.5 M⊕ of iron while on the main-sequence. A consistency check is provided by a much smaller sample of 19 stars in the Hertzsprung gap, which are slightly evolved and the convection zones of …

Book Review: 3-D Atlas Of Stars And Galaxies, T. D. Oswalt

Publications

This document is Dr. Oswalt’s review of 3-D Atlas of Stars and Galaxies by Richard Monkhouse and John Cox Springer, 2000. 95p, 1-85233-189-5 $42.00.

Critical Issues For Understanding Particle Acceleration In Impulsive Solar Flares, James A. Miller, Peter J. Cargill, A. Gordon Emslie, Gordon D. Holman, Brian R. Dennis, Ted N. La Rosa, Robert M. Winglee, Stephen G. Benka, S. Tsuneta

Faculty Articles

This paper, a review of the present status of existing models for particle acceleration during impulsive solar flares, was inspired by a week-long workshop held in the Fall of 1993 at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center. Recent observations from Yohkoh and the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, and a reanalysis of older observations from the Solar Maximum Mission, have led to important new results concerning the location, timing, and efficiency of particle acceleration in flares. These are summarized in the first part of the review. Particle acceleration processes are then discussed, with;particular emphasis on new developments in stochastic acceleration by magnetohydrodynamic …

New Promise For Electron Bulk Energization In Solar Flares: Preferential Fermi Acceleration Of Electrons Over Protons In Reconnection-Driven Magnetohydrodynamic Turbulence, Ted La Rosa, Ronald L. Moore, James A. Miller, Steven N. Shore

Faculty Articles

The hard X-ray luminosity of impulsive solar flares indicates that electrons in the low corona are bulk energized to energies of order 25 keV. LaRosa & Moore pointed out that the required bulk energization could be produced by cascading MHD turbulence generated by Alfvénic outflows from sites of strongly driven reconnection. LaRosa, Moore, & Shore proposed that the compressive component of the cascading turbulence dissipates into the electrons via Fermi acceleration. However, for this to be a viable electron bulk energization mechanism, the rate of proton energization by the same turbulence cannot exceed the electron energization rate. In this paper …

Stochastic Electron Acceleration By Cascading Fast Mode Waves In Impulsive Solar Flares, James A. Miller, Ted N. La Rosa, Ronald L. Moore

Faculty Articles

We present a model for the acceleration of electrons from thermal to ultrarelativistic energies during an energy release fragment in an impulsive solar flare. Long-wavelength low-amplitude fast mode waves are assumed to be generated during the initial flare energy release (by, for example, large-scale restructuring of the magnetic field). These waves nonlinearly cascade to higher wavenumbers and eventually reach the dissipation range, whereupon they are transit-time damped by electrons in the tail of the thermal distribution. The electrons, in turn, are energized out of the tail and into substantially higher energies. We find that for turbulence energy densities much smaller …

Estimating Milky-Way Dark Matter: Its Amount And Distribution, Jeffery E. Clayton, Sue Ellen Mccloskey, Wilfred J. Braithwaite

Journal of the Arkansas Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Basic Astronomy Labs, Terry L. Smith, Michael D. Reynolds, Jay S. Huebner

Physics Faculty Research and Scholarship

Providing the tools and know-how to apply the principles of astronomy first-hand, these 43 laboratory exercises each contain an introduction that clearly shows budding astronomers why the particular topic of that lab is of interest and relevant to astronomy. About one-third of the exercises are devoted solely to observation, and no mathematics is required beyond simple high school algebra and trigonometry.Organizes exercises into six major topics—sky, optics and spectroscopy, celestial mechanics, solar system, stellar properties, and exploration and other topics—providing clear outlines of what is involved in the exercise, its purpose, and what procedures and apparatus are to be used. …

The Wall Of Reconnection-Driven Magnetohydrodynamic Turbulence In A Large Solar-Flare, Ronald L. Moore, Ted N. La Rosa, L. E. Orwig

Faculty Articles

LaRosa & Moore (1993) recently proposed that the bulk dissipation of magnetic field that is required for the electron energization in the explosive phase of solar flares occurs in a ''fat current sheet,'' a wall of cascading MHD turbulence sustained by highly disordered driven reconnection of opposing magnetic fields impacting at a turbulent boundary layer. In two-ribbon eruptive flares, this turbulent reconnection wall is supposed to develop at the usual reconnection site in the standard model for these flares; that is, the reconnection wall stands in the vertical magnetic rent made by the eruption of the sheared core of the …

Variations In Meteorological Elements During Three Minnesota Partial Eclipses, L. E. Newman, J. E. Ljungkull, D. G. Baker, D. L. Ruschy, J. A. Zandlo

Journal of the Minnesota Academy of Science

The University of Minnesota climatological observatory on the St. Paul campus has been in the path of four partial eclipses, ranging from 500/4 to 91 % of totality (the area of the covered sun) since operations began in 1960. Three of the four partial eclipses occurred while the atmosphere at St. Paul was essentially cloud-free. Measurements made during the three partial eclipses include incoming and reflected solar radiation, incoming and outgoing longwave radiation, air and soil temperatures, relative humidity, and wind speed and direction. Of the partial eclipses for which the effects could be measured, only the one of 30 …

Methods For Calculating Solar Position And Day Length Including Computer Programs And Subroutines, M L. Roderick

Resource management technical reports

The theory of calculating solar position is described. Using this theory, a number of computing routines are prepared in the C programming language. These routines are suitable for users who program in C, and have an ANSI compatible C compiler. These routines are fully documented, with both the underlying theory, and code particulars, and may be used as a stand alone reference. The source code has also been published in appendix B of the report.

Shadow Casting Phenomena At Newgrange, Frank Prendergast

Articles

A digital model of the Newgrange passage tomb and surrounding ring of monoliths known as the Great Circle is used to investigate sunrise shadow casting phenomena at the monument. Diurnal variation in shadow directions and lengths are analysed for their potential use in the Bronze Age to indicate the passage of seasonal time. Computer-aided simulations are developed from a photogrammetric survey to accurately show how three of the largest monoliths, located closest to the tomb entrance and archaeologically coded GC1, GC-1 and GC-2, cast their shadows onto the vertical face of the entrance kerbstone, coded K1. The phenomena occur at …

Forbidden Lines Of Np^Q Ions. Ii. Line Intensities, J. P. Lynch, Menas Kafatos

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Ground state forbidden transitions of np^q ions of C, N, 0, Ne, Mg, Si, S, and Fe can provide important information on the state of cosmic ionized gases. Wavelengths of these lines are in the far- and near-UV visible and near- and far-IR regions of the spectrum. The line intensity ratios of particular transitions in q = 2, 4 ions can provide information on the temperature of the gas and in q = 3 ions information on the density of the gas. In the present work we have tabulated the line intensities of 95 transitions of these ions, which include …

Analysis Of Periodic Orbits About The Martian Moons By Continuation Techniques, Frank Luria

Theses and Dissertations

From a few known periodic orbits of Phobos and Deimos, continuation techniques were used to find entire families of stable orbits. These techniques involved varying a parameter, the Hamiltonian, of the system and analyzing how the orbital behavior changed with the parameter. Floquet multipliers, for stability analysis, were also computed. AUTO86, a continuation/bifurcation software package, was used in this study. Artificial energy dissipation had to be added to the conservative Hamiltonian system to enable use of AUTO.