TREK: A cosmic-ray experiment on the Russian space station MIR

The goals of the TREK experiment, now in place on the MIR Space Station, are to resolve and measure the composition of both odd-Z and even-Z cosmic-ray nuclei up to uranium, to measure the isotopic composition of Fe-group nuclei, and to search for transuranic nucleic and exotic particles such as strangelets. To collect tracks of ultraheavy cosmic rays, exterior panels holding an array of BP-1 phosphate glass 1.2m² in area and 16 plates thick are now mounted outside the Kvant-2 module on MIR. Heaters and relays regulate the temperature of the glass at 25°±5°C. The detectors will record 10³ cosmic-ray tracks withZ50 during 2.5 years. An interior panel consisting of an array 0.09 m² in area and 32 plates thick and mounted on the inside wall of the Soyuz spacecraft (attached to the Space Station) will collect tracks of about 13000 Fe and 500 Ni nuclei.     

Mass motions associated with Hα active region arch structures

We have studied mass motions associated with active region arch structures from observations of a developing active region near the center of the solar disk. We present a method for the computation of the line-of-sight velocity from photographs at H ± 0.5 under the assumption of Beckers' cloud model and reasonable assumptions about the Doppler width and optical depth of the arches. Some arches show motions typical to arch filaments (the material moves towards the observer near the apex of the arch and away from the observer near the footpoints), while in others the velocity field is more complex. Assuming a symmetric loop, we reconstructed the velocity vector along an arch filament. The results are consistent with the picture where material is draining out of the filament while the whole structure is ascending with a velocity near that of the apex, which does not exceed 10 km s^–1. The motion is systematically slower than expected from a free-fall model.     

Angular momentum transport in pre-main-sequence stars of intermediate mass

Pre-Main-Sequence stars with masses between 2 and 5 M (Herbig Ae/Be stars) have radiative subphotospheric envelopes. However, they possess strong stellar winds and show definite signs of activity which could be linked to surface magnetic field. Therefore, they must lose angular momentum at a significant rate.We investigate the effect of such angular momentum losses on the internal structure of these stars, and on the distribution of angular velocity inside them. This paper presents a preliminary analysis guided by an analogy with laboratory and geophysical fluids. We propose that the friction exerted at the stellar surface by the angular momentum losses produces a mixed layer below the surface, separated from the unperturbed interior by an interface. Using scaling laws established by experimental studies of sheared stratified fluids, we discuss a simplified model for the evolution of the mixed layer.Although this model is still too preliminary to allow quantitative predictions, we show that for a reasonable choice of parameters, the mixed layer penetrates into the stellar interior on a time-scale of 10⁶ years, comparable to the Kelvin time-scale for the Herbig Ae/Be stars.     

Drift in toroidal configurations

It is found that charged particles of positive energiesE, when constrained on axisymmetric isoflux surfaces , execute sinusoidal motions with typical frequencies =(2E/m)^1/2). In general, it was found that under equilibrium condition p=J ^B/cthe particles develop a non-ambipolar drift velocityv _d =(cµ/eb)[1+q ² +2(q/)²]p.     

Diffuse extragalactic gamma-radiation above ‘black-body cutoff’

The possible contribution of gamma-rays predicted within the universal cosmic-ray (CR) hypothesis to the energy range of CR spectrum above black-body cutoff is calculated. These gamma-rays arise from the relativistic electromagnetic cascade generated in the field of microwave background radiation (MBR). The ultra-high energy photons and electrons that initiate the cascade are produced at the decay of -mesons created in interactions of photons with the MBR. Simple analytic expression for cascade gamma-ray spectrum is obtained from the solution of kinetic equations for electrons and photons as well as for protons propagating in the MBR field. It is shown that at certain values of magnetic field and radio-wave density in the intergalactic space te flux of cascade gamma-rays may at least partly mask the black-body cutoff in the CR spectrum.Deceased, August 13, 1989.     

On periodic flybys of the moon

This paper considers the plane circular restricted three-body problem for small . Symmetric periodic solutions of the second species (passing near the body of mass ) and their distance from the center of the body of mass are studied by constructing perturbations of arc-solutions (solutions with consecutive collisions) existing for =0. Orbits which also pass near the body of mass 1- are studied in detail. The results are applied to finding periodic orbits in the Earth-Moon system and in the Sun-Jupiter system.Russian version: Preprint No. 91 (1978) of Inst. Appl. Math.; present English translation was made by L. M. Perko and W. C. Schulz (February 1979).     

On the perturbation of the anomalistic period of a highly eccentric orbit satellite due to the zonal harmonics

In this note a simple formula is given for the perturbation of the anomalistic period of a highly eccentric orbit due to the zonal harmonics. This perturbation depends essentially only on the semi-major axisa, the eccentricitye (or pericentre radius r =a(1-e)) and the latitude of the pericentre.     

Diffusion-deposition patterns in Martian streaks

The spreading angle of a number of light and dark Martian streaks is determined from selected Mariner 9 images. The resulting frequency distributions of spreading half-angles have maxima at ～5° for light, and ～7° for dark streaks; however the dark streaks have a secondary maximum spreading angle at ～14°. The smaller values, which include most streaks, are interpreted as crater-wake spreading phenomena. The larger value, found in only a few dark streaks or “tails,” may result from atmospheric diffusion and subsequent deposition of material from isolated sources such as vents or blowouts. An atmospheric diffusion-deposition analysis is presented, assuming this streak origin, from which it is possible to deduce the eddy diffusivity, K, in Mars' boudary layer. Calculated K values are found to agree with various theoretical estimates. They lie in the range 10⁷ and 10⁹ cm² sec^?1 and exhibit the proper scale dependence. Thus it appears that, in addition to streak-derived wind direction patterns and speed information, it is possible in a few cases to derive information on Mars' boundary-layer turbulence from streak-spreading measurements.     

Reflectance spectra for sodium and potassium doped ammonia frosts: Implications for Io's surface

This paper reports measurements of the reflection spectra of sodium and potassium doped ammonia frosts as a function of alkali metal concentration which cover the wavelength range 0.35–2.5 μm. The purpose of the measurements was to determine whether or not the reflection spectra for such a solid was compatible with the spectral albedo of Io. The data show that with a sufficiently large alkali metal concentration, the reflection spectra of the doped ammonia frost do not display the characteristic ammonia features at 2.0 and 2.25 μm. The high reflectance of the more concentrated samples and the character of the observed reflection spectrum make it difficult to rule out sodium doped ammonia frost as a surface constituent on Io on the basis of existing data.