Investigation of the electrostatic charging of dust particles in a Paul-trap

Dust particles (glass, tungsten, and nickel) with sizes ranging from 0.25 to 3m were levitated in a Paul-trap and charged by ions or electrons. For ions the particle potential is limited at field strength of about 1×10⁹ V m^–1 by a temperature-dependent discharge mechanism. The particles interaction with 2 to 20 keV electrons always leads to positive surface potentials which can be explained in terms of a decreased absorption of electrons by small particles. Micrometer sized agglomerates were used for the investigation of the electrostatic fragmentation. Fragmentation takes place in a twofold manner: small surface flufl can be removed or the parent particle can be disrupted into smaller agglomerates.Paper presented at the 11th European Regional Astronomical Meetings of the IAU on New Windows to the Universe, held 3–8 July, 1989, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.     

Evolution of horizontal branch stars with extension

The details of the evolution of a low-mass horizontal branch star through the asymptotic giant phase with the assumption of first an extended atmosphere and second with extended and mass including atmosphere are given in comparison with the evolution of the same model without extension.Paper presented at the 11th European Regional Astronomical Meetings to the IAU on New Window to the Universe, held 3–8 July, 1989, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.     

Astron observations of the Rapid Burster MXB 1730-335 and constraints on burster parameters from spectra of trailing bursts

We report on eight X-ray bursts detected by ASTRON from the Rapid Burster (RB) on 13 and 28 April and 16 August, 1983. Six of them (trailing bursts), with durations of 1.5–2 min, rise times of 5–10 s and intervals of 1–1.5 hours, exhibit spectral softening during the burst decay and may be related to the type I bursts. Two of the bursts (triangle bursts) observed on 28 April at interval of 28 min with much longer rise times (30–50 s) and longer durations (3 min), do not show distinct spectral softening. Persistent flux from RB on 16 August was estimated asF _p(2.0–2.4)×10^–9 erg cm^–2 s^–1. Spectral evolution of two trailing bursts was investigated by fitting their spectra in consecutive time intervals with the blackbody (BB), isothermal scattering photosphere (SP) and thermal bremsstrahlung (TB) models. Around the burst maxima the SP model fits the data best whereas in the burst tails the TB model is generally better. The BB model is worse than at least one of the two others. Interpretation of the burst spectra in terms of the BB radiation leads to improbably small neutron star mass and radius (M<0.86M ,R _NS<5 km) if the peak luminosity does not exceed the Eddington limit. Interpretation of the spectra around the burst maxima (3–15 s from the burst onset) in terms of an isothermal SP yields reasonable constraints onM,R _NS, and distanceD. For instance, for the hydrogen photosphere we obtainedM=(1.0–2.1)M R _NS=(7.1–16.4) km ifD=11 kpc. If one postulatesM=1.4M , thenD=(8.5–13) kpc for hydrogen photosphere; if, besides,D=11 kpc, thenR _NS=(8.1–13.3) km. It follows also from the SP-interpretation that the photosphere radius may increase up to 20–30 km in maxima of the trailing bursts when the luminosity becomes close to the Eddington luminosity.     

CCD BV photometry of the old rich open cluster king 2

We present preliminary results of CCD BV photometry of the old open cluster King 2. The values obtained for the main parameters are:E(B-V)=0.31, (m-M)₀=13.78, metal content approximately solar, and age 6×10⁹ yr. From the comparison with synthetic colour-mgnitude diagrams generated by models with overshoot we try to answer the question whether or not convective elements generated in the core can penetrate into the surrounding stable zone (separated by a discontinuity of molecular weight).Paper presented at the 11th European Regional Astronomical Meetings of the IAU on New Windows to the Universe, held 3–8 July, 1989, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.     

A combined study of macroseismic data and focal mechanisms applied to the West-Bohemian earthquake,Czechoslovakia

The main shock of the West-Bohemian earthquake swarm, Czechoslovakia, (magnitudem=4.5, depthh=10 km) exhibits an irregular areal distribution of macroseismic intensities 6° to 7° MSK-64. Four lobes of the 6° isoseismal are found and the maximum observed intensity is located at a distance of 8 km from the instrumentally determined epicentre. This distribution can be explained by the energy flux of the directS wave generated by a circular source, the hypocentral location and focal mechanism of which are taken from independent instrumental studies. The theoretical intensity, which is assumed to be logarithmically proportional to the integrated squared ground-motion velocity (i.e.,I=const+log v ² (t)dt), fits the observed intensity with an overall root-mean-square error less than 0.5°. It is important that the present intensity data can also be equally well explained by the isotropic source. The fit was attained by means of a horizontally layered model though large fault zones and an extended sedimentary basin suggest a significant lateral heterogeneity of the epicentral region. The results encourage a broader application of the simple modelling technique used.     

MEASURED UNDERWATER NEAR-FIELD E-PATTERNS OF A PULSED,HORIZONTAL DIPOLE ANTENNA IN AIR: COMPARISON WITH THE THEORY OF THE CONTINUOUS WAVE,INFINITESIMAL ELECTRIC DIPOLE1

At Delft Geotechnics the technique of ground-penetrating radar is in use for the detection of buried objects such as pipes. To enable us to give our ‘measurements in the field’ a more quantitative interpretation than can be deduced from these alone, a series of experiments has been started under well-defined conditions. A cylindrical vessel containing water simulates wet soil. Mounted horizontally above the water surface is a pulsed triangular half-wave dipole which is used as a transmitting antenna (TA). It has a carrier-frequency of about 160 MHz and a pulse repetition-frequency of about 50 kHz. A movable receiving dipole (‘probe’) in the water measures the transverse, mutually orthogonal E_φ,- and E_θ-components of the pulses as a function of probe-position (r, θ, φ) and of the height h of the TA above the water surface. When these pulses are Fourier-transformed, the transverse electric fields E_φ and E_θ at 200 MHz are obtained. The resulting field patterns are compared with computational results on the basis of the theory of the continuous wave, infinitesimal electric dipole (‘point dipole’). It can be concluded that:

• 1 Far-field conditions have not fully developed at a depth of about 2.50 m, the largest value of the radius r at which field patterns were measured, although it represents a distance of about 15 wavelengths.
• 2 The attenuation constant of the tapwater used, as deduced from E-field measurements for θ= 0, 2.50 m < r < 2.75 m, is slightly less than the value measured using a network analyser and air line combination, in agreement with (1).
• 3 E _φ field patterns calculated using the value of the conductivity σ corresponding to the former value of the attenuation constant agree reasonably well with the measured patterns for r≤ 2.50 m and for θ < 20° at all antenna heights considered. Calculated Eφ patterns do not agree so well with the measured patterns when h is close to zero. With increasing height the agreement inproves.
• 4 In accordance with the theory of the point-dipole, the angular distribution of the radiation patterns of the TA becomes wider as the frequency decreases.
• 5 The normalized underwater pulse-spectra shift to lower frequencies with increasing r. This can be explained since the attenuation constant of the water rises with rising frequency.

     

Periodicities in natural remanent magnetization and palaeoclimatic records detected by walsh spectra

The time series consisting of nonsinusoidal Natural Remanent Magnetization (NRM) and palaeoclimatic variations for the past two million years have been spectrally examined by using a new Walsh transform technique. The results show statistically significant periodicities (at 95% confidence level) of approximately 92,000 years; 43,000 years and 21,000 years in the ensemble spectra of the NRM intensity (mineralogic) variations. These NRM periodicities are remarkably close to the well-known Milankovitch cycles. The ensemble spectra of palaeoclimatic records reveal only 41,000 years statistically significant (95%) periodicity corresponding to the obliquity cycle. The study suggests that NRM variations in deep sea sediments probably are more sensitive recorders of palaeoclimatic memory than the oxygen isotope variations.     

Intercomparison of measurements of stratospheric hydrogen fluoride

Observations of the vertical profile of hydrogen fluoride (HF) vapor in the stratosphere and of the vertical column amounts of HF above certain altitudes were made using a variety of spectroscopic instruments in the 1982 and 1983 Balloon Intercomparison Campaigns. Both emission instruments working in the far infrared spectral region and absorption instruments using solar occultation in the 2.5m region were employed. No systematic differences were seen in results from the two spectral regions. A mean profile from 20–45 km is presented, with uncertainties ranging from 20% to 50%. Total columns measured from ground and from 12 km are consistent with the profile if the mixing ratio for HF is small in the tropophere and low stratosphere.     

Numerical study of droplet size dependent chemistry in oceanic,wintertime stratus cloud at southern mid-latitudes

Cloud droplet chemistry is modelled for the first 150 m of rise in a wintertime, mid-latitude, marine stratus cloud using observations made at and near the Cape Grim Baseline Station as a source of input parameters. The emphasis in this work was to study the variation in droplet chemistry as a function of both droplet size and nucleus composition, with a particular focus on the way in which oxidation of dissolved sulfur dioxide varied.At 150 m above the condensation level, solute concentration as a function of droplet size was found to increase by as much as 2 to 3 orders of magnitude for only a factor of 2 increase in droplet radius, primarily as a consequence of the 1/r dependence in the droplet growth equation. This type of size dependence exists at all levels in the model cloud, and has a significant influence on oxidation rate of sulfur dioxide in droplets growing on sulfate nuclei, oxidation by ozone being favoured in the smallest droplets, but oxidation by hydrogen peroxide being favoured in the larger droplets. Oxidation by ozone is favoured at all sizes in droplets formed on sea-salt nuclei as a result of the initially high alkalinity of these droplets, and in the cloud overall is calculated to be the more important oxidation pathway. Although based on a simplified chemical scheme, these results suggest that both size-dependent and nucleus-dependent chemistry of cloud droplets may need to be considered explicitly in cloud modelling work.Volume-weighted mean pH values in the range 5 to 6 were predicted from sensitivity studies in which input variables were varied over reasonable ranges, in agreement with two sets of bulk cloud-water pH data obtained by aircraft near Cape Grim.     

Structure of the marine boundary layer over north western Indian Ocean during 1983 summer monsoon

The spatial variability of the structure of the lower troposphere over the northwestern Indian Ocean for the period 12th July to 2nd September, 1983 has been studied using upper air data collected during the first scientific cruise of ORV Sagar Kanya.An analysis of thermodynamic structure and kinematics of the marine boundary layer for different zonal and meridional sections revealed the following features: (a) Temperature and humidity inversions were generally absent over the study area except over a few locations in the western region; (b) Large-scale subsidence was found over the central equatorial Indian Ocean; (c) The convective activity over the western Indian Ocean was found to be moderately suppressed as compared to the eastern region; (d) The zonal and meridional components of winds along the equator and 10° N zonal section exhibited a mirror-image-like distribution.