The design and flight performance of the PoGOLite Pathfinder balloon-borne hard X-ray polarimeter

In the 50 years since the advent of X-ray astronomy there have been many scientific advances due to the development of new experimental techniques for detecting and characterising X-rays. Observations of X-ray polarisation have, however, not undergone a similar development. This is a shortcoming since a plethora of open questions related to the nature of X-ray sources could be resolved through measurements of the linear polarisation of emitted X-rays. The PoGOLite Pathfinder is a balloon-borne hard X-ray polarimeter operating in the 25-240 keV energy band from a stabilised observation platform. Polarisation is determined using coincident energy deposits in a segmented array of plastic scintillators surrounded by a BGO anticoincidence system and a polyethylene neutron shield. The PoGOLite Pathfinder was launched from the SSC Esrange Space Centre in July 2013. A near-circumpolar flight was achieved with a duration of approximately two weeks. The flight performance of the Pathfinder design is discussed for the three Crab observations conducted. The signal-to-background ratio for the observations is shown to be 0.25 ±0.03 and the Minimum Detectable Polarisation (99 % C.L.) is (28.4 ±2.2) %. A strategy for the continuation of the PoGOLite programme is outlined based on experience gained during the 2013 maiden flight.     

The intensity,velocity and magnetic structure of a sunspot region

The observational set-up for a detailed study of the velocity, intensity and magnetic-field fine structure in and around a sunspot is described. On highly resolved spectra we detected in the vicinity of a sunspot a large number of points with strong magnetic fields (magnetic knots). The magnetic field in these knots causes a striking decrease of the line depth (or a line gap after Sheeley, 1967). The properties of the magnetic knots are: (1) magnetic fields up to 1400 gauss; (2) diameter 1100 km; (3) coincidence with dark intergranular spaces; (4) generally downward material motion; (5) lifetime>30min; (6) estimated total number around an unipolar spot 2000; (7) combined magnetic flux comparable to the sunspot flux; (8) coincidence with Ca⁺ plages.For the smallest sunspots (pores) we obtained magnetic fields >1500 gauss. Hence a magnetic field of about 1400–1500 gauss appears to be a rather critical level for pore and spot formation.We found a large number of small areas producing line gaps without measurable magnetic field. These non-magnetic gap-regions coincide with bright continuum structures.Some aspects arising from the occurrence of hundreds of magnetic knots in an active region are discussed in the last section.Presently guest investigator at the Göttingen Observatory.Previously member of the High Altitude Observatory solar project at Sacramento Peak (Contract Nr. AF (628) - 4078).     

Estimation of Seismic Velocities from Deep Reflections in the τ-p Domain

—In deep reflection seismics the estimation of seismic velocities is hampered in most cases due to the low signal level with respect to noise. In the τ-p domain, it is possible to perform the velocity analysis even under such unfavorable signal conditions. This is achieved by making use of special properties of the transform, which enhance the signal-to-noise ratio. Further noise suppression is realized by incorporating filter procedures into the transform algorithm. The velocity analysis itself is also done in the τ-p domain by calculating and evaluating constant velocity gathers. The results can be directly used in the time domain. A mute algorithm, implemented into the τ-p velocity analysis procedure, further reduces noise. This velocity estimation method is discussed with synthetic data and applied to DEKORP data.     

Zum Vorkommen von Pyrophyllit,Gümbelit und Quarziten in der Kontaktaureole des Bramscher Massivs

Zusammenfassung Die geophysikalischen Untersuchungen am Störkörper von Bramsche, ca. 20 km N Osnabrück, deuten auf einen basischen Intrusivkörper in ca. 5 km Tiefe. Hohe Inkohlungsgrade in karbonischen bis kretazischen Sedimenten lassen eine starke Wärmequelle mit einem bis zu den Karbonhorsten südlich und westlich Osnabrück reichenden Kontakthof vermuten, mit einem Maximum der Inkohlung im Gebiet der geophysikalischen Anomalie.Während sich an den Karbonhorsten um Osnabrück sulfidisch-barytische Erze kretazischen Alters finden, fehlen jegliche Vererzungsspuren im Zentrum der Anomalie. Hier könnten lediglich Pyrophyllit und Quarzitisierungen im Malm des Gehns und das Vorkommen von Gümbelit im Piesberg-Karbon auf Auswirkungen der Intrusion hinweisen. Ausbildung (Faseraggregate der Phyllosilikate) und geologisches Auftreten (keine laterale Verteilung) sprechen aber für eine im weitesten Sinne lateral-sekretionäre Entstehung.Experimente vonNoll (1936) undAlthaus (1966) ergaben eine Bildungstemperatur für Pyrophyllit von ca. 390° C. Es finden sich jedoch keine pegmatitisch-pneumatolytischen oder katahydrothermalen Mobilisate in diesem Gebiet. Somit sollte die Bildungstemperatur für den Pyrophyllit niedriger gewesen sein. Selbst wenn die Bildungstemperatur bekannt wäre, wäre es schwierig, den hydrothermal gebildeten Pyrophyllit als geologisches Thermometer zu benutzen.- Geothermische Überlegungen zur Kalkulation der Intrusionstemperatur lassen sich hier somit nur noch mit Hilfe des Inkohlungsgrades vornehmen.

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Geophysical researches at the Bramsche anomaly, about 20 km north of Osnabrück in NW-Germany indicate a basic intrusive body at the depth of about 5 km. A big source of heat with a contact zone reaching to the Carboniferous horsts south and west of Osnabrück is supposed by the increase of coalification in Carboniferous up to Cretaceous sediments, which has the highest degrees of coalification in the region of the geophysical anomaly.While there are sulfide deposits with barytic gangue of Cretaceous age at the Carboniferous horsts near Osnabrück, there are no ore-traces in the centre of the anomaly. Only the occurence of pyrophyllite and quartzites in the Malm of the Gehn-hills and the occurrence of gümbelite (Mg-hydromuscovite) in the Carboniferous sediments of Piesberg-horst may indicate the influence of the intrusion. - But habit (fibre-aggregates of the phyllosilicates) and geologic occurence (no lateral distribution) of these mineralisations suggest a formation by lateral secretion in a broader meaning of the term.Experiments byNoll (1936) andAlthaus (1966) proved a temperature of about 390° C for the formation of pyrophyllite. But there are no pegmatitic-pneumatolytic or kata-hydrothermal mobilisations in this district. Therefore it is assumed that the temperature of the formation may be lower under other conditions. Even if the temperature of this formation were known, it would be difficult to use pyrophyllite — formed under hydrothermal conditions — as a geologic thermometer. - Geothermal conclusions to calculate the temperature of the intrusion are only possible by using the decrease of volatile matter of the coals.

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Résumé Les recherches géophysicales du corps failleux de Bramsche, à environ 20 km au nord d'Osnabrück font penser à un corps intrusit basique à 5 km sous la surface. De grands degrés d'houillification en des sédiments carbonifères et crétacés révèlent une forte source de chaleur avec une auréole de contact s'étendant jusqu'aux horsts carbonifères au sud et à l'ouest d'Osnabrück, avec un maximum d'houillification dans la région de l'anomalie géophysicale.Bien qu'on trouve des airains crétacés sulfurés avec barytine, aucune trace de minéralisation n'est visible au centre de l'anomalie. Ce n'est que la pyrophyllite et les quartzites dans le Malm du Gehn et l'existence de gümbelite (Mghydro-muscovite) dans le Piesberg-Karbon qui peuvent indiquer des effets d'intrusion. La structure et l'existence géologique font plutôt penser à une genèse latéralement sécrétionaire. Des conclusions géothermiques pour calculer la température d'intrusion ne sont à entreprendre qu'à l'aide du degré d'houillification.

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Meinem verehrten Lehrer, Herrn Prof. Dr. H.Harder danke ich für die Anregung zu dieser Arbeit im Rahmen einer regionalen lagerstättenkundlichen Dissertation. Für weitere Hinweise und Diskussionen bin ich Herrn Prof. Dr. B.Brockamp verpflichtet.     

Focal Mechanisms and Stress Field in The Region Vogtland/Western Bohemia

We calculated focal mechanisms for 30 of the strongest events (1.5 M _L 3.3) in distinct subregions of Vogtland/Western Bohemia between 1990 and 1998. Our investigations are concerned with events of the swarms near Bad Elster (1991), Haingrün (1991), Nový Kostel (1994 and 1997) and Zwickau (1998), two events from a group of earthquakes near Klingenthal (1997) and eight single events. Seismograms were provided by the digital station networks of the Geophysical Observatory of the University of Munich, the Technical University of Freiberg, the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic in Prague, the Masaryk University in Brno and some nearby stations of the German Regional Seismic Network (GRSN). To calculate focal mechanisms two inversion methods were applied. The inferred focal mechanisms do not show a simple, uniform pattern of seismic dislocation. All possible dislocation types – strike-slip, normal and thrust faulting - are represented. The prevailing mechanisms are normal and strike-slip faulting. Considerable differences in the fault plane solutions are noted for the individual subregions as well as in some cases among the individual events of a single swarm. For the Nový Kostel area we succeeded to resolve a change in the orientations of the nodal planes for the two successive swarms of December 1994 and January 1997. Besides this we also observe a change in the mechanisms, namely from strike-slip and normal faulting (December 1994) to strike-slip and thrust faulting (January 1997). Based on the inferred focal mechanisms the stress field was estimated. It turned out, that the dominating stress field in the region Vogtland/Western Bohemia does not substantially differ from the known stress field of West and Central Europe, being characterized by a SE-NW direction of the maximum compressive horizontal stress. We conclude that the seismicity in the Vogtland/Western Bohemia region is not predominantly caused by an independent local stress field, but rather controlled by the dominating stress regime in Central Europe.     

A note on the M w 6.3 earthquake in Iceland on 29 May 2008 at 15:45 UTC

This preliminary study aims to investigate a M _w 6.3 earthquake that occurred in South Iceland on Thursday 29 May 2008 at 15:45 UTC. The epicentre was in the Olfus District between the towns of Selfoss and Hveragerdi. This study examines the data recorded and the damage observed immediately after the event. Horizontal accelerations of up to 80%g were recorded in the epicentral region and there is visual evidence that the vertical acceleration exceeded 1 g. The PGA data is compared to a ground motion estimation model developed for the South Iceland earthquakes in June 2000. In general the basic properties of this event are found to be similar to the characteristics of the South Iceland earthquakes in June 2000. The duration of strong-motion is short and the intensity attenuates rapidly with increasing distance. The earthquake action resisted by buildings in the near fault area is inspected through evaluation of elastic as well as inelastic response spectra. The vast majority of structures seemed to withstand the strong-motion fairly competently and without significant visual damage due firstly to the low-rise, predominantly reinforced concrete or timber, style of buildings. Secondly, the short duration of strong-motion contributed to the endurance of structures.     

Determination of source and palaeoclimate from the comparison of grain and clay fractions in sandstones: A case study

The Paleogene Ke?an Formation of southwestern Turkish Thrace (Alpine Ergene basin) which is dominantly a sandy facies, comprises the Çinarlidere (Lower) and ?aplidere (Upper) members. The turbidite sandstones of the Formation are petrologically defined as multicycle, moderately sorted, angular to subrounded, coarse-skewed, submature graywackes with a detrital clayey matrix of over 15%.The quantitative analyses of light, heavy and clay fractions of sandstone samples from the Ke?an Formation showed marked petrographic variations with grouping of these sediments as Lower- and Upper-member mineralogical facies and led to the following conclusions: a southern terrain with a relatively warm and tropical climate on a terrestrial source of a peneplain topography provided detrital material for the Lower-member sediments (the Biga Massif), while the Upper-member sediments were derived from a rapid erosion of an area of high relief with a uniform supply and continuous infilling of the basin of deposition (a western source terrain: the Rhodope Massif).     

Turbulent exchange above a pine forest II. Organized structures

Data from two 100-min runs on the turbulent atmospheric wind, temperature and humidity fields above a pine forest have been analysed using conditional sampling techniques. With the aid of the temperature time series, ramp events were identified and all fields were averaged in order to remove smaller scale turbulence and random low-frequency turbulence, and to map the organized structures revealed in this way. It is shown that the turbulent fluxes of momentum, heat and humidity, determined from these ramp-events, in fact constitute a large part of the total fluxes, about 90% during the actual events.On average, the duration of and the time between ramps were found to be about 35 s and 100 s, respectively. These periods were also found in the uw-, wT- and wq-cospectra, not only in the data analysed in this paper, but in the major part of all day-time data from this forest site (about 80 runs of 60 or 100 min). This indicates that the ramp events described arc a rather common phenomenon. The organized structures also have remarkable resemblance to near-wall structures observed in the laboratory.     

A new Ordovician eurypterid (Arthropoda: Chelicerata) from southeast Turkey: Evidence for a cryptic Ordovician record of Eurypterida

A new species of eurypterid, Paraeurypterus anatoliensis gen. et sp. nov., is described from the Upper Ordovician (Katian) ?ort Tepe Formation of southeast Turkey. The single specimen, preserving the carapace, mesosoma and fragments of appendages, appears morphologically intermediate between the eurypteroid families Dolichopteridae and Eurypteridae. P. anatoliensis retains the plesiomorphic conditions of crescentic eyes with enlarged palpebral lobes and a quadrate carapace with ornamentation consisting of small pustules but also displaying the derived characteristics of genal facets and a row of large acicular scales across the posterior of each tergite. Phylogenetic analysis incorporating each of the major eurypterine clades and all Eurypterina having a three-segmented genital operculum (the triploperculate condition) resolves eurypteroids to be an unnatural group, with Dolichopteridae and Eurypteridae forming part of a grade leading to diploperculate Eurypterina. P. anatoliensis is intermediate between the two eurypteroid families, as is ‘Eurypterus’ minor from the Pentland Hills of Scotland, which is shown to be a distinct genus and assigned to Pentlandopterus gen. nov. Using the phylogenetic topology to infer ghost ranges for each of the major eurypterid clades reveals that the majority of eurypterid superfamilies must have originated by the Katian, indicating a largely unsampled record of Ordovician eurypterids. The occurrence of poor dispersers such as Paraeurypterus in the Ordovician of Gondwana is puzzling, and it has been suggested that they dispersed to the continent during periods of sea level lowstand in the Sandbian and Hirnantian, however this does not explain the lack of Ordovician species in North America and Europe, given the well-sampled nature of these continents, and an alternative is proposed whereby eurypterids originated in Gondwana and radiated out to Laurentia and Baltica in the late Ordovician and early Silurian, thus explaining their sudden appearance in the European and North American rock record.