Image processing of radiographs in 3D Rayleigh-Taylor decelerating interface experiments

This paper discusses high-energy-density laboratory astrophysics experiments exploring the Rayleigh-Taylor instability under conditions similar to the blast wave driven, outermost layer in a core-collapse supernova. The planar blast wave is created in an experimental target using the Omega laser. The blast wave crosses an unstable interface with a seed perturbation machined onto it. The perturbation consists of a 3D “egg crate” pattern and, in some cases, an additional longer wavelength mode is added to this 3D, single-mode pattern. The main diagnostic of this experiment is x-ray radiography. This paper explores an image processing technique to improve the identification and characterization of structure in the radiographic data.     

HIDDRA: a highly independent data distribution and retrieval architecture for space observation missions

Institutions such as NASA, ESA or JAXA find solutions to distribute data from their missions to the scientific community, and their long term archives. This is a complex problem, as it includes a vast amount of data, several geographically distributed archives, heterogeneous architectures with heterogeneous networks, and users spread around the world. We propose a novel architecture that solves this problem aiming to fulfill the requirements of the final user. Our architecture is a modular system that provides a highly efficient parallel multiprotocol download engine, using a publisher/subscriber policy which helps the final user to obtain data of interest transparently. We have evaluated a first prototype, in collaboration with the ESAC centre in Villafranca del Castillo (Spain) that shows a high scalability and performance, opening a wide spectrum of opportunities.     

Detection of a southern peak in Mercury's sodium exosphere with the TNG in 2005

A long term plan of observations of the sodium exosphere of Mercury began in 2002 by using the high resolution echelle spectrograph SARG and a devoted sodium filter at the 3.5 m Galileo National Telescope (TNG) located in La Palma, Canary Islands. This program is meant to investigate the variations of the sodium exosphere appearance under different conditions of observations, namely Mercury's position along its orbit, phase angle and different solar conditions, as reported by previous observations in August 2002 and August 2003 [Barbieri, C., Verani, S., Cremonese, G., Sprague, A., Mendillo, M., Cosentino, R., Hunten, D., 2004. Planet. Space Sci. 52, 1169-1175; Leblanc, F., Barbieri, C., Cremonese, G., Verani, S., Cosentino, R., Mendillo, M., Sprague, A., Hunten, D., 2006. Icarus 185 (2), 395-402].Here we present the analysis of data taken in June 29th and 30th and in July 1st 2005, when Mercury's true anomaly angle (TAA) was in the range 124-130°. The spectra show particularly intense sodium lines with a distinctive peak in emission localized in the southern hemisphere at mid-latitudes. This seems to be a persistent feature related to consecutive favorable IMF conditions inducing localized enhancements of surface sodium density. The comparison with previous data taken by Potter et al. [Potter, A.E., Killen, R.M., Morgan, T.H., 2002. Meteorit. Planet. Sci. 37 (9), 1165-1172] evidences a surprising consistency of the anti-sunward component, which appears to remain constant regardless of the changing illumination and space weather conditions at Mercury.     

Computing the effects of YORP on the spin rate distribution of the NEO population

The overall change of NEO spin rate due to planetary encounters and YORP is evaluated by using a Monte Carlo model. A large sample of test objects mimicking a source population is evolved over a timescale comparable with the Solar System age until they reach a steady state spin distribution that should reproduce the current NEO distribution. The spin change due to YORP is computed for each body according to a simplified model based on Scheeres [Scheeres, D.J., 2007a. Icarus 188, 430-450].The steady state cumulative distribution of NEO spin rates obtained from our simulation nicely reproduces the observed one, once our results are biased to match the diameter distribution of the sample of objects included in the observational database. The excellent agreement strongly suggests that YORP is responsible for the concentration of spin at low rotation rates. In fact, in the absence of YORP the steady state population significantly deviates from the observed one. The spin evolution due to YORP is also so rapid for NEOs that the initial rotation rate distribution of any source population is quickly relaxed to that of the observed population. This has profound consequences for the study of NEO origin since we cannot trace the sources of NEOs from their rotation rate only.     

Sunspot group areas and the latitude distance from the average latitude of activity

Digitized Mount Wilson sunspot data from 1917 to 1985 are analyzed to examine group areas as a function of latitude distance () from the central latitude of activity in each hemisphere. On average these group areas are larger for the smallest values of ¦¦. The effect is similar to that seen for the magnetic fields of active regions (Howard, 1991). It is concluded that this is fundamentally a dependence, and not a latitude dependence. The suggestion is made that the cause of this effect is the influence of large-scale convective motions on the rising flux tubes that make up the active regions. The smaller flux tubes (spot groups) are more easily displaced in latitude during their ascent to the surface by this velocity field than are the larger flux tubes.Operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under Cooperative Agreement with the National Science Foundation.     

Particle masses in the baryon decuplet

The masses of particles in the baryon decuplet have been obtained using the theory developed in two earlier papers (Hoyle, 1990, Paper A, 1991, Paper B). Without any disposable constants being used here, the results are:

The visible and near infrared module of EChO

The Visible and Near Infrared (VNIR) is one of the modules of EChO, the Exoplanets Characterization Observatory proposed to ESA for an M-class mission. EChO is aimed to observe planets while transiting by their suns. Then the instrument had to be designed to assure a high efficiency over the whole spectral range. In fact, it has to be able to observe stars with an apparent magnitude M_v?=?9–12 and to see contrasts of the order of 10^?4–10^?5 necessary to reveal the characteristics of the atmospheres of the exoplanets under investigation. VNIR is a spectrometer in a cross-dispersed configuration, covering the 0.4–2.5 μm spectral range with a resolving power of about 330 and a field of view of 2 arcsec. It is functionally split into two channels respectively working in the 0.4–1.0 μm and 1.0–2.5 μm spectral ranges. Such a solution is imposed by the fact the light at short wavelengths has to be shared with the EChO Fine Guiding System (FGS) devoted to the pointing of the stars under observation. The spectrometer makes use of a HgCdTe detector of 512 by 512 pixels, 18 μm pitch and working at a temperature of 45 K as the entire VNIR optical bench. The instrument has been interfaced to the telescope optics by two optical fibers, one per channel, to assure an easier coupling and an easier colocation of the instrument inside the EChO optical bench.     

The OSIRIS‐REx target asteroid (101955) Bennu: Constraints on its physical,geological, and dynamical nature from astronomical observations

We review the results of an extensive campaign to determine the physical, geological, and dynamical properties of asteroid (101955) Bennu. This investigation provides information on the orbit, shape, mass, rotation state, radar response, photometric, spectroscopic, thermal, regolith, and environmental properties of Bennu. We combine these data with cosmochemical and dynamical models to develop a hypothetical timeline for Bennu's formation and evolution. We infer that Bennu is an ancient object that has witnessed over 4.5 Gyr of solar system history. Its chemistry and mineralogy were established within the first 10 Myr of the solar system. It likely originated as a discrete asteroid in the inner Main Belt approximately 0.7–2 Gyr ago as a fragment from the catastrophic disruption of a large (approximately 100‐km), carbonaceous asteroid. It was delivered to near‐Earth space via a combination of Yarkovsky‐induced drift and interaction with giant‐planet resonances. During its journey, YORP processes and planetary close encounters modified Bennu's spin state, potentially reshaping and resurfacing the asteroid. We also review work on Bennu's future dynamical evolution and constrain its ultimate fate. It is one of the most Potentially Hazardous Asteroids with an approximately 1‐in‐2700 chance of impacting the Earth in the late 22nd century. It will most likely end its dynamical life by falling into the Sun. The highest probability for a planetary impact is with Venus, followed by the Earth. There is a chance that Bennu will be ejected from the inner solar system after a close encounter with Jupiter. OSIRIS‐REx will return samples from the surface of this intriguing asteroid in September 2023.