Simulation of stiff massless tethers

A model is developed and an algorithm presented for the time simulation of low-tension tethers with torsional and bending stiffness. Computational performance is extremely good owing to the neglect of all inertial terms, and quaternions enable arbitrary deflections. A first example verifies the accuracy of the program, and a second illustrates tether behavior during a complex maneuver.     

Infrared,Raman, and cathodoluminescence studies of impact glasses

Abstract— We studied the infrared reflectance (IR), Raman, and cathodoluminescence (CL) spectroscopic signatures and scanning electron microscope‐cathodoluminescence (SEM‐CL) images of three different types of impact glasses: Aouelloul impact glass, a Muong Nong‐type tektite, and Libyan desert glass. Both backscattered electron (BSE) and CL images of the Muong Nong‐type tektite are featureless; the BSE image of the Libyan desert glass shows only weak brightness contrasts. For the Aouelloul glass, both BSE and CL images show distinct brightness contrast, and the CL images for the Libyan desert glass show spectacular flow textures that are not visible in any other microscopic method. Compositional data show that the SiO₂ composition is relatively higher and the Al₂O₃ content is lower in the CL‐bright areas than in the CL‐dark regions. The different appearance of the three glass types in the CL images indicates different peak temperatures during glass formation: the tektite was subjected to the highest temperature, and the Aouelloul impact glass experienced a relatively low formation temperature, while the Libyan desert glass preserves a flow texture that is only visible in the CL images, indicating a medium temperature. All IR reflectance spectra show a major band at around 1040 to 1110 cm^?1 (antisymmetric stretching of SiO₄ tetrahedra), with minor peaks between 745 and 769 cm^?1 (Si‐O‐Si angle deformation). Broad bands at 491 and 821 cm^?1 in the Raman spectra in all samples are most likely related to diaplectic glass remnants, indicating early shock amorphization followed by thermal amorphization. The combination of these spectroscopic methods allows us to deduce information about the peak formation temperature of the glass, and the CL images, in particular, show glass flow textures that are not preserved in other more conventional petrographic images.     

The occultation of AG+29°398 by 93 Minerva

The occultation of AG+29°398 by 93 Minerva on 22 November 1982 was successflly observed at 10 sites. The data are best fitted by a circular limb profile having a diameter of 170.8 ± 1.4 km, a value that agrees well with the published radiometric diameter for this asteriod. However, evidence of significant departure from a spherical shape is found in the occultation observations and in photometric measurements of Minerva made at Lowell Observatory over several months. Additional observations are needed to specify definitively the three-dimensional figure of Minerva.     

A generalization of Hopf's bifurcation problem

The topic presented here is not really a topic of celestial mechanics, because a dissipative system is considered, and dissipative systems do not occur in celestial mechanics at least if drag is not taken into account. Only in the theoretical background of Baumgarte-Stiefel stabilization dissipative systems become important. The only justification is that, in order to establish the result, a tool, namely the method of averaging, is used here which is a good tool for many problems of celestial mechanics too.Proceedings of the Sixth Conference on Mathematical Methods in Celestial Mechanics held at Oberwolfach (West Germany) from 14 to 19 August, 1978.     

Some properties of velocity fields in the solar photosphere

Photoelectric records of the Doppler effect (DE) and longitudinal Zeeman effect (LZE) were obtained with the Capri magnetograph of the Fraunhofer Institut photoelectric, using the Fei line λ 5250.22. Each record consists of 65 scans repeated along the same line on the sun. The analysis of 16 records covering a total of 485 oscillating regions (period 300 sec) leads to the following results:

1. (1)
   The mean lifetime of the DE-oscillations outside active regions is 20 min and 32 min in the neighborhood of spotgroups. Discarding the weakest sporadic osculations, one obtains 27 min and 43 min respectively. The most frequent lifetime in both cases is 15 min.     

Mapping of lunar surface from side-looking orbital radar images

Side-looking spacecraft radar imagery has thus far been produced only from an orbit around the Moon. This was a part of the Apollo Lunar Sounder Experiment (ALSE) of the Apollo 17 mission in December, 1972. This paper reports results of a radargrammetric evaluation of overlapping Apollo 17 synthetic aperture radar images (wavelength 2 m). The potential to map from single images and to reconstruct 3D stereoscopic models is studied. The relative height accuracy achieved is about ± 100 m and is thus competitive with that obtained with the vidicon camera that is presently used for planetary exploration.NAS-NRC Resident Research Associate.     

1: Subduction, slab detachment and mineralization: The Neogene in the Apuseni Mountains and Carpathians

The Inner Carpathians comprise several distinct Neogene late-stage orogenic Pb–Zn–Cu–Ag–Au ore districts. The mineral deposits in these districts are closely related to volcanic and subvolcanic rocks, and represent mainly porphyry and epithermal vein deposits, which formed within short periods of time in each district. Here, we discuss possible geodynamic and structural controls that suggest why some of the Neogene volcanic districts within the Carpathians comprise abundant mineralization, while others are barren. The Neogene period has been characterized by an overall geodynamic regime of subduction, where primary roll-back of the subducted slab and secondary phenomena, like slab break-off and the development of slab windows, could have contributed to the evolution, location and type of volcanic activity. Structural features developing in the overlying lithosphere and visible in the Carpathian crust, such as transtensional wrench corridors, block rotation and relay structures due to extrusion tectonics, have probably acted in focusing hydrothermal activity. As a result of particular events in the geodynamic evolution and the development of specific structural features, mineralization formed during fluid channelling within transtensional wrench settings and during periods of extension related to block rotation.In the Slovakian ore district of the Western Carpathians, Neogene volcanism and associated mineralization were localized by sinistral, NE-trending wrench corridors, which formed part of the extruding Alcapa block. The Baia Mare ore district, in the Eastern Carpathians, reflects a transtensional wrench setting on distributed oversteps close to the termination of the Dragos Voda fault. There, mineralization was spatially controlled by the transtensional Dragos Voda master fault and associated cross-fault systems. The Golden Quadrangle Cu–Au ore district of the Southern Apuseni Mountains reflects an unusual rotated transtensional/extensional setting close to the termination of a graben system. There, fluid flow was probably localized by fault propagation at the inner tip of the graben system.The spatial and temporal evolution of the magmatism and its changing geochemical signature from (N)W to (S)E strongly suggests a link with the contemporaneous northeastward roll-back of the subducted slab and a progressive southeastward detachment during accelerating roll-back. This geodynamic evolution is further supported by the present-day overall and detailed mantle lithospheric density images, the present-day heat flow patterns, the crustal architecture and its interpreted evolution, and the spatial and temporal evolution of depocentres around the Carpathian arc. In contrast to all these features, the mineral deposits in the West Carpathians, East Carpathians and Apuseni Mountains are too synchronous with respect to their individual volcanic history and contrast too much with younger volcanics of similar style, but barren, in southeastern parts of the Carpathians to simply link them directly to the slab evolution. In all three districts, the presence of magmatic fluids released from shallow plutons and their mixing with meteoric water were critical for mineralization, requiring transtensional or extensional local regimes at the time of mineralization, possibly following initial compressional regimes.These three systems show that mineralization was probably controlled by the superposition of favourable mantle lithospheric conditions and partly independent, evolving upper crustal deformation conditions.In the 13 to 11 Ma period the dominant mineralization formed all across the Carpathians, and was superimposed on structurally favourable crustal areas with, at that time, volcanic–hydrothermal activity. The period may reflect the moment when the (upper part of the) crust failed under lithospheric extension imposed by the slab evolution. This crustal failure would have fragmented the overriding plate, possibly breaking up the thermal lid, to provoke intensive fluid flow in specific areas, and allowed subsequent accelerated tectonic development, block rotation and extrusion of a “family of sub-blocks” that are arbitrarily regarded as the Tisia–Dacia or Alcapa blocks, even though they have lost their internal entity.