Robotic optical telescopes global network MASTER II. Equipment, structure, algorithms

Presented paper describes the basic principles and features of the implementation of a robotic network of optical telescopes MASTER, designed to study the prompt (simultaneous with gamma radiation) optical emission of gamma-ray bursts and to perform the sky survey to detect unknown objects and transient phenomena. With joint efforts of Sternberg astronomical institute, High altitude astronomical station of the Pulkovo observatory, Ural state university, Irkutsk state university, Blagoveshchensk pedagogical university, the robotic telescopes MASTER?II near Kislovodsk, Yekaterinburg, Irkutsk and Blagoveshchensk were installed and tested. The network spread over the longitudes is greater than 6?h. A further expansion of the network is considered.     

OSL and ESR studies of Aeolian quartz from the Upper Pleistocene loess sequence of Nussloch (Germany)

As part of a chronological study of the famous Upper Pleistocene Nussloch (Germany) loess sequence, three samples were collected to check the applicability of palaeodosimetric dating methods (OSL and ESR) to quartz grains. The ESR-multicentre method showed a partial bleaching of the ESR centers in aeolian sands. This partial bleaching was also observed by OSL. Laminated loess seemed to be sufficiently bleached but showed a large scatter of the doses, which we ascribed to heterogeneous responses of the luminescent grains to the SAR protocol. Ages could nevertheless be calculated for the three samples and were found to be somewhat older than the IRSL and ¹⁴C ages obtained for the same layers of the laminated loess.     

Influence of the plasma zonal E × B drift on the electron concentration in the low-latitude ionospheric F region at the minimum of solar activity near the spring equinox

The three-dimensional nonstationary theoretical model of the concentrations and temperatures of electrons and ions in the ionospheric F region and plasmasphere at low and middle latitudes is used to study variations in the concentration NmF2 and height hmF2 of the ionospheric F2 layer under the action of the plasma zonal drift in the direction geomagnetic west-geomagnetic east perpendicularly to the electric E and geomagnetic B fields. The calculated and measured values of NmF2 and hmF2 for 16 ionospheric sounding stations during the quiet geomagnetic period on March 28–29, 1964 at low solar activity are compared. This comparison made it possible to correct the input parameters of the model: [O] from the NRLMSISE-00 model and the meridional component of the neutral wind velocity from the HWW90 model. It is shown that the nighttime NmF2 values decrease up to twice at low solar activity in the low-latitude ionosphere, and the hmF2 values change by up to 16 km, if the plasma zonal E×B drift is not taken into account. Under the daytime conditions, the influence of the plasma zonal E×B drift on NmF2 can be neglected.     

Solving the problem of shock wave attenuation in an obstacle during a contact explosion of a high-energy material charge

A problem of estimation of shock wave attenuation in an obstacle under an explosion of a high-energy material (explosive) charge on its surface is considered. An algorithm for its solution is proposed using the analytical and semiempirical dependences generally recognized in explosion physics.