Fresnel modeling of hematite crystal surfaces and application to martian hematite spherules

The gray crystalline hematite at Meridiani Planum first discovered by the Mars Global Surveyor Thermal Emission Spectrometer (MGS-TES) instrument occurs as spherules that have been interpreted as concretions. Analysis of the TES and mini-TES spectra shows that no 390 cm⁻¹ feature is present in the characteristic martian hematite spectrum. Here, we incorporate the mid-IR optical constants of hematite into a simple Fresnel reflectance model to understand the effect of emission angle and crystal morphology on the presence or absence of the 390 cm⁻¹ feature in an IR hematite spectrum. Based on the results we offer two models for the internal structure of the martian hematite spherules.     

Muon flux at the geographical South Pole

The muon flux at the South Pole was measured for five zenith angles, 0°, 15°, 35°, 82.13° and 85.15° with a scintillator muon telescope incorporating ice Cherenkov tank detectors as the absorber. We compare the measurements with other data and with calculations.     

Structure and dynamics of the Bok globule B335

CO maps of the Bok globule B335 are presented and used to derive its density profile, mass distribution, and rotational velocity structure. It is found that the cloud is in nearly hydrostatic equilibrium with a density profile that varies roughly as r^?1 in the core and r^?3 in the envelope. The observed rotation is unimportant in the force balance at the present stage of evolution.     

A feasibility study of cosmic microwave radiation via graphite needles

It is pointed out that the total amount of microwave radiation that could possibly be generated by all the graphite needles in space would be considerably smaller than the observed total energy of the cosmic microwave background radiation. The question of relevant optical depth of the cloud containing the needles has been examined. It is found that the optical depth is not sufficiently large for the cloud to radiate like a black body.     

Red-violet asymmetry in pearl satellites' birth

A high resolution numerical sonagram of Pc-1 magnetic record has shown that single narrow lines of Pc-1 spectra produce lower frequency (“red-shifted”) satellite lines more than twice as often as their higher frequency (“violet”) counterparts. The violet satellites usually emerge only when at least two ancestor lines are present simultaneously.     

One-photon and two-photon annihilation lines in gamma-bursts,I

This paper and subsequent Paper II are an investigation of the annihilation line formation in gamma-ray bursts based on the assumption of positron production in a strong magnetic field (because of one-photon absorption of hard gamma-quanta radiated in the neutron star hot polar spot). We discuss a two-photon annihilation line in this paper. It is shown that if the star magnetic field is greater than 3×10¹² G, the relative flux in the line depends solely on the hardness of the continuum and is, as a rule, less than or about 10–20% of the total flux. This is consistent with the spectral data recorded by ‘Venera-11’ and ‘Venera-12’ space probes. The annihilation region formation above the hot polar spot is discussed, and positron density and annihilation region dimensions are estimated.     

Subtidal sea level and current variations in the northern reach of San Francisco Bay

Analyses of sea level and current-meter data using digital filters and a variety of statistical methods show a variety of phenomena related to non-local coastal forcing and local tidal forcing in the northern reach of San Francisco Bay, a partially mixed estuary. Low-frequency variations in sea level are dominated by non-local variations in coastal sea level and also show a smaller influence from tidally induced fortnightly sea level variations. Low-frequency currents demonstrate a gravitational circulation which is modified by changes in tidal-current speed over the spring-neap tidal cycle. Transients in gravitational circulation induce internal oscillations with periods of two to four days.