The ARIEL Instrument Control Unit design

In this paper we present the electromagnetic modeling and beam pattern measurements of a 16-elements ultra wideband sparse random test array for the low frequency instrument of the Square Kilometer Array telescope. We discuss the importance of a small array test platform for the development of technologies and techniques towards the final telescope, highlighting the most relevant aspects of its design. We also describe the electromagnetic simulations and modeling work as well as the embedded-element and array pattern measurements using an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle system. The latter are helpful both for the validation of the models and the design as well as for the future instrumental calibration of the telescope thanks to the stable, accurate and strong radio frequency signal transmitted by the UAV. At this stage of the design, these measurements have shown a general agreement between experimental results and numerical data and have revealed the localized effect of un-calibrated cable lengths in the inner side-lobes of the array pattern.     

Optimum selection of design parameters for transportation of offshore structures

A probabilistic framework is presented to select the design significant wave height and design transverse rotation for typical barges used in the Gulf of Mexico for marine transportation of structural elements and/or systems. The selection of design transverse rotation is based on optimization procedure that trade-off between the performance of the barge subjected to a meteorological-oceanographic (metocean) hazard along the route and losses by structural damage. For this purpose probabilistic models to estimate the metocean hazard for marine transportation are shown. Afterwards, the design rotation is linked to the design of significant wave height and to the return period associated with such wave conditions. The formulation is applied to an offshore transportation route in the Gulf of Mexico.     

Evaluation of Peak Current Polarity Retrieved by the ZEUS Long-Range Lightning Monitoring System

This letter presents the first assessment of a newly developed polarity retrieval scheme augmenting a very low frequency (VLF) long-range lightning detection network (named ZEUS). The polarity scheme uses extremely low frequency (ELF) in conjunction with the VLF waveform. The measured ELF signal is compared with the simulated ELF signal to extract the polarity sign. This comparison also produces correlation coefficients that are used to assign four confidence index categories on the polarity sign. This letter presents polarity results for a period of ZEUS network operation from November 26 to December 15, 2004. Assessment of the polarity measurements is conducted through comparisons against the Brazilian lightning network Rede Integrada Nacional de Detecccedilatildeo de Descargas Atmosfeacutericas (RINDAT) that uses a well-established lightning location technology. Contingency test analysis shows that algorithm performance is consistent with the assigned confidence level, e.g., at medium confidence level, the algorithm has a 5% bias, whereas at high level, perfect agreement is shown with RINDAT. Peak current strength was found not to influence the accuracy of the polarity retrieval     

Further details on the applicability of Thellier paleointensity method: The effect of magnitude of laboratory field

Twenty years after Tanaka and Kono's pioneering contribution (Tanaka and Kono, 1984), we give some new details on the effect of applied field strength during Thellier paleointensity experiments. Special attention is paid to the relation of magnitude of laboratory field and Coe's quality factors (Coe et al., 1978). Full thermoremanent magnetizations were imparted on natural samples containing low-Ti titanomagnetites of pseudo-single domain structure in a 40-μT magnetic field from 600?°C to room temperature. The samples were subjected to the routine Thellier procedure using a wide range of applied laboratory fields. Results indicate that values of laboratory fields may be accurately reproduced within 2% of standard error. The quality factors, however, decrease when the magnitude of ‘ancient’ field does not match to applied laboratory fields. To cite this article: J. Morales et al., C. R. Geoscience 338 (2006).     

Ammonia observations of the nearby molecular cloud MBM 12

We present NH₃(1,1) and (2,2) observations of MBM 12, the closest known molecular cloud (65-pc distance), aimed at finding evidence for on-going star formation processes. No local temperature (with a T _rot upper limit of 12 K) or linewidth enhancement is found, which suggests that the area of the cloud that we have mapped (15-arcmin size) is not currently forming stars. Therefore this nearby 'starless' molecular gas region is an ideal laboratory to study the physical conditions preceding new star formation.
A radio continuum source has been found in Very Large Array archive data, close to but outside the NH₃ emission. This source is likely to be a background object.     

Spectral studies of several galaxies in the vicinity of the cluster A0569

The results of spectroscopic studies of several faint galaxies projected onto the cluster A0569 are presented. The observations were carried out at Cananea (Mexico) on the 2.12-m telescope of the Guillermo Haro Observatory equipped with a Boller and Chivens spectrograph. The redshifts of these galaxies have been determined based on their absorption and emission lines.     

First Results from ROTES: The ROtse Telescope Eclipsing-binary Survey

Detached eclipsing binaries (EBs) provide a unique opportunity to carry out stringent tests on stellar evolution models. The value of EBs is enhanced by their membership in open clusters, but the number of known systems is still very scarce. We have started a systematic search for late-type EBs in the nearest open clusters with the fully robotic ROTSE3b telescope at McDonald Observatory in West Texas. On our first campaigns on the Hyades and Collinder 359, we have identified a number of previously unknown eclipsing binary candidates. Some of these stars have been selected for spectroscopic and photometric follow-up. Here we present details of the observing and reduction strategy as well as the first results of this ongoing survey.     

Rock-magnetic properties of topsoils and urban dust from Morelia (>800,000 inhabitants), Mexico: Implications for anthropogenic pollution monitoring in Mexico’s medium size cities

In this work, we investigate the correlation between some magnetic parameters and the level of contamination by heavy metals in urban soils from Morelia city, western Mexico. The magnetic study was carried out on 98 urban soils samples belonging to distinct land uses. Most of analyzed samples contain ferrimagnetic minerals as the responsible for magnetization, most probably corresponding to the titanomagnetites/ titanomaghemites solid solutions. This is inferred from the susceptibility vs. temperature measurements and the isothermal remanent magnetization (IRM) experiments. These measurements also indicate that most of samples are almost completely saturated before 300 mT. Additionally, the S_-200 values (S_-200 = IRM_-200/ SIRM, where IRM_-200= Back-field of 200 mT after magnetic saturation) are between 0.7 and 1.0, characteristic of low coercivity magnetic minerals. The averaged saturation isothermal remanent magnetization (SIRM) curves can be used as an indicator of pollution level, as these curves show different saturation values according to the level of contamination by heavy metals: Cu, Ni, Cr and Sr. These associations of (titano)magnetite with heavy metals were observed by Scanning Electron Microscope revealing some complex aggregates rather than commonly detected spherules.     

Archeointensity investigation on pottery vestiges from Puertas de Rolón, Capacha culture: In search for affinity with other Mesoamerican pre-Hispanic cultures

We report the results of a rock magnetic and archeointensity study on pottery fragments recovered at the archaeological site of Puertas de Rolón, Capacha culture (Colima), that is considered one of the most important pre-Classic cultural developments of western Mesoamerica, Mexico. Standard rock magnetic experiments were carried out in order to investigate the reliability of the ancient field strength recovered from studied materials. Six out of the seven analyzed fragments gave reliable intensity determinations. The mean archeointensity value obtained in this study is 35.3 ± 3.4 μT. It is in good agreement with another contemporaneous Mesoamerican mean archeointensity of 34.3 ± 1.1 μT obtained for El Opeño. Statistically similar rock-magnetic parameters between ceramics from El Opeño and Puertas de Rolón potsherds appear to be related to clay-sources with similar geological settings and weathering processes. Alternatively, ancient trade or interexchange between western (Capacha Culture) and eastern Mesoamerica locations, as it has been proposed earlier, seem to be supported by results obtained in this study.