A class of semi-analytical solutions for a rotating toroidal plasma

In this paper, the problem of stationary MHD flow for a rotating toroidal plasma is investigated by assuming that the entropy is a surface quantity. Then, the system of ideal MHD equations is reduced to a single second-order elliptic partial differential equation known as the modified Grad-Shafranov (or Maschke-Perrin) equation. Under the assumption that both the function,P _s andf ² are quadratic polynomials of the flux function, a class of semi-analytical solutions is obtained for a plasma contained in a perfectly conducting toroidal boundary with a rectangular cross section. The flux function, poloidal current and the generalized pressure are obtained and discussed for relevant values of the parameters.     

The solution of radiation transfer problem for a slab with space-dependent albedo and anisotropic scattering

The transport of thermal radiation has been considered within a finite slab which absorb and scatter anisotropically. The problem involves the space-dependent single-scattering albedow(x). Two approximations are taken forw(x). In the first it is represented in exponential form asw(x)=w ₀ exp(–x/s), wherew ₀ ands are given constants andx is the optical variable. The second approximation assumes the formw(x) = _r=0 ^R d _r ^* p _r (x/a), whered _r ^* are known expansion coefficients anda is the half optical thickness of the slab. Analytic expressions for the forward, backward radiation intensities and fluxes are given in each approximation. The solution of the linear transport equation is performed on the basis of integral Fourier transforms.     

Detection of high-energy solar neutrons and protons by ground level detectors on April 15, 2001

In association with the large solar flare of April 15, 2001, the Chacaltaya neutron monitor observed a 3.6σ enhancement of the counting rate between 13:51 and 14:15 UT. Since the enhancement was observed beginning 11 min before the GLE, solar neutrons must be involved in this enhancement. The integral energy spectrum of solar neutrons can be expressed by a simple power law in energy with the index γ=-3.0±1.0. On the other hand, an integral energy spectrum of solar protons has been obtained in the energy range between 650 MeV and 12 GeV. The spectrum can also be expressed by a power law with the power index γ=-2.75±0.15. The flux of solar protons observed at Chacaltaya (at 12 GeV) was already one order less than the flux of the galactic cosmic rays. It may be the first simultaneous observation of the energy spectra of both high-energy protons and neutrons. Comparing the Yohkoh soft X-ray telescope images with the observed particle time profiles, an interesting picture of the particle acceleration mechanism has been deduced.     

Identification of a new outflow channel on Mars in Syrtis Major Planum using HRSC/MEx data

Syrtis Major Planum is a volcanic plain dominated by lava flows. High resolution stereo camera (HRSC) images of the northern Syrtis Major region display erosional features such as grooves, teardrop-shaped islands and valleys. These landforms are characteristics of outflow channels seen on Mars, therefore implying that a flood event took place in this region. The flow of 100 km long and a few kilometer wide followed the local slopes in most locations. Maximum flood discharges estimated from images and topography vary from about 0.3×10⁶ to 8×10⁶ m³/s, and therefore are in the range of terrestrial mega-floods in the Scablands or Lake Bonneville. In North Syrtis Major, the relationships with surrounding lava flows and the timing of the flood coeval to Syrtis Major volcanic activity suggest that it could be related to the subsurface water discharge mobilized by the volcanic activity. The proximity of Noachian age basement rocks 20 km away from the flood and below lava flows might have played a role in its formation and water presence.     

The birth of the Paratethys during the Early Oligocene: From Tethys to an ancient Black Sea analogue?

Deeper water black shales, overlain by coccolith-bearing marlstones representing the incipient Paratethys (example: Early Oligocene; Austrian Molasse Basin), have sedimentary characteristics similar to those of the Holocene Black Sea since 7500 years bp. Framboid pyrite size, biomarker and C–N-isotope data additionally indicate that isolation of the Paratethys resulted in Black Sea-type characteristics during nannoplankton zone NP 23.In contrast to the estuarine circulation across the Bosphorus since 7500 years bp, marine conditions prevailed in the incipient Paratethys during NP 21/22. Nitrogen was fixed and low organic carbon accumulation rates prevailed. In both settings a vertical density water-column stratification was accompanied by photic zone anoxia, and by anaerobic methane oxidation in the Paratethys. In the Paratethys increased run off, starting in NP 22, led to estuarine circulation during NP 23. During this period cyclic blooms of calcareous nannoplankton resulted in high calcite accumulation rates which diluted the coeval clay sedimentation. Similar sedimentary features in the Black Sea and the Paratethys during the earliest Oligocene are result from opposite paleoceanographic developments, both leading to estuarine circulation patterns. In the Black Sea, permanent photic zone anoxic conditions were established 7500 years bp in response to the first invasion of saline Mediterranean waters into the former freshwater lake. In contrast, brackish surface water in the Paratethys resulted from nutrient-rich freshwater diluting the marine water body.     

Nature of the iogenic plasma source in Jupiter's magnetosphere: II. Near-Io distribution

Three-dimensional calculations are presented for the distribution of the iogenic plasma source that is created near Io (i.e., within ∼24 satellite radii about Io) by O and S gases located in the volume above Io's exobase (i.e., corona and escaping extended neutral clouds, designated as the “Outer Region”) and are complementary to a preceding paper for calculations on a circumplanetary scale. The instantaneous pickup ion production rates for both electron impact and charge exchange have significant radial, north-south, and orbital-plane asymmetries beginning just inside and/or beyond Io's Lagrange sphere (5.81 Io radii) and, within the Lagrange sphere, are distributed nearly symmetrically about Io and are highly peaked about Io's exobase. The spatial natures of the corresponding pickup ion density, mass loading rates, and the pickup ion conductivity, current, and magnetic field are investigated. Spatially integrated rates are calculated for the corona volume and compared to larger Outer Region circumplanetary volumes and are also compared to estimates drawn from the scientific literature (but not modeled here) of the spatially integrated rates for pickup processes in the strongly perturbed “Inner Region” below the exobase. Within the corona volume, the spatially-integrated net-mass loading rate and total (electron impact and charge exchange) mass loading rate are only a factor of ∼3 and ∼5, respectively, smaller than those estimated for the Inner Region, whereas for the whole plasma torus, the Outer Region rates are larger or comparable to those estimated for the Inner Region. The total pickup ion gyration power supplied to the whole plasma torus is estimated to be significantly less than the power radiated by the plasma torus, indicating that an additional power source, likely a circumplanetary distribution of nonthermal electrons, is present.     

Jupiter's ammonia clouds—localized or ubiquitous?

From an analysis of the Galileo Near Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (NIMS) data, Baines et al. (Icarus 159 (2002) 74) have reported that spectrally identifiable ammonia clouds (SIACs) cover less than 1% of Jupiter. Localized ammonia clouds have been identified also in the Cassini Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) observations (Planet. Space Sci. 52 (2004a) 385). Yet, ground-based, satellite and spacecraft observations show that clouds exist everywhere on Jupiter. Thermochemical models also predict that Jupiter must be covered with clouds, with the top layer made up of ammonia ice. For a solar composition atmosphere, models predict the base of the ammonia clouds to be at 720 mb, at 1000 mb if N/H were 4×solar, and at 0.5 bar for depleted ammonia of 10⁻²×solar (Planet. Space Sci. 47 (1999) 1243). Thus, the above NIMS and CIRS findings are seemingly at odds with other observations and cloud physics models. We suggest that the clouds of ammonia ice are ubiquitous on Jupiter, but that spectral identification of all but the freshest of the ammonia clouds and high altitude ammonia haze is inhibited by a combination of (i) dusting, starting with hydrocarbon haze particles falling from Jupiter's stratosphere and combining with an even much larger source—the hydrazine haze; (ii) cloud properties, including ammonia aerosol particle size effects. In this paper, we investigate the role of photochemical haze and find that a substantial amount of haze material can deposit on the upper cloud layer of Jupiter, possibly enough to mask its spectral signature. The stratospheric haze particles result from condensation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), whereas hydrazine ice is formed from ammonia photochemistry. We anticipate similar conditions to prevail on Saturn.     

Regolith history of lunar meteorites

Abstract— The regolith evolution of the lunar meteorites Dhofar (Dho) 081, Northwest Africa (NWA) 032, NWA 482, NWA 773, Sayh al Uhaymir (SaU) 169, and Yamato (Y‐) 981031 was investigated by measuring the light noble gases He, Ne, and Ar. The presence of trapped solar neon in Dho 081, NWA 773, and Y‐981031 indicates an exposure at the lunar surface. A neon three‐isotope diagram for lunar meteorites yields an average solar ²⁰Ne/²²Ne ratio of 12.48 ± 0.07 representing a mixture of solar energetic particles neon at a ratio of 11.2 and solar wind neon at a ratio of 13.8. Based on the production rate ratio of ²¹Ne and ³⁸Ar, the shielding depth in the lunar regolith of NWA 032, NWA 482, SaU 169, and Y‐981031 was obtained. The shielding depth of these samples was between 10.5 g/cm² and >500 g/cm². Based on spallogenic Kr and Xe, the shielding depth of Dho 081 was estimated to be most likely between 120 and 180 g/cm². Assuming a mean density of the lunar regolith of 1.8 g/cm³, 10.5 g/cm² corresponds to a depth of 5.8 cm and 500 g/cm² to 280 cm below the lunar surface. The range of regolith residence time observed in this study is 100 Ma up to 2070 Ma.