The formation and stability of carbonic acid on outer Solar System bodies

The radiation chemistry, thermal stability, and vapor pressure of solid-phase carbonic acid (H₂CO₃) have been studied with mid-infrared spectroscopy. A new procedure for measuring this molecule’s radiation stability has been used to obtain intrinsic IR band strengths and half-lives for radiolytic destruction. We report, for the first time, measurements of carbonic acid’s vapor pressure (0.290-2.33 × 10⁻¹¹ bar for 240-255 K) and its enthalpy of sublimation (71 ± 9 kJ mol⁻¹). We also report the first observation of a chemical reaction involving solid-phase carbonic acid. Possible applications of these findings are discussed, with an emphasis on the outer Solar System icy surfaces.     

Radiolysis of sulfuric acid, sulfuric acid monohydrate, and sulfuric acid tetrahydrate and its relevance to Europa

We report laboratory studies on the 0.8 MeV proton irradiation of ices composed of sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄), sulfuric acid monohydrate (H₂SO₄·H₂O), and sulfuric acid tetrahydrate (H₂SO₄·4H₂O) between 10 and 180 K. Using infrared spectroscopy, we identify the main radiation products as H₂O, SO₂, (S₂O₃)_x, H₃O⁺, , and . At high radiation doses, we find that H₂SO₄ molecules are destroyed completely and that H₂SO₄·H₂O is formed on subsequent warming. This hydrate is significantly more stable to radiolytic destruction than pure H₂SO₄, falling to an equilibrium relative abundance of 50% of its original value on prolonged irradiation. Unlike either pure H₂SO₄ or H₂SO₄·H₂O, the loss of H₂SO₄·4H₂O exhibits a strong temperature dependence, as the tetrahydrate is essentially unchanged at the highest irradiation temperatures and completely destroyed at the lowest ones, which we speculate is due to a combination of radiolytic destruction and amorphization. Furthermore, at the lower temperatures it is clear that irradiation causes the tetrahydrate spectrum to transition to one that closely resembles the monohydrate spectrum. Extrapolating our results to Europa’s surface, we speculate that the variations in SO₂ concentrations observed in the chaotic terrains are a result of radiation processing of lower hydration states of sulfuric acid and that the monohydrate will remain stable on the surface over geological times, while the tetrahydrate will remain stable in the warmer regions but be destroyed in the colder regions, unless it can be reformed by other processes, such as thermal reactions induced by diurnal cycling.     

Reinvestigation of the irregularities in the 3H decay

Having in mind the potential impact of the results presented by Veprev and Muromtsev (2012) [13] on our knowledge of the universe, we reinvestigated the liquid scintillation measurement of the count rate variations of ³H. Making use of the sophisticated Quantulus liquid scintillation spectrometer, we found that the measurement of the high-energy tail of ³H spectrum may be significantly influenced by instrumental instability. Thus, the possible explanation for the relatively high count rate variations of Veprev and Muromtsev (2012) [13] can be attributed mainly to the walk of the cut-off in the integrated spectrum, although weak variations of different origin could be masked by such cut-off drifts. In our experiment we have also registered the oscillatory behavior of measured high-energy tail of ³H spectrum, but with very small amplitude (less than 0.5%), which cannot be easily explained only by instrumental instability. When the total ³H spectrum was measured, no significant variations in the count rate were found.     

Second kind Chebyshev operational matrix algorithm for solving differential equations of Lane–Emden type

In this paper, we present a new second kind Chebyshev (S2KC) operational matrix of derivatives. With the aid of S2KC, an algorithm is described to obtain numerical solutions of a class of linear and nonlinear Lane–Emden type singular initial value problems (IVPs). The idea of obtaining such solutions is essentially based on reducing the differential equation with its initial conditions to a system of algebraic equations. Two illustrative examples concern relevant physical problems (the Lane–Emden equations of the first and second kind) are discussed to demonstrate the validity and applicability of the suggested algorithm. Numerical results obtained are comparing favorably with the analytical known solutions.     

Bianchi type-IX cosmic strings in a scalar-tensor theory of gravitation

Bianchi type-IX space-time is considered in the presence of cosmic string source in the frame work of a scalar- tensor theory of gravitation proposed by Saez and Ballester (Phys. Lett. A 113:467, 1985). Exact cosmological models representing geometric (Nambu) string, p string and baratropic string are discussed in this theory. Some physical and kinematical properties of the models are also studied.     

Numerical studies on the structure of the cosmic ray electron halo in starburst galaxies

The structure of the cosmic ray electron halo of a starburst galaxy depends strongly on the nature of galactic wind and the configuration of the magnetic field. We have investigated these dependencies by solving numerically the propagation of electrons originating in starburst galaxies, most likely in supernova remnants. The calculations are made for several models for the galactic winds and for the configuration of the magnetic fields for comparison with observations. Our simulation of a quasi-radio halo reproduces both the extended structure of ∼9 kpc and the subtle hollow structure near the polar region of the radio halo that are observed in the starburst galaxy NGC 253. These findings suggest the existence of strong galactic wind in NGC 253.      

The QUaD experiment

QUaD is a 31 pixel array of polarization sensitive bolometer pairs coupled to a 2.6 m Cassegrain radio telescope. The telescope is attached to the mount originally built for the DASI experiment and located at the South Pole. The telescope system is described along with details of instrumental characterization studies which we have performed. A first season of CMB observations is complete and the second season underway. Details of the current status of these observations and their analysis are presented.