Gauribidanur Low-Frequency Solar Spectrograph

A new radio spectrograph, dedicated to observe the Sun, has been recently commissioned by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics (IIA) at the Gauribidanur Radio Observatory, about 100 km North of Bangalore. The instrument, called the Gauribidanur Low-frequency Solar Spectrograph (GLOSS), operates in the frequency range≈40?–?440 MHz. Radio emission in this frequency range originates close to the Sun, typically in the radial distance range r≈1.1?–?2.0 R_⊙. This article describes the characteristics of the GLOSS and the first results.     

A Low-Frequency (30 – 110 MHz) Antenna System for Observations of Polarized Radio Emission from the Solar Corona

An interferometer antenna system to observe polarized radio emission from the solar corona at different frequencies in the range 30?–?110 MHz has been commissioned recently by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics at the Gauribidanur Radio Observatory (latitude 13°36^′12^′′N and longitude 77°27^′07^′′E), about 100 km north of Bangalore (http://www.iiap.res.in/centres_radio.htm). This paper describes the antenna system, associated analog/digital receiver setup, calibration scheme, and preliminary results.     

In-orbit Performance of UVIT and First Results

The performance of the ultraviolet telescope (UVIT) on-board AstroSat is reported. The performance in orbit is also compared with estimates made from the calibrations done on the ground. The sensitivity is found to be within \(\sim \)15% of the estimates, and the spatial resolution in the NUV is found to exceed significantly the design value of \(1.8^{\prime \prime }\) and it is marginally better in the FUV. Images obtained from UVIT are presented to illustrate the details revealed by the high spatial resolution. The potential of multi-band observations in the ultraviolet with high spatial resolution is illustrated by some results.     

Radio Interferometric Observations of the Sun Using Commercial Dish TV Antennas

This memoir is a summary of my early childhood, education, and research career at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Washington, DC. I describe my early interest in astronomy and how I wound up working in the fields of solar physics and X-ray-UV spectroscopy of high temperature plasmas. I describe some of my home life and other interests, my education at the University of Pittsburgh, and the various projects and management activities that I have been fortunate to work on at NRL. I have been blessed with being able to work at a first-class research laboratory populated by outstanding scientists. I am particularly blessed to have worked with my many friends and colleagues in the NRL Space Science Division. Perhaps I am most blessed by having had wonderful parents that gave me the interests I have in life and the passion to pursue them, and an outstanding wife that has been my partner through good and bad times for over 50 years. I am now retired but for three years I was a participant in the NRL Voluntary Emeritus Program (VEP). However, this memoir is a personal account, and not work done as a VEP.

     

Prioritization of cyclone preparedness activities in humanitarian supply chains using fuzzy analytical network process

Natural Hazards - During recent years, the importance of preparedness has increased with increasing frequency of disasters and the cost associated with relief and response activities. Therefore,...