9,179 research outputs found
Mid-Infrared Spectrophotometric Observations of Fragments B and C of Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3
We present mid-infrared spectra and images from the GEMINI-N (+Michelle)
observations of fragments SW3-[B] and SW3-[C] of the ecliptic (Jupiter Family)
comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 pre-perihelion. We observed fragment B soon
after an outburst event (between 2006 April 16 - 26 UT) and detected
crystalline silicates. The mineralogy of both fragments was dominated by
amorphous carbon and amorphous pyroxene. The grain size distribution (assuming
a Hanner modified power-law) for fragment SW3-[B] has a peak grain radius of
a_p ~ 0.5 micron, and for fragment SW3-[C], a_p ~ 0.3 micron; both values
larger than the peak grain radius of the size distribution for the dust ejected
from ecliptic comet 9P/Tempel 1 during the Deep Impact event (a_p = 0.2 micron.
The silicate-to-carbon ratio and the silicate crystalline mass fraction for the
submicron to micron-size portion of the grain size distribution on the nucleus
of fragment SW3-[B] was 1.341 +0.250 -0.253 and 0.335 +0.089 -0.112,
respectively, while on the nucleus of fragment SW3-[C] was 0.671 +0.076 -0.076
and 0.257 +0.039 -0.043, respectively. The similarity in mineralogy and grain
properties between the two fragments implies that 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 is
homogeneous in composition. The slight differences in grain size distribution
and silicate-to-carbon ratio between the two fragments likely arises because
SW3-[B] was actively fragmenting throughout its passage while the activity in
SW3-[C] was primarily driven by jets. The lack of diverse mineralogy in the
fragments SW3-[B] and SW3-[C] of 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 along with the
relatively larger peak in the coma grain size distribution suggests the parent
body of this comet may have formed in a region of the solar nebula with
different environmental properties than the natal sites where comet C/1995 O1
(Hale-Bopp) and 9P/Tempel 1 nuclei aggregated.Comment: 31 pages, 5 figure, accepted for publication in A
Spike Events Processing for Vision Systems
In this paper we briefly summarize the fundamental
properties of spike events processing applied to artificial
vision systems. This sensing and processing technology
is capable of very high speed throughput, because it
does not rely on sensing and processing sequences of
frames, and because it allows for complex hierarchically
structured cortical-like layers for sophisticated
processing. The paper includes a few examples that have
demonstrated the potential of this technology for highspeed
vision processing, such as a multilayer event
processing network of 5 sequential cortical-like layers,
and a recognition system capable of discriminating
propellers of different shape rotating at 5000 revolutions
per second (300000 revolutions per minute)
Sensing and mapping for interactive performance
This paper describes a trans-domain mapping (TDM) framework for translating meaningful activities from one creative domain onto another. The multi-disciplinary framework is designed to facilitate an intuitive and non-intrusive interactive multimedia performance interface that offers the users or performers real-time control of multimedia events using their physical movements. It is intended to be a highly dynamic real-time performance tool, sensing and tracking activities and changes, in order to provide interactive multimedia performances.
From a straightforward definition of the TDM framework, this paper reports several implementations and multi-disciplinary collaborative projects using the proposed framework, including a motion and colour-sensitive system, a sensor-based system for triggering musical events, and a distributed multimedia server for audio mapping of a real-time face tracker, and discusses different aspects of mapping strategies in their context.
Plausible future directions, developments and exploration with the proposed framework, including stage augmenta tion, virtual and augmented reality, which involve sensing and mapping of physical and non-physical changes onto multimedia control events, are discussed
ASIME 2018 White Paper. In-Space Utilisation of Asteroids: Asteroid Composition -- Answers to Questions from the Asteroid Miners
In keeping with the Luxembourg government's initiative to support the future
use of space resources, ASIME 2018 was held in Belval, Luxembourg on April
16-17, 2018.
The goal of ASIME 2018: Asteroid Intersections with Mine Engineering, was to
focus on asteroid composition for advancing the asteroid in-space resource
utilisation domain. What do we know about asteroid composition from
remote-sensing observations? What are the potential caveats in the
interpretation of Earth-based spectral observations? What are the next steps to
improve our knowledge on asteroid composition by means of ground-based and
space-based observations and asteroid rendez-vous and sample return missions?
How can asteroid mining companies use this knowledge?
ASIME 2018 was a two-day workshop of almost 70 scientists and engineers in
the context of the engineering needs of space missions with in-space asteroid
utilisation. The 21 Questions from the asteroid mining companies were sorted
into the four asteroid science themes: 1) Potential Targets, 2)
Asteroid-Meteorite Links, 3) In-Situ Measurements and 4) Laboratory
Measurements. The Answers to those Questions were provided by the scientists
with their conference presentations and collected by A. Graps or edited
directly into an open-access collaborative Google document or inserted by A.
Graps using additional reference materials. During the ASIME 2018, first day
and second day Wrap-Ups, the answers to the questions were discussed further.
New readers to the asteroid mining topic may find the Conversation boxes and
the Mission Design discussions especially interesting.Comment: Outcome from the ASIME 2018: Asteroid Intersections with Mine
Engineering, Luxembourg. April 16-17, 2018. 65 Pages. arXiv admin note:
substantial text overlap with arXiv:1612.0070
The Data Big Bang and the Expanding Digital Universe: High-Dimensional, Complex and Massive Data Sets in an Inflationary Epoch
Recent and forthcoming advances in instrumentation, and giant new surveys,
are creating astronomical data sets that are not amenable to the methods of
analysis familiar to astronomers. Traditional methods are often inadequate not
merely because of the size in bytes of the data sets, but also because of the
complexity of modern data sets. Mathematical limitations of familiar algorithms
and techniques in dealing with such data sets create a critical need for new
paradigms for the representation, analysis and scientific visualization (as
opposed to illustrative visualization) of heterogeneous, multiresolution data
across application domains. Some of the problems presented by the new data sets
have been addressed by other disciplines such as applied mathematics,
statistics and machine learning and have been utilized by other sciences such
as space-based geosciences. Unfortunately, valuable results pertaining to these
problems are mostly to be found only in publications outside of astronomy. Here
we offer brief overviews of a number of concepts, techniques and developments,
some "old" and some new. These are generally unknown to most of the
astronomical community, but are vital to the analysis and visualization of
complex datasets and images. In order for astronomers to take advantage of the
richness and complexity of the new era of data, and to be able to identify,
adopt, and apply new solutions, the astronomical community needs a certain
degree of awareness and understanding of the new concepts. One of the goals of
this paper is to help bridge the gap between applied mathematics, artificial
intelligence and computer science on the one side and astronomy on the other.Comment: 24 pages, 8 Figures, 1 Table. Accepted for publication: "Advances in
Astronomy, special issue "Robotic Astronomy
Image and Volume Segmentation by Water Flow
A general framework for image segmentation is presented in this paper, based on the paradigm of water flow. The major water flow attributes like water pressure, surface tension and capillary force are defined in the context of force field generation and make the model adaptable to topological and geometrical changes. A flow-stopping image functional combining edge- and region-based forces is introduced to produce capability for both range and accuracy. The method is assessed qualitatively and quantitatively on synthetic and natural images. It is shown that the new approach can segment objects with complex shapes or weak-contrasted boundaries, and has good immunity to noise. The operator is also extended to 3-D, and is successfully applied to medical volume segmentation
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