The Pioneer maser signal anomaly: Possible confirmation of spontaneous photon blueshifting

The novel physics methodology of subquantum kinetics predicted in 1980 that photons should blueshift their frequency at a rate that varies directly with negative gravitational potential, the rate of blueshifting for photons traveling between Earth and Jupiter having been estimated to average approximately (1.3 +/- 0.65) X 10^-18 s^-1, or (1.1 +/- 0.6) X 10^-18 s^-1 for signals traveling a roundtrip distance of 65 AU through the outer solar system. A proposal was made in 1980 to test this blueshifting effect by transponding a maser signal over a 10 AU round-trip distance between two spacecraft. This blueshift prediction has more recently been corroborated by observations of maser signals transponded to the Pioneer 10 spacecraft. These measurements indicate a frequency shifting of approximately (2.28 +/- 0.4) X 10^-18 s^-1 which lies within 2 sigma of the subquantum kinetics prediction and which cannot be accounted for in terms of known forces acting on the craft. This blueshifting phenomenon implies the existence of a new source of energy which is able to account for the luminosities of red dwarf and brown dwarf stars and planets, and their observed sharing of a common mass-luminosity relation.Comment: 20 pages, 3 figures, 2 table

Study of solid state photomultiplier

Available solid state photomultiplier (SSPM) detectors were tested under low-background, low temperature conditions to determine the conditions producing optimal sensitivity in a space-based astronomy system such as a liquid cooled helium telescope in orbit. Detector temperatures varied between 6 and 9 K, with background flux ranging from 10 to the 13th power to less than 10 to the 6th power photons/square cm-s. Measured parameters included quantum efficiency, noise, dark current, and spectral response. Experimental data were reduced, analyzed, and combined with existing data to build the SSPM data base included herein. The results were compared to analytical models of SSPM performance where appropriate models existed. Analytical models presented here were developed to be as consistent with the data base as practicable. Significant differences between the theory and data are described. Some models were developed or updated as a result of this study

Solid state photomultiplier for astronomy, phase 2

Epitaxial layers with varying donor concentration profiles were grown on silicon substrate wafers using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) techniques, and solid state photomultiplier (SSPM) devices were fabricated from the wafers. Representative detectors were tested in a low background photon flux, low temperature environment to determine the device characteristics for comparison to NASA goals for astronomical applications. The SSPM temperatures varied between 6 and 11 K with background fluxes in the range from less than 5 x 10 to the 6th power to 10 to the 13th power photons/square cm per second at wavelengths of 3.2 and 20 cm. Measured parameters included quantum efficiency, dark count rate and bias current. Temperature for optimal performance is 10 K, the highest ever obtained for SSPMs. The devices exhibit a combination of the lowest dark current and highest quantum efficiency yet achieved. Experimental data were reduced, analyzed and used to generate recommendations for future studies. The background and present status of the microscopic theory of SSPM operation were reviewed and summarized. Present emphasis is on modeling of the avalanche process which is the basis for SSPM operation. Approaches to the solution of the Boltzmann transport equation are described and the treatment of electron scattering mechanisms is presented. The microscopic single-electron transport theory is ready to be implemented for large-scale computations

A Note on Historical Mortality in a Northern Bison Population

Mortality of bison in the area of what is now Wood Buffalo National Park was recorded in records of Fort Chipewyan for the years 1821, 1823, and 1831. There is oral tradition in the Fort Smith area that many bison died in the Slave River lowlands during one summer later in the 19th century. The records of sudden death among bison during the summer resemble features of anthrax mortality that occurred among bison in the same general area between 1962 and 1978. This suggests that anthrax may have a much longer history in the region than recognized previously.Key words: northern bison, disease, ethnohistory, anthraxRÉSUMÉ. La mortalité du bison dans la région qui est maintenant devenue le parc national Wood Buffalo est inscrite sur les registres de Fort Chipewyan pour les années 1821, 1823 et 1831. Il existe une tradition orale dans la région de Fort Smith disant que de nombreux bison périrent dansles basses terres de la rivière Slave au cours d’un été de la fin du XIXe siècle. Les registres des morts soudaines parmi les bisons durant la saison d’été rappellent les caractéristiques de la mortalité due à l'antrax qui a touché les bisons à peu près dans la même zone entre 1962 et 1978. Cela laisseà penser que l’anthrax peut avoir dans cette région une histoire beaucoup plus ancienne qu’on ne l’admettait précédemment.Mots clés: bison des bois, maladie, ethnohistoire, anthra

The solid state photomultiplier: Status of photon counting beyond the near-infrared

Rockwell International's Solid State Photomultiplier (SSPM) is an impurity-band avalanche device which can count individual photons with wavelengths between 0.4 and 28 micrometers. Its response to a photon is a pulse of between 10(exp 4) and 10(exp 5) conduction electrons, making it an important device for use in phenomenology. The characteristics of the SSPM make it a potentially important device for use in astronomical applications. Contract NAS2-12400 was initiated in June 1986 to conduct modeling and characterization studies of the SSPM to provide a basis for assessing its use in astronomical systems. Some SSPM models and results of measurements which characterize the group of SSPMs recently fabricated on this contract are discussed