Orbit determination of space objects based on sparse optical data

While building up a catalog of Earth orbiting objects, if the available optical observations are sparse, not deliberate follow ups of specific objects, no orbit determination is possible without previous correlation of observations obtained at different times. This correlation step is the most computationally intensive, and becomes more and more difficult as the number of objects to be discovered increases. In this paper we tested two different algorithms (and the related prototype software) recently developed to solve the correlation problem for objects in geostationary orbit (GEO), including the accurate orbit determination by full least squares solutions with all six orbital elements. Because of the presence in the GEO region of a significant subpopulation of high area to mass objects, strongly affected by non-gravitational perturbations, it was actually necessary to solve also for dynamical parameters describing these effects, that is to fit between 6 and 8 free parameters for each orbit. The validation was based upon a set of real data, acquired from the ESA Space Debris Telescope (ESASDT) at the Teide observatory (Canary Islands). We proved that it is possible to assemble a set of sparse observations into a set of objects with orbits, starting from a sparse time distribution of observations, which would be compatible with a survey capable of covering the region of interest in the sky just once per night. This could result in a significant reduction of the requirements for a future telescope network, with respect to what would have been required with the previously known algorithm for correlation and orbit determination.Comment: 20 pages, 8 figure

Off-diagonal generalized vector dominance in DIS and QCD

We review the generalized vector dominance (GVD) approach to DIS at small values of the scaling variable, x. In particular, we concentrate on a recent formulation of GVD that explicitly incorporates the configuration of the gamma^* -> q qbar transition and a QCD-inspired ansatz for the (qqbar)p scattering amplitude. The destructive interference, originally introduced in off-diagonal GVD is traced back to the generic strcuture of two-gluon exchange. Asymptotically, the transverse photoabsorption cross section behaves as (ln Q^2)/Q^2, implying a logarithmic violation of scaling for F_2, while the longitudinal-to-transverse ratio decreases as 1/\ln Q^2. We also briefly comment on vector-meson production.Comment: 21 pages latex, 12 postscript files for figures, talk given at the XXI School of Theoretical Physics, Ustron, Poland, September 199

Vector-Meson Electroproduction from Generalized Vector Dominance

Including destructively interfering off-diagonal transitions of diffraction-dissociation type, we arrive at a formulation of GVD for exclusive vector-meson production in terms of a continuous spectral representation of dipole form. The transverse cross-section sigma_T for gamma* p -> V p behaves asymptotically as 1/Q^4, while R_V = sigma_L/sigma_T becomes asymptotically constant. Contributions violating s-channel helicity conservation stay at the 10-15% level established in low-energy photoproduction and diffractive hadron--hadron interactions. The data for phi- and rho-meson production for 0 \lsim Q^2 \lsim 20 GeV^2 from HERA are found to be in agreement with these predictions.Comment: 16 pages, latex, 3 figure

The Color Dipole Picture of low-x DIS: Model-Independent and Model-Dependent Results

We present a detailed examination of the color-dipole picture (CDP) of low-$x$ deep inelastic scattering. We discriminate model-independent results, not depending on a specific parameterization of the dipole cross section, from model-dependent ones. The model-independent results include the ratio of the longitudinal to the transverse photoabsorption cross section at large $Q^2$, or equivalently the ratio of the longitudinal to the unpolarized proton structure function, $F_L (x,Q^2)=0.27 F_2 (x, Q^2)$, as well as the low-$x$ scaling behavior of the total photoabsorption cross section $\sigma_{\gamma^*p} (W^2, Q^2)=\sigma_{\gamma^*p} (\eta (W^2, Q^2))$ as $\log (1 / \eta (W^2, Q^2))$ for $\eta (W^2, Q^2) <1$, and as $1/\eta (W^2, Q^2)$ for $\eta (W^2, Q^2) \gg 1$. Here, $\eta (W^2, Q^2)$ denotes the low-$x$ scaling variable, $\eta (W^2, Q^2)=(Q^2 + m^2_0) / \Lambda^2_{sat} (W^2)$ with $\Lambda^2_{sat} (W^2)$ being the saturation scale. The model-independent analysis also implies $\lim\limits_{W^2\rightarrow\infty, Q^2 {\rm fixed}} \sigma_{\gamma^*p} (W^2, Q^2) / \sigma_{\gamma p} (W^2) \rightarrow 1$ at any $Q^2$ for asymptotically large energy, $W$. Consistency with pQCD evolution determines the underlying gluon distribution and the numerical value of $C_2 = 0.29$ in the expression for the saturation scale, $\Lambda^2 (W^2) \sim (W^2)^{C_2}$. In the model-dependent analysis, by restricting the mass of the actively contributing $q \bar q$ fluctuations by an energy-dependent upper bound, we extend the validity of the color-dipole picture to $x \cong Q^2 / W^2 \le 0.1$. The theoretical results agree with the world data on DIS for $0.036 {\rm GeV}^2 \le Q^2 \le 316 {\rm GeV}^2$.Comment: 77 pages, 30 figure

Diffractive production and the total cross section in deep inelastic scattering

We explore the consequences for diffractive production, gamma* p --> X p, in deep inelastic scattering at low values of x\sim Q^2/W^2 <<1 that follow from our recent representation of the total photoabsorption cross section, sigma_{gamma* p}, in the generalized vector dominance/ color dipole picture(GVD/CDP) that is based on the generic structure of the two-gluon-exchange from QCD. Sum rules are derived that relate the transverse and the longitudinal (virtual) photoabsorption cross section to diffractive forward production of q q-bar states that carry photon quantum numbers ("elastic diffraction"). Agreement with experiment in the W^2 and Q^2 dependence is found for M_X^2/Q^2<<1, where M_X is the mass of the produced system X. An additional component ("inelastic diffraction"), not actively contributing to the forward Compton amplitude, is needed for diffractive production at high values of M_X. Our previous theoretical representation of the total photoabsorption cross section sigma_{gamma* p}=sigma_{gamma* p}(eta), in terms of the scaling variable eta=(Q^2+m_0^2)/Lambda^2(W^2) is extended to include the entire kinematic domain, x==0, where scaling in eta holds experimentally.Comment: 19 pages with 4 figures,(eps and ps files), Late

Polarization Observables for Two-Pion Production off the Nucleon

We develop polarization observables for the processes $\gamma N\to\pi\pi N$ and $\pi N\to\pi\pi N$, using both a helicity and hybrid helicity-transversity basis. Such observables are crucial if processes that produce final states consisting of a spin-1/2 baryon and two pseudoscalar mesons are to be fully exploited for baryon spectroscopy. We derive relationships among the observables, as well as inequalities that they must satisfy. We also discuss the observables that must be measured in `complete' experiments, and briefly examine the prospects for measurement of some of these observables in the near future.Comment: 20 pages, using revtex

The Influence of Suction on Energy Distribution in Fully Established Turbulent Pipe Flow

The influence of suction on the structure of turbulence in fully established pipe flow has been experimentally investigated. Extensive hot-wire measurements indicate major alterations in the turbulent energy distribution, particularly in the wall layers result from mild suction rates, less than 5 percent of the mean mass flow

Deep inelastic scattering and "elastic" diffraction

We examine the total cross section of virtual photons on protons, $\sigma_{\gamma^* p}(W^2,Q^2)$, at low $x \cong Q^2/W^2 \ll 1$ and its connection with ``elastic'' diffractive production $\gamma^*_{T,L}p \to X^{J=1}_{T,L} p$ in the two-gluon exchange dynamics for the virtual forward Compton scattering amplitude. Solely based on the generic structure of two-gluon exchange, we establish that the cross section is described by the (imaginary part of the) amplitude for forward scattering of $q \bar q$ vector states, $(q \bar q)^{J=1}_{T,L} p \to (q \bar q)^ {J=1}_{T,L} p$. The generalized vector dominance/color dipole picture (GVD/CDP) is accordingly established to only rest on the two-gluon-exchange generic structure. This is explicitly seen by the sum rules that allow one to directly relate the total cross section to the cross section for elastic diffractive forward production, $\gamma^*_{T,L} p\to (q \bar q)^{J=1}_{T,L} p$, of vector states.Comment: 24 pages, latex file with three eps figures. BI-TP 2002/2

An optical survey for space debris on highly eccentric and inclined MEO orbits

Optical surveys for space debris in high-altitude orbits have been conducted since more than ten years. Originally these efforts concentrated mainly on the geostationary region (GEO). Corresponding observation strategies, processing techniques and cataloguing approaches have been developed and successfully applied. The ESA GEO surveys, e.g., resulted in the detection of a significant population of small-size debris and later in the discovery of high area-to-mass ratio objects in GEO-like orbits. Comparably less experience (both, in terms of practical observation and strategy definition) is available for eccentric orbits that (at least partly) are in the MEO region, in particular for the Molniya-type orbits. Different survey and follow-up strategies for searching space debris objects in highly-eccentric MEO orbits, and to acquire orbits which are sufficiently accurate to catalog such objects and to maintain their orbits over longer time spans were developed. Simulations were performed to compare the performance of different survey and cataloguing strategies. Eventually, optical observations were conducted in the framework of an ESA study using ESA’s Space Debris Telescope (ESASDT) the 1-m Zeiss telescope located at the Optical Ground Station (OGS) at the Teide Observatory at Tenerife, Spain. Thirteen nights of surveys of Molniya-type orbits were performed between January and August 2013. Eventually 255 surveys were performed during these thirteen nights corresponding to about 47 h of observations. In total 30 uncorrelated faint objects were discov- ered. On average one uncorrelated object was found every 100 min of observations. Some of these objects show a considerable brightness variation and have a high area-to-mass ratio as determined in the orbit estimation process