Artificial meteor ablation studies

Artificial meteor ablation was performed on natural minerals, composed predominately of magnetite and hematite, using an arc heated plasma stream of air. Analysis of the ablated debris indicated most was composed of two or more minerals. The more volatile elements were depleted and the relative abundance of Fe increased as a result of both volatile depletion and a reduction in its oxidation state. Hematite was converted to magnetite in the ablation zone, and quartz and apatite minerals were converted to an Fe-rich glass consisting of varying amounts of Si, P, Cl, and Ca, depending upon the accessory minerals available at the time of melting. Artificially created ablation products from iron oxides exhibited unique properties depending on the composition of the original material and the environmental conditions of formation. In addition to the accepted elemental criteria, these properties were morphologic characteristics, textural parameters, and the existence of metastable minerals

Remote estimation of soil moisture

Two methods under consideration for making remote estimates of soil moisture involve measurements made in electromagnetic spectral region of 0.4 to 14.0 micrometers: (1) spectral reflectance, (2) soil temperature

Artificial meteor ablation studies: Olivine

Artificial meteor ablation was performed on a Mg-rich olivine sample using an arc-heated plasma of ionized air. Experimental conditions simulated a meteor traveling about 12 km/sec at an altitude of 70 km. The mineral content of the original olivine sample was 98% olivine (including traces of olivine alteration products) and 2% chromite. Forsterite content of the original olivine was Fo-89. After ablation, the forsterite content had increased to Fo-94 in the recrystallized olivine. In addition, lamella-like intergrowths of magnetite were prevalent constituents. Wherever magnetite occurred, there was an increase in Mg and a corresponding decrease in Fe for the recrystallized olivine. The Allende fusion crust consisted of a recrystallized olivine, which was more Mg-rich and Fe-deficient than the original meteorite's olivine, and abundant magnetite grains. Although troilite and pentlandite were the common opaque mineral constituents in this meteorite, magnetite was the principal opaque mineral found in the fusion crust

Are the stratospheric dust particles meteor ablation debris or interplanetary dust?

Natural and laboratory created fusion crusts and debris from artificial meteor samples were used to develop criteria for recognizing meteor ablation debris in a collection of 5 to 50 micron particles from the stratosphere. These laboratory studies indicate that meteor ablation debris from nickel-iron meteoroids produce spherules containing taenite, wuestite, magnetite, and hematite. These same studies also indicate that ablation debris from chondritic meteoroids produce spheres and fragmentary debris. The spheres may be either silicate rich, containing zoned olivine, magnetite, and glass, or sulfide rich, containing iron oxides (e.g., magnetite, wuestite) and iron sulfides (e.g., pyrrhotite, pentlandite). The fragmentary debris may be either fine-grained aggregates of olivine, magnetite, pyroxene, and occasionally pyrrhotite (derived from the meteorite matrix) or individual olivine and pyroxene grains (derived from meteorite inclusions)

Use of visible, near-infrared, and thermal infrared remote sensing to study soil moisture

Two methods are described which are used to estimate soil moisture remotely using the 0.4- to 14.0 micron wavelength region: (1) measurement of spectral reflectance, and (2) measurement of soil temperature. The reflectance method is based on observations which show that directional reflectance decreases as soil moisture increases for a given material. The soil temperature method is based on observations which show that differences between daytime and nighttime soil temperatures decrease as moisture content increases for a given material. In some circumstances, separate reflectance or temperature measurements yield ambiguous data, in which case these two methods may be combined to obtain a valid soil moisture determination. In this combined approach, reflectance is used to estimate low moisture levels; and thermal inertia (or thermal diffusivity) is used to estimate higher levels. The reflectance method appears promising for surface estimates of soil moisture, whereas the temperature method appears promising for estimates of near-subsurface (0 to 10 cm)

Expectation-driven interaction: a model based on Luhmann's contingency approach

We introduce an agent-based model of interaction, drawing on the contingency approach from Luhmann's theory of social systems. The agent interactions are defined by the exchange of distinct messages. Message selection is based on the history of the interaction and developed within the confines of the problem of double contingency. We examine interaction strategies in the light of the message-exchange description using analytical and computational methods.Comment: 37 pages, 16 Figures, to appear in Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation

Thermodynamic versus Topological Phase Transitions: Cusp in the Kert\'esz Line

We present a study of phase transitions of the Curie--Weiss Potts model at (inverse) temperature $\beta$, in presence of an external field $h$. Both thermodynamic and topological aspects of these transitions are considered. For the first aspect we complement previous results and give an explicit equation of the thermodynamic transition line in the $\beta$--$h$ plane as well as the magnitude of the jump of the magnetization (for $q \geqslant 3)$. The signature of the latter aspect is characterized here by the presence or not of a giant component in the clusters of a Fortuin--Kasteleyn type representation of the model. We give the equation of the Kert\'esz line separating (in the $\beta$--$h$ plane) the two behaviours. As a result, we get that this line exhibits, as soon as $q \geqslant 3$, a very interesting cusp where it separates from the thermodynamic transition line

Towards the origin of the radio emission in AR Sco, the first radio-pulsing white dwarf binary

The binary system AR Sco contains an M star and the only known radio-pulsing white dwarf. The system shows emission from radio to X-rays, likely dominated by synchrotron radiation. The mechanism that produces most of this emission remains unclear. Two competing scenarios have been proposed: Collimated outflows, and direct interaction between the magnetospheres of the white dwarf and the M star. The two proposed scenarios can be tested via very long baseline interferometric radio observations. We conducted a radio observation with the Australian Long Baseline Array (LBA) on 20 Oct 2016 at 8.5 GHz to study the compactness of the radio emission. Simultaneous data with the Australian Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) were also recorded for a direct comparison of the obtained flux densities. AR Sco shows radio emission compact on milliarcsecond angular scales ($\lesssim 0.02\ \mathrm{AU}$, or $4\ \mathrm{R_{\odot}}$). The emission is orbitally modulated, with an average flux density of$\approx 6.5\ \mathrm{mJy}$. A comparison with the simultaneous ATCA data shows that no flux is resolved out on mas scales, implying that the radio emission is produced in this compact region. Additionally, the obtained radio light curves on hour timescales are consistent with the optical light curve. The radio emission in AR Sco is likely produced in the magnetosphere of the M star or the white dwarf, and we see no evidence for a radio outflow or collimated jets significantly contributing to the radio emission.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in A&

Preliminary results of penetrator field test program, Tonopah, Nevada, 16-28 April 1979

Subscale (0.63 scale) penetrators impacted various sizes of volcanic rocks resting on and within compacted plays sediments. All penetrators were identical in size, shape, weight, and impact velocity. Although minor variations in impact angle were documented, the final orientation of the buried penetrators was primarily a consequence of the size, shape, and depth of the rocks encountered during impact. In situ measurements of impacted penetrators revealed that surface and buried layers of rocks having diameters up to 3 times the penetrator diameter caused only small ( 10 deg) angles of deflection. Only large single rocks greater than 10 times the penetrator diameter caused deflections appreciably greater than 10 deg. The large deflection angles followed by the penetrator were strongly influenced by fracture planes that developed in the rock as it broke apart. No catastrophic failure of the penetrator occurred during these tests. A cross section of the path of each penetrator through the ground is shown together with details on orientation before, during, and after the tests. Comparisons are made with results of previous subscale penetrator tests, and conclusions are drawn with respect to full-scale Mars penetrator performance

Surface penetrators for planetary exploration: Science rationale and development program

Work on penetrators for planetary exploration is summarized. In particular, potential missions, including those to Mars, Mercury, the Galilean satellites, comets, and asteroids are described. A baseline penetrator design for the Mars mission is included, as well as potential instruments and their status in development. Penetration tests in soft soil and basalt to study material eroded from the penetrator; changes in the structure, composition, and physical properties of the impacted soil; seismic coupling; and penetrator deflection caused by impacting rocks, are described. Results of subsystem studies and tests are given for design of entry decelerators, high-g components, thermal control, data acquisition, and umbilical cable deployment