Variability of magnetic field spectra in the Earth's magnetotail

We investigate the variability of magnetic fluctuation spectra below 1 Hz in the Earth's plasma sheet using specially selected long observation intervals by Geotail spacecraft. The spectra can be generally described by a negative power law with two kinks. The range between kinks ~0.02–0.2 Hz has the most stable power law index ~2.4–2.6. Indices at the lower and the higher frequencies are more variable and generally increase with power of fluctuations. In the sub-second range fluctuations are strongly localized and indices are closer to 3. At the lower-frequency end indices are about 1.5. The lower kink is usually well defined on average spectra and its frequency tends to increase with activity. Combination of spectrum index α and fractal dimension δ is expected to follow the Berry relation α+2δ=5, but actually is ~5.5

Background identification algorithm for future self-triggered air-shower radio arrays

The study of the ultra-high energy cosmic rays, neutrinos and gamma rays is one of the most important challenges in astrophysics. The low fluxes of these particles do not allow one to detect them directly. The detection is performed by the measuring of the air-showers produced by the primary particles in the Earth's atmosphere. A radio detection of ultra-high energy air-showers is a cost-effective technique that provides a precise reconstruction of the parameters of primary particle and almost full duty cycle in comparison with other methods. The main challenge of the modern radio detectors is the development of efficient self-trigger technology, resistant to high-level background and radio frequency interference. Most of the modern radio detectors receive trigger generated by either particle or optical detectors. The development of the self trigger for the radio detector will significantly simplify the operation of existing instruments and allow one to access the main advantages of the radio method as well as open the way to the construction of the next generation of large-scale radio detectors. In the present work we discuss our progress in the solution of this problem, particularly the classification of broadband pulses.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figur

Special features of the 9^9Be→\to2He fragmentation in emulsion at an energy of 1.2~A~GeV

The results of investigations of the relativistic $^9$Be nucleus fragmentation in emulsion which entails the production of two He fragments of an energy of 1.2~A~GeV are presented. The results of the angular measurements of the $^9$Be$\to$2He events are analyzed. The $^9$Be$\to^8$Be+n fragmentation channel involving the $^8$Be decay from the ground (0$^+$) and the first excited (2$^+$) states to two $\alpha$ particles is observed to be predominant.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures, conference: Conference on Physics of Fundamental Interactions, Moscow, Russia, 5-9 Dec 2005 (Author's translation

Reactive trityl derivatives: stabilised carbocation mass-tags for life sciences applications

The rational design of novel triarylmethyl (trityl)-based mass tags (MT) for mass-spectrometric (MS) applications is described. We propose a "pKR+ rule" to correlate the stability of trityl carbocations with their MS performance: trityls with higher pKR+ values ionise and desorb better. Trityl blocks were synthesised that have high pKR+ values and are stable in conditions of MS analysis; these MTs can be ionised by matrix as well as irradiation with a 337 nm nitrogen laser. 13C-Labelled tags were prepared for MS quantitation applications. Moreover, the tags were equipped with a variety of functional groups allowing conjugation with different functionalities within (bio)molecules to enhance the MS characteristics of the latter. The MS behaviour of model polycationic trityl compounds with and without the matrix was studied to reveal that poly-trityl clusters are always singly charged under the (MA)LDI-TOF conditions. Several peptide-trityl conjugates were prepared and comparisons revealed a beneficial effect of trityl tags on the conjugate detection in MS. Trityl compounds containing para-methoxy- and dimethylamine groups, as well as a xanthene fragment, showed considerable enhancement in MS detection of model peptides; thus they are promising tools for proteomic applications. Dimethoxytrityl derivatives allow one to distinguish between Arg- and Lys-containing peptides. Maleimido trityl derivatives are suitable for the efficient derivatisation of thiol-containing peptides in pyridine