5,200 research outputs found
Semiclassical Accuracy in Phase Space for Regular and Chaotic Dynamics
A phase-space semiclassical approximation valid to at short times
is used to compare semiclassical accuracy for long-time and stationary
observables in chaotic, stable, and mixed systems. Given the same level of
semiclassical accuracy for the short time behavior, the squared semiclassical
error in the chaotic system grows linearly in time, in contrast with quadratic
growth in the classically stable system. In the chaotic system, the relative
squared error at the Heisenberg time scales linearly with ,
allowing for unambiguous semiclassical determination of the eigenvalues and
wave functions in the high-energy limit, while in the stable case the
eigenvalue error always remains of the order of a mean level spacing. For a
mixed classical phase space, eigenvalues associated with the chaotic sea can be
semiclassically computed with greater accuracy than the ones associated with
stable islands.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures; to appear in Physical Review
Capabilities of the GRO/BATSE for monitoring of discrete sources
Although the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) to be flown on the Gamma Ray Observatory has as its primary objective the detection of gamma ray bursts, its uncollimated design will enable it to serve a unique function as an all-sky monitor for bright hard X-ray and low-energy gamma ray sources. Pulsating sources may be detected by conventional techniques such as summed-epoch and Fourier analyses. The BATSE will, in addition, be able to use Earth occultation in an unprecedented way to monitor sufficiently bright sources as often as several times per day over approx. 85% of the sky. Estimates of the expected BATSE sensitivity using both of these techniques are presented
Acceleration Mechanics in Relativistic Shocks by the Weibel Instability
Plasma instabilities (e.g., Buneman, Weibel and other two-stream
instabilities) created in collisionless shocks may be responsible for particle
(electron, positron, and ion) acceleration. Using a 3-D relativistic
electromagnetic particle (REMP) code, we have investigated long-term particle
acceleration associated with relativistic electron-ion or electron-positron jet
fronts propagating into an unmagnetized ambient electron-ion or
electron-positron plasma. These simulations have been performed with a longer
simulation system than our previous simulations in order to investigate the
nonlinear stage of the Weibel instability and its particle acceleration
mechanism. The current channels generated by the Weibel instability are
surrounded by toroidal magnetic fields and radial electric fields. This radial
electric field is quasi stationary and accelerates particles which are then
deflected by the magnetic field.Comment: 17 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ, A full
resolution ot the paper can be found at
http://gammaray.nsstc.nasa.gov/~nishikawa/accmec.pd
The interactions of atmospheric cosmogenic radionuclides with spacecraft surfaces
The discovery of the cosmogenic radionuclide Be-7 on the front surface of the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) spacecraft has opened opportunities to investigate new phenomena in several disciplines of space science. The experiments performed for this work show that the Be-7 results only if the source of the isotope is the atmosphere through which the spacecraft passed. We should expect that the uptake of beryllium in such circumstances will depend on the chemical form of the Be and the chemical nature of the substrate. It was found that the observed concentration of Be-7 does, in fact, differ between metal surfaces and organic surfaces such as PTFE (teflon). It is noted, however, that: (1) organic surfaces, even PTFE, are etched by the atomic oxygen found under these orbital conditions, and (2) the relative velocity of the species is 8 km(exp -1)s relative to the surface and the interaction chemistry and physics may differ from the norm. The Be-7 is formed by spallation of O and N nuclei under cosmic ray proton bombardment. The principal source region is at altitudes of 12-15 km. While very small quantities are produced above 300 km, the amount measured on the LDEF was 3 to 4 orders of magnitude higher than expected from production at orbital altitude. The most reasonable explanation is that Be-7 is rapidly transported from low altitudes by some unknown mechanism. The process must take place on a time scale similar to the half-life of the isotope (53 days). Many other isotopes are produced by cosmic ray reactions, and some of these are suited to measurement by the extremely sensitive methods of accelerator mass spectrometry. A program was initiated to search for these isotopes and it is hoped that such studies will provide new methods for studying mixing in the upper atmosphere
Particle Acceleration, Magnetic Field Generation, and Associated Emission in Collisionless Relativistic Jets
Nonthermal radiation observed from astrophysical systems containing
relativistic jets and shocks, e.g., active galactic nuclei (AGNs), gamma-ray
bursts (GRBs), and Galactic microquasar systems usually have power-law emission
spectra. Recent PIC simulations using injected relativistic electron-ion
(electro-positron) jets show that acceleration occurs within the downstream
jet. Shock acceleration is a ubiquitous phenomenon in astrophysical plasmas.
Plasma waves and their associated instabilities (e.g., the Buneman instability,
other two-streaming instability, and the Weibel instability) created in the
shocks are responsible for particle (electron, positron, and ion) acceleration.
The simulation results show that the Weibel instability is responsible for
generating and amplifying highly nonuniform, small-scale magnetic fields. These
magnetic fields contribute to the electron's transverse deflection behind the
jet head. The ``jitter'' radiation from deflected electrons has different
properties than synchrotron radiation which assumes a uniform magnetic field.
This jitter radiation may be important to understanding the complex time
evolution and/or spectral structure in gamma-ray bursts, relativistic jets, and
supernova remnants.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, contributed talk at the workshop: High Energy
Phenomena in Relativistic Outflows (HEPRO), Dublin, 24-28 September 2007.
Fig. 3 is replaced by the correct versio
Induced radioactivity in LDEF components
A systematic study of the induced radioactivity of the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) is being carried out in order to gather information about the low earth orbit radiation environment and its effects on materials. The large mass of the LDEF spacecraft, its stabilized configuration, and long mission duration have presented an opportunity to determine space radiation-induced radioactivities with a precision not possible before. Data presented include preliminary activities for steel and aluminum structural samples, and activation subexperiment foils. Effects seen in the data show a clear indication of the trapped proton anisotropy in the South Atlantic Anomaly and suggest contributions from different sources of external radiation fluxes
Induced activation study of LDEF
Analysis of the induced radioactivity of the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) is continuing with extraction of specific activities for various spacecraft materials. Data and results of activation measurements from eight facilities are being collected for interpretation at Eastern Kentucky University and NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center. The major activation mechanism in LDEF components is the proton flux in the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA). This flux is highly anisotropic, and could be sampled by taking advantage of the gravity-gradient stabilization of the LDEF. The directionally-dependent activation due to these protons was clearly observed in the data from aluminum experiment tray clamps (reaction product Na-22), steel trunnions (reaction product Mn-54 and others) and is also indicated by the presence of a variety of nuclides in other materials. A secondary production mechanism, thermal neutron capture, was observed in cobalt, indium, and tantalum, which are known to have large capture cross sections. Experiments containing samples of these metals and significant amounts of thermalizing low atomic number (Z) material showed clear evidence of enhanced activation of Co-60, In-114m, and Ta-182. Other mechanisms which activate spacecraft material that are not as easily separable from SAA proton activation, such as galactic proton bombardment and secondary production by fast neutrons, are being investigated by comparison to radiation environmental calculations. Deviations from one-dimensional radiation models indicate that these mechanisms are more important at greater shielding depths. The current status of the induced radioactivity measurements as of mid-year 1992 are reviewed. Specific activities for a number of materials which show SAA effects and thermal neutron capture are presented. The results for consistency by combining data from the participating institutions is also examined
Collection, analysis, and archival of LDEF activation data
The study of the induced radioactivity of samples intentionally placed aboard the Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF) and samples obtained from the LDEF structure is reviewed. The eight laboratories involved in the gamma-ray counting are listed and the scientists and the associated counting facilities are described. Presently, most of the gamma-ray counting has been completed and the spectra are being analyzed and corrected for efficiency and self absorption. The acquired spectra are being collected at Eastern Kentucky University for future reference. The results of these analyses are being compiled and reviewed for possible inconsistencies as well as for comparison with model calculations. These model calculations are being revised to include the changes in trapped-proton flux caused by the onset of the period of maximum solar activity and the rapidly decreasing spacecraft orbit. Tentative plans are given for the storage of the approximately 1000 gamma-ray spectra acquired in this study and the related experimental data
Stable Quantum Resonances in Atom Optics
A theory for stabilization of quantum resonances by a mechanism similar to
one leading to classical resonances in nonlinear systems is presented. It
explains recent surprising experimental results, obtained for cold Cesium atoms
when driven in the presence of gravity, and leads to further predictions. The
theory makes use of invariance properties of the system, that are similar to
those of solids, allowing for separation into independent kicked rotor
problems. The analysis relies on a fictitious classical limit where the small
parameter is {\em not} Planck's constant, but rather the detuning from the
frequency that is resonant in absence of gravity.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure
Double Exchange in a Magnetically Frustrated System
This work examines the magnetic order and spin dynamics of a double-exchange
model with competing ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic Heisenberg
interactions between the local moments. The Heisenberg interactions are
periodically arranged in a Villain configuration in two dimensions with
nearest-neighbor, ferromagnetic coupling and antiferromagnetic coupling
. This model is solved at zero temperature by performing a
expansion in the rotated reference frame of each local moment.
When exceeds a critical value, the ground state is a magnetically
frustrated, canted antiferromagnet. With increasing hopping energy or
magnetic field , the local moments become aligned and the ferromagnetic
phase is stabilized above critical values of or . In the canted phase, a
charge-density wave forms because the electrons prefer to sit on lines of sites
that are coupled ferromagnetically. Due to a change in the topology of the
Fermi surface from closed to open, phase separation occurs in a narrow range of
parameters in the canted phase. In zero field, the long-wavelength spin waves
are isotropic in the region of phase separation. Whereas the average spin-wave
stiffness in the canted phase increases with or , it exhibits a more
complicated dependence on field. This work strongly suggests that the jump in
the spin-wave stiffness observed in PrCaMnO with at a field of 3 T is caused by the delocalization of the electrons rather
than by the alignment of the antiferromagnetic regions.Comment: 28 pages, 12 figure
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