816 research outputs found
Can Streamer Blobs prevent the Buildup of the Interplanetetary Magnetic Field?
Coronal Mass Ejections continuously drag closed magnetic field lines away
from the Sun, adding new flux to the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). We
propose that the outward-moving blobs that have been observed in helmet
streamers are evidence of ongoing, small-scale reconnection in streamer current
sheets, which may play an important role in the prevention of an indefinite
buildup of the IMF. Reconnection between two open field lines from both sides
of a streamer current sheet creates a new closed field line, which becomes part
of the helmet, and a disconnected field line, which moves outward. The blobs
are formed by plasma from the streamer that is swept up in the trough of the
outward moving field line. We show that this mechanism is supported by
observations from SOHO/LASCO. Additionally, we propose a thorough statistical
study to quantify the contribution of blob formation to the reduction of the
IMF, and indicate how this mechanism may be verified by observations with
SOHO/UVCS and the proposed NASA STEREO and ESA Polar Orbiter missions.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures; accepted by The Astrophysical Journal Letters;
uses AASTe
Structure and Dynamics of the Sun's Open Magnetic Field
The solar magnetic field is the primary agent that drives solar activity and
couples the Sun to the Heliosphere. Although the details of this coupling
depend on the quantitative properties of the field, many important aspects of
the corona - solar wind connection can be understood by considering only the
general topological properties of those regions on the Sun where the field
extends from the photosphere out to interplanetary space, the so-called open
field regions that are usually observed as coronal holes. From the simple
assumptions that underlie the standard quasi-steady corona-wind theoretical
models, and that are likely to hold for the Sun, as well, we derive two
conjectures on the possible structure and dynamics of coronal holes: (1)
Coronal holes are unique in that every unipolar region on the photosphere can
contain at most one coronal hole. (2) Coronal holes of nested polarity regions
must themselves be nested. Magnetic reconnection plays the central role in
enforcing these constraints on the field topology. From these conjectures we
derive additional properties for the topology of open field regions, and
propose several observational predictions for both the slowly varying and
transient corona/solar wind.Comment: 26 pages, 6 figure
The representation of scientific research in the national curriculum and secondary school pupils’ perceptions of research, its function, usefulness and value to their lives
Young people’s views on what research is, how it is conducted and whether it is important, influences the decisions they make about their further studies and career choices. In this paper we report the analysis of questionnaire data with a particular focus on pupil perceptions of research in the sciences and of the scientific method. The questionnaire was a 25-item Likert Scale (1-5) distributed to seven collaborating schools. We received 2634 returns from pupils across key stages 3, 4 and 5. We also asked teachers to complete the questionnaire in order to explore how they thought their pupils would respond. We received 54 teacher responses. Statistically significant differences in the responses were identified through a chi-square test on SPSS. As what is being taught influences secondary pupil views on research we also consider how the term ‘research’ appears in the national curriculum for England and Wales and the three main English exam boards. The main theoretical construct that informs our analysis of the questionnaire data and the national curriculum is Angela Brew’s 4-tier descriptor of perceptions of research (domino, trading, layer, journey). We use this framework in order to map what, when and how research is presented to school pupils in England and Wales. We also use this framework in order to highlight and discuss certain pupil views that emerged from the questionnaire data and which indicate areas where curriculum and pedagogy intervention may be necessary: pupils seem less confident in their understanding of research as involving the identification of a research question; and, they often see research as a means to confirm one’s own opinion. They do however understand research as involving the generation of new knowledge and the collection of new data, such as interviews and questionnaires as well as laboratory work, field trips and library searches and they appear relatively confident in their statements about their ability to do research, their school experiences of research and the importance of research in their future career choice
Use of the MATRIXx Integrated Toolkit on the Microwave Anisotropy Probe Attitude Control System
Recent advances in analytical software tools allow the analysis, simulation, flight code, and documentation of an algorithm to be generated from a single source, all within one integrated analytical design package. NASA's Microwave Anisotropy Probe project has used one such package, Integrated Systems' MATRIXx suite, in the design of the spacecraft's Attitude Control System. The project's experience with the linear analysis, simulation, code generation, and documentation tools will be presented and compared with more traditional development tools. In particular, the quality of the flight software generated will be examined in detail. Finally, lessons learned on each of the tools will be shared
Heliolatitude and time variations of solar wind structure from in situ measurements and interplanetary scintillation observations
The 3D structure of solar wind and its evolution in time is needed for
heliospheric modeling and interpretation of energetic neutral atoms
observations. We present a model to retrieve the solar wind structure in
heliolatitude and time using all available and complementary data sources. We
determine the heliolatitude structure of solar wind speed on a yearly time grid
over the past 1.5 solar cycles based on remote-sensing observations of
interplanetary scintillations, in situ out-of-ecliptic measurements from
Ulysses, and in situ in-ecliptic measurements from the OMNI-2 database. Since
the in situ information on the solar wind density structure out of ecliptic is
not available apart from the Ulysses data, we derive correlation formulae
between solar wind speed and density and use the information on the solar wind
speed from interplanetary scintillation observations to retrieve the 3D
structure of solar wind density. With the variations of solar wind density and
speed in time and heliolatitude available we calculate variations in solar wind
flux, dynamic pressure and charge exchange rate in the approximation of
stationary H atoms.Comment: Accepted for publication in Solar Physic
Preliminary interpretation of Titan plasma interaction as observed by the Cassini Plasma Spectrometer: Comparisons with Voyager 1
The Cassini Plasma Spectrometer (CAPS) instrument observed the plasma environment at Titan during the Cassini orbiter's TA encounter on October 26, 2004. Titan was in Saturn's magnetosphere during the Voyager 1 flyby and also during the TA encounter. CAPS measurements from this encounter are compared with measurements made by the Voyager 1 Plasma Science Instrument (PLS). The comparisons focus on the composition and nature of ambient and pickup ions. They lead to: A) the major ion components of Saturn's magnetosphere in the vicinity of Titan are H+, H-2(+) and O+/CH4+ ions; B) finite gyroradius effects are apparent in ambient O+ ions as the result of their absorption by Titan's extended atmosphere; C) the principal pickup ions are composed of H+, H-2(+), N+/CH2+, CH4+, and N-2(+); D) the pickup ions are in narrow energy ranges; and E) there is clear evidence of the slowing down of background ions due to pickup ion mass loading
Toward Regional Characterizations of the Oceanic Internal Wavefield
Many major oceanographic internal wave observational programs of the last 4
decades are reanalyzed in order to characterize variability of the deep ocean
internal wavefield. The observations are discussed in the context of the
universal spectral model proposed by Garrett and Munk. The Garrett and Munk
model is a good description of wintertime conditions at Site-D on the
continental rise north of the Gulf Stream. Elsewhere and at other times,
significant deviations in terms of amplitude, separability of the 2-D vertical
wavenumber - frequency spectrum, and departure from the model's functional form
are noted. Subtle geographic patterns are apparent in deviations from the high
frequency and high vertical wavenumber power laws of the Garrett and Munk
spectrum. Moreover, such deviations tend to co-vary: whiter frequency spectra
are partnered with redder vertical wavenumber spectra. Attempts are made to
interpret the variability in terms of the interplay between generation,
propagation and nonlinearity using a statistical radiative balance equation.
This process frames major questions for future research with the insight that
such integrative studies could constrain both observationally and theoretically
based interpretations
The critical velocity effect as a cause for the H\alpha emission from the Magellanic stream
Observations show significant H\alpha-emissions in the Galactic halo near the
edges of cold gas clouds of the Magellanic Stream. The source for the
ionization of the cold gas is still a widely open question. In our paper we
discuss the critical velocity effect as a possible explanation for the observed
H\alpha-emission. The critical velocity effect can yield a fast ionization of
cold gas if this neutral gas passes through a magnetized plasma under suitable
conditions. We show that for parameters that are typical for the Magellanic
Stream the critical velocity effect has to be considered as a possible
ionization source of high relevance.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures. accepted, to appear in The Astrophysical Journa
Energy spectra of the ocean's internal wave field: theory and observations
The high-frequency limit of the Garrett and Munk spectrum of internal waves
in the ocean and the observed deviations from it are shown to form a pattern
consistent with the predictions of wave turbulence theory. In particular, the
high frequency limit of the Garrett and Munk spectrum constitutes an {\it
exact} steady state solution of the corresponding kinetic equation.Comment: 4 pages, one color figur
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