A Novel Approach for the Particle-in-Cell Modelling of Gridded Ion Engine Plume Neutralisation

The Particle-in-Cell modelling of gridded ion engine plume neutralisation has been simplified when compared to traditional methods. This results in significantly less computational resources being required. The NSTAR engine was modelled as a reference, where simulated specific impulse values were found to be 5% higher than the real engine. This method will be most suited to rapid prototyping and optimisation studies, where speed of simulations is an important factor

Solar Neutrinos: Where We Are, What We Need

This talk compares standard model predictions with the results of solar neutrino experiments. Here `standard model' means the combined standard model of minimal electroweak theory plus a standard solar model. I emphasize the importance of recent analyses in which the neutrino fluxes are treated as free parameters, independent of any constraints from solar models, and the stunning agreement between the predictions of standard solar models and helioseismological measurements. In order to interpret solar neutrino experiments more accurately in terms of fundamental physics and astronomy, we need improved improved nuclear physics data. I describe the five most important nuclear physics problems whose solution is required for understanding the precise implications of solar neutrino experiments.Comment: 20 pages, RevTeX file. To appear in the Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Few-Body Problems in Physics, Groningen, The Netherlands, 22--26 July 1997, ed. J. C. S. Bacelar, A. E. L. Dieperink, and R. A. Malfliet (Amsterdam: Elsevier Science Publishers). Related material at http://www.sns.ias.edu/~jn

Solar Fluctuations and the MSW Effect

This talk summarizes the results of recent calculations of how fluctuations within the solar medium can influence resonant neutrino oscillations within the sun. Although initial calculations pointed to helioseismic waves as possibly producing detectable effects, recent more careful calculations show this not to be true. Those features of fluctuations which maximize their influence on neutrino propagation are identified, and are likely to have implications for supernovae and the early universe.Comment: 10 pages, LaTeX, talk given at the Erice School on Neutrinos in Astro, Particle and Nuclear Physic

Radio Frequency Tag Satellite: Backscatter Communication in Low Earth Orbit

Wireless sensor communication can evaluate the structural integrity of a system while reducing the danger and cost of installation and maintenance on satellites. This is needed at the International Space Station as well as other satellites. The objective of this mission is to perform a demonstration using backscatter Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Tag technology as a method of wireless communication in extremely low earth orbit. While RFID tag communication has been used on earth for many practical applications the technology has yet to be tested in space. A 3U Cubesat was selected as the configuration to house the experiment. This project utilizes an electrical power system, an interface board custom built around a microcontroller, and two radio communication systems to run the RFID experiment to be designed by a Georgia Tech engineering team. The RFID tag will be mounted to a carbon fiber boom that can be extended out one meter to incrementally collect data. This satellite will need to be strong enough to pass a series of vibration and heat tests to be qualified for flight. It will be programmed to maintain its own power, take data, and communicate the data back to earth via the Globalstar Network

Asymptotics for Duration-Driven Long Range Dependent Processes

We consider processes with second order long range dependence resulting from heavy tailed durations. We refer to this phenomenon as duration-driven long range dependence (DDLRD), as opposed to the more widely studied linear long range dependence based on fractional differencing of an $iid$ process. We consider in detail two specific processes having DDLRD, originally presented in Taqqu and Levy (1986), and Parke (1999). For these processes, we obtain the limiting distribution of suitably standardized discrete Fourier transforms (DFTs) and sample autocovariances. At low frequencies, the standardized DFTs converge to a stable law, as do the standardized sample autocovariances at fixed lags. Finite collections of standardized sample autocovariances at a fixed set of lags converge to a degenerate distribution. The standardized DFTs at high frequencies converge to a Gaussian law. Our asymptotic results are strikingly similar for the two DDLRD processes studied. We calibrate our asymptotic results with a simulation study which also investigates the properties of the semiparametric log periodogram regression estimator of the memory parameter

Z-induced FCNCs and their effects on Neutrino Oscillations

Adding singlet neutrinos to the standard model spectrum in general gives rise to Z-induced flavor-changing neutral currents. We study the impact of these currents on matter-induced neutrino oscillations in the sun and in supernovae. While the effects for solar neutrinos are negligible, dramatic effects are possible for supernova neutrinos.Comment: 23 pages (including 5 eps-figures), Latex; references [29-34] were added to the revised versio

Implications of New Gallex Results for the MSW Solution of the Solar Neutrino Problem

We compare the implications for 7Be and pp neutrinos of the two MSW fits to the new GALLEX solar neutrino measurements . Small mixing angle solutions tend to suppress the former as electron-neutrinos, but not the latter, and large angle solutions tend to reduce both by about a factor of 2. The consequences for BOREXINO and similar solar neutrino--electron scattering experiments are discussed.Comment: 7 pages (plus 3 figures available upon request) UTAPHY-HEP-

Phenomenology of Neutrino Oscillations

The phenomenology of solar, atmospheric, supernova and laboratory neutrino oscillations is described. Analytical formulae for matter effects are reviewed. The results from oscillations are confronted with neutrinoless double beta decay.Comment: 11 pages, 2 figures, latex, Plenary talk given at Workshop in High Energy Particle Physics-6, Chennai, Indi

The Solar Neutrino Problem in the Presence of Flavor Changing Neutrino Interactions

We study the effects of flavor changing neutrino interactions on the resonant conversion of solar neutrinos. In particular, we describe how the regions in the $Delta m^2 - sin^2 2theta$ plane that are consistent with the four solar neutrino experiments are modified for different strengths of New Physics neutrino interactions.Comment: 24 pages, 14 eps-figures, Latex. References to work by Fogli and Lisi, where implications of results from Gallium experiments are first discussed, and to work by Petcov, where eq. (9) is derived, were added. For a second version of the paper containing more figures in better resolution, see http://www.weizmann.ac.il/~ftsve