49 research outputs found

    The Ten-Year Road: Joys and Challenges on the Road to Tenure

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    This paper explores the pre-tenure experiences of five assistant professors employed in the faculty of education of a research-intensive university. Acting as co-researchers, the authors researched their experiences through a critical narrative approach. The analysis, informed by critically-oriented writing that extends Wenger\u27s Communities of Practice, takes as axiomatic the notion that globalized processes of economic restructuring are mediating work in the academy and examines its local manifestations. Discussions explore issues of power, equity, shifting identities, and the need for improved navigational resources. The authors found that the process of critically and collaboratively researching their pre-tenure experiences offered insight into sites of personal and professional agency and also served as the impetus to form the social semiotic spaces that encouraged a sense of community. The Dean, a tenured member, but also a newcomer, serves in the role of critical friend

    Femtosecond Spectroscopy with Vacuum Ultraviolet Pulse Pairs

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    We combine different wavelengths from an intense high-order harmonics source with variable delay at the focus of a split-mirror interferometer to conduct pump-probe experiments on gas-phase molecules. We report measurements of the time resolution (<44 fs) and spatial profiles (4 {\mu}m x 12 {\mu}m) at the focus of the apparatus. We demonstrate the utility of this two-color, high-order-harmonic technique by time resolving molecular hydrogen elimination from C2H4 excited into its absorption band at 161 nm

    Ultrafast Internal Conversion in Ethylene. II. Mechanisms and Pathways for Quenching and Hydrogen Elimination

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    Through a combined experimental and theoretical approach, we study the nonadiabatic dynamics of the prototypical ethylene (C2_2H4_4) molecule upon π→π∗\pi \rightarrow \pi^* excitation with 161 nm light. Using a novel experimental apparatus, we combine femtosecond pulses of vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) and extreme ultraviolet (XUV) radiation with variable delay to perform time resolved photo-ion fragment spectroscopy. In this second part of a two part series, the extreme ultraviolet (17 eV<hÎœ<23 < h \nu < 23 eV) probe pulses are sufficiently energetic to break the C-C bond in photoionization, or photoionize the dissociation products of the vibrationally hot ground state. The experimental data is directly compared to ab initio molecular dynamics simulations accounting for both the pump and probe steps. Enhancements of the CH2+_2^+ and CH3+_3^+ photoion fragment yields, corresponding to molecules photoionized in ethylene (CH2_2CH2_2) and ethylidene (CH3_3CH) like geometries are observed within 100 fs after π→π∗\pi \rightarrow \pi^* excitation. Quantitative agreement between theory and experiment on the relative CH2+_2^+ and CH3+_3^+ yields provides experimental confirmation of the theoretical prediction of two distinct transition states and their branching ratio (Tao, et al. J. Phys. Chem. A. 113, 13656 (2009)). Fast, non-statistical, elimination of H2_2 molecules and H atoms is observed in the time resolved H2+_2^+ and H+^+ signals

    A mission control architecture for robotic lunar sample return as field tested in an analogue deployment to the Sudbury impact structure

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    A Mission Control Architecture is presented for a Robotic Lunar Sample Return Mission which builds upon the experience of the landed missions of the NASA Mars Exploration Program. This architecture consists of four separate processes working in parallel at Mission Control and achieving buy-in for plans sequentially instead of simultaneously from all members of the team. These four processes were: Science Processing, Science Interpretation, Planning and Mission Evaluation. Science Processing was responsible for creating products from data downlinked from the field and is organized by instrument. Science Interpretation was responsible for determining whether or not science goals are being met and what measurements need to be taken to satisfy these goals. The Planning process, responsible for scheduling and sequencing observations, and the Evaluation process that fostered inter-process communications, reporting and documentation assisted these processes. This organization is advantageous for its flexibility as shown by the ability of the structure to produce plans for the rover every two hours, for the rapidity with which Mission Control team members may be trained and for the relatively small size of each individual team. This architecture was tested in an analogue mission to the Sudbury impact structure from June 6-17, 2011. A rover was used which was capable of developing a network of locations that could be revisited using a teach and repeat method. This allowed the science team to process several different outcrops in parallel, downselecting at each stage to ensure that the samples selected for caching were the most representative of the site. Over the course of 10 days, 18 rock samples were collected from 5 different outcrops, 182 individual field activities - such as roving or acquiring an image mosaic or other data product - were completed within 43 command cycles, and the rover travelled over 2,200 m. Data transfer from communications passes were filled to 74%. Sample triage was simulated to allow down-selection to 1kg of material for return to Earth

    Report of the IAU Working Group on Cartographic Coordinates and Rotational Elements: 2009

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    Every three years the IAU Working Group on Cartographic Coordinates and Rotational Elements revises tables giving the directions of the poles of rotation and the prime meridians of the planets, satellites, minor planets, and comets. This report takes into account the IAU Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN) and the IAU Committee on Small Body Nomenclature (CSBN) definition of dwarf planets, introduces improved values for the pole and rotation rate of Mercury, returns the rotation rate of Jupiter to a previous value, introduces improved values for the rotation of five satellites of Saturn, and adds the equatorial radius of the Sun for comparison. It also adds or updates size and shape information for the Earth, Mars’ satellites Deimos and Phobos, the four Galilean satellites of Jupiter, and 22 satellites of Saturn. Pole, rotation, and size information has been added for the asteroids (21) Lutetia, (511) Davida, and (2867) Ơteins. Pole and rotation information has been added for (2) Pallas and (21) Lutetia. Pole and rotation and mean radius information has been added for (1) Ceres. Pole information has been updated for (4) Vesta. The high precision realization for the pole and rotation rate of the Moon is updated. Alternative orientation models for Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn are noted. The Working Group also reaffirms that once an observable feature at a defined longitude is chosen, a longitude definition origin should not change except under unusual circumstances. It is also noted that alternative coordinate systems may exist for various (e.g. dynamical) purposes, but specific cartographic coordinate system information continues to be recommended for each body. The Working Group elaborates on its purpose, and also announces its plans to occasionally provide limited updates to its recommendations via its website, in order to address community needs for some updates more often than every 3 years. Brief recommendations are also made to the general planetary community regarding the need for controlled products, and improved or consensus rotation models for Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn

    Divisions i and III / Working Group: Cartographic Coordinates and Rotational Elements

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    As in the past, the primary activity of the IAU Working Group on Cartographic Coordinates and Rotational Elements has been to prepare and publish a triennial (``2009'') report containing current recommendations for models for Solar System bodies (Archinal et al. (2011a)). The authors are B. A. Archinal, M. F. A'Hearn, E. Bowell, A. Conrad, G. J. Consolmagno, R. Courtin, T. Fukushima, D. Hestroffer, J. L. Hilton, G. A. Krasinsky, G. Neumann, J. Oberst, P. K. Seidelmann, P. Stooke, D. J. Tholen, P. C. Thomas, and I. P. Williams. An erratum to the ``2006'' and ``2009'' reports has also been published (Archinal et al. (2011b)). Below we briefly summarize the contents of the 2009 report, a plan to consider requests for new recommendations more often than every three years, three general recommendations by the WG to the planetary community, other WG activities, and plans for our next report
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