Study of wrap-rib antenna design

The results of a parametric design study conducted to develop the significant characteristics and technology limitations of space deployable antenna systems with aperture sizes ranging from 50 up to 300 m and F/D ratios between 0.5 and 3.0 are presented. Wrap/rib type reflectors of both the prime and offset fed geometry and associated feed support structures were considered. The significant constraints investigated as limitations on achievable aperture were inherent manufacturability, orbit dynamic and thermal stability, antenna weight, and antenna stowed volume. A data base, resulting in the defined maximum achievable aperture size as a function of diameter, frequency and estimated cost, was formed

Fluorescence Near-Field Microscopy of DNA at Sub-10 nm Resolution

We demonstrate apertureless near-field microscopy of single molecules at sub-10 nm resolution. With a novel phase filter, near-field images of single organic fluorophores were obtained with ~sixfold improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio. The improvement allowed pairs of molecules separated by ~15 nm to be reliably and repeatedly resolved, thus demonstrating the first true Rayleigh resolution test for near-field images of single molecules. The potential of this technique for biological applications was demonstrated with an experiment that measured the helical rise of A-form DNA

Tip-Enhanced Fluorescence Microscopy at 10 Nanometer Resolution

We demonstrate unambiguously that the field enhancement near the apex of a laser-illuminated silicon tip decays according to a power law that is moderated by a single parameter characterizing the tip sharpness. Oscillating the probe in intermittent contact with a semiconductor nanocrystal strongly modulates the fluorescence excitation rate, providing robust optical contrast and enabling excellent background rejection. Laterally encoded demodulation yields images with <10 nm spatial resolution, consistent with independent measurements of tip sharpness

Photometric identification of the periods of the first candidate extragalactic magnetic massive stars

Galactic stars belonging to the Of?p category are all strongly magnetic objects exhibiting rotationally modulated spectral and photometric changes on timescales of weeks to years. Five candidate Of?p stars in the Magellanic Clouds have been discovered, notably in the context of ongoing surveys of their massive star populations. Here we describe an investigation of their photometric behaviour, revealing significant variability in all studied objects on timescales of one week to more than four years, including clearly periodic variations for three of them. Their spectral characteristics along with these photometric changes provide further support for the hypothesis that these are strongly magnetized O stars, analogous to the Of?p stars in the Galaxy.Comment: 9pages, accepted by A&

Experimental Study of Cavitating Hydrofoils in Cascade

Liquid filled hydraulic systems often operate in such a way that cavitation may take place in one or more of the components of the system. Most often the cavitation will take place in a pump or a turbine as the liquid velocity there is usually greatest in these devices. However, cavitation can also occur in bends or elbows or constrictions in the system, such as a venturi tube. When cavitation does take place, the region occupied by the cavitation process displaces liquid that was formerly there, creating in a sense a "reservoir", the volume of which depends upon the extent of the cavitation. In every case the amount of cavitation in any type of hydraulic device will increase as the system pressure is lowered. The liquid that has been displaced causes changes in the motion of the fluid throughout the system causing or requiring time-varying pressure gradients to occur. In most practical hydraulic systems in which cavitation can occur, these transient pressure changes die away and the liquid flow system operates about some steady mean value. Indeed, for some applications cavitation is deliberately introduced into the system in such a way as to cause the flowing system to operate at a steady, stable condition

Experimental Observations on the Flow Past a Plano-Convex Hydrofoil

Some new measurements and observations on the noncavitating and cavitating flow past a plano-convex hydrofoil are presented. Under some conditions of partial cavitation, strong, periodic oscillations both in the cavity length and forces exerted on the hydrofoil are observed. The reduced frequency of oscillation depends upon the cavitation number and angle of attack; it also depends somewhat on tunnel speed for the lower angles of attack but becomes substantially independent of speed for the highest angle. The peak-to-peak magnitude of the force oscillation can amount to about 20 percent of the average force