Analytical tools and isolation of TOF events

Analytical tools are presented in two reports. The first is a probability analysis of the orbital distribution of events in relation to dust flux density observed in Pioneer 8 and 9 distributions. A distinction is drawn between asymmetries caused by random fluctuations and systematic variations, by calculating the probability of any particular asymmetry. The second article discusses particle trajectories for a repulsive force field. The force on a particle due to solar radiation pressure is directed along the particle's radius vector, from the sun, and is inversely proportional to its distance from the sun. Equations of motion which describe both solar radiation pressure and gravitational attraction are presented

Large-scale Vortices in Protoplanetary Disks: On the observability of possible early stages of planet formation

We investigate the possibility of mapping large-scale anti-cyclonic vortices, resulting from a global baroclinic instability, as pre-cursors of planet formation in proto-planetary disks with the planned Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA). On the basis of three-dimensional radiative transfer simulations, images of a hydrodynamically calculated disk are derived which provide the basis for the simulation of ALMA. We find that ALMA will be able to trace the theoretically predicted large-scale anti-cyclonic vortex and will therefore allow testing of existing models of this very early stage of planet formation in circumstellar disks.Comment: Accepted by ApJ (Letters section). A preprint version with high-quality figures can be downloaded from http://spider.ipac.caltech.edu/staff/swolf/homepage/public/preprints/ vortex.ps.g

Calibration update of the COMBO-17 CDFS catalogue

We present an update to the photometric calibration of the COMBO-17 catalogue on the Extended Chandra Deep Field South, which is now consistent with the GaBoDS and MUSYC catalogues. As a result, photometric redshifts become slightly more accurate, with <0.01 rms and little bias in the delta_z/(1+z) of galaxies with R<21 and of QSOs with R<24. With increasing photon noise the rms of galaxies reaches 0.02 for R<23 and 0.035 at R~23.5. Consequences for the rest-frame colours of galaxies at z<1 are discussed.Comment: A&A research note, resubmitted 02 Oct 2008, 4 pages in print forma

The antigenic index: a novel algorithm for predicting antigenic determinants

In this paper, we introduce a computer algorithm which can be used to predict the topological features of a protein directly from its primary amino acid sequence. The computer program generates values for surface accessibility parameters and combines these values with those obtained for regional backbone flexibility and predicted secondary structure. The output of this algorithm, the antigenic index, is used to create a linear surface contour profile of the protein. Because most, if not all, antigenic sites are located within surface exposed regions of a protein, the program offers a reliable means of predicting potential antigenic determinants. We have tested the ability of this program to generate accurate surface contour profiles and predict antigenic sites from the linear amino acid sequences of well-characterized proteins and found a strong correlation between the predictions of the antigenic index and known structural and biological data

Analysis and evaluation in the production process and equipment area of the low-cost solar array project

The attributes of the various metallization processes were investigated. It is shown that several metallization process sequences will lead to adequate metallization for large area, high performance solar cells at a metallization add on price in the range of $6. to 12. m squared, or 4 to$.8/W(peak), assuming 15% efficiency. Conduction layer formation by thick film silver or by tin or tin/lead solder leads to metallization add-on prices significantly above the $6. to 12/m squared range c.) The wet chemical processes of electroless and electrolytic plating for strike/barrier layer and conduction layer formation, respectively, seem to be most cost effective

Diffuse LEED intensities of disordered crystal surfaces : II. Multiple scattering on disordered overlayers

The diffraction of low energy electrons from disordered overlayers adsorbed on ordered substrates is treated theoretically by an extension of Beeby's multiple scattering method. A lattice gas model is assumed for the disordered adsorbate layer. Multiple scattering within a certain area around each atom — each atom of the overlayer and within the ordered substrate — is treated self-consistently, the remaining contributions to the total scattering amplitude being averaged. The theory can be used in the limiting cases of random distribution and of long range order within the adsorbate layer

Contact mechanics of and Reynolds flow through saddle points: On the coalescence of contact patches and the leakage rate through near-critical constrictions

We study numerically local models for the mechanical contact between two solids with rough surfaces. When the solids softly touch either through adhesion or by a small normal load $L$, contact only forms at isolated patches and fluids can pass through the interface. When the load surpasses a threshold value, $L_c$, adjacent patches coalesce at a critical constriction, i.e., near points where the interfacial separation between the undeformed surfaces forms a saddle point. This process is continuous without adhesion and the interfacial separation near percolation is fully defined by scaling factors and the sign of $L_c-L$. The scaling factors lead to a Reynolds flow resistance which diverges as $(L_c-L)^\beta$ with $\beta = 3.45$. Contact merging and destruction near saddle points becomes discontinuous when either short-range adhesion or specific short-range repulsion are added to the hard-wall repulsion. These results imply that coalescence and break-up of contact patches can contribute to Coulomb friction and contact aging.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures, submitted to Euro. Phys. Let