Structure of Saturn's rings: Optical and dynamical considerations

The photometric phase curves of Saturn's rings are considered, as well as a conflict between dynamical and photometric models of the rings. The dependence of ring brightness on angular separation of the earth and sun as viewed from Saturn is discussed. The nonlinear brightness surge is interpreted. Some quantitative calculations were carried out for bodies in and near the asteroidal belt. Predicted density profiles of the ring obtained with Mimas in an eccentric orbit and in a circular orbit are also included

Study of lunar earthshine by photoelectric photometry Final report, 1 Nov. 1965 - 30 Sep. 1967

Design feasibility and performance of semiportable field instrument for monitoring changes in earth albedo via earthshine measurement

The design of low cost structures for extensive ground arrays

The development of conceptual designs of solar array support structures and their foundations including considerations of the use of concrete, steel, aluminum, or timber are reported. Some cost trends were examined by varying selected parameters to determine optimum configurations. Detailed civil/structural design criteria were developed. Using these criteria, eight detailed designs for support structures and foundations were developed and cost estimates were made. As a result of the study wind was identified as the major loading experienced by these low height structures, whose arrays are likely to extend over large tracts of land. Proper wind load estimating is considered essential to developing realistic structural designs and achieving minimum cost support structures. Wind tunnel testing of a conceptual array field was undertaken and some of the resulting wind design criteria are presented. The SPS rectenna system designs may be less sensitive to wind load estimates, but consistent design criteria remain important

Some exact solutions of the Dirac equation

Exact analytic solutions are found to the Dirac equation for a combination of Lorentz scalar and vector Coulombic potentials with additional non-Coulombic parts. An appropriate linear combination of Lorentz scalar and vector non-Coulombic potentials, with the scalar part dominating, can be chosen to give exact analytic Dirac wave functions.Comment: 4 pages. No figures. Presented in Hadron 2000: International Workshop on Hadron Physics, Caraguatatuba, SP, Brasil, April 200

Flight-path and airspeed control during landing approach for powered-lift aircraft

Manual control of flight path and airspeed during landing approach has been investigated for powered-lift transport aircraft. An analysis was conducted to identify the behavior of the aircraft which would be potentially significant to the pilot controlling flight path and airspeed during the approach. The response characteristics found to describe the aircraft behavior were (1) the initial flight-path response and flight-path overshoot for a step change in thrust, (2) the steady-state coupling of flight path and airspeed for a step change in thrust, and (3) the sensitivity of airspeed to changes in pitch attitude. The significance of these response characteristics was evaluated by pilots on a large-motion, ground-based simulator at Ames Research Center. Coupling between flight path and airspeed was considered by the pilot to be the dominant influence on handling qualities for the approach task. Results are compared with data obtained from flight tests of three existing powered-lift V/STOL aircraft

V/STOL maneuverability and control

Maneuverability and control of V/STOL aircraft in powered-lift flight is studied with specific considerations of maneuvering in forward flight. A review of maneuverability for representative operational mission tasks is presented and covers takeoff, transition, hover, and landing flight phases. Maneuverability is described in terms of the ability to rotate and translate the aircraft and is specified in terms of angular and translational accelerations imposed on the aircraft. Characteristics of representative configurations are reviewed, including experience from past programs and expectations for future designs. The review of control covers the characteristics inherent in the basic airframe and propulsion system and the behavior associated with ontrol augmentation systems. Demands for augmented stability and control response to meet certain mission operational requirements are discussed. Experience from ground-based simulation and flight experiments that illustrates the impact of augmented stability and control on aircraft design is related by example

Circular Symmetry in Topologically Massive Gravity

We re-derive, compactly, a TMG decoupling theorem: source-free TMG separates into its Einstein and Cotton sectors for spaces with a hypersurface-orthogonal Killing vector, here concretely for circular symmetry. We can then generalize it to include matter, which is necessarily null.Comment: amplified published versio