6,445 research outputs found
The relation between solar cell flight performance data and materials and manufacturing data Final report
Flight performance data for solar cell power systems in satellites and correlation with manufacturing methods and material
A Demonstration of LISA Laser Communication
Over the past few years questions have been raised concerning the use of
laser communications links between sciencecraft to transmit phase information
crucial to the reduction of laser frequency noise in the LISA science
measurement. The concern is that applying medium frequency phase modulations to
the laser carrier could compromise the phase stability of the LISA fringe
signal. We have modified the table-top interferometer presented in a previous
article by applying phase modulations to the laser beams in order to evaluate
the effects of such modulations on the LISA science fringe signal. We have
demonstrated that the phase resolution of the science signal is not degraded by
the presence of medium frequency phase modulations.Comment: minor corrections found in the CQG versio
High powered arc electrodes
Nonconsumable metal electric arc electrodes are described capable of being operated in a variety of gases at various pressures, current, and powers. The cathode has a circular annulus tip to spread the emission area for improved cooling
Thermal infrared observations of Mars (7.5-12.8 microns) during the 1990 opposition
Thirteen spectra of Mars, in the 7.5 to 12.8 micron wavelength were obtained on 7 Dec. 1990 from the Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF). For these observations, a grating with an ultimate resolving power of 120 to 250 was used and wavelengths were calibrated for each grating setting by comparison with the absorption spectrum of polystyrene measured prior to each set of observations. By sampling the Nyquist limit at the shortest wavelengths, an effective resolving power of about 120 over the entire wavelength range was achieved. A total of four grating settings were required to cover the entire wavelength region. A typical observing sequence consisted of: (1) positioning the grating in one of the intervals; (2) calibrating the wavelength of positions; and (3) obtaining spectra for a number of spots on Mars. Several observations of the nearby stellar standard star, alpha Tauri, were also acquired throughout the night. Each Mars spectrum represents an average of 4 to 6 measurements of the individual Mars spots. As a result of this observing sequence, the viewing geometry for a given location or spot on Mars does not change, but the actual location of the spot on Mars's surface varies somewhat between the different grating settings. Other aspects of the study are presented
Dissipative Transport of a Bose-Einstein Condensate
We investigate the effects of impurities, either correlated disorder or a
single Gaussian defect, on the collective dipole motion of a Bose-Einstein
condensate of Li in an optical trap. We find that this motion is damped at
a rate dependent on the impurity strength, condensate center-of-mass velocity,
and interatomic interactions. Damping in the Thomas-Fermi regime depends
universally on the disordered potential strength scaled to the condensate
chemical potential and the condensate velocity scaled to the peak speed of
sound. The damping rate is comparatively small in the weakly interacting
regime, and the damping in this case is accompanied by strong condensate
fragmentation. \textit{In situ} and time-of-flight images of the atomic cloud
provide evidence that this fragmentation is driven by dark soliton formation.Comment: 14 pages, 20 figure
VLBI Polarimetry of 177 Sources from the Caltech-Jodrell Bank Flat-spectrum Survey
We present VLBA observations and a statistical analysis of 5 GHz VLBI
polarimetry data from 177 sources in the Caltech-Jodrell Bank flat-spectrum
(CJF) survey. The CJF survey, a complete, flux-density-limited sample of 293
extragalactic radio sources, gives us the unique opportunity to compare a broad
range of source properties for quasars, galaxies and BL Lacertae objects. We
focus primarily on jet properties, specifically the correlation between the jet
axis angle and the polarization angle in the core and jet. A strong correlation
is found for the electric vector polarization angle in the cores of quasars to
be perpendicular to the jet axis. Contrary to previous claims, no correlation
is found between the jet polarization angle and the jet axis in either quasars
or BL Lac objects. With this large, homogeneous sample we are also able to
investigate cosmological issues and AGN evolution.Comment: Accepted to the Astrophysical Journal: 37 pages, 14 figure
Evaluation of subcutaneous proleukin (Interleukin-2) in a randomized international trial (ESPRIT): Geographical and gender differences in the baseline characteristics of participants
Background: ESPRIT, is a phase III, open-label, randomized, international clinical trial evaluating the effects of subcutaneous recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) plus antiretroviral therapy (ART) versus ART alone on HIV-disease progression and death in HIV-1-infected individuals with CD4+ T-cells ≥300 cells/μL. Objectives: To describe the baseline characteristics of participants randomized to ESPRIT overall and by geographic location. Method: Baseline characteristics of randomized participants were summarized by region. Results: 4,150 patients were enrolled in ESPRIT from 254 sites in 25 countries. 41%, 27%, 16%, 11%, and 5% were enrolled in Europe, North America, South America, Asia, and Australia, respectively. The median age was 40 years, 81% were men, and 76%, 11%, and 9% were Caucasian, Asian, and African American or African, respectively. 44% of women enrolled (n = 769) were enrolled in Thailand and Argentina. Overall, 55% and 38% of the cohort acquired HIV through male homosexual and heterosexual contact, respectively. 25% had a prior history of AIDS-defining illness; Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia, M. tuberculosis, and esophageal candida were most commonly reported. Median nadir and baseline CD4+ T-cell counts were 199 and 458 cells/μL, respectively. 6% and 13% were hepatitis B or C virus coinfected, respectively. Median duration of antiretroviral therapy (ART) was 4.2 years; the longest median duration was in Australia (5.2 years) and the shortest was in Asia (2.3 years). 17%, 13%, and 69% of participants began ART before 1995, between 1996 and 1997, and from 1998 onward, respectively. 86% used ART from two or more ART classes, with 49% using a protease inhibitor-based regimen and 46% using a nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-based regimen. 78% had plasma HIV RNA below detection (<500 cp/mL). Conclusion: ESPRIT has enrolled a diverse population of HIV-infected individuals including large populations of women and patients of African-American/African and Asian ethnicity often underrepresented in HIV research. As a consequence, the results of the study may have wide global applicability
Circumnuclear Star Clusters in the Galaxy Merger NGC 6240, Observed with Keck Adaptive Optics and HST
We discuss images of the central ~10 kpc (in projection) of the galaxy merger
NGC 6240 at H and K' bands, taken with the NIRC2 narrow camera on Keck II using
natural guide star adaptive optics. We detect 28 star clusters in the NIRC2
images, of which only 7 can be seen in the similar-spatial-resolution, archival
WFPC2 Planetary Camera data at either B or I bands. Combining the NIRC2 narrow
camera pointings with wider NICMOS NIC2 images taken with the F110W, F160W, and
F222M filters, we identify a total of 32 clusters that are detected in at least
one of these 5 infrared (lambda > 1 micron) bandpasses. By comparing to
instantaneous burst, stellar population synthesis models (Bruzual & Charlot
2003), we estimate that most of the clusters are consistent with being ~15 Myr
old and have photometric masses ranging from 7E5 M_sun to 4E7 M_sun. The total
contribution to the star formation rate (SFR) from these clusters is
approximately 10 M_sun/year, or ~10% of the total SFR in the nuclear region. We
use these newly discovered clusters to estimate the extinction toward NGC
6240's double nuclei, and find values of A_V as high as 14 magnitudes along
some sightlines, with an average extinction of A_V~7 mag toward sightlines
within ~3 arcsec of the double nuclei.Comment: 37 pages, 9 figures; Accepted for publication by Ap
Collective excitation of a Bose-Einstein condensate by modulation of the atomic scattering length
We excite the lowest-lying quadrupole mode of a Bose-Einstein condensate by
modulating the atomic scattering length via a Feshbach resonance. Excitation
occurs at various modulation frequencies, and resonances located at the natural
quadrupole frequency of the condensate and at the first harmonic are observed.
We also investigate the amplitude of the excited mode as a function of
modulation depth. Numerical simulations based on a variational calculation
agree with our experimental results and provide insight into the observed
behavior.Comment: Submitted to PR
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