Optical properties of irregular interstellar grains

In order to study the interaction of light with interstellar grains, the authors represent an irregular particle by a network of interacting dipoles whose polarizability is determined in a first approach by the Clausius-Mossoti relationship. Typically, 10,000 dipoles are considered. In the case of spherical particles, the results from Mie theory are fully recovered. The main interest of this method is to study with good accuracy the implications of surface roughness and/or inhomogeneities on optical properties in the infrared spectral range, particularly of the silicate emission features

On the Benefits of Set-Asides

Set-aside programs that consist in forbidding access to specific participants are commonly used in procurement auctions. We show that when the set of potential participants is composed of an incumbent (whose entry costs are already sunk) and of entrants who show up endogenously (in such a way that their expected rents are fixed by outside options), then it is always beneficial for revenues to exclude the incumbent in the Vickrey auction. This exclusion principle is generalized to dominant-strategy auctions that favor the incumbent in the sense that the incumbent would always get the good when valuing it most. By contrast, set-asides are not desirable if the incumbent’s payoff is included in the seller’s objective in the Vickrey auction, and more generally it is detrimental to exclude a bidder that is not favored

Radio emission from satellite-Jupiter interactions (especially Ganymede)

Analyzing a database of 26 years of observations of Jupiter from the Nan\c{c}ay Decameter Array, we study the occurrence of Io-independent emissions as a function of the orbital phase of the other Galilean satellites and Amalthea. We identify unambiguously the emissions induced by Ganymede and characterize their intervals of occurrence in CML and Ganymede phase and longitude. We also find hints of emissions induced by Europa and, surprisingly, by Amalthea. The signature of Callisto-induced emissions is more tenuous.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figures, in "Planetary Radio Emissions VIII", G. Fischer, G. Mann, M. Panchenko and P. Zarka eds., Austrian Acad. Sci. Press, Vienna, in press, 201

Jupiter radio emission probability tool

Jupiter is a source of intense radio emissions in the decametric wavelength range observable from ground (above ∼10 MHz) and from space (down to a few kHz). The strong anisotropy of the Jovian radio sources results in characteristic shapes in the temporal-spectral domain, which can be used to identified the various types of Jovian radio components. The Jupiter Probability Tool provides users with Jovian radio emission observability predictions, depending on the observers location, and the radio emission class. The application can be used for observation planning or data analysis for ground or space observations

Evolution of the Dust Coma in Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko Before 2009 Perihelion

Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko is the main target of ESA's Rosetta mission and will be encountered in May 2014. As the spacecraft shall be in orbit the comet nucleus before and after release of the lander {\it Philae}, it is necessary necessary to know the conditions in the coma. Study the dust environment, including the dust production rate and its variations along its preperihelion orbit. The comet was observed during its approach to the Sun on four epochs between early-June 2008 and mid-January 2009, over a large range of heliocentric distances that will be covered by the mission in 2014. An anomalous enhancement of the coma dust density was measured towards the comet nucleus. The scalelength of this enhancement increased with decreasing heliocentric distance of the comet. This is interpreted as a result of an unusually slow expansion of the dust coma. Assuming a spherical symmetric coma, the average amount of dust as well as its ejection velocity have been derived. The latter increases exponentially with decreasing heliocentric distance (\rh), ranging from about 1 m/s at 3 AU to about 25-35 m/s at 1.4 AU. Based on these results we describe the dust environment at those nucleocentric distances at which the spacecraft will presumably be in orbit. Astronomy and Astrophysics, in pressComment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Refurbishing Voyager 1 & 2 Planetary Radio Astronomy (PRA) Data

Voyager/PRA (Planetary Radio Astronomy) data from digitized tapes archived at CNES have been reprocessed and recalibrated. The data cover the Jupiter and Saturn flybys of both Voyager probes. We have also reconstructed goniopolarimetric datasets (flux and polarization) at full resolution. These datasets are currently not available to the scientific community, but they are of primary interest for the analysis of the Cassini data at Saturn, and the Juno data at Jupiter, as well as for the preparation of the JUICE mission. We present the first results derived from the re-analysis of this dataset.Comment: Accepted manuscript for PRE8 (Planetary Radio Emission VIII conference) proceeding

First plasma of the A-PHOENIX electron cyclotron resonance ion source

International audienceA-PHOENIX is a new compact hybrid electron cyclotron resonance ion source (ECRIS) using a large permanent magnet hexapole (1.92 Tesla at the magnet surface) and High Temperature Superconducting Solenoids (3 Tesla) to make min-|B| structure suitable for 28 GHz CW operation. The final assembly of the source was achieved at the end of june 2007. The first plasma of A-PHOENIX at 18 GHz was done on August the 16th 2007. The technological specificities of A-PHOENIX are presented. The large hexapole builded is presented and experimental magnetic measurements show that it is nominal with respect to simulation. A fake plasma chamber prototype including thin iron inserts showed that the predicted radial magnetic confinement can be fulfilled up to 2.15 Tesla at the plasma chamber wall. Planning of experiments scheduled until end 2008 is presented