Poorly characterized phases in C2M carbonaceous chondrites : proposed structures and significance

Poorly characterized phases (PCP's) may constitute up to 30 volume percent of some C2M carbonaceous chondrite matrices [1] and are an important key to an understanding of matrix evolution. PCPs are usually fine-grained (<lµm in size), and are difficult to characterize by conventional optical or X-ray techniques [2]. Fuchs et al. [2] introduced the term PCP in their detailed description of Fe-S-Ni-0 phases in the matrix of Murchison. Ramdohr [3] described a similar Fe-S-C phase with trace amounts of Ni in five carbonaceous chondrites and proposed that this mineral has a layer structure. Both the Fe-S-Ni-0 and Fe-S-Ni-C phases have similar optical properties and are conveniently described by the generic term PCP [1]. On the basis of recent high resolution electron microscopy (HREM) studies [4-9], we propose that these PCP's form at least two ordered, stable structures based upon alternating sequences of mackinawite- and brucite- (or amakinite-) type layers

Estimating the size of the cosmic-ray halo using particle distribution moments

Context: Particle transport in many astrophysical problems can be described either by the Fokker–Planck equation or by an equivalent system of stochastic differential equations. Aims: It is shown that the latter method can be applied to the problem of defining the size of the cosmic-ray galactic halo. Methods: Analytical expressions for the leading moments of the pitch-angle distribution of relativistic particles are determined. Particle scattering and escape are analyzed in terms of the moments. Results: In the case of an anisotropic distribution, the first moment leads to an expression for the halo size, identified with the particle escape from the region of strong scattering. Previous studies are generalized by analyzing the case of a strictly isotropic initial distribution. A new expression for the variance of the distribution is derived, which illustrates the anisotropization of the distribution. Conclusions: Stochastic calculus tools allow one to analyze physically motivated forms for the scattering rate, so that a detailed realistic model can be developed

Towards a complete inventory of stratospheric dust particles, with implications for their classification

Several investigators have recently proposed classification schemes for stratospheric dust particles [1-3]. In addition, extraterrestrial materials within stratospheric dust collections may be used as a measure of micrometeorite flux [4]. However, little attention has been given to the problems of the stratospheric collection as a whole. Some of these problems include: (a) determination of accurate particle abundances at a given point in time; (b) the extent of bias in the particle selection process; (c) the variation of particle shape and chemistry with size; (d) the efficacy of proposed classification schemes and (e) an accurate determination of physical parameters associated with the particle collection process (e.g. minimum particle size collected, collection efficiency, variation of particle density with time). We present here preliminary results from SEM, EDS and, where appropriate, XRD analysis of all of the particles from a collection surface which sampled the stratosphere between 18 and 20km in altitude. Determinations of particle densities from this study may then be used to refine models of the behavior of particles in the stratosphere [5]

Comparative Analysis of Non-thermal Emissions and Study of Electron Transport in a Solar Flare

We study the non-thermal emissions in a solar flare occurring on 2003 May 29 by using RHESSI hard X-ray (HXR) and Nobeyama microwave observations. This flare shows several typical behaviors of the HXR and microwave emissions: time delay of microwave peaks relative to HXR peaks, loop-top microwave and footpoint HXR sources, and a harder electron energy distribution inferred from the microwave spectrum than from the HXR spectrum. In addition, we found that the time profile of the spectral index of the higher-energy (\gsim 100 keV) HXRs is similar to that of the microwaves, and is delayed from that of the lower-energy (\lsim 100 keV) HXRs. We interpret these observations in terms of an electron transport model called {\TPP}. We numerically solved the spatially-homogeneous {\FP} equation to determine electron evolution in energy and pitch-angle space. By comparing the behaviors of the HXR and microwave emissions predicted by the model with the observations, we discuss the pitch-angle distribution of the electrons injected into the flare site. We found that the observed spectral variations can qualitatively be explained if the injected electrons have a pitch-angle distribution concentrated perpendicular to the magnetic field lines rather than isotropic distribution.Comment: 32 pages, 12 figures, accepted for publication in The Astronomical Journa

Fast electron slowing-down and diffusion in a high temperature coronal X-ray source

Finite thermal velocity modifications to electron slowing-down rates may be important for the deduction of solar flare total electron energy. Here we treat both slowing-down and velocity diffusion of electrons in the corona at flare temperatures, for the case of a simple, spatially homogeneous source. Including velocity diffusion yields a consistent treatment of both "accelerated" and "thermal" electrons. It also emphasises that one may not invoke finite thermal velocity target effects on electron lifetimes without simultaneously treating the contribution to the observed X-ray spectrum from thermal electrons. We present model calculations of the X-ray spectra resulting from injection of a power-law energy distribution of electrons into a source with finite temperature. Reducing the power-law distribution low-energy cutoff to lower and lower energies only increases the relative magnitude of the thermal component of the spectrum, because the lowest energy electrons simply join the background thermal distribution. Acceptable fits to RHESSI flare data are obtained using this model. These also demonstrate, however, that observed spectra may in consequence be acceptably consistent with rather a wide range of injected electron parameters

OER “produsage” as a model to support language teaching and learning

Language education faculty face myriad challenges in finding teaching resources that are suitable, of high quality, and allow for the modifications needed to meet the requirements of their course contexts and their learners. The article elaborates the grassroots model of “produsage” (a portmanteau of “production” and “usage”) as a way of imagining a movement toward the use and creation of open educational resources (OER) for language learning. Through a set of examples of video resources that fill a need for authentically compelling language learning materials, the authors demonstrate the potential of produsage to engage teachers and learners around digital resources, to the benefit of language teaching and learning. In support of this grassroots model, the authors propose practices and policies to address challenges involved in engaging teachers and learners around OER in higher education

Does a magnetic field modify the critical behaviour at the metal-insulator transition in 3-dimensional disordered systems?

The critical behaviour of 3-dimensional disordered systems with magnetic field is investigated by analyzing the spectral fluctuations of the energy spectrum. We show that in the thermodynamic limit we have two different regimes, one for the metallic side and one for the insulating side with different level statistics. The third statistics which occurs only exactly at the critical point is {\it independent} of the magnetic field. The critical behaviour which is determined by the symmetry of the system {\it at} the critical point should therefore be independent of the magnetic field.Comment: 10 pages, Revtex, 4 PostScript figures in uuencoded compressed tar file are appende

Understanding Heisenberg's 'Magical' Paper of July 1925: a New Look at the Calculational Details

In July 1925 Heisenberg published a paper [Z. Phys. 33, 879-893 (1925)] which ended the period of `the Old Quantum Theory' and ushered in the new era of Quantum Mechanics. This epoch-making paper is generally regarded as being difficult to follow, perhaps partly because Heisenberg provided few clues as to how he arrived at the results which he reported. Here we give details of calculations of the type which, we suggest, Heisenberg may have performed. We take as a specific example one of the anharmonic oscillator problems considered by Heisenberg, and use our reconstruction of his approach to solve it up to second order in perturbation theory. We emphasize that the results are precisely those obtained in standard quantum mechanics, and suggest that some discussion of the approach - based on the direct computation of transition amplitudes - could usefully be included in undergraduate courses in quantum mechanics.Comment: 24 pages, no figures, Latex, submitted to Am. J. Phy

Energy-level statistics at the metal-insulator transition in anisotropic systems

We study the three-dimensional Anderson model of localization with anisotropic hopping, i.e. weakly coupled chains and weakly coupled planes. In our extensive numerical study we identify and characterize the metal-insulator transition using energy-level statistics. The values of the critical disorder $W_c$ are consistent with results of previous studies, including the transfer-matrix method and multifractal analysis of the wave functions. $W_c$ decreases from its isotropic value with a power law as a function of anisotropy. Using high accuracy data for large system sizes we estimate the critical exponent $\nu=1.45\pm0.2$. This is in agreement with its value in the isotropic case and in other models of the orthogonal universality class. The critical level statistics which is independent of the system size at the transition changes from its isotropic form towards the Poisson statistics with increasing anisotropy.Comment: 22 pages, including 8 figures, revtex few typos corrected, added journal referenc