Gamma radiation survey of the LDEF spacecraft

The retrieval of the Long Duration Exposure Facility spacecraft in January 1990 after nearly six years in orbit offered a unique opportunity to study the long term buildup of induced radioactivity in the variety of materials on board. We conducted the first complete gamma-ray survey of a large spacecraft on LDEF shortly after its return to earth. A surprising observation was the Be-7 activity which was seen primarily on the leading edge of the satellite, implying that it was picked up by LDEF in orbit. This is the first known evidence for accretion of a radioactive isotope onto an orbiting spacecraft. Other isotopes observed during the survey, the strongest being Na-22, are all attributed to activation of spacecraft components. Be-7 is a spallation product of cosmic rays on nitrogen and oxygen in the upper atmosphere. However, the observed density is much greater than expected due to cosmic-ray production in situ. This implies transport of Be-7 from much lower altitudes up to the LDEF orbit

Three-Dimensional Spatially Constrained Sulfur Isotopes Highlight Processes Controlling Sulfur Cycling in the Near Surface of the Iheya North Hydrothermal System, Okinawa Trough

Abstract Modern seafloor hydrothermal systems are unique environments in which many of the Earth's reservoirs, including the hydrosphere, biosphere, and geosphere, dynamically interact. Analysis of spatially constrained sulfur isotope compositions from fluids and hydrothermal precipitates within the discharge zone of a volcanogenic system can be used to trace the interactions between the various isotopically distinct sulfur reservoirs that result in the formation of hydrothermal massive sulfide deposits. Here we present in situ sulfur isotope results from laterally and vertically constrained euhedral hydrothermal pyrite from the Iheya North hydrothermal system in the Okinawa Trough, which was investigated during the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 331. Hydrothermal pyrite at the North Big Chimney yields δ34S values of ~+11.9 ± 1.1‰ (1σ), which are near identical to the δ34S composition of the vent fluid. Outward, ~150 and ~450 m from North Big Chimney, hydrothermal pyrite within drill core yields δ34S equal to +10.9 ± 1.3‰ (1σ) and +7.0 ± 3.8‰ (1σ), respectively, showing a shift in isotopic composition away from the main vent site. This evolution to a lighter and more scattered isotopic signature of hydrothermal pyrite (which is easily identifiable from biogenic pyrite) is interpreted to indicate that the hydrothermal fluid leached sulfides (formed previously by biogenic processes) from the surrounding sedimentary strata. As the most significant metal enrichments (Fe, Zn, Cu, Bi, Tl, and Cd) are associated with samples that contain average hydrothermal pyrite δ34S values similar to δ34S of the vent fluid, we demonstrate that sulfur isotopes can vector toward metals in seafloor massive sulfide deposits

The proton and deuteron F_2 structure function at low Q^2

Measurements of the proton and deuteron $F_2$ structure functions are presented. The data, taken at Jefferson Lab Hall C, span the four-momentum transfer range $0.06 < Q^2 < 2.8$ GeV$^2$, and Bjorken $x$ values from 0.009 to 0.45, thus extending the knowledge of $F_2$ to low values of $Q^2$ at low $x$. Next-to-next-to-leading order calculations using recent parton distribution functions start to deviate from the data for $Q^2<2$ GeV$^2$ at the low and high $x$-values. Down to the lowest value of $Q^2$, the structure function is in good agreement with a parameterization of $F_2$ based on data that have been taken at much higher values of $Q^2$ or much lower values of $x$, and which is constrained by data at the photon point. The ratio of the deuteron and proton structure functions at low $x$ remains well described by a logarithmic dependence on $Q^2$ at low $Q^2$.Comment: 3 figures, submitted pape

Relationship between propagule pressure and colonization pressure in invasion ecology: a test with ships' ballast

Increasing empirical evidence indicates the number of released individuals (i.e. propagule pressure) and number of released species (i.e. colonization pressure) are key determinants of the number of species that successfully invade new habitats. In view of these relationships, and the possibility that ships transport whole communities of organisms, we collected 333 ballast water and sediment samples to investigate the relationship between propagule and colonization pressure for a variety of diverse taxonomic groups (diatoms, dinoflagellates and invertebrates). We also reviewed the scientific literature to compare the number of species transported by ships to those reported in nature. Here, we show that even though ships transport nearly entire local communities, a strong relationship between propagule and colonization pressure exists only for dinoflagellates. Our study provides evidence that colonization pressure of invertebrates and diatoms may fluctuate widely irrespective of propagule pressure. We suggest that the lack of correspondence is explained by reduced uptake of invertebrates into the transport vector and the sensitivity of invertebrates and diatoms to selective pressures during transportation. Selection during transportation is initially evident through decreases in propagule pressure, followed by decreased colonization pressure in the most sensitive taxa

Longitudinal-Transverse Separations of Structure Functions at Low Q2Q^{2} for Hydrogen and Deuterium

We report on a study of the longitudinal to transverse cross section ratio, $R=\sigma_L/\sigma_T$, at low values of $x$ and $Q^{2}$, as determined from inclusive inelastic electron-hydrogen and electron-deuterium scattering data from Jefferson Lab Hall C spanning the four-momentum transfer range 0.06 $< Q^{2} < 2.8$ GeV$^{2}$. Even at the lowest values of $Q^{2}$, $R$ remains nearly constant and does not disappear with decreasing $Q^{2}$, as expected. We find a nearly identical behaviour for hydrogen and deuterium.Comment: 4 pages, 2 gigure

Measurements of electron-proton elastic cross sections for 0.4<Q2<5.5(GeV/c)20.4 < Q^2 < 5.5 (GeV/c)^2

We report on precision measurements of the elastic cross section for electron-proton scattering performed in Hall C at Jefferson Lab. The measurements were made at 28 unique kinematic settings covering a range in momentum transfer of 0.4 $<$ $Q^2$ $<$ 5.5 $(\rm GeV/c)^2$. These measurements represent a significant contribution to the world's cross section data set in the $Q^2$ range where a large discrepancy currently exists between the ratio of electric to magnetic proton form factors extracted from previous cross section measurements and that recently measured via polarization transfer in Hall A at Jefferson Lab.Comment: 17 pages, 18 figures; text added, some figures replace

Nuclear transparency from quasielastic A(e,e'p) reactions uo to Q^2=8.1 (GeV/c)^2

The quasielastic (e,e$^\prime$p) reaction was studied on targets of deuterium, carbon, and iron up to a value of momentum transfer $Q^2$ of 8.1 (GeV/c)$^2$. A nuclear transparency was determined by comparing the data to calculations in the Plane-Wave Impulse Approximation. The dependence of the nuclear transparency on $Q^2$ and the mass number $A$ was investigated in a search for the onset of the Color Transparency phenomenon. We find no evidence for the onset of Color Transparency within our range of $Q^2$. A fit to the world's nuclear transparency data reflects the energy dependence of the free proton-nucleon cross section.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figure