A Micro-glitch in the Millisecond Pulsar B1821-24 in M28

We report on the observation of a very small glitch observed for the first time in a millisecond pulsar, PSR B1821-24 located in the globular cluster M28. Timing observations were mainly conducted with the Nancay radiotelescope (France) and confirmation comes from the 140ft radiotelescope at Green Bank and the new Green Bank Telescope data. This event is characterized by a rotation frequency step of 3 nHz, or 10^-11 in fractional frequency change along with a short duration limited to a few days or a week. A marginally significant frequency derivative step was also found. This glitch follows the main characteristics of those in the slow period pulsars, but is two orders of magnitude smaller than the smallest ever recorded. Such an event must be very rare for millisecond pulsars since no other glitches have been detected when the cumulated number of years of millisecond pulsar timing observations up to 2001 is around 500 for all these objects. However, pulsar PSR B1821-24 is one of the youngest among the old recycled ones and there is likely a correlation between age, or a related parameter, and timing noise. While this event happens on a much smaller scale, the required adjustment of the star to a new equilibrium figure as it spins down is a likely common cause for all glitches.Comment: Accepted by ApJ Letters, 5 pages, 2 figures, LaTex (uses emulateapj.sty

Risky Honors

Most educators today are likely to proclaim a commitment to teaching critical thinking. Willingness to take intellectual risks such as questioning orthodox teachings or proposing unconventional solutions is an important component of critical thinking and the larger project of liberal education, yet the reward structures of educational institutions may actually function to discourage such risk-taking. In light of the extra importance placed on grades and high-stakes entrance exams in an increasingly competitive educational marketplace, this problem might presumably be magnified among honors students. This essay concludes by calling on honors educators and other interested parties to contribute their voices, their questions, and their proposed solutions to a new JNCHC Forum focusing on the tension among talented students between taking intellectual risks and a desire to avoid the personal struggle and possible failure that sometimes come from taking such risks

Radio Properties of the Auroral Ionosphere, Final Report (Phase I)

It has been found in recent years that a study of the fluctuations in the signals received from radio stars affords a powerful means of investigating the irregular structure of the ionosphere. In 1955 studies of this type, using frequencies of 223 Me and 456 Me, were initiated at the Geophysical Institute, with a view to investigating the smallscale structure of the highly disturbed auroral ionosphere. The purpose of this report is to present a complete description of the initial experimental arrangement. Further developments of the equipment and some results of analysis of the data have been presented in Quarterly Progress Reports covering the period since 1 June 1956, The report is divided into three sections. Section I contains a description of the basic philosophy of the experiment with an elementary discussion of the various parameters involved. Section II contains a brief description of the actual field installation, and Section III is devoted to the electronic design features. The diagrams pertaining to each section are located at the end of the section.Air Force Contract No. AF 30(635)-2887 Project No. 5535 - Task 45774 Rome Air Development Center, Griffiss Air Force Base Rome, New YorkABSTRACT AND GENERAL INTRODUCTION -- [SECTION I] Investigation of the Ionosphere Using Extra- Terrestrial Radio Sources : 1.1 Introduction ; 1.2 Extra-Terrestrial Sources ; Apparent Positions ; 1.3 Instrumental Techniques for the Study of Radiation from Radio Stars ; Interferometer Methods ; Advantages of the Phase-Switch Interferometer ; Interferometer Parameters ; 1.5 Limitations on Accuracy -- References -- [SECTION II] The Field Installation : 2.1 Introduction ; 2.2 The Radio Telescope Towers ; 2.3 The Antennas ; 2.4 Acknowledgements -- [SECTION III] Electronic Design of Phase-Switch Interferometers : 3.1 Introduction ; 3.2 223 Mc Phase-Switch Equipment ; 3.3 456 Mc Phase-Switch Equipment ; 3.4 Auxiliary EquipmentYe

Long-term Radio Observations of the Intermittent Pulsar B1931+24

We present an analysis of approximately 13-yr of observations of the intermittent pulsar B1931+24 to further elucidate its behaviour. We find that while the source exhibits a wide range of nulling (~4-39 d) and radio-emitting (~1-19 d) timescales, it cycles between its different emission phases over an average timescale of approximately 38 d, which is remarkably stable over many years. On average, the neutron star is found to be radio emitting for 26 +- 6 % of the time. No evidence is obtained to suggest that the pulsar undergoes any systematic, intrinsic variations in pulse intensity during the radio-emitting phases. In addition, we find no evidence for any correlation between the length of consecutive emission phases. An analysis of the rotational behaviour of the source shows that it consistently assumes the same spin-down rates, i.e. nudot = -16 +- 1 x 10^-15 s^-2 when emitting and nudot = -10.8 +- 0.4 x 10^-15 s^-2 when not emitting, over the entire observation span. Coupled with the stable switching timescale, this implies that the pulsar retains a high degree of magnetospheric memory, and stability, in spite of comparatively rapid (~ms) dynamical plasma timescales. While this provides further evidence to suggest that the behaviour of the neutron star is governed by magnetospheric-state switching, the underlying trigger mechanism remains illusive. This should be elucidated by future surveys with next generation telescopes such as LOFAR, MeerKAT and the SKA, which should detect similar sources and provide more clues to how their radio emission is regulated.Comment: 12 pages, 12 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

Analyse et modélisation du comportement d'un adhésif dans un assemblage soumis à sollicitations cycliques de cisaillement

International audienceLes analyses expérimentales et numériques du comportement mécanique d'un adhésif dans un assemblage sont rendues particulièrement difficiles en raison de l'influence des effets de bords. Ces concentrations de contraintes, présentes aux extrémités du joint de colle et près de l'interface, peuvent être à l'origine de l'amorçage de fissures qui peuvent par la suite se propager dans l'adhésif. L'analyse du comportement sur le long terme d'un adhésif est donc rendue assez délicate. Les principales approches développées dans la littérature, concernent la tenue en fatigue d'assemblages collés et sont principalement basées sur la théorie de la propagation d'une fissure dans l'adhésif. Ce papier présente une étude expérimentale et une première modélisation du comportement de l'adhésif destinés à analyser le comportement mécanique d'assemblages collés sous sollicitations cycliques. Un dispositif Arcan modifié, développé précédemment, est utilisé pour analyser le comportement mécanique de l'adhésif sous chargements cycliques en limitant l'influence des effets de bords. Ce dispositif permet de solliciter le joint de colle dans un assemblage en traction, cisaillement, traction-cisaillement et compression-cisaillement. Une première modélisation de type Chase- Goldsmith est également présentée pour décrire le comportement pour une sollicitation de cisaillement

Correlation between Sub-Tg relaxation processes and mechanical behavior for different hydrothermal ageing conditions in epoxy assemblies

The aim of this study is to understand aging phenomena by monitoring physical parameters after real and simulated aging experiments. This study focuses on aluminum-epoxy assemblies, which are commonly used on spacecraft structures. Different samples are submitted to simulated aging tests. Influence of temperature and moisture is analyzed. Evolution with aging is characterized at two different scales. The macroscopic behavior of the assemblies is studied by single lap shear test. A decrease in the shear rupture stress is observed with increasing temperature and relative humidity. It is demonstrated that temperature has more important influence. The molecular behavior in the adhesive joint is studied by dynamic dielectric spectroscopy measurements. This experiment gives access to molecular mobility in the adhesive. Dipolar entities are identified as evolving with aging conditions. The temperature is more effective than moisture at this scale. An interpretation of the molecular mobility before and after aging shows that water is an important parameter of this study. A link between mechanical and molecular behavior with hydrothermal aging is found. The decrease of mechanical properties occurs while failures become interfacial. In the same time, the interactions between hydroxyether and water increase. The evolution of the macroscopic behavior of the bonded assemblies is due to this combination observed at different scales

Etude numérique et optimisation du comportement d'assemblages collés cylindriques sous chargements de traction

National audienceSee http://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/docs/00/59/28/58/ANNEX/r_R0A988Z2.pd

Simultaneous Absolute Timing of the Crab Pulsar at Radio and Optical Wavelengths

The Crab pulsar emits across a large part of the electromagnetic spectrum. Determining the time delay between the emission at different wavelengths will allow to better constrain the site and mechanism of the emission. We have simultaneously observed the Crab Pulsar in the optical with S-Cam, an instrument based on Superconducting Tunneling Junctions (STJs) with $\mu$s time resolution and at 2 GHz using the Nan\c{c}ay radio telescope with an instrument doing coherent dedispersion and able to record giant pulses data. We have studied the delay between the radio and optical pulse using simultaneously obtained data therefore reducing possible uncertainties present in previous observations. We determined the arrival times of the (mean) optical and radio pulse and compared them using the tempo2 software package. We present the most accurate value for the optical-radio lag of 255 $\pm$ 21 $\mu$s and suggest the likelihood of a spectral dependence to the excess optical emission asociated with giant radio pulses.Comment: 8 pages; accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic