Application of numerical methods to planetary radiowave scattering

Existing numerical techniques for the solution of scattering problems were investigated to determine those which might be applicable to planetary surface studies, with the goal of improving the interpretation of radar data from Venus, Mars, the Moon, and icy satellites. The general characteristics of the models are described along with computational concerns. In particular, the Numerical Electrogmatics Code (NEC) developed at the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory is discussed. Though not developed for random rough surfaces, the NEC contains elements which may be generalized and which could be valuable in the study of scattering by planetary surfaces

Subcentimeter-size particle distribution functions in planetary rings from Voyager radio and photopolarimeter occultation data

Analysis of measurements of the scattered and direct components of Voyager 1 radio occultation signals at 3.5 and 13 cm wavelengths yield estimates of the distribution functions of supracentimeter-size particles and thickness of relatively broad regions in Saturn's rings. If mearurements of signal amplitude at a shorter wavelength are combined with the previously analyzed data, the shape of the distribution functions characterizing the smaller particles can be constrained. If size distributions of arbitrary form were considered, many solutions are found that are consistent with the three available observations of signal amplitude. The best-fit power law was calculated to the three observations at three wavelengths for several of the embedded Saturn ringlets. Mie scattering theory predicts that the measured phase of the radio occultation signal is highly sensitive to particles ranging from 0.1 to 1.0 wavelengths in size, thus additional constraints on the subcentimeter-size distribution functions for both the Saturn and Uranus rings can in principle be derived from radio phase measurements

Automatic analysis of Swift-XRT data

The Swift spacecraft detects and autonomously observes ~100 Gamma Ray Bursts (GRBs) per year, ~96% of which are detected by the X-ray telescope (XRT). GRBs are accompanied by optical transients and the field of ground-based follow-up of GRBs has expanded significantly over the last few years, with rapid response instruments capable of responding to Swift triggers on timescales of minutes. To make the most efficient use of limited telescope time, follow-up astronomers need accurate positions of GRBs as soon as possible after the trigger. Additionally, information such as the X-ray light curve, is of interest when considering observing strategy. The Swift team at Leicester University have developed techniques to improve the accuracy of the GRB positions available from the XRT, and to produce science-grade X-ray light curves of GRBs. These techniques are fully automated, and are executed as soon as data are available.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, to appear in the proceedings of ADASS XVII (ASP Conference Series

Surface properties of Galilean satellites from bistatic radar experiments

The icy moons of Jupiter were the first to show unusual radar backscatter behavior in Earth-based experiments. Studies of Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto revealed strong echoes and a reversed sense of circular polarization. No explanations were entirely satisfactory because of the difficult constraints imposed by the existing data. The (scalar) bidirectional coherence model predicts an opposition effect, or enhancement in the backscatter direction, resulting from coherent addition of backscatter from identical (but oppositely directed) ray paths. The mode decoupling model yields a similar, vector result in which the observed polarization properties of the backscattered wave can also be obtained. The possibilities were considered for conducting such experiments using the Galileo spacecraft. Both conventional oblique-forward bistatic experiments (to determine basic electrical and physical properties of the surface material on centimeter-meter scales) and near-backscatter experiments (to sample the enhanced backscatter lobe) were considered

Stanford telemetry monitoring experiment on Lunar Explorer 35 Final report

Explorer 35 data analysis including occultation study and antenna pattern interpretation along with electromagnetic property experiment

Two-dimensional electron gas in a modulation-doped SrTiO3/Sr(Ti,Zr)O3 heterostructure

A two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) in SrTiO3 is created via modulation doping by interfacing undoped SrTiO3 with a wider-band-gap material, SrTi1-xZrxO3, that is doped n-type with La. All layers are grown using hybrid molecular beam epitaxy. Using magnetoresistance measurements, we show that electrons are transferred into the SrTiO3, and a 2DEG is formed. In particular, Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations are shown to depend only on the perpendicular magnetic field. Experimental Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations are compared with calculations that assume multiple occupied subbands.Comment: Submitted to Applied Physics Letter

Thermodynamic Properties of Generalized Exclusion Statistics

We analytically calculate some thermodynamic quantities of an ideal $g$-on gas obeying generalized exclusion statistics. We show that the specific heat of a $g$-on gas ($g \neq 0$) vanishes linearly in any dimension as $T \to 0$ when the particle number is conserved and exhibits an interesting dual symmetry that relates the particle-statistics at $g$ to the hole-statistics at $1/g$ at low temperatures. We derive the complete solution for the cluster coefficients $b_l(g)$ as a function of Haldane's statistical interaction $g$ in $D$ dimensions. We also find that the cluster coefficients $b_l(g)$ and the virial coefficients $a_l(g)$ are exactly mirror symmetric ($l$=odd) or antisymmetric ($l$=even) about $g=1/2$. In two dimensions, we completely determine the closed forms about the cluster and the virial coefficients of the generalized exclusion statistics, which exactly agree with the virial coefficients of an anyon gas of linear energies. We show that the $g$-on gas with zero chemical potential shows thermodynamic properties similar to the photon statistics. We discuss some physical implications of our results.Comment: 24 pages, Revtex, Corrected typo

The Value of Comparative Animal Research : Krogh’s Principle Facilitates Scientific Discoveries

There are no conflicts of interest to declare. This paper developed from the 2016 Early Career Impact Award from the Federation of Associations in Behavioral & Brain Sciences to TJS. TJS has received funding from The Leverhulme Trust. FJPE is in receipt of funding from the BBSRC (BB/M001555/1). The National Institutes of Health has funded RDF (NS 034950, NS093277, NIMH 087930), AGO (HD079573, IOS-1354760) and AMK (HD081959). BAA is an Arnold O. Beckman postdoctoral fellow.Peer reviewedPostprin