Academic Faculty 144 Technical Faculty 148 Statement of Audited Accounts 149 Director’S Foreword

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Academic Faculty 144 Technical Faculty 148 Statement of Audited Accounts 149 Director’S Foreword 2011 - 2012 Front Cover: Center Left Panel: Celebration of Republic Day at Thaltej Campus of Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad. Center Right Panel Synoptic view of Mt. Abu Observatory Center Bottom Panel: Synoptic View of Udaipur Solar Observatory located in Fateh Sagar Lake, Udaipur. Inside front cover: Facilities at PRL Inside back cover: Events at PRL Back cover: The sequence of photographs of Venus Transit captured by Solar Flare Telescope at Thaltej campus of Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad. Compiled by: Office of the Dean, PRL. Published by: Physical Research Laboratary, Ahmedabad. Layout & Printed by: Creative Printers Pvt. Ltd., Ahmedabad. Council of Management Chairman Nominee, Government of India Professor U. R. Rao ISRO Headquarters, Government of India, Bangalore Members Dr. K. Radhakrishnan Nominee, Government of India Secretary, DOS and Chairman, ISRO, Government of India Department of Space, Bangalore Shri A Vijay Ananad Nominee, Government of India Joint Secretary, Department of Space, Government of India, Bangalore Shri Sanjay S. Lalbhai Nominee, Ahmedabad Education Society Ahmedabad Education Society Ahmedabad Shri Kartikeya V. Sarabhai Nominee, Karmakshetra Educational Foundation Chidambaram, Usmanpura, Ahmedabad The Principal Secretary, Nominee, Government of Gujarat Department of Education (Higher & Technical Education) Government of Gujarat, Gandhinagar Professor J. N. Goswami (Ex-Officio) Director, Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad Member- Secretary (Ex-Officio) Shri Y.M. Trivedi Registrar Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad Contents Director’s Foreword 1 Science Highlights 3 Awards and Honours 7 Theses Submitted 10 Human Resource Development 12 Colloquia/ Public Lectures by Visitors 13 Conference / Symposia / Workshops held 15 Invited Talks at Conference / Symposia / Workshops 16 Lectures at Universities / Institutions 24 Science Astronomy and Astrophysics 29 Solar Physics 47 Planetary Sciences and PLANEX Program 66 Space and Atmospheric Sciences 78 Geosciences 90 Theoretical Physics 109 Publications Publications in Journals 121 Publications in Proceedings of Conference / Symposia / Workshops 133 Book Edited/ Review Articles 136 Other Publications 137 Facilities and Services 138 Honorary Fellows 142 Honorary Faculty 143 Academic Faculty 144 Technical Faculty 148 Statement of Audited Accounts 149 Director’s Foreword A major landmark of the current year was the formulation an enhanced and a proactive role of PRL scientists in such of the Science Goals for PRL during the 12th five year plan missions in the years to come. period. These were derived through extensive discussions The year witnessed several landmarks, some of which were and brainstorming sessions amongst faculty members and achieved using the facilities established during the 11th a comprehensive and well-defined plan is now ready. The plan period. These include the installation of Multi plan document contains the trajectory of science at PRL in Application Solar Telescope (MAST) at the Udaipur lake the coming years with new initiatives and definition of site that is nearing completion. With this facility, we pathways towards strengthening of existing research anticipate an exciting new era of solar observations and a programs. The new initiatives include the plans for refined understanding of various solar phenomena and establishing a 2.5 meter telescope at Mt. Abu for processes. First science results from the indigenously astronomical observations, making forays into laboratory developed Echelle Spectrograph, obtained in early 2012, studies of molecular genesis in simulated cold astrophysical confirmed its capability for detection of exo-planets and environment, an accelerator mass spectrometer for inferring routine observations will follow. Direct detection of water precise time scales of planetary and geological processes, in microscopic mineral phases in lunar samples was made experiments to understand the role of volatile hydrocarbon using a Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometer (Nano-SIMS) in tropical troposphere and the development of optical that was acquired during the last plan. In the area of space parametric oscillator based sources for studies of photon exploration, fabrication of the two payloads for the entanglement. Chandrayaan-2 mission is progressing well and development Specific need-based augmentation of experimental facilities of a payload proposed for the Mars mission has been for research in different areas and upgrading of initiated. In basic geosciences, the studies at PRL delineated computational capabilities will also form a major component the role of the Ganga-Brahmaputra river system in controlling of the activities during the next five years. With the the trace element inventory of the world oceans. Theoretical anticipated completion of the Space Instrumentation Facility analysis showed that the claim for an elementary particle in the PRL-Thaltej campus, PRL’s commitment to actively (neutrino) moving at a speed faster than light, made by a participate in ISRO’s future space-science missions in the European experimental group, that would require fields of Astronomy & Astrophysics, Solar Physics and modification of Einstein theory of special relativity, is not Planetary & Atmospheric Sciences will now on be a more tenable, as it conflicts with well-established results on decay ambitious route. PRL has played a major role in ISRO’s of elementary particles. planetary science missions to Moon and Mars and has an The core academic faculty strength at PRL remained close active role in the Solar Mission, “Aditya” for probing the to seventy and the combined number of research scholars solar corona, the outermost layer of the Sun. I anticipate and post-doctoral fellows is nearly hundred. A large number 1 of project associates are also working in different areas. different fields in research. The regular seminar activities Preparations for the 8th UN course on Space Sciences for of all the six major divisions, where senior research scholars the Asia-Pacific region, conducted by PRL, have been are encouraged to present their work, continued with usual completed and fifteen students will join the course starting vigour. from July, 2012. Keeping in view the broad canvas of As a part of its HRD activities, PRL is working hard to research areas at PRL, an MOU was signed with Indian encourage young college and university students, by Institute of Technology, Gandhinagar (IIT-Gn), Gujarat, to inviting them to spend some quality time and partner the facilitate academic exchange and registration of PRL academic activities at PRL and interact with its scientists. research scholars at IITGn for their PhD degree. Growing PRL had a strong summer program, driven by its own involvement of PRL in Planetary and Space Explorations program and via its participation in the Indian Academies also led to signing of an MOU with the Space Application program and over seventy students participated in these Centre, Ahmedabad, for support and collaboration in programmes. The technical faculty members of PRL realizing space qualified payloads at PRL for future ISRO additionally guided a large number of B.Tech and M.Tech space missions. engineering students in their project work and dissertation. The steady and positive growth in research in different PRL continued to conduct the PLANEX and RESPOND scientific areas at PRL was also reflected both via an programmes of ISRO. These programs aim at enhancing increase in the total number of publication, and in the participation of scientists from universities and academic number of publications in high impact journals. PRL faculty institutions in the areas of space and planetary research. members were also invited to edit special issues of journals, Nearly fifty groups across the country are currently pursing and to write review articles in international journals and research under these two programmes. monographs. Fifteen research scholars completed their PhD studies during the year. The celebration of science day at PRL has now matured into a major Science outreach activity that covers higher The research at PRL was formally recognized by various secondary schools from across the state of Gujarat. PRL international and national forum through fellowship, awards held events and lectures at eleven centers across the state and honors bestowed on PRL faculty. These included the and selected over a hundred students from over hundred J. C. Bose fellowship, D.Sc. (Honoris Causa), Vice- schools who were invited to PRL along with their teachers Chairman, Committee on Space Sciences of International on Science Day to participate in various activities. Some Astronautical Academy, Goyal Prize, K. R. Ramanathan of the meritorious students from amongst these were Gold Medal (Indian Geophysical Union), D. M. Khaitan awarded scholarships and other incentives. Gold Medal (Asiatic Society), National Geoscience Award PRL made a steady improvement in the use of Hindi in its and Young Associate, Indian Academy of Sciences. Several day to day administration. The PRL website is now in a research scholars of PRL also received awards at various bilingual format. This year was the second consecutive national conferences and symposia for high quality of their year when the Town’s Official Language Committee, presentations. Senior faculty members from PRL were Ahmedabad, selected PRL for the First Prize for excellence invited to serve in Council/Board of academic and research in contribution towards implementation
Recommended publications
  • Aitken Basin
    Geological and geochemical analysis of units in the South Pole – Aitken Basin A.M. Borst¹,², F.S. Bexkens¹,², B. H. Foing², D. Koschny² ¹ Department of Petrology, VU University Amsterdam ² SCI-S. Research and Scientific Support Department, ESA – ESTEC Student Planetary Workshop 10-10-2008 ESA/ESTEC The Netherlands The South Pole – Aitken Basin Largest and oldest Lunar impact basin - Diameter > 2500 km - Depth > 12 km - Age 4.2 - 3.9 Ga Formed during Late heavy bombardment? Window into the interior and evolution of the Moon Priority target for future sample return missions Digital Elevation Model from Clementine altimetry data. Produced in ENVI, 50x vertical exaggeration, orthographic projection centered on the far side. Red +10 km, purple/black -10km. (A.M.Borst et.al. 2008) 1 The Moon and the SPA Basin Geochemistry Iron map South Pole – Aitken Basin mafic anomaly • High Fe, Th, Ti and Mg abundances • Excavation of mafic deep crustal / upper mantle material Thorium map Clementine 750 nm albedo map from USGS From Paul Lucey, J. Geophys. Res., 2000 Map-a-Planet What can we learn from the SPA Basin? • Large impacts; Implications and processes • Volcanism; Origin, age and difference with near side mare basalts • Cratering record; Age, frequency and size distribution • Late Heavy Bombardment; Intensity, duration and origin • Composition of the deeper crust and possibly upper mantle 2 Topics of SPA Basin study 1) Global structure of the basin (F.S. Bexkens et al, 2008) • Rims, rings, ejecta distribution, subsequent craters modifications, reconstructive
    [Show full text]
  • Richard G. Hewlett and Jack M. Holl. Atoms
    ATOMS PEACE WAR Eisenhower and the Atomic Energy Commission Richard G. Hewlett and lack M. Roll With a Foreword by Richard S. Kirkendall and an Essay on Sources by Roger M. Anders University of California Press Berkeley Los Angeles London Published 1989 by the University of California Press Berkeley and Los Angeles, California University of California Press, Ltd. London, England Prepared by the Atomic Energy Commission; work made for hire. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Hewlett, Richard G. Atoms for peace and war, 1953-1961. (California studies in the history of science) Bibliography: p. Includes index. 1. Nuclear energy—United States—History. 2. U.S. Atomic Energy Commission—History. 3. Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969. 4. United States—Politics and government-1953-1961. I. Holl, Jack M. II. Title. III. Series. QC792. 7. H48 1989 333.79'24'0973 88-29578 ISBN 0-520-06018-0 (alk. paper) Printed in the United States of America 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 CONTENTS List of Illustrations vii List of Figures and Tables ix Foreword by Richard S. Kirkendall xi Preface xix Acknowledgements xxvii 1. A Secret Mission 1 2. The Eisenhower Imprint 17 3. The President and the Bomb 34 4. The Oppenheimer Case 73 5. The Political Arena 113 6. Nuclear Weapons: A New Reality 144 7. Nuclear Power for the Marketplace 183 8. Atoms for Peace: Building American Policy 209 9. Pursuit of the Peaceful Atom 238 10. The Seeds of Anxiety 271 11. Safeguards, EURATOM, and the International Agency 305 12.
    [Show full text]
  • X-Ray Astronomy to Resonant Theranostics for Cancer Treatment Sultana N
    1 X-Ray Astronomy to Resonant Theranostics for Cancer Treatment Sultana N. Nahar Abstract location of the object. Figure 1 is an example of an image of galaxy Centauras A with a black Atomic spectroscopy is fundamental to hole in the center. The falling particles spiral study of astronomical objects for their around the black hole, move faster close to it formation, evolution, composition, physical and release energy in the form of radiation, conditions etc. Information are extracted from mainly X-rays. The highly energetic super hot the spectral analysis of the electromagnetic atoms near the black hole are in a plasma state radiation emitted by these objects. This article and emit bright Kα (1s-2p transitions) X-rays. will focus on the study of X-ray radiation which One main evidence of presence of a black hole is used as a powerful diagnostic for is large amount of high energy X- rays, astrophysical plasmas, particularly those especially hard X-rays (wavelength range less surrounding black holes. There are space than 100 ˚) emission. A black often gives out observatories, such as Chandra, XMM-Newton, jets of particles, formed by the conservation of dedicated in measuring the X-ray emissions in energy and angular momentum of the falling astronomical objects. The knowledge of X- ray particles, on the opposite sides. astronomy is very similar to that used in cancer treatment in medical facilities. Using this connection, we have formulated a new method, Resonant Nano-Plasma Theranostics or RNPT, which gives indication for one most efficient way for destruction of malignant cells.
    [Show full text]
  • TRANSIENT LUNAR PHENOMENA: REGULARITY and REALITY Arlin P
    The Astrophysical Journal, 697:1–15, 2009 May 20 doi:10.1088/0004-637X/697/1/1 C 2009. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A. TRANSIENT LUNAR PHENOMENA: REGULARITY AND REALITY Arlin P. S. Crotts Department of Astronomy, Columbia University, Columbia Astrophysics Laboratory, 550 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027, USA Received 2007 June 27; accepted 2009 February 20; published 2009 April 30 ABSTRACT Transient lunar phenomena (TLPs) have been reported for centuries, but their nature is largely unsettled, and even their existence as a coherent phenomenon is controversial. Nonetheless, TLP data show regularities in the observations; a key question is whether this structure is imposed by processes tied to the lunar surface, or by terrestrial atmospheric or human observer effects. I interrogate an extensive catalog of TLPs to gauge how human factors determine the distribution of TLP reports. The sample is grouped according to variables which should produce differing results if determining factors involve humans, and not reflecting phenomena tied to the lunar surface. Features dependent on human factors can then be excluded. Regardless of how the sample is split, the results are similar: ∼50% of reports originate from near Aristarchus, ∼16% from Plato, ∼6% from recent, major impacts (Copernicus, Kepler, Tycho, and Aristarchus), plus several at Grimaldi. Mare Crisium produces a robust signal in some cases (however, Crisium is too large for a “feature” as defined). TLP count consistency for these features indicates that ∼80% of these may be real. Some commonly reported sites disappear from the robust averages, including Alphonsus, Ross D, and Gassendi.
    [Show full text]
  • Refashioning Production in Bristol Bay, Alaska by Karen E. Hébert A
    Wild Dreams: Refashioning Production in Bristol Bay, Alaska by Karen E. Hébert A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (Anthropology) in the University of Michigan 2008 Doctoral Committee: Professor Fernando Coronil, Chair Associate Professor Arun Agrawal Associate Professor Stuart A. Kirsch Associate Professor Barbra A. Meek © Karen E. Hébert 2008 Acknowledgments At a cocktail party after an academic conference not long ago, I found myself in conversation with another anthropologist who had attended my paper presentation earlier that day. He told me that he had been fascinated to learn that something as “mundane” as salmon could be linked to so many important sociocultural processes. Mundane? My head spun with confusion as I tried to reciprocate chatty pleasantries. How could anyone conceive of salmon as “mundane”? I was so confused by the mere suggestion that any chance of probing his comment further passed me by. As I drifted away from the conversation, it occurred to me that a great many people probably deem salmon as mundane as any other food product, even if they may consider Alaskan salmon fishing a bit more exotic. At that moment, I realized that I was the one who carried with me a particularly pronounced sense of salmon’s significance—one that I shared with, and no doubt learned from, the people with whom I conducted research. The cocktail-party exchange made clear to me how much I had thoroughly adopted some of the very assumptions I had set out simply to study. It also made me smile, because it revealed how successful those I got to know during my fieldwork had been in transforming me from an observer into something more of a participant.
    [Show full text]
  • March 21–25, 2016
    FORTY-SEVENTH LUNAR AND PLANETARY SCIENCE CONFERENCE PROGRAM OF TECHNICAL SESSIONS MARCH 21–25, 2016 The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel and Convention Center The Woodlands, Texas INSTITUTIONAL SUPPORT Universities Space Research Association Lunar and Planetary Institute National Aeronautics and Space Administration CONFERENCE CO-CHAIRS Stephen Mackwell, Lunar and Planetary Institute Eileen Stansbery, NASA Johnson Space Center PROGRAM COMMITTEE CHAIRS David Draper, NASA Johnson Space Center Walter Kiefer, Lunar and Planetary Institute PROGRAM COMMITTEE P. Doug Archer, NASA Johnson Space Center Nicolas LeCorvec, Lunar and Planetary Institute Katherine Bermingham, University of Maryland Yo Matsubara, Smithsonian Institute Janice Bishop, SETI and NASA Ames Research Center Francis McCubbin, NASA Johnson Space Center Jeremy Boyce, University of California, Los Angeles Andrew Needham, Carnegie Institution of Washington Lisa Danielson, NASA Johnson Space Center Lan-Anh Nguyen, NASA Johnson Space Center Deepak Dhingra, University of Idaho Paul Niles, NASA Johnson Space Center Stephen Elardo, Carnegie Institution of Washington Dorothy Oehler, NASA Johnson Space Center Marc Fries, NASA Johnson Space Center D. Alex Patthoff, Jet Propulsion Laboratory Cyrena Goodrich, Lunar and Planetary Institute Elizabeth Rampe, Aerodyne Industries, Jacobs JETS at John Gruener, NASA Johnson Space Center NASA Johnson Space Center Justin Hagerty, U.S. Geological Survey Carol Raymond, Jet Propulsion Laboratory Lindsay Hays, Jet Propulsion Laboratory Paul Schenk,
    [Show full text]
  • Water on the Moon, III. Volatiles & Activity
    Water on The Moon, III. Volatiles & Activity Arlin Crotts (Columbia University) For centuries some scientists have argued that there is activity on the Moon (or water, as recounted in Parts I & II), while others have thought the Moon is simply a dead, inactive world. [1] The question comes in several forms: is there a detectable atmosphere? Does the surface of the Moon change? What causes interior seismic activity? From a more modern viewpoint, we now know that as much carbon monoxide as water was excavated during the LCROSS impact, as detailed in Part I, and a comparable amount of other volatiles were found. At one time the Moon outgassed prodigious amounts of water and hydrogen in volcanic fire fountains, but released similar amounts of volatile sulfur (or SO2), and presumably large amounts of carbon dioxide or monoxide, if theory is to be believed. So water on the Moon is associated with other gases. Astronomers have agreed for centuries that there is no firm evidence for “weather” on the Moon visible from Earth, and little evidence of thick atmosphere. [2] How would one detect the Moon’s atmosphere from Earth? An obvious means is atmospheric refraction. As you watch the Sun set, its image is displaced by Earth’s atmospheric refraction at the horizon from the position it would have if there were no atmosphere, by roughly 0.6 degree (a bit more than the Sun’s angular diameter). On the Moon, any atmosphere would cause an analogous effect for a star passing behind the Moon during an occultation (multiplied by two since the light travels both into and out of the lunar atmosphere).
    [Show full text]
  • Appendix I Lunar and Martian Nomenclature
    APPENDIX I LUNAR AND MARTIAN NOMENCLATURE LUNAR AND MARTIAN NOMENCLATURE A large number of names of craters and other features on the Moon and Mars, were accepted by the IAU General Assemblies X (Moscow, 1958), XI (Berkeley, 1961), XII (Hamburg, 1964), XIV (Brighton, 1970), and XV (Sydney, 1973). The names were suggested by the appropriate IAU Commissions (16 and 17). In particular the Lunar names accepted at the XIVth and XVth General Assemblies were recommended by the 'Working Group on Lunar Nomenclature' under the Chairmanship of Dr D. H. Menzel. The Martian names were suggested by the 'Working Group on Martian Nomenclature' under the Chairmanship of Dr G. de Vaucouleurs. At the XVth General Assembly a new 'Working Group on Planetary System Nomenclature' was formed (Chairman: Dr P. M. Millman) comprising various Task Groups, one for each particular subject. For further references see: [AU Trans. X, 259-263, 1960; XIB, 236-238, 1962; Xlffi, 203-204, 1966; xnffi, 99-105, 1968; XIVB, 63, 129, 139, 1971; Space Sci. Rev. 12, 136-186, 1971. Because at the recent General Assemblies some small changes, or corrections, were made, the complete list of Lunar and Martian Topographic Features is published here. Table 1 Lunar Craters Abbe 58S,174E Balboa 19N,83W Abbot 6N,55E Baldet 54S, 151W Abel 34S,85E Balmer 20S,70E Abul Wafa 2N,ll7E Banachiewicz 5N,80E Adams 32S,69E Banting 26N,16E Aitken 17S,173E Barbier 248, 158E AI-Biruni 18N,93E Barnard 30S,86E Alden 24S, lllE Barringer 29S,151W Aldrin I.4N,22.1E Bartels 24N,90W Alekhin 68S,131W Becquerei
    [Show full text]
  • The Composition of the Lunar Crust: Radiative Transfer Modeling and Analysis of Lunar Visible and Near-Infrared Spectra
    THE COMPOSITION OF THE LUNAR CRUST: RADIATIVE TRANSFER MODELING AND ANALYSIS OF LUNAR VISIBLE AND NEAR-INFRARED SPECTRA A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE GRADUATE DIVISION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI‘I IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN GEOLOGY AND GEOPHYSICS DECEMBER 2009 By Joshua T.S. Cahill Dissertation Committee: Paul G. Lucey, Chairperson G. Jeffrey Taylor Patricia Fryer Jeffrey J. Gillis-Davis Trevor Sorensen Student: Joshua T.S. Cahill Student ID#: 1565-1460 Field: Geology and Geophysics Graduation date: December 2009 Title: The Composition of the Lunar Crust: Radiative Transfer Modeling and Analysis of Lunar Visible and Near-Infrared Spectra We certify that we have read this dissertation and that, in our opinion, it is satisfactory in scope and quality as a dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Geology and Geophysics. Dissertation Committee: Names Signatures Paul G. Lucey, Chairperson ____________________________ G. Jeffrey Taylor ____________________________ Jeffrey J. Gillis-Davis ____________________________ Patricia Fryer ____________________________ Trevor Sorensen ____________________________ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I must first express my love and appreciation to my family. Thank you to my wife Karen for providing love, support, and perspective. And to our little girl Maggie who only recently became part of our family and has already provided priceless memories in the form of beautiful smiles, belly laughs, and little bear hugs. The two of you provided me with the most meaningful reasons to push towards the "finish line". I would also like to thank my immediate and extended family. Many of them do not fully understand much about what I do, but support the endeavor acknowledging that if it is something I’m willing to put this much effort into, it must be worthwhile.
    [Show full text]
  • Astrophysics in 2006 3
    ASTROPHYSICS IN 2006 Virginia Trimble1, Markus J. Aschwanden2, and Carl J. Hansen3 1 Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-4575, Las Cumbres Observatory, Santa Barbara, CA: ([email protected]) 2 Lockheed Martin Advanced Technology Center, Solar and Astrophysics Laboratory, Organization ADBS, Building 252, 3251 Hanover Street, Palo Alto, CA 94304: ([email protected]) 3 JILA, Department of Astrophysical and Planetary Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder CO 80309: ([email protected]) Received ... : accepted ... Abstract. The fastest pulsar and the slowest nova; the oldest galaxies and the youngest stars; the weirdest life forms and the commonest dwarfs; the highest energy particles and the lowest energy photons. These were some of the extremes of Astrophysics 2006. We attempt also to bring you updates on things of which there is currently only one (habitable planets, the Sun, and the universe) and others of which there are always many, like meteors and molecules, black holes and binaries. Keywords: cosmology: general, galaxies: general, ISM: general, stars: general, Sun: gen- eral, planets and satellites: general, astrobiology CONTENTS 1. Introduction 6 1.1 Up 6 1.2 Down 9 1.3 Around 10 2. Solar Physics 12 2.1 The solar interior 12 2.1.1 From neutrinos to neutralinos 12 2.1.2 Global helioseismology 12 2.1.3 Local helioseismology 12 2.1.4 Tachocline structure 13 arXiv:0705.1730v1 [astro-ph] 11 May 2007 2.1.5 Dynamo models 14 2.2 Photosphere 15 2.2.1 Solar radius and rotation 15 2.2.2 Distribution of magnetic fields 15 2.2.3 Magnetic flux emergence rate 15 2.2.4 Photospheric motion of magnetic fields 16 2.2.5 Faculae production 16 2.2.6 The photospheric boundary of magnetic fields 17 2.2.7 Flare prediction from photospheric fields 17 c 2008 Springer Science + Business Media.
    [Show full text]
  • South Pole-Aitken Basin
    Feasibility Assessment of All Science Concepts within South Pole-Aitken Basin INTRODUCTION While most of the NRC 2007 Science Concepts can be investigated across the Moon, this chapter will focus on specifically how they can be addressed in the South Pole-Aitken Basin (SPA). SPA is potentially the largest impact crater in the Solar System (Stuart-Alexander, 1978), and covers most of the central southern farside (see Fig. 8.1). SPA is both topographically and compositionally distinct from the rest of the Moon, as well as potentially being the oldest identifiable structure on the surface (e.g., Jolliff et al., 2003). Determining the age of SPA was explicitly cited by the National Research Council (2007) as their second priority out of 35 goals. A major finding of our study is that nearly all science goals can be addressed within SPA. As the lunar south pole has many engineering advantages over other locations (e.g., areas with enhanced illumination and little temperature variation, hydrogen deposits), it has been proposed as a site for a future human lunar outpost. If this were to be the case, SPA would be the closest major geologic feature, and thus the primary target for long-distance traverses from the outpost. Clark et al. (2008) described four long traverses from the center of SPA going to Olivine Hill (Pieters et al., 2001), Oppenheimer Basin, Mare Ingenii, and Schrödinger Basin, with a stop at the South Pole. This chapter will identify other potential sites for future exploration across SPA, highlighting sites with both great scientific potential and proximity to the lunar South Pole.
    [Show full text]
  • A Multispectral Assessment of Complex Impact Craters on the Lunar Farside
    Western University Scholarship@Western Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository 2-15-2013 12:00 AM A Multispectral Assessment of Complex Impact Craters on the Lunar Farside Bhairavi Shankar The University of Western Ontario Supervisor Dr. Gordon R. Osinski The University of Western Ontario Graduate Program in Planetary Science A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the equirr ements for the degree in Doctor of Philosophy © Bhairavi Shankar 2013 Follow this and additional works at: https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd Part of the Geology Commons, Geomorphology Commons, Physical Processes Commons, and the The Sun and the Solar System Commons Recommended Citation Shankar, Bhairavi, "A Multispectral Assessment of Complex Impact Craters on the Lunar Farside" (2013). Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository. 1137. https://ir.lib.uwo.ca/etd/1137 This Dissertation/Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by Scholarship@Western. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository by an authorized administrator of Scholarship@Western. For more information, please contact [email protected]. A MULTISPECTRAL ASSESSMENT OF COMPLEX IMPACT CRATERS ON THE LUNAR FARSIDE (Spine title: Multispectral Analyses of Lunar Impact Craters) (Thesis format: Integrated Article) by Bhairavi Shankar Graduate Program in Geology: Planetary Science A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy The School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies The University of Western Ontario London, Ontario, Canada © Bhairavi Shankar 2013 ii Abstract Hypervelocity collisions of asteroids onto planetary bodies have catastrophic effects on the target rocks through the process of shock metamorphism. The resulting features, impact craters, are circular depressions with a sharp rim surrounded by an ejecta blanket of variably shocked rocks.
    [Show full text]