Bulletin of the American Physical Society
2006 Four Corners Section of the APS Fall Meeting
Friday–Saturday, October 6–7, 2006; Logan, Utah
Session H5: Atmospheric and Nuclear Physics |
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Chair: Andrea Palounek, Los Alamos National Laboratory Room: Eccles Conference Center Room 309 |
Saturday, October 7, 2006 8:30AM - 8:42AM |
H5.00001: Propagation and Ducting of Short-Period Gravity Waves over Antarctica Kim Nielsen, Michael Taylor, Robert Hibbins, Martin Jarvis Short-period gravity waves are known to be significant sources of momentum deposition in the upper mesosphere. Recent studies using an extensive imaging data set obtained as part of a collaborative program with British Antarctic Survey have identified significant momentum transported by short-period waves as observed from Halley Station (76\r{ }S,) on the Brunt ice shelf. However, this result is recognized to be an upper limit since it assumes that all of the wave motions were freely propagating. In this study we utilized available mesospheric wind data from Halley to investigate the propagation nature (i.e. freely propagating, evanescent, or Doppler ducted) of these waves observed over Halley during the 2000 and 2001 austral winter seasons to help provide a more realistic assessment of the impact of short-period waves on the Antarctic environment. A total of $\sim $170 short-period wave events were observed with available coincident wind measurements. The majority of these waves were found to be freely propagating ($\sim $76{\%}) with only $\sim $2{\%} of the observed events clearly Doppler ducted. In the remaining cases (22{\%}), the mesospheric winds did not support propagating waves (evanescent). [Preview Abstract] |
Saturday, October 7, 2006 8:42AM - 8:54AM |
H5.00002: Imaging Gravity Waves and Sprites in the Earth's Upper Atmosphere Michael Taylor Ground-based remote sensing studies of the Earth's upper atmospheric regions provide a low-cost and reliable method for long-term measurements. At mesospheric heights ($\sim$60-100 km) the atmospheric pressure and density are lower than can be achieved in most vacuum systems yet this tenuous region is home to a wealth of dynamical phenomena. In particular atmospheric gravity waves, generated by thunderstorms, severe weather, and by strong winds blowing over large mountain ranges (such as the Rockies), can propagate upwards from their source regions into the mesosphere in only a few hours. At heights above about 80 km these waves start to break (like ocean waves as they reach the shore) and deposit their energy and momentum which has a dramatic influence on the upper atmospheric circulation and the temperature field. We use sensitive CCD imaging systems to characterize these gravity waves and much larger-scale tidal perturbations using the naturally occurring nightglow emissions. Currently we have cameras operating remotely in Utah, Hawaii, Antarctica (and soon in Norway), to help study their global variability and dominant source regions. This talk will introduce the topic of atmospheric imaging with examples of our current research. Novel applications of imaging techniques to other areas of our ongoing atmospheric research will also be presented. [Preview Abstract] |
Saturday, October 7, 2006 8:54AM - 9:06AM |
H5.00003: Three New Ionospheric Indices Cesar Noguera, Jan Sojka In the present work three new ionospheric indices have been proposed as an exploratory way to quantitatively evaluate the ionosphere state. These indices have been determined from a statistical analysis of ionosphere GPS total electron content (TEC) measurements that were assimilated into the USU global assimilation of ionospheric measurements (GAIM) model. Comparisons of the indices from 8 locations demonstrate both local and regional value of these indices. A correlation study has been performed between the new indices and others such as kp, Dst and F10.7 which shows that the ionosphere's variability can not be specified by these solar and geomagnetic indices. Hence we put forward the concept that a GPS TEC index is the appropriate means of describing regional ionospheric variability. [Preview Abstract] |
Saturday, October 7, 2006 9:06AM - 9:18AM |
H5.00004: Extracting air motion velocity data from aerosol distortion patterns detected in fast lidar scans Jan Marie Andersen, Thomas Wilkerson Rapid elevation scans using a LIDAR pointing in the upwind direction at a fixed azimuth reveal distinct patterns in the spatial structure of the aerosols in the low-altitude boundary layer. Typically, these aerosol clouds are borne aloft from air pollution sources and areas of loose soil such as gravel roads and plowed fields. Such aerosol patterns are kinematically distorted due to the combination of finite scan time and cloud motion. True motion patterns are interpreted by means of a joint analysis of successive ``up'' and ``down'' scans. Analysis of two fast, successive elevation scans yields information about the motion of the cloud features and the fluid flow of the air itself - and thus about the turbulent motion within the atmospheric boundary layer. In spite of scan limitations, the temporal and spatial dependence of air flow can be determined by careful analysis of these repeated pairs of rapid scans. Examples are given of measurements of the mean horizontal wind, the shape of prominent vertical plumes of wind-borne aerosols, and inferences about vertical aerosol transport. [Preview Abstract] |
Saturday, October 7, 2006 9:18AM - 9:30AM |
H5.00005: Heavy Baryons at CDF II John Ash We describe heavy baryon production and decay produced at the Tevatron and recorded by the CDF detector during Run II. Motivation for studying heavy baryons is given. We describe how the collider, detector, and trigger work together to produce meaningful data. Results are then compared against recent theoretical predictions. [Preview Abstract] |
Saturday, October 7, 2006 9:30AM - 9:42AM |
H5.00006: Influence of the Ground State Spin of the Projectile -target on the Fission Anisotropies Aziz Bhkami Fission fragment angular distributions have been investigated for various systems produced in heavy ion reactions at near and sub-barrier energies. In particular, special attention has been paid to the entrance channel dependence of fragment angular distributions. The results of our analysis of the fragment angular anisotropies induced by Boron, Carbon, and Oxygen ions on Thorium and Neptunium targets as well as Fluorine ions on Neptunium target indicate that at bombarding energies around fusion barrier the Transition State Model (TSM) is quite successful in accounting for the observed angular distributions. We have further found that the fission anisotropies strongly depend on the channel spin in consistence with the prediction of the pre-equilibrium model. [Preview Abstract] |
Saturday, October 7, 2006 9:42AM - 9:54AM |
H5.00007: Proton configuration and mass variations are observed in each of the 3036 isotopes studied. Eugene Pamfiloff The fission and decay transitions of unstable isotopes are studied with particular detailed analysis of nuclei masses, proton - neutron substructure, and the change in mass experienced by individual nucleons of parent, daughter and product isotopes. The data shows the 3036 isotopes studied contain nucleons of a mass unique to each isotope, and further, indicating 3036 proton variations, each differentiated by a distinct mass. Of these, 283 proton variations are further distinguished by belonging to stable benchmark isotopes. The same variations were found with bound neutrons. A direct correlation is observed between the nearest stable benchmark mass and the mass of the nucleon returning to ground state during the transition, indicating a mass dependence to nuclear stability. These findings indicate that a nucleus in an excited state cannot stabilize or return to the ground state until it adjusts mass to match the nearest $Z - N$ and mass per nucleon benchmark. These conclusions were further tested with the analysis of nucleon mass adjustments occurring within the natural and artificial alpha emitter nuclei. The developed system of analysis provided good results when tested against the incident and product particles of high and low energy interactions and events of nuclear transmutation. Every transition to a stable product demonstrates a strong correlation with a specific mass per nucleon benchmark as a third condition of nuclear stability. [Preview Abstract] |
Saturday, October 7, 2006 9:54AM - 10:06AM |
H5.00008: Accelerate the transition of radioisotopes and unwanted weapons-grade $^{239}$Pu into stable nuclei with a system of high frequency modulation for a net energy gain Eugene Pamfiloff A process of high frequency stimulation of nucleons can be utilized for the accelerated fission, decay or controlled transition of unstable isotopes. $^{238}$U could be persuaded to transition promptly into the stable $^{206}$Pb isotope, where a portion of the total mass difference of 29873.802 MeV per nucleus becomes available energy. The proposals of this paper describe an effective system for nuclei stimulation configured to accelerate such a series of 14 transitions over several milliseconds, instead of 4.47 x 10$^{9 }$years. Positive ions or ionized capsules of fuel suspended by magnetic fields and subjected to the system of correlated frequency modulation of multiple beam lines, tailored to the specific target, will emit sufficient energy to stimulate subsequent targets. The system can be applied to all radioisotopes, nuclear waste product isotopes such as $^{239}$Pu, and a variety of other suitable unstable or stable nuclei. Through the proposed confinement system and application of high frequency stimulation in the 10$^{22}$ to 10$^{24}$ Hz regime, the change in mass can be applied to both the fragmentation of subsequent, periodically injected targets, and the production of heat, making a continuous supply of energy possible. The system allows the particle fragmentation process to be brought into the lab and provides potential solutions to the safe disposal of fissile material. [Preview Abstract] |
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