J. W. Armstrong

Electron density power spectrum in the local interstellar medium

Interstellar scintillation (ISS), fluctuations in the amplitude and phase of radio waves caused by scattering in the interstellar medium, is important as a diagnostic of interstellar plasma turbulence. ISS is also of interest because it is noise for other radio astronomical observations. The unifying concern is the power spectrum of the interstellar electron density. Here we use ISS observations through the nearby (less than or approximately =1 kpc) (ISM) to estimate the spectrum. From measurements of angular broadening of pulsars and extragalactic sources, decorrelation bandwidth of pulsars, refractive steering of features in pulsar dynamic spectra, dispersion measured fluctuations of pulsars, and refractive scintillation index measurements, we construct a composite structure function that is approximately power law over 2 x 10(exp 6) m less than scale less than 10(exp 13) m. The data are consistent with the structure function having a logarithmic slope versus baseline less than 2; thus there is a meaningful connection between scales in the radiowave fluctuation field and the scales in the electron density field causing the scattering. The data give an upper limit to the inner scale, l(sub o) less than or approximately 10(exp 8) m and are consistent with much smaller values. We construct a composite electron density spectrum that is approximately power law over at least the approximately = 5 decade wavenumber range 10(exp -13)/m less than wavenumber less than 10(exp -8)/m and that may extend to higher wavenumbers. The average spectral index of electron density over this wavenumber range is approximately = 3.7, very close to the value expected for a Kolmogorov process. The outer scale size, L(sub o), must be greater than or approximately = 10(exp 13) m (determined from dispersion measure fluctuations). When the ISS data are combined with measurements of differential Faraday rotation angle, and gradients in the average electron density, constraints can be put on the spectrum at much smaller wave numbers. The composite spectrum is consistent with a Kolmogorov-like power law over a huge range (10 or more decades) of spatial wavenumber with an infrared outer scale L(sub o) greater than or approximately 10(exp 18)m. This power-law subrange-expressed as ratio of outer to inner scales-is comparable to or larger than that of other naturally occurring turbulent fluids, such as the oceans or the solar wind. We outline some of the theories for generating and maintaining such a spectrum over this huge wavenumber range.

Gravity Field, Shape, and Moment of Inertia of Titan

Titan Through to the Core Gravity measurements acquired from orbiting spacecraft can provide useful information about the interior of planets and their moons. Iess et al. (p. 1367; see the Perspective by Sohl) used gravity data from four flybys of the Cassini spacecraft past Saturns moon, Titan, to model the moons gravity field and probe its deep interior structure. Their analysis implies that Titan is a partially differentiated body with a core consisting of a mix of ice and rock or hydrated silicates. Analysis of gravity data reveals that Saturn’s moon Titan has a partially differentiated internal structure. Precise radio tracking of the spacecraft Cassini has provided a determination of Titan’s mass and gravity harmonics to degree 3. The quadrupole field is consistent with a hydrostatically relaxed body shaped by tidal and rotational effects. The inferred moment of inertia factor is about 0.34, implying incomplete differentiation, either in the sense of imperfect separation of rock from ice or a core in which a large amount of water remains chemically bound in silicates. The equilibrium figure is a triaxial ellipsoid whose semi-axes a, b, and c differ by 410 meters (a – c) and 103 meters (b – c). The nonhydrostatic geoid height variations (up to 19 meters) are small compared to the observed topographic anomalies of hundreds of meters, suggesting a high degree of compensation appropriate to a body that has warm ice at depth.

The Gravity Field and Interior Structure of Enceladus

Inside Enceladus Saturns moon Enceladus has often been the focus of flybys of the Cassini spacecraft. Although small—Enceladus is roughly 10 times smaller than Saturns largest moon, Titan—Enceladus has shown hints of having a complex internal structure rich in liquid water. Iess et al. (p. 78) used long-range data collected by the Cassini spacecraft to construct a gravity model of Enceladus. The resulting gravity field indicates the presence of a large mass anomaly at its south pole. Calculations of the moment of inertia and hydrostatic equilibrium from the gravity data suggest the presence of a large, regional subsurface ocean 30 to 40 km deep. The saturnian moon is differentiated and likely hosts a regional subsurface sea at its southern pole. The small and active Saturnian moon Enceladus is one of the primary targets of the Cassini mission. We determined the quadrupole gravity field of Enceladus and its hemispherical asymmetry using Doppler data from three spacecraft flybys. Our results indicate the presence of a negative mass anomaly in the south-polar region, largely compensated by a positive subsurface anomaly compatible with the presence of a regional subsurface sea at depths of 30 to 40 kilometers and extending up to south latitudes of about 50°. The estimated values for the largest quadrupole harmonic coefficients (106J2 = 5435.2 ± 34.9, 106C22 = 1549.8 ± 15.6, 1σ) and their ratio (J2/C22 = 3.51 ± 0.05) indicate that the body deviates mildly from hydrostatic equilibrium. The moment of inertia is around 0.335MR2, where M is the mass and R is the radius, suggesting a differentiated body with a low-density core.

The Tides of Titan

Getting to Know Titan Gravity-field measurements provide information on the interior structure of planets and their moons. Iess et al. (p. 457; published online 28 June) analyzed gravity data from six flybys of Saturns moon, Titan, by the Cassini spacecraft between 2006 and 2011. The data suggest that Titans interior is flexible on tidal time scales with the magnitude of the observed tidal deformations being consistent with the existence of a global subsurface water ocean. Gravity measurements by the Cassini spacecraft suggest that Saturn’s moon Titan hosts a subsurface ocean. We have detected in Cassini spacecraft data the signature of the periodic tidal stresses within Titan, driven by the eccentricity (e = 0.028) of its 16-day orbit around Saturn. Precise measurements of the acceleration of Cassini during six close flybys between 2006 and 2011 have revealed that Titan responds to the variable tidal field exerted by Saturn with periodic changes of its quadrupole gravity, at about 4% of the static value. Two independent determinations of the corresponding degree-2 Love number yield k2 = 0.589 ± 0.150 and k2 = 0.637 ± 0.224 (2σ). Such a large response to the tidal field requires that Titan’s interior be deformable over time scales of the orbital period, in a way that is consistent with a global ocean at depth.

Observations of field-aligned density fluctuations in the inner solar wind

This paper reports the results of radio wave scattering observations which show highly anisotropic density microstructure in the inner solar wind. These observations were made in October 1983 and 1985, using the National Radio Astronomy Observatorys Very Large Array. Heliocentric distances of the observations ranged from 2.2. to about 13 solar radii. The axial ratio of the density fluctuations, projected onto the plane of the sky, increased from about 4 at 10 solar radii to about 14 at 2.2 solar radii. The major axis appeared to be field aligned; that is, the irregularities were stretched out approximately along the radial. These results are, in general, consistent with the results of earlier observations. The present observations differ in that they were taken closer to the sun, they were sensitive to larger scale structures (up to about 35 km), and showed much higher anisotropy. Combining these data with previously taken data strongly indicates that the anisotropy is scale dependent; scales greater than 10 km appear to be more anisotropic than those less than 2 km. 22 refs.

TIME-DELAY INTERFEROMETRY FOR SPACE-BASED GRAVITATIONAL WAVE SEARCHES

Ground-based, equal-arm-length laser interferometers are being built to measure high-frequency astrophysical gravitational waves. Because of the arm-length equality, laser light experiences the same delay in each arm and thus phase or frequency noise from the laser itself precisely cancels at the photodetector. This laser noise cancellation is crucial. Raw laser noise is orders of magnitude larger than other noises and the desired sensitivity to gravitational waves cannot be achieved without very precise cancellation. Laser interferometers in space, e.g., the proposed three-spacecraft LISA detector, will have much longer arm lengths and will be sensitive to much lower frequency gravitational radiation. In contrast with ground-based interferometers, it is impossible to maintain equal distances between spacecraft pairs; thus laser noise cannot be cancelled by direct differencing of the beams. We analyze here an unequal-arm three-spacecraft gravitational wave detector in which each spacecraft has one free-running laser used both as a transmitter (to send to the other two spacecraft) and as a local oscillator (to monitor the frequencies of beams received from the other two spacecraft). This produces six data streams, two received time series generated at each of the three spacecraft. We describe the apparatus in terms of Doppler transfer functions of signals and noises on these one-way transits between pairs of test masses. Accounting for time-delays of the laser light and gravitational waves propagating through the apparatus, we discuss several simple and potentially useful combinations of the six data streams, each of which exactly cancels the noise from all three lasers while retaining the gravitational wave signal. Three of these combinations are equivalent to unequal-arm interferometers, previously analyzed by Tinto & Armstrong. The other combinations are new and may provide design and operational advantages for space-based detectors. Since at most three laser-noise-free data streams can be independent, we provide equations relating the combinations reported here. We give the response functions of these laser-noise-canceling data combinations for both a gravity wave signal and for the remaining noncancelled noise sources. Finally, using spacecraft separations and noise spectra appropriate for the LISA mission, we calculate the expected gravitational wave sensitivities for each laser-noise-canceling data combination.

Interplanetary phase scintillation and the search for very low frequency gravitational radiation

Observations of radio-wave phase scintillation are reported which used the Viking spacecraft having an earth-spacecraft link very similar to that which will be used in very low-frequency (VLF) gravitational-wave searches. The phase power-spectrum level varies by seven orders of magnitude as the sun-earth-spacecraft (elongation) angle changes from 1 to 175 deg. It is noteworthy that a broad minimum in the S-band (2.3 GHz) phase fluctuation occurs in the antisolar direction; the corresponding fractional frequency stability (square root Allan variance) is about 3 x 10 to the -14th for 1000-s integration times. A simultaneous two-frequency two-station observation indicates that the contribution to the phase fluctuation from the ionosphere is significant but dominated by the contribution from the interplanetary medium. Nondispersive tropospheric scintillation was not detected (upper limit to fractional frequency stability about 5 x 10 to the -14th). Evidently, even observations in the antisolar direction will require higher radio frequencies, phase scintillation calibration, and correlation techniques in the data processing, for detection of gravitational bursts at the anticipated strain amplitude levels of no more than 10 to the -15th.

The polar ionosphere of venus near the terminator from early pioneer venus orbiter radio occultations.

Fourteen profiles of electron density in the ionosphere of Venus were obtainecd by the dual-frequency radio occulation method with the Pioneer Venus orbiter between 5 and 30 December 1978. The solar zenith angles for these measurements were between about 85� and 92�, and the latitudes ranged from about 81� to 88� (ecliptic north). In addition to the expected decreasein peak electron density from about 1.5 x 103 to 0.5 x 103 per cubic centimeter with increasing solar zenith angle, a region of almost constant electron density above about 250 kilometers was observed. The ionopause height varies from about 300 to 700 kilometers and seems to be influenced by diurnal changes in solar wind conditions. The structures of the profiles are consistent with models in which O2+ dominates near the ionization peak and is replaced by O+ at higher altitudes.

Hyperion's sponge-like appearance

Hyperion is Saturn’s largest known irregularly shaped satellite and the only moon observed to undergo chaotic rotation. Previous work has identified Hyperion’s surface as distinct from other small icy objects but left the causes unsettled. Here we report high-resolution images that reveal a unique sponge-like appearance at scales of a few kilometres. Mapping shows a high surface density of relatively well-preserved craters two to ten kilometres across. We have also determined Hyperion’s size and mass, and calculated the mean density as 544 ± 50 kg m-3, which indicates a porosity of >40 per cent. The high porosity may enhance preservation of craters by minimizing the amount of ejecta produced or retained, and accordingly may be the crucial factor in crafting this unusual surface.

STOCHASTIC GRAVITATIONAL WAVE BACKGROUND: UPPER LIMITS IN THE 10^-^6 TO 10^-^3 Hz BAND

We have used precision Doppler tracking of the Cassini spacecraft during its 2001-2002 solar opposition to derive improved observational limits to an isotropic background of low-frequency gravitational waves. Using the Cassini multilink radio system and an advanced tropospheric calibration system, the effects of heretofore leading noises—plasma and tropospheric scintillation—were, respectively, removed and calibrated to levels lower than other noises. The resulting data were used to construct upper limits to the strength of an isotropic background in the 10-6 to 10-3 Hz band. Our results are summarized as limits on the strain spectrum Sh( f), the characteristic strain (hc = the square root of the product of the frequency and the one-sided spectrum of strain at that frequency), and the energy density (Ω = energy density in bandwidth equal to center frequency assuming a locally white energy density spectrum, divided by the critical density). Our best limits are Sh( f) < 6 × 10-27 Hz-1 at several frequencies in the millihertz band, hc < 2 × 10-15 at about 0.3 mHz, and Ω < 0.025 × h, where h75 is the Hubble constant in units of 75 km s-1 Mpc-1, at 1.2 × 10-6 Hz. These are the best observational limits in the low-frequency band, the bound on Ω, for example, being about 3 orders of magnitude better than previous constraints from Doppler tracking.