118920862
Cosmological implications of the unified field theory.
118556020
The mesotrons of eddington
SummarySome aspects of Eddington’s fundamental theory are reviewed. It is shown that an electrically neutral particle of rest mass close to that of π0-meson can be predicted using a quadruple phase reference frame. An attempt is made to calculate the lifetimes of the π-mesons using an extension of Eddington’s arguments.RiassuntoSi considerano alcuni aspetti della teoria fondamentale di Eddington. Si dimostra che si può prevedere una particella elettricamente neutra con massa a riposo prossima a quella del mesone π0 usando un sistema di riferimento della fase quadruplo. Si tenta di calcolare la vita dei mesoni π con un’estensione degli argomenti di Eddington.РеэюмеЗаново рассматриваются некоторые аспекты фундаментальной теории Эддингтона. Покаэывается, что может быть предскаэана масса покоя злектрически нейтральной частицы, блиэкая к массе π0 меэона, при испольэовании системы отсчета квадруплетной фаэы. Предпринимается попытка вычислить времена жиэни π меэонов, испольэуя обобшение аргументов Эддингтона.
124396676
A COMMENT ON A CRITICISM OF THE NONSYMMETRIC UNIFIED FIELD THEORY
119929847
The nonsymmetric unified field theory
This paper reviews the recent progress in the nonsymmetric unified field theory of Einstein and Straus and its current status as a theory of macrophysics of gravitation and electromagnetism.
121499433
The field equations of a conformally invariant, scalar-tensor theory
A general, conformally invariant theory of the general relativistic, gravitational field coupled with a scalar field is considered. The field equations of the theory are derived from a variational action principle and also from the assumption of the geodesic motion of test particles. These are shown to be identical. The scalar field is assumed to be a long-range field with the view to establishing a cosmological theory. An upper bound for the background scalar field is estimated.
120241964
Is Rainich’s theory tenable?
19294821
The distribution of water in the high-mass star-forming region NGC 6334 I
Aims: We present observations of twelve rotational transitions of H_216O, H_218O, and H_217O toward the massive star-forming region NGC 6334 I, carried out with Herschel/HIFI as part of the guaranteed time key program Chemical HErschel Surveys of Star forming regions (CHESS). We analyze these observations to obtain insights into physical processes in this region. Methods: We identify three main gas components (hot core, cold foreground, and outflow) in NGC 6334 I and derive the physical conditions in these components. Results: The hot core, identified by the emission in highly excited lines, shows a high excitation temperature of ~200 K, whereas water in the foreground component is predominantly in the ortho- and para- ground states. The abundance of water varies between 4 × 10-5 (outflow) and 10-8 (cold foreground gas). This variation is most likely due to the freeze-out of water molecules onto dust grains. The H_218O/H_217O abundance ratio is 3.2, which is consistent with the 18O/17O ratio determined from CO isotopologues. The ortho/para ratio in water appears to be relatively low (1.6±1) in the cold, quiescent gas, but close to the equilibrium value of three in the warmer outflow material (2.5±0.8). Herschel is an ESA space observatory with science instruments provided by European-led principal Investigator consortia and with important participation from NASA.Figures 1, 2 and 3 and Tables 2-4 (pages 5 to 6) are only available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.org
23873960
The ECLAIRs micro-satellite for multi-wavelength studies of gamma-ray burst prompt emission
The cosmological revolution of 1997 has established that (at least long duration) gamma-ray bursts (GRB) are among the most energetic events in the Universe and occur at cosmological distances. The ECLAIRs micro-satellite, to be launched in 2009, will provide multi-wavelength observations for astrophysical studies of GRB and for their possible use as cosmological probes. It is expected to be the only space borne GRB trigger available for ground based robotic telescopes operational at that time. This paper presents the ECLAIRs project and its status. An X/gamma-ray camera onboard ECLAIRs with a wide field of view of ~2 sr, will detect ~100 GRB/yr in the 4-50 keV energy range, localize the GRB with a precision of ~10 arcmin on the sky, and transmit this information to the ground in near real-time, as a GRB trigger for ground based optical telescopes. Inspired by the INTEGRAL imager IBIS, it is based on a CdTe detection plane of ~1000 cm2, placed 35 cm below a coded mask. An optical camera, sensitive to magnitude-15 stars, covering up to 1/4th of the X/gamma-ray camera's field of view, will observe the prompt emission and a possible precursor of ~10 GRB/yr in the visible-band. It will continuously acquire images at a rate of ~5 per second, dumped into an on-board memory. A GRB event, detected by the X/gamma-ray camera, triggers a seek-back in memory for the GRB optical precursor. The full X/gamma-ray and visible-band data of a GRB are sent to ground when a high data-rate telemetry ground receiver is reachable
119411598
Hands-On TAROT: Intercontinental use of the TAROT for Education and Public Outreach
The TAROT telescope has for primary goal the search for the prompt optical counterpart of Cosmic Gamma-Ray Bursts. It is a completely autonomous 25cm telescope installed near Nice (France), able to point any location of the sky within 1-2 seconds. The control, scheduling, and data processing activities are completely automated, so the instrument is completely autonomous. In addition to its un-manned modes, we added recently the possibility to remotely control the telescope, as a request of the "Hands-On Universe" (HOU) program for exchange of time within automatic telescopes for the education and public outreach. To this purpose we developed a simple control interface. A webcam was installed to visualize the telescope. Access to the data is possible through a web interface. The images can be processed by the HOU software, a program specially suited for use within the classroom. We experienced these feature during the open days of the University of California Berkeley and the Astronomy Festival of Fleurance (France). We plan a regular use for an astronomy course of the Museum of Tokyo, as well as for French schools. Not only does Hands-On TAROT gives the general public an access to professional astronomy, but it is also a more general tool to demonstrate the use of a complex automated system, the techniques of data processing and automation. Last but not least, through the use of telescopes located in many countries over the globe, a form of powerful and genuine cooperation between teachers and children from various countries is promoted, with a clear educational goal.
118513531
Instrumental methods for professional and amateur collaborations in planetary astronomy
Amateur contributions to professional publications have increased exponentially over the last decades in the field of planetary astronomy. Here we review the different domains of the field in which collaborations between professional and amateur astronomers are effective and regularly lead to scientific publications.We discuss the instruments, detectors, software and methodologies typically used by amateur astronomers to collect the scientific data in the different domains of interest. Amateur contributions to the monitoring of planets and interplanetary matter, characterization of asteroids and comets, as well as the determination of the physical properties of Kuiper Belt Objects and exoplanets are discussed.
18463726
Odin observations of water in molecular outflows and shocks
Aims: We investigate the ortho-water abundance in outflows and shocks in order to improve our knowledge of shock chemistry and of the physics behind molecular outflows. 
Methods: We used the Odin space observatory to observe the H2O(110-101) line. We obtain strip maps and single pointings of 13 outflows and two supernova remnants where we report detections for eight sources. We used RADEX to compute the beam averaged abundances of o-H2O relative to H2. In the case of non-detection, we derive upper limits on the abundance. 
Results: Observations of CO emission from the literature show that the volume density of H2 can vary to a large extent, a parameter that puts severe uncertainties on the derived abundances. Our analysis shows a wide range of abundances reflecting the degree to which shock chemistry affects the formation and destruction of water. We also compare our results with recent results from the SWAS team. 
Conclusions: Elevated abundances of ortho-water are found in several sources. The abundance reaches values as high as what would be expected from a theoretical C-type shock where all oxygen, not in the form of CO, is converted to water. However, the high abundances we derive could also be due to the low densities (derived from CO observations) that we assume. The water emission may in reality stem from high density regions much smaller than the Odin beam. We do not find any relationship between the abundance and the mass loss rate. On the other hand, there is a relation between the derived water abundance and the observed maximum outflow velocity. 
 
Odin is a Swedish-led satellite project funded jointly by the Swedish National Space Board (SNSB), the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), the National Technology Agency of Finland (Tekes) and Centre National d'Etude Spatiale (CNES). 
 
The Swedish ESO Submillimetre Telescope (SEST) located at La Silla, Chile was funded by the Swedish Research Council (VR) and the European Southern Observatory. It was decommissioned in 2003. Appendix B is only available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.org