CERN’s ALPHA experiment measures charge of antihydrogen

CERN - European Organization for Nuclear Research logo.

June 3, 2014

In a paper published in the journal Nature Communications today, the ALPHA experiment at CERN's Antiproton Decelerator (AD) reports a measurement of the electric charge of antihydrogen atoms, finding it to be compatible with zero to eight decimal places. Although this result comes as no surprise, since hydrogen atoms are electrically neutral, it is the first time that the charge of an antiatom has been measured to high precision.

“This is the first time we have been able to study antihydrogen with some precision,” said ALPHA spokesperson Jeffrey Hangst. “We are optimistic that ALPHA’s trapping technique will yield many such insights in the future. We look forward to the restart of the AD program in August, so that we can continue to study antihydrogen with ever increasing accuracy.”

Image above: Detail of the ALPHA experiment: Insertion of the ALPHA Penning trap into the cryostat that holds the antihydrogen trapping magnets (Image: Niels Madsen).

Antiparticles should be identical to matter particles except for the sign of their electric charge. So while the hydrogen atom is made up of a proton with charge +1 and an electron with charge -1, the antihydrogen atom consists of a charge -1 antiproton and a charge +1 positron. We know, however, that matter and antimatter are not exact opposites – nature seems to have a one-part in 10 billion preference for matter over antimatter, so it is important to measure the properties of antimatter to great precision: the principal goal of CERN’s AD experiments. ALPHA achieves this by using a complex system of particle traps that allow antihydrogen atoms to be produced and stored for long enough periods to study in detail. Understanding matter antimatter asymmetry is one of the greatest challenges in physics today. Any detectable difference between matter and antimatter could help solve the mystery and open a window to new physics.

Diagram above: A diagram of the region where antihydrogen is synthesized and trapped in ALPHA. Bottom a diagram of the electric potential in the trap region. Credit: Nature.

To measure the charge of antihydrogen, the ALPHA experiment studied the trajectories of antihydrogen atoms released from the trap in the presence of an electric field. If the antihydrogen atoms had an electric charge, the field would deflect them, whereas neutral atoms would be undeflected. The result, based on 386 recorded events, gives a value of the antihydrogen electric charge as (-1.3±1.1±0.4) × 10^-8, the plus or minus numbers representing statistical and systematic uncertainties on the measurement.

With the restart of CERN’s accelerator chain getting underway, the laboratory’s antimatter research programme is set to resume. Experiments including ALPHA-2, an upgraded version of the ALPHA experiment, will be taking data along with the ATRAP and ASACUSA experiments and newcomer AEGIS, which will be studying the influence of gravity on antihydrogen.

Read more: "An experimental limit on the charge of antihydrogen" – Nature Communications: http://www.nature.com/ncomms/2014/140603/ncomms4955/full/ncomms4955.html

Note:

CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, is one of the world’s largest and most respected centres for scientific research. Its business is fundamental physics, finding out what the Universe is made of and how it works. At CERN, the world’s largest and most complex scientific instruments are used to study the basic constituents of matter — the fundamental particles. By studying what happens when these particles collide, physicists learn about the laws of Nature.

The instruments used at CERN are particle accelerators and detectors. Accelerators boost beams of particles to high energies before they are made to collide with each other or with stationary targets. Detectors observe and record the results of these collisions.

Founded in 1954, the CERN Laboratory sits astride the Franco–Swiss border near Geneva. It was one of Europe’s first joint ventures and now has 20 Member States.

Related links:

CERN Antiproton Decelerator (AD): http://home.web.cern.ch/about/accelerators/antiproton-decelerator

CERN ALPHA experiment: http://home.web.cern.ch/about/experiments/alpha

Images (mentioned), Text, Credits: CERN / Cian O'Luanaigh.

Greetings, Orbiter.ch

The series of joint Russian-Japanese experiments Aquarium-AQH

ISS - International Space Station patch / JAXA - KIBO Japanese Experiment Module patch.

06/03/2014

The series of joint Russian-Japanese experiments Aquarium -AQH, without exaggeration, is one and the most important experimental steps in recent years. This is one of the first studies that evaluates the "pure" effect of space flight on the work of the genetic apparatus of vertebrate and invertebrate aquatic organisms on an example of the Japanese medaka fish (Oryzias latipes) and chironomid larvae (Polypedilum vanderplanki).

Experiment Aquarium-AQH carried out in accordance with the program of Russian scientific and applied research. On the Russian side in the works according to experiments involving SRC RF-IBMP RAS, RSC Energia SP Korolev, Moscow State University, Research Institute of Human Morphology, Kazan Federal University.

Study Aquarium-AQH differs from the vast majority of biological experiments, which were carried out on the ISS, the following key points:

- The animals spend a lot of time in space under a constant temperature control and water quality in aquariums, and the possible impact on the results of the experiments stress from their delivery on board is reduced to almost zero;

- Fixation of biological material passes directly aboard the space station with the use of reagents for stabilization of RNA and DNA.

Equipment Aquarium-AQH on board module "Kibo"

This completely avoids the effects of stress on the descent living samples to Earth. Thus, the net effect singled out the animal's stay in prolonged space flight on genetics.

Objects of the first series of experiments, the research Aquarium-AQH are Japanese medaka fish Oryzias latipes. This experiment was designed and implemented with the latest advances in genomic technologies. Medaka fish genome was decoded a few years ago, at the same time allowing to reliably estimate the expression (activity) of all genes in space and terrestrial samples.

The experiment uses the best platform to date genome-sequencing (reading from the entire genome) HiSeq 2500 (Illumina) to obtain a complete profile of genetic expression. A total of 14 pairs of genome-wide expression profiles (more than 60 million reads per sample) allowed a high-performance analysis:

- The formation of unique space for expression profiles for individual organs;

- Identification of organ- specific markers of stress activated during space flight;

- Evaluation of the device to stabilize and repair the DNA to identify the potential risk of the cosmic radiation.

Such genome-wide data using fish recorded directly during space flight, were obtained for the first time in the history of space biology .

Researchers initially assumed that the conditions of space flight will have a minimal impact on the operation of the genetic apparatus of fish, because the aquatic habitat implies a possible compensation from the stress of microgravity.

Fish in space flight

Onboard footage showed that from a behavioral point of view of the fish completely adapted to the conditions of flight, however, the comparative analysis of juvenile fish earth and space group was found 418 genes significantly increase the activity in space flight. One of the unexpected results was the analysis of genes whose activity is decreased in the fry in spaceflight. There were found 195 genes.

Currently, Russian and Japanese scientists conducted an analysis of genetic data from different organs of adult fish after months in space flight. One of the potential performance may be the identification of specific regulatory regions in the genome, specifically reacting to conditions of space flight and determine the decrease in the activity of muscle and other proteins.

This approach is a deep analysis of genome-wide strategy is highly effective for identifying potential genetic risks for astronauts.

Second joint Russian-Japanese experiment under Aquarium -AQH aims to take advantage of resting stages of aquatic organisms to understand the effects of spaceflight on organ and tissue reorganization during metamorphosis of insects.

In this case, a phenomenon cryptobiosis - organisms delivered on board completely dehydrated state and reactivated by adding water.

Container for revitalizing mosquito larvae on board the ISS

Model object serves African chironomid Polypedilum vanderplanki-kind of chironomids. The larvae of this insect is adapted to complete dehydration, and come back to life for 30-40 minutes after adding water.

Larvae in dehydrated state has a unique resistance to abiotic stresses, including radiation and vacuum. They were used in the series of experiments "Biorisk" and "Expose-R" in open space. It has been experimentally proved that terrestrial organisms such a complex level of organization can survive for years in open space.

In 2013 was completed genome African chironomids larvae included in the second experiment Aquarium-AQH. Larvae were reactivated on the ISS, the process of recovery and their life cycle was recorded on high-resolution video camera. After recovery of the space larvae were preserved and sent back to Earth for further genetic studies.

Two experiments Aquarium-AQH can be considered as components of a single unit of genetic research program "traskriptomika Space", which will allow for a few years to create a consolidated database for eukaryotic genomes work (in cells with nucleus) organisms in space flight.

ROSCOSMOS Press Release: http://www.federalspace.ru/20652/

Images, Text, Credits: Roscosmos press service / ROSCOSMOS / Translation: Orbiter.ch Aerospace.

Best regards, Orbiter.ch

Roscosmos spent tasking areas of flooding in the Altai region

ROSCOSMOS logo.

06/03/2014

On request the Russian Emergencies Ministry Roscosmos carries the affected areas surveyed by spacecraft remote sensing (ERS satellites) from the Russian (Resurs-P) and together with the Republic of Belarus (Canopus-V, BKA) orbital groupings in order to eliminate the consequences of flooding and damage assessment.

Resurs-P satellite

Filming took place in the period from 30 May to 2 June 2014. Materials are transferred to the Russian Emergencies Ministry.

(Original text in Russian)

Роскосмос провел оперативную съемку районов наводнения в Алтайском крае

По заявке МЧС России Роскосмос осуществляет съемку пострадавших территорий посредством космических аппаратов дистанционного зондирования Земли (КА ДЗЗ) из состава российской (КА «Ресурс-П») и совместной с Республикой Беларусь (КА «Канопус-В», БКА) орбитальных группировок в целях ликвидации последствий наводнения и оценки ущерба.

Канопус-В/Canopus-V

Съемка проводилась в период с 30 мая по 2 июня 2014 года. Материалы переданы МЧС России.

Пресс-служба Роскосмоса

ROSCOSMOS Press Release: http://www.federalspace.ru/20653/

Exceptionally, as it is a short text, I published this article bilingual.

Images, Text, Credits: Roscosmos press service / ROSCOSMOS / English translation: Orbiter.ch Aerospace.

Greetings, Orbiter.ch

NASA Declares SOFIA Observatory Fully Operational

NASA / DLR - SOFIA Observatory patch.

June 3, 2014

On June 2, 2014, during the 224th meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Boston, Massachusetts, Paul Hertz, NASA's Astrophysics Division director, announced that the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) has passed its Key Decision Point E (KDP-E) and been transitioned into the operational phase.

"We have now formally completed the development phase of SOFIA and declared the observatory operational. That's the equivalent of a launch for a space mission," said Hertz.

The technical criteria for SOFIA's transition to its operational phase were met in February 2014, and NASA's formal review was completed on May 29. Prior to the KDP-E declaration last week, SOFIA demonstrated an impressive rate of science operations in April/May by flying 14 flights, encompassing more than 100 successful science mission hours, in 30 days.

Image above: The door to the SOFIA observatory's 2.5-meter telescope is wide open during a developmental test flight in 2010. Image Credit: NASA/Jim Ross.

In parallel with the mission milestone, commissioning flights for the observatory's fifth instrument, the Field-Imaging Far-Infrared Line Spectrometer (FIFI-LS), were completed in April, and flights to commission SOFIA's sixth instrument, the Echelon-Cross Echelle Spectrograph (EXES), began later that month.

As commissioning work continues with EXES, a pair of second-generation instruments / instrument upgrades continue development. An American-built instrument, the High-resolution Airborne Wideband Camera-Plus (HAWC+), a far-infrared camera with polarized light detection capabilities that began development at the University of Chicago, is nearing completion at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California. A set of enhancements, dubbed "upGREAT" to the German Receiver for Astronomy at Terahertz Frequencies (GREAT) spectrometer, will further enhance that instrument's already impressive performance.

SOFIA is a joint project of NASA and the German Aerospace Center (DLR). The aircraft is based at the NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center’s facility in Palmdale, California. NASA Armstrong Flight Research Center manages the program. NASA Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, California, manages the SOFIA science and mission operations in cooperation with the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, and the German SOFIA Institute (DSI) at the University of Stuttgart.

For more information about SOFIA Observatory, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/SOFIA/ and http://www.sofia.usra.edu/

Image, Text, Credits: NASA / SOFIA Science Center / Nicholas A. Veronico.

Cheers, Orbiter.ch

First successful flight for Solar Impulse 2

SolarImpulse - Around the World patch.

June 2 , 2014

Best-Of Solar Impulse 2 - First Flight - Maiden Flight

The second prototype of Solar Impulse made ​​its first flight on Monday morning over Payerne , in the hands of the pilot Markus Scherdel .

Pilot Markus Scherdel in the cockpit of SolarImpulse 2

2 Solar Impulse landed Monday morning without problem Payerne ( VD) at 7:52 . The new solar aircraft flew into the hands of Markus Scherdel first test flight pilot 2:15 , with the ambition to realize a world tour in 2015.

SolarImpulse2 flight over Payerne (Switzerland)

" The aircraft was in good weather despite the presence of some clouds and rain residue ," said Alexandra Gindroz spokesman Solar Impulse. Despite the early hour , dozens of onlookers had attended the 5:37 takeoff .

The aircraft flew over Payerne

The car has a wingspan of 72 meters against 64 for the first prototype. It weighs 2300 kg , against 1,600 for the previous solar plane . Aerodynamic performance and energy efficiency are much higher , according to the team .

SolarImpulse 2 / Boeing 747-81 comparison

To be successful around the world , Solar Impulse 2 will be able to fly without fuel with a single pilot at a time up to 5 days and 5 nights in a row to cross oceans .

For more information about Solar Impulse 2, visit: http://live.solarimpulse.com/

Images, Video, Text, Credits: Solar Impulse / Orbiter.ch Aerospace.

Cheers, Orbiter.ch

Discovery of a planet "Godzilla", 17 times heavier than Earth

NASA - Kepler Space Telescope patch.

June 2, 2014

Image above: An artist's illustration of the mega-Earth planet Kepler-10c, the"Godzilla of Earths" planet that is 2.3 times the size of Earth and 17 times heavier. The planet and its lava-world sibling Kepler 10b (background) orbit the star Kepler-10 about. Image Credits: David A. Aguilar (CfA).

Scientists have just discovered the "Godzilla of Earths" — a new type of huge and rocky alien world about 560 light-years from Earth.

Dubbed a "mega-Earth," the exoplanet Kepler-10c weighs 17 times as much as Earth and it circles a sunlike star in the constellation Draco. The mega-Earth is rocky and also bigger than "super-Earths," which are a class of planets that are slightly bigger than Earth.

Theorists weren't actually sure that a world like the newfound exoplanet could exist. Scientists thought that planets of Kepler-10c's size would be gaseous, collecting hydrogen as they grew and turning into Jupiter-like worlds. However, researchers have now found that the newly discovered planet is rocky, Christine Pulliam, a spokeswoman with the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, wrote in a statement announcing the find.

"This is the Godzilla of Earths!" the CfA's Dimitar Sasselov, director of the Harvard Origins of Life Initiative, said of Kepler-10c in a statement. "But unlike the movie monster, Kepler-10c has positive implications for life."

The discovery of Kepler-10c was presented today here at the 224th American Astronomical Society meeting.

The mega-Earth orbits its parent star once every 45 days. Kepler-10c is probably too close to its star to be hospitable to life, and it isn't the only orbiting the yellow star. Kepler-10 also plays host to a "lava world" called Kepler-10b that is three times the mass of Earth and speeds around its star in a 20-hour orbit.

NASA's Kepler space telescope first spotted Kepler-10c, however, the exoplanet-hunting tool is not able to tell whether an alien world it finds is gaseous or rocky. The new planet's size initially signaled that it fell into the "mini-Neptune" category, meaning it would have a thick envelope of gas covering the planet.

CfA astronomer Xavier Dumusque and his team used the HARPS-North instrument on the Telescopio Nazionale Galileo in the Canary Islands to measure Kepler-10c's mass. They found that the planet is, in fact, rocky and not a mini-Neptune.

"Kepler-10c didn't lose its atmosphere over time. It's massive enough to have held onto one if it ever had it," Dumusque said in a statement. "It must have formed the way we see it now."

Kepler Space Telescope. Image Credit: NASA

Scientists think the Kepler-10c system is actually quite old, forming less than 3 billion years after the Big Bang. The system's early formation suggests that, although the materials were scarce, there were enough heavy elements like silicon and iron to form rocky worlds relatively early on in the history of the universe, according to the CfA.

"Finding Kepler-10c tells us that rocky planets could form much earlier than we thought," Sasselov said in a statement. "And if you can make rocks, you can make life."

The new finding bolsters the idea that old stars could host rocky Earths, giving astronomers a wider range of stars that may support Earth-like alien worlds to study, according to the CfA. Instead of ruling out old stars when searching for Earth-like planets, they might actually be worth a second look.

It's also possible that exoplanet hunters will find more mega-Earths as they continue searching the universe. CfA astronomer Lars A. Buchhave "found a correlation between the period of a planet (how long it takes to orbit its star) and the size at which a planet transitions from rocky to gaseous," meaning that scientists could find more Kepler-10c-like planets as they look to longer period orbits, according to the CfA.

For more information about Kepler Space Telescope, Visit: http://kepler.nasa.gov/

Images, Text, Credits: Cfa / David A. Aguilar / NASA.

Best regards, Orbiter.ch

Blowing cosmic bubbles

ESA - XMM-Newton Mission patch.

June 2, 2014

Pulsar encased in supernova bubble

Massive stars end their lives with a bang: exploding as spectacular supernovas, they release huge amounts of mass and energy into space. These explosions sweep up any surrounding material, creating bubble remnants that expand into interstellar space. At the heart of bubbles like these are small, dense neutron stars or black holes, the remains of what once shone brightly as a star.

Since supernova-carved bubbles shine for only a few tens of thousands of years before dissolving, it is rare to come across neutron stars or black holes that are still enclosed within their expanding shell. This image captures such an unusual scene, featuring both a strongly magnetised, rotating neutron star – known as a pulsar – and its cosmic cloak, the remains of the explosion that generated it.

This pulsar, named SXP 1062, lies in the outskirts of the Small Magellanic Cloud, one of the satellite galaxies of our Milky Way galaxy. It is an object known as an X-ray pulsar: it hungrily gobbles up material from a nearby companion star and burps off X-rays as it does so. In the future, this scene may become even more dramatic, as SXP 1062 has a massive companion star that has not yet exploded as a supernova.

Most pulsars whirl around incredibly quickly, spinning many times per second. However, by exploring the expanding bubble around this pulsar and estimating its age, astronomers have noticed something intriguing: SXP 1062 seems to be rotating far too slowly for its age. It is actually one of the slowest pulsars known.

ESA's XMM-Newton, x-ray observatory

While the cause of this weird sluggishness is still a mystery, one explanation may be that the pulsar has an unusually strong magnetic field, which would slow the rotation.

The diffuse blue glow at the centre of the bubble in this image represents X-ray emission from both the pulsar and the hot gas that fills the expanding bubble. The other fuzzy blue objects visible in the background are extragalactic X-ray sources.

This image combines X-ray data from ESA’s XMM-Newton (shown in blue) with optical observations from the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile. The optical data were obtained using two special filters that reveal the glow of oxygen (shown in green) and hydrogen (shown in red). The size of the image is equivalent to a distance of 457 light-years on a side.

This image was first published on ESA’s Science and Technology website in 2011. It is based on data from the paper “Discovery of a Be/X-ray pulsar binary and associated supernova remnant in the Wing of the Small Magellanic Cloud” by V. Hénault-Brunet, et al. 2012.

For mre information about ESA's XMM-Newton Mission, visit: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/XMM-Newton_overview and http://sci.esa.int/xmm-newton/

Images, Text, Credits: ESA/XMM-Newton/ L. Oskinova/M. Guerrero; CTIO/R. Gruendl/Y.H. Chu.

Greetings, Orbiter.ch