Next generation high-power laser facilities are expected to generate hundreds-of-MeV proton beams and operate at multi-Hz repetition rates, presenting opportunities for medical, industrial and scientific applications requiring bright pulses of energetic ions. Characterizing the spectro-spatial profile of these ions at high repetition rates in the harsh radiation environments created by laser–plasma interactions remains challenging but is paramount for further source development. To address this, we present a compact scintillating fiber imaging spectrometer based on the tomographic reconstruction of proton energy deposition in a layered fiber array. Modeling indicates that spatial resolution of approximately 1 mm and energy resolution of less than 10% at proton energies of more than 20 MeV are readily achievable with existing 100 μm diameter fibers. Measurements with a prototype beam-profile monitor using 500 μm fibers demonstrate active readouts with invulnerability to electromagnetic pulses, and less than 100 Gy sensitivity. The performance of the full instrument concept is explored with Monte Carlo simulations, accurately reconstructing a proton beam with a multiple-component spectro-spatial profile.

Over the last 25 years, radiowave detection of neutrino-generated signals, using cold polar ice as the neutrino target, has emerged as perhaps the most promising technique for detection of extragalactic ultra-high energy neutrinos (corresponding to neutrino energies in excess of 0.01 Joules, or 1017 electron volts). During the summer of 2021 and in tandem with the initial deployment of the Radio Neutrino Observatory in Greenland (RNO-G), we conducted radioglaciological measurements at Summit Station, Greenland to refine our understanding of the ice target. We report the result of one such measurement, the radio-frequency electric field attenuation length $L_\alpha$. We find an approximately linear dependence of $L_\alpha$ on frequency with the best fit of the average field attenuation for the upper 1500 m of ice: $\langle L_\alpha \rangle = ( ( 1154 \pm 121) - ( 0.81 \pm 0.14) \, ( \nu /{\rm MHz}) ) \,{\rm m}$ for frequencies ν ∈ [145 − 350] MHz.

Optical tracking systems typically trade off between astrometric precision and field of view. In this work, we showcase a networked approach to optical tracking using very wide field-of-view imagers that have relatively low astrometric precision on the scheduled OSIRIS-REx slingshot manoeuvre around Earth on 22 Sep 2017. As part of a trajectory designed to get OSIRIS-REx to NEO 101955 Bennu, this flyby event was viewed from 13 remote sensors spread across Australia and New Zealand to promote triangulatable observations. Each observatory in this portable network was constructed to be as lightweight and portable as possible, with hardware based off the successful design of the Desert Fireball Network. Over a 4-h collection window, we gathered 15 439 images of the night sky in the predicted direction of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft. Using a specially developed streak detection and orbit determination data pipeline, we detected 2 090 line-of-sight observations. Our fitted orbit was determined to be within about 10 km of orbital telemetry along the observed 109 262 km length of OSIRIS-REx trajectory, and thus demonstrating the impressive capability of a networked approach to Space Surveillance and Tracking.

Gravitational waves from coalescing neutron stars encode information about nuclear matter at extreme densities, inaccessible by laboratory experiments. The late inspiral is influenced by the presence of tides, which depend on the neutron star equation of state. Neutron star mergers are expected to often produce rapidly rotating remnant neutron stars that emit gravitational waves. These will provide clues to the extremely hot post-merger environment. This signature of nuclear matter in gravitational waves contains most information in the 2–4 kHz frequency band, which is outside of the most sensitive band of current detectors. We present the design concept and science case for a Neutron Star Extreme Matter Observatory (NEMO): a gravitational-wave interferometer optimised to study nuclear physics with merging neutron stars. The concept uses high-circulating laser power, quantum squeezing, and a detector topology specifically designed to achieve the high-frequency sensitivity necessary to probe nuclear matter using gravitational waves. Above 1 kHz, the proposed strain sensitivity is comparable to full third-generation detectors at a fraction of the cost. Such sensitivity changes expected event rates for detection of post-merger remnants from approximately one per few decades with two A+ detectors to a few per year and potentially allow for the first gravitational-wave observations of supernovae, isolated neutron stars, and other exotica.

A developing application of laser-driven currents is the generation of magnetic fields of picosecond–nanosecond duration with magnitudes exceeding $B=10~\text{T}$. Single-loop and helical coil targets can direct laser-driven discharge currents along wires to generate spatially uniform, quasi-static magnetic fields on the millimetre scale. Here, we present proton deflectometry across two axes of a single-loop coil ranging from 1 to 2 mm in diameter. Comparison with proton tracking simulations shows that measured magnetic fields are the result of kiloampere currents in the coil and electric charges distributed around the coil target. Using this dual-axis platform for proton deflectometry, robust measurements can be made of the evolution of magnetic fields in a capacitor coil target.

The diagenesis of Brent Group sandstones at Heather Field was studied to reconstruct time-dependent variations in reservoir quality, hydrodynamic history, and oil emplacement. Depositional facies, isotopic and trace-element composition of authigenic minerals, and present-day formation-water chemistry indicate several major changes in porewater chemistry related to both gravitational and compactional flow systems that significantly impacted diagenesis. Early cementation by calcite was related to influx of meteoric water and completely occludes porosity in certain areas of the Field, especially in lower reservoir zones. Geochemical, petrographic, and structural evidence indicate that average calcite precipitated at low to moderate temperature from reducing isotopically-depleted water having high levels of radiogenic Sr (40°–50°C, δ 18O = −4 to −6‰, 87Sr/86Sr > 0·71). A major period of kaolinite precipitation and feldspar dissolution followed calcite cementation. The isotopic composition of pore-filling kaolinite shows Field-wide uniformity (δ 18O average 13·8‰, δD average −53·2‰), suggesting thorough flushing of the reservoir by meteoric water and precipitation at low to moderate temperature (45°–60°C). Tectonic, burial, and thermal histories suggest that meteoric flushing occurred during the late-Cimmerian sea-level low, possibly in response to gravitational flow of meteoric water from exposed parts of the adjacent East Shetlands Platform. Illite and quartz diagenesis post-date kaolinite cementation, with illite K-Ar ages indicating precipitation through much of the Paleogene (55–27 Ma), coincident with migration of hydrocarbons from neighbouring sub-basins of the East Shetlands Basin. Illite stable isotopic data indicate precipitation in a system resulting from partial mixing of trapped meteoric pore-fluids with saline compaction water. The intensity of sandstone diagenesis is influenced by differences in the fluid migration history, content of detrital K-feldspar, and the time of hydrocarbon emplacement and results in spatial and temporal variations in reservoir quality.

Golden iridescent, <1–100 mm crystals of alternating lamellae of anthophyllite and gedrite constitute the bulk of orthoamphibolite pods within quartz-cordierite gneisses of the Akulleq terrane at Simiuttat, SW Greenland. X-ray powder diffraction powder gave a = 18.526(7),b = 17.979(15), c = 5.285(23) Å; a single crystal has a = 18.546(7), b = 17.950(16), c = 5.280(1) Å, space group Pnma with some reflections being notably broader than others. Spot EMPA yielded composite analyses: AlIV = 0.89–1.3, Mg/(Mg+Fe2+) = 0.57–0.61, Na/AlIV = 0.22–0.26. AFM imaging of {210} cleavage surfaces, showed a uniform corrugated morphology parallel to [001]; wavelength was 190–350 nm, mean 250 nm, amplitude 3 nm. A plan view resembles TEM images of (010)-parallel exsolution textures of orthoamphiboles. A second set of corrugations may crosscut the [001]-parallel ridges at 20–25°, akin to reported lamellar intergrowths developed parallel to both (010) and (120). Unequivocal evidence linking topography with lamellae is absent. In contrast to the conventional multi-layer reflector model, the ridged surface provides an additional origin for iridescence, acting as a diffraction grating. Included zircons, 50–10 μm, have Hf/Zr = 0.008–0.012, Hf+FeIIc. 0.16. 207Pb/206Pb ages are from 2690 to 2770 Ma, averaging 2732±10 Ma. Coexisting, included Th-, La-, Ce-, Pr-, Nd-, Gd-, Y-monazites have 207Pb/206Pb ages from 2680 to 2720 Ma, averaging 2707±12 Ma. The included crystals grew during a late Archaean metamorphism that produced overgrowths on zircons within gneisses to the north, but with Simiuttat grains showing a more complex history. The lamellae may have developed at the same time, or during a reheating c. 2550 Ma, or in a subsequent Proterozoic metamorphism.

A range of precision farming technologies are used commercially for variable rate applications of nitrogen (N) for cereals, yet these usually adjust N rates from a pre-set value, rather than predicting economically optimal N requirements on an absolute basis. This paper reports chessboard experiments set up to examine variation in N requirements, and to develop and test systems for its prediction, and to assess its predictability. Results showed very substantial variability in fertiliser N requirements within fields, typically >150 kg ha−1, and large variation in optimal yields, typically >2 t ha−1. Despite this, calculated increases in yield and gross margin with N requirements perfectly matched across fields were surprisingly modest (compared to the uniform average rate). Implications are discussed, including the causes of the large remaining variation in grain yield, after N limitations were removed.

An alternative origin and significance for kettle holes is considered. Kettles among some kame tracts may be due not to melt of buried ice but rather represent the location of ice pillars or roof pendants among stratified subglacial deposits.

This is the official guideline endorsed by the specialty associations involved in the care of head and neck cancer patients in the UK. In the absence of high-level evidence base for follow-up practices, the duration and frequency are often at the discretion of local centres. By reviewing the existing literature and collating experience from varying practices across the UK, this paper provides recommendations on the work up and management of lateral skull base cancer based on the existing evidence base for this rare condition.

Little is known about cause-specific long-term mortality beyond 30 days in pneumonia. We aimed to compare the mortality of patients with hospitalized pneumonia compared to age- and sex-matched controls beyond 30 days. Participants were drawn from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC)-Norfolk prospective population study. Hospitalized pneumonia cases were identified from record linkage (ICD-10: J12-J18). For this study we excluded people with hospitalized pneumonia who died within 30 days. Each case identified was matched to four controls and followed up until the end June 2012 (total 15 074 person-years, mean 6·1 years, range 0·08–15·2 years). Cox regression models were constructed to examine the all-cause, respiratory and cardiovascular mortality using date of pneumonia onset as baseline with binary pneumonia status as exposure. A total of 2465 men and women (503 cases, 1962 controls) [mean age (s.d.) 64·5 (8·3) years] were included in the study. Between a 30-day to 1-year period, hazard ratios (HRs) of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality were 7·3 [95% confidence interval (CI) 5·4–9·9] and 5·9 (95% CI 3·5–9·7), respectively (with very few respiratory deaths within the same period) in cases compared to controls after adjusting for age, sex, asthma, smoking status, pack years, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, diabetes, physical activity, waist-to-hip ratio, prevalent cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. All outcomes assessed also showed increased risk of death in cases compared to controls after 1 year; respiratory cause of death being the most significant during that period (HR 16·4, 95% CI 8·9–30·1). Hospitalized pneumonia was associated with increased all-cause and specific-cause mortality beyond 30 days.

We conducted infrared spectroscopic observations of bright stars in the direction of the molecular clouds W33 and GMC G23.3 − 0.3. We compared stellar spectro-photometric distances with parallactic distances to these regions, and we were able to assess the association of the detected massive stars with these molecular complexes. The spatial and temporal distributions of the detected stars enabled us to locate sources of ionizing radiation and to gather precise information on the star formation history of these clouds. The studied clouds present different distributions of massive stars.