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Scientists at Argonne have used 21st century technology to unravel a mystery dating back to the 16th century. Researchers determined which of two identically marked astrolabes, pre-telescopic astronomy tools, was genuine through the use of Argonne's Advanced Photon Source (APS).
The astrolabe is an ancient analog computer for solving problems relating to time and the position of the sun and stars in the sky. Typical uses of the astrolabe include finding the time during the day or night, finding the time of a celestial event, such as sunrise or sunset, and as a handy reference of celestial positions. Astrolabes were also one of the basic astronomy education tools in the late Middle Ages. Old instruments were also used for astrological purposes.
These two astrolabes were from different collections: Harvard University and Chicago's Adler Planetarium, which has the largest collection of ancient astrolabes in the world. Each bears the same artisan's name, "Ioannes Bos," and date, "24 March 1597." It is unlikely that the same craftsman would have completed two such elaborate instruments on the same date.
Brian Stephenson (MSD), brother of Bruce Stephenson, director of the history of astronomy department at the Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum in Chicago, suggested using the laboratory's APS to solve the mystery scientifically.
The Stephenson brothers were joined by Dean Haeffner (UPD). "In this experiment, we were able to merge history with our knowledge of materials science," Haeffner explained.
APS X-rays were used to determine the elemental composition of each instrument. X-rays emitted from the test have a characteristic spectrum, or "fingerprint," which reveals each element present and its quantity.
The Adler astrolabe was shown to be made of a copper-zinc alloy with silver, tin, lead, nickel and antimony impurities; it is "old brass." The Harvard astrolabe has no zinc and is gold-plated copper. In addition to gold, it contains mercury and silver from the gilding process.
Diffraction analysis determined the crystalline texture of the astrolabes. The deflected X-rays are concentrated in certain directions, and recorded as a diffraction pattern.
The diffraction pattern from the plate of the Adler astrolabe displays a random orientation of fine crystals in the metal, indicating that the plate was hand-hammered. The plate of the Harvard astrolabe had a strong directional pattern of crystal orientations with identical texture in different areas of the plate. This indicates that the plate was made of rolled metal, a technique not available for plates this large in 1597.
Radiography was used to study the thickness of each astrolabe's plate. By scanning the sample through an X-ray beam and recording the intensity of the X-rays that are transmitted, researchers created a thickness profile. The Adler astrolabe has irregular thickness variations consistent with hand hammering; the Harvard astrolabe has the uniform thickness of a rolled plate.
The researchers concluded that the composition of the Adler astrolabe is consistent with technology of 1597. The Harvard instrument, however, reveals a more recent technology.
The researchers agree that this work shows how scientists and historians can profit from exposure to each other's points of view. "Perhaps a material scientist may be too focused on reproducible general phenomena, to the neglect of individual variations," Bruce Stephenson said. "And the historian may focus on particular details and fail to see beyond them."
The APS produces the nation's most brilliant X-rays, and is able to evaluate an object's composition, crystal structure and thickness without damaging the object.
-- Linda Jakubowski
Los Alamos National Laboratory director John C. Browne recently thanked Argonne employees for donating to the Fire Recovery Fund.
The Cerro Grande Fire, which began as a controlled burn by the National Park Service, took place in the mountains of Los Alamos, New Mexico during May, 2000. The fire burned more than 200 homes and tens of thousands of acres.
Donations will be used to assist employees and communities with uncovered expenses in the coming months
"On behalf of the University of California and everyone at Los Alamos, I would like to thank the staff of Argonne for the support and assistance given to us during the Cerro Grande Fire," Browne said.
"We were overwhelmed by the outpouring of aid and support from throughout New Mexico and across the nation," he said.
Human Resources will hold several employee development classes at Argonne-East during August.
Call Betty Iwan (HR) at ext. 2-3410 for more information, or visit the Human Resources Web site.
To enroll, contact a Training Management System representative.
Openings
are still available in "Time Management" (HR486),
to be held Wednesday, July 26, 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Building
201, Room 274.
"Presentation
Excellence" (HR532) -- Helps improve presentation
delivery by providing the techniques to look, sound and feel
confident, organized and effective. Aug. 3-4, 8:30 a.m. to 5
p.m. in Building 212, Room A157.
"CPS
Review: Management" (HR261) -- This part of the
Certified Professional Secretaries review comprises three
major subject areas: behavior science, human resources
management, and organizations and management. Wednesdays and
Fridays, Aug. 2 - Sept. 1, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Building
201, Room 238.
"Brown
Bag Lunch Seminar: Improving Work Relationships"
(HR238) -- Covers positive work relationships, people
skills, peer relationships and effective negotiation with
colleagues and coworkers. Thursday, Aug. 24, 11:30 a.m. to 1
p.m. in Building 201, Room 238.
Representatives of the laboratory's retirement vendors will visit Argonne-East during August to meet individually with employees and answer questions about retirement plans and assets.
To schedule an appointment, call the number listed. Prudential appointments are for one-half hour each.
| Vendor | Day | For Appointments, call: |
| Prudential | Wednesday,
Aug. 2, 9 and 16 |
Cheryl, (847) 619-3519 |
| Fidelity | Tuesday,
Aug. 8 and 15 |
Appointment Desk,
(800) 642-7131 |
| TIAA-CREF | Thursday, Aug. 24,
and Friday, Aug. 25 |
(800) 842-2005 |
Electronics and Computing Technologies will hold several computer software classes at Argonne-East in August.
Unless otherwise noted, classes will be held in Building 221, Room A142, are limited to 10 participants and cost $195. Full class descriptions and schedules are available online. For more information on enrollment procedures, call Diane Cavazos (ECT) at ext. 2-7153 or send e-mail to dkcavazos@anl.gov.
Microsoft Outlook 2000 (ECT377) -- Monday, Aug. 14, 8:30
a.m. _ 4:30 p.m.
Intermediate Access Version 2000 (ECT376) -- Wednesday, Aug. 9,
8:30 a.m. _ 4:30 p.m. Class size limited to eight.
Intermediate Word 2000 (ECT374) -- Monday, Aug. 7, 8:30
a.m. _ 4:30 p.m.
Beginning Unix (ECT564) -- This class consists of two
three-hour sessions for a total of six hours. First session:
Tuesday, Aug. 22, 9 a.m. - noon. Second session:
Thursday, Aug. 24, 9 a.m. - noon. Cost: $245.
Intermediate Excel 2000 (ECT375) -- Tuesday, Aug. 8,
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Advanced
PowerPoint 2000 (ECT382) -- Friday, Aug. 11, 1:30 p.m.
_ 4:30 p.m. Cost: $135.
Front
Page 2000 (ECT383) -- This class is one full day and one
half day. Thursday, Aug. 10, 8:30 a.m. _ 4:30 p.m., and
Friday, Aug. 11, 8:30 a.m. _ 11:30 a.m. Cost: $330.
The Argonne Guest House Restaurant holds a lunchtime barbecue each Wednesday, rain or shine during the summer.
Prices range from $4.95 to $9.95 and entrees include ribs, rib-eye steak and other items. Salad only is $5.95.
Lunch hours are 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
40 Years
James F. Kerr (OD), Lawrence Kocenko (HEP), Carl K. Youngdahl (RE).
35 Years
Roger B. Blackman (IPNS), Ira H. Bresof (IPNS), Paul A. Eident (CHM), James A. Lewellen (ECT), Armando Travelli (TD), Carl E. Webster (CMT).
30 Years
Richard L. McDaniel (ET), Robert D. Phipps (OD), Thomas G. Worlton (IPNS).
25 Years
Sue S. Dornfeld (ESH), Paula M. Fackrell (OD), Judith M. Gerches (PFS), Ronald C. Killian (RPS), Douglas L. Sisterson (ER), Jack C. Van Kuiken (DIS), Marian F. Williams (ESH).
20 Years
Robert F. Denkins (ED), Richard D. Doctor (ES), Jerry E. Hunt (CHM), Mary A. Nunez (IPD), John J. Tatar (DIS).
15 Years
Harry F. Poland (ED), Kevin P. Schwabedissen (OD), Roger A. Wood (OD).
10 Years
Daniel K. Baird (ED), Joseph M. Bonczalski (PFS), Robert G. Bourne (PFS), Margaret Clemmons (IPD), Brenda Dixon (OD), Brad L. Dugger (OD), Roy V. Echiverri (OD), Jerome L. Gaston (RE), Jay Goatley (PFS), Louis H. Harnisch (DEP), James E. Hensley (EA), James F. Jakubowski (OCF), Anthony Juscius (ESH), John Laker (PFS), I. Vonnel Rapp (RPS), Romas Senkevicius (PFS), Gary R. Tarbet (OD), Charles E. Wood (PFS).
5 Years
Sandra L. Bailey (DIS), Sasan Bakhtiari (ET), Tom E. Bean (RPS), Laurence Clay Brower (OD), Dean H. Christiansen (RPS), Keith E. Flower (RPS), William Horsthemke (DIS), John Jerome Keller (RPS), Derrick C. Mancini (XFD), Henry Ng, (ES), Royal Gaylen Pond (RPS), Allen W. Rasmussen (OD), David Ronin (HR).
