A team of scientists from the Naval Research Laboratory, the Air Force Research Laboratory’s (AFRL’s) Research Vehicles Directorate, Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M., and the University of New Mexico (UNM) has detected the lowest frequency radar echo from the moon ever seen with earth-based receivers.

In the lunar echo experiment (more properly called a lunar bistatic radar experiment), the Air Force/Navy High Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) high power transmitter, located near Gakona, Alaska, launched high power radio waves toward the moon. The reflected signal, weakened because of the long distance to the moon and back, was detected by receiving antennas in New Mexico.

NRL consultant scientist Dr. Paul Rodriguez, of NRL’s Information Technology Division, who conceived and proposed the experiment explains, “Analysis of the echo gives information on the properties of the lunar sub-surface topography, because the low frequency radar waves propagate to varying depths below the visible surface of the moon. It is somewhat like sonar, except that we are using electromagnetic waves rather than sound waves. The experiment also allows us to study the interaction of the echo signal with the earth’s ionosphere along its return path, because the ionosphere is only partially transparent at low frequencies.”

During the experiment, which was carried out on Oct. 28 and 29, 2007, the radar signals from HAARP were at 7.4075 MHz and 9.4075 MHz. Both the transmitted signal and the echo from the moon were detected by NRL Remote Sensing Division scientist, Dr. Kenneth Stewart, and NRL engineer Brian Hicks with antennas built for the Long Wavelength Array (LWA). LWA is a radio interferometer being built in the desert west of Socorro, N.M., by UNM, NRL, the Applied Research Laboratories at the University of Texas at Austin, Virginia Tech, and Los Alamos National Laboratory, for studies of space physics and astrophysics.

Source Naval Research Laboratory

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Toshiba America Consumer Products said it cut prices of its HD DVD players effective Jan. 13 to boost market adoption of its next-generation DVD players by mainstream consumers after what it said was a successful fourth quarter in unit sales.

“While price is one of the consideration elements for the early adopter, it is a deal-breaker for the mainstream consumer,” said Toshiba executive Yoshi Uchiyama in a statement.

Toshiba’s players will now start as low as $149 going up to $399 for the top-of-range player.

The company said it is also stepping up its marketing drive with major initiatives including joint advertising campaigns with studios and extended pricing strategies. Toshiba said it will continue with on-going promotions including five HD DVD titles for free with any of its HD DVD player.

The battle to dominate the next generation of DVD players appeared to have tipped in Sony’s favor earlier this month when the biggest Hollywood studio Warner Bros, a unit of Time Warner Inc (TWX.N: Quote, Profile, Research), said it would exclusively support Blu-ray disc. It had previously supported both next-generation formats.

Analysts saw Warner Bros’s move as an end to the next generation DVD war that they say has confused consumers and delayed the development of a multibillion-dollar market.

So far Toshiba has secured agreements with studios including Universal Home Video, Viacom Inc’s (VIAb.N: Quote, Profile, Research) Paramount Pictures and DreamWorks Animation SKG.

But Blu-ray has support from News Corp’s (NWSa.N: Quote, Profile, Research) 20th Century Fox, Walt Disney Co (DIS.N: Quote, Profile, Research) and Lions Gate Entertainment Corp (LGF.N: Quote, Profile, Research). In addition Sony’s PlayStation 3 video game system can play Blu-ray movies while Microsoft Corp’s (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) Xbox 360 works with HD DVD. But Microsoft said at the Consumer Electronics Show earlier this month that it could consider supporting Blu-ray technology should consumers want it. (Reporting by Yinka Adegoke; Editing by Tim Dobbyn)

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