Spectral signatures of photosynthesis. II. Coevolution with other stars and the atmosphere on extrasolar worlds

As photosynthesis on Earth produces the primary signatures of life that can be detected astronomically at the global scale, a strong focus of the search for extrasolar life will be photosynthesis, particularly photosynthesis that has evolved with a different parent star. We take previously simulated planetary atmospheric compositions for Earth-like planets around observed F2V and K2V, modeled M1V and M5V stars, and around the active M4.5V star AD Leo; our scenarios use Earth's atmospheric composition as well as very low O2 content in case anoxygenic photosynthesis dominates. With a line-by-line radiative transfer model, we calculate the incident spectral photon flux densities at the surface of the planet and under water. We identify bands of available photosynthetically relevant radiation and find that photosynthetic pigments on planets around F2V stars may peak in absorbance in the blue, K2V in the red-orange, and M stars in the near-infrared, in bands at 0.93-1.1 microm, 1.1-1.4 microm, 1.5-1.8 microm, and 1.8-2.5 microm. However, underwater organisms will be restricted to wavelengths shorter than 1.4 microm and more likely below 1.1 microm. M star planets without oxygenic photosynthesis will have photon fluxes above 1.6 microm curtailed by methane. Longer-wavelength, multi-photo-system series would reduce the quantum yield but could allow for oxygenic photosystems at longer wavelengths. A wavelength of 1.1 microm is a possible upper cutoff for electronic transitions versus only vibrational energy; however, this cutoff is not strict, since such energetics depend on molecular configuration. M star planets could be a half to a tenth as productive as Earth in the visible, but exceed Earth if useful photons extend to 1.1 microm for anoxygenic photosynthesis. Under water, organisms would still be able to survive ultraviolet flares from young M stars and acquire adequate light for growth.     

Vegetation's red edge: a possible spectroscopic biosignature of extraterrestrial plants

Earth's deciduous plants have a sharp order-of-magnitude increase in leaf reflectance between approximately 700 and 750 nm wavelength. This strong reflectance of Earth's vegetation suggests that surface biosignatures with sharp spectral features might be detectable in the spectrum of scattered light from a spatially unresolved extrasolar terrestrial planet. We assess the potential of Earth's step-function-like spectroscopic feature, referred to as the "red edge," as a tool for astrobiology. We review the basic characteristics and physical origin of the red edge and summarize its use in astronomy: early spectroscopic efforts to search for vegetation on Mars and recent reports of detection of the red edge in the spectrum of Earthshine (i.e., the spatially integrated scattered light spectrum of Earth). We present Earthshine observations from Apache Point Observatory (New Mexico) to emphasize that time variability is key to detecting weak surface biosignatures such as the vegetation red edge. We briefly discuss the evolutionary advantages of vegetation's red edge reflectance, and speculate that while extraterrestrial "light-harvesting organisms" have no compelling reason to display the exact same red edge feature as terrestrial vegetation, they might have similar spectroscopic features at different wavelengths than terrestrial vegetation. This implies that future terrestrial-planet-characterizing space missions should obtain data that allow time-varying, sharp spectral features at unknown wavelengths to be identified. We caution that some mineral reflectance edges are similar in slope and strength to vegetation's red edge (albeit at different wavelengths); if an extrasolar planet reflectance edge is detected care must be taken with its interpretation.     

Degradation of cyanobacterial biosignatures by ionizing radiation

Primitive photosynthetic microorganisms, either dormant or dead, may remain today on the martian surface, akin to terrestrial cyanobacteria surviving endolithically in martian analog sites on Earth such as the Antarctic Dry Valleys and the Atacama Desert. Potential markers of martian photoautotrophs include the red edge of chlorophyll reflectance spectra or fluorescence emission from systems of light-harvesting pigments. Such biosignatures, however, would be modified and degraded by long-term exposure to ionizing radiation from the unshielded cosmic ray flux onto the martian surface. In this initial study into this issue, three analytical techniques--absorbance, reflectance, and fluorescence spectroscopy--were employed to determine the progression of the radiolytic destruction of cyanobacteria. The pattern of signal loss for chlorophyll reflection and fluorescence from several biomolecules is characterized and quantified after increasing exposures to ionizing gamma radiation. This allows estimation of the degradation rates of cyanobacterial biosignatures on the martian surface and the identification of promising detectable fluorescent break-down products.     

Properties of an Earth-like planet orbiting a Sun-like star: Earth observed by the EPOXI mission

NASA's EPOXI mission observed the disc-integrated Earth and Moon to test techniques for reconnoitering extrasolar terrestrial planets, using the Deep Impact flyby spacecraft to observe Earth at the beginning and end of Northern Hemisphere spring, 2008, from a range of ～1/6 to 1/3 AU. These observations furnish high-precision and high-cadence empirical photometry and spectroscopy of Earth, suitable as "ground truth" for numerically simulating realistic observational scenarios for an Earth-like exoplanet with finite signal-to-noise ratio. Earth was observed at near-equatorial sub-spacecraft latitude on 18-19 March, 28-29 May, and 4-5 June (UT), in the range of 372-4540?nm wavelength with low visible resolving power (λ/Δλ=5-13) and moderate IR resolving power (λ/Δλ=215-730). Spectrophotometry in seven filters yields light curves at ～372-948?nm filter-averaged wavelength, modulated by Earth's rotation with peak-to-peak amplitude of ≤20%. The spatially resolved Sun glint is a minor contributor to disc-integrated reflectance. Spectroscopy at 1100-4540?nm reveals gaseous water and carbon dioxide, with minor features of molecular oxygen, methane, and nitrous oxide. One-day changes in global cloud cover resulted in differences between the light curve beginning and end of ≤5%. The light curve of a lunar transit of Earth on 29 May is color-dependent due to the Moon's red spectrum partially occulting Earth's relatively blue spectrum. The "vegetation red edge" spectral contrast observed between two long-wavelength visible/near-IR bands is ambiguous, not clearly distinguishing between the verdant Earth diluted by cloud cover versus the desolate mineral regolith of the Moon. Spectrophotometry in at least one other comparison band at short wavelength is required to distinguish between Earth-like and Moon-like surfaces in reconnaissance observations. However, measurements at 850?nm alone, the high-reflectance side of the red edge, could be sufficient to establish periodicity in the light curve and deduce Earth's diurnal period and the existence of fixed surface units.     

基于拟合的吸收光谱反演算法研究*

可调谐半导体吸收光谱技术作为一种先进的光谱检测手段,已广泛应用于大气环境监测、工业过程控制等领域,实现不同领域组分浓度、温度、压力等参数的高精度探测。技术分为直接吸收光谱技术和波长调制光谱技术,通过选取不同的目标函数,验证拟合算法在吸收光谱技术中的可行性,两种技术均可通过构建合适的目标函数结合拟合算法实现吸收信息的精确反演,依据物理过程建立吸收模型,分别将直接吸收技术的光强、吸光度及透过率和波长调制光谱技术的光强及谐波信号作为拟合对象,实现了拟合参数的精确计算,从理论上验证了处理方法的准确性,扩展了拟合算法在检测仪器开发方面的应用,为各领域的发展提供了技术保障。     

乘波飞行器气动力、热特性的数值模拟研究

采用多块分区网格以及并行计算技术对给定乘波构形的高超声速飞行器进行了数值模 拟,分析了飞行器前缘小半径钝化对飞行器气动性能的影响,计算了前缘钝化后飞行器表面 的热流分布状况。结果表明,前缘钝化对飞行器的升力影响不大,对阻力和升阻比的影响较 大。对于曲率半径为1cm的钝化前缘,与原尖前缘飞行器相比,其升力降低了0.78％,阻 力增加6.96％,升阻比下降7.21％。前缘钝化后,乘波飞行器仍具有较好的气动性能, 飞行器前机身可为发动机提供比较均匀的气流,飞行器整体仍基本保持了乘波的状态,热流 主要集中在飞行器前缘上。为了有效防热,需要采用主动式冷却技术。     

基于多波束偏振探测体制的星载云-气溶胶探测雷达设计和仿真

星载激光探测载荷具有云、气溶胶垂直廓线的探测能力。国内外已有的载荷,例如美国Calipso卫星的Caliop雷达、国内“句芒号”卫星的多波束激光雷达和大气污染监测卫星的大气探测激光雷达,为单波束云-气溶胶探测,单次探测区域较窄。提出了多波束云-气溶胶探测激光雷达系统,该系统工作于800 km卫星轨道,采用多波束探测体制,扩展雷达的探测幅宽到30 km,中心波束采用双波长偏振探测获取大气气溶胶、云的垂直廓线和粒子种类,边缘波束采用单波长探测获取云垂直廓线,可极大地提高数据获取效率。采用单光子探测和模拟探测结合的探测方式,模拟探测保证探测的动态范围,单光子探测具有极高的探测灵敏度,降低雷达所需的激光能量,降低雷达的重量和功耗。最终通过模拟仿真,验证了星载多波束云-气溶胶探测雷达对典型云、气溶胶的探测效果。     

多通道高计数率单光子计数系统的设计与实现

光子计数探测具有极高的探测灵敏度，已成为大气探测激光雷达的主流探测手段。设计了一种基于FPGA的8通道高计数率单光子计数系统，提出了一种基于多相时钟过采样的光子脉冲检测方法，实现了2 ns的光子脉宽分辨率、200 MCPS的光子计数率、无死时间的连续多通道同步计数，具有高计数率、高实时性、高集成度的特点。系统已装备于北京遥测技术研究所研制的多波长拉曼偏振大气探测激光雷达中，在激光雷达大气遥感中发挥了重要作用。     

Coronal mass ejection (CME) activity of low mass M stars as an important factor for the habitability of terrestrial exoplanets. II. CME-induced ion pick up of Earth-like exoplanets in close-in habitable zones

Atmospheric erosion of CO2-rich Earth-size exoplanets due to coronal mass ejection (CME)-induced ion pick up within close-in habitable zones of active M-type dwarf stars is investigated. Since M stars are active at the X-ray and extreme ultraviolet radiation (XUV) wave-lengths over long periods of time, we have applied a thermal balance model at various XUV flux input values for simulating the thermospheric heating by photodissociation and ionization processes due to exothermic chemical reactions and cooling by the CO2 infrared radiation in the 15 microm band. Our study shows that intense XUV radiation of active M stars results in atmospheric expansion and extended exospheres. Using thermospheric neutral and ion densities calculated for various XUV fluxes, we applied a numerical test particle model for simulation of atmospheric ion pick up loss from an extended exosphere arising from its interaction with expected minimum and maximum CME plasma flows. Our results indicate that the Earth-like exoplanets that have no, or weak, magnetic moments may lose tens to hundreds of bars of atmospheric pressure, or even their whole atmospheres due to the CME-induced O ion pick up at orbital distances 相似文献   

Toward optimizing lighting as a countermeasure to sleep and circadian disruption in space flight

Light is being used as a pre-launch countermeasure to circadian and sleep disruption in astronauts. The effect of light on the circadian system is readily monitored by measurement of plasma melatonin. Our group has established an action spectrum for human melatonin regulation and determined the region of 446-477 nm to be the most potent for suppressing plasma melatonin. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of 460 and 555 nm for suppressing melatonin using a within-subjects design. Subjects (N=12) were exposed to equal photon densities (7.18 x 10(12) photons/cm2/s) at 460 and 555 nm. Melatonin suppression was significantly stronger at 460 nm (p<0.02). An extension to the action spectrum showed that 420 nm light at 16 and 32 microW/cm2 significantly suppressed melatonin (p<0.04 and p<0.002). These studies will help optimize lighting countermeasures to circadian and sleep disruption during spaceflight.     

Interplanetary transfer of photosynthesis: an experimental demonstration of a selective dispersal filter in planetary island biogeography

We launched a cryptoendolithic habitat, made of a gneissic impactite inoculated with Chroococcidiopsis sp., into Earth orbit. After orbiting the Earth for 16 days, the rock entered the Earth's atmosphere and was recovered in Kazakhstan. The heat of entry ablated and heated the rock to a temperature well above the upper temperature limit for life to below the depth at which light levels are insufficient for photosynthetic organisms ( approximately 5 mm), thus killing all of its photosynthetic inhabitants. This experiment shows that atmospheric transit acts as a strong biogeographical dispersal filter to the interplanetary transfer of photosynthesis. Following atmospheric entry we found that a transparent, glassy fusion crust had formed on the outside of the rock. Re-inoculated Chroococcidiopsis grew preferentially under the fusion crust in the relatively unaltered gneiss beneath. Organisms under the fusion grew approximately twice as fast as the organisms on the control rock. Thus, the biologically destructive effects of atmospheric transit can generate entirely novel and improved endolithic habitats for organisms on the destination planetary body that survive the dispersal filter. The experiment advances our understanding of how island biogeography works on the interplanetary scale.     

航天器大型网状天线透光性遮挡的精确计算方法

针对航天器太阳电池阵的设计和仿真中需要考虑大型网状天线造成的透光性遮挡的问题，提出一种精确计算透光性遮挡的方法。该方法以最小重复单元对金属网布进行三维建模，求取不同光照下金属网布透光率并存为表格；计算含金属网布构件造成的透光性遮挡图形时，用三角面片对构件进行三维建模，先计算出三角面片与入射光线的位置关系，查表得到该三角面片的透光率后将其投影区域的光照强度相应减少。径向肋天线算例表明，该方法快速准确，能正确生成透光性遮挡图形，为太阳电池阵仿真分析奠定了基础。     

脉冲展宽对深空激光通信的影响与补偿研究

深空激光通信系统下行链路的脉冲位置调制PPM（Pulse Position Modulation）信号在经过大气信道传输和单光子探测器接收时,将出现脉冲展宽效应,引起通信系统性能下降。分析了大气信道中的淡积云云层散射、大气湍流与气溶胶散射和单光子探测器的抖动特性所引起的脉冲展宽效应。在此基础上,仿真分析了淡积云云层物理厚度对不同PPM调制阶数下通信速率的影响,并研究了单光子探测器引起的脉冲展宽产生的抖动损失。为补偿脉冲展宽的影响,提出了一种基于时隙似然比解调的补偿方法,通过仿真验证了该方法能够有效降低深空PPM激光通信链路中脉冲展宽对通信误码率的影响。该研究对分析和提升深空PPM激光通信系统的链路性能具有一定的参考意义。     

Germination and growth of wheat in simulated Martian atmospheres

One design for a manned Mars base incorporates a bioregenerative life support system based upon growing higher plants at a low atmospheric pressure in a greenhouse on the Martian surface. To determine the concept's feasibility, the germination and initial growth of wheat (Triticum aestivum) was evaluated at low atmospheric pressures in simulated Martian atmosphere (SMA) and in SMA supplemented with oxygen. Total atmospheric pressures ranged from 10 to 1013 mb. No seeds germinated in pure SMA, regardless of atmospheric pressure. In SMA plus oxygen at 60 mb total pressure, germination and growth occurred but were lower than in the Earth atmosphere controls.     

可降低气动热效应的类凹腔外形优化设计

针对飞行器上由凸起物形成的类凹腔气动加热问题,采用数值方法求解三维N-S方程,研究了类凹腔外形结构的高超声速气动加热规律,获得了三维高超声速流场和局部热流分布,并详细分析了局部的流场结构和气动加热机理。针对凹腔前壁面热流密度过高的问题,提出并验证了一种降低前壁面边缘热流密度的优化外形,将前壁面的热流密度降低至优化前的20%左右。     

The photochemical stability of carbonates on Mars

Carbonates, predominately MgCO3, have been spectroscopically identified at a level of 2-5% in martian dust. However, in spite of this observation, and a large number of climate studies that suggest 1 to several bars of CO2 should be sequestered in carbonate rocks, no outcrop-scale exposures of carbonate have been detected anywhere on Mars to date. To address one hypothesis for this long-standing puzzle, the effect of ultraviolet (UV) light on the stability of calcium carbonate in a simulated martian atmosphere was experimentally investigated. Using 13C-labeled calcite, we found no experimental evidence of the UV photodecomposition of calcium carbonate in a simulated martian atmosphere. Extrapolating the lower limit of detection of our experimental system to an upper limit of carbonate decomposition on Mars yields a quantum efficiency of 3.5 x 10(-8) molecules/photon over the wavelength interval of 190-390 nm and a maximum UV photodecomposition rate of 1.2 x 10(-13) kg m(-2) s(-1) from a calcite surface. The maximum loss of bulk calcite due to this process would be 2.5 nm year(-1) (Mars year). However, calcite is expected to be thermodynamically stable on the surface of Mars, and potential UV photodecomposition reaction mechanisms indicate that, though calcium carbonate may decompose under vacuum, it would be stable in a CO2 atmosphere. Given the expected stability of carbonate on Mars and our inability to detect carbonate decomposition, we conclude that it is unlikely that the apparent absence of extensive carbonate deposits on the martian surface is due to UV photodecomposition in the current environment.     

圆柱形红外加热笼优化设计研究

真空热试验中,圆柱形卫星通常选用圆柱形的红外加热笼作为外热流模拟装置。文章对卫星表面采用圆柱形红外笼进行热流模拟时的到达热流进行仿真计算,分别选用不同的红外笼覆盖系数、红外笼与卫星表面的距离以及红外笼边缘区域大小等参数进行分析,得到了对圆柱形红外笼优化设计的方法以提高卫星表面的热流模拟均匀性,可以用于指导圆柱形卫星进行真空热试验时的工装设计。     

近红外光谱测定NEPE胶组分含量

研究了近红外光谱测定NEPE胶中硝化甘油、丁三醇三硝酸酯、聚乙二醇含量的方法,采用相关系数、显变分析、间隔偏最小二乘法、遗传算法等方法选择波长,对相关实验条件和影响因素进行了研究.实验结果表明,数据平移处理可以有效改善样品吸光度与浓度之间的相关性;遗传算法选择波长优于相关系数法和间隔偏最小二乘法,显变分析不适合于本项研究;近红外光谱法快速测定NEPE胶组分含量的结果与标准分析方法的测定结果一致,两者相差小于1%;水分含量的变化、正常加热操作对NEPE胶组分含量测定的影响不明显.     

Detecting tree-like multicellular life on extrasolar planets

Over the next two decades, NASA and ESA are planning a series of space-based observatories to find Earth-like planets and determine whether life exists on these planets. Previous studies have assessed the likelihood of detecting life through signs of biogenic gases in the atmosphere or a red edge. Biogenic gases and the red edge could be signs of either single-celled or multicellular life. In this study, we propose a technique with which to determine whether tree-like multicellular life exists on extrasolar planets. For multicellular photosynthetic organisms on Earth, competition for light and the need to transport water and nutrients has led to a tree-like body plan characterized by hierarchical branching networks. This design results in a distinct bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) that causes differing reflectance at different sun/view geometries. BRDF arises from the changing visibility of the shadows cast by objects, and the presence of tree-like structures is clearly distinguishable from flat ground with the same reflectance spectrum. We examined whether the BRDF could detect the existence of tree-like structures on an extrasolar planet by using changes in planetary albedo as a planet orbits its star. We used a semi-empirical BRDF model to simulate vegetation reflectance at different planetary phase angles and both simulated and real cloud cover to calculate disk and rotation-averaged planetary albedo for a vegetated and non-vegetated planet with abundant liquid water. We found that even if the entire planetary albedo were rendered to a single pixel, the rate of increase of albedo as a planet approaches full illumination would be comparatively greater on a vegetated planet than on a non-vegetated planet. Depending on how accurately planetary cloud cover can be resolved and the capabilities of the coronagraph to resolve exoplanets, this technique could theoretically detect tree-like multicellular life on exoplanets in 50 stellar systems.     

高超声速飞行器鼻锥迎风凹腔结构防热效能研究

对高超声速飞行器鼻锥使用迎风凹腔结构作为热防护系统时,凹腔结构的防热效能进行了数值研究。通过与相关实验对比,验证了本文数值方法的可靠性,获得了鼻锥的流场参数,外表面、凹腔内壁面的热流分布,分析了不同的凹腔尺寸参数选择对鼻锥冷却效果的影响。结果表明迎风凹腔结构能够有效的对高超声速飞行器的鼻锥尤其是驻点区域进行冷却,凹腔越深,其冷却效果越好。鼻锥气动加热的最大热流并不在尖锐唇缘的顶点,而是位于凹腔内的侧壁面上,凹腔的深度(L)变化对最大热流的出现位置影响很小。除非凹腔很浅(L/D<0.5),凹腔底面的热流值都非常小,基本可以忽略。