即将发射的"雨燕"天文观测卫星

2004年11月，“雨燕”(Swift)卫星计划由德尔他-2火箭发射升空，进入到低地球轨道(LEO)。Swift是观测γ射线暴(GRB)快速反应的天文卫星，用于对GRB进行研究。它可观测GRB及其在γ射线、X射线、紫外线和可见光波段中的余辉。     

短伽马暴之谜再掀波澜

就在天文学家认为他们已经解决了天文学中最高深的谜团之一——短伽马暴的起源之时，大自然又让他们大吃了一惊。最近的观测证明，短伽马暴远比天文学家所认为的更加复杂和多样，许多不同的剧烈过程也许都会产生短伽马暴。     

中法天文卫星(SVOM)伽玛暴联合探测任务

中法天文卫星SVOM是中法两国合作的伽玛暴探测任务,由中国国家航天局（CNSA）和法国国家空间研究中心（CNES）批准立项,中国科学院负责总体研制.SVOM是继美国SWIFT任务之后最重要的伽玛暴多波段探测项目,是一颗功能强大的天文卫星,具有多波段观测、快速机动、灵活操作及地面后随观测能力.SVOM将开创一个非常广阔的探测领域.本文介绍了项目组织、任务目标、卫星和有效载荷、地面段以及运控概念.      

电离层暴时经验模型STORM在中国区域的适应性研究

利用中国区域内9个垂测站1976---1987年一个太阳活动周期的电离层暴时f0F2数据, 统计分析了电离层暴事件的等级, 以及不同等级的电离层暴随季节和地磁纬度的分布特征. 研究发现, 中小型电离层暴在春秋季发生的概率较大, 不同季节的发生次数与地磁纬度具有明显的关系. 利用STORM模型对电离层暴时f0F2和大型及特大型电离层暴时f0F2的预测值与月中值进行了比较. 结果表明, 除了冬季误差增大外, 发生电离层暴时STORM模型能够有效地改善月中值模型. 增加中国的暴时数据, 并提高对冬季的暴时参数f0F2的预测是改善STORM模型的重要因素. 建立合适的暴时指数来预测f0F2是未来研究的重点.      

大宇宙——疑似伽马暴

2014年5月28日，世界各地的天文爱好者都在关注一件事情，就是美国航空航天局的“雨燕”卫星在仙女座探测到了一次罕见的疑似伽马暴。伽马暴是宇宙中威力最大、最神秘的事件之一，由强烈的短脉冲辐射组成，在传播数十亿光年后还能在地球上观测到。如果伽马暴发生在银河系，并且面向地球的话，将很可能把地球臭氧层一扫而空，造成严重的生物灭绝。     

外辐射带动态演化的粒子模拟研究

运用计算机实验方法即三维电磁粒子模拟方法初步研究了暴时扰动情况下外辐射带粒子环境的动态演化特性。模拟计算了暴时辐射带粒子环境的演化情况。模拟计算结果显示，高能质子、电子注入午辐射滞后，两者一方面沿磁力线做弹跳运动，向高纬扩展，部分注入质子和电子沉降于南北两极区域；另一方面，注入质子和电子还经历顺时针和逆时针方向的漂移运动，粒子能量越大，漂移速度越快。暴时多次注入引起整个辐射带粒子能量的大幅增强；粒子注入颗次和强度越大，辐射带粒子通量增幅越大。本项研究为开发研制完整的辐射带动态模式积累了有益的经验。     

中纬电离层爆负相开始时间与磁暴主相开始时间的对应关系

本文假设以磁暴主相期间，由于极光椭圆带处的空气被加热上升，从而使高纬高空出现富含分子的气体，这些气体由于扩散及与中性风的相互作用会向低纬移动，其所到之处电子消失系数增加，从而导致负相电离层暴的发生，计算给出了全球中纬电离层暴负相的开始时间与磁暴主相开始时间之间的关系，并讨论了负相电离层暴发生的“时间禁区”问题，结果与有关统计结果符合得很好。     

2004年11月一次磁暴期间全球电离层TEC扰动分析

利用全球分布的GPS原始观测数据提取的电离层总电子含量(TEC)分析了2004年11月6日至12日期间全球电离层暴的形态特点与发展过程.结果表明,11月8日磁暴主相期间电离层暴以大范围的强烈正暴为主,在11月10日的恢复相,Dst又一次降到最低值前后期间,电离层再次受到很强的扰动,大范围的正暴和负暴交替出现.这次磁暴期间夏季半球的负暴更加强烈,反映出负暴偏向于在夏季半球发生的季节变化特点.另外,磁暴期间,夜晚TEC值普遍比磁暴前的平静期要低,具体是什么机制导致还需要进一步收集数据和分析.      

磁暴期间甚低纬哨声的导管传播

对磁暴期间甚低纬哨声导管传播的机理进行了初步的讨论，根据暴时低纬哨声的特点，认为暴时出现的扩展哨、多跳回波是沿东向扰动电场导致的场列电离增强路径传播的。对在东向电场影响下低纬Ｆ层的数值模拟表明，东向电场导致的场列电离增强结构有利于哨声的捕获和传播。     

强大的伽玛暴

正认识伽玛射线暴伽玛射线暴,又称伽玛暴,是来自宇宙中某一方向的伽玛射线强度在短时间内突然增强,随后又迅速减弱的现象,发生时可以持续100毫秒到1000秒,时变的轮廓比较复杂,往往具有多峰的结构。伽玛射线暴在宇宙空间的分布是各向同性的,但远距离的伽玛射线暴明显少于     

Learning in an immersive digital theater

The Houston Museum of Natural Science, in collaboration with Rice University has an outreach program taking portable digital theaters to schools and community sites for over five years and has conducted research on student learning in this immersive environment. By using an external independent evaluator, the effectiveness of NASA-funded Education and Public Outreach (EPO) projects can be assessed. This paper documents interactive techniques and learning strategies in full-dome digital theaters. The presentation is divided into Evaluation Strategies and Results and Interactivity Strategies and Results. All learners from grades 3–12 showed statistically significant short-term increase in knowledge of basic Earth science concepts after a single 22-min show. Improvements were more significant on items that were taught using more than one modality of instruction: hearing, seeing, discussion, and immersion. Thus immersive theater can be an effective as well as engaging teaching method for Earth and Space science concepts, particularly those that are intrinsically three-dimensional and thus most effectively taught in an immersive environment. The portable system allows taking the educational experience to rural and tribal sites where the underserved students could not afford the time or expense to travel to museums.     

Scaling analysis and model estimation of solar corona index

A monthly average solar green coronal index time series for the period from January 1939 to December 2008 collected from NOAA (The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) has been analysed in this paper in perspective of scaling analysis and modelling. Smoothed and de-noising have been done using suitable mother wavelet as a pre-requisite. The Finite Variance Scaling Method (FVSM), Higuchi method, rescaled range (R/S) and a generalized method have been applied to calculate the scaling exponents and fractal dimensions of the time series. Autocorrelation function (ACF) is used to find autoregressive (AR) process and Partial autocorrelation function (PACF) has been used to get the order of AR model. Finally a best fit model has been proposed using Yule-Walker Method with supporting results of goodness of fit and wavelet spectrum. The results reveal an anti-persistent, Short Range Dependent (SRD), self-similar property with signatures of non-causality, non-stationarity and nonlinearity in the data series. The model shows the best fit to the data under observation.     

Stochastic particle acceleration by the forced interaction of relativistic current sheets

We address the problem of interacting relativistic current sheets in self-consistent kinetic plasma simulations within the framework of the Particle-In-Cell model. The interaction is enforced in head-on collisions of up to 10 current sheets at relativistic bulk speeds. The simulations are motivated by the general problem of Poynting flux dissipation in ‘striped wind’ configurations presumably governing the relativistic outflows pervasive in pulsar winds and gamma-ray bursts. We identify the generation of non-thermal particles and formation of a stable power-law shape in the particle energy distributions f(γ) dγ ∝ γ^−s dγ. In 1D, a spectral index s ∼ 2 is observed and attributed to a stochastic Fermi-type acceleration mechanism. In 2D, the generic index of s ∼ 3–4 is retained as in previous simulations of individual current sheets. Whereas in 2D the high energy cut-off is constrained by the limited dissipation of magnetic energy, in 1D the process converts the bulk motion of current sheets towards directed particle momentum of an exclusive class of non-thermal particles.     

Development of a gas chromatography compatible Sample Processing System (SPS) for the in-situ analysis of refractory organic matter in martian soil: preliminary results

In the frame of the 2009 Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission a new sample preparation system (SPS) compatible with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) has been developed for the in situ analysis of complex organic molecules in the Martian soil. The goal is to detect, if they exist, some of the key compounds that play an important role in life on Earth including carboxylic acids, amino acids and nucleobases.     

基于LuGre模型的电液加载系统摩擦补偿

为了提高电液加载系统控制精度,针对摩擦问题提出了基于LuGre摩擦模型的前馈补偿方法.建立了用于摩擦仿真分析和补偿器设计的电液加载系统数学模型;通过实验获取并分析了相关的摩擦数据;基于实验数据进行LuGre模型参数辨识,把LuGre模型和辨识结果引入电液加载系统数学模型,并进行仿真结果与实际摩擦数据的对照,证明了LuGre摩擦模型的准确性.设计前馈补偿器,进行了实验对比,实验结果表明前馈补偿器可将摩擦产生的控制误差有效地降至未补偿时的30%左右.      

Concept options for the aerial survey of Titan

Various aerial platforms intended for long endurance survey of the Titan surface are presented. A few novel concepts are introduced, including a heated methane balloon and a balloon with a tethered wind turbine. All the concept options are predicted to have lower scientific payload fractions than the Huygens probe. It is concluded that the selection of the best aerial platform option depends on more accurate mass estimates and a clear decision on whether, or not, in situ surface composition measurements are required in conjunction with aerial remote sensing.     

Heterogeneous solid/gas chemistry of organic compounds related to comets,meteorites, Titan,and Mars: Laboratory and in lower Earth orbit experiments

To understand the evolution of organic molecules involved in extraterrestrial environments and with exobiological implications, many experimental programs in the laboratory are devoted to photochemical studies in the gaseous phase as well as in the solid state. The validity of such studies and their applications to extraterrestrial environments can be questioned as long as experiments conducted in space conditions, with the full solar spectrum, especially in the short wavelength domain, have not been implemented. The experiments that are described here will be carried out on a FOTON capsule, using the BIOPAN facility, and on the International Space Station, using the EXPOSE facility. Vented and sealed exposition cells will be used, which will allow us to study the chemical evolution in the gaseous phase as well as heterogeneous processes, such as the degradation of solid compounds and the release of gaseous fragments.     

CoRoT and Kepler results: Solar-like oscillators

The space-borne observatories CoRoT (Convection Rotation and planetary Transits) and Kepler have provided photometric time series data of unprecedented precision for large numbers of stars. These data have revolutionized the fields of transiting exoplanets and asteroseismology. In this review some important asteroseismic results obtained using data from the CoRoT and Kepler space missions concerning stars that show solar-like oscillations are discussed. These results comprise, among others, measurements of the location of the base of the convection zone and helium second-ionization zone in main-sequence stars, the presence (or not) of core-helium burning in red-giant stars, as well as differential rotation in these stars.     

Return to Europa: Overview of the Jupiter Europa orbiter mission

Missions to explore Europa have been imagined ever since the Voyager mission first suggested that Europa was geologically very young. Subsequently, the Galileo spacecraft supplied fascinating new insights into this satellite of Jupiter. Now, an international team is proposing a return to the Jupiter system and Europa with the Europa Jupiter System Mission (EJSM). Currently, NASA and ESA are designing two orbiters that would explore the Jovian system and then each would settle into orbit around one of Jupiter’s icy satellites, Europa and Ganymede. In addition, the Japanese Aerospace eXploration Agency (JAXA) is considering a Jupiter magnetospheric orbiter and the Russian Space Agency is investigating a Europa lander.     

HELIO: The Heliophysics Integrated Observatory

Heliophysics is a new research field that explores the Sun–Solar System Connection; it requires the joint exploitation of solar, heliospheric, magnetospheric and ionospheric observations.