A numerical model characterizing internal gravity wave propagation into the upper atmosphere

A new two-dimensional, time-dependent and fully nonlinear model is developed to numerically simulate plane wave motions for internal gravity waves in a non-isothermal and windy atmosphere that accounts for the dissipation due to eddy and molecular processes. The atmosphere has been treated as a well mixed total gas with a constant mean molecular weight. The effects of Rayleigh friction and Newtonian cooling are applied near the upper boundary of the model to simulate the radiation conditions as well as to act as a sponge layer; lateral boundaries are periodic over a horizontal wavelength to simulate a horizontally infinite domain. The thermal excitation to initiate upward propagating waves is spatially localized in the troposphere and is a Gaussian function of time. A time-splitting technique is applied to the finite difference equations that are derived from the Navier–Stokes equations. The time integration for these highly coupled equations is performed using an explicit second order Lax–Wendroff scheme and an implicit Newton–Raphson scheme. The wave solutions derived from the model are found to be broadly agreeable with those derived from a Wentzel–Kramers–Brillouin theory.     

The gauge-generalized Gyldén–Meshcherskii Problem

The Gyldén–Meshcherskii Problem (GMP) extends the classical two-body problem of Newton and Kepler by considering time-varying gravitating masses, an important extension of the two-body problem for modeling cometary motion and cosmological phenomena. In this paper, we consider the GMP in a specialized setup, the setup of gauge theory. We show that the variational equations, modeling the effect of the mass time variation on the orbital elements, can be derived by fixing a gauge of a particular form that is different from the Lagrange gauge. Thus, the orbital elements modeling the effect of a time-varying secondary mass are non-osculating. This implies that the trajectory of a celestial body whose mass is continuously changing cannot be approximated by a series of Keplerian orbits. Finally, we provide the first-order averaged equations written in terms of non-osculating elements.     

Hydrothermal instability of thermocapillary convection in large-Prandtl-number liquid bridges under microgravity

Linear stability analysis was performed to study the mechanism of transition of thermocapillary convection in liquid bridges with liquid volume ratios ranging from 0.4 to 1.2, aspect ratio of 0.75 and Prandtl number of 100. 2-D governing equations were solved to obtain the steady axi-symmetric basic flow and temperature distributions. 3-D perturbation equations were discretized at the collocation grid points using the Chebyshev-collocation method. Eigenvalues and eigenfunctions were obtained by using the Q–R method.The predicted critical Marangoni numbers and critical frequencies were compared with data from space experiments. The disturbance of the temperature distribution on the free surface causes the onset of oscillatory convection. It is shown that the origin of instability is related to the hydrothermal origin for convections in large-Prandtl-number liquid bridges.     

Comparative study of the influence of natural convection on directional solidification of Al–3.5 wt% Ni and Al–7 wt% Si alloys

We present numerical simulations of thermosolutal convection for directional solidification of Al–3.5 wt% Ni and Al–7 wt% Si. Numerical results predict that fragmentation of dendrite arms resulting from dissolution could be favored in Al–7 wt% Si, but not in Al–3.5 wt% Ni. Corresponding experiments are in qualitative agreement with the numerical predictions. Distinguishing the two fragmentation mechanisms, namely dissolution and remelting, is critical during experiments on earth, when fluid flow is dominant.     

Even–odd cycle parity in complexity of hemispheric sunspot activity

We have used the Lempel–Ziv measure to describe the complexity in sunspot activity during the solar cycles 18–23. In particular, we examined the time series of daily sunspot numbers in the northern and southern hemispheres in each of the six cycles and calculated the Lempel–Ziv complexity (LZC) value for each time series. Our results indicate that in the even cycles, the LZC values of the sunspot numbers in the two hemispheres are very close to each other, whereas in the odd cycles they differ significantly between the two hemispheres. We also find that within each hemisphere the LZC varies from cycle to cycle. This even–odd cycle parity reflects the variations in inter-hemispheric strengths of the solar magnetic field leading to different temporal distributions of sunspots in the two hemispheres. The degree of complexity may influence the predictability of sunspot activity in the two hemispheres during the various cycles. Although the physical implication of the results is not clear, these results may stimulate new ideas into modeling the complex dynamics of the solar dynamo.     

轴向通流旋转盘腔内流动不稳定性研究

为了研究旋转腔内流动不稳定性问题,采用旋转坐标系稳态方程,用数值模拟的方法分析了轴向通流旋转盘腔内的流动,得到了旋转系下哥氏力和离心浮升力分别对流动不稳定的作用,以及这两个力的非线性综合作用对流动不稳定的影响.结果表明:哥氏力是恢复力,不影响流动稳定性;离心浮升力是造成流动不稳定的主要因素,盘腔内的流动是离心力场下的Rayleigh-Benard对流和强迫对流的混合流,随着浮升力的增强流动由稳态发展为非稳态;哥氏力与离心浮升力的综合作用加剧了流动不稳定性,盘腔内r-θ面出现了明显的旋向相反的对涡.     

纵向非均匀多孔介质Marangoni对流不稳定性

理论研究了纵向非均匀多孔介质中流体表面张力驱动的对流不稳定性.充满液体的多孔介质层从下方加热,上方自由表面冷却,形成可引起多孔介质液层Marangoni-Benaxd对流流动的纵向温度梯度.采用线性化的Brinkman-Forchheimier方程作为控制方程组,对孔隙率分别为线性函数、正弦三角函数分布的非均匀多孔介质液层的Marangoni-Benaxd问题进行了线性稳定性分析.通过采用Chebyshev-Tau谱方法求解广义特征值问题,得到了系统临界Maxangoni数随无量纲波数变化的中性稳定性曲线,分析和比较了孔隙率的变化对液层对流稳定性和流场结构的影响,获得了纵向非均匀多孔介质液层不稳定性现象的新特征.      

Heliopause stability revisited: dispersion analysis and numerical simulations

The heliopause, a surface separating the tenuous hot heliosheath flow and the dense, strongly magnetized interstellar flow, is subject to instabilities of the Rayleigh–Taylor and Kelvin–Helmholtz types. The dynamic evolution of this discontinuity is of considerable importance for understanding the neutral atom and cosmic-ray filtration at the interface. Here, we investigate the stability of the upwind heliopause in the presence of charge exchange collisions using both an analytic (dispersion relation) approach and a numerical model that includes the interstellar magnetic field. The linear analysis yields a cubic dispersion relation that admits imaginary solutions for the full range of wavenumbers, implying that the stagnation point on the heliopause is unconditionally Rayleigh–Taylor unstable to small perturbations propagating parallel to the discontinuity surface. We confirm this result by following the nonlinear development of the instability with a time-dependent simulation using a four fluid MHD-neutral numerical code. For the typical solar wind and LISM conditions, we obtain cyclical evolution of the upwind heliopause with a period of the order of 100 years. We also identify two areas of space physics where the instability may have important implications.     

A comprehensive numerical model examining the thermal performance of airships

A novel computational model for analyzing the airship’s transient thermal performance under different environmental conditions was developed. Radiative heat transfer and natural convection inside the airship were modeled using the control volume method. The Semi-Implicit Method aiming at the Pressure-Linked Equations algorithm was adopted to solve the control equations. Such approach was able to take into account the solar irradiative heat flux, the infrared radiation at different locations, and the convection both inside and outside the airship. The simulation results, showing the detailed distributions of temperature and velocity on the envelope and inside the airship, were in good agreement with the experimental measurements. The influences of solar position and material radiative properties on temperature distribution, as well as natural convective flow inside airship, were further simulated and discussed.     

Travelling heater growth of GaSb under reduced gravity during the first spacelab-mission

Single crystals of binary III-V-semiconductors, e.g. GaAs or InP, are important basic materials for optoelectronic devices, e.g. LED's and lasers. Device production needs highly perfect substrate crystals with low defect densities and homogeneous dopant distributions. In our experiment we applied the Travelling-Heater-Method to grow the III-V compound GaSb. The aim of this research project was to improve the crystal quality by investigating convective transport phenomena and the origins of dopant inhomogeneities under earth and space conditions. Earth grown crystals show strong dopant variations mainly due to convective flow phenomena. The preliminary result of our SPACELAB 1 experiment reveals an increase of dopant homogeneity in the space grown crystal because of the absence of natural convection under reduced gravity.     

High-resolution, coupled thermosphere–ionosphere models for space weather applications

Current first-principles global models of the coupled thermosphere–ionosphere (T–I) system use grids that are too coarse to simulate the mesoscale and small-scale structures that occur in this complex system. These small-scale and mesoscale structures have a great effect on global-scale neutral and plasma distributions and have important consequences for daily space weather. In this paper, we present a new first-principles, high-resolution, T–I nested grid (TING) polar cap model that incorporates multiple nesting levels and two-way interaction. The TING model simulation of the electron densities and temperatures demonstrates the importance of high spatial resolution. It is found that both the mid-latitude electron density trough and its associated dawn electron temperature peak are more pronounced and structured in the nested grid than in the coarse grid. Using the TING model to simulate ionospheric F₂ region electron density variations with geomagnetic activity and universal time (UT) is also discussed.     

EFFECTS OF CONVECTIVE FLUID MOTION UPON OXIDE CRYSTAL GROWTH IN HIGH TEMPERATURE SOLUTION

For understanding of the influence of convective flow on crystal growth, space high temperature in situ observation instrument (SHITISOI) is dedicated to visualize and record the whole growth process of oxide crystals in high temperature up to 1000°C. Model experiments using transparent liquids such as KNbO3 and a mix ture of Li2B4O7+KNbO3 were chosen to investigate effects on ground and in space.On the earth, an investigation of growth kinetics of KNbO3 crystal related to two different states of convection: diffusive-advective flow and diffusive-convective flow,has been performed. The per unit length of a step e is calculated from the exper imental data for two different states of convection. Analyses of these data show the effect of buoyancy convection is to enhance the sharpness of the interface. The growth of KNbO3 crystals from solution of KNbO3+Li2B4O7 was investigated in space. The streamlines of the steady thermocapillary convection in Li2B4O7 solvent was observed. Due to thermocapillary convection, KNbO3 crystal grains grew and filled the whole solution homogeneously. Earth-based quenching experiments are de signed in order to study polyhedral instability of KNbO3 crystal, which is controlled by diffusion mechanism limitation. In all cases, when the crystal was nucleated near air/solution surface, it lost its polyhedral stability and varied from polyhedrons to dedrites. The thickness of diffusion mechanism limitation layer is about 60μm.     

IONOSAT – Ionospheric satellite cluster

The IONOSAT project (from IONOspheric SATellites) is proposed by National Space Agency of Ukraine for First European Space Program as a part of Space Weather (SW) Program. As it is commonly accepted, Space Weather means the changes of the conditions on the Sun, in solar wind, magnetosphere and ionosphere which may affect the operation and reliability of on-board and ground technological systems and threaten human health. In this chain ionosphere is specific and integral part of SW formation. Moreover, namely in the ionosphere main part of the energy absorption of Sun-activated sporadic corpuscular and radiation fluxes takes places. The excitation of ionosphere by falling fluxes produces its “luminescence” in wide frequency band – from ULF waves till ultraviolet – and by this ionosphere works as an efficient “screen” or SW indicator.A goal of the proposed project is long-term spatial–temporal monitoring of main field and plasma parameters of ionosphere with aim to further develop fundamental conceptions of solar-terrestrial connections physics, nowcasting and forecast of SW, and diagnostics of natural and technogenic hazards with the help of scientific payload installed on-board a cluster of 3 low-Earth orbit (LEO) microsatellites (tentative launch date – 2012 year).The state of the project proposal and realization plans are discussed.     

Physical effects at the cellular level under altered gravity conditions.

Several modifications of differentiated functions of animal cells cultivated in vitro have been reported when cultures have been exposed to increased or decreased inertial acceleration fields by centrifugation, clinorotation, and orbital space flight. Variables modified by clinorotation conditions include inertial acceleration, convection, hydrostatic pressure, sedimentation, and shear stress, which also affect transport processes in the extracellular chemical environment. Autocrine, paracrine and endocrine substances, to which cells are responsive via specific receptors, are usually transported in vitro (and possibly in certain embryos) by convection and in vivo by a circulatory system or ciliary action. Increased inertial acceleration increases convective flow, while microgravity nearly abolishes it. In the latter case the extracellular transport of macromolecules is governed by diffusion. By making certain assumptions it is possible to calculate the Peclet number, the ratio of convective transport to diffusive transport. Some, but not all, responses of cells in vitro to modified inertial environments could be manifestations of modified extracellular convective flow.     

使用GAO-YONG湍流方程组对扩压器流动的计算

采用基于同位网格的SIMPLE方法求解GAO-YONG不可压湍流方程组,对二维扩压器流动进行了数值模拟.通过界面速度动量插值法解决了压力锯齿波问题,并且采用了正交贴体网格和二阶QUICK格式离散对流项以提高计算精度.与实验结果以及BL(Baldw-Lomax)模型计算结果的比较表明,不需要任何经验系数及壁面函数的GAO-YONG不可压湍流模型方程组能够对有压力梯度的湍流流动做出很好的预测.计算发现,在机械能方程中引入平均流压力梯度的作用,对GAO-YONG湍流方程组正确模拟逆压力梯度流动起到了关键作用.      

On possible genesis of fractal dimensions in the turbulent pulsations of cosmic plasma – galactic cosmic rays – turbulent pulsation in planetary atmosphere system

The spectrum of turbulent pulsations induced in the atmosphere by the galactic cosmic rays is defined. A possible manifestation of genesis of fractal dimensions in the system of “spectrum of turbulent pulsations of cosmic plasma – galactic cosmic rays’ spectrum – spectrum of atmospheric turbulent pulsations” is analyzed.     

Changes in radio emission from PSR J0737–3039B

The double pulsar system, J0737–3039, provides a unique probe of a pulsar magnetosphere due to its edge-on viewing geometry, a tight orbit and a significant rate of advance of the angle of periastron. In this paper, we report on the changes in radio emission from the long period pulsar in this system, J0737–3039B, over a period of 9 months. Observations of this system with Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) show that the duration of the first bright phase of the pulsar centered at 210° orbital longitude from the ascending node is shrinking. These observations will be useful to constrain the proposed models for this system.     

用GAO-YONG湍流模型计算激波/边界层干扰

采用GAO-YONG可压缩湍流方程组,模拟了平板激波/湍流边界层干扰现象.运用SIMPLE算法求解方程组,并分别采用三阶精度的QUICK格式和中心格式离散对流项和扩散项.计算结果较好预测了入射斜激波在平直壁面引起湍流附面层分离的流动特征: 分离点的反射激波、分离包引起的膨胀扇以及再附点的反射激波.对流场的时均参数与实验值进行了比较,计算得到的壁面压力分布、摩阻系数分布和速度型与实验值比较吻合很好.结果表明GAO-YONG可压缩湍流方程组能够高精度模拟平板激波/湍流边界层干扰流动.      

热毛细效应对细丝薄膜流动不稳定性的影响

根据重力与热毛细力耦合作用薄膜在细丝上的流动情况,采用长波近似推导了界面的演化方程.通过色散关系分析热毛细作用对Rayleigh-Plateau稳定性的影响;通过时空模式的稳定性分析,研究了系统的绝对对流不稳定性特性;通过直接数值模拟,研究了薄膜破裂和绝对对流稳定性的关系.      

Study of mid-latitude ionospheric convection during quiet and disturbed periods using the SuperDARN Hokkaido radar

Westward ionospheric convective flows around midnight are frequently observed at mid-latitudes. They can be generated by so-called disturbance dynamo mechanisms working mainly in the mid-latitudes. To understand the influence of disturbance dynamo effects in the mid-latitudes, we studied the latitudinal distribution of westward flows in association with several kinds of geomagnetic disturbances using the SuperDARN Hokkaido radar. This radar creates high temporal resolution (1 s to 2 min), two-dimensional observations measuring the line-of-sight velocities of ionospheric plasma irregularities, which can be regarded as line-of-sight velocities of ionospheric convection in the mid-latitude region from 40° to 50°. This region could not be monitored using preexisting SuperDARN radars. In this study, we used ionospheric echo data obtained by the SuperDARN Hokkaido radar over 5 years (December 2006 to November 2011). We identified westward flows around midnight at about 40° to 55° geomagnetic latitude. Additionally, the data showed that the westward flow around midnight intensified under high geomagnetic activity (high Kp). This suggests that the disturbance dynamo could affect the mid-latitude ionospheric convection. We performed Superposed Epoch Analysis (SEA) to study the influences from the geomagnetic disturbances on mid-latitude ionospheric convection. We found no obvious influence during major storms (minimum Dst below −60 nT). SEA was also used to study the temporal and latitudinal dependence on the influences from substorms. From analysis of 36 events of AL-defined substorms, we saw that the influence of substorms lasted from 5 to 20 h after the onset between 44° and 53° geomagnetic latitude. The westward flow at mid-latitude grew to a maximum at 12 h after the geomagnetic substorm onset. This is consistent with the results of past numerical simulation studies of the disturbance dynamo effects.