Prebiotic synthesis of nucleotides at the Earth orbit in presence of Lunar soil.

Modern studies now favor the fact that extraterrestrial organic molecules served as an important source of biological important substances on the primitive Earth. It is presumed that these space-made organic molecules could be transported safely to the Earth surface being associated with mineral grains. It is important to test whether nucleotides synthesized in Earth orbit could be protected by lunar surface regolite. The phosphorylation of adenosine, uridine and thymidine has been studied with respect of their further transformations and degradation in presence of mineral bed. After retrieval, HPLC analysis is used to identify all the mononucleotides of certain nucleosides. It has been shown, that exposure of the investigated nucleosides as dry films in space conditions in the presence of Lunar soil increases the yield of synthesized nucleotides in 1.1-3.0 times as compared with the exposure of the same samples in absence of Lunar soil. To identify and evaluate the principal source of energy in open space responsible for nucleotide synthesis reaction laboratory experiments were performed. It has been shown, that vacuum ultra violet (VUV 145 nm) radiation promotes nucleotide synthesis more effectively than ultra violet (UV 254 nm) while the presence of Lunar soil increases reaction yield in 1.5-2.0 times. Formation of 5'-mononucleotides seemed to be the most effective reaction both in flight and in laboratory experiments. Protective action of lunar soil on synthesized nucleotides against UV radiation has been shown in open Space conditions.     

Large-size space laboratory for biological orbit experiments.

The study of space factors on living systems has great interest and long-term experiments during orbital flight will be important tool for increasing our knowledge. Realization of such experiments is limited by constraints of modern space stations. A new technology of large-size space laboratory for biological experiments has been developed on the basis of polymerization techniques. Using this technique there are no limits of form and size of laboratory for a space station that will permit long term experiments on Earth orbit with plants and animals in sufficient volume for creation of closed self-regulating ecological systems. The technology is based on experiments of the behavior of polymer materials in simulated free space conditions during the reaction of polymerization. The influences of space vacuum, sharp temperature changes and space plasma generated by galactic rays and Sun irradiation on chemical reaction were evaluated in their impact on liquid organic materials in laboratory conditions. The results of our study shows, that the chemical reaction is sensitive to such space factors. But we believe that the technology of polymerization could be used for the creation of space biological laboratories in Earth orbit in the near future.     

Chemical evolution in space--a source of prebiotic molecules.

In Laboratory Astrophysics at Leiden University a laboratory analog for following the chemical evolution of interstellar dust in space shows that the dust contains the bulk of organic material in the universe. We follow the photoprocessing of low temperature (10 K) mixtures of ices subjected to vacuum ultraviolet radiation in simulation of interstellar conditions. The most important, but necessary, difference is in the time scales for photo-processing. One hour in the laboratory is equivalent to one thousand years in low density regions of space and as much as, or greater than, ten thousand to one million years in the depths of dense molecular clouds. The ultimate product of photoprocessing of grain material in the laboratory is a complex nonvolatile residue which is yellow in color and soluble in water and methanol. The molecular weight is greater than the mid-hundreds. The infrared absorption spectra indicate the presence of carboxylic acid and amino groups resembling those of other molecules of presumably prebiological significance produced by more classical methods. One of our residues, when subjected to high resolution mass spectroscopy gave a mass of 82 corresponding to C4H6H2 after release of CO2 and trace ammounts of urea suggesting amino pyroline rings. The deposit of prebiotic dust molecules occurred as many as 5 times in the first 500-700 million years on a primitive Earth by accretion during the passage of the solar system through a dense interstellar cloud. The deposition rate during each passage is estimated to be between 10(9) and 10(10) g per year during the million or so years of each passage; i.e., a total deposition of 1O(9)-10(10) metric tons of complex organic material per passage.     

地外人工光合成装置研制与试验

原位资源利用技术是地外生命保障体系构建、实现人类地外生存的有效途径，是载人深空探索的核心技术。基于微通道技术的人工光合成反应器，采用流动反应器设计，用于低微重力等特殊环境条件下模拟人工光合作用，实现CO２向O２和含碳燃料的转化。微通道芯片通过气液剪切作用力使气体反应产物快速脱离电极表面并随反应介质排出反应器，理论上可以克服微重力条件对反应过程的影响，尚需进行微重力试验进行验证。同时，微通道结构可以通过精确控制反应气液的压力、流速、流量比等反应条件，获得优化的反应条件。通过地面试验，验证了该反应器将CO２还原为O２和含碳化合物的功能可行性。以Au和Ir/C作为阴极和阳极材料，3V电压条件下，O２产率可达11.74mL/h。此外，基于人工光合成反应器搭建了集反应模块、控制模块、流路驱动模块以及检测模块等于一体的地外人工光合成装置，形成原位反应、介质供给、精确控制、在线收集和检测等功能一体化的系统，并实现CO２有效转换和O２供给。为后续技术成熟度更高的反应装置研制、高产物选择性的含碳化合物转化以及人工光合成反应装置在轨试验奠定了理论和实践基础。     

Laboratory experiments in the study of the chemistry of the outer planets.

The investigation of chemical evolution of bodies in our solar system has, in the past, included observations, theoretical modeling, and laboratory simulations. Of these programs, the last one has been the most criticized due to the inherent difficulties in accurately recreating alien environments in the laboratory. Processes such as wall reactions and changes in chemistry due to difficulties in achieving realistic conditions of temperature, pressure, composition, and energy flux may yield results which are not truly representative of the systems being modeled. However, many laboratory studies have been done which have yielded data useful in planetary science. Gross simulations of atmospheric chemistry have placed constraints on the nature of complex molecules expected in planetary atmospheres. More precise studies of specific chemical processes have provided information about the sources and properties of product gases and aerosols. Determinations of basic properties such as spectral features and reaction rate constants yield data useful in the interpretation of observations and in computational modeling. Alone, and in conjunction with modeling, laboratory experiments will continue to be used to further our understanding of the outer solar system, and some experiments that need to be done are listed.     

Laboratory investigation of physical mechanisms of auroral charged particle acceleration in the field-aligned current layers

One of the major topics of space weather research is to understand auroral structure and the processes that guide, accelerate, and otherwise control particle precipitation and during substorms. The problem is that it is not clear the structure of the magnetic field-aligned electric fields and how they are supported in the magnetospheric plasma. The objective of this research is to study the physical mechanisms of these phenomena in a laboratory experiment. It should be achieved by simulating the charged particle acceleration due to field-aligned electrical field generation in all totality of the interconnected events: generation of a plasma flow, its evolution in the magnetic field, polarization of plasma, generation of the field-aligned currents, development of instabilities in the plasma and current layers, double layers or anomalous resistance regions appearance, electron acceleration. Parameters of the laboratory simulation and preliminary results of the experiment are discussed.     

Ion irradiation: its relevance to the evolution of complex organics in the outer solar system.

Ion irradiation of carbon containing ices produces several effects among which the formation of complex molecules and even refractory organic materials whose spectral color and molecular complexity both depend on the amount of deposited energy. Here results from laboratory experiments are summarized. Their relevance for the formation and evolution of simple molecules and complex organic materials on planetary bodies in the external Solar System is outlined.     

镜像生物分子

生物分子的手性均一性是地球上生命的重要标志.生命对D型核糖和L型氨基酸的依赖究竟是生命起源的必然，还是早期地球上发生的一次偶然事件，目前尚无定论.地球上生命手性均一性的原因还未能被很好地解释，但一些实验证据已显示基于L型核糖和D型氨基酸的镜像生命被合成出来的可能性.本文简要总结了当前对镜像生物分子的研究进展和方向，并探讨了在实验室中运用新型镜像分子生物学工具构建镜像生命的可行性.      

Crystallisation of alpha-crustacyanin, the lobster carapace astaxanthin-protein: results from EURECA.

Crystallisation of alpha-crustacyanin, the lobster carapace astaxanthin-protein was attempted under microgravity conditions in EURECA satellite using liquid-liquid diffusion with polyethyleneglycol (PEG) as precipitant; in a second reaction chamber phenol and dioxan were used as additives to prevent composite crystal growth. Crystals of alpha-crustacyanin grown under microgravity from PEG were larger than those grown terrestrially in the same apparatus under otherwise identical conditions. On retrieval, the crystals from PEG were shown to be composite and gave a powder diffraction pattern. The second reaction chamber showed leakage on retrieval and had also been subjected to rapid temperature variation during flight. Crystal fragments were nevertheless recovered but showed a powder diffraction pattern. It is concluded, certainly for liquid-liquid diffusion using PEG alone, that, for crustacyanin, although microgravity conditions resulted in an increase in dimensions of crystals, a measurable improvement in molecular ordering was not achieved.     

Study of fast atoms in molecular gas plasma via emission spectroscopy

Fast atoms are generated in reactions of ions with the molecular gas in laboratory and astrophysical plasma. In hydrogen they are observed in the emission spectra via Excessive line broadening. Energetic atoms also occur in astrophysical plasma in hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen. The proposal here is that low pressure discharges can be used to simulate the phenomena in certain space plasma. In this study, we have used a special configuration of the electrode system, to obtain energetic atoms in plasma of three types of diatomic gases (H₂, O₂, N₂). Emission spectroscopy was used to detect the atoms and measure their velocity. Energy analysis was performed to obtain atoms’ distributions and evaluate the mean energy of atoms. This was compared to the potential energy available from the electric field. The field acceleration model, previously established for hydrogen, was extended to nitrogen and oxygen. We suggest, that the same method of analysis can be applied for astrophysical plasma spectrum.     

太阳大气中有限振幅磁场扰动的动力学过程

本文从完整的磁流体动力学方程组出发,通过太阳大气中磁力线管根部有限振幅磁场的扰动,研究了非线性磁场的动力学演化。假设初始磁场位形足β<<1的势场,根部磁力线管磁场扰动,驱动等离子体运动,一部分磁能转换为等离子体动能。等离子体压缩运动具有快磁声波的特性。计算结果给出非线性磁场演化的定量关系,可以解释太阳大气中日冕活动过程。也可用于模拟实验室里高β实验装置中的等离子体的持性。      

环氧树脂辐射固化反应速率及速率常数的研究

研究了环氧树脂溶液的电子束辐射固化反应速率常数以及树脂特性对反应速率的影响.研究结果显示,辐射反应增长速率常数k_p和终止速率常数k_t在反应进行的不同阶段表现出不同的控制机制.环氧树脂的分子量及其分布,分子化学结构对辐射反应速率都有很大影响,反应速率大的树脂体系最终达到的反应程度也高.     

超燃燃烧室等离子体点火和火焰稳定性能

为了研究热等离子点火器在超燃冲压发动机中的应用,在来流马赫数2.0工况下,针对乙烯和氢气两种燃料,进行了超燃环境中等离子体点火的试验和仿真研究.在来流总温1 500~1 950 K,燃料当量比0.1~0.55范围内对等离子点火器的点火和改善燃烧性能的性质进行了详细分析.结果显示:对于氢气和乙烯燃料,等离子体点火器使两种燃料的点火性能均得到明显改善,点火延迟时间大大缩短,燃料着火范围扩大、贫燃极限当量比降低.但未观察到其在加速掺混以及改善燃烧性能方面的明显作用.进行了与乙烯燃烧试验对应的数值仿真工作,选用了两种乙烯化学反应模型进行对比研究.仿真结果显示:8步9组分反应模型与试验结果符合较好,而3步6组分反应模型过高的估计了反应剧烈程度,燃烧室压力值偏高,压力起始上升位置偏向上游.所用的8步模型比3步模型更适合于超燃燃烧室中乙烯反应的模拟.     

Calculating the simultaneous effect of ion dynamics and oscillating electric fields on Stark profiles

We calculate hydrogen line shapes resulting from the simultaneous Stark effect of the plasma microfield and an oscillating electric field. Like laboratory plasmas, many kinds of space plasmas are affected by oscillating electric fields with a magnitude similar to that of the microfield. Here we focus on conditions where we expect that the effect of ion dynamics and oscillating electric are both significant. The combined effect of their dynamics on the quantum emitter is retained by a computer simulation coupled to a numerical integration of the Schrödinger equation. Our calculations are applied for conditions and transitions where significant changes in the line shape allow for a diagnostic of the plasma and oscillating field.     

螺旋波电推进羽流电磁矢量控制的原理性验证

推进器羽流的电磁矢量控制是基于电磁位形的改变使得喷射的羽流改变方向。为了原理性验证电推进羽流电磁矢量控制技术，针对螺旋波电推进器，开展了磁场位形调制仿真设计和试验验证。说明了电磁矢量调制线圈能够改变磁场位型，并且在试验过程中验证了等离子体羽流随磁场位型变化而产生的羽流方向偏转。在周期性磁场调制过程中，验证了等离子体密度参数随之周期性涨落。螺旋波电推进羽流方向最大偏转角度60°，可控偏转频率15Hz，说明了电推进羽流电磁矢量控制的可行性。     

光流控制地形跟随与自动着陆

将一种自研的光流传感器安装到飞行平台上,利用光流信息控制飞行器的地形跟随和自动着陆.测试了光流传感器的测量性能,建立了飞行器的运动模型,开发了基于光流反馈的地形跟随控制算法,提出了光流自动着陆的控制规律,并进行了数学仿真和硬件在回路的实时仿真验证,实验结果表明:光流信息可以一种相对简单的形式来巧妙地同时控制飞行速度和飞行高度,保证飞行器安全地执行多种飞行任务,实验证明了光流传感器在飞行控制中具有工程可行性.     

热毛细对流模式转换及温度振荡特征

研究了矩形液池中由于两端温差引起的热毛细对流的温度振荡临界条件.在实验室中,设计了一个高分辨率的温度测量系统,用于实时观测并记录流体的温度.该系统主要由热电偶温度传感器、纳伏表和数据采集电脑3部分组成.得到了各种实验条件下温度振荡的临界条件,并且讨论了它与Prandtl数和Bond数之间的关系.利用flow3d软件数值模拟了微重力条件下的热毛细对流,发现了一种由于自由面变形和液层流场相互作用导致的晃荡的现象.     

Catalytic activity of interstellar grains: Formation of molecular hydrogen on amorphous silicates

Silicates constitute an important class of interstellar grain material and are the site of catalytic activities, most notably the formation of molecular hydrogen. Here we report an analysis of experiments conducted in the laboratory to measure the efficiency of formation of molecular hydrogen on amorphous silicates, a realistic analogue of interstellar dust grains. From the measurements, we also obtain the energetics of key processes in the reaction and information on the mechanism of reaction. Comparison with earlier measurements of molecular hydrogen formation on a sample of polycrystalline olivine shows that amorphous materials are more efficient catalysts.     

中性气体释放人工产生气辉

电离层中分子性的离子与电子的复合要比氧离子与电子的辐射性复合快得多,因此火箭发动机产生的尾气和空间等离子体主动实验中主动释放的中性气体会对电离层有很大的影响,这么大的电离层扰动现象在过去的实验中经常可以观测到.根据中性气体在热层背景中的扩散方程,考虑电离层F区主要的离子化学反应,研究了H2,H2O和CO2气体在电离层高度上的扩散过程和电离层对所释放气体的响应,计算了气辉的体发射系数和发射强度.结果表明,中性气体在电离层高度上扩散非常迅速,在F区的一些高度上,主要正离子成分由O+转变为其他分子离子,且在释放过程中伴随气辉发射,发射气辉的波长和特征与释放物质的种类有关.