Debris Discs Around Stars: The 2004 ISO Legacy

Debris discs around stars were first discovered by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) in 1983. For the first time material orbiting another star than the Sun, but distinct from a circumstellar envelope, was observed through its far infrared emission. This major discovery motivated astronomers to investigate those discs by further analyzing the IRAS data, using ground-based telescopes for the hunting of exoplanets, developing several projects using the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO), and now exploiting the ISO Data Archive (IDA). This review presents the main ISO results, statistical as well as individual, on debris discs in orbit around pre-main-sequence and main-sequence stars. Based on observations with ISO, an ESA project with instruments funded by ESA Member States (especially the PI countries: France, Germany, The Netherlands, and the United Kingdom), and with the participation of ISAS and NASA.     

Algols: Wherefrom,whereto, and what in between?

Four different aspects related to the evolution of Algols are discussed: the occurrence of a contact phase during the mass transfer, the evolution of short period systems evolving through case A mass transfer, the influence of the mass transfer on the surface abundances of both components, and the problem of the initial parameters of Algol systems. For the latter, a search is made for conservative case B systems. UZ Cyg seems to be a good candidate for such evolution. Finally, some remarks are given on the initial values of the low mass Algol S Cancri.     

Distributed target detection in compound-Gaussian noise with Rao and Wald tests

The problem of detecting distributed targets in compound-Gaussian noise with unknown statistics is considered. At the design stage, in order to cope with the a priori uncertainty, we model noise returns as Gaussian vectors with the same structure of the covariance matrix, but possibly different power levels. We also assume that a set of secondary data, free of signal components, is available to estimate the covariance matrix of the disturbance. Since no uniformly most powerful test exists for the problem at hand we devise and assess two detection strategies based on the Rao test, and the Wald test respectively. Remarkably these detectors ensure the constant false alarm rate property with respect to both the structure of the covariance matrix as well as the power levels. Moreover, the performance assessment, conducted also in comparison with the generalized likelihood ratio test based receiver, shows that the Wald test outperforms the others and is very effective in scenarios of practical interest for radar systems.     

Solar variability and minor constituents in the lower thermosphere and in the mesosphere

Space Science Reviews - The variation in the solar irradiance related for example to the 11-year cycle leads to changes in the photodissociation and photo-ionization of the upper and middle...     

地外天体超声波钻探器研究与应用综述

分别探讨了国内外各科研机构研制的超声波钻探器的原理及性能特点,重点针对超声波钻探器的钻进过程优化问题,分析了现有的超声波钻探器作动方式的改进过程,结果表明：超声波钻探器在理论及试验研究方面都相对成熟,是未来地外天体采样任务中优势突出、可工程实现的钻探平台;并且轻质、结构紧凑的回转冲击式超声波钻探器更具有应用前景。对压电换能器模型和超声波钻探器集成模型分别进行了综述,指出了各种模型的优缺点及适用条件。对超声波钻探器驱动电源进行了综述,给出了设计驱动电源需重点关注的问题。依据星体探测的任务特点,对超声波钻探器在未来星体探测中的预研成果进行了探讨。最后对超声波钻探器研究和应用的发展趋势进行了展望。     

一种新型球副机构的设计及分析

提出一种新型球副机构,即1S机构。该机构由两个转动副和一个等效转动副组成,其运动功能等效为球副。1S机构可通过其变种构型增强刚度和增大运动角度。同时,以1S机构为基础,可构建N-S复合球副机构;与其他运动副进行复合,如移动副、额外的转动副等,可构建X-S机构。在复合铰链中,所有的运动副:(a)均具备相对独立的运动,(b)运动轴线均相交于一点,(c)理论上可包含无数个球副。为验证1S机构的刚度和运动精度,文中建立了其刚度模型、运动学模型、考虑刚度影响的修正的运动学模型以及运动精度模型。通过数值案例分析及仿真验证,表明该球副机构具备足够的刚度和运动精度。新型球副机构的应用之一则是用于3-R(SRS)RP多环机构中的SRS复合铰链,该铰链是基于X-S机构设计且具备7个自由度的运动链,使多环机构可以实现其运动功能。     

往复轴磁性液体密封耐压能力及密封间隙内磁性液体运动状态的分析与研究.

研究了往复轴磁性液体密封间隙内磁性液体的运动机理，在此基础上从纳韦-斯托克斯方程出发得出了往复轴磁性液体密封的耐压公式。为了验证该公式的正确性，对密封结构的磁场分布进行了有限元计算，得出了密封结构的最大静止耐压能力，并且在实验台上验证了速度和行程夺密封耐压能力的影响。     

Helium, Oxygen, Proton, and Electron (HOPE) Mass Spectrometer for the Radiation Belt Storm Probes Mission

The HOPE mass spectrometer of the Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) mission (renamed the Van Allen Probes) is designed to measure the in situ plasma ion and electron fluxes over 4π sr at each RBSP spacecraft within the terrestrial radiation belts. The scientific goal is to understand the underlying physical processes that govern the radiation belt structure and dynamics. Spectral measurements for both ions and electrons are acquired over 1 eV to 50 keV in 36 log-spaced steps at an energy resolution ΔE _FWHM/E≈15 %. The dominant ion species (H⁺, He⁺, and O⁺) of the magnetosphere are identified using foil-based time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometry with channel electron multiplier (CEM) detectors. Angular measurements are derived using five polar pixels coplanar with the spacecraft spin axis, and up to 16 azimuthal bins are acquired for each polar pixel over time as the spacecraft spins. Ion and electron measurements are acquired on alternate spacecraft spins. HOPE incorporates several new methods to minimize and monitor the background induced by penetrating particles in the harsh environment of the radiation belts. The absolute efficiencies of detection are continuously monitored, enabling precise, quantitative measurements of electron and ion fluxes and ion species abundances throughout the mission. We describe the engineering approaches for plasma measurements in the radiation belts and present summaries of HOPE measurement strategy and performance.     

低冲击弹射式发射箱前盖分离特性

针对火箭、导弹储运发射箱前盖快速开启、可靠分离的设计需求,提出一种利用弹簧储能的低冲击弹射式发射箱前盖方案。在此基础上,结合设计方案各部件在分离过程中的受力特性,建立前盖分离和抛落的理论模型,对箱盖分离轨迹进行计算分析。为优化设计参数,利用实验设计方法(DOE)和响应面法(RSM)对影响前盖抛落距离的储能弹簧刚度、有效作用距离以及活动冲击部件的斜板倾角等进行优化分析,获得满足可靠分离判据的优化结果。最后利用基于多体动力学模型的虚拟样机试验对优化模型进行了校验分析,验证了设计方案的可行性和理论模型的合理性。     

月壤剖面锥型螺旋刃成孔钻头设计

针对月壤剖面钻进成孔探测需求,提出一种锥型螺旋刃成孔钻头,建立其钻进排屑性能的理论模型,并以此开展钻头结构参数的优化设计。在此基础上,分析螺旋刃切削姿态及其切削参数,基于直线刃平面切削理论建立锥型螺旋刃成孔钻头钻进切削负载预估模型,开展锥型螺旋刃成孔钻头模拟月壤剖面钻进负载特性试验验证。研究结果表明,相比于直线刃钻头,锥型螺旋刃成孔钻头的钻进排屑性能更优,而且钻进切削负载模型与试验结果具有较好的吻合度。研究成果对我国拟实施的月面钻取采样工程具有重要的借鉴价值。