Coherent nonlinear effects on electromagnetic wave-particle interactions

In many particle simulations and space experiments, the knowledge of nonlinear characteristics of both waves and particles in plasmas is very helpful in the data analysis phase. Such knowledge is needed even more in the designing phase of appropriate diagnostics and probings in both simulations and space experiments. In this tutorial lecture, I will attempt to provide a basic introduction to the fundamental features of coherent nonlinear wave-particle and wave-wave interactions in magnetized plasmas. The present lecture covers only some of the important and basic characteristics in the coherent nonlinear interactions. The main subjects are: (1) trapping dynamics in the electrostatic wave, (2) nonlinear phase trapping and phase bunching in electromagnetic wave both in homogeneous and inhomogeneous plasmas, and (3) coherent three wave interactions.     

Dust Properties in the Local Interstellar Medium

Ulysses measurements yield reliable in-situdetection of large dust particles which stem from the interstellar medium (ISM) and which are not observed in interstellar extinction data. Both current models of large grains in the ISM: core-mantle grains as well as composite grains, are in agreement with dust properties implied by the Ulysses results. However, the size of particles detected by Ulysses still exceeds the size of the large grains that are predicted for the ISM. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Changes in mood status and neurotic levels during a 20-day bed rest

This study evaluated changes of mood status and depressive and neurotic levels in nine young male subjects during a 20-day 6 degrees head-down tilting bed rest and examined whether exercise training modified these changes. Participants were asked to complete psychometrical inventories on before, during, and after the bed rest experiment. Depressive and neurotic levels were enhanced during bed rest period according to the Japanese version of Zung's Self-rating Depression Scale and the Japanese version of the General Health Questionnaire. Mood state "vigor" was impaired and "confusion" was increased during bed rest and recumbent control periods compared to pre-bed rest and ambulatory control periods according to the Japanese version of Profiles of Mood State, whereas the mood "tension-anxiety", "depression-dejection", "anger-hostility" and "fatigue" were relatively stable during experiment. Isometric exercise training did not modify these results. Microgravity, along with confinement to bed and isolation from familiar environments, induced impairment of mental status.     

Augmented Empirical Models of Plasmaspheric Density and Electric Field Using IMAGE and CLUSTER Data

Empirical models for the plasma densities in the inner magnetosphere, including plasmasphere and polar magnetosphere, have been in the past derived from in situ measurements. Such empirical models, however, are still in their initial phase compared to magnetospheric magnetic field models. Recent studies using data from CRRES, Polar, and Image have significantly improved empirical models for inner-magnetospheric plasma and mass densities. Comprehensive electric field models in the magnetosphere have been developed using radar and in situ observations at low altitude orbits. To use these models at high altitudes one needs to rely strongly on the assumption of equipotential magnetic field lines. Direct measurements of the electric field by the Cluster mission have been used to derive an equatorial electric field model in which reliance on the equipotential assumption is less. In this paper we review the recent progress in developing empirical models of plasma densities and electric fields in the inner magnetosphere with emphasis on the achievements from the Image and Cluster missions. Recent results from other satellites are also discussed when they are relevant.     

Pointing control of spacecraft using two SGCMGs via LPV control theory

In this paper, we consider a pointing control of a spacecraft using two single-gimbal control moment gyros (SGCMGs). Our pointing control problem is to make the line-of-sight of a camera or an antenna that is fixed on a body axis aim along a desired direction. To solve this problem, we first state the control objective for the pointing control through the angular momentum conservation principle. Then, we develop a gain-scheduled (GS) controller via linear parameter-varying (LPV) control theory. Finally, the feasibility of the proposed control method is shown by a numerical simulation.     

Estimating the High-Resolution Mean Sea-Surface Velocity Field by Combined Use of Altimeter and Drifter Data for Geoid Model Improvement

The mean sea-surface height obtained from satellite altimeters is different from the geoid by the amount of mean sea-surface dynamic topography associated with ocean currents. Assuming geostrophy at the sea surface, the mean sea-surface dynamic topography can be obtained from the mean sea-surface velocity field. This field is derived by combining anomalies (i.e., deviations from the mean) of sea-surface velocity obtained from altimeter data and in situ surface velocities estimated from trajectories of surface drifting-buoys (hereafter, drifters). Where a drifter measured the surface velocity, the temporal mean velocity can be estimated by subtracting the altimeter-derived velocity anomaly at that time from the drifter-measured surface velocity. The method is applied to the surface flow field of the North Pacific, using TOPEX/POSEIDON and ERS-1/2 altimeter data, and WOCE-TOGA surface drifter data obtained from October 1992 through December 2000. The temporal mean velocity field is estimated with a resolution of quarter degrees in both latitude and longitude. The obtained mean velocity field clearly shows the Kuroshio and Kuroshio Extension, which are narrower and stronger than the climatological mean features derived from historical hydrographic data averaged over several decades. Instantaneous velocities are estimated by summing up these temporal mean velocities and anomalies, every ten days during the eight years. They compare well with in situ velocities measured by the surface drifters. The instantaneous velocity field shows energetic fluctuation of the Kuroshio Extension vividly. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Improvement of the ADEOS-II/GLI sun-glint algorithm using concomitant microwave scatterometer-derived wind data

The tendency of over-estimation of sun-glint reflectance was found in GLI satellite ocean color data, after applying the traditional sun-glint model of Cox and Munk together with objective analysis wind data. ADEOS-II has provided a good opportunity to improve the glint model using data measured by GLI and SeaWinds, both onboard the satellite. With the help of simultaneous wind measurements achieved by SeaWinds, the Cox and Munk model is re-evaluated using GLI measurements to obtain a new relationship between the surface mean square slope and wind. The new model was found to be very close to the Cox and Munk under moderate wind speed but is much different under calm condition, where it shows similarity to the result reported by Ebuchi and Kizu. It also improves the ocean color data availability and the precision of sun-glint reflectance, based on the evaluation result of the generated Level 3 data products.     

XMM-Newton observations across the Cygnus Loop from northeastern rim to southwestern rim

We have observed the Cygnus Loop from the northeast (NE) to the southwest (SW) with XMM-Newton. We extracted spectra from 3′-spaced annular regions across the Loop and fitted them either with a one-kT_e-component non-equilibrium ionization (NEI) model or with two-kT_e-component NEI model. We found that the two-kT_e-component model yields significantly better fits in almost all the spectra than the one-kT_e-component model. Judging from the abundances, the high-kT_e-component in the two-temperature model must be fossil ejecta while the low-kT_e-component comes from the swept-up interstellar medium (ISM). The distributions of Ne, Mg, Si, and S for fossil ejecta appear to retain the onion-skin structure at the time of a supernova explosion, suggesting that significant overturning of the ejecta has not occurred yet. Comparing the relative abundances of fossil ejecta estimated for the entire Cygnus Loop with those from theoretical calculations for Type-II SN, the mass of the progenitor star is likely to be ∼13 M_⊙. The trends of the radial profiles of kT_e and emission integral for the swept-up ISM are adequately described by the Sedov model, suggesting that the swept-up ISM is concentrated in a shell-like structure. Comparing our data with the Sedov model, we found the ambient medium density to be ∼0.7 cm⁻³. Then, we estimated the total mass of the swept-up ISM and the age of the remnant to be ∼130 M_⊙ and 13,000 years, respectively. Note that if the explosion occurred within a stellar wind cavity, then the density in the cavity, the total swept-up mass in the cavity, and the age of the remnant are estimated to be ∼0.14 cm⁻³, ∼25 M_⊙, and ∼10,000 years, respectively.     

In-flight Performance and Initial Results of Plasma Energy Angle and Composition Experiment (PACE) on SELENE (Kaguya)

MAP-PACE (MAgnetic field and Plasma experiment—Plasma energy Angle and Composition Experiment) on SELENE (Kaguya) has completed its ～1.5-year observation of low-energy charged particles around the Moon. MAP-PACE consists of 4 sensors: ESA (Electron Spectrum Analyzer)-S1, ESA-S2, IMA (Ion Mass Analyzer), and IEA (Ion Energy Analyzer). ESA-S1 and S2 measured the distribution function of low-energy electrons in the energy range 6 eV–9 keV and 9 eV–16 keV, respectively. IMA and IEA measured the distribution function of low-energy ions in the energy ranges 7 eV/q–28 keV/q and 7 eV/q–29 keV/q. All the sensors performed quite well as expected from the laboratory experiment carried out before launch. Since each sensor has a hemispherical field of view, two electron sensors and two ion sensors installed on the spacecraft panels opposite each other could cover the full 3-dimensional phase space of low-energy electrons and ions. One of the ion sensors IMA is an energy mass spectrometer. IMA measured mass-specific ion energy spectra that have never before been obtained at a 100 km altitude polar orbit around the Moon. The newly observed data show characteristic ion populations around the Moon. Besides the solar wind, MAP-PACE-IMA found four clearly distinguishable ion populations on the dayside of the Moon: (1) Solar wind protons backscattered at the lunar surface, (2) Solar wind protons reflected by magnetic anomalies on the lunar surface, (3) Reflected/backscattered protons picked-up by the solar wind, and (4) Ions originating from the lunar surface/lunar exosphere.     

A preliminary study of pulse-laser powered orbital launcher

An air-breathing pulse-laser powered orbital launcher has been proposed as an alternative to conventional chemical launch systems. The aim of the present study is to assess its feasibility through the estimation of its achievable payload mass per unit beam power and launch cost. A transfer trajectory from the ground to a geosynchronous Earth orbit (GEO) is proposed, and the launch trajectory to its geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) is computed using the realistic performance modeled in the pulsejet, ramjet, and rocket flight modes of the launcher. Results show that the launcher can transfer 0.084 kg of payload per 1 MW beam power to a geosynchronous earth orbit. The cost becomes a quarter of existing systems if one can divide a single launch into 24,000 multiple launches.