An Introduction to CMEs and Energetic Particles

Energetic particle observations in the interplanetary medium provide fundamental information about the origin, development and structure of coronal mass ejections. This paper reviews the status of our understanding of the ways in which particles are energised at the Sun in association with CMEs. This understanding will remain incomplete until the relationship between CMEs and flares is determined and we know the topology of the associated magnetic fields. The paper also discusses the characteristics of interplanetary CMEs that may be probed using particle observations.     

MULPEX: A compact multi-layered polymer foil collector for micrometeoroids and orbital debris

Detailed studies of preserved hypervelocity impact residues on spacecraft multi-layer insulation foils have yielded important information about the flux of small particles from different sources in low-Earth orbit (LEO). We have extended our earlier research on impacts occurring in LEO to design and testing of a compact capture device. MUlti-Layer Polymer EXperiment (MULPEX) is simple, cheap to build, lightweight, of no power demand, easy to deploy, and optimised for the efficient collection of impact residue for analysis on return to Earth. The capture medium is a stack of very thin (8 and 40 μm) polyimide foils, supported on poly-tetrafluoroethylene sheet frames, surrounded by a protective aluminium casing. The uppermost foil has a very thin metallic coating for thermal protection and resistance to atomic oxygen and ultra-violet exposure. The casing provides a simple detachable interface for deployment on the spacecraft, facing into the desired direction for particle collection. On return to the laboratory, the stacked foils are separated for examination in a variable pressure scanning electron microscope, without need for surface coating. Analysis of impact residue is performed using energy dispersive X-ray spectrometers. Our laboratory experiments, utilising buck-shot firings of analogues to micrometeoroids (35–38 μm olivine) and space debris (4 μm alumina and 1 mm stainless steel) in a light gas gun, have shown that impact residue is abundant within the foil layers, and preserves a record of the impacting particle, whether of micrometer or millimetre dimensions. Penetrations of the top foil are easily recognised, and act as a proxy for dimensions of the penetrating particle. Impact may cause disruption and melting, but some residue retains sufficient crystallographic structure to show clear Raman lines, diagnostic of the original mineral.     

A search for radio emission from the young 16-ms X-ray pulsar PSR J0537−6910

PSR J0537−6910 is a young, energetic, rotation-powered X-ray pulsar with a spin period of 16 ms located in the Large Magellanic Cloud. We have searched for previously undetected radio pulsations (both giant and standard) from this pulsar in a 12-h observation taken at 1400 MHz with the Parkes 64-m radio telescope. The very large value of the magnetic field at the light cylinder radius suggests that this pulsar might be emitting giant radio pulses like those seen in other pulsars with similar field strengths. No radio emission of either kind was detected from the pulsar, and we have established an upper limit of ∼25 mJy kpc² for the average 1400-MHz radio luminosity of PSR J0537−6910. The 5σ single-pulse detection threshold was ∼750 mJy for a single 80-μs sample. These limits are likely to be the best obtainable until searches with greatly improved sensitivity can be made with next-generation radio instruments.     

Role of the current young generation within the space exploration sector

The space sector gathers together people from a variety of fields who work in the industry on different levels and with different expertise. What is often forgotten is the impact and role of the current young generation. Their engagement is of great importance as undeniably today's young ‘space generation’ will be defining the direction of future space exploration.Today's vision of future human and robotic space exploration has been set out in the Global Exploration Roadmap (GER). This focuses on sustainable, affordable and productive long-term goals. The strategy begins with the International Space Station (ISS) and then expands human presence into the solar system, including a human mission to Mars.This paper presents a general overview of the role of today's youth within the space exploration sector and the challenges to overcome. To complete this perspective, we present results from a survey made among students and young professionals about their levels of awareness of the GER. The respondents presented their opinion about current aspects of the GER and prioritised the GER's objectives. It is hoped that the paper will bring a new perspective into the GER and a contribution to the current GER strategy.     

Non-linear resonant excitation of whistler mode waves in the Earth's ionosphere

We examine the resonant non-linear interaction in the Earth's ionosphere of two powerful high frequency radio beams with frequencies f ₁ and f ₂ (both larger than the plasma frequency at F2_max) and wave numbers k ₁ and k ₂ such that a whistler mode wave can be excited with a frequency f ₃ = f ₁ — f ₂ and a wave number k ₃ = k ₁ – k ₂. The feasibility of an effective ground based installation, sited at low latitudes, is discussed and the field strength of the wave emerging from a 10 km wide ionospheric region illuminated by the beams is evaluated for a range of transmitted frequencies, beam orientations and plasma frequencies in the interaction region. It is suggested that the longitude dependence of the enhancement of VLF noise bands detected by the Ariel 3 satellite may be due to a non-linear interaction of this type between any two or more medium wavelength signals from areas where there is a high concentration of commercial broadcasting stations, such as the NE region of the U.S.A.     

L10结构金属间化合物空位形成能

L1₀结构CoPt和FePt 薄膜因其高磁各向异性而成为新一代超高磁记录密度材料.采用Miedema理论计算了多种L1₀结构金属间化合物的空位形成能.研究结果表明:在这些金属间化合物中可能形成的空位类型,如FeNi和MnNi合金中易形成Ni空位;FePt和FePd合金中易形成Fe空位;CoPt合金中易形成Co空位;NiPt合金中易形成Ni空位;MnPt合金中易形成Pt空位;MnPd和MnHg合金中易形成Mn空位;MnRh合金中易形成Rh空位.这一研究结果为进一步研究开发高性能的磁性薄膜提供了理论依据.     

S波自旋单态底夸克偶素衰变到粲夸克对

对S波自旋单态底夸克偶素衰变到粲夸克对进行了研究,同时还研究了S波自旋单态和自旋三重态底夸克偶素衰变到D介子对。利用BaBar实验组测量得到的自旋三重态底夸克偶素衰变到D介子分支比的数据,发现自旋三重态底夸克偶素的色八重态矩阵元远小于理论预言,理论预言要比实验上限大20倍以上;得到S波自旋单态底夸克偶素衰变到粲夸克对的分支比的理论预言,可以进行实验测量从而研究色八重态矩阵元;得到S波自旋单态底夸克偶素衰变到D介子对的分支比的理论预言,与其他理论预言差异较大。这些预言可以通过BelleⅡ的实验进行验证,从而得到更多强子化的信息。