Global characteristics of ionospheric electric fields and disturbances during the first hours of magnetic storms

The ionospheric plasma density can be significantly disturbed during magnetic storms. In the conventional scenario of ionospheric storms, the negative storm phases with plasma density decreases are caused by neutral composition changes, and the positive storm phases with plasma density increases are often related to atmospheric gravity waves. However, recent studies show that the global redistribution of the ionospheric plasma is dominated primarily by electric fields during the first hours of magnetic storms. In this paper, we present the measurements of ionospheric disturbances by the DMSP satellites and GPS network during the magnetic storm on 6 April 2000. The DMSP measurements include the F region ion velocity and density at the altitude of ∼840 km, and the GPS receiver network provides total electron content (TEC) measurements. The storm-time ionospheric disturbances show the following characteristics. The plasma density is deeply depleted in a latitudinal range of ∼20° over the equatorial region in the evening sector, and the depletions represent plasma bubbles. The ionospheric plasma density at middle latitudes (20°–40° magnetic latitudes) is significantly increased. The dayside TEC is increased simultaneously over a large latitudinal range. An enhanced TEC band forms in the afternoon sector, goes through the cusp region, and enters the polar cap. All the observed ionospheric disturbances occur within 1–5 h from the storm sudden commencement. The observations suggest that penetration electric fields play a major role in the rapid generation of equatorial plasma bubbles and the simultaneous increases of the dayside TEC within the first 2 h during the storm main phase. The ionospheric disturbances at later times may be caused by the combination of penetration electric fields and neutral wind dynamo process.     

Dynamics of global electron content in 1998–2005 derived from global GPS data and IRI modeling

We analyzed the dynamics of global electron content (GEC) for the period 1998–2005 and compared the estimated GEC with variations of the 10.7-cm solar radio emission and with and with GEC values obtained with IRI-2001. We found a strong resemblance between the curves’ shapes for the experimental and modeled GEC: strong semiannual variations are discernible in these series and both curves tend to increase the absolute GEC value during the period of maximum of solar activity. However, there are some significant distinctions, such as absence of 27-day fluctuations in the series of GEC computed by the IRI-2001. On the contrary, observational GEC reflects well dynamics of solar activity: 27-day variations of GEC are very similar to the ones of the index F10.7, but GEC undergoes a lagging of about of 30–60 h as compared to value of the F10.7 index. The relative amplitude of 27-day variations decreases from 8% at the rising and falling solar activity to 2% at the period of its maximum.     

Improvement of the real time total electron content based on the International Reference Ionosphere model

One of the methods to adapt the International Reference Ionosphere model to real time conditions is to use instantaneous values of the critical frequency of the ionosphere foF2. It is shown that there can be large discrepancies between model and experimental values of the total electron content TEC after this adaptation. Improvement can be provided by the use of an empirical model of the ionospheric slab thickness τ. This conclusion is based on analysis of contributions of various correction factors connected with foF2 and τ into discrepancies between model and experimental values of TEC.     

NeQuick 2 and IRI Plas VTEC predictions for low latitude and South American sector

Using vertical total electron content (VTEC) measurements obtained from GPS satellite signals the capability of the NeQuick 2 and IRI Plas models to predict VTEC over the low latitude and South American sector is analyzed. In the present work both models were used to calculate VTEC up to the height of GPS satellites. Also, comparisons between the performance of IRI Plas and IRI 2007 have been done. The data correspond to June solstice and September equinox 1999 (high solar activity) and they were obtained at nine stations. The considered latitude range extends from 18.4°N to ?64.7°N and the longitude ranges from 281.3°E to 295.9°E in the South American sector. The greatest discrepancies among model predictions and the measured VTEC are obtained at low latitudes stations placed in the equatorial anomaly region. Underestimations as strong as 40?TECU [1?TECU?=?10¹⁶?m^?2] can be observed at BOGT station for September equinox, when NeQuick2 model is used. The obtained results also show that: (a) for June solstice, in general the performance of IRI Plas for low latitude stations is better than that of NeQuick2 and, vice versa, for highest latitudes the performance of NeQuick2 is better than that of IRI Plas. For the stations TUCU and SANT both models have good performance; (b) for September equinox the performances of the models do not follow a clearly defined pattern as in the other season. However, it can be seen that for the region placed between the Northern peak and the valley of the equatorial anomaly, in general, the performance of IRI Plas is better than that of NeQuick2 for hours of maximum ionization. From TUCU to the South, the best TEC predictions are given by NeQuick2.The source of the observed deviations of the models has been explored in terms of CCIR foF2 determination in the available ionosonde stations in the region. Discrepancies can be also related to an unrealistic shape of the vertical electron density profile and or an erroneous prediction of the plasmaspheric contribution to the vertical total electron content. Moreover, the results of this study could be suggesting that in the case of NeQuick, the underestimation trend could be due to the lack of a proper plasmaspheric model in its topside representation. In contrast, the plasmaspheric model included in IRI, leads to clear overestimations of GPS derived TEC.     

Effects of Nb Content on Yield Strength of NiTiNb Alloys in Martensite State

Two near single-phase NiTiNb alloys—Ni₅₀Ti₄₈Nb₂ and Ni_49.5Ti_46.5Nb₄—are prepared and studied by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and tensile tests in order to unearth the effects of Nb-atom solid solution in NiTi phase on the yield strength induced by self-accommodation of martensite variants. The results show that the yield strength of near single-phase NiTiNb alloys varies inversely with the amount of Nb-atoms solid-dissolved in NiTi phase. From the results out of the prior and current studies, it can be surmised that the effects of Nb content on the yield strength of NiTiNb alloys in martensite state depend on the coaction. Nb solid solution weakening mechanism and β-Nb phase composite strengthening mechanism. This inference might be a satisfactory explanation to the fact that the yield strength of (NiTi)_50–0.5xNb_x alloys in martensite state begins with decline and then rises when the Nb content increases.     

Variation of ionospheric total electron content in Taiwan region of the equatorial anomaly from 1994 to 2003

The ionospheric total electron content (TEC) in the northern hemispheric equatorial ionospheric anomaly (EIA) region is studied by analyzing dual-frequency signals of the Global Position System (GPS) acquired from a chain of nine observational sites clustered around Taiwan (21.9–26.2°N, 118.4–112.6°E). In this study, we present results from a statistical study of seasonal and geomagnetic effects on the EIA during solar cycle 23: 1994–2003. It is found that TEC at equatorial anomaly crests yield their maximum values during the vernal and autumnal months and their minimum values during the summer (except 1998). Using monthly averaged I_c (magnitude of TEC at the northern anomaly crest), semi-annual variations is seen clearly with two maxima occurring in both spring and autumn. In addition, I_c is found to be greater in winter than in summer. Statistically monthly values of I_c were poorly correlated with the monthly Dst index (r = −0.22) but were well correlated with the solar emission F_10.7 index (r = 0.87) for the entire database for the period during 1994–2003. In contrast, monthly values of I_c were correlated better with Dst (r ? 0.72) than with F_10.7 (r ? 0.56) in every year during the low solar activity period (1994–1997). It suggests that the effect of solar activity on I_c is a longer term (years), whereas the effect of geomagnetic activity on I_c is a shorter term (months).     

Generation of secondary waves due to intensive large-scale AGW traveling

By using data from GPS receivers we detected huge-amplitude solitary large-scale traveling acoustic-gravity waves (LS AGW) which manifested themselves as perturbations of total electron content (TEC) of duration of about 40 min. Originated in the auroral area after significant alterations of geomagnetic field intensity during geomagnetic storms on 29–30 October 2003, LS disturbances propagated with a velocity about 1000–1200 m/s and caused generation of secondary small-scale (SS) waves with time period of 2–10 min. Such SS structure followed the solitary intensive AGW at a distance more than 4000 km. However, we observed such phenomenon only within the territory with high values of “vertical” TEC and steep gradients of TEC. Apparently, these conditions are necessary for generation of SS waves due to propagation of LS AGW.     

Effects of Mo on the Microstructure and Hydrogen Sorption Properties of Ti-Mo Getters

The effects of Mo on the microstructure evolution, porosity and hydrogen sorption properties of Ti-Mo getters are investigated in this work. The results show that the addition of Mo prolongs the densification process of Ti-Mo getters and results in a significant amount of sintered pores. With the Mo content increasing, the porosity of getters firstly increases reaching the maximum value as it at- tains about 7.5wt.%, and then drops. At the room temperature, the hydrogen sorption property of getters increases progressively with the Mo content increasing, but the tendency is not very clear before its content lies below 2.5wt.%. When the Mo content achieves about 7.5wt.%, the hydrogen sorption property proves to be the best. The discussion is made about the above mentioned phenomena inclusive of hydrogen sorption properties of getters under different activation conditions (from 500-750 ℃).     

置氢钛合金粉末模压成形-烧结改性机理

采用置氢TC4钛合金粉末模压成形+保护气氛下烧结工艺,研究了置氢TC4合金粉末模压成形-烧结后合金的组织性能的变化规律,提出了采用置氢钛合金粉末成形与钛合金热氢处理技术相结合的新工艺路线制备合金.结果表明:随着置氢量的增加和烧结温度的升高,置氢TC4合金粉末模压成形烧结体致密度均呈逐渐增高趋势;烧结体组织由明显的魏氏体...     

Cf / E 预浸料先进拉挤固化工艺

为探索与预浸料先进拉挤成型技术相适应的工艺方案,采用DSC研究了碳纤维/环氧预浸料USN12500的固化放热过程,对USN 12500的典型固化工艺进行改进,以此为基础设计了不同压力和加压时机下的试验方案,采用实验室现有设备模拟先进拉挤过程制备了试样,以制品的孔隙率作为考察指标优选了的拉挤成型固化的工艺参数.结果表明:制品在110℃下处理20 min,热压阶段130℃下处理15 min同时保持0.4MPa的工艺压力,后固化150℃下处理1.5h为工艺试验的优化方案,并且能够制得孔隙率＜1.1％的制品.