A mechanism for generating magnetic field by vortex processes in stellar plasma

The difference in viscous properties of proton and electron gases in fully ionized hydrogen plasma is shown to result in a possibility of generation in this plasma of the magnetic field, even if initially there was no field. As an example, a simplified planar stationary model of a magnetohydrodynamic process of the eddy sink type is considered. It is demonstrated that the intensity of the generated magnetic field strongly depends on plasma temperature, so that the range T = 100000–500000 K corresponds to the range of maximum magnetic induction B = 50–2700 G. Such values are frequently observed in ordinary stars, in particular, in solar flares.     

Studies of the stratosphere aerosol layer based on polarization measurements of the twilight sky

The paper is devoted to an analysis of observational manifestations of the aerosol layer in the Earth’s stratosphere and to a method of determining their optical properties. It is based on polarization measurements of the twilight sky background in the zenith vicinity and in a broad spectral band with an effective wavelength of 5250 Å. An increased abundance of the stratosphere aerosol was found in December 2006 for the first time in several years of observation. The suggested method allows one to determine the ratio of radiation scattering coefficients by the stratosphere aerosol and by air molecules, as well as the degree of polarization of aerosol scattering in the stratosphere. The appearance of the stratosphere aerosol is associated with explosive eruption of Rabaul volcano having occurred in the beginning of October 2006.     

Radial propagation velocity of energetic particle injections according to measurements onboard the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cluster</Emphasis> satellites

Injections of energetic electrons with a dispersion over energies were observed during the February 23, 2004 (at about 03:20 UT) substorm onboard the Cluster satellites in the vicinity of perigee near the midnight meridian. The delays in the particle observation caused by the energy dependence of the magnetic drift velocities made it possible to determine the position and time of the beginning of the drift, tracing the trajectories of the leading center of particles back in time in the magnetospheric model. The comparisons of the measurements of four satellites allowed us to determine the radial propagation of the injection front with a velocity of 100–150 km/s at a distance of 7–9 R _E. The comparison with a few previous measurements shows a substantial slowing down of injections as they approached the Earth, and this confirms the prospects of this method for more detailed study of propagation of plasma injection into the inner magnetosphere.     

Trajectories for missions of low-thrust spacecraft aimed at delivery of soil samples from main belt asteroids and Phobos

Trajectories of spacecraft with electro-jet low-thrust engines are studied for missions planning to deliver samples of matter from small bodies of the Solar System: asteroids Vesta and Fortuna, and Martian moon Phobos. Flight trajectories are analyzed for the mission to Phobos, the limits of optimization of payload spacecraft mass delivered to it are determined, and an estimate is given to losses in the payload mass when a low-thrust engine with constant outflow velocity is used. The model of an engine with ideally regulated low thrust is demonstrated to be convenient for calculations and analysis of flight trajectories of a low-thrust spacecraft.     

Sporadic structures and small-scale irregularity in the nighttime polar ionosphere in the period of high solar activity according to the data of radio occultation measurements on satellite-to-satellite paths

Results of the analysis of 327 sessions of radio occultation on satellite-to-satellite paths are presented. The data are taken in the nighttime polar ionosphere in the regions with latitudes of 67°–88°, and in the period of high solar activity from October 26, 2003 to November 9, 2003. Typical ionospheric changes in the amplitude and phase of decimeter radio waves on paths GPS satellites-CHAMP satellite are presented. It is demonstrated that these data make it possible to determine characteristics of the sporadic E _s structures in the lower ionosphere at heights of 75–120 km. Histograms of distribution of the lower and upper boundaries, thickness, and intensity of the E _s structures are presented. Dispersion and spectra of amplitude fluctuations of decimeter radio waves caused by small-scale irregularity of the ionospheric plasma are analyzed. The relation of the polar E _s structures and intensity of small-scale plasma irregularity to various manifestations of solar activity is discussed. The efficiency of monitoring the ionospheric disturbances caused by shock waves of the solar wind by the radio occultation method on satellite-to-satellite paths is demonstrated.     

Study of singular surfaces of systems of unsupported gyrodynes by the parameter continuation method

A system of two-degree-of-freedom force gyroscopes (gyrodynes) is considered to be used for spacecraft attitude control. Possible values of its total angular momentum form some finite region P in the frame of reference rigidly connected with the spacecraft. Near the boundary of this region and singular surfaces located inside it the control of the angular momentum is complicated or impossible. The program angular momentum of the gyrodynes, realizing the law of variation of the spacecraft orientation, should lie inside P and outside some singular surfaces, and due to this fact the boundary and internal singular surfaces should be studied. This work is dedicated to the numerical construction of region P and its internal singular surfaces by the method of parameter continuation. Using the results by E.N. Tokar’ we formalize sufficient conditions which in some cases allow one to determine the type of the singular surface. As an example, a system of six gyrodynes is considered, for which the regions of variations of the intrinsic angular momentum and singular surfaces are constructed. The possibilities of the system are demonstrated for the case when one gyrodyne fails.     

On the possibility of existence of an additional source of anomalous cosmic rays outside the solar system

On the basis of experimental data obtained at exposure of solid-state track detectors in the magnetosphere of the Earth during solar flares and in quiet Sun periods, an estimate of possible contribution of singly charged oxygen ions to the flare particle fluxes is made. A possibility is considered of the appearance in the vicinity of the solar system of singly ionized oxygen ions generated on stars.     

Malfunction of satellite navigation systems GPS and GLONASS caused by powerful radio emission of the Sun during solar flares on December 6 and 13, 2006, and October 28, 2003

Poor quality of functioning of GPS during solar flares on December 6 and 13, 2006 is analyzed in this paper. These flares were accompanied by extremely high (unexampled) level of the solar radio emission flux. A comparison is made of these events with the solar flare on October 28, 2003. Statistically reliable experimental evidence is obtained that GPS positioning was partially paralyzed on the sunlit side of the Earth during the strongest bursts of solar radio emission. The obtained results give a serious ground to revise the role played by space weather factors in operation of modern satellite systems and to take these factors into account more carefully, when such systems are designed and exploited.     

旋翼螺旋桨/机翼巡航状态气动干扰规律研究

为优化倾转旋翼机气动布局,研究旋翼螺旋桨与机翼间复杂的气动干扰,在考虑有限翼展三维效应、翼尖小翼情况下,通过改变机翼外翼段的长度,研究了旋翼螺旋桨与机翼间的气动干扰规律。使用计算流体力学的三维非定常计算方法获得了巡航状态下旋翼螺旋桨与机翼的流场特征及气动特性参数,研究了螺旋桨滑流对机翼的上洗、下洗作用,以及机翼对螺旋桨滑流的阻塞作用。计算结果表明,随着机翼外翼段的增长,阻塞作用加大,螺旋桨的拉力系数、功率系数均有增大,并且存在周期性波动,波动幅值在5%~6%;机翼受螺旋桨滑流上、下洗作用,其升力系数和阻力系数都减小,但升力系数减小更为明显,升力系数和阻力系数都出现了1%左右的波动。计算同时也反映了有限翼展的三维流动特点。     

摄动因素对火星环绕段轨道长期影响研究

针对未来火星探测需要,研究了摄动因素对火星环绕段轨道的长期影响。对各种摄动因子的数量级进行了估计,根据估计结果,对比选取了起主导作用的摄动因子;建立了主要摄动因子的数学模型;通过数值仿真验证,对比分析了火星和地球的相应摄动因素对各自环绕段轨道半长轴和偏心率的影响。仿真结果表明:非球形摄动对火星环绕段轨道的影响具有明显的长周期特征,而相应的地球环绕段短周期效应较明显,这主要是由于质量分布不同造成火星非球形引力位中田谐项的系数基本都比地球的相应值大一个量级,因此在实际轨道设计中应该重点考虑高阶项特别是高阶田谐项对环绕段轨道造成的影响。