The evolution of mirror type magnetic fluctuations in the magnetosheath based on multipoint observations

Two orbits were selected in January–February 2006 when the separation between the Cluster spacecraft was large and mirror type magnetic field fluctuations were observed by all spacecraft in different regions of the terrestrial magnetosheath. Minimum variance analysis was applied to find the mirror type fluctuations, and the amplitude of the fluctuations was determined individually. Mirror mode structures are moving along the streamlines frozen in the plasma. A model was developed for the calculation of plasma flowtime from the bow shock to the observation point. The growth rate of the field strength perturbations was estimated by comparing the amplitudes of fluctuations observed simultaneously at distant locations (∼10,000 km) based on the assumption that δB ∼ exp(γt). The obtained growth rate values were about an order of magnitude smaller than those provided by linear models and they decreased in the inner regions of the magnetosheath, indicating some saturation in the growth of the waves when proceeding towards the magnetopause. The results of these two case studies suggest that mirror type fluctuations originate from the compression region downstream of the quasi-perpendicular bow shock, and the growth of the fluctuations cannot be described by linear approximations.     

Alfvénic Electron Acceleration in Aurora Occurs in Global Alfvén Resonosphere Region

Auroral emission caused by electron precipitation (Hardy et al., 1987, J. Geophys. Res. 92, 12275–12294) is powered by magnetospheric driving processes. It is not yet fully understood how the energy transfer mechanisms are responsible for the electron precipitation. It has been proposed (Hasegawa, 1976, J. Geophys. Res. 81, 5083–5090) that Alfvén waves coming from the magnetosphere play some role in powering the aurora (Wygant et al., 2000, J. Geophys. Res. 105, 18675–18692, Keiling et al., 2003, Science 299, 383–386). Alfvén-wave-induced electron acceleration is shown to be confined in a rather narrow radial distance range of 4–5 R _E (Earth radii) and its importance, relative to other electron acceleration mechanisms, depends strongly on the magnetic disturbance level so that it represents 10% of all electron precipitation power during quiet conditions and increased to 40% during disturbed conditions. Our observations suggest that an electron Landau resonance mechanism operating in the “Alfvén resonosphere” is responsible for the energy transfer.     

航天员微重力作业训练系统重力补偿控制策略

针对航天员微重力作业训练系统的重力场补偿控制这一关键技术,进行了理论和实验研究。分析了模拟微重力环境的机理,确定了微重力作业训练系统的总体结构方案,提出了一种基于电流反馈的重力补偿控制及多干扰力补偿控制策略。通过虚拟重力补偿控制实验,验证了在地面环境、动态作业过程中,模拟物体在不同空间重力加速度环境下的运动规律,实现了在重力方向模拟空间环境下物体移动的作业训练效果。研究成果为在地面实现三维作业训练系统的控制奠定了基础。     

几种常用格式和湍流模型在高速流动中的适用性研究

针对高超声速飞行器中存在的强激波、激波/边界层干扰、分离、湍流等复杂流动现象,对比分析了当前计算流体力学中的主要空间离散格式及湍流模型,发现不同格式对强激波的分辨率基本相同,Roe和LDE(low diffusion E-CUSP(convective upwind split pressure))格式对摩擦因数和传热系数的模拟优于其他格式;S-A(Spalart-Allmaras)一方程湍流模型计算的摩擦因数比k-ωSST(shear stress transport)两方程湍流模型高10%左右,而后者预测的分离区约为前者的2倍,且分离点靠前.     

温度对液体中超声速度的影响

本文导出了超声波速度同液体压缩系数及密度关系，研究了压缩系数及密度与温度的关系，进而研究了温度对声速及声时的影响，用实验测量了不同的液体成份下的声时同温度的关系，从而提出了进行液体成份分析所必需的参量，对用超声波分析液体成份提供了理论依据，对提高产品质量及实现工业在线检测有一定的实用价值。     

Propagation of non-linear ion-sound pulses in dusty plasma waveguides

There are a lot of objects in space associated with dusty plasma inclusions. Such inclusions may bear a prolonged shape and behave as waveguides for ion-sound waves. In the case of space plasmas, the dust particles can possess both negative charge, due to electron attachment, and positive one, due to photoionization. In this paper the propagation of linear and non-linear ion-sound wave pulses in the dusty plasma waveguides, possessing positive charge, is studied. It has been demonstrated that non-linear dynamics of baseband pulse propagation in plasma waveguide possesses essentially non-solitonic behavior. Namely, propagation of a long ion-sound pulse leads to an excitation of a shock-like wave but not a stable localized nonlinear pulse. Also, when a Korteveg–de Vries (KdV) soliton is incident onto the dusty plasma waveguide, some part of the soliton energy is captured by the waveguide and transformed into a multi-pulse structure. Additionally, an interaction of dusty plasma inclusions with KdV soliton can lead to the occurrence of transverse instabilities of the soliton and its eventual destruction.     

Height and time variability of planetary wave activity

The height–season and year-to-year regularities of parameters of first and second spatial harmonics determine the structure of the stratosphere and mesosphere circulation and its variability. In the period 1992–2002 at heights 0–55 km, the amplitudes and phases of the first and second spatial harmonics in the field of temperature, geopotential height, zonal and meridional wind were calculated by the method of harmonic decomposition. Dispersion (standard or mean square deviation) of their day-to-day and year-to-year variations was calculated by their wavelength constants. Height and season patterns of variability have been estimated. The difference in height–longitude variability for wave numbers m = 1 and 2 has been discovered. At the same time, the intensity of wave disturbances for m = 1 is less than for m = 2 excluding the polar areas, where a significant variability appears at the heights 0–55 km. There is also a tendency for the intensity of year-to-year variations to decrease in comparison with day-to-day variations. In cold and warm periods the amplitude of perturbation waves with m = 2 both for day-to-day and year-to-year variations is greater than for waves with m = 1. Transient height areas in the interval of 20–30 km are more distinct for day-to-day variations of polar area.     

Kinetic Excitation Mechanisms for ION-Cyclotron Kinetic Alfvén Waves in Sun-Earth ConnectionI

We study kinetic excitation mechanisms for high-frequency dispersive Alfvén waves in the solar corona, solar wind, and Earth's magnetosphere. The ion-cyclotron and Cherenkov kinetic effects are important for these waves which we call the ion-cyclotron kinetic Alfvén waves (ICKAWs). Ion beams, anisotropic particles distributions and currents provide free energy for the excitation of ICKAWs in space plasmas. As particular examples we consider ICKAW instabilities in the coronal magnetic reconnection events, in the fast solar wind, and in the Earth's magnetopause. Energy conversion and transport initiated by ICKAW instabilities is significant for the whole dynamics of Sun-Earth connection chain, and observations of ICKAW activity could provide a diagnostic/predictive tool in the space environment research. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Self-similar solutions to stellar winds with cosmic rays

A two-fluid model is used to study the time evolution of stellar winds including the dynamical effect of cosmic rays. Neglecting the diffusion of cosmic rays, we seek self-similar solutions to spherically symmetric winds with a termination shock. The velocity upstream of the shock is taken to be zero. Physical solutions are those that can connect the shock to the star with the velocity approaching zero at the star. Two parameters govern the behaviour of the solutions, namely, the ratio of the upstream sound speed to the shock speed (in an inertial frame) and the gravitation potential of the central star. In some parameter regimes, no physical solution is possible.     

(高)超声速流动试验技术及研究进展

近年来,与高速飞行器相关的(高)超声速流动受到了极大的关注。这类流动所具有的非定常性、强梯度和可压缩性对试验方法和风洞设计技术提出了挑战。超声速纳米示踪平面激光散射(NPLS)技术是由作者所在团队研发的非接触光学测试技术。它能够以较高的空间分辨率来揭示超声速三维流场的一个瞬态剖面的时间解析的流动结构。介绍了NPLS技术以及基于NPLS开发的密度场测量、雷诺应力测量和气动光学波前测量等方法,并回顾了这些技术在超声速边界层、超声速混合层、超声速压缩拐角、激波/边界层相互作用和光学头罩绕流等流动中的应用,清晰地再现了边界层、混合层、激波等典型流场结构及其时空演化特性。另外,为了模拟和研究高空大气条件下边界层自然转捩和超声速混合层的转捩特性,介绍了高超声速静风洞、超-超混合层风洞的设计技术以及层流化喷管的设计方法。