Electric potential structures of auroral acceleration region border from multi-spacecraft Cluster data

This paper studies an auroral event using data from three spacecraft of the Cluster mission, one inside and two at the poleward edge of the bottom of the Auroral Acceleration Region (AAR). The study reveals the three-dimensional profile of the region’s poleward boundary, showing spatial segmentation of the electric potential structures and their decay in time. It also depicts localized magnetic field variations and field-aligned currents that appear to have remained stable for at least 80?s. Such observations became possible due to the fortuitous motion of the three spacecraft nearly parallel to each other and tangential to the AAR edge, so that the differences and variations can be seen when the spacecraft enter and exit the segmentations, hence revealing their position with respect to the AAR.     

微空心阴极放电机理及其在电热式推力器中的应用

近年来,微空心阴极放电（MHCD）技术的发展为研制适用于小卫星的先进新型微推力 器提供了可能。MHCD是微放电领域中一种新颖的非平衡高气压辉光放电,其优点是可以在高 气压下稳定放电,并且只需要非常低的电压（几百伏特）或者输入功率（百毫瓦数量级）。 本文针对MHCD,实验研究了微放电的电流-电压特性,并利用光学发射光谱的方法测量了微 等离子体中电子数密度和中性气体温度。结果表明,在稳定的辉光放电下,MHCD孔内的电子 数密度和中性气体温度随着压强和放电电流的增加而增大,电子数密度可达
10 14 cm -3 ,中性气体温度可达1000K。由此可以推断,微空心阴极放电较小 的尺寸结构与强烈并可控的气体加热相结合,完全可以开发应用在新型的电热式等离子体推 进上,研制成微空心阴极放电等离子体推力器。由于在微放电等离子体中加热了工质气体, 因此其性能可大大高于冷气推进。     

System Design for the Event Horizon Imaging Experiment Using the PECMEO Concept

The concept for space interferometry from Polar or Equatorial Circular Medium Earth Orbits (the PECMEO concept) is a promising way to acquire the image of the “shadow” of the event horizon of Sagittarius A* with an angular resolution of circa 5 microarcseconds. The concept is intended to decrease the size of the main reflector of the instrument to about 3 m using a precise orbit reconstruction based on Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) navigation, inter-satellite range and range-rate measurements, and data from the Attitude and Orbit Determination System (AODS). The paper provides the current progress on the definition of the subsystems required for the concept on the basis of simulations, radio regulations, and available technology. The paper proposes the requirement for the localization of the phase centre of the main reflector. The paper provides information about the visibility of GNSS satellites and the needed accuracies of the AODS. The paper proposes the frequency plan for the instrument and its Inter-Satellite Links (ISLs). The concepts for measurement of range and range rate using ISLs (as well as for the data exchange at these ISLs) are presented. The block diagram of the interferometer is described and its sensitivity is estimated. The link budget for both ISLs is given as well as their critical components. The calculated measurement quality factors are given. The paper shows the expected performance of the sub-systems of the interferometer. The requirements for the localization of the main reflectors and the information about the availability of the GNSS satellites are based on the simulations results. The frequency plan is obtained according to the PECMEO concept and taking into account the radio regulations. The existing technology defines the accuracies of the AODS as well as the link budgets and the measurement accuracies for both ISLs and the sensitivity of the instrument. The paper provides input information for the development of the orbit reconstruction filter and the whole PECMEO system.      

一种新颖的微空心阴极放电等离子体推力器

微小卫星的发展和成功应用迫切需要新型微推力器的研制。微放电技术是等离子体放电中重要的一类,近几十年来成为各国的研究热点。其中,微空心阴极放电(MHCD)是一种新颖的非平衡高气压辉光放电,其优点是可以在高气压下稳定放电,并且只需要非常低的电压(几百伏特)或者输入功率(百毫瓦数量级)。MHCD建立在2个几百微米厚度的金属平面电极上,材料可以是钼、铝等,由电介质(云母或氧化铝)隔开。"三明治"的布局结构上从一个电极到另一个电极钻有直径为几十微米到几百微米的孔,气体压强可以很高,甚至超过大气压。微空心阴极放电较小的尺寸结构与强烈并可控的气体加热相结合,可以开发应用在新型的电热式微等离子体推进上。由于微空心阴极放电等离子体推力器在微放电等离子体中加热了工质气体,随后通过微喷管喷出产生推力,因此与传统的冷气微推力器相比,可大大提高推力器的比冲和推力。