Sunspot cycle 23 descent to an unusual minimum and forecasts for cycle 24 activity

The decay phase of the sunspot cycle 23 exhibited two unusual features. First, it lasted too long. Second, the interplanetary magnetic field intensity at earth orbit reached the lowest value since in situ measurements in space began in October 1963. These physical anomalies significantly altered the early forecasts for the sunspot activity parameters for cycle 24, made by several colleagues. We note that there was a significant change in the solar behavior during cycle 22. We discuss the observed trends and their effect on our empirical solar activity forecast technique, leading to our prediction for cycle 24 parameters; cycle 24 will be only half as active as cycle 23, reaching its peak in May 2013. We speculate on the possible implications of this outcome on future earth climate change and the ensuing socio-economic consequences.     

Balloon altitude studies of southern hemisphere hard X-ray sources by the Imperial College-University of Tasmania-INPE collaboration

Hard X-ray balloon altitude measurements with a 1600 cm² phoswich array are described. Data from observations on Sco X-1, GX1+4, GX5−1, Nova Oph. 1977, SMC X-1, SS433, IC 4329A and MR 2251-178 are presented. The role of Comptonisation in X-ray production for Sco X-1 and GX1+4 is discussed.     

An empirical approach to predicting the key parameters for a sunspot number cycle

The common methodologies used to predict the smooth sunspot number (SSN) at peak (Rmax) and the rise time (Tr) for a cycle are noted. The estimates based on geomagnetic precursors give the best prediction of Rmax for five SSN cycles (20–24). In particular, an empirical technique invoking three-cycle quasi-periodicity (TCQP) in Ap index has made accurate predictions of Rmax and Tr for two consecutive SSN cycles (23 and 24). The dynamo theories are unable to account for TCQP. If it endures in the 21st century the Sun shall enter a Dalton-like grand minimum. It was a period of global cooling. The current status of the ascending phase of cycle 24 is described and the delayed reversal of the solar polar field reversal in the southern hemisphere in September 2013 is noted.     

Orbital phase spectroscopy of four high mass X-ray binary pulsars to study the stellar wind of the companion

Our work focuses on a comprehensive orbital phase-dependent spectroscopy of the four High Mass X-ray Binary Pulsars (HMXBPs) 4U 1538-52, GX 301-2, OAO 1657-415 and Vela X-1. We hereby report the measurements of the variation of the absorption column density and iron-line flux along with other spectral parameters over the binary orbit for the above-mentioned HMXBPs in elliptical orbits, as observed with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) and the BeppoSAX satellites. A spherically symmetric wind profile was used as a model to compare the observed column density variations. Out of the four pulsars, only in 4U 1538-52, we find the model having a reasonable corroboration with the observations, whereas in the remaining three the stellar wind seems to be clumpy and a smooth symmetric stellar wind model appears to be quite inadequate in explaining the data. Moreover, in GX 301-2, neither the presence of a disk nor a gas stream from the companion was validated. Furthermore, the spectral results obtained in the case of OAO 1657-415 and Vela X-1 were more or less similar to that of GX 301-2.     

The onset of sunspot cycle 24 and galactic cosmic ray modulation

The annual mean sunspot number (SSN) has a minimum value in 2008, while the monthly mean SSN has a value of zero in August 2009. The galactic cosmic ray modulation for cycle 24 began at earth orbit in January 2010. We study the onset characteristics of the new modulation cycle using data from the global network of neutron monitors. They respond to time variations in different segments of the galactic cosmic ray rigidity spectrum. The corresponding temporal variations in the interplanetary magnetic field intensity (B) and solar wind velocity (V) as well as the tilt angle of the heliospheric current sheet are also studied. There is a lag of 3 months between a large, sharp increase of the tilt angle of the heliospheric current sheet and the onset of modulation. Some neutron monitors are undergoing long-term drifts of unknown origin.     

Multi-objective output-feedback control for microsatellite attitude control: An LMI approach

Mixed H₂/H_∞ output-feedback controller with pole placement constraints against the internal uncertainty of moment-of-inertia variation and space environmental disturbances is proposed for mircosatellite attitude control. The multi-objective controller is designed based on linear model of attitude dynamics. The H_∞ performance takes into account both robustness stability against moments-of-inertia uncertainty and the disturbance rejection aspect. H₂ performance takes into account the LQG aspect which avoids the undesirable wheels’ saturation effect. In addition, the closed-loop poles can be forced into some sector of the stable half-plane to obtain well-damped transient responses. The problem is then reduced to a convex optimization involving linear matrix inequalities (LMIs), so it can be efficiently solved. The simulation results demonstrate that the presented mixed H₂/H_∞ control system is robust stable and optimal in the sense of H₂ norm, and has good steady-state and dynamic performances against the parameter uncertainties and various disturbances for the microsatellite attitude control system.     

Orbital phase spectroscopy of X-ray pulsars to study the stellar wind of the companion

High Mass X-ray Binary Pulsars (HMXBP), in which the companion star is a source of supersonic stellar wind, provide a laboratory to probe the velocity and density profile of such winds. Here, we have measured the variation of the absorption column density along with other spectral parameters over the binary orbit for two HMXBP in elliptical orbits, as observed with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) and the BeppoSAX satellites. A spherically symmetric wind profile was used as a model to compare the observed column density variations. In 4U 1538-52, we find the model corroborating the observations; whereas in GX 301-2, the stellar wind appears to be very clumpy and a smooth symmetric wind model seems to be inadequate in explaining the variation in column density.     

24角形剖面的风洞试验研究及工程应用

为克服圆剖面在雷诺数临界区流动不稳定的缺点，对多种具有高边数多角形剖面的柱体进行了比较试验，优选出２４角形剖面。完成了２４棱柱体和圆柱体在亚、跨、超临界雷诺数下的测力、测压对比试验，揭示了２４角形剖面在全雷诺数范围的低速气动力特性。２４棱柱体的临界雷诺数只有圆柱体的三分之一左右。在临界区气动力变化没有圆柱体那么强烈，侧力小一半左右。在１．２×１０５＜Ｒｅ＜３．６×１０５区域，２４棱柱体的阻力比圆柱体低４０％。综合考虑减阻、减小侧力及流态稳定诸因素，２４棱柱体的有利工作雷诺数范围在２×１０５～４×１０５。该雷诺数范围正是３ｍ量级风洞常用风速支杆的工作雷诺数，２４棱支杆在３ｍ以上量级低速风洞中有推广价值。     

阿依—24发动机飞起功率的校验及限温工作点的调定

本文在实践的基础上,总结了一个经验公式来判断阿依-24发动机起飞功率,并进行了理论分析。同时,针对目前普遍存在以提高发动机限温值达到提高发动机输出功率的作法,提出了合理调定限温放大器工作点的建议,因而对该型发动机的使用与维护具有一定的实用价值。