Estimation of the current density and analysis of the geometry of the current system surrounding the Earth

The results of an investigation of the distribution of plasma pressure, pressure gradients, and magnetic field near the equatorial plane in the plasma ring surrounding the Earth under magneto-quiet conditions are presented. Observational data obtained during the international THEMIS mission are used. The picture of the distribution of transverse-current density near the equatorial plane was obtained under assumption of observing the magnetostatic balance condition at geocentric distances from 6 to 12R _E. In estimating the integral transverse current it was accepted that in daytime sector the magnetic-field minima on magnetic field lines are not localized in the equatorial plane. Estimates of the integral transverse current were obtained, which demonstrate the possibility of closing nighttime transverse currents at geocentric distances of up to ～12R _E inside the magnetosphere, which form a high-latitudinal continuation of the ring current.     

Analysis and experiment of eddy current loss in Homopolar magnetic bearings with laminated rotor cores

This paper analyses the eddy current loss in Homopolar magnetic bearings with laminated rotor cores produced by the high speed rotation in order to reduce the power loss for the aerospace applications. The analytical model of rotational power loss is proposed in Homopolar magnetic bearings with laminated rotor cores considering the magnetic circuit difference between Homopolar and Heteropolar magnetic bearings. Therefore, the eddy current power loss can be calculated accurately using the analytical model by magnetic field solutions according to the distribution of magnetic fields around the pole surface and boundary conditions at the surface of the rotor cores. The measurement method of rotational power loss in Homopolar magnetic bearing is proposed, and the results of the theoretical analysis are verified by experiments in the prototype MSCMG. The experimental results show the correctness of calculation results.     

Tearing mode in thin current sheets of the Earth’s magnetosphere: A scenario of transition to unstable state

The results of numerical modeling of thinning process in the Earth’s magnetotail current sheet are compared with the model of an anisotropic current sheet in collisionless space plasma. Stability of the current sheet during its evolution is investigated. In the evolution one can distinguish three basic stages: 1) transformation of the initial two-dimensional “isotropic” equilibrium that is well described within the MHD-approximation into a relatively thin current structure; 2) further kinetic evolution, as a result of which the virtually one-dimensional, extremely thin current sheet is formed; 3) relaxation of the system into a new equilibrium that can be stable or unstable. A substorm scenario of transformation of the magnetospheric tail and its transition into the unstable state is suggested. The spontaneously appearing tearing disturbance favors a current sheet disruption. It is shown that the estimate of a tearing mode wavelength, obtained from the model, is in accordance with experimental observations during the explosive phase of substorms.     

Calculation of the Initial Magnetic Field for Mercury’s Magnetosphere Hybrid Model

Several types of numerical models are used to analyze the interactions of the solar wind flow with Mercury’s magnetosphere, including kinetic models that determine magnetic and electric fields based on the spatial distribution of charges and currents, magnetohydrodynamic models that describe plasma as a conductive liquid, and hybrid models that describe ions kinetically in collisionless mode and represent electrons as a massless neutralizing liquid. The structure of resulting solutions is determined not only by the chosen set of equations that govern the behavior of plasma, but also by the initial and boundary conditions; i.e., their effects are not limited to the amount of computational work required to achieve a quasi-stationary solution. In this work, we have proposed using the magnetic field computed by the paraboloid model of Mercury’s magnetosphere as the initial condition for subsequent hybrid modeling. The results of the model have been compared to measurements performed by the Messenger spacecraft during a single crossing of the magnetosheath and the magnetosphere. The selected orbit lies in the terminator plane, which allows us to observe two crossings of the bow shock and the magnetopause. In our calculations, we have defined the initial parameters of the global magnetospheric current systems in a way that allows us to minimize paraboloid magnetic field deviation along the trajectory of the Messenger from the experimental data. We have shown that the optimal initial field parameters include setting the penetration of a partial interplanetary magnetic field into the magnetosphere with a penetration coefficient of 0.2.     

Radial profile of pressure in a storm ring current as a function of D st

Using satellite data obtained near the equatorial plane during 12 magnetic storms with amplitudes from ?61 down to ?422 nT, the dependences of maximum in L-profile of pressure (L _m) of the ring current (RC) on the current value of D _st are constructed, and their analytical approximations are derived. It is established that function L _m(D _st ) is steeper on the phase of recovery than during the storm’s main phase. The form of the outer edge of experimental radial profiles of RC pressure is studied, and it is demonstrated to correspond to exponential growth of the total energy of RC particles on a given L shell with decreasing L. It is shown that during the storms’ main phase the ratio of plasma and magnetic field pressures at the RC maximum does not practically depend on the storm strength and L _m value. This fact reflects resistance of the Earth’s magnetic field to RC expansion, and testifies that during storms the possibilities of injection to small L are limited for RC particles. During the storms’ recovery phase this ratio quickly increases with increasing L _m, which reflects an increased fraction of plasma in the total pressure balance. It is demonstrated that function L _m(D _st ) is derived for the main phase of storms from the equations of drift motion of RC ions in electrical and magnetic fields, reflecting the dipole character of magnetic field and scale invariance of the pattern of particle convection near the RC maximum. For the recovery phase it is obtained from the Dessler-Parker-Sckopke relationship. The obtained regularities allow one to judge about the radial profile of RC pressure from ground-based magnetic measurements (data on the D _st variation).     

X波段波导端头裂缝的互耦分析

用矩量法(MOM)导出求解X波段波导端头裂缝单元间互耦等效磁流的模型。在此基础上给出了等效磁流在激励和未激励单元内部产生的场、反射系数、驻波系数和两单元间耦合系数等的计算公式。分别在共E、H面条件下分析了两X波段波导端头裂缝互耦的影响,并对单元间不同相对距离和工作频率时的互耦影响规律进行了讨论。研究结果表明,该算法简单,计算值与测试结果吻合较好。     

Structure of the earth’s magnetosheath at small fluctuations in the interplanetary magnetic field direction

Spatial structure of the magnetosheath of the Earth was studied under the conditions when no sharp (more than 40° during 5 min) changes in the interplanetary magnetic field direction were observed. On the basis of 24 flights of the Interball-1 satellite through the magnetosheath, it is found that three regions differing from each other by parameters of the field and plasma can be observed in the magnetosheath under the above-indicated conditions. These regions also differ from the solar wind region before front of the Earth’s magnetospheric bow shock. Empirical distributions of parameters were studied in each region. Taking into account the influence of the interplanetary magnetic field direction on the processes in the magnetosheath, the cases of quasi-perpendicular and quasi-parallel shock waves were considered separately. The study showed that the distribution of parameters in the selected regions (in the solar wind before front of the bow shock, in the magnetosheath behind the bow shock (post-shock), in the region of the magnetosheath with minimal fluctuations in the field, and in the inner magnetosheath) differ from each other at any interplanetary magnetic field direction.     

Peculiarities of the formation of a thin current sheet in the Earth’s magnetosphere

We investigate the process of the self-consistent formation of a thin current sheet with a thickness close to the ion Larmor gyroradius in the presence of decreasing magnetic field’s normal component B_n. This behavior is typical of the current sheet of the Earth’s magnetospheric tail during geomagnetic substorms. It has been shown that, in a numerical model of the current sheet, based on the particle-in-cell method, the appearance of self-consistent electric field component E_y in the current sheet vicinity can lead to its significant thinning and, eventually, to the formation of a multiscale configuration with a thin current sheet (TCS) in the central region supported by transient particles. The structure of the resulting equilibrium is determined by the initial parameters of the model and by the particle dynamics during the sheet thinning. Under certain conditions, the particle drift in the crossed electric and magnetic fields leads to a significant portion of ions becoming trapped near the neutral sheet and, in this way, to the formation of a wider configuration with an embedded thin current sheet. The population of trapped particles produces diamagnetic negative currents that manifest in the form of negative wings at the periphery of the sheet. Correspondingly, in the direction perpendicular to the sheet, a nonmonotonic coordinate dependence of the magnetic field appears. The mechanisms of the evolution of the current sheet in the Earth’s magnetotail and the formation of a multiscale structure are discussed.     

Some technical aspects of gaseous detonation

This paper briefly describes two attempts to utilize detonative combustion processes to MHD conversion of thermal energy of fuel to electrical energy and bonding of atmospheric nitrogen. For this purpose a continuous impulse detonation chamber with a frequency up to 200 cps was constructed. Using methane-oxygen-nitrogen mixtures the chamber was maintained in stable operation for several hundred hours. Oil was also employed as fuel.Estimates based on experimental data showed that up to 2% of chemical energy of the fuel may be converted into electrical energy. The use of an accelerating nozzle may improve this result.The concentration of nitrogen oxide in combustion products of the detonation wave was higher by 14% than that expected under usual combustion conditions.The advantages of this type of apparatus are: absence of compressors for fuel and oxidant, impulse current generation, low temperatures of chamber walls, and operation over a large range of operating conditions.Problems associated with the effect of the magnetic field on the propagation of the detonation wave are discussed and the possibility of applying the Zeldovich theory to the case of MHD interaction is described. It is shown that the detonation velocity may either increase or decrease depending on the relative orientation of the direction of magnetic field with respect to the detonation wave.     

The Structure of Substorm Activations in the Quasi-Trapping Region

Based on a large number of measurements of the magnetic field and energetic particles onboard the CRRES satellite and on ground-based measurements we describe the fine structure of the first several minutes of the expansion activation of a substorm. The main result is that we have found a fast enhancement of the flux of energetic ions immediately before the beginning of substorm dipolization of the magnetic field. This effect was not known earlier, and the enhancement is invisible from the ground during auroras. We suggest that the appearance of an excess flux of energetic ions has a triggering effect on the local expansion activation of a substorm. The model of a current meander is put forward, which explains the generation of an inductance electric field, current wedge, and other effects of the explosive onset of a substorm.     

一种提高空间实验室定轨精度的方法

以近地航天器轨道动力学为基础,建立变阻力系数大气摄动模型,设计了求解变阻力系数的算法。然后利用天宫一号飞行器的测轨数据进行计算,分析了空间实验室飞行高度的轨道特性,其中包括：大气模式密度误差、变阻力系数与空间环境关系、定轨残差和星历误差。在空间环境平静和磁暴的条件下,制定了多种求解变阻力系数的策略,解决了空间实验室长弧段定轨精度受限的问题,并在空间环境平静条件下实现了优于10米的定轨精度,在磁暴条件下实现了优于20米的定轨精度。     

高速飞行器非视距短波通信的可行性验证飞行试验

当高速飞行器处于失稳失控等紧急情况时，现有航天器测控方法可能面临地面站天线无法及时跟踪和对准飞行器的问题，这将导致测控通信链路的中断，无法传输紧急的安控遥控指令。为了在飞行器失稳失控、非视距通信时与地面站维持通信，提出将短波通信应用于高速飞行器测控通信系统的应急通信，并进行非视距短波通信的飞行试验以验证方法的可行性。在试验中，地面站发射7 MHz的短波信号，高速飞行器内部安装的交流磁场计用于接收短波信号，获得了短波的磁场强度与飞行环境的本底噪声。试验结果表明，随着飞行器海拔的增加，磁场强度减小，高速飞行器始终能在非视距和天线不对准的情况下接收到短波信号，证实了短波应用于高速飞行器应急通信的可行性。试验是进一步验证高速飞行器在远距离、超视距以及拒止环境下应急通信的技术基础，同时，也为高速飞行器短波通信系统的研制提供重要的数据支撑。     

Low-energy ion fluxes and magnetic field on the inner boundary of the heliosphere

A comparison of temporal profiles of low-energy ion intensity and magnetic field magnitude in different periods of solar activity in the outer heliosphere is carried out using the data of the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 spacecraft. It is shown that temporal, spectral, and statistical characteristics of particle fluxes and magnetic field in the heliospheric regions before and after the terminal shock in 2002–2008 had similar dynamics in different hemispheres. This similarity allowed one to assume that, in the region of the inner heliospheric boundary, a quasistable spatial structure existed moving together with the terminal shock in accordance with the solar wind pressure, as well as, probably, under the action of the interstellar medium. It was revealed that the spatial dimensions of most details of this structure are less on Voyager 2, which, probably, is due to variation of the solar activity level, difference in latitude of spacecraft disposition, and also the influence of the interstellar magnetic field.     

The Fine Structure of the AKR Electromagnetic Field as Measured by the Interball-2 Satellite

The fine structure of the Auroral Kilometric Radiation (AKR) is studied using multicomponent measurements of the electric component of the electromagnetic field in the frequency band 4 kHz–1 MHz (the POLRAD experiment onboard the INTERBALL-2 satellite). Special attention is paid to the measurements near the source of the AKR: under conditions when the lower boundary of the emission range descended sufficiently low, down to the local gyrofrequency of electrons. From the analysis of the electric field structure the conclusion is drawn that the bulk of the AKR power is carried by the signal component fast variable in time and frequency (flickering component). The power of a constant component (continuum) is lower by at least an order of magnitude. During strong bursts of the AKR, the relative contribution of the flickering component increases. The spatial structure of the zone of generation has at least three characteristic scales along and across the magnetic field.     

On the Origin of High-Latitude Boundary Layer of the Earth's Magnetosphere

Localization of the reconnection region at the dayside magnetopause is among the unsolved problems of magnetospheric physics. There are two alternative models, one of which predicts the reconnection at the equatorial magnetopause, and the other predicts the reconnection in the region where the magnetic field of the solar wind flowing around the magnetosphere is antiparallel to the geomagnetic field. The statistical analysis carried out for 53 INTERBALL-1crossings of the high-latitude magnetopause in a special coordinate frame invariant with respect to the interplanetary conditions shows that the model of a reconnection in antiparallel fields agrees well with the experimental data.     

氙离子推力器束流分布特性研究

建立了离子推力器束流分布的高斯模型,以200mm氙离子推力器为例,在不同工作环境下对推力器束流分布进行了数值模拟,并通过试验测量了推力器引出切面不同位置(轴向z=50mm,z=100mm)下的径向束电流密度和束离子密度分布。通过对数值模拟结果与试验测量结果的比较,误差为17%,认为数值模拟结果与试验测量结果吻合较好。表明离子推力器引出束流呈轴对称分布,在推力器出口附近,束离子密度很大,越往下游,密度越小且束流出现发散。     

Role of interface deformations in Benard-Marangoni instability

This work is concerned with a linear analysis of natural thermoconvection in a two-layer system formed by a liquid surmounted by an upper immiscible gas layer (Bénard-Marangoni problem). Emphasis is put on the role of the air layer on the thermoconvective instability. It is shown that the motion inside the gas phase can be disregarded provided its thickness is smaller than the thickness of the liquid layer. The gas can then be modelled as a purely conductive medium. Another important problem discussed here is the role of surface deformations on the onset of convection. In that respect, the use of Boussinesq's approximation is discussed and its limits of validity are specified. The main results are the following. First, it is concluded that overstability cannot be observed in ordinary fluids under realistic experimental conditions. Besides, it is shown that, among the relatively larger number of parameters appearing in the problem, the viscosity is by far the most important. Moreover, new dimensionless numbers are introduced to better apprehend the physical context. The experimental conditions required to observe the surface zero-wave number instability are also determined, as well as the conditions under which gravity effects may be neglected on earth. Finally it is examined under which circumstances the interface can be considered as remaining flat.     

微重力下热薄材料燃烧特性的窄通道实验研究

利用高度分别为10 mm,12 mm和14 mm的水平窄通道对微重力环境下热薄材料表面的火焰传     

地磁环境下卫星磁试验中的外干扰磁场控制补偿方法

针对地磁环境下外干扰磁场影响卫星磁试验精度问题,综合分析外干扰源场和卫星近场特性;通过合理布局(包括位置和方式)外干扰磁场监测传感器和卫星磁场采集传感器,增设动态磁场采集的A/D取样扫描频率循环控制、信号统计、滤波、数据拟合等信号处理功能,解决了监测传感器和采集传感器所得到的干扰信号的同步性、等效性、一致性,以及采集传感器信号中卫星真实磁场与干扰磁场之间的不相干性;实现了卫星磁试验的外干扰磁场有效闭环控制、自动跟踪、补偿和修正。通过24 h实时监测,外干扰磁场波动控制在0.5~1.0 n T范围内,获得地磁环境下卫星24 h"准零磁"环境磁试验条件,满足卫星磁试验对磁环境的技术要求。