A synchrotron-based facility for the in-situ location,chemical and mineralogical characterization of ∼10 μm particles captured in aerogel

NASA’s Stardust mission collected dust from the coma of Comet Wild-2 on January 2nd, 2004, by direct capture into aerogel cells that flew through the dust coma at ∼6 km/s. Stardust collected several hundred comet particles >10 μm in size. These comet samples were delivered to Earth on January 15th, 2006. We developed a facility at the National Synchrotron Light Source at Brookhaven National Laboratory (Upton, NY, USA) for the in-situ characterization of ∼10 μm particles collected in aerogel. These analytical instruments allow us to perform extensive chemical, mineralogical, and size-frequency characterization of particles captured in aerogel. These analyses are conducted without any invasive extraction, minimizing the possibility of contamination or particle loss during preparation. This facility was used to determine the chemical composition, the oxidation state, the mineralogy and to provide an indication of the grain size of the Wild-2 particles before they were removed from the aerogel. This information provides a catalog of particle types, allowing a more reasoned allocation of the particles to subsequent investigators based on a relatively detailed knowledge of the chemical composition and mineralogy of each particle. These measurements allowed a comparison of the chemical and mineralogical properties of the Wild-2 particles with other types of extraterrestrial materials, including interplanetary dust particles and meteorites. The success of in-situ analysis for Wild 2 particles demonstrates that synchrotron-based facilities will be important for the analysis of particles collected in aerogel on future earth-orbiting satellites and spacecraft.     

Standing Alfvén waves with m ≫ 1 in a dipole magnetosphere with moving plasma and aurorae

The structure of standing Alfvén waves with large azimuthal wave numbers (m ? 1) is studied in a dipole model of the magnetosphere with rotating plasma. In the direction across magnetic shells the structure of such waves is determined by their dispersion associated with curvature of geomagnetic field lines and corresponds to the travelling wave localized between toroidal and poloidal resonant surfaces. In projection into the ionosphere (along geomagnetic field lines) this structure is similar to the structure of a discrete auroral arc. The azimuthal structure of an auroral arc is similar to azimuthal structure of Alfvén waves with m ∼ 100. Possible interaction mechanisms between the Alfvén waves and energetic electron fluxes forming auroral arcs are discussed.     

Comparative anatomy of the day- and night-time radar echoes from the 130–170 km region of the low latitude ionosphere

Recent observations of daytime 150 km echoes made from Gadanki have revealed ‘descending layer type’ echoing pattern, which are remarkably different from their well known ‘necklace’ pattern. These descending layer type echoing pattern have close resemblance to those of the nighttime valley region echoes that are presumably linked with the intermediate layer formed by the meridional wind shear associated with the semidiurnal/terdiurnal tidal winds. The observed close resemblance between the two echoing patterns reminds the plausible role of the semidiurnal/terdiurnal tidal wind and metallic ions in the governing physical processes. We present a comparative anatomy of these two echoing phenomena by making a close examination of the radar observations from Gadanki. Importantly, we bring out the similarities and dissimilarities in their characteristics and discuss the results in the light of currently available theoretical frameworks in an effort to further our understanding on the origin of these echoing phenomena, which have been addressed so far in isolation.     

AVS-F observations of γ-ray emission during January 20, 2005 solar flare up to 140 MeV

The solar flare of January 20, 2005 (X7.1, 06:36–07:26 UT, maximum at 07:01 UT by the GOES soft X-ray data) was the most powerful one in January 2005 series. The AVS-F apparatus onboard CORONAS-F registered γ-emission during soft X-ray rising phase of this flare in two energy ranges of 0.1–20 MeV and 2–140 MeV. The highest γ-ray energy registered during this flare was ∼140 MeV. Six spectral features were registered in energy spectrum of this solar flare: annihilation + αα (0.4–0.6 MeV), ²⁴Mg + ²⁰Ne + ²⁸Si + neutron capture (1.7–2.3 MeV), ²¹Ne + ²²Ne + ¹⁶O + ¹²С (3.2–5.0 MeV), ¹⁶O (5.3–6.9 MeV), one from neutral pions decay (25–110 MeV) and one in energy band 15–21 MeV. Four of them contain typical for solar flares lines – annihilation, nuclear de-excitation and neutron capture at ¹H. Spectral feature caused by neutral pions decay was registered during several flares too. Some spectral peculiarities in the region of 15–21 MeV were first observed in solar flare energy spectrum.     

Forward and reverse CIR shocks at 4–5 AU: Ulysses

In this article, we study fast shocks at CIR boundaries during an extended interval of 15 consecutive major high speed solar wind streams in 1992–1993. Ulysses was 4–5 AU from the sun. The Abraham-Schrauner shock normal method and the Rankine-Hugoniot relations were used to determine fast shock directions and speeds. Out of 33 potential CIR shocks, 14 were determined to be fast forward shocks (FSs) and 14 were fast reverse shocks (RSs). Of the remaining 5 events, 2 were forward waves and 3 were reverse waves. CIR edges at latitudes below ∼30^o were, for the most part, bounded by fast magnetosonic shocks. The forward shocks were generally quasi-perpendicular (average θ_nBo = 67^o). The reverse shocks were more oblique (average θ_nBo = 52^o), but they extended to all angles. Both FSs and RSs had magnetosonic Mach numbers ranging from 1 to 5 or 6. The average Mach numbers were 2.4 and 2.6 for FSs and RSs, respectively. The shock Mach numbers were noted to generally decrease with increasing latitude. The non-shock events or waves were noted to occur preferentially at high (∼−30° to −35°) heliolatitudes where stream-stream interactions were presumably weaker. These results are consistent with expectations, indicating the general accuracy of the Abraham-Schrauner technique.     

Late stages of stellar evolution – Herschel’s contributions

Cool objects glow in the infrared. The gas and solid-state species that escape the stellar gravitational attraction of evolved late-type stars in the form of a stellar wind are cool, with temperatures typically ?1500 K, and can be ideally studied in the infrared. These stellar winds create huge extended circumstellar envelopes with extents approaching 10¹⁹${10}^{19}$ cm. In these envelopes, a complex kinematical, thermodynamical and chemical interplay determines the global and local structural parameters. Unraveling the wind acceleration mechanisms and deriving the complicated structure of the envelopes is important to understand the late stages of evolution of ∼97% of stars in galaxies as our own Milky Way. That way, we can also assess the significant chemical enrichment of the interstellar medium by the mass loss of these evolved stars. The Herschel Space Observatory is uniquely placed to study evolved stars thanks to the excellent capabilities of the three infrared and sub-millimeter instruments on board: PACS, SPIRE and HIFI. In this review, I give an overview of a few important results obtained during the first two years of Herschel observations in the field of evolved low and intermediate mass stars, and I will show how the Herschel observations can solve some historical questions on these late stages of stellar evolution, but also add some new ones.     

UF0信箱

我是《飞碟探索》的热心读者，在读完贵刊2002年第3期董玉华的《它们仍将保持沉默》一文后，我觉得文中有几个观点不妥，下面提出我个人的一些意见：     

Possible consequences of a disk around B0656+14 on e–e and near-1 Hz gravitational wave production

Nearby pulsars B0656+14 and Geminga were proposed in the literature as the main sources of cosmic-ray positrons observed near Earth above 10 GeV. B0656+14 has comparable distance from Earth, similar magnetic field and period of Geminga. However, observations in the R and I bands indicate the presence of a disk of approximately 10⁻⁴ M_⊙ around B0656+14. Radio and pulsed γ-ray flux observations from this pulsar are also consistent with supernova fallback material and disk entering the light cylinder and partially quenching the development of electromagnetic showers in the magnetosphere. If this is the case, B0656+14 has unlikely given any contribution to e⁺ and e⁻ observed near Earth. Absolute flux measurements and the level of anisotropy in the high energy electron and positron arrival directions above 50 GeV will help in revealing if none, one of both nearby pulsars are sources of these particles observed near Earth.     

·最新消息·

美国航空航天局“轨道碳观测”（OCO）卫星将于2009年年初由“金牛座”火箭发射 该卫星采用低地球轨道星（LEO Star）平台，     

Rotational constants of linear and/or bent Cn+1H and CnN(n = 1–6): A DFT study

The geometries, dipole moments, and rotational constants for the linear and/or bent cations, C_n+1H⁺ and C_nN⁺(n = 1–6), were studied by the B3LYP method with the modest basis sets. For C_nH⁺(n = odd; 3, 5, 7) and C_nN⁺(n = even; 2, 4, 6), the theoretical rotational constants (B_es) of closed-shell singlet C₃H⁺, C₅H⁺, C₇H⁺, CCN⁺, C₄N⁺, and C₆N⁺ were calculated to be about 11,244, 2420, 885.2, 11,970, 2439, and 880.8 MHz, respectively. By contrast, the triplets are stable than the corresponding singlets for C_nH⁺(n = odd; 2, 4, 6) and C_nN⁺(n = even; 3, 5) except CN⁺.     

Possible interstellar anions: CnS and CnO (n = 2–8)

The geometries, electron affinities and/or electron detachment energies for the C_nS and C_nO (n = 2–8) molecules and their anions were calculated by using the RCCSD (T) method. The C_nS⁻ (even n = 4, 6, and 8) and C_nO⁻ (even n = 6 and 8) anions are found to be substantially more stable than their corresponding neutral species. Several anions are potentially detectable as interstellar molecules.     

LR0与LCROSS

在2009年6月23日．NASA研制的造价为5．04亿美元的环月探测。器（LRO）用了40分钟时间，成功地以椭圆形轨道环绕月亮一周后，停止了其推进器。     

卫星空间外热流轨道参数ψ_0,Ω_0和ω_0计算

文章给出了卫星热分析空间外热流计算中所需要的轨道参数太阳黄经、升交点赤经和近地点幅角的初值φ_0、Ω_0、ω_0 的计算公式。其精确度满足卫星热分析要求。     

Project “The Moon – 2012+”: Spin-orbital evolution,geophysics and selenodesy of the Moon

The Russian scientific project “The Moon – 2012+” is directed at solving fundamental problems of celestial mechanics, selenodesy and geophysics of the Moon through the pursuance of theoretical research and computer simulations of the following fields.     

Sunspot activity and cosmic ray modulation at 1 a.u. for 1900–2013

The descent of sunspot cycle 23 to an unprecedented minimum of long duration in 2006–2009 led to a prolonged galactic cosmic ray (GCR) recovery to the highest level observed in the instrumental era for a variety of energetic charged particle species on Earth, over a wide range of rigidities. The remarkable GCR increase measured by several ground-based, balloon-borne, and detectors on a satellite is described and discussed. It is accompanied by a decrease in solar wind velocity and interplanetary magnetic field at 1 a.u., reaching the lowest values since measurements of the solar wind began in October 1963; the solar polar field strength (μT) measured at the Wilcox Solar Observatory (WSO) is also significantly reduced compared to prior cycles since the start of the program in 1976, the polar field in the northern hemisphere reversed in June 2012 and again in February 2014, that in the southern hemisphere reversed in July 2013. If updates of WSO data confirm the second reversal in northern solar hemisphere, it would pose a serious challenge to the Dynamo Theory. The long-term change in solar behavior may have begun in 1992, perhaps earlier. The physical underpinnings of these solar changes need to be understood and their effect on GCR modulation processes clarified. The study discusses the recent phenomena in the context of GCR modulation since 1900. These happenings affected our empirical predictions for the key parameters for the next two sunspot cycles (they may be progressively less active than sunspot cycle 24) but it enhanced support for our prediction that solar activity is descending into a Dalton-like grand minimum in the middle of the twentyfirst century, reducing the frequency of the coronal mass ejections; they determine the space weather affecting the quality of life on Earth, radiation dose for hardware and human activities in space as well as the frequency of large Forbush decreases at 1 a.u.     

航天·水·生命·健康——北京华美倚兰科技发展有限公司

水是生命的源泉,而现代社会水资源的污染,严重吞噬着人类的健康,人们怎么也没有想到,和我们的生活息息相关并始终不渝支撑我们的生命之水,竟然会有直接威胁人类生存的一天。     

Distinct EUV minimum of the solar irradiance (16–40 nm) observed by SolACES spectrometers onboard the International Space Station (ISS) in August/September 2009

In the field of terrestrial climatology the continuous monitoring of the solar irradiance with highest possible accuracy is an important goal. SolACES as a part of the ESA mission SOLAR on the ISS is measuring the short-wavelength solar EUV irradiance from 16–150 nm. This data will be made available to the scientific community to investigate the impact of the solar irradiance variability on the Earth’s climate as well as the thermospheric/ionospheric interactions that are pursued in the TIGER program. Since the successful launch with the shuttle mission STS-122 on February 7th, 2008, SolACES initially recorded the low EUV irradiance during the extended solar activity minimum. Thereafter it has been observing the EUV irradiance during the increasing solar activity with enhanced intensity and changing spectral composition. SolACES consists of three grazing incidence planar grating spectrometers. In addition there are two three-signal ionisation chambers, each with exchangeable band-pass filters to determine the absolute EUV fluxes repeatedly during the mission. One important problem of space-borne instrumentation recording the solar EUV irradiance is the degradation of the spectrometer sensitivity. The two double ionisation chambers of SolACES, which could be re-filled with three different gases for each recording, allow the recalibration of the efficiencies of the three SolACES spectrometers from time to time.     

西藏高原 广州地区f0E,f0Es,fbEs的某些变化特征

本文利用西藏、广州地区1985—1988年夏季的7、8月份的实测资料,对电离层特征参数,f_oE,f_oE_s,f_bE_s,进行了统计分析,得到它们的变化规律与特点。 从图1中看出,西藏高原地区的f_oE值,其变化规律,受太阳黑子的影响较大且为正     

Forbush decreases and solar events seen in the 10–20 GeV energy range by the Karlsruhe Muon Telescope

Since 1993, a muon telescope located at Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe (Karlsruhe Muon Telescope) has been recording the flux of single muons mostly originating from primary cosmic-ray protons with dominant energies in the 10–20 GeV range. The data are used to investigate the influence of solar effects on the flux of cosmic rays measured at Earth. Non-periodic events like Forbush decreases and ground level enhancements are detected in the registered muon flux. A selection of recent events will be presented and compared to data from the Jungfraujoch neutron monitor. The data of the Karlsruhe Muon Telescope help to extend the knowledge about Forbush decreases and ground level enhancements to energies beyond the neutron monitor regime.