太阳风中航天器带电与尾迹效应的模拟

航天器充电和尾迹效应会对周围等离子体造成扰动,影响测量装置结果的准确性.利用SPIS （Spacecraft Plasma Interaction Software）分别模拟了航天器与太阳风的相互作用,考察了光电效应以及航天器尺度对表面充电情况和尾迹效应的影响.结果表明:太阳风环境下,等离子体密度稀薄,电子电流比光电子电流小得多,航天器表面为正电势,航天器后部有清晰的尾迹结构,尾迹带负电;光电效应可改变尾迹结构,与无光电效应相比,光电效应使得航天器尾迹尺度变大;由于太阳风定向运动动能大于航天器表面势能,航天器的尾迹结构与其几何尺寸有关,航天器尺寸越大,尾迹尺度越大.      

低轨航天器致空间等离子体尾流

建立起一个低轨道航天器引起的等离子体尾的二维计算机模式，结果表明：（１）尾流的宽度随表面负电位值的增加而变窄。（２）随离子马赫数增加尾流位垒变宽；（３）对正电位表面情况尾流近区有电子聚集，并且离子的放空更远。     

Plasma measurements in the Venus near wake

A study of the plasma measurements conducted with the Mariner 5, Venera 9 and 10, and the Pioneer Venus spacecraft in the Venus ionosheath and near wake is presented. The data available indicate that in the inner ionosheath, downstream from the terminator, the density and the velocity of the plasma are significantly smaller than those measured further outside. The slower particle fluxes detected near the ionopause also exhibit higher plasma temperatures and show a tendency to move towards the nightside hemisphere. The observation of high plasma temperatures in the inner ionosheath indicates that the interaction of the solar wind with the Venus ionospheric/exospheric material is dominated by dissipative phenomena, and that its entry into the wake is due to local thermal expansion processes.     

Particle-in-cell simulation of the plasma environment of a spacecraft in the solar wind

The main interactions between the plasma and the spacecraft are the wake effects, the emission of a dense photoelectron cloud and the electric charging of the surface of the spacecraft. An electrostatic particle-in-cell computer simulation model is presented, that allows the simultaneous calculation of these related effects. For different plasma properties, two-dimensional simulations yielded the steady state self-consistent potential distributions around the probe. These potentials, especially the potential barriers produced by the photoelectron cloud, have great influence on the measurements of the low energy solar wind electrons. The essential features can be verified by a comparison with selected electron distributions measured onboard the HELIOS spacecraft.     

Impact induced plasma during a cometary fly-by

GIOTTO, the probe which is presently developed by the European Space Agency, will encounter comet Halley in March 1986 with a relative velocity of 69 km/s. The fore section of the surface will be submitted to the bombardment of dust grains and neutral molecules in the final phase of the mission, like that of an Earth orbiter during atmospheric re-entry. These particles have a kinetic energy of 24 eV per a.m.u.; they produce secondary ions and electrons which form a plasma cloud around the body and control the electric potential of its surface. This paper is a review of the work which has been performed on the subject by dedicated study groups; the purpose of their action was to gather information and produce new findings which might have an influence on the design of the spacecraft and help in the interpretation of the data collected by the scientific payload.

The effect of impact induced plasma may already be significant at 10⁵ km from the comet nucleus; at a distance of 1000 km the flux of ions and electrons produced by cometary dust and neutrals will possibly exceed that of the ambient plasma by more than three orders of magnitude. It is expected that the spacecraft surface potential will be positive and will reach at least a few tens of volts; coating the leading surface of the spacecraft with a thin layer of gold or silver will help reducing the emission of ions from neutral gas. Computer simulation models are used to predict the structure of the charged particle density distribution in the vicinity of the surface. Effects associated with the wake and differential charging are also discussed. The significance of these results is conditioned by the validity of the models and the largest source of uncertainty seems to be associated with the plasma generated by dust impact.     

ICMEs Likely From the Same Active Region Observed by Both Helios 1 and IMP 8

The chance of an Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejection (ICME) observed by widely-separated spacecraft is rare. However, such an event provides us a good opportunity to study the propagation and evolution of ICMEs in the heliosphere. On day 72 of 1975, an ICME was observed by Helios 1 at 0.3 AU, while a similar solar wind structure was observed by IMP 8 at Earth on day 70 of 1975. On the basis of comparison of the plasma signatures and the transit time from Helios 1 to IMP 8, we hypothesize the observed ICMEs by both spacecraft are resulted from the same active region on the solar surface. A one-dimensional MHD model was used to track the ICME from Helios 1 (0.3 AU) to Earth. The observed plasma profiles and timing are close to those predicted by our MHD model and thus, give the supports to the model.      

Estimation of plasma density from wave data of cold electron plasma

Based on the dispersion relation of electron plasma, one can expect, that the waves excited in the frequency band (f_p, f_u=sqrt(f_p^*f_p+f_c^*f_c)) should persist in experimental spectra. For wave data from a spacecraft immersed in a cold plasma such an assumption may be misleading. In measurements performed on board the INTERCOSMOS-19, ACTIVE, APEX satellites and VC36.064CE rocket the most prominent spectral structure is centered around frequency f_r fulfilling the relation f_crp and corresponds to resonant detection of Bernstein waves excited in the surrounding plasma by spacecraft systems. Input network mismatch at frequencies around fu significantly depresses natural plasma noise as well as that excited by the spacecraft. Plasma emissions in the band (f_p, f_u) are prominent if the electromagnetic excitation is preferential (topside sounders) or if the excitation introduces nonequilibrium components into the plasma e.g. particle beams or clouds. Experimental examples are presented and parameters of cold plasma spectra useful for electron density estimation are discussed. The application to other spacecraft-cold plasma configurations is suggested.     

Laboratory experiments on spacecraft charging and its neutralization

Simulation experiments on spacecraft charging in space plasma and its neutralization are performed in relation to the electron beam experiment (SEPAC) on Space Shuttle Spacelab 1. A spacecraft simulator or a spherical probe is immersed in a magnetized plasma and a positive high voltage with respect to the plasma is externally applied to it. The current-voltage characteristics follow quite well with the theoretical model of Parker and Murphy [1] in the low voltage, low pressure region. When the voltage rises to more than the ionization potential of the surrounding neutral gas, it departs from the model and the effect of plasma production by the electron current becomes very important. The same kind of ionization effect as this has also been observed in our rocket experiments with an electron beam. The enhancement of the ionization effect by an additional neutral gas injection causes a considerable suppression of the potential rise of a spacecraft emitting an electron beam. This is demonstrated with the SEPAC accelerators in a large space chamber experiment.     

利用孤立导体建立等离子体探测载荷参考电位方法

研究讨论了一种利用孤立导体在空间等离子体环境中建立探测器参考电位的技术.将一个金属导体与航天器进行电隔离,利用电路将孤立导体电位引入探测器电源模块,为探测器建立参考电位.该技术可安全方便地应用于卫星等航天器,使探测器的地电位与空间等离子体电位基本一致,避免航天器本体电位对探测器的影响.该技术将应用于中国空间站等离子体原位探测器,通过测试验证了该技术方法可以建立-210～+210V的参考电位,满足空间站等离子体原位探测器-200～+200V的参考电位技术需求.      

等离子体鞘层效应对磁层探测电场仪设计的影响

在空间环境探测中,卫星与等离子体的相互作用会改变背景环境的粒子和电位的分布,从而影响探测器对空间电场的测量.为了给磁层卫星电场探测仪器的研制和设计提供参考,本文以中国未来的磁层电离层探测为背景,针对不同轨道高度的等离子体环境,利用SPIS (Spacecraft Plasma Interaction Software)...     

高速撞击梯度电势靶板产生等离子体诱发的放电

针对在轨运行航天器在空间等离子体环境和空间带电粒子活动下诱发航天器表面梯度电势存在的客观现实,航天器在空间碎片的撞击下会诱发表面带电或深层电介质带电的航天器放电。为了在实验室模拟航天器表面存在电势差的真实情况,采用对航天器外表面分割的方法,在分割的表面间预留不同间距且在2靶板间加装电阻的方法创造具有梯度电势的高电势2A12铝板作为靶板。利用自行构建的梯度电势靶板的充放电测试系统、超高速相机采集系统和二级轻气炮加载系统,开展高速撞击梯度电势2A12铝靶的实验室实验。实验中,弹丸以入射角度为60°（弹道与靶板平面的夹角）、撞击速度约为3 km/s的条件撞击间距分别为2、3、4和5 mm的2A12铝高电势靶板,利用电流探针和电压探针采集放电电流和放电电压。实验结果表明:放电产生的等离子体形成了高电势与低电势靶板间的放电通道,且在梯度电势靶板间距分别为2、3 mm时诱发了一次放电,放电电流随高低电势靶板间间距的增加而减小;在梯度电势靶板间距分别为4、5 mm时诱发了二次放电,放电电流随高低电势靶板间间距的增加变化不明显。      

Comparative study of plasma wave activity in the plasma sheet boundary and near Earth plasma sheet

The general structure of low frequency wave activity in the Earth's plasma sheet and its boundary layer is studied on the basis of the measurements made by ‘Prognoz-8’ satellite in the northern night and morning parts of the magnetotail. Pronounced wave activity is permanently observed in the high latitude parts of the plasma sheet boundary layer. The level of perturbations diminishes when a spacecraft moves towards tail lobes and drops rather sharply when it moves to the central plasma sheet. The peaks near the low hybrid resonance frequency (correlating with the local strength of the magnetic field) are evident in the electric field fluctuations spectra. A plasma instability of low hybrid type driven by transverse current is though to be the possible candidate for the excitation of these waves. Wave activity in tail lobes is related mainly to the isolated hot and cold plasma streams.     

ISEE-1 and 2 observations of field-aligned currents in the distant midnight magnetosphere

Magnetic field measurements obtained in the nightside magnetosphere by the co-orbiting ISEE-1 and 2 spacecraft have been examined for signatures of field-aligned currents (FAC). Such currents are found on the boundary of the plasma sheet both when the plasma sheet is expanding and when it is thinning. Plasma sheet boundary layer current structure and substorm associated dynamics can be determined using the two spacecraft, although for slow traversals of the FAC sheet the spatial/temporal ambiguity is still an issue. We often find evidence for the existence of waves on the plasma sheet boundary, leading to multiple crossings of the FAC sheet. At times the boundary layer FAC sheet orientation is nearly parallel to the X-Z GSM plane, suggesting ‘protrusions’ of plasma sheet into the lobes. The boundary layer current polarity is, as expected, into the ionosphere in the midnight to dawn local time sector, and outward near dusk. Current sheet thicknesses and velocities are essentially independent of plasma sheet expansion or thinning, having typical values of 1500 km and 20–40 km/s respectively. Characteristic boundary layer current densities are about 10 nanoamps per square meter.     

基于等离子体磁壳的行星探测器制动机理研究

等离子体磁壳制动技术是一种新型的行星探测器制动手段，具有制动阻力可调、可靠性高、结构质量小等优势，具有潜在的应用前景。开展了等离子体磁壳制动产生方式与工作机理的数值仿真研究。首先，以火星探测器的制动为背景，将等离子体磁壳简化为圆柱构型，建立了等离子体磁壳宏观模型，得到了制动阻力、有效捕获面积和探测器速度随轨道高度的变化关系。随后以等离子体磁壳中离子、电子和次中性粒子之间的相互作用为研究对象，建立了等离子体磁壳微观模型，获得了等离子体粒子数密度和温度随时间变化的规律。微观模型与宏观模型计算出的制动阻力一致，验证了两种模型的有效性。     

低轨道航天器的表面充电模拟

为研究航天器表面材料在空间环境中的充电现象, 利用SPIS (Spacecraft Plasma Interaction System)模拟了航天器在低轨道等离子体环境中的表面充电情况, 通过对模拟结果进行分析并与实际观测进行比较, 可以看出模拟结果基本能够反映出不同性质材料之间的充电差别, 特别是导电材料与非导电材料之间的充电差别. 模拟得到的充电电位及充电时间与充电的一般理论计算结果符合较好, 且能够清晰反映出航天器运动中产生的冲击流及尾流的结构特征. 根据SPIS低轨道航天器表面充电模拟的特点, 认为SPIS的模拟结果是合理的.      

JIKIKEN electron beam measurements of the plasmapause

An electron beam (200-eV, 0.25 – 1-mA) emitted fromJapanese magnetosphere exploring satellite JIKIKEN (EXOS-B) has excited a number of plasma waves. Among them, f_UHF (upper hybrid frequency) and f_p (plasma wave) are most strongly excited and from them, the plasma density and the magnetic field strength can be known. Moreover, when an electron beam is emitted, the spacecraft is charged up positively. When the ambient plasma density is low, the spacecraft is charged up to the beam energy and most of electrons emitted return to the spacecraft. This is another plasma parameter indication in the magnetosphere. These two characteristics that is, the wave excitation and the spacecraft charge-up by the electron beam emission in space are used as very powerful tools for the diagnostics of plasma in the magnetosphere.     

一种基于模态参数实时辨识方法的参数时变航天器控制方法

针对一种因挠性结构转动引起模态参数变化的航天器研究了一种基于模态参数辨识的控制方法。首先以一种刚柔耦合复杂航天器为对象,建立分析航天器的动力学模型。然后,基于该模型,采用一种基于改进递归预测器的子空间辨识(RPBSID)法模态辨识方法估计系统状态量。最后,基于辨识状态量采用无模型控制方法进行控制,通过基于MATLAB软件的仿真实验,验证了方法的有效性。     

In situ measurements of ionospheric plasma turbulence over five frequency decades: Heritage flight of the Plasma Local Anomalous Noise Experiment (PLANE)

Observations of ionospheric plasma density and frequency-dependent broadband plasma turbulence made during the heritage flight of the Plasma Local Anomalous Noise Experiment (PLANE) are presented. Rather than record high frequency time series data, the experiment was designed to record Power Spectral Distributions (PSDs) in five decadal frequency bins with upper limits ranging from 1.0 Hz to 10 kHz. Additionally, PLANE was designed distinguish turbulence in the ambient plasma from that local to the spacecraft. The instrument consists of two retarding potential analyzers (RPAs) connected together via a feedback loop to force one analyzer into the I–V trace retardation region at all times. Fluctuations in this measurement are believed to be ambient only as the RPA’s voltage would be too high for locally turbulent plasma to surmount the potential barrier, which is nominally at ram energy. The instrument requires pointing along the spacecraft’s ram velocity vector to make this measurement, thus requiring stabilization in pitch and yaw. During PLANE’s heritage flight, though the satellite’s attitude control system failed early in the mission, plasma data were collected during opportune times in which the instrument rotated into and out of the ram. Observations of plasma density and PSDs of high frequency plasma turbulence were recorded on several occasions. Additionally, a plasma source onboard the satellite was used to generate artificial plasma turbulence, and the PLANE data observed periodic structure presumably associated with the rotation of the spacecraft during these source firings. A brief comparison with other high frequency in situ plasma instruments is presented.     

Interaction between a body and its environment during a cometary fly-by

The surface of a spacecraft is submitted to the bombardment of dust grains and neutral molecules during an atmospheric re-entry or a cometary fly-by. These particles create secondary ions and electrons which form a plasma cloud around the body and control the electric potential of its surface. Computer simulation models are used to predict the structure and dynamic behaviour of the charged particle density distribution for the cases of planar and cylindrical bodies. It is found that an ion and an electron layer form in the vicinity of the surface at distances of the order of the ion and electron Debye lengths, respectively. The potential of the surface is positive on the average and is a function of the electron mean kinetic energy. A positive potential barrier develops at the location of the ion layer and its height is governed by the sum of the electron and ion mean kinetic energies. The threat caused by this interaction to the spacecraft and its instrumentation is discussed and an in-situ observation of this phenomenon is proposed as a possible diagnostic technique of the environment.     

Radio occultation experiments with Comet Halley

Previous radio occultation investigations on cometary comae and tails have included refraction measurements and intensity scintillations of natural radio sources used to derive the density and structure of the cometary plasma. Significant improvements in the coverage and sensitivity of these measurements will be achieved during the present apparition of Comet Halley. The comet missions GIOTTO and VEGA will also feature passive radio science expeirments designed to measure comet-induced Doppler shifts of the dual-frequency spacecraft signals during Halley flyby. A brief survey of these radio occultation measurement techniques and their application in the specific case of Comet Halley are presented.