Remote infrared observations of parent volatiles in comets: A window on the early solar system

Organic volatiles and water in Oort Cloud comets were investigated at infrared wavelengths. The detected species include H₂O, CO, CH₃OH, CH₄, C₂H₂, C₂H₆, OCS, HCN, NH₃, and H₂CO. Several daughter fragments (CN, OH, NH₂, etc.) are also measured, and OH prompt emission provides a proxy for water. Long-slit spectra are taken at high spectral dispersion and high spatial resolution, eliminating several sources of systematic error. The resulting parent volatile production rates are highly robust, permitting a sensitive search for compositional diversity among comets. Here, seven OC comets are compared. Six (including Halley) exhibit similar compositions (excepting CO and CH₄). Their low formation temperatures (30 K) suggest this group probably formed beyond 30 AU from the young sun. However, C/1999 S4 is severely depleted in hypervolatiles and also in methanol, and it likely formed near 5–10 AU. C/2001 A2 is discussed briefly to illustrate future prospects.     

Hot atoms in cosmic chemistry

High energy chemical reactions and atom molecule interactions might be important for cosmic chemistry with respect to the accelerated species in solar wind, cosmic rays, colliding gas and dust clouds and secondary knock-on particles in solids. “Hot” atoms with energies ranging from a few eV to some MeV can be generated via nuclear reactions and consequent recoil processes. The chemical fate of the radioactive atoms can be followed by radiochemical methods (radio GC or HPLC). Hot atom chemistry may serve for laboratory simulation of the reactions of energetic species with gaseous or solid interstellar matter. Due to the effective measurement of 10⁸–10¹⁰ atoms only it covers a low to medium dose regime and may add to the studies of ion implantation which due to the optical methods applied are necessarily in the high dose regime.

Experimental results are given for the systems: C/H₂O (gas), C/H₂O (solid, 77 K), N/CH₄ (solid, 77K) and C/NH₃ (solid, 77 K). Nuclear reactions used for the generation of 2 to 3 MeV atoms are: ¹⁴N(p, ) ¹¹C, ¹⁶O(p, pn) ¹¹C and ¹²C(d,n) ¹³N with 8 to 45 MeV protons or deuterons from a cyclotron. Typical reactions products are: CO, CO₂, CH₄, CH₂O, CH₃OH, HCOOH, NH₃, CH₃NH₂, cyanamide, formamidine, guanidine etc. Products of hot reactions in solids are more complex than in corresponding gaseous systems, which underlines the importance of solid state reactions for the build-up of precursors for biomolecules in space. As one of the major mechanisms for product formation, the simultaneous or fast consecutive reactions of a hot carbon with two target molecules (reaction complex) is discussed.     

VEGA three-channel spectrometer experiment: Spectroscopy of comet Halley in the visible and near-ultraviolet ranges

A total of 3600 spectra of Comet Halley in the 275–710 nm were obtained on March, 8, 9, 10 and 11, 1986, from the VEGA 2 spacecraft. The emissions of OH, NH, CN, C₃, CH, C₂, NH₂ and H₂O⁺ are identified. From the OH intensity in the (0,0) band: 1.1 Megarayleigh at 5400 km from the nucleus, it can be inferred that the OH production rate was (1.4 ± 0.5)×10³⁰ molecules s⁻¹. The NH, C₃, CH and NH₂ bands became comparatively more intense at distances from the nucleus shorter than 3000km. At 06:40 U.T. when the instrument field of view was 6000×4500 km, two jets were observed. Spectra from the jets show significant differences with other spectra. Inside a jet NH, C₃ and NH₂ are comparatively more intense and the rotational distributions of OH, CN and C₂ are strongly distorted. This shows that part of the observed emissions probably comes from radicals directly produced in the excited state during the initial process of photolysis of the parent molecules.     

太赫兹火星大气临边探测仿真研究

对火星大气进行连续高分辨率观测是研究火星大气物理和化学过程的重要手段.太赫兹临边探测技术通过测量火星大气中的风和光化学循环中的重要气体（CO,O₃,H₂O,H₂O₂等）提高对火星的认知.针对火星大气遥感的探测需求,分析了300～1000GHz频段的频谱特征.针对探测卫星对于载荷质量、功耗等参数的要求,提出一个560GHz频段的火星大气太赫兹临边探测仪设计方案,并利用辐射传输模型ARTS中的行星工具箱进行仿真.仿真结果显示:火星大气温度的反演精度优于4K,其中45km高度以下优于2K;H₂O丰度的反演精度在90km以下优于50%,30km以下优于2%;H₂O₂的反演精度在40km以下优于50%;O₃的反演精度在50km以下优于60%;大气风速度的反演精度在65km以上优于5m·s-1,最高可以达到2m·s-1.研究结果表明,利用太赫兹波段的吸收谱线可以很好地探测火星大气中各成分的丰度、变化趋势以及中高层大气的风,可为后续火星表面及大气探测提供参考.      

电离层H2O释放扰动效应的数值模拟研究

为充分研究化学物质在电离层释放的扰动效应和后期发展效果,基于化学物质在电离层的扩散模型、化学反应和电离层扩展F的控制模型,通过电离层H₂O的释放,研究电子e,H₂O,O+和H₂O+共4种粒子的分布状态,分析点源、多源和线源释放对电离层的扰动效果,比较不同高度、不同量和不同时间释放的影响结果,模拟夜间释放后期所激发的扩展F发展差异.结果表明,H₂O在电离层释放后,能有效耗散背景电子形成空洞,O+和H₂O+数密度呈椭圆形分布;点源、多源和运动目标线源等不同释放方式对电离层的扰动效果不同,证实了人工影响一定形态和区域电离层的可能性;H₂O释放扰动幅度,低层大于高层,白天强于夜晚,释放量越多扰动越突出;夜间化学释放能激发扩展F,并且释放量越多,激发效果越好.      

H2O对空间站5A分子筛CO2去除性能影响

为进一步研究分子筛CO2去除系统应用于空间站的工作可靠性和鲁棒性,针对空间站4床分子筛(4-BMS)系统中可能出现的湿度失效保护问题展开了实验研究.测试了两种载人航天分子筛材料TC-5A与PSA-5A,研究了不同相对湿度对CO2吸附性能的影响;比较了相同湿度条件下,进口气体CO2浓度、粒径及吸附温度的变化对分子筛吸附CO2性能的影响,采用不同实验方法探究了H2O和CO2在两种分子筛材料中的竞争吸附关系.结果表明:PSA-5A吸附CO2性能优于TC-5A,但对H2O的吸附率略低于TC-5A.H2O的存在对分子筛吸附CO2影响非常大,空气中相对湿度达到60%时,分子筛基本失去了吸附CO2的能力.此外,温度升高会造成CO2的吸附量显著下降,但对H2O的吸附量影响相对较小,尤其是当相对湿度较高时.这对中国未来长期运行的空间站分子筛CO2去除系统工作有效性与工作鲁棒性的评价具有指导意义.     

释放不同化学物质对电离层扰动的比较

在电离层F区释放氢（H₂）、水（H₂O）、二氧化碳（CO₂）、六氟化硫（SF₆）、三氟溴甲烷（CF₃Br）、羰基镍（Ni（CO）₄）可以损耗局域等离子体电子密度,形成电子空洞,电离层电子密度的改变主要取决于释放物质的气态分子与电离层之间的离子化学反应.在电离层人工主动扰动实验中,应根据发射成本和扰动效果对释放物质进行选择.通过热力学原理和有限元模拟方法计算比较了上述6种物质对电离层的扰动影响.计算结果表明,6种物质中水的气化率最低,约为19%,其余5种物质都在60%以上,选择密度小的物质,例如H₂和CO₂,可以有效降低发射成本.另外,扩散较慢且化学反应较快的物质,例如SF₆和Ni（CO）₄,能够使得电离层电子密度减少得更多,并且受扰动区域更广、持续时间更长.     

On the possible detection of solid O2 and O3 interstellar grains with ISO

In various models of interstellar grain chemistry, solid O₂ is formed by accretion as well as by surface reactions on grains. In dense molecular cloud models, at a later stage of the evolution, the O₂ molecule may become a substantial grain mantle constituent. Since IR dipole vibrational transitions for the homonuclear diatomic molecule O₂ are forbidden, the abundance of this potentially important grain mantle component can not be determined. However, embedded in a dirty ice matrix, the fundamental vibration of O₂ at 1550 cm⁻¹ becomes observable at 10 K, due to interactions with surrounding molecules, which break the symmetry of molecular oxygen. This process might be applicable for the dust mantle environment of interstellar grains. We have studied the role of solid O₂ and O₃ in astrophysically relevant ice mixtures and discuss the possible detection of solid O₂ and its major photolysis product O₃ in interstellar grains, in dense molecular clouds. Both molecules represent a specific target to be observed by the ISO satellite in the near future.     

密闭空间内氢气和二氧化碳甲醇化系统的非均相模型及反应特性

在载人密闭空间内通过电解水方式为乘员供氧会产生副产物氢气（H₂）。此外,乘员还呼出二氧化碳（CO₂）。将H₂和CO₂催化合成甲醇（CH₃OH）是消除载人密闭空间内富余H₂和CO₂的最优方式之一。对其开展反应过程建模及反应特性研究有助于进行反应过程的控制,更好地维持载人密闭空间内的大气平衡。本文采用微元法建立了H₂和CO₂催化合成甲醇的物料计算模型和温度一维非均相模型,研究了不同反应压力、冷却介质温度以及入口反应气体中CO₂与CO比值等反应条件下的反应特性变化规律。结果显示,反应压力的增加、冷却介质的温升以及入口气体中CO₂与CO比值的减小均能促进各反应速率增加,进而使得H₂和CO₂消除量增加、甲醇合成率上升以及催化剂和反应气体最高温度上升。在保证反应速率增加且催化剂最高温度不超过合理反应温度区间的最大值573.15 K时需维持反应压力不大于8 MPa,冷却介质温度不高于538.15 K以及CO₂与CO比值不小于1。      

The search for nitrogen compounds on the surface of Mars

Nitrogen is an essential element for life. Specifically, “fixed nitrogen” (i.e., NH₃, NH₄⁺, NO_x, or N that is chemically bound to either inorganic or organic molecules and is releasable by hydrolysis to NH₃ or NH₄⁺) is the form of nitrogen useful to living organisms. To date no direct analysis of Martian soil nitrogen content, or content of fixed nitrogen compounds has been done. Consequently, the planet's total inventory of nitrogen is unknown. What is known is that the N₂ content of the present-day Martian atmosphere is 0.2 mbar. It has been hypothesized that early in Mars' history (3 to 4 billion years ago) the Martian atmosphere contained much more N₂ than it does today. The values of N₂ proposed for this early Martian atmosphere, however, are not well constrained and range from 3 to 300 mbar of N₂. If the early atmosphere of Mars did contain much more N₂ than it does today the question to be answered is, Where did it go? The two main processes that could have removed it rapidly from the atmosphere include: 1) nonthermal escape of N-atoms to space; and 2) burial within the regolith as nitrates and nitrites. Nitrate will be stable in the highly oxidized surface soil of Mars, and will tend to accumulate in the soil. Such accumulations are observed in certain desert environments on Earth. Some NH₄⁺---N may also be fixed and stabilized in the soil by inclusion as a structural cation in the crystal lattices of certain phyllosilicates replacing K. Analysis of the Martian soil for traces of NO₃⁻ and NH₄⁺ during future missions will supply important information regarding the nitrogen abundance on Mars, its past climate as well as its potential for the evolution of life.     

液体火箭喷焰红外特性的数值仿真

用传输方程积分法计算液体火箭喷焰在光谱2~5?μm的红外特性,并考虑了经过海平面一定长度的水平路程后大气对液体火箭喷焰辐射的衰减作用.计算喷焰的形状为圆柱形,温度和组分的摩尔分数沿轴向和径向变化.计算中考虑气体组分H₂O,CO₂,CO的吸收与发射,喷焰内燃气的光谱透过率用SLG模型计算,大气的光谱透过率用LOWTRAN7.0计算.给出一台推力为1.125×10⁶N的液体火箭发动机喷焰表面以及经过海平面0.88?km水平路程大气衰减后的光谱辐射强度,经比较与参考文献给出的结果基本一致.     

The 2.5 to 5 microns spectrum of comet Halley from the IKS instrument of Vega

Results of the 2.5–5 micron spectroscopic channel of the IKS instrument on Vega are reported and the data reduction process is described. H₂O and CO₂ molecules have been detected with production rates of 10³⁰ s⁻¹ and 1.5 10²⁸ s⁻¹ respectively. Emission features between 3.3 and 3.7 microns are tentatively attributed to CH - bearing compounds - CO is marginally detected with a mixing ratio CO/H₂O 0.2. OH emission and H₂O - ice absorption might also be present in the spectra.     

Atmospheric photochemistry above possible martian hot spots

Considering the possibility of outgassing from some localized sources on Mars, we have developed a one-dimensional photochemical model that includes methane (CH₄), sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S). Halogens were considered but were found to have no significant impact on the martian atmospheric chemistry. We find that the introduction of methane into the martian atmosphere results in the formation of mainly formaldehyde (CH₂O), methyl alcohol (CH₃OH) and ethane (C₂H₆), whereas the introduction of the sulfur species produces mainly sulfur monoxide (SO) and sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄). Depending upon the flux of the outgassed molecules from possible hot spots, some of these species and the resulting new molecules may be detectable locally, either by remote sensing (e.g., with the Planetary Fourier Spectrometer on Mars Express) or in situ measurements.     

Cometary atmosphere (gas and dust)

There is important progress now in the identifications and measurements of primary (parent) molecules in the inner coma of Comet Halley. H₂O, CO₂ and CO are definitely in the list, CH and some complicate organic molecules are suspected. Gas production rate for water vapor is Q_H2O 10³⁰ s⁻¹. The bulk of data doesn't contradict to the Whipple model of nucleus (with clathrate modification). Pronounced spatial structure of gaseous flow in the coma was observed, but in general measured properties of neutral gas in the coma of Comet Halley are not very different from predicted. Situation for dust is different. In situ dust measurements show that size spectrum and optical properties of particles in coma are substantively declining from predicted on the base of groundbased photometry. However there are discrepancies between Vega and Giotto dust counter data. Dust in the inner coma didn't prevent the succesful imaging of nucleus by TV on Vega 1 and 2.     

八水氢氧化钡相变材料储热性能实验

采用八水氢氧化钡（Ba（OH）₂·8H₂O）作为相变储热材料,经过150次熔化-凝固热循环实验,发现随着热循环次数的增加,Ba（OH）₂·8H₂O的相变点温度变化很小,但是该相变材料结晶时存在严重的过冷现象.通过扫描电子显微镜获得50次热循环后Ba（OH）₂·8H₂O与铝合金和紫铜金属材料之间的腐蚀情况图像,图像分析表明,Ba（OH）₂·8H₂O与紫铜有良好的相容性.搭建了含/未含泡沫铜的相变储能装置的实验台,对比实验结果表明,泡沫铜填充不仅可以提高相变材料的传热效率,而且能够有效地降低Ba（OH）₂·8H₂O的过冷度.      

基于MIV的碳钢大气腐蚀速率影响因子权重分析

通过平均影响值（MIV）影响因子权重分析算法,以碳钢Q235、Ste355、St12和Q450腐蚀速率的暴露时间、气候因素和环境因素数据为依据,以|MIV|值为评价依据,定量分析15种影响因子（暴露时间、平均温度、平均相对湿度、日照时数、降水量、平均风速、海盐粒子浓度、SO₂、HCl、NO₂、H₂S、硫酸盐化速率、NH₃、降尘量-非水溶性、降尘量-水溶性）对碳钢腐蚀速率影响的权重大小。结果表明: 当MIV调节率从5%逐步递增至25%时,同种影响因子对腐蚀速率的影响权重变化不大,但4种碳钢对各影响因子的敏感度略有不同;气候因素对腐蚀速率影响最大,其次为暴露时间,环境因素中SO₂和降尘量对腐蚀速率影响较大;平均相对湿度、日照时数、平均温度是影响腐蚀速率最主要的3个因子。      

太阳E10.7指数的反演及预报方法

针对高层大气密度预报和轨道预报业务中对新型太阳紫外辐射指数E_10.7的需求,基于TIMED-SEE观测仪器提供的0.1～105 nm太阳辐射强度数据,开展了E_10.7指数反演和中期预报研究。 E_10.7指数是太阳光谱中波长为0.1～105 nm的辐射流量,单位与F_10.7指数相同（sfu,1 sfu=10–22 W·m–2·Hz–1）。 TIMED-SEE观测仪器提供的0.1～105 nm太阳辐射强度实测值具有高时间分辨率、延迟时间短和易获得的优势,利用最小二乘法拟合可反演出准实时的E_10.7指数,均方根误差为5.445 sfu。利用高阶自回归模型对E_10.7的中期预报效果尚佳,未来27天的预报值平均相对误差为7.83%。利用同样方法还开展了E_10.7指数81天中心滑动平均值未来27天预报试验,未来27天的预报值平均相对误差仅为3.63%。      

S3 and S4 absorption cross sections in the range of 340 to 600 nm and evaluation of the S3 abundance in the lower atmosphere of Venus

S₃ absorption cross section equals 6×10⁻¹⁷ cm² at 400 nm, 6 × 10⁻¹⁹ cm² at 500 nm (less by a factor of 4 than that given by Sanko), 4×10⁻²⁰ cm² at 600 nm. That of S₄ equals 1.5 × 10⁻¹⁷ cm² at 450 nm, 8 × 10⁻¹⁷ cm² at 500 nm, and 4.7 × 10⁻¹⁷ cm² at 600 nm. Preliminary evaluation of the S₃ mixing ratio in the lower atmosphere of Venus is (8±3)×10⁻¹¹ at 5 to 25km according to the Venera 14 measurements and several times lower at the locations of the Veneras-11 and -13.