The problem of indirect sounding of high clouds

Remote sounding of high cloud top temperatures by passive methods is a difficult venture due to the semitransparency of the clouds. Window channel measurements often overestimate the cloud top temperature. In this study it is experimentally shown and supported by theoretical considerations that water vapor channels, which are originally intended to sense the high tropospheric water vapor content, are more suitable than window channels. In addition, it is shown that measurements in the H₂O rotational band are superior to 6.3 μm channels due to higher intensity of the outgoing radiation and less contribution by scattering by cloud particles.     

Gamma ray astrophysics and signatures of axion-like particles

We propose that axion-like particles (ALPs) with a two-photon vertex, consistent with all astrophysical and laboratory bounds, may lead to effects in the spectra of high-energy gamma-ray sources detectable by satellite or ground-based telescopes. We discuss two kinds of signatures: (i) a peculiar spectral depletion due to gamma rays being converted into ALPs in the magnetic fields of efficient astrophysical accelerators according to the “Hillas criterion”, such as jets of active galactic nuclei or hot spots of radio galaxies; (ii) an appearance of otherwise invisible sources in the GeV or TeV sky due to back-conversion of an ALP flux (associated with gamma-ray emitters suffering some attenuation) in the magnetic field of the Milky Way. These two mechanisms might also provide an exotic way to avoid the exponential cutoff of very high energy gamma-rays expected due to the pair production onto the extragalactic background light.     

Prediction of horizontal gas–solid flows under different gravitational fields

In this paper the performance of horizontal pneumatic conveying under different gravity environments is evaluated. An Euler–Lagrange approach validated versus ground experiments is employed to predict the relevant particle variables such as particle mass flux, mean conveying and fluctuating velocities in terrestrial, lunar and micro-gravity conditions. Gravity reduced computations predict a reduction in the global particle–wall collision frequency. Also, in the case of low wall roughness and small particle mass loading, reduction of gravity acceleration implies an increase of particle–wall collision frequency with the upper wall of the channel affecting greatly the particle mass flux profile. In the case of high wall roughness and/or high particle-to-fluid mass loading (i.e., around 1.0) particle conveying characteristics are similar in the three gravity conditions evaluated. This is due to the fact that both, wall roughness and inter-particle collisions reduce gravitational settling. However, the influence of gravity on the additional pressure loss along the channel due to the conveying of the particles is much reduced.     

An alternative computation of a gravity field model from GOCE

GOCE is the first satellite with a gravitational gradiometer (SGG). This allows to determine a gravity field model with high spatial resolution and high accuracy. Four of the six independent components of the gravitational gradient tensors (GGT) are measured with high accuracy in the so-called measurement band (MB) from 5 to 100 mHz by the GOCE gradiometer. Based on more than 1 year of GOCE measurements, two gravity field models have been derived. Here, we introduce a strategy for spherical harmonic analysis (SHA) from GOCE measurements, with a bandpass filter applied to the SGG data, combined with orbit analysis based on the integral equation approach, and additional constraints (or stabilization) in the polar areas where no observation is available due to the orbit geometry. In addition, we combined the GOCE SGG part with a set of GRACE normal equations. This improves the accuracy of the gravity field in the long-wavelength parts, due to the complementarity of GOCE and GRACE. Comparison with other models and with external data shows that our results are rather close to the GPS-levelling data in well-selected test regions, with an uncertainty of 4–7 cm, for truncation at degree 200.     

基于SLM的模拟月壤原位成形技术

激光选区熔化（SLM）技术与原位资源利用（ISRU）概念结合,有望解决地外大规模基地建设的工程难题。利用模拟月壤考察了SLM成形技术用于月球原位资源增材制造的可行性。采用高能束激光为热源,对粉床内模拟月壤颗粒进行逐层照射,使颗粒熔融固结。以激光体积能量密度为综合评价指标,开展SLM工艺参数研究,实现模拟月壤的低能耗、高效率、高几何精度成形。研究结果表明:模拟月壤在激光工作波长吸收率高,热稳定性好,利用较低激光能量可实现模拟月壤SLM成形,成形件几何精度高;激光体积能量密度决定了成形件质量,增加激光体积能量密度可以提高成形件力学性能,但过高的激光体积能量密度使成形件发生严重变形;模拟月壤颗粒形态复杂、粒度分布广、流动性差,通过优化颗粒粒径分布范围,可以有效提高粉体的流动性,从而形成致密且均匀的粉床,避免成形件缺陷的产生。      

Median filtering algorithms for multichannel detectors

Particle detectors of worldwide networks are continuously measuring various secondary particle fluxes incident on Earth surface. At the Aragats Space Environmental Center (ASEC), the data of 12 cosmic ray particle detectors with a total of ∼280 measuring channels (count rates of electrons, muons and neutrons channels) are sent each minute via wireless bridges to a MySQL database. These time series are used for the different tasks of off-line physical analysis and for online forewarning services. Usually long time series contain several types of errors (gaps due to failures of high or low voltage power supply, spurious spikes due to radio interferences, abrupt changes of mean values of several channels or/and slowly trends in mean values due to aging of electronics components, etc.). To avoid erroneous physical inference and false alarms of alerting systems we introduce offline and online filters to “purify” multiple time-series. In the presented paper we classify possible mistakes in time series and introduce median filtering algorithms for online and off-line “purification” of multiple time-series.     

预报高空目标对流层折射的新公式

对于高空目标,本文得到预测射线弯曲角和大气折射引起的距离误差的新公式,它们可以用于1°以上仰角的折射预报,精度高且使用简便.      

不同后掠角三角翼的静态地面效应数值模拟

采用数值模拟的方法研究了不同后掠角三角翼的静态地面效应,通过对气动力和流场特性的分析发现,随着后掠角的减小,地面对迎风面下流动的阻滞作用增强,地效导致的迎风面气动力增量也随之增大。地效导致的背风面气动力增量同样随着后掠角的减小而增大,但在不同的后掠角范围内,地效诱导背风面气动力增量的机理不同:中大后掠角下,其主要通过增强前缘涡强度诱导更大的吸力,而小后掠角下,其主要通过促进前缘涡向内扩散增大吸力范围。      

Impact linear polarization observed in a UV chromospheric line during a solar flare

Linear polarization was observed in the S I 1437Å line in bright flaring points during the soft X-ray emission. The degree of polarization is about 25% and is detected at a signal to noise ratio of 2.9. The polarized electric vector is directed towards disk center to within 3°.This polarization could be due to collisional excitationm of S I by energetic electrons beamed in the vertical direction. We suggest that the heat flux in the region interconnecting the transition zone to the high chromosphere during the gradual phase of a flare could lead to an anisotropic excitation. Then the observed polarization would be due to vertical motions of the transition zone sweeping the preexisting chromosphere.     

ASTER spectral sensitivity of carbonate rocks – Study in Sultanate of Oman

Remote sensing satellite data plays a vital role and capable in detecting minerals and discriminating rock types for explorations of mineral resources and geological studies. Study of spectral absorption characters of remotely sensed data are under consideration by the exploration and mining companies, and demonstrating the spectral absorption characters of carbonates on the cost-effective multispectral image (rather than the hyperspectral, Lidar image) for easy understanding of all geologists and exploration communities of carbonates is very much important. The present work is an integrated study and an outcome of recently published works on the economic important carbonate rocks, includes limestone, marl, listwaenites and carbonatites occurred in parts of the Sultanate of Oman. It demonstrates the spectral sensitivity of such rocks for simple interpretation over satellite data and describes and distinguishes them based on the absorptions of carbonate minerals in the spectral bands of advanced spaceborne thermal emission and reflection radiometer (ASTER) for mapping and exploration studies. The study results that the ASTER spectral band 8 discriminates the carbonate rocks due to the presence of predominantly occurred carbonate minerals; the ASTER band 5 distinguishes the limestones and marls (more hydroxyl clay minerals) from listwaenite (hydrothermally altered rock) due to the presence of altered minerals and the ASTER band 4 detects carbonatites (ultramafic intrusive alkaline rocks) which contain relatively more silicates. The study on the intensity of the total absorptions against the reflections of these rocks shows that the limestones and marls have low intensity in absorptions (and high reflection values) due to the presence of carbonate minerals (calcite and dolomite) occurred in different proportions. The listwaenites and carbonatites have high intensity of absorptions (low reflection values) due to the occurrence of Mn-oxide in listwaenites and carbonates in carbonatites apart the influence of major carbonate minerals that occurred predominantly in these rocks. The study of ASTER thermal infrared (TIR) spectral bands distinguished the marls have low emissivity of energy due to the presence of hydroxyl bearing alumina-silicate minerals from the other rocks such as limestones, listwaenites and carbonatites which have high emissivity due to the absence of hydroxyl bearing alumina-silicate minerals and the presence of carbonate minerals and carbonates.     

基于U-Net的掌纹图像增强与ROI提取

掌纹因稳定性、唯一性、难复制性及易获取等特点，是极具应用潜力的生物识别特征。针对掌纹识别中，获取掌纹感兴趣区域（ROI）与增强掌纹信息普遍存在的时间成本大，方法之间有依赖关系等问题，提出了一种基于U-Net神经网络结构的掌纹图像预处理方法。通过香港理工大学掌纹库进行实验对比，结果表明，所提方法能消除预处理方法之间的相互影响，实现对掌纹图像的去噪与增强处理，并能快速、高精度提取感兴趣区域。      

High energy emission from AGN

The recent detection of radio loud quasars with a large high energy γ-ray luminosity is discussed, in the framework of non-thermal synchrotron self Compton models. These observations are strong evidence of relativistic beaming of the radiation, due to the absence of strong photon-photon opacity. If γ-rays are self Compton emission, these sources can be the first observed example of a Compton catastrophe, resulting from the dominance of the radiation over the magnetic energy density. Inhomogeneous and relativistic jet models can in this case explain the observed spectrum from the far infrared to the γ-rays. If, on the other hand, the magnetic energy density is dominant, then the γ-rays must be due to direct synchrotron emission, implying very large particle energies. Pure synchrotron models which take into account electron-positron pair production are then discussed. Multifrequency simultaneous observations are a powerful test of the models.     

Interplanetary dust interaction with comets: Production of x-rays

Recent results of theoretical investigations related to generation of high-energy (0.1-1 keV) photons in comets due to production of high-temperature (3×10⁵-10⁷ K) plasma clots from collisions of cometary and interplanetary grains at high relative velocities (70-700 km s⁻¹ at heliocentric distances R=0.01-1 AU) are summarized and main features of the process are marked.     

Ion production and ionization effect in the atmosphere during the Bastille day GLE 59 due to high energy SEPs

The influence of high energy particles, specifically cosmic rays, on atmospheric physics and chemistry is highly discussed. In most of the proposed models the role of ionization in the atmosphere due to cosmic rays is not negligible. Moreover, effect(s) on minor constituents and aerosols are recently observed, specifically over the polar regions during strong solar particle events. According to the recent findings for such effects it is necessary an essential increase of ion production, specifically during the winter period. The galactic cosmic rays are the main source of ionization in the Earth’s stratosphere and troposphere. Occasionally, the atmospheric ionization is significantly enhanced during strong solar energetic particles events, specifically over the polar caps. During the solar cycle 23 several strong ground level enhancements were observed. One of the strongest was the Bastille day event occurred on 14 July 2000. Using a full Monte Carlo 3-D model, we compute the atmospheric ionization, considering explicitly the contribution of cosmic rays with galactic and solar origin, focusing on high energy particles. The model is based on atmospheric cascade simulation with the PLANETOCOSMICS code. The ion production rate is computed as a function of the altitude above the sea level. The ion production rate is computed on a step ranging from 10 to 30?min throughout the event, considering explicitly the spectral and angular characteristics of the high energy part of solar protons as well as their time evolution. The corresponding event averaged ionization effect relative to the average due to galactic cosmic rays is computed in lower stratosphere and upper troposphere at various altitudes, namely 20?km, 15?km, 12?km and 8?km above the sea level in a sub-polar and polar regions. The 24^h and the weekly ionization effects are also computed in the troposphere and low stratosphere. Several applications are discussed.     

一种改进型导电塑料电位计研制

为了满足机电伺服机构对电位计更高耐磨高可靠的要求,研制一种新型导电塑料电位计。改进型导电塑料电位计在原电位计基础上对其结构和材料进一步优化,克服了现有的导电塑料式电位计在长期使用过程中电阻体在电刷反复摩擦作用下有绝缘磨削微粒析出,从而导致伺服机构在测试中出现突跳,影响伺服机构判读的固有缺陷。并大大提高了电位计的使用寿命,满足了机电伺服机构对高可靠、高耐磨、长寿命的导电塑料式电位计日益增长的研制需求。     

BWB客机经济性相关设计参数的影响分析

为了分析翼身融合布局客机(BWB,Blended Wing Body)高巡航升阻比和与其匹配的下一代低油耗发动机所带来的经济性收益,通过估算飞机的总体参数和计算飞行性能,以每座公里耗油量为衡量标准,定量分析巡航升阻比和发动机耗油率等相关参数对250座级和450座级的影响;与现有同量级常规布局客机对比分析,估算出BWB系列客机经济性收益的具体数据,并分析座级和航程对BWB客机经济性的影响,得出BWB系列客机发展的趋势和特点,最终综合考虑收益与可实现难度和代价,给出合理的设计参数值.      

The gamma-irradiation of aqueous hydrogen cyanide in the presence of ferrocyanide or ferricyanide: implications to prebiotic chemistry.

The gamma-irradiation of 0.1 M, O2-free, aqueous HCN was studied in the presence of ferrocyanide or ferricyanide in the concentration range 10(-3) - 10(-5) M. This study was carried out in order to get an insight into the possible role that cyanocomplexes of iron may have played in promoting prebiotic syntheses via the free-radical oligomerization of HCN. It was found that ferrocyanide or ferricyanide have no effect on the irradiation of 0.1 M HCN solutions at concentrations < or = 10(-4) M. At high concentrations, 10(-3) M, they lead to a marked decrease in the conversion of HCN. There was no significant difference due to the oxidation state of iron used, particularly at high doses > or = 100 kGy.     

Spectroscopic evaluation of polyurea crosslinked aerogels,as a substitute for RTV-based chromatic calibration targets for spacecraft

Room temperature vulcanizing (RTV)-based components have been used on Mars Pathfinder, the Mars rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, as well as the Phoenix Lander as a support matrix for pigmented panoramic camera calibration targets. RTV 655 has demonstrated superiority to other polymers due to its unique range of material properties namely mechanical stability between −115 and 204 °C and UV radiation tolerance. As a result, it has been the number one choice for many space-related missions. However, due to the high mass density and the natural tendency for electrostatic charging RTV materials have caused complications by attracting and retaining dust particles (Sabri et al., 2008). In the current project we have investigated the relevant properties of polymer-reinforced (crosslinked) silica aerogels with the objective of substituting RTV-based calibration targets with an aerogel based design. The lightweight, mechanical strength, ability to accept color pigments, and extremely low dust capture makes polyurea crosslinked aerogels a strong candidate as a chromatic standard for extraterrestrial missions. For this purpose, the reflection spectra, gravimetric analysis, and low temperature response of metal oxide pigmented, polyurea crosslinked silica aerogels have been investigated and reported here.     

低Re对某小型涡扇发动机性能影响

低雷诺数问题是影响高空长航时无人驾驶飞机的动力装置性能的关键因素之一.定量分析了低雷诺数效应对某小型大涵道比涡扇发动机性能的影响.当雷诺数减小到一定程度后,各部件的性能将发生改变.在发动机整机环境下,增压级和低压涡轮的进口叶弦雷诺数相对更低,受飞行高度和速度的影响也更大.在发动机共同工作条件的作用下,各部件的匹配关系将发生变化,除部件效率的降低以外,部件流通能力的衰减也引起发动机性能的降低.涡轮前温度的限制将使发动机转子转速下降,低雷诺数效应加剧,从而导致发动机性能的进一步降低,推力迅速减小,但发动机涵道比的增加可以减小因部件性能衰退引起的耗油率上升的趋势.     

太阳风和地球磁层相互作用的两种可能类型

本文对太阳活动20周不同活动期间的太阳风参数与地磁活动性指数分别进行了相关分析,并进一步对太阳活动极大和极小年分别对B_z和太阳风参数V、T、N的时均值日方差作了分析比较。结果指出,除目前普遍认为的IMF与地磁场重联导致的磁扰外,还有一类与B_z无关,而是由高温、高速、热不均匀太阳风等离子体导致的地磁扰动类型。