大功率无线电波与低电离层的相互作用

地面入射的大功率无线电波能加热电离层等离子体，引起电离层电子温度和密度的扰动，实现电离层的地面人工变态．本文中，着重考虑电波和电离层相互作用过程中的自吸收，构造一个自治的相互作用模型，在一定功率和频率的加热电波作用下，利用该模型计算了白天低电离层电子温度和由温度的变化而引起的电子密度的变化．计算结果表明，在白天低电离层，电波的自吸收在90km以下比较显著，而最大温度变化在70km高度上，大约增加了2倍．在α复合的假设下，电子密度变化幅度随高度的增加而减少，在70km处，大约增加55％、120km处则为4％左右．     

南京地区斜向加热电离层效应数值模拟

与垂直加热相比,斜向加热电离层具有灵活性高、影响范围广和便于实际操作等优势.在非偏区考虑欧姆吸收,基于电子能量方程和连续性方程构建电波斜向加热低电离层的物理模型,并利用IRI-2007和NRLMSISE-00经验模型提供的背景参数对南京地区斜向加热低电离层进行数值模拟,对比不同加热条件下电子温度和电子密度的扰动情况.研究结果表明:电波加热效果随入射仰角和有效辐射功率的增大而增大;电子温度和电子密度增幅随电波频率增大而减小;X波模比O波模造成的电子温度扰动幅度和电子密度扰动幅度更大,同时X波模比O波模能更快地使电子温度和电子密度达到稳定状态;一定范围内较小仰角、较低频率、较大有效辐射功率的电波能使电子密度更快达到稳定,后两者还能加快电子温度达到稳定的过程;电子温度达到稳定所需时间随入射电波仰角呈单峰变化,仰角为62°时达到最大.      

基于一维模型的高频电波加热电离层F层数值研究

基于电离层一维仿真加热模型,详细介绍了模型中电子的动量方程、连续性方程、能量方程和各类参量表达式,利用对角矩阵追赶法数值求解电离层F层加热过程,分析了不同时次电子数密度和电子温度的变化,讨论了不同频率和不同功率电波加热的情形.结果表明:当高频电波加热高电离层时,电子温度迅速增加,并很快趋近于饱和状态;电子密度的变化较为迟缓,但在加热过程中其变化幅度却越来越大;电子密度变化量在沿磁场方向上形成空洞和上下稠团两峰一谷构型;频率越大、功率越高的电波加热时,电子密度的变化也越大,但存在一适值频率的电波对电子温度的影响最小.      

大功率无线电波加热低电离层

等离子体对大功率电波的欧姆耗散会使电子温度升高,进而导致电子密度和其他等离子体参数改变,实现电离层的地面人工变态.本文基于大功率无线电波与低电离层相互作用的自洽模型,分析了不同入射条件下电离层参数的变化,主要结论如下:电离层D区是电波的主要吸收区,并且其吸收强度随入射频率的升高而降低,当入射频率为6 MHz（有效入射功率为200 MW）时电子温度的最大增幅约为520 K,电子密度最大增幅为7300 cm^-3左右;电子温度达到饱和所需时间小于电子密度的饱和时间,前者具有μs量级,后者具有ms量级;停止加热后,电子温度和密度迅速恢复到初始状态,恢复时间均小于各自的饱和时间,但量级相当;入射功率越高,电子温度和密度的增幅越大,并且饱和时间也越长,在相同入射条件下,夜晚的饱和时间要大于白天.     

利用MF雷达对耀斑期间电离层D区电子密度的观测研究

利用MF雷达观测资料对X级别耀斑爆发期间在66-80km高度之间的电子密度进行了研究，观测到了耀斑爆发期间电子密度的突然增加，在较低高度上的电子密度的时间变化趋势与耀斑的软X射线辐射通量相关．电子密度的变化强度依赖于具体的耀斑参数，有些耀斑引起的电子密度增加高达400cm^-3，有些仅为100cm^-3左右．但耀斑期间在这一高度区间增加的总电子含量增量仅占耀斑辐射引起的整个电离层总电子含量增量的千分之一左右．最后，利用恢复阶段电子密度的时间变化过程估算了1997年11月4日耀斑期间部分高度上的有效复合系数．     

甚低频电磁波变态低电离层的数值模拟

利用由波对电离层加热的模型和适合于夜间低电离层的离子化学模型构成的综合模型，对甚低频波射入低电离层时变态电离层的程度受中性成分参数变化及低电离层离子化学反应参数的影响进行了模拟计算．计算结果表明，中性成分的浓度与温度及电离层离子化学反应参数密切地影响着加热的效果．     

雷暴云准静电场和夜间低电离层的电离

用点电荷模型计算雷暴云突然放电后形成的准静电后形成的准静电场随高度的分布，以E/N（E的电场大小，N为大气密度）为输入参量，在一定条件下，对Boltzmann方程数值求解，计算电离层电子数密度的扰动。计算结果表明，在约70-90km之间，在约放电后的10ms内，准静电场大于中性大气的击穿电场，将引起大气的雪崩电离，从而引起夜间低电离层电子密度的显著增加，但这种电子密度的增加是暂的，在很短的时期内就恢复到平静时的水平，恢复时间随高度的变化而不同。     

非相干雷达探测低电离层的结果分析

位于波多黎各的Arecibo非相干雷达可以获得低电离层电子和离子密度, 利用此非相干雷达数据对中纬度低电离层的运动特征进行研究. 得到了电子密度随时间和高度的变化 情况, 结果显著呈现出周日变化特征, 并分析了电子密度随高度的变化规律. 进一步对数据进行频谱分析, 深入研究低电离层电子密度的周日变化效应. 得到电子密度的高度剖面, 发现从F层底部到E层有明显的等离子体沉降. 低电离层的层结构特征及电子密度变化表明, 在该区域还存在不同程度的等离子体扰动, 由此对低电离层的作用因素 进行分析, 认为大气潮汐或声重波可能对低电离层产生扰动, 即低电离层与大气存在一定程度的耦合作用.      

暴时极光区热层大气焦耳加热与F区电离耗空的EISCAT雷达观测

利用ＥＩＳＣＡＴ雷达探测数据，分析计算了太阳活动高年夏季发生的一次强磁暴期间，极光区电离层对流电场、电导率以及焦耳加热速率等着重考察了Ｅ区热怪大气焦耳加热和Ｆ区离子摩擦增温与Ｆ区电子密度耗空的关系发现在下午东向极光电集流期间，电子密度最大耗空出现在Ｆ区３００－３２５ｋｍ高度，时间恰在积分的Ｅ区大气焦耳加热量大值和Ｆ区最大离子增温之后５－１０ｍｉｎ，耗空率达７０％。     

背景条件对低电离层预加热幅度调制的影响

基于电离层连续性方程和能量方程,建立了预加热模式下低电离层幅度调制加热理论模型,研究预加热阶段电离层电子密度和调制阶段电流随预加热时间的变化,探讨不同背景条件对幅度调制产生的极低频/甚低频（ELF/VLF）电磁波强度的影响.结果表明,预加热调制在90~100km高度效果较好,在夜间进行预加热调制激发的ELF/VLF强度增幅不明显,各季节中在春季调制强度增幅最大,太阳高年预加热调制比太阳低年的效果好,低纬地区强度增幅远大于中纬地区强度增幅.在一定加热条件下（有效辐射功率200MW,频率1kHz）,不同背景条件（除夜间外）下的预加热幅度调制模式在考虑能耗情况下,均在预加热10s时效果最好.      

Learning in an immersive digital theater

The Houston Museum of Natural Science, in collaboration with Rice University has an outreach program taking portable digital theaters to schools and community sites for over five years and has conducted research on student learning in this immersive environment. By using an external independent evaluator, the effectiveness of NASA-funded Education and Public Outreach (EPO) projects can be assessed. This paper documents interactive techniques and learning strategies in full-dome digital theaters. The presentation is divided into Evaluation Strategies and Results and Interactivity Strategies and Results. All learners from grades 3–12 showed statistically significant short-term increase in knowledge of basic Earth science concepts after a single 22-min show. Improvements were more significant on items that were taught using more than one modality of instruction: hearing, seeing, discussion, and immersion. Thus immersive theater can be an effective as well as engaging teaching method for Earth and Space science concepts, particularly those that are intrinsically three-dimensional and thus most effectively taught in an immersive environment. The portable system allows taking the educational experience to rural and tribal sites where the underserved students could not afford the time or expense to travel to museums.     

Scaling analysis and model estimation of solar corona index

A monthly average solar green coronal index time series for the period from January 1939 to December 2008 collected from NOAA (The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) has been analysed in this paper in perspective of scaling analysis and modelling. Smoothed and de-noising have been done using suitable mother wavelet as a pre-requisite. The Finite Variance Scaling Method (FVSM), Higuchi method, rescaled range (R/S) and a generalized method have been applied to calculate the scaling exponents and fractal dimensions of the time series. Autocorrelation function (ACF) is used to find autoregressive (AR) process and Partial autocorrelation function (PACF) has been used to get the order of AR model. Finally a best fit model has been proposed using Yule-Walker Method with supporting results of goodness of fit and wavelet spectrum. The results reveal an anti-persistent, Short Range Dependent (SRD), self-similar property with signatures of non-causality, non-stationarity and nonlinearity in the data series. The model shows the best fit to the data under observation.     

Stochastic particle acceleration by the forced interaction of relativistic current sheets

We address the problem of interacting relativistic current sheets in self-consistent kinetic plasma simulations within the framework of the Particle-In-Cell model. The interaction is enforced in head-on collisions of up to 10 current sheets at relativistic bulk speeds. The simulations are motivated by the general problem of Poynting flux dissipation in ‘striped wind’ configurations presumably governing the relativistic outflows pervasive in pulsar winds and gamma-ray bursts. We identify the generation of non-thermal particles and formation of a stable power-law shape in the particle energy distributions f(γ) dγ ∝ γ^−s dγ. In 1D, a spectral index s ∼ 2 is observed and attributed to a stochastic Fermi-type acceleration mechanism. In 2D, the generic index of s ∼ 3–4 is retained as in previous simulations of individual current sheets. Whereas in 2D the high energy cut-off is constrained by the limited dissipation of magnetic energy, in 1D the process converts the bulk motion of current sheets towards directed particle momentum of an exclusive class of non-thermal particles.     

Development of a gas chromatography compatible Sample Processing System (SPS) for the in-situ analysis of refractory organic matter in martian soil: preliminary results

In the frame of the 2009 Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission a new sample preparation system (SPS) compatible with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) has been developed for the in situ analysis of complex organic molecules in the Martian soil. The goal is to detect, if they exist, some of the key compounds that play an important role in life on Earth including carboxylic acids, amino acids and nucleobases.     

Concept options for the aerial survey of Titan

Various aerial platforms intended for long endurance survey of the Titan surface are presented. A few novel concepts are introduced, including a heated methane balloon and a balloon with a tethered wind turbine. All the concept options are predicted to have lower scientific payload fractions than the Huygens probe. It is concluded that the selection of the best aerial platform option depends on more accurate mass estimates and a clear decision on whether, or not, in situ surface composition measurements are required in conjunction with aerial remote sensing.     

Heterogeneous solid/gas chemistry of organic compounds related to comets,meteorites, Titan,and Mars: Laboratory and in lower Earth orbit experiments

To understand the evolution of organic molecules involved in extraterrestrial environments and with exobiological implications, many experimental programs in the laboratory are devoted to photochemical studies in the gaseous phase as well as in the solid state. The validity of such studies and their applications to extraterrestrial environments can be questioned as long as experiments conducted in space conditions, with the full solar spectrum, especially in the short wavelength domain, have not been implemented. The experiments that are described here will be carried out on a FOTON capsule, using the BIOPAN facility, and on the International Space Station, using the EXPOSE facility. Vented and sealed exposition cells will be used, which will allow us to study the chemical evolution in the gaseous phase as well as heterogeneous processes, such as the degradation of solid compounds and the release of gaseous fragments.     

基于LuGre模型的电液加载系统摩擦补偿

为了提高电液加载系统控制精度,针对摩擦问题提出了基于LuGre摩擦模型的前馈补偿方法.建立了用于摩擦仿真分析和补偿器设计的电液加载系统数学模型;通过实验获取并分析了相关的摩擦数据;基于实验数据进行LuGre模型参数辨识,把LuGre模型和辨识结果引入电液加载系统数学模型,并进行仿真结果与实际摩擦数据的对照,证明了LuGre摩擦模型的准确性.设计前馈补偿器,进行了实验对比,实验结果表明前馈补偿器可将摩擦产生的控制误差有效地降至未补偿时的30%左右.      

The ESA scientific programme

The ESA scientific programme has, so far, provided several significant astrophysics experiments and further important missions are scheduled for execution during the next decade. These missions are briefly summarised together with several astrophysics investigations presently under study.     

CoRoT and Kepler results: Solar-like oscillators

The space-borne observatories CoRoT (Convection Rotation and planetary Transits) and Kepler have provided photometric time series data of unprecedented precision for large numbers of stars. These data have revolutionized the fields of transiting exoplanets and asteroseismology. In this review some important asteroseismic results obtained using data from the CoRoT and Kepler space missions concerning stars that show solar-like oscillations are discussed. These results comprise, among others, measurements of the location of the base of the convection zone and helium second-ionization zone in main-sequence stars, the presence (or not) of core-helium burning in red-giant stars, as well as differential rotation in these stars.     

Return to Europa: Overview of the Jupiter Europa orbiter mission

Missions to explore Europa have been imagined ever since the Voyager mission first suggested that Europa was geologically very young. Subsequently, the Galileo spacecraft supplied fascinating new insights into this satellite of Jupiter. Now, an international team is proposing a return to the Jupiter system and Europa with the Europa Jupiter System Mission (EJSM). Currently, NASA and ESA are designing two orbiters that would explore the Jovian system and then each would settle into orbit around one of Jupiter’s icy satellites, Europa and Ganymede. In addition, the Japanese Aerospace eXploration Agency (JAXA) is considering a Jupiter magnetospheric orbiter and the Russian Space Agency is investigating a Europa lander.