地面实验室模拟空间等离子体环境的初步测试

在地面模拟电离层等离子体与高压太阳电池阵的相互作用时,需要一定密度和能量的等离子体环境,因而希望能在地面试验室中利用微波ERC等离子体源来近似模拟空间等离子体环境。文章对该等离子体源进行了初步测试,利用等离子体诊断系统获得了在大真空容器中的等离子体有关参数的测量数据,通过分析,我们得到了一个比较均匀的等离子体环境。     

空间等离子体源与测试系统设计

文章介绍了空间等离子体源与测试系统的设计方法。为了实现具有较高能量的低密度等离子体环境,首先在源入口处设计水平与垂直两种微波输入模式,提高电子的密度和温度,然后在源出口处设计装有几何调节栅和电位调节网的扩散杯,调节电子密度和温度。     

碰撞等离子体的宽频带电磁波吸收特性

针对具有金属反射面的非均匀等离子体对电磁波的反射、吸收问题,采用求解波动方程的方法构造相应的边界条件,详细研究各种参数等离子体对电磁波的吸收特性,讨论对等离子体参数及波动方程进行归一化的方法,得到归一化条件下的等离子体宽频带吸收特性。计算分析表明,对于电子密度为某种渐进分布的有碰撞的低温等离子体,当碰撞频率与最大电子密度处的等离子体频率相近或略大,且等离子体层的厚度足够大时,在一个较宽的频带内,等离子体对电磁波有较强的吸收作用。研究结论可以用于等离子体参数的选择,及等离子体隐身的参数设计。     

Geocorona of Hot Plasma

This review deals with basic results of experimental and theoretical studies (numerical simulations included) of the distributions, composition, and dynamics of particles of a hot plasma in the geomagnetosphere. Attention is drawn mainly to the ring current and the plasma sheet of the magnetotail, which play a key role in physics of the magnetosphere. The integrity (unity) of the system outer radiation belt–ring current–near plasma sheet is substantiated (the concept of a hot plasma geocorona). From the viewpoint of this concept, the physical processes and theories are considered that were suggested in order to explain the structure and dynamics of the hot magnetosphere plasma. An emphasis is made on disputable issues and topical problems so far unsolved.     

脉冲等离子体推力器内部流场的数值分析

应用所建立的广义拉格朗日乘子形式的磁流体力学模型对平行电极型脉冲等离子体推力器的内部流场进行了数值研究.对等离子体流动过程的分析表明,放电初期等离子体在很强的电磁力作用下高速喷出推力器,而到放电后期等离子体受到的气动力比电磁力大得多,等离子体的运动非常缓慢.电磁冲量占推力器元冲量的大部分,增强电磁加速作用可以进一步提高推力器的性能.     

连续波激光推力器稳定工作条件的解析计算模型

连续波激光推力器工作需要稳定的等离子体以吸收激光。为得到推力器中等离子体稳定维持的参数条件,根据吸收室内绕等离子体区域流动的流场特征,考虑高温状态下工质的热物理性质、激光吸收和辐射效应,建立了推力器吸收室内的能量平衡模型,该模型包含入射激光功率、推力室压强、等离子体区核心温度以及工质质量流量等参数。计算表明,该模型所得稳定质量流量随压力、激光功率的变化趋势与实验结果一致,并解释了稳定质量流量区间存在的原因。     

Electrostatic Instability and Plasma Irregularities in the Topside Ionosphere above the South-Atlantic Geomagnetic Anomaly

The data of measuring the plasma density in the topside ionosphere for the South-Atlantic geomagnetic anomaly region are presented. It is shown that irregular plasma structures with a wide spectrum of irregularity scale (including large-scale structures with a dimension of order of some hundred kilometers) can be generated in the fields of electrostatic turbulence in inhomogeneous plasma.     

A low-orbit experiment on modeling superhigh-velocity impact of a meteorite reproducing abiogenic synthesis of complex organic compounds in torch plasma

We present the results of model experiments confirming that in torch plasma, arising under the superhigh-velocity impact action of a meteorite, synthesis of complex polymer molecules takes place, if this plasma contains elements forming organic compounds. Based on these results we suggest a new concept of the prebiotic stage of evolution, according to which the processes in plasma torches of meteorite impacts could facilitate origination of primordial forms of living matter. In order to investigate the processes of plasma synthesis one needs to carry out direct impact experiments with impactors whose dimensions would range from 1 to 20 cm. Ground-based accelerators of dust particles allow one to reach the necessary impact velocity only for particles with dimensions below 10–3 cm in diameter. In order to overcome this difficulty, we suggest a low-orbit experiment with original technique, in which impact of a impactor into a target with a diameter of up to 300 cm proceeds on oppositely directed orbits, the products of synthesis being detected with the use of remote mass-spectrometric measurements.     

Generation of experimental plasma parameter maps around the baffle aperture of a Kaufman (UK-25) ion thruster

The plasma produced by a Kaufman (UK-25) ion thruster possesses four distinct regions. The interaction of two of these regions, the coupling and discharge plasmas, is important for thruster design and efficiency, since it controls the production of the primary electrons responsible for most of the ionisation in the thruster. This paper details the measurement and analysis techniques used to obtain two-dimensional experimental plasma parameter maps across a plasma double layer in the baffle aperture region of this type of ion thruster. This plasma-interaction region was mapped experimentally using Langmuir probes.The Langmuir probe data were collected and analysed to produce maps of plasma potential, Maxwellian and primary electron energy and number density. Detailed static magnetic field measurements using Hall-effect probes were also obtained. A number of derived plasma parameter maps were then made possible, such as electron pressure. The application of the analysis techniques used here allowed ion thruster plasma property maps to be constructed of a spatial extent and resolution previously unseen. Two-dimensional maps of the spatial location of primary electrons are presented, as effected by applied magnetic field changes, along with the detection of regions showing depletion of primary electron energies.     

微波等离子推力器等离子体形成及其与微波耦合机理分析

微波等离子推力器（MPT）的最大优点是微波在谐振腔内放电使工质形成悬浮的等离子体，没有是极的烧蚀与寿命问题。文中计算了MPT谐振腔内氦气工质击穿场强与腔内气压的关系，结合实验现象及参数调节分析了微波等离子推力器等离子体形成的基本物理过程及影响等离子体稳定的因素、等离子体与微波耦合的机理等，为建立微波、等离子体、流场间的耦合计算模型奠定了基础。     

一种2π视场高分辨热等离子体分析仪设计与仿真

针对空间热等离子探测中大通量动态范围、宽视场和高分辨率的需求,以带顶盖球形静电分析器为基础设计了2π视场热等离子体分析仪(Hot plasma analyzer, HPA),探测性能得到显著提升。通过优化球形剖面视场偏转系统以及粒子光学系统,实现对热等离子体的2π视场高角度分辨率探测,可探测能量范围覆盖50 eV~20 keV,能量分辨率优于10%。利用顶盖电压控制方式实现几何因子在两个量级内连续可调,可以满足对太阳风和磁层热等离子体的全空间高分辨探测需求。     

任意角入射到非均匀等离子体的WKB法

用WKB法研究了以任意角入射的电磁波在非均匀非磁化等离子体中的衰减特性,给出了电磁波在非均匀非磁化等离子体中的双程衰减公式。选用抛物线型等离子体密度分布进行计算,基于等离子体共振吸收概念分析了双程衰减与入射电磁波频率、等离子体碰撞频率、等离子体最大密度和电磁波入射角等的关系。对等离子体隐身研究有一定的参考价值。     

The mass and speed dependence of meteor air plasma temperatures

The speed and mass dependence of meteor air plasma temperatures is perhaps the most important data needed to understand how small meteoroids chemically change the ambient atmosphere in their path and enrich the ablated meteoric organic matter with oxygen. Such chemistry can play an important role in creating prebiotic compounds. The excitation conditions in various air plasma emissions were measured from high-resolution optical spectra of Leonid storm meteors during NASA's Leonid Multi-Instrument Aircraft Campaign. This was the first time a sufficient number and range of temperature measurements were obtained to search for meteoroid mass and speed dependencies. We found slight increases in temperature with decreasing altitude, but otherwise nearly constant values for meteoroids with speeds between 35 and 72 km/s and masses between 10(-5) g and 1 g. We conclude that faster and more massive meteoroids produce a larger emission volume, but not a higher air plasma temperature. We speculate that the meteoric plasma may be in multiphase equilibrium with the ambient atmosphere, which could mean lower plasma temperatures in a CO(2)-rich early Earth atmosphere.     

木星极光等离子体环境表面充电三维仿真分析

木星为太阳系内少有的强磁场行星,其等离子体环境十分恶劣,可对木星探测器造成严重的表面充电效应。文章采用有限元方法,借助COMSOL仿真软件,对航天器表面充电现象进行三维仿真,结合NASCAP-2k以及SPIS软件对比验证了GEO表面充电效应的模拟结果,证明了该仿真方法的有效性。对航天器在木星极光等离子体环境下的表面充电现象仿真分析结果表明,在木星背景等离子体环境中15RJ处,航天器表面充电电位较低,仅为平均-80 V左右;而在木星极光等离子体中,航天器表面充电电位最高可以达到-36.7 k V,CERS等材料表面充电电位差最大可以达到-16 k V,具有较高的放电风险。     

临近空间地面模拟装置等离子体源仿真研究

为了指导临近空间地面模拟装置中等离子体源结构设计及等离子体环境参数优化,围绕相关指标体系要求,采用数值模拟方法,分析临近空间等离子体环境地面模拟装置中的射流等离子体与下游目标模拟体相互作用。通过研究射流入口处等离子体状态与下游等离子体对钝体包覆效果的依赖关系,明确了影响包覆特性的关键等离子体参数、重要外控参量,及其对下游目标模拟体包覆特性的影响规律。仿真结果表明：相对于其他因素,射流入口的半径、气体流速、速度偏角、气体温度、钝体直径、环境背压等工况对有效实验区长度及厚度参数的影响较大。相关结果对于临近空间等离子体环境地面模拟装置中等离子体源优化设计及等离子体环境参数定向调控具有指导和借鉴意义。     

等离子体鞘套对飞行器再入过程信号传播特性的影响分析

再入飞行器表面所形成的等离子体鞘套会对通信信号的传播产生影响,甚至形成通信黑障。文章从电磁波在等离子体中的传播理论出发,分析建立鞘套对电磁波吸收和反射的数学模型;并以数学模型为基础,编制面向对象的计算软件,考察影响通信信号传播特性的各种因素。结果表明,等离子体鞘套内的电子密度及其分布对通信信号的传播特性有重要影响,减小等离子体密度可显著降低信号的衰减。     

等离子体鞘层加速模拟质子辐照连续谱 数值仿真研究

质子辐照是导致空间飞行器热控涂层性能衰退的重要原因。目前地面多采用单一能量的粒子替代空间能量连续分布的粒子来开展质子辐照模拟试验。文章提出了在一个脉冲宽度内获得连续能量质子谱的方法,即脉冲偏压等离子体鞘层加速方法。文章利用细胞粒子（particle-in-cell,PIC）模型对在3种脉冲偏压三角波作用下等离子体鞘层加速质子以获得连续能量质子谱的动力学过程进行了数值仿真研究,分析了3种脉冲三角波形对鞘层扩展、离子加速及能量分布的影响。结果表明,电势空间分布和离子运动状态紧密联系,鞘层内离子密度变化受到脉冲波形和离子热扩散运动的综合影响,通过调整脉冲偏压三角波形,能够获得不同的能量-剂量分布,从而为下一步工作打下基础。     

Plasma irregularities in unstable outer ionosphere according to the Intercosmos-Bulgaria-1300 satellite data

The results of the satellite low-latitude and mid-latitude measurements of the disturbed plasma concentration, electron temperature, and quasi-stable electric field at heights of ～900 km after sunset are discussed. It is shown that the sharp fronts of changes in the electron temperature and plasma density observed in the experiment onboard the Intercosmos-Bulgaria-1300 satellite in the low-latitude (and equatorial) outer ionosphere can be related to damping of the oscillations of plasma electrons at local decreases of the plasma density (plasma “pits”) and formation of the vortex plasma structures at density and temperature gradients, which promotes conservation of ionosphere irregularities and makes the fronts of concentration variations steeper. Nonmonotonic variations in the plasma conductivity for the ionosphere currents in unstable plasma can be a cause of observed nonmonotonic disturbances of the vertical component of the “constant” electric field.     

电大目标等离子体隐身的矩量法优化设计

根据高频散射特征,提出典型几何散射中心替代法,用于解决矩量法（MOM）用于电大目标等离子体隐身时的优化设计问题。以某典型电大目标为例,通过仿真分析了该方法的可行性。结果显示,电大目标覆盖利用该方法得到最优参数的等离子体后,不仅目标整体的单站RCS平均缩减与典型几何散射体的单站RCS缩减相当,且任意方向上RCS基本都有10dB左右的缩减,表明用该方法得到用于电大目标隐身的等离子体参数是可行的。     

Autogeneration of an Instability of a Plasma Composition Equilibrium in the Plasmaspheric Transition Region during a Postsunset High-Altitude Launch of the Vertikal'-10 Rocket

A cause of the instability of equilibrium of plasma ion composition is discussed and exemplified by the data on a burst of amplitudes of small-scale plasma irregularities in the plasmaspheric transition region during an evening launch of the Vertikal'-10 rocket. This burst is accompanied by a simultaneous decrease in the average plasma density at altitudes of 700–1100 km. Specific features of the observed events are compared to postsunset incoherent scatter radar observations of the ion diffusion flux density. It is demonstrated that the instability is caused by peculiarities of the protonosphere–ionosphere interaction associated with a sharp difference between thermal conditions of the ionospheric and protonospheric air shortly after sunset. The induced nonuniformity of postsunset cooling of the protonospheric–ionospheric plasma causes density irregularities in ion diffusion fluxes and generates local bunches of heavy ions, which are usually only a minor impurity to lighter ions. As a result, conditions are created that are favorable for the nondissipative accumulation of potential energy for the mutual opposition of two or more groups of ions with different masses and for the subsequent release of this energy by a threshold excitation of impurity-driven plasma instabilities.