Alfvén waves as a driving mechanism in stellar winds

Alfvén waves have been invoked as an important mechanism of particle acceleration in stellar winds of cool stars. After their identification in the solar wind they started to be studied in winds of stars located in different regions of the HR diagram. We discuss here some characteristics of these waves and we present a direct application in the acceleration of late-type stellar winds.     

磁重联区Alfven波及新生离子的加速

利用二维混合数值模拟研究了有速度驱动、低等离子体β值情况下的磁场重联过程，结果表明磁重联过程可以产生Alfven波，该Alfven波动对重新区中的新生离子作用，使得新生离子经历投掷角散射方程，具有球壳分布特征，部分新生离子得到加速，其获得的最大能量约为4（miVA0^2/2)，此加速过程所需的加速时间在100／Ωi量级，是一个极快的加速机制，加速粒子能谱为双幂律谱。     

利用人工神经网络快速计算木星系磁坐标

在木星辐射带研究中,从地理坐标向磁坐标的准确转换是建模基础.以往的建模中,磁壳参数L值的计算基于磁偶极场假设,该方法精确度较差.结合最新的高精度木星磁场模型JRM09,本文提出基于磁力线追踪法的木星磁坐标计算方法,并分析其合理性和必要性.要求精确度较高时,磁力线追踪法计算耗时很长.本文在磁力线追踪法的基础上进行改进,提出基于人工神经网络的磁坐标快速计算方法.该方法包括分类器和拟合器.分类器基于Adaboost算法的BP神经网络,用于预测某地理坐标是否在内磁层,如果在内磁层,则用拟合器计算L值.拟合器采用遗传算法优化BP神经网络.结果表明,分类器的分类错误率在3%以内,而拟合器的预测误差在7%以内.以Juno号一圈探测轨道为例,利用神经网络的磁坐标计算法比磁力线追踪计算法速度快3个数量级以上.基于人工神经网络的磁坐标快速计算方法可用于未来木星辐射带的研究.     

Alfven波在微电离大气中的衰减特性研究

利用简单的偶极子地磁场模型以及大气电子密度和电导率模式, 分析地面产生的磁扰动以Alfven波的模式传播到近地空间区域. 这种地面的磁扰动可能干扰近地空间卫星对空间磁扰动的观测. 通过对地面磁扰动Alfven波模式1000 km高度内的衰减情况进行模拟, 认为在近地空间采用地磁偶极子模型是合理的. 由于衰减随扰动频率的增大而急剧增强, 分析还得到了近地卫星能够探测到地面磁扰动的最大频率. 计算结果表明, Alfven波的衰减主要集中在高度50 km以下, 这个区域内的大气电导率极其微弱, 使Alfven波的传播受到极大衰减. 0.4 Hz以下的Alfven波沿磁力线传播到1000 km高度后衰减结为原来扰动幅度的千分之一, 因此频率在0.4 Hz以下的Alfven波可能会干扰低轨卫星探测磁场脉动.     

The connection between space weather and Single Event Upsets in polar low earth orbit satellites

Space weather is driven and modulated by the activity in the Sun. Space weather events have the potential to inflict critical damage to space systems. Nowadays, space assets are essential in our basic needs, such as communications, cell phone networks, navigation systems, television and internet. Hence, understanding space weather dynamics and its effects on spacecraft is crucial for satellites engineers and satellite operators, in order to prevent and mitigate its impacts.In the last decade our Sun has erupted several times causing dozens of space weather events. Some of these led to satellite malfunctions and outages lasting from mere hours, up to days and weeks. This research is focused on two different space weather events, March 7–8, 2012, and September 6–10, 2017, that occurred during the last ten years and caused satellite anomalies that are related to an increase in the single event upsets rate. Single event upset is a bit flip in a memory device due to high energy particle interaction with the device sensitive volume. During these two periods, Eros B, a low Earth orbiting polar satellite detected an increased rate of single event upsets on two of its processing computers when the high energy proton flux was elevated. On both occasions X-class flares were detected, and the increased single event upsets count rate in Eros B took place only after the 100 MeV protons flux was three orders of magnitude above the background levels. In this research, Israeli satellite anomalies that were detected are first demonstrated.     

Polarization pattern of low and mid-frequency magnetic pulsations in the polar cap: A comprehensive analysis at Terra Nova Bay (Antarctica)

The polarization pattern of ULF pulsations (f ≈ 1–100 mHz) at Terra Nova Bay (Antarctica, CGM λ ∼ 80°) has been determined for the entire 2003, soon after the solar maximum. A comparison with the results of previous investigations, conducted at the same station close to the solar minimum (1994–96), allows to focus common elements and major differences among different frequency bands which persist through the entire solar cycle. Basically, between f ∼ 1.5 and 5 mHz, the day can be divided into four sectors with alternate polarizations. The local time and latitudinal dependence of the observed pattern can be tentatively interpreted in terms of a latitude of resonant field lines reaching λ ∼ 80° in the noon sector; on the other hand, resonance effects of lower latitude field lines can be clearly identified also far from the noon meridian when the station moves into the deep polar cap. Moreover, in the morning sector the resonance region would extend to lower latitudes than in the evening sector. The proposed profile of the resonant region can interpret also the results obtained at other cusp/auroral stations and appears consistent with that one inferred in the northern hemisphere at smaller latitudes. The resonance region progressively shifts toward lower latitude with increasing frequency; correspondingly, the four-sector pattern progressively disappears at TNB. Above f ∼ 20 mHz, the experimental observations might suggest an additional contribution from Sunward propagating waves, possibly via the magnetotail lobes.     

A statistical analysis of low frequency geomagnetic field pulsations at two Antarctic geomagnetic observatories in the polar cap region

The aim of this study is to investigate the characteristics of low frequency (∼0.5–5 mHz) geomagnetic field fluctuations as recorded at two Antarctic stations within the polar cap: the Italian observatory Mario Zucchelli Station (TNB) and the French–Italian observatory Dome C (DMC) in order to investigate the spatial extension and propagation characteristics of the phenomena observed at very high latitude. The stations have approximately the same geographic latitude, but a very different corrected geomagnetic latitude, being DMC close to the geomagnetic pole and TNB closer to the auroral oval.     

Azimuthal propagation of Pc5 geomagnetic field pulsations in the southern polar cap

A statistical analysis of low frequency geomagnetic fluctuations at the two Antarctic stations Mario Zucchelli Station (geographic coordinates: 74.7°S, 164.1°E; corrected geomagnetic coordinates: 80.0°S, 306.8°E) and Dumont D’Urville (geographic coordinates: 66.7°S, 140.0°E; corrected geomagnetic coordinates: 80.4°S, 236.0°E) is shown. The analysis focuses on power spectra, coherence and phase difference between the stations, which are both located in the polar cap, with a 5-h magnetic local time displacement along a geomagnetic parallel; in this situation, the phase difference between geomagnetic fluctuations indicates the direction of their azimuthal propagation. Coherent fluctuations have been found to occur preferably when both stations are on the same side (dawnward or duskward) with respect to the polar cusp; moreover, around local magnetic midnight, they occur essentially during open magnetospheric conditions. The phase difference for coherent fluctuations indicates a propagation direction away from local geomagnetic noon and midnight. Also the analysis of three individual pulsation events, occurring at different times during the day, is shown; they are characterized at the two stations by simultaneous, coherent fluctuations, whose phase difference finds correspondence with the statistical behaviour.     

The radiation environment in the ISS-USLab measured by ALTEA: Spectra and relative nuclear abundances in the polar,equatorial and SAA regions

We present here the energy spectra relative to different geomagnetic regions as measured by the ALTEA (Anomalous Long Term Effects on Astronauts) detector in the International Space Station – USLab from August 2006 to July 2007.     

Analytical and numerical approaches of a solar array thermal analysis in a low-earth orbit satellite

This paper researches the thermal analysis of a fixed-type solar array in a low-earth orbit satellite through both an analytical method with a simplified thermal model and a numerical method with a detailed thermal model.     

Interaction of Rossby waves with the Gulf Stream and Kuroshio using altimetry in a framework of a vortex layer model

In this paper, we show the potential of satellite altimetry to study the interaction of Rossby waves with the shear flow. The Miles-Ribner approach, which was developed in gas dynamics in the 1960 s, is used to describe Rossby waves interacting with the Gulf Stream and Kuroshio areas. The region of interaction is approximated by a nonzonal vortex layer. We apply the main formulations of the problem of a nonzonal vortex layer on the β-plane in the formulation of Miles-Ribner to observations in the real ocean. Earlier, we showed that the interaction of waves with a nonzonal flow gives rise to a new class of solutions, which is absent in the case of a zonal flow. This new class of solutions can be interpreted as the pure emission of Rossby waves by the nonzonal flow. We apply this theoretical approach to the areas of the Gulf Stream and Kuroshio as well. We use for analysis altimetry data available at Copernicus Marine Environment Monitoring Service. The analysis of Hovmöller diagrams in the areas under consideration confirms the previously obtained theoretical conclusions of the problem of the interaction of planetary waves with a nonzonal flow on the β-plane in the formulation of Miles-Ribner. The incident waves, as well as refracted and reflected waves are distinguished. The speed of refracted and reflected waves exceeds the speed of incident waves, which confirms the conclusions about the existence of mechanisms for the amplification of planetary waves when they interact with a nonzonal flow.     

Excitation of electrostatic plasma waves by a moving charged source in a quantum plasma

Within a quantum hydrodynamic model and using the reductive perturbation technique, the nonlinear ion-acoustic wave (IAW) excitations due to a moving charged object in an electron-pair-ion quantum plasma are studied both analytically and numerically. In such quantum plasmas we have derived forced Korteweg-de Vries (fKdV) type equation for finite amplitude nonlinear IAWs. The effect of relevant plasma parameters on solitonic excitations is investigated. Numerical simulation shows the generation of advancing solitons ahead of the forcing term traveling at a faster rate with trailing wakes behind the forcing disturbance. It is found that propagation characteristics of nonlinear excitations are significantly affected by quantum parameter. Additionally, we have pursued our analysis by extending it to account for arbitrary amplitude IA solitons, and derived a system of nonlinear differential equations which are analyzed numerically to study the dynamics. Nonlinear analysis predicts the existence of periodic and quasiperiodic nature of the nonlinear system and reveals that the transition from quasiperiodic to periodic behavior occurs due to the variation of quantum diffraction.     

近壁区理论耗散率模型的改进

提出了在边界层的近壁区,采用共振三波的理论模型描述湍流边界层相干结构,由此解决了对称三维波理论模型不能处理三阶相关量的问题,根据新的理论模型对ε方程逐项进行计算和分析.与原理论模型计算结果相比,本文理论结果与直接数值模拟(DNS)符合更好.     

准平行无碰撞激波上游能量粒子的观测研究

通过Cluster卫星在2005年3月16日观测到的一个准平行激波观测事例,研究了准平行激波上游低频等离子体波动与能量离子之间的关系.卫星观测结果表明,在准平行激波上游,离子微分能通量受到了非线性波动的调制.在磁场强度较小区域,离子微分能通量较高.产生这种现象的可能原因是准平行激波上游的非线性波动可以捕获离子,被捕获的离子在波动中来回弹跳并被电场加速,从而导致磁场强度较小区域离子微分能通量较高.这一观测结果与已有的混合模拟结果相吻合.     

Dynamic orbit propagation in a gravitational field of an inhomogeneous attractive body using the Lagrange coefficients

The analytical methods have nearly been replaced by the numerical methods due to their higher accuracy and accessibility of computation facilities. The semi-analytical Lagrange method of orbit propagation using f and g series is a competitive alternative to the numerical integration technique if the Lagrange coefficients are derived in a full gravitational field. In this paper, a generalization of the Lagrange method of orbit propagation is introduced. In other words, we introduce a complete form of the Lagrange coefficients in all force fields developed in the spherical harmonics for example full gravitational field of the Earth. The method is numerically compared with the numerical integration technique. In order to show the numerical performance of the method, it has been implemented for orbit propagation of a GPS-like MEO and CHAMP-like LEO satellites. Discrepancy at centimeter level for CHAMP-like and sub-millimeter accuracy for GPS-like satellites shows relatively high performance of the developed algorithm. Compared to integration method, the proposed Lagrange method is nearly faster by a factor two for small Nmax and four for large Nmax.     

近壁区Reynolds应力输运方程的理论模型

在湍流边界层的近壁区,采用对称共振三波的理论模型描述相干结构,根据理论模型对Reynolds应力输运方程逐项进行计算和分析,结果与直接数值模拟符合很好.这不仅在理论上有益于对湍流物理机制的了解,而且展现了一种可能性,即根据相干结构的理论知识来改造湍流模型,使之具有更清晰的物理内涵以提高近壁区的预估精度.     

The quantification of wound healing as a method to assess late radiation damage in primate skin exposed to high-energy protons.

In an experiment examining the effects of space radiations on primates, different groups of rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) were exposed to single whole-body doses of 32- or 55-MeV protons. Survivors of those exposures, together with age-matched controls, have been monitored continuously since 1964 and 1965. Late effects of nominal proton doses ranging from 2-6 Gray have been measured in vitro using skin fibroblasts from the animals. A logical extension of that study is reported here, and it involves observations of wound healing after 3-mm diameter dermal punches were removed from the ears (pinnae) of control and irradiated monkeys. Tendencies in the reduction of competence to repair cutaneous wounds have been revealed by the initial examinations of animals that received doses greater than 2 Gy more than 2 decades earlier. These trends indicate that this method of assessing radiation damage to skin exposed to high-energy radiations warrants further study.     

The evolution of mirror type magnetic fluctuations in the magnetosheath based on multipoint observations

Two orbits were selected in January–February 2006 when the separation between the Cluster spacecraft was large and mirror type magnetic field fluctuations were observed by all spacecraft in different regions of the terrestrial magnetosheath. Minimum variance analysis was applied to find the mirror type fluctuations, and the amplitude of the fluctuations was determined individually. Mirror mode structures are moving along the streamlines frozen in the plasma. A model was developed for the calculation of plasma flowtime from the bow shock to the observation point. The growth rate of the field strength perturbations was estimated by comparing the amplitudes of fluctuations observed simultaneously at distant locations (∼10,000 km) based on the assumption that δB ∼ exp(γt). The obtained growth rate values were about an order of magnitude smaller than those provided by linear models and they decreased in the inner regions of the magnetosheath, indicating some saturation in the growth of the waves when proceeding towards the magnetopause. The results of these two case studies suggest that mirror type fluctuations originate from the compression region downstream of the quasi-perpendicular bow shock, and the growth of the fluctuations cannot be described by linear approximations.     

The verification of GNSS tropospheric tomography model in a mountainous area

The GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) has not been developed as a meteorological data source provider, but with a careful and sophisticated processing strategy it might be used as one. The term GNSS tomography refers to the usage of the ray traced GNSS signal as scanning rays in the tomographic model input. The model is divided into a number of voxels. The system is inverted and value of refractivity is obtained. Typically, as in the most of the inverse processing, there is a problem of the undetermined system and as a consequence the cofactor matrix is close to singular. To avoid singularity additional conditions or constrains should be added to the system. Here, additional parameters are derived with the help of the air flow analysis in the Sudety mountains (south-west region of Poland), and special Slant Wet Delay (SWD) trimming procedure. The flow’s synthetic parameters like the Bruint-Väisälä frequency and the Froude number are determined. This way the type of the flow is recognized and the analysis of the impact of orographic barrier has been quantified. The SWDs from the GNSS observations were tested against, SWD from raytracing through the COAMPS model field. The modified GNSS tomography model was tested for the real GNSS observations delivered from the GNSS network Karkonosze located in the Sudety mountains and compared with the COAMPS model. The solution shows a considerable improvement in comparison with plain tomographic model results.