磁层顶位置的卫星观测

本文用了自1963年到1979年卫星穿越磁层顶的1024个观测资料计算了向阳侧磁层顶椭球面的参数。企图从这些资料得出星际磁场和太阳风热压强对向阳侧磁层顶位置和形状的影响大小。但数值计算和理论分析都表明,目前所具有的观测资料的精度不足以获得星际磁场和太阳风热压强影响的数值。本文分析了各种因素所造成的在计算该椭球面参数时的不确定性。进而提出了对进一步工作的建议。该椭球面的平均大小、形状和方位的观测值与理论预计值是非常一致的。      

土星磁层顶的Kelvin-Helmholtz不稳定性和磁流体表面波

本文采用可压缩磁流体力学近似并选取Voyager-1的观测数据,讨论了土星磁层顶的Kelvin-Helmholtz不稳定性和磁流体表面波.计算表明,土星磁层随星体自转同磁鞘流之间的速度差,可以在地方时午前、中午和距中午不远的午后磁层顶激发不稳定性;午前和午后区有很强的非对称性.计算所得的波的特性与观测一致.      

航天器非平稳振动环境TVAR时频分析(英文)

Predicting the time-varying auto-spectral density of a spacecraft in high-altitude orbits requires an accurate model for the non-stationary random vibration signals with densely spaced modal frequency. The traditional time-varying algorithm limits prediction accuracy, thus affecting a number of operational decisions. To solve this problem, a time-varying auto regressive （TVAR） model based on the process neural network （PNN） and the empirical mode decomposition （EMD） is proposed. The time-varying system is tracked on-line by establishing a time-varying parameter model, and then the relevant parameter spectrum is obtained. Firstly, the EMD method is utilized to decompose the signal into several intrinsic mode functions （IMFs）. Then for each IMF, the PNN is established and the time-varying auto-spectral density is obtained. Finally, the time-frequency distribution of the signals can be reconstructed by linear superposition. The simulation and the analytical results from an example demonstrate that this approach possesses simplicity, effectiveness, and feasibility, as well as higher frequency resolution.     

M stars as targets for terrestrial exoplanet searches and biosignature detection

The changing view of planets orbiting low mass stars, M stars, as potentially hospitable worlds for life and its remote detection was motivated by several factors, including the demonstration of viable atmospheres and oceans on tidally locked planets, normal incidence of dust disks, including debris disks, detection of planets with masses in the 5-20 M() range, and predictions of unusually strong spectral biosignatures. We present a critical discussion of M star properties that are relevant for the long- and short-term thermal, dynamical, geological, and environmental stability of conventional liquid water habitable zone (HZ) M star planets, and the advantages and disadvantages of M stars as targets in searches for terrestrial HZ planets using various detection techniques. Biological viability seems supported by unmatched very long-term stability conferred by tidal locking, small HZ size, an apparent short-fall of gas giant planet perturbers, immunity to large astrosphere compressions, and several other factors, assuming incidence and evolutionary rate of life benefit from lack of variability. Tectonic regulation of climate and dynamo generation of a protective magnetic field, especially for a planet in synchronous rotation, are important unresolved questions that must await improved geodynamic models, though they both probably impose constraints on the planet mass. M star HZ terrestrial planets must survive a number of early trials in order to enjoy their many Gyr of stability. Their formation may be jeopardized by an insufficient initial disk supply of solids, resulting in the formation of objects too small and/or dry for habitability. The small empirical gas giant fraction for M stars reduces the risk of formation suppression or orbit disruption from either migrating or nonmigrating giant planets, but effects of perturbations from lower mass planets in these systems are uncertain. During the first approximately 1 Gyr, atmospheric retention is at peril because of intense and frequent stellar flares and sporadic energetic particle events, and impact erosion, both enhanced, the former dramatically, for M star HZ semimajor axes. Loss of atmosphere by interactions with energetic particles is likely unless the planetary magnetic moment is sufficiently large. For the smallest stellar masses a period of high planetary surface temperature, while the parent star approaches the main sequence, must be endured. The formation and retention of a thick atmosphere and a strong magnetic field as buffers for a sufficiently massive planet emerge as prerequisites for an M star planet to enter a long period of stability with its habitability intact. However, the star will then be subjected to short-term fluctuations with consequences including frequent unpredictable variation in atmospheric chemistry and surficial radiation field. After a review of evidence concerning disks and planets associated with M stars, we evaluate M stars as targets for future HZ planet search programs. Strong advantages of M stars for most approaches to HZ detection are offset by their faintness, leading to severe constraints due to accessible sample size, stellar crowding (transits), or angular size of the HZ (direct imaging). Gravitational lensing is unlikely to detect HZ M star planets because the HZ size decreases with mass faster than the Einstein ring size to which the method is sensitive. M star Earth-twin planets are predicted to exhibit surprisingly strong bands of nitrous oxide, methyl chloride, and methane, and work on signatures for other climate categories is summarized. The rest of the paper is devoted to an examination of evidence and implications of the unusual radiation and particle environments for atmospheric chemistry and surface radiation doses, and is summarized in the Synopsis. We conclude that attempts at remote sensing of biosignatures and nonbiological markers from M star planets are important, not as tests of any quantitative theories or rational arguments, but instead because they offer an inspection of the residues from a Gyr-long biochemistry experiment in the presence of extreme environmental fluctuations. A detection or repeated nondetections could provide a unique opportunity to partially answer a fundamental and recurrent question about the relation between stability and complexity, one that is not addressed by remote detection from a planet orbiting a solar-like star, and can only be studied on Earth using restricted microbial systems in serial evolution experiments or in artificial life simulations. This proposal requires a planet that has retained its atmosphere and a water supply. The discussion given here suggests that observations of M star exoplanets can decide this latter question with only slight modifications to plans already in place for direct imaging terrestrial exoplanet missions.     

Interplanetary transfer of photosynthesis: an experimental demonstration of a selective dispersal filter in planetary island biogeography

We launched a cryptoendolithic habitat, made of a gneissic impactite inoculated with Chroococcidiopsis sp., into Earth orbit. After orbiting the Earth for 16 days, the rock entered the Earth's atmosphere and was recovered in Kazakhstan. The heat of entry ablated and heated the rock to a temperature well above the upper temperature limit for life to below the depth at which light levels are insufficient for photosynthetic organisms ( approximately 5 mm), thus killing all of its photosynthetic inhabitants. This experiment shows that atmospheric transit acts as a strong biogeographical dispersal filter to the interplanetary transfer of photosynthesis. Following atmospheric entry we found that a transparent, glassy fusion crust had formed on the outside of the rock. Re-inoculated Chroococcidiopsis grew preferentially under the fusion crust in the relatively unaltered gneiss beneath. Organisms under the fusion grew approximately twice as fast as the organisms on the control rock. Thus, the biologically destructive effects of atmospheric transit can generate entirely novel and improved endolithic habitats for organisms on the destination planetary body that survive the dispersal filter. The experiment advances our understanding of how island biogeography works on the interplanetary scale.     

Origin of informational polymers and the search for non-terran life: protection of the polymeric state of DNA by phosphate minerals

An in-depth analysis of the effects exerted on the DNA backbone by 25 crystal phosphate minerals is reported. Degradation of DNA oligomers was performed with two different reactions: Hydrolysis following Nucleophilic Degradation (HND), initiated by the nucleophilic addition of formamide on both purine and pyrimidine nucleobases, and Hydrolysis following Nucleophilic Substitution (HNS) carried on by water and starting with the removal of a nondegraded base. A complete panel of effects on the phosphoester bonds, from protection to enhanced instability to absence of interference, is described. These effects differ in the different degradation pathways and in different physical-chemical conditions. The relationship between the hardness of the mineral and its protective ability is discussed. In addition to its interest per se, this study was prompted by the observed catalytic abilities of soluble and mineral phosphates (Saladino et al., 2006c) on the synthetic reactions by formamide. The relevance of these observations in the search for nonterran life is discussed.     

Acoustic measurements of models of military style supersonic nozzle jets

Modern military aircraft jet engines are designed with variable-geometry nozzles to provide optimal thrust in different operating conditions, depending on the flight envelope. How- ever, acoustic measurements for such nozzles are scarce, due to the cost involved in making full- scale measurements and the lack of details about the exact geometries of these nozzles. Thus the present effort at Pennsylvania State University （PSU） in partnership with GE Aviation and the NASA Glenn Research Center is aiming to study and characterize the acoustic field produced by supersonic jets issuing from converging-diverging military style nozzles, and to identify and test promising noise reduction techniques. An equally important objective is to develop methodology for using data obtained from small- and moderate-scale experiments to reliably predict the full-scale engine noise. The experimental results presented show reasonable agreement between small-scale and medium-scale jets, as well as between heated jets and heat-simulated ones.     

Large eddy simulation of turbulent diffusion flame combustion using a conserved scalar methodology

The present paper describes an LES prediction of turbulent diffusion flame combustion in a simplified axi-symmetric combustor geometry.The calculations are carried out using a well-tested finite volume incompressible LES code which has been modified to handle variable density and reacting flows.The basic mixture fraction conserved scalar method is used with the chemical state relationships described by fast chemistry.The turbulence-chemistry interaction is modelled by a sub-grid PDF method and the PDF is assumed to follow a Beta-function shape.The LES predictions have been time-averaged over 3.5 flow-through times to generate the mean radial profiles of mixture fraction,product mass fraction,temperature,axial velocity and axial rms.The agreement of the LES predictions with the experimental data is good for all the above quantities at four different axial positions with largest differences at the first measurement plane.The LES method also provides information on the unsteady nature of turbulent diffusion combustion. For turbulent reacting flows with large density ratio,it was found necessary to use a relaxation method in order to remove unphysical high-frequency fluctuations and to maintain numerical stability.      

爆轰波-激波迎面作用后的稳定波系

本文为对当量比乙炔氧气混合气体中爆轰波与激波正面对撞产生稳定波系的实验和理论研究.实验主要以高速扫描摄影获取两波对撞的x-t纹影图,一维理论分析则基于三种热完全的组分求解两波对撞的稳定解并探寻它们的规律.实验发现透射波系包括一道激波和爆轰波,以及紧随爆轰波后的稀疏波区,这种波系情况与一维理论分析中CJ解一致.透射CJ爆轰与人射爆轰相比马赫数降低,而相对波前来流的传播速度有轻微提高,但在实验室坐标下其速度显著降低.透射波系受初始压强影响不大;初始温度提高使得爆轰波速度降低,而透射激波速度增加;对波系起实质影响作用的是入射激波强度,激波越强,则整个透射流场呈现偏向激波的趋势;理论分析还指出,稀疏波区的出现不可避免,当激波强度趋于声波时稀疏波区趋于消失,激波越强则疏波区趋于扩大.     

管道相连泄爆容器中粉尘爆炸的实验研究

采用管道相连容器进行了工业规模的粉尘爆炸实验,目的是研究粮食粉尘在管道相连的加工和输送工业设备中发生粉尘爆炸时火焰和爆炸压力的传播过程及粉尘的Kst值对爆炸的影响.实验装置为一个气力输送系统,由两个不同体积的容器通过管道连接构成.采用粮食工业上具有代表性的两类粉尘进行了粉尘爆炸测试,爆炸从一个容器中通过管道传播到另一个容器中并引发了随后的二次爆炸,测试了不同位置的火焰和压力信号.实验结果表明:即使在起爆容器采取了泄爆措施,管道中没有粉尘喷入的情况下,粉尘爆炸火焰也可沿管道传播达30m并引发二次爆炸;随着粉尘爆炸指数的增大,初始爆炸的猛烈程度增强,火焰传播速度加快,二次爆炸的猛烈程度也随之增强.