Assessment of precision in ionospheric electron density profiles retrieved by GPS radio occultations

The Constellation Observing System for Meteorology Ionosphere and Climate (COSMIC) is a six satellite radio occultation mission that was launched in April 2006. The close proximity of these satellites during some months after launch provides a unique opportunity to evaluate the precision of Global Positioning System (GPS) radio occultation (RO) retrievals of ionospheric electron density from nearly collocated and simultaneous observations. RO data from 30 consecutive days during July and August 2006 are divided into ten groups in terms of daytime or nighttime and latitude. In all cases, the best precision values (about 1%) are found at the F peak height and they slightly degrade upwards. For all daytime groups, it is seen that electron density profiles above about 120 km height exhibit a substantial improvement in precision. Nighttime groups are rather diverse: in particular, the precision becomes better than 10% above different levels between 120 and 200 km height. Our overall results show that up to 100–200 km (depending on each group), the uncertainty associated with the precision is in the order of the measured electron density values. Even worse, the retrieved values tend sometimes to be negative. Although we cannot rely directly on electron density values at these altitudes, the shape of the profiles could be indicative of some ionospheric features (e.g. waves and sporadic E layers). Above 200 km, the profiles of precision are qualitatively quite independent from daytime or latitude. From all the nearly collocated pairs studied, only 49 exhibited a difference between line of sight angles of both RO at the F peak height larger than 10°. After analyzing them we find no clear indications of a significant representativeness error in electron density profiles due to the spherical assumption above 120 km height. Differences in precision between setting and rising GPS RO may be attributed to the modification of the processing algorithms applied to rising cases during the initial period of the COSMIC mission.     

Spectroscopic data and Stark broadening of Cu I and Ag I spectral lines: Selection and analysis

Optical emission and linear laser absorption spectroscopy techniques were used in investigation of plasma with copper and silver admixture. The method of selection of spectral lines and spectroscopic data with the aim of diagnostics of multicomponent air plasma with two metal vapors admixture was developed. Energy level populations behavior on the Boltzmann plot were used for Cu I and Ag I spectroscopic data selection. In this way the selection of spectroscopic data for some of Cu I and Ag I lines was realized. Stark broadening parameters of Cu I and Ag I were examined. Experimentally obtained temperature and electron density radial distributions were used in the calculation of plasma composition in the assumption of local thermodynamic equilibrium. Linear laser absorption spectroscopy was used to examine the state of plasma.     

Stochastic processes for line shapes and intensities

Stochastic processes provide flexible and fast calculations for modeling dynamical interactions between an atom and charged particles. We use a stochastic renewal process for the plasma microfield being the cause of Stark broadening. The accuracy and improvement possibilities of Lyman profiles calculations with a renewal process are analyzed by comparing to ab initio simulations for ion broadening only. Stochastic processes may also be applied to out of equilibrium plasmas. We present our first results for the effect of Langmuir waves on a line broadened by electrons only, and for the changes of atomic populations submitted to strong temperature fluctuations.     

Investigation of ionospheric response to two moderate geomagnetic storms using GPS–TEC measurements in the South American and African sectors during the ascending phase of solar cycle 24

The responses of the ionospheric F region using GPS–TEC measurements during two moderate geomagnetic storms at equatorial, low-, and mid-latitude regions over the South American and African sectors in May 2010, during the ascending phase of solar cycle 24, are investigated. The first moderate geomagnetic storm studied reached a minimum Dst value of −64 nT at 1500 UT on 02 May 2010 and the second moderate geomagnetic storm reached a minimum Dst value of −85 nT at 1400 UT on 29 May 2010. In this paper, we present vertical total electron content (VTEC) and phase fluctuations (in TECU/min) from Global Positioning System (GPS) observations from the equatorial to mid-latitude regions in the South American and African sectors. Our results obtained during these two moderate geomagnetic storms from both sectors show significant positive ionospheric storms during daytime hours at the equatorial, low-, and mid-latitude regions during the main and recovery phases of the storms. The thermospheric wind circulation change towards the equator is a strong indicator that suggests an important mechanism is responsible for these positive phases at these regions. A pre-storm event that was observed in the African sector from low- to the mid-latitude regions on 01 May 2010 was absent in the South American sector. This study also showed that there was no generation or suppression of ionospheric irregularities by storm events. Therefore, knowledge about the suppression and generation of ionospheric irregularities during moderate geomagnetic storms is still unclear.     

遗传算法综合阵列的幅度和相位方向图

分析了阵列方向图分别为对称、实的或实的且对称时所对应的单元激励关系,简要介绍了遗传算法,并将其用于阵列方向图综合.遗传算法是一种自适应全局优化概率搜索算法,它直接以目标函数作为搜索信息.通过合理地设计目标函数,遗传算法不仅可以综合幅度方向图,还可以综合相位,适合于需要进行幅度和相位补偿的情况,以及多目标的情况.最后,结合平顶波束方向图与抛物面天线初级馈源的正割平方方向图进行综合,证明了遗传算法的有效性和灵活性,说明使用遗传算法时尽量利用方向图的实的或对称特性,可以减少待优化变量的数目,加快收敛.并提出将传统遗传算法与传统方向图综合方法相结合,可以进一步减少得到最优解所需要的进化代数.     

捷联式天线稳定平台动力学建模与仿真分析

对于体积有限制的战术导弹应用,导引头天线伺服系统的体积受到严格限制,传统的速率陀螺稳定平台的应用受到挑战,为此提出采用捷联稳定方式来解决视线稳定问题.根据弹载捷联式天线平台的结构特点及稳定原理,应用坐标变换方法,完整地建立了两自由度捷联式天线平台的运动学与动力学模型.通过分析平台框架运动学耦合关系,表明捷联稳定方式与速率陀螺稳定方式的基本区别在于信息的获取和控制方式上,速率陀螺稳定方式是一种直接硬件稳定方法,而捷联稳定方式是一种软件补偿方法.在此基础上,对框架动力学耦合特性进行了数值仿真,结果表明:弹体对框架的耦合较强,需要进行弹体解耦,而框架之间的交叉耦合相对较弱,实际设计时可以忽略.所得结果为进一步研究捷联式天线稳定平台提供了理论基础,也为小型化导引头视线稳定平台系统的工程设计提供了一种解决方案.     

厚度和环境对复合涂层导电性能的影响

为了给数字化刻铣曲面频率选择表面(FSS)结构的制作和加工提供参考和依据,对比研究了含片状银粉颗粒的聚氨酯基和环氧树脂基2种复合导电涂层的基本性能,并通过环境加速试验,重点研究了温度、湿度以及腐蚀气氛对2种导电涂层的界面强度、微观结构和导电性能的影响.通过电桥法测量涂层表面电阻的变化,并通过扫描电境观察环境试验前后,涂层表面和剖面的微观结构和形貌变化.试验结果表明:聚氨酯基涂层的综合性能优于环氧树脂基涂层;在实验所涉及的参数变化范围内,环境因素对2种涂层与基体的界面结合影响不大,但对其导电性能的影响比较明显.环境因素对导电性能的削弱作用,源于相应过程中导电涂层的微观结构损伤.     

空间高阶差分近似对三维ADI-FDTD数值色散的影响

研究采用空间高阶差分近似的三维交替方向隐式时域有限差分法(ADI-FDTD,Alternating-Direction Implicit Finite-Difference Time-Domain)数值色散问题,首先推导了采用空间高阶差分近似的数值色散迭代公式,分别对最小相速方向和最大相速方向进行二阶、四阶、六阶、十阶空间差分数值色散误差的数值计算和比较,并分析数值色散对空间差分阶数的依赖关系,最后发现在均匀网格中采用四阶空间差分能得到较好的效果.     

屋盖MRD隔震升船机结构模型振动台试验

升船机结构塔柱平台处的刚度突变会引起升船机顶部厂房强烈的地震鞭梢效应,在升船机结构模型上设置屋盖磁流变阻尼器MRD(Magnetorhelogical Damper)隔震系统并进行振动台试验,以验证该系统对控制升船机结构顶部厂房地震鞭梢效应的有效性.设计制作了升船机结构模型和磁流变阻尼器隔震系统,分别进行了原结构模型和屋盖MRD隔震结构模型的振动台试验,并对模型结构的动力特性和振动反应进行了对比分析.试验结果表明:MRD隔震系统改变了模型结构的动力特性,有效地减小了升船机结构模型顶部排架层的层间侧移反应.最后进行了数值分析,并与试验结果进行了比较,验证了屋盖MRD隔震-升船机结构系统力学模型与数值分析方法的正确性.     

TC-1和Geotail对亚暴过程中近地等离子体片磁扰动的联合观测

以2004年9月28日02:53:20 UT的亚暴为例, 通过TC-1在磁尾约12.5 R_e 和Geotail卫星在近地磁尾等离子体片约8～9 R_e的联合观测, 研究亚暴触发过程中近地磁尾等离子体片中等离子体波动特征. 结果表明, 亚暴触发区是近地磁尾中心等离子体片中较小的一个区域, 在亚暴触发区中低混杂不稳定性在近地磁尾等离子体片中存在, 准垂直传播的低混杂波发生在亚暴触发过程中, 而亚暴触发过程中近地磁尾等离子体片外边界区内的磁场偶极化信号和扰动都非常微弱. 在亚暴触发和亚暴膨胀相过程中出现了多次具有不同特征的磁场偶极化现象.