Schumann Resonances as a Means of Investigating the Electromagnetic Environment in the Solar System

The propagation of extremely low frequency (ELF, 3 Hz to 3 kHz) radio waves and resonant phenomena in the spherical Earth-ionosphere cavity has been studied for almost fifty years. When such a cavity is excited by naturally occurring broadband electromagnetic radiation, resonances can develop if the equatorial circumference is approximately equal to an integral number of wavelengths of the propagating electromagnetic waves; these are termed Schumann resonances. They provide information not only about thunderstorm and lightning activity on the Earth, and their relation to climate, but also on the properties of the low ionosphere. Similar investigations can be performed for any other planet or satellite, provided that it has an ionosphere. There are important differences between the Earth and other celestial bodies regarding, for example, the surface conductivity, the atmospheric conductivity profile, the geometry of the ionospheric cavity, and the sources of excitation. To a first approximation, the size of the cavity defines the fundamental resonant frequency, the atmospheric electron density profile controls the wave attenuation, the nature of the sources influences the electromagnetic field distribution in the cavity, and the body surface conductivity indicates to what extent the subsurface can be explored. The frequencies and attenuation rates of the principal eigenmodes depend upon the electrical properties of the cavity. Instruments that monitor the electromagnetic environment in the ELF range on the surface, on balloons, or on descent probes provide unique information on the cavity. In this paper, we present Schumann resonance models for selected inner planets, some gaseous giant planets and a few of their satellites. We review the crucial parameters of ELF electromagnetic waves in their atmospheric cavities, namely the electric and magnetic field spectra, their eigenfrequencies, and the associated Q-factors (damping factors). Then we present important information on theoretical developments, on a general model that uses the finite element method and on the parameterization of the cavity. Next we show the distinctiveness of each planetary environment, and discuss how ELF radio wave propagation can contribute to an assessment of the major characteristics of those planetary environments.     

Interference experiments between fixed-satellite and terrestrialradio-relay services

To resolve interference problems between fixed-satellite and terrestrial radio relay services and expand coordination areas between the two services, theoretical and experimental studies were carried out. Theoretical D/U values calculation formulas between the two systems were derived, interference data from 4 GHz and 11 GHz band terrestrial radio-relay systems were obtained by a measuring system mounted on a vehicle. By comparing those results, it becomes clear that the ensemble interference reduction factors for 4 GHz and 11 GHz bands are around 20 dB, which is mixed values of attenuation and reflection from big buildings in urban areas     

高超声速脉冲风洞中带燃料的超燃冲压发动机模型试验

给出了在ITAM最近投入使用的高超声速脉冲绝热压缩风洞AT-303中进行超燃冲压发动机模型实验的结果.实验马赫数M∞≈8,运行时间τ=50~60 ms,雷诺数范围Re1∞=2.7×106~4.0×107,模型表面的边界层自然转捩.在实验中,模型中有燃料供给:把气态氢以超过化学量比率的空气燃料因子注入到燃烧室.提供了足以发生氢燃料自点燃的流动条件.测量了沿进气道楔型压缩面和整个发动机通道上的纵向压力和热流分布.所获数据与同一模型在热射流风洞IT-302M(实验马赫数M∞≈6,8,运行时间τ=100~120 ms,雷诺数范围Re1∞=(1.3~1.8)×106,进气道压缩面和侧压缩面进行了边界层转捩).结果表明:实验模型发动机在两座风洞中进行实验所获得的流态类型相同.发动机刚刚启动时,在进气道入口及其下游的发动机通道内形成超声速流.注入氢后,首先在燃烧室内形成平均流速是超声速的燃烧流动.之后,在燃烧室出口出现热拥塞现象、在进气道扩压段产生伪激波流态.在两座风洞中进行了进气道和发动机通道的流动特征试验,获得了令人满意的结果.     

大型星载展开天线动力优化设计

对周边桁架式星载展开天线的动力优化问题进行了研究．分析了天线的结构特点，对结构预应力设计变量进行了选择和归并．讨论了以天线结构质量为目标函数，以周边桁架各单元的截面积和反射索网中各拉索单元预应力为设计变量，在优化中同时考虑天线结构的反射面精度要求、天线的动力性能和静力性能要求的展开天线动力优化设计问题，建立了天线结构的动力优化数学模型．最后，将该模型应用于某17m口径的天线结构，并利用改进后的遗传算法对其进行了优化计算，取得了比较满意的结果．     

Statistical properties of the IMF clock angle in the solar wind with northward and southward interplanetary magnetic field based on ACE observation from 1998 to 2009: Dependence on the temporal scale of the solar wind

Utilizing ACE satellite observations from 1998 to 2009, we performed the elaborate study on the properties of the clock angle θ_CA (arctan(By/Bz) (?90° to 90°) of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) in the solar wind at 1?AU. The solar wind with northward IMF (NW-IMF) and southward IMF (SW-IMF) are analyzed, independently. Statistical analysis shows that the solar wind with SW-IMF and NW-IMF has similar properties in general, including their durations, the IMF Bz and By components, and the IMF θ_CA. Then, the solar wind with NW-IMF (SW-IMF) is classified into five different temporal scales according to the duration of the NW-IMF (SW-IMF), i.e., very-short wind of 10–30?min, short-scale wind of 0.5–1?h, moderate-scale wind of 1–3?h, long-scale wind of 3–5?h, and super-long wind >5?h. Our analysis reveals that the IMF θ_CA has a distinct decrease with increase of the temporal scale of the solar wind. Next, the solar wind is classified into two groups, i.e., the high-speed solar wind (>450?km/s) and the low-speed solar wind (<450?km/s). Our analysis indicates that the IMF θ_CA depends highly on the solar wind speed. Statistically, high-speed solar wind tends to have larger IMF θ_CA than low-speed solar wind. The evolutions of the solar wind and IMF with the solar activity are further studied, revealing no clear solar variation of the IMF θ_CA. Finally, we analyze the monthly variation of the IMF θ_CA. Superposed epoch result strongly suggests the seasonal variation of the IMF θ_CA.     

CREAM: 70 days of flight from 2 launches in Antarctica

The Cosmic-Ray Energetics And Mass balloon-borne experiment has been launched twice in Antarctica, first in December 2004 and again in December 2005. It circumnavigated the South Pole three times during the first flight, which set a flight duration record of 42 days. A cumulative duration of 70 days within 13 months was achieved when the second flight completed 28 days during two circumnavigations of the Pole on 13 January 2006. Both the science instrument and support systems functioned extremely well, and a total 117 GB of data including 67 million science events were collected during these two flights. Preliminary analysis indicates that the data extend well above 100 TeV and follow reasonable power laws. The payload recovered from the first flight has been refurbished for the third flight in 2007, whereas the payload from the second flight is being refurbished to be ready for the fourth flight in 2008. Each flight will extend the reach of precise cosmic-ray composition measurements to energies not previously possible.     

Gamma-ray detector on board lunar mission Chang’E-1

Gamma-ray spectrometer (GRS) is included in the payload of Chinese first lunar mission Chang’E-1 that will be launched in 2007. Specific objectives of the GRS are to map abundance of O, Si, Fe, Ti, U, Th, K, and perhaps, Mg, Al, and Ca to depths of about 20 cm. There are remarkable advantages for GRS application to remote sensing elemental materials over the entire lunar surface: large effective area and good ability for background rejection. We will describe the design of GRS and present its performance in this paper. Moreover, the GRS calibration will also be introduced.     

On the time of minimum ionization in the F2 region

Using measurements of the critical frequency of F2 region (f_oF2) the validity of the International Reference Ionosphere model to predict the time of minimum ionization is checked. Data obtained at different ionospheric stations have been considered. The CCIR and URSI options are used to model calculations. For CCIR option the results show that good predictions were obtained for about 40% of the considered cases. For the rest of the considered data, the model predicts the minimum at times earlier than that observed in the measurements. The percentages of good predictions obtained with URSI option are lower than those corresponding to CCIR one.     

A conceptual configuration of the lunar base bioregenerative life support system including soil-like substrate for growing plants

The paper presents a conceptual configuration of the lunar base bioregenerative life support system (LBLSS), including soil-like substrate (SLS) for growing plants. SLS makes it possible to combine the processes of plant growth and the utilization of plant waste. Plants are to be grown on SLS on the basis of 20 kg of dry SLS mass or 100 kg of wet SLS mass per square meter. The substrate is to be delivered to the base ready-made as part of the plant growth subsystem. Food for the crew was provided by prestored stock 24% and by plant growing system 76%. Total dry weight of the food is 631 g per day (2800 kcal/day) for one crew member (CM). The list of candidate plants to be grown under lunar BLSS conditions included 14 species: wheat, rice, soybean, peanuts, sweet pepper, carrots, tomatoes, coriander, cole, lettuce, radish, squash, onion and garlic. From the prestored stock the crew consumed canned fish, iodinated salt, sugar, beef sauce and seafood sauce. Our calculations show that to provide one CM with plant food requires the area of 47.5 m². The balance of substance is achieved by the removal dehydrated urine 59 g, feces 31 g, food waste 50 g, SLS 134 g, and also waters 86 g from system and introduction food 236 g, liquid potassium soap 4 g and mineral salts 120 g into system daily. To reduce system setup time the first plants could be sowed and germinated to a certain age on the Earth.     

随机扰动情况下绳系卫星状态保持阶段的最优控制

在考虑系绳弹性的情况下, 建立绳系卫星轨道面内运动的动力学模型, 并在系统平衡位置线性化, 得到绳系子星在随机扰动作用下的稳态保持状态方程. 引入基于卡尔曼滤波的状态估计方法和最优状态反馈控制策略, 提出了保持系统稳态运行的控制方法, 并以YES2空间系绳试验为参考模型设计了稳态保持控制系统. 分别在不考虑系绳弹性和考虑系绳弹性的系统模型下进行相应仿真分析, 结果表明所提出的控制方法能使系统具有良好的抗干扰性能, 系绳控制张力变化平缓且幅值小, 提高了系统状态保持阶段的可靠性和安全性. 同时系绳刚度系数的减小可使系绳纵向振动加剧, 但对横向摆动影响较小, 这为选取合适的系绳材料提供了理论参考.