Order out of Randomness: Self-Organization Processes in Astrophysics

Self-organization is a property of dissipative nonlinear processes that are governed by a global driving force and a local positive feedback mechanism, which creates regular geometric and/or temporal patterns, and decreases the entropy locally, in contrast to random processes. Here we investigate for the first time a comprehensive number of (17) self-organization processes that operate in planetary physics, solar physics, stellar physics, galactic physics, and cosmology. Self-organizing systems create spontaneous “order out of randomness”, during the evolution from an initially disordered system to an ordered quasi-stationary system, mostly by quasi-periodic limit-cycle dynamics, but also by harmonic (mechanical or gyromagnetic) resonances. The global driving force can be due to gravity, electromagnetic forces, mechanical forces (e.g., rotation or differential rotation), thermal pressure, or acceleration of nonthermal particles, while the positive feedback mechanism is often an instability, such as the magneto-rotational (Balbus-Hawley) instability, the convective (Rayleigh-Bénard) instability, turbulence, vortex attraction, magnetic reconnection, plasma condensation, or a loss-cone instability. Physical models of astrophysical self-organization processes require hydrodynamic, magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD), plasma, or N-body simulations. Analytical formulations of self-organizing systems generally involve coupled differential equations with limit-cycle solutions of the Lotka-Volterra or Hopf-bifurcation type.     

Abundances,Ionization States,Temperatures, and FIP in Solar Energetic Particles

The relative abundances of chemical elements and isotopes have been our most effective tool in identifying and understanding the physical processes that control populations of energetic particles. The early surprise in solar energetic particles (SEPs) was 1000-fold enhancements in \({}^{3}\mbox{He}/{}^{4}\mbox{He}\) from resonant wave-particle interactions in the small “impulsive” SEP events that emit electron beams that produce type III radio bursts. Further studies found enhancements in Fe/O, then extreme enhancements in element abundances that increase with mass-to-charge ratio \(A/Q\), rising by a factor of 1000 from He to Au or Pb arising in magnetic reconnection regions on open field lines in solar jets. In contrast, in the largest SEP events, the “gradual” events, acceleration occurs at shock waves driven out from the Sun by fast, wide coronal mass ejections (CMEs). Averaging many events provides a measure of solar coronal abundances, but \(A/Q\)-dependent scattering during transport causes variations with time; thus if Fe scatters less than O, Fe/O is enhanced early and depleted later. To complicate matters, shock waves often reaccelerate impulsive suprathermal ions left over or trapped above active regions that have spawned many impulsive events. Direct measurements of ionization states \(Q\) show coronal temperatures of 1–2 MK for most gradual events, but impulsive events often show stripping by matter traversal after acceleration. Direct measurements of \(Q\) are difficult and often unavailable. Since both impulsive and gradual SEP events have abundance enhancements that vary as powers of \(A/Q\), we can use abundances to deduce the probable \(Q\)-values and the source plasma temperatures during acceleration, ≈3 MK for impulsive SEPs. This new technique also allows multiple spacecraft to measure temperature variations across the face of a shock wave, measurements otherwise unavailable and provides a new understanding of abundance variations in the element He. Comparing coronal abundances from SEPs and from the slow solar wind as a function of the first ionization potential (FIP) of the elements, remaining differences are for the elements C, P, and S. The theory of the fractionation of ions by Alfvén waves shows that C, P, and S are suppressed because of wave resonances during chromospheric transport on closed magnetic loops but not on open magnetic fields that supply the solar wind. Shock waves can accelerate ions from closed coronal loops that easily escape as SEPs, while the solar wind must emerge on open fields.     

Impact of Distance Determinations on Galactic Structure. I. Young and Intermediate-Age Tracers

Here we discuss impacts of distance determinations on the Galactic disk traced by relatively young objects. The Galactic disk, \(\sim40~\mbox{kpc}\) in diameter, is a cross-road of studies on the methods of measuring distances, interstellar extinction, evolution of galaxies, and other subjects of interest in astronomy. A proper treatment of interstellar extinction is, for example, crucial for estimating distances to stars in the disk outside the small range of the solar neighborhood. We’ll review the current status of relevant studies and discuss some new approaches to the extinction law. When the extinction law is reasonably constrained, distance indicators found in today and future surveys are telling us stellar distribution and more throughout the Galactic disk. Among several useful distance indicators, the focus of this review is Cepheids and open clusters (especially contact binaries in clusters). These tracers are particularly useful for addressing the metallicity gradient of the Galactic disk, an important feature for which comparison between observations and theoretical models can reveal the evolution of the disk.     

Water Reservoirs in Small Planetary Bodies: Meteorites,Asteroids, and Comets

Asteroids and comets are the remnants of the swarm of planetesimals from which the planets ultimately formed, and they retain records of processes that operated prior to and during planet formation. They are also likely the sources of most of the water and other volatiles accreted by Earth. In this review, we discuss the nature and probable origins of asteroids and comets based on data from remote observations, in situ measurements by spacecraft, and laboratory analyses of meteorites derived from asteroids. The asteroidal parent bodies of meteorites formed \(\leq 4\) Ma after Solar System formation while there was still a gas disk present. It seems increasingly likely that the parent bodies of meteorites spectroscopically linked with the E-, S-, M- and V-type asteroids formed sunward of Jupiter’s orbit, while those associated with C- and, possibly, D-type asteroids formed further out, beyond Jupiter but probably not beyond Saturn’s orbit. Comets formed further from the Sun than any of the meteorite parent bodies, and retain much higher abundances of interstellar material. CI and CM group meteorites are probably related to the most common C-type asteroids, and based on isotopic evidence they, rather than comets, are the most likely sources of the H and N accreted by the terrestrial planets. However, comets may have been major sources of the noble gases accreted by Earth and Venus. Possible constraints that these observations can place on models of giant planet formation and migration are explored.     

扇翼飞行器的研究进展与应用前景

随着科学技术的迅猛发展,飞机无论在构型还是性能方面都获得了飞速发展,但是新原理飞机的研制却进展不大。扇翼飞行器是近期发展起来的低速大载荷新型飞行器,它是不同于现有固定翼、旋翼飞行器的新构型、新原理飞行器。而国内对于该飞行器的研究才刚刚起步,可参考的文献资料很少。因此,本文通过国内外扇翼飞行器发展状况的研究,对扇翼飞行器研究进展进行总结分析。首先介绍了扇翼飞行器的飞行原理;其次系统地回顾了扇翼飞行器的提出,并总结了其在国内外研究的进展情况;接着根据扇翼飞行器近期的发展动态,对该飞行器的应用前景作出分析;最后总结了扇翼飞行器发展中亟待解决的关键技术,以及其未来发展的难点和趋势。     

采用阵列天线的GPS接收机的多径抑制方法

提出一种新的用于阵列天线GPS接收机的多径抑制方法。考虑到通常GPS视线信号的来波方向与多径的来波方向不同,在每个导航数据符号位内测距（C/A）码重复,通过对阵列接收的信号矢量与它本身的延迟信号矢量互相关,提高接收机前端信噪比,再利用最大特征值法和前后向空间平滑技术准确地估计期望卫星视线信号（LOSS）的来波方向。最后综合多个GSC子阵列有效地降低了相关多径对码跟踪精度的影响。仿真结果显示,该方法能使接收机在与LOSS码同步前准确估计LOSS的角度信息,有效抑制相关多径,且鉴相结果准确。     

基于嵌入式MATLAB函数编程的火星车能量平衡仿真系统

在以往航天器研制过程中,电源系统能量平衡分析是基于表格化计算的方法,其运算效率低、显示不直观。文章提出了一种可视性强、易编程、更通用的能量平衡分析方法,即采用嵌入式MATLAB函数对电源系统能量平衡分析的功能模块进行编程实现,以火星车电源系统为应用背景,在MATLAB/SIMULINK平台上搭建了一套用于能量平衡分析的仿真系统,并在特定实例下进行仿真分析,仿真结果采用图表曲线形式显示,能清晰、直观地反映能源利用的动态变化趋势,可为电源系统方案优化设计提供参考依据。     

一种绕飞编队卫星星间链路系统的总体设计方法

为了建立高精度相对定位编队卫星的星间链路,提出了一种基于GPS的绕飞编队卫星星间链路系统设计方法。针对我国首次以InSAR为背景的任务,以某绕飞编队星座星间链路系统总体方案为例,利用STK/MATLAB分析软件,对天线覆盖区与组阵进行了仿真分析,并根据分析结果做了系统优化,包括星间轨道构型、天线设计组阵图、天线安装位置、链路预算、星间通信措施设计分析以及电磁兼容性分析等。结果表明:基于GPS的编队卫星能够从系统角度优化设计建立星间链路,从而完成编队跟飞、绕飞期间的星间通信与测量任务,为卫星建立星座构型、相对定位测量提供了可靠、稳定的传输通道。该设计方法可为同类卫星或其他类型卫星星间链路系统设计提供参考。     

卫星轨道变化规律的综合分析

对于航天工程而言,无论是航天器的发射,卫星轨道设计,地面测控系统的跟踪、定轨和预报．还是卫星在轨运行过程中的轨道控制策略等,均需了解卫星轨道变化的规律。为此,本文对人造卫星(包括中心天体为快自转天体和慢自转天体两种引力源的绕飞轨道器)的轨道变化特征以及轨道寿命进行系统的综合分析。为各种应用提供简明信息。     

基于运动控制卡的多轴机床控制系统

以自行研制的多轴数控机床为实验平台,开发了基于PC机和运动控制卡的主-从式控制系统。系统开发过程中,引进有限状态机模型构建数控软件系统,采用面向对象的设计手法实现各个模块,在Visual C++平台上完成控制系统设计。最后以简便的人机交互界面形式提供用户操作。