Transport of energetic solar particles on closed magnetospheric field lines

Whereas the entry mechanism of energetic solar particles into the open field line region of the magnetosphere is now a rather well understood process, transport processes of solar particles in the closed field line region are still unclear and under dispute. The main difficulty lies not only in the fact that different field models predict different behavior of the particles in the quasi-trapping region (e.g. cut-off latitude), but that dynamic changes of the magnetosphere as geomagnetic storms and substorms greatly influence the particle distribution. The present review tries to summarize the status of knowledge regarding solar proton behavior on closed magnetospheric field lines. Together with a presentation of recent measurements in the closed field line region relevant theoretical problems are discussed. They fall either under the study of single particle motion in different static magnetospheric configurations (due to different field models or due to real, e.g. ring current induced changes), or under the study of resonant interaction processes as pitch angle scattering and radial diffusion.Invited Lecture, Second Meeting of the European Geophysical Society, September 1974, Trieste, Italy.     

Wave induced energetic particle generation and space plasma modeling

An increasing number of high-resolution spacecraft observations provide access to details of energetic electron and ion velocity-space distribution structures. Since resonant wave-particle interaction processes depend considerably on the distribution function details, space plasma modeling is of particular interest for studies of a variety of plasma environments as planetary magnetospheres, the interplanetary medium or solar flares. After summarizing the most popular particle acceleration processes we focus on wave-powered energization mechanisms induced by Landau interaction and demonstrate from a time-evolutionary scenario that power-law distributions, highly favored by observations in recent years, are generated resonantly by an Alfvén wave spectrum and possibly saturate. This process is further stimulated in non-uniform magnetic field configurations where multiple wave packets at different phase velocities provide the energy source for a continuous acceleration process. Moreover, in this conjunction we demonstrate that in particular κ-distributions are a consequence of a generalized entropy concept, favored by nonextensive statistics, which provides the missing link for power-law plasma models from fundamental physics. With regard to in situ space observations examples are provided illuminating that for non-thermal plasma characteristics the particular structure of the velocity-space distribution dominates as regulating mechanism for the wave-particle interaction process over effects related to changes in space plasma parameters. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Venus observations from ENVISAT–SCIAMACHY: Measurements and modeling

This work shows the capability of observing Venus with a sensor originally designed for Earth remote sensing. SCIAMACHY (SCanning Imaging Absorption spectroMeter for Atmospheric CHartographY), onboard ENVISAT, successfully observed visible and near-infrared spectra from the Venusian atmosphere. The Venus spectra were simulated using a line-by-line radiative transfer model. The single scattering approximation was applied in order to consider the effects of an approximately 20 km-thick haze layer above the main cloud deck, which was considered as a reflecting cloud located in the upper atmosphere of the planet. CO₂ absorption lines could be distinguished in both observed and simulated spectra and a good agreement between them was also found.     

Properties of the interstellar gas inside the heliosphere

Methods and results of investigations of the interstellar gas inside the heliosphere are summarized and discussed. Flow parameters of H and He and the relative abundances of H, He, N, O, and Ne in the distant heliosphere are given. Charge exchange processes in front of the heliosphere affect the flow of hydrogen and oxygen through the heliopause. The speed of hydrogen is reduced by 6 km/s, and screening leads to a reduction of the O/He and H/He ratios in the neutral gas entering the heliosphere. When the screening effect and the acceleration processes leading to the anomalous cosmic rays (ACR) are sufficiently understood, abundances in the LIC can be derived from measurements inside the heliosphere. Since isotopic ratios are virtually not changed by screening or by EUV and solar wind ionisation, relative abundances of isotopes in the gaseous phase of the LIC can be determined with no or minor correction from investigations of the neutral gas, pickup ions and ACR particles.     

Hyperspectral imaging—An advanced instrument concept for the EnMAP mission (Environmental Mapping and Analysis Programme)

In the upcoming generation of satellite sensors, hyperspectral instruments will play a significant role. This payload type is considered world-wide within different future planning.Our team has now successfully finalized the Phase B study for the advanced hyperspectral mission EnMAP (Environmental Mapping and Analysis Programme), Germans next optical satellite being scheduled for launch in 2012. GFZ in Potsdam has the scientific lead on EnMAP, Kayser-Threde in Munich is the industrial prime.The EnMAP instrument provides over 240 continuous spectral bands in the wavelength range between 420 and 2450 nm with a ground resolution of 30 m×30 m. Thus, the broad science and application community can draw from an extensive and highly resolved pool of information supporting the modeling and optimization process on their results. The performance of the hyperspectral instrument allows for a detailed monitoring, characterization and parameter extraction of rock/soil targets, vegetation, and inland and coastal waters on a global scale supporting a wide variety of applications in agriculture, forestry, water management and geology. The operation of an airborne system (ARES) as an element in the HGF hyperspectral network and the ongoing evolution concerning data handling and extraction procedures, will support the later inclusion process of EnMAP into the growing scientist and user communities.     

Compressive and Rarefactive Electron-Acoustic Solitons and Double Layers in Space Plasmas

Space observations in several near-Earth environments have revealed the presence of positive-potential, large-amplitude electrostatic structures, associated with high-frequency disturbances, and indicative of electron dynamics. Earlier models proposed in terms of electron-acoustic solitary waves in a two-electron-temperature plasma were inadequate, because only negative potential structures could thus be obtained, whereas the observations point to positive potential structures. In this paper, it is shown that the theoretical restriction to negative potential solitons is due to the neglect of the inertia of the hot electrons, implicitly or explicitly assumed in previous papers. If hot electron inertia is retained, however, there exists a parameter range where positive potential solitary waves are formed, which can have important consequences for the re-interpretation of several astrophysical phenomena involving two-electron-temperature plasmas. PACS: 52.35.Mw, 52.35.Sb, 96.50.Ry     

IBEX—Interstellar Boundary Explorer

The Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX) is a small explorer mission that launched on 19 October 2008 with the sole, focused science objective to discover the global interaction between the solar wind and the interstellar medium. IBEX is designed to achieve this objective by answering four fundamental science questions: (1) What is the global strength and structure of the termination shock, (2) How are energetic protons accelerated at the termination shock, (3) What are the global properties of the solar wind flow beyond the termination shock and in the heliotail, and (4) How does the interstellar flow interact with the heliosphere beyond the heliopause? The answers to these questions rely on energy-resolved images of energetic neutral atoms (ENAs), which originate beyond the termination shock, in the inner heliosheath. To make these exploratory ENA observations IBEX carries two ultra-high sensitivity ENA cameras on a simple spinning spacecraft. IBEX’s very high apogee Earth orbit was achieved using a new and significantly enhanced method for launching small satellites; this orbit allows viewing of the outer heliosphere from beyond the Earth’s relatively bright magnetospheric ENA emissions. The combination of full-sky imaging and energy spectral measurements of ENAs over the range from ～10 eV to 6 keV provides the critical information to allow us to achieve our science objective and understand this global interaction for the first time. The IBEX mission was developed to provide the first global views of the Sun’s interstellar boundaries, unveiling the physics of the heliosphere’s interstellar interaction, providing a deeper understanding of the heliosphere and thereby astrospheres throughout the galaxy, and creating the opportunity to make even greater unanticipated discoveries.     

氧化铝的直接电镀

讨论了在氧化铝基板上的厚膜应用领域中采取直接电镀的方法。研究了建立在钯涂层、碳涂层和导电聚合物基础上的三种直接电镀的方法，测定和比较了它们与传统电镀／ 化学镀技术的操作步序、电镀速度和膜层结合力等技术指标。     

A particle event at 5 AU and 20° southern latitude from measurements with the EPAC instrument on Ulysses

In November 1992, the Ulysses spacecraft observed a multiple solar particle event and a CME event at 5.2 AU and a heliographic latitude of 20° S which were superimposed to the recurrent corotating interacting region. Distinct particle flux increases caused by these events were observed in all energy channels of the EPAC experiment. The experimental findings are discussed.