Composition and Opacity in the Solar Interior

Detailed abundances of elements from hydrogen up to iron are necessary to perform a precise model of the solar structure. Most of them have been deduced from photospheric observed values, some others from the meteoritic composition. Nowadays, thanks to helioseismic constraints, they seem more and more under control. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Transient effects of microgravity on early embryos of Xenopus laevis.

In order to study the role of gravity on the early development of the clawed toad Xenopus laevis, we performed an experiment on the Maser-6 sounding rocket launched from Kiruna (Sweden) on 4 Nov 1993. The aim was to find out whether a short period of microgravity during fertilization and the first few minutes of development does indeed result in abnormal axis formation as was suggested by a pilot experiment on the Maser 3 in 1989. On the Maser 6 we used two new technical additions in the Fokker CIS unit, viz. a 1-g control centrifuge and a video recording unit which both worked successfully. The 1-g control centrifuge was used to discriminate between the influences of flight perturbations and microgravity. After fertilization shortly before launch, one of the first indications of successful egg activation, the cortical contraction, was registered in microgravity and on earth. Analysis of the video tapes revealed that the cortical contraction in microgravity starts earlier than at 1 g on earth. After recovery of the eggs fertilized in microgravity and culture of the embryos on earth, the morphology of the blastocoel has some consistent differences from blastulae from eggs fertilized in the 1-g centrifuge of the rocket. However from the gastrula stage onward, the microgravity embryos apparently recover and resume normal development: the XBra gene is normally expressed, and histological examination shows normal axis formation.     

Unusual visual stimulation in dynamic balance conditions: proposal for a space motion sickness test.

We previously demonstrated the efficiency of normal vision/unusual vestibular cues conflict to induce motion sickness. In the present study, we investigate whether, inversely, unusual visual information/normal vestibular function conflict also elicited motion sickness. The experiments were again carried out in dynamic balance conditions to increase proprioceptive input. Circular translation of the visual field with diplopia were produced by rotating Fresnel prismatic glasses. The stimulation triggered SMS-like symptoms and dynamic balance disturbance. A positive relationship was found between discomfort and balance disturbance. Unusual visual information should therefore be included in Space Motion Sickness susceptibility testing.     

Retrieval of some climatic elements of Africa from METEOSAT data analysis

A study of some climatic elements of Africa from METEOSAT imagery has been undertaken at our laboratory. The general objectives of this project and its interaction with a Sahelian climate simulation with the LMD GCM are described. The problems relative to the measurement of seasonal land surface albedo variations are outlined. Preliminary results of a simple method comparing January and April 1982 are shown and discussed.     

The dynamics of the solar radiative zone

The picture of the solar radiative zone is evolving quickly. This review is separated in two parts. We first recall how the two powerful probes of the solar interior, namely the neutrinos and helioseismology have scrutinized the microscopic properties of the solar radiative plasma. Recent observations stimulate today complementary activities beyond the standard stellar model through theoretical modeling of angular momentum transport by rotation, internal waves or (and) by magnetic fields to get access to the dynamical motions of this important region of the Sun. So in the second part, we summarize the first impact of such processes on the radiative zone.     

Plasma transport during substorm growth phase and relation to breakup

For <_bi,_be, the electron and ion bounce frequencies, the response of a plasma to an externally applied electromagnetic perturbation is nonlocal. This implies, via the quasi-neutrality equation, the development of an electrostatic potential which is constant for a given magnetic field line. In the near equatorial region the corresponding potential electric field is shown to oppose the effect of the induced electric field associated with the externally applied perturbation. Thus the effect of the induced electric field is partially shielded; the total azimuthal electric field (i.e. induced plus potential) tends to be small, which explains why the radial flow velocity is slow during quasi-steady conditions prevailing during the growth phase and after the active phase. The nonlocal response of the plasma also leads to the development of a parallel current that may generate current driven Alfvén (CDA) waves, which mode convert into shear Alfvén (SA) waves. CDA/SA waves are systematically observed at early breakup; they grow very fast and produce a parallel diffusion of electrons. As soon as the diffusion time is shorter than the bounce time (_d<_b), the nonlocal response vanishes. Thus the shielding disappears, and an enhanced transport is restored at the rate fixed by the induced electric field alone. We show that fast flows effectively occur when CDA waves have enough power to diffuse electrons (over _d<_b). Electron parallel diffusion also leads to an interruption of the parallel current and therefore to a disruption of the perpendicular current.     

Experimental and theoretical extinction of solid rocket propellants by fast depressurization

Dynamic burning of solid rocket propellants following fast depressurization of the combustion chamber was studied experimentally. Extinction boundaries were constructed for different sets of values of the controlling parameters (such as initial pressure, final pressure and depressurization rate). Most experimental results were collected by testing a nonmetallized, ammonium perchlorate based, composite propellant (AP83/CTPB16/Al₂O₃). Experimental results show that, for a given final pressure, an extinction boundary in terms of maximum depressurization rate vs initial pressure can be constructed by go/no-go testing. The objective was to check experimentally the analytical predictions of dynamic extinction boundaries obtained by this research group for finite size disturbances. A good agreement was found between analytical, numerical, and experimental results.     

一类基于改进的当前统计模型的目标跟踪算法研究

提出了一种基于改进当前统计模型的交互式多模型算法。在交互式多模型中,利用滤波过程中的新息和新息协方差的变化,对当前统计模型(CS)的机动频率自适应调整,使模型更适应实际。经理论分析Singer,CS模型的先验假设条件,提出了一种改进的匀速运动(CV)模型,以适应目标弱机动的情形,弥补CS模型在目标弱机动时跟踪精度不高的缺点。理论分析和仿真结果验证了提出算法的有效性。     

大尺度薄壁结构力-热-电一体化分析

基于有限元-多层快速多级子方法(FEM-MLFMM)提出天线罩力热电一体化分析方法,以平板为研究对象,验证一体化分析方法的准确性;以大尺度升力天线罩为研究对象,开展气动力和气动热载荷下结构的力-热-电一体化分析,评估力/热环境下结构的强度性能,并探究力/热载荷对结构电磁透波性能的影响规律.研究结果表明:提出的一体化分析...