The concept of a Space-Space interferometer for observations in mm and sub-mm wavebands

At present, space radio astronomers and engineers study the prospects of design of the second-generation ground-space interferometers for astrophysical research with the microsecond angular resolution of sources. The implemented Japanese VSOP project (1998–2003) and the Russian Radioastron project (under preparation for space flight) are related to the first generation. In this paper, the ideology and configuration of the Space-Space interferometer are considered. It would allow one to obtain principally new capabilities: to exclude the Earth’s atmosphere influence, to realize a quasi-phase-stable interferometer, and to remove the problems of electromagnetic compatibility with other services. Moreover, a capability will appear to carry out preliminary correlation processing onboard the spacecraft due to achievement of small residual uncertainties in signal delay and frequency and, owing to this, to realize onboard data compression in order to transmit data to the Earth by usual space communication channel.     

Temporal changes in fluid chemistry and energy profiles in the vulcano island hydrothermal system

In June 2003, the geochemical composition of geothermal fluids was determined at 9 sites in the Vulcano hydrothermal system, including sediment seeps, geothermal wells, and submarine vents. Compositional data were combined with standard state reaction properties to determine the overall Gibbs free energy (DeltaG(r) ) for 120 potential lithotrophic and heterotrophic reactions. Lithotrophic reactions in the H-O-N-S-C-Fe system were considered, and exergonic reactions yielded up to 120 kJ per mole of electrons transferred. The potential for heterotrophy was characterized by energy yields from the complete oxidation of 6 carboxylic acids- formic, acetic, propanoic, lactic, pyruvic, and succinic-with the following redox pairs: O(2)/H(2)O, SO(4) (2)/H(2)S, NO(3) ()/NH(4) (+), S(0)/H(2)S, and Fe(3)O(4)/Fe(2+). Heterotrophic reactions yielded 6-111 kJ/mol e(). Energy yields from both lithotrophic and heterotrophic reactions were highly dependent on the terminal electron acceptor (TEA); reactions with O(2) yielded the most energy, followed by those with NO(3) (), Fe(III), SO(4) (2), and S(0). When only reactions with complete TEA reduction were included, the exergonic lithotrophic reactions followed a similar electron tower. Spatial variability in DeltaG(r) was significant for iron redox reactions, owing largely to the wide range in Fe(2+) and H(+) concentrations. Energy yields were compared to those obtained for samples collected in June 2001. The temporal variations in geochemical composition and energy yields observed in the Vulcano hydrothermal system between 2001 and 2003 were moderate. The largest differences in DeltaG(r) over the 2 years were from iron redox reactions, due to temporal changes in the Fe(2+) and H(+) concentrations. The observed variations in fluid composition across the Vulcano hydrothermal system have the potential to influence not only microbial diversity but also the metabolic strategies of the resident microbial communities.     

Bacterial community in ancient Siberian permafrost as characterized by culture and culture-independent methods

The microbial composition of ancient permafrost sediments from the Kolyma lowland of Northeast Eurasia was examined through culture and culture-independent approaches. These sediments have been continuously frozen for 5,000 to 2-3 million years. A total of 265 Bacteria 16S rRNA gene sequences were amplified from the permafrost total-community genomic DNA and screened by amplified ribosomal 16S rRNA restriction analysis. Members of three major lineages were found: gamma-Proteobacteria (mostly Xanthomonadaceae), Actinobacteria, and Firmicutes. We also determined partial 16S rRNA gene sequences of 49 isolates from a collection of 462 aerobes isolated from these sediments. The bacteria included Actinomycetales (Arthrobacter and Microbacteriaceae); followed by the Firmicutes (Exiguobacterium and Planomicrobium); the Bacteroidetes (Flavobacterium); the gamma-Proteobacteria (Psychrobacter); and the alpha-Proteobacteria (Sphingomonas). Both culture and culture-independent approaches showed the presence of high and low G+C Gram-positive bacteria and gamma-Proteobacteria. Some of the 16S rRNA gene sequences of environmental clones matched those of Arthrobacter isolates. Two-thirds of the isolates grew at -2.5 degrees C, indicating that they are psychroactive, and all are closely related to phylogenetic groups with strains from other cold environments, mostly commonly from Antarctica. The culturable and non-culturable microorganisms found in the terrestrial permafrost provide a prototype for possible life on the cryogenic planets of the Solar System.     

With a grain of salt: what halite has to offer to discussions on the origin of life

This experimental study investigated how the dynamics of the crystallization of the evaporite mineral halite could affect the accumulation and preservation of organic macromolecules present in the crystallizing solution. Halite was grown under controlled conditions in the presence of polymer nanoparticles that acted as an analog to protocellular material. Optical microscopy, atomic force microscopy, and laser scanning confocal fluorescence microscopy were used to trace the localization of the nanoparticles during and after growth of halite crystals. The present study revealed that the organic nanoparticles were not regularly incorporated within the halite, but were very concentrated on its surfaces. Their distribution was controlled dominantly by the morphologic surface features of the mineral rather than by specific molecular interactions with an atomic plane of the mineral. This means that the distribution of organic molecules was controlled by surfaces like those of halite's evaporitic growth forms. The experiments with halite also demonstrated that a mineral need not continuously incorporate organic molecules during its crystallization to preserve those molecules: After rejection by (non-incorporation into) the crystallizing halite, the organic nanoparticles increased in concentration in the evaporating brine. They ultimately either adsorbed in rectilinear patterns onto the hopper-enhanced surfaces and along discontinuities within the crystals, or they were encapsulated within fluid inclusions. Of additional importance in origin-of-life considerations is the fact that halite in the natural environment rapidly can change its role from that of a protective repository (in the absence of water) to that of a source of organic particles (as soon as water is present) when the mineral dissolves.     

Was Earth ever infected by martian biota? Clues from radioresistant bacteria

Here we propose that the radioresistance (tolerance to ionizing radiation) observed in several terrestrial bacteria has a martian origin. Multiple inconsistencies with the current view of radioresistance as an accidental side effect of tolerance to desiccation are discussed. Experiments carried out 25 years ago were reproduced to demonstrate that "ordinary" bacteria can develop high radioresistance ability after multiple cycles of exposure to high radiation dosages followed by cycles of recovery of the bacterial population. We argue that "natural" cycles of this kind could have taken place only on the martian surface, and we hypothesize that Mars microorganisms could have developed radioresistance in just several million years' time and, subsequently, have undergone transfer to Earth by way of martian meteorites. Our mechanism implies multiple and frequent exchanges of biota between Mars and Earth.     

后掠翼身干扰区流动特性及改善措施研究

利用流动显示及表面压力测量方法研究了后掠翼身干扰区的流动特性,并研究了用小边条等措施改善干扰区的流动特性的效果.结果表明,随着不同机翼后掠角、不同迎角及不同Re数对干扰区流动特性的影响,流态可以从一涡系变成多涡系,由定常变成非定常,而且在一定的Re数以后涡系会紊流化;翼身干扰区上游的的逆压梯度是导致边界层分离的物理原因,利用面积很小的边条可以降低干扰区局部的逆压梯度,可以导致干扰区的旋涡很弱,甚至不出现,这是很有实际意义的.     

麻花钻钻尖锥面刃磨参数优化求解

麻花钻锥面刃磨方法有4个刃磨参数,当给定外缘转点的结构圆周后角、横刃斜角、锋角这3个结构参数时,后刀面的形状并不唯一.为了获得唯一的后刀面廓形,必须增加一个辅助参数.可供选择的补充参数有尾隙角、横刃后角、周边后角、切深后角等.这样,当给定一个补充参数后,4个设计参数就可以决定4个刃磨参数.然而单独使用某一个补充参数,就忽略了其余参数的影响.采用优化的方法来求解刃磨参数,将各个补充参数和刃磨参数的实际可调范围作为约束条件,就可以得到满足一定要求的最优解.     

箔条云团的布朗运动扩散模型

假定箔条所在位置处大气运动速度是一个维纳随机过程,同时在忽略箔条的质量时箔条的运动完全反应当地大气的运动,在此基础上建立箔条云团的扩散模型及数值仿真模型. 对扩散模型进行分析得到了箔条云团扩散过程中的数字特征.对数值仿真模型的分析表明必须对大气的运动方差进行时间离散化补偿,进行离散化补偿后箔条云团的数字特征不受模拟时时间步长的影响.模拟结果证明了分析的正确性.     

介质覆盖的柱面共形微带天线的互耦分析

 共形微带天线间的互耦对微带天线阵的性能有重要影响,另一方面,为了防止对微带天线阵的自然的或人为的损害,需要在天线阵表面涂覆介质层或给其加上天线罩,因此在设计共形微带天线与阵列时也应当考虑覆盖层或天线罩的影响.利用严格的全波法分析和计算了介质覆盖、探针馈电的柱面共形微带天线单元间的互耦,给出了E面和H面互耦的数值结果,并讨论了柱面曲率半径和贴片间距对互耦的影响,给出了互耦随频率的变化关系,同时也研究了衬底介质和覆盖层对互耦的作用.     

有限平面上圆口径辐射场的数值分析

计算由TE₁₁模激励的圆波导末端开口所形成的圆口径天线的辐射场.首先利用等效原理和矩量法计算嵌在无限大金属板上圆口径的等效磁流分布,允许圆波导中有任意多个高次模式存在,利用傅里叶变换法求得其辐射方向图,然后把该辐射场作为有限接地板边缘的入射场,利用几何绕射理论(GTD)计算有限接地板对圆口径方向图的贡献,其中在焦散区及接近焦散区区域采用等效磁流法计算有限接地板的影响,给出计算公式及计算例子,部分结果得到了文献的验证.