Modelling solar irradiance variations: Comparison with observations,including line-ratio variations

Solar irradiance variations show a strong temporal and spectral dependence. The progression of the Sun through its activity cycle as well as solar rotation are mirrored in the irradiance variations. The spectral dependence is such that the variations are several magnitudes larger in the EUV than in the visible or infrared.We present a simple 3-component model that is based on the assumption that changes in the solar flux are exclusively due to changes in spot and facular coverage. We compare our model to observations of the spectral solar irradiance variations.Despite its simplicity, we find that the agreement between our model and the observations is surprisingly good. We also explore the reliability and the limitations of our approach by comparing observations of the solar facular contrast and of the changes in spectral line depths with our calculations.     

基于图像的测量方法在工业风洞跨声速流测量中的最新进展

风洞中非定常复杂流场的实验研究要求先进的测量技术.基于图像的测量技术中最重要的是测量平面流速度场、平面压强分布、模型位置和变形、模型温度以及定量的高速流可视化等技术.DLR(德国宇航研究院)对这些技术的应用包括从低速流到跨声速流、从增升装置到螺旋桨和旋翼、从弹射装置和水塔储水罐尾迹流旋涡到三角翼上涡破裂现象等的研究.由于跨声速风洞的特殊环境,将基于图像的测量技术用于跨声速流要求专门的技术开发和有经验的科学家.给出了DLR空气动力学和流动技术研究所将基于图像的测量技术应用于跨声速流研究的最新进展.     

BDS-3观测数据质量分析及精密定轨

当前,北斗卫星导航定位系统正处于快速发展阶段,在全球GNSS卫星导航定位领域中受到了越来越多的关注,分析BDS-3卫星观测数据质量以及钟差性能对中国北斗导航事业的发展与应用具有重要意义。深入分析了IGMAS监测站BDS-3卫星的数据质量,同时采用现有的观测数据进行了BDS-3卫星三天弧段的定轨实验。结果表明,轨道重叠弧段1D RMS径向优于20cm,钟差重叠弧段STD精度优于1ns。为准确掌握BDS-3卫星钟差的时频特性,利用估计的钟差数据计算了BDS-3卫星钟差频率稳定性指标,其千秒稳定度、万秒稳定度和日稳定度分别为4.64×10-13、8.55×10-14和1.28×10-14,相对于BDS-2系统最高提升了25.89%。     

Rapid short-term pulse-period variations in Vela X-1 (4U 0900-40)

Results are presented of an analysis of 83 days of 2–12 keV X-ray observations of Vela X-1 (4U 0900-40) obtained during three separate pointings with the ESA COS-B satellite. The pulsation period is shown to undergo very rapid intrinsic changes, at a rate of up to during intervals of a few days. The lower values of which were previously observed over longer intervals, appear to result from an averaging-out of these rapid changes. It is argued, that the transfer of angular momentum to the neutron star by the accreting matter is very unlikely to be sufficient to explain these pulsation-period changes. An alternative explanation is suggested.     

Space environmental factors affecting responses to radiation at the cellular level.

Previous space experiments suggest a high value for the RBE of cosmic radiation. A possible explanation could be a change in cell radiosensitivity due to a combined effect of radiation and other factors related to the space environment and to the space flight. Results of the EXOBLOC II experiment support this assumption. On earth, vibrations or accelerations applied before or after irradiation can change the responses to radiation. Microgravity could be the main factor affecting the radiosensitivity and DNA repair but this hypothesis must be confirmed by additional experiments.     

The BepiColombo/MMO model payload and operation plan

The Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) of Japan plans to contribute the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter (MMO) to the BepiColombo program, the ESA Cornerstone mission to the planet Mercury. The principal objective of the MMO is to study the magnetic field and magnetosphere of Mercury. The ISAS Mercury exploration working group has performed the definition study of the MMO mission in cooperation with the ESA/ESTEC BepiColombo project team. This paper briefly reviews the scientific objectives, and describes the model payload and its operation plan.     

Chandra imaging spectroscopy of the central region of AWM7

We report on the results of Chandra observations of the galaxy cluster AWM7. The ACIS image reveals new substructures with a spatial extent of more than 8″ (4 kpc at AWM7) near the cD galaxy center, represented by a hard sub-peak and a soft peak. These substructures suggest that a dynamical process related to the formation of the cD galaxy is now taking place. Inside the cluster core within a radius of 2′, annular spectra with every 10″ step are fitted well by single temperature models. The temperature gradually drops from 4.2 keV at a radius of 60 kpc (2′) to 1.8 keV at the cluster center. The radial abundance profile shows a gradient with a peak metallicity of 1.5 solar at a radius of about 15″ (7 kpc). A two-dimensional map shows two high metallicity blob-like regions, which may be the gas expelled from the cD galaxy.     

High-cadence Hα imaging of solar flares

The Hα observation is a powerful tool to study the high-energy aspect of solar flares. Spiky brightenings of flare kernels at the Hα center reflect the rapid fluctuation in particle acceleration; linear polarization of Hα emission might be evidence of accelerated protons; red-shifts of the Hα line are caused by the chromospheric evaporation. To study the spiky brightenings of flare kernels with high-cadence imaging at the Hα center, a high-speed Hα camera for the Solar Flare Telescope at Mitaka, NAOJ, had been developed and it started the regular observation in 2001 July. However, the polarimetry and the Dopplermetry are also important and they are required to be carried out in parallel with the high-cadence imaging at the Hα center. Then, we upgraded the original high-speed Hα camera to a new Hα camera system for the multi-aspect Hα observations, which performs all of the high-cadence imaging, the linear polarization measurements, and the off-band imaging for velocity measurements. The new system started the observation in 2002 July. In this paper, the multi-aspect Hα imaging system is described and sample Hα images are presented.     

Lightning Detection by LAC Onboard the Japanese Venus Climate Orbiter, Planet-C

Lightning activity in Venus has been a mystery for a long period, although many studies based on observations both by spacecraft and by ground-based telescope have been carried out. This situation may be attributed to the ambiguity of these evidential measurements. In order to conclude this controversial subject, we are developing a new type of lightning detector, LAC (Lightning and Airglow Camera), which will be onboard Planet-C (Venus Climate Orbiter: VCO). Planet-C will be launched in 2010 by JAXA. To distinguish an optical lightning flash from other pulsing noises, high-speed sampling at 50 kHz for each pixel, that enables us to investigate the time variation of each lightning flash phenomenon, is adopted. On the other hand, spatial resolution is not the first priority. For this purpose we developed a new type of APD (avalanche photo diode) array with a format of 8×8. A narrow band interference filter at wavelength of 777.4 nm (OI), which is the expected lightning color based on laboratory discharge experiment, is chosen for lightning measurement. LAC detects lightning flash with an optical intensity of average of Earth’s lightning or less at a distance of 3 Rv. In this paper, firstly we describe the background of the Venus lightning study to locate our spacecraft project, and then introduce the mission details.     

Growth of pea epicotyl in low magnetic field implication for space research

A magnetic field is an inescapable environmental factor for plants on the earth. However, its impact on plant growth is not well understood. In order to survey how magnetic fields affect plant, Alaska pea seedlings were incubated under low magnetic field (LMF) and also in the normal geo-magnetic environment. Two-day-old etiolated seedlings were incubated in a magnetic shield box and in a control box. Sedimentation of amyloplasts was examined in the epicotyls of seedlings grown under these two conditions. The elongation of epicotyls was promoted by LMF. Elongation was most prominent in the middle part of the epicotyls. Cell elongation and increased osmotic pressure of cell sap were found in the epidermal cells exposed to LMF. When the gravitational environment was 1G, the epicotyls incubated under both LMF and normal geomagnetic field grew straight upward and amyloplasts sedimented similarly. However, under simulated microgravity (clinostat), epicotyl and cell elongation was promoted. Furthermore, the epicotyls bent and amyloplasts were dispersed in the cells in simulated microgravity. The dispersion of amyloplasts may relate to the posture control in epicotyl growth under simulated microgravity generated by 3D clinorotation, since it was not observed under LMF in 1G. Since enhanced elongation of cells was commonly seen both at LMF and in simulated microgravity, all elongation on the 3D-clinostat could result from pseudo-low magnetic field, as a by-product of clinorotation. (i.e., clinostat results could be based on randomization of magnetic field together with randomization of gravity vector.) Our results point to the possible use of space for studies in magnetic biology. With space experiments, the effects of dominant environmental factors, such as gravity on plants, could be neutralized or controlled for to reveal magnetic effects more clearly.