Real-time global MHD simulation of the solar wind interaction with the earth’s magnetosphere

We have developed a real-time global MHD (magnetohydrodynamics) simulation of the solar wind interaction with the earth’s magnetosphere. By adopting the real-time solar wind parameters and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) observed routinely by the ACE (Advanced Composition Explorer) spacecraft, responses of the magnetosphere are calculated with MHD code. The simulation is carried out routinely on the super computer system at National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), Japan. The visualized images of the magnetic field lines around the earth, pressure distribution on the meridian plane, and the conductivity of the polar ionosphere, can be referred to on the web site (http://www2.nict.go.jp/y/y223/simulation/realtime/).The results show that various magnetospheric activities are almost reproduced qualitatively. They also give us information how geomagnetic disturbances develop in the magnetosphere in relation with the ionosphere. From the viewpoint of space weather, the real-time simulation helps us to understand the whole image in the current condition of the magnetosphere. To evaluate the simulation results, we compare the AE indices derived from the simulation and observations. The simulation and observation agree well for quiet days and isolated substorm cases in general.     

Changes in mood status and neurotic levels during a 20-day bed rest

This study evaluated changes of mood status and depressive and neurotic levels in nine young male subjects during a 20-day 6 degrees head-down tilting bed rest and examined whether exercise training modified these changes. Participants were asked to complete psychometrical inventories on before, during, and after the bed rest experiment. Depressive and neurotic levels were enhanced during bed rest period according to the Japanese version of Zung's Self-rating Depression Scale and the Japanese version of the General Health Questionnaire. Mood state "vigor" was impaired and "confusion" was increased during bed rest and recumbent control periods compared to pre-bed rest and ambulatory control periods according to the Japanese version of Profiles of Mood State, whereas the mood "tension-anxiety", "depression-dejection", "anger-hostility" and "fatigue" were relatively stable during experiment. Isometric exercise training did not modify these results. Microgravity, along with confinement to bed and isolation from familiar environments, induced impairment of mental status.     

Estimation of orbital parameters of broken-up objects from in-situ debris measurements

Even sub-millimeter-size debris could cause a fatal damage on a spacecraft. Such tiny debris cannot be followed up or tracked from the ground. Therefore, Kyushu University has initiated IDEA the project for In-situ Debris Environmental Awareness, which conducts in-situ measurements of sub-millimeter-size debris. One of the objectives is to estimate the location of on-orbit satellite fragmentations from in-situ measurements. The previous studies revealed that it is important to find out the right nodal precession rate to estimate the orbital parameters of a broken-up object properly. Therefore, this study derives a constraint equation that applies to the nodal precession rate of the broken-up object. This study also establishes an effective procedure to estimate properly the orbital parameters of a broken-up object with the constraint equation.     

Detection Performance of Hard-Limited Phase-Coded Signals

The performance of a complex phase-coded waveform digital processor with hard-limiting constant false-alarm rate (CFAR) is presented. Processing losses relative to ideal matched-filter performance are computed and verified by hardware measurement. The losses considered include the consequences of hard limiting, envelope algorithm implementation, range cusping, and the associated effects of code length, IF filter bandwidth, and in-phase and quadrature channel phase offset. The range resolution properties of two closely spaced targets are also considered.     

ETS-II Experiments Part IV: Characteristics of Millimeter and Centimeter Wavelength Propagation

Preliminary results of the ETS-II millimeter and centimeter wavelength propagation experiments are presented based on data collected over one year. Rain attenuation is discussed primarily from the statistical point of view. At 34.5 GHz attenuation in excess of 5, 10, and 19.5 dB were observed 1, 0.3, and 0.1 percent of the test time (5500 hr), respectively. At 11.5 GHz attenuation in excess of 2.5, 4.3, 6.3, 10, and 15.5 dB were observed 0.1, 0.03, 0.01, 0.003, and 0.001 percent of the test time, respectively. Duration time of attenuation is also examined for the benefit of a link design. The longest duration of attenuation of the 34.5-GHz wave exceeding 5 dB was about 150 min. At 11.5 GHz, the longest duration of attenuation in excess of 3 dB, was 60 min and that in excess of 6 dB was 10 min. Rain attenuation is discussed also with relation to the radar and the rain gauge data. Depolarization data of 34.5-GHz and 11.5-GHz waves are orocessed statistically, and it is shown that cross-polarization discriminations in excess of 21.5 dB and 29 dB are observed 0.1 percent of the test time at 34.5 GHz and 11.5 GHz, respectively.