TARANIS—A Satellite Project Dedicated to the Physics of TLEs and TGFs

TARANIS “Tool for the Analysis of RAdiations from lightNIngs and Sprites” is a CNES satellite project dedicated to the study of impulsive transfers of energy between the Earth atmosphere and the space environment. Such impulsive transfers of energy, identified by the observation at ground and in space (rocket, balloons, FORMOSAT 2 satellite) of Transient Luminous Events (TLEs) and the detection on satellites (CGRO, RHESSI) of Terrestrial Gamma ray Flashes (TGFs), are likely to occur in other astrophysical environments as well. The TARANIS mission and instrumentation is presented. The way the TARANIS programme (associated ground-based and balloon-based measurements included) may answer questions about the physics of TLEs and TGFs is examined. The questions addressed include: TLEs and TGFs source regions, associated phenomena, transfers of energy between the radiation belts and the atmosphere, TLEs and TGFs generation mechanisms, input parameters to the modelling of the variation of the atmosphere and the electric circuit.     

Effects of X2-class solar flare events on ionospheric GPS-TEC and radio waves over Brazilian sector

In this investigation, we present and discuss the effects of 6 X2-class solar flare events in the ionospheric F region over Brazilian sector that occurred during 2013 to 2015. For this investigation, we present the vertical total electron content (VTEC) observations from nearly 120 Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers all over the Brazilian sector for each event. Also, ionospheric sounding observations obtained in São José dos Campos (23.2°S, 45.9°W, dip latitude 17.6°S; hereafter referred to as SJC), under the southern crest of the equatorial ionospheric anomaly (EIA), Brazil, are presented. The observations show that the greatest TEC impact occurs with the EUV fluxes increases lasting for more than one hour and when the solar active region is located close to the solar disc center. We present a detailed study of the efficiency of the EUV flux with wavelengths ranging from 0.1 to 190?nm for the F region ionization. The largest increase of ΔTEC occurs below the magnetic equator line, covering mainly the central, northeast, southeast and south regions, which includes the equatorial ionospheric anomaly (EIA) region. The ionograms show partial or total fade out in the echoes traces observed causing blackouts of radio signals of up to 60?min, which can have serious consequences to technological systems of public and private agencies around Brazilian sector. This study can help to better understand the effects of solar flares in the ionospheric F region.     

Unusual nighttime impulsive foF2 enhancements at low latitudes: Phenomenology and possible explanations

This paper is focused on unusual nighttime impulsive electron density enhancements that are rarely observed at low latitudes on a wide region of South America, under quiet and medium/high geomagnetic conditions. The phenomenon under investigation is very peculiar because besides being of brief duration, it is characterized by a pronounced compression of the ionosphere. The phenomenon was studied and analyzed using both the F2 layer critical frequency (foF2) and the virtual height of the base of the F region (h′F) values recorded at five ionospheric stations widely distributed in space, namely: Jicamarca (−12.0°, −76.8°, magnetic latitude −2.0°), Peru; Sao Luis (−2.6°, −44.2°, magnetic latitude +6.2°), Cachoeira Paulista (−22.4°, −44.6°, magnetic latitude −13.4°), and São José dos Campos (−23.2°, −45.9°, magnetic latitude −14.1°), Brazil; Tucumán (−26.9°, −65.4°, magnetic latitude −16.8°), Argentina. In a more restricted region over Tucumán, the phenomenon was also investigated by the total electron content (TEC) maps computed by using measurements from 12 GPS receivers. A detailed analysis of isoheight ionosonde plots suggests that traveling ionospheric disturbances (TIDs) caused by gravity wave (GW) propagation could play a significant role in causing the phenomenon both for quiet and for medium/high geomagnetic activity; in the latter case however a recharging of the fountain effect, due to electric fields penetrating from the magnetosphere, joins the TID propagation and plays an as much significant role in causing impulsive electron density enhancements.     

弧齿锥齿轮齿面优化修正及计算机仿真

由于加工误差和热处理变形等因素的影响 ,实际弧齿锥齿轮齿面啮合质量通常与“轮齿接触分析”(TCA)所得的理论结果有所差异。本文提出了基于最小二乘法的加工参数识别方法和齿面优化修正方法 ,经计算机仿真验证 ,修正后的齿面与原设计的齿面 ,具有非常近似的 TCA结果。     

弧齿锥齿轮的齿距误差对传动性能的影响研究

采用齿轮啮合仿真和承载啮合仿真技术 ,对重合度达到 2 .0的航空弧齿锥齿轮的齿距误差的影响进行了研究。首先定义了航空弧齿锥齿轮相对齿距误差 ,选取了量级 ,研究了这一误差对齿轮实际重合度、传动误差、齿面载荷分布和齿间载荷分配的影响。进一步又分析了在一定齿距误差下载荷变化的影响以及固定载荷下误差变化的影响 ,为高重合度航空弧齿锥齿轮的应用提供了依据     

高重合度弧齿锥齿轮的强度分析

本文采用有限元应力影响矩阵法研究了高重合度弧齿锥齿轮在多种误差和载荷条件下的弯曲应力状态 ,证明了经过优化设计的高重合度弧齿锥齿轮不仅有良好的动态性能 ,而且在一定误差范围内在强度方面具有优越性     

多块网格网络并行计算中的负载分配研究

针对CFD中多块网格计算的特点，并使用MPI网络并行系统，对某战斗机绕流进行了基于三维Euler方程的并行计算，主要研究了多块网格并行计算中负载的分配方法，发展了负载自动分配和网格自动重分区程序，计算结果表明：并行计算结果和实验结果完全吻合，8个节点机的并行效率达到了89％。     

Predicting the probability of occurrence of spread-F over Brazil using neural networks

The probability of occurrence of spread-F can be modeled and predicted using neural networks (NNs). This paper presents a feasibility study into the development of a NN based model for the prediction of the probability of occurrence of spread-F over selected equatorial stations within the Brazilian sector. The input space included the day number (seasonal variation), hour (diurnal variation), sunspot number (measure of the solar activity), magnetic index (measure of the magnetic activity) and magnetic position. Twelve years of spread-F data from Brazil (covering the period 1978–1989) measured at the equatorial site Fortaleza (3.9°S, 38.45°W) and low latitude site Cachoeira Paulista (22.6°S, 45.0°W) are used in the development of an input space and NN architecture for the model. Spread-F data that is believed to be related to plasma bubble developments (range spread-F) was used in the development of the model. The model results show the probability of spread-F occurrence as a function of local time, season and latitude. Results from the Brazilian Sector NN (BSNN) based model are presented in this paper, as well as a comparative analysis with a Brazilian model developed for the same purpose.     

Russia's resurgence: Prospects for space policy and international cooperation

Based on a joint study initiated in 2007–2008 by the Policy planning staff (CAP) of the French Foreign Ministry and the space agency CNES, which brought together experts, researchers and industry insiders, this article considers the factors behind Russia's recent resurgence and the possible revival of its space programme. It examines how far the latter will require international cooperation in order to progress further and discusses likely areas of profitable collaboration with Europe in general and France in particular, given that country's long history of space cooperation with Russia and the need in the mid-term future to share the burden of developing ambitious new space programs. While there is in principle much potential, especially in the area of space transportation, there are also numerous challenges and uncertainties. How these are resolved will affect the level and success of any cooperative efforts of both sides.