Extraction of ion distributions from magnetospheric ENA and EUV images

Energetic neutral atom (ENA) and extreme ultra-violet photon (EUV) imagers will soon be probing magnetospheric ion distributions from the NASA space missions IMAGE and TWINS. Although ENA and EUV images will differ greatly, the same basic mathematical approach can be applied to deducing the ion distributions: extracting the parameters of a model ion distribution in a model magnetic field (and, in the case of ENA, interacting with a model cold neutral population). The model ion distribution is highly non-linear in its many parameters (as many as 38 have been used) in order to describe the strong spatial gradients of ion intensities in the magnetosphere. We have developed several new computer algorithms to accomplish the extraction by minimizing the differences between a simulated (instrument-specific) image and an observed image (or set of images). Towards the goal of a truly automated `hands-off extraction algorithm, we have combined three algorithms into a Hierarchical Simplex Algorithm. At each step of the minimization, it first tries a sophisticated and efficient Adaptive Conjugate Gradient algorithm. Then, if the error function is not reduced, it defers to an intermediate Analytic Simplex algorithm, and (if this step also fails) it finally defaults to the robust but inefficient Downhill Simplex algorithm. Whenever a step is successful, the algorithm begins the next step at the top of the hierarchy. We also offer a completely different approach (without minimization) for the interpretation of sharp `edges in the images (e.g., the plasmapause in He ⁺ 30.4 nm EUV images of the plasmasphere). We demonstrate mathematically that the equatorial shape of the plasmapause can be constructed directly from the image using a simple graphical algorithm.     

Resonance in a coupled solar-climate model

The 11–year solar activity cycle is magnetic in origin and is responsible for small changes in solar luminosity and the modulation of the solar wind. The terrestrial climate exhibits much internal variability supporting oscillations with many frequencies. The direct effect of changing solar irradiance in driving climatic change is believed to be small, and amplification mechanisms are needed to enhance the role of solar variability. In this paper we demonstrate that resonance may play a crucial role in the dynamics of the climate system, by using the output from a nonlinear solar dynamo model as a weak input to a simplified climate model. The climate is modelled as oscillating about two fixed points (corresponding to a warm and cold state) with the weak chaotically modulated solar forcing on average pushing the solution towards the warm state. When a typical frequency of the input is similar to that of the chaotic climate system then a dramatic increase in the role of the solar forcing is apparent and complicated intermittent behaviour is observed. The nonlinear effects are subtle however, and forcing that on average pushes the solution towards the warm state may lead to increased intervals of oscillation about either state. Owing to the intermittent nature of the timeseries, analysis of the relevant timeseries is shown to be non-trivial.     

Climate Observations - The Instrumental Record

A survey is given of the available instrumental data for monitoring and analysis of climatic variations. We focus on temperature measurements, both over land and ocean, at the surface and aloft.Over land, the older observations were subject to exposure changes which may not have been fully compensated. The effects of urbanization have been largely avoided in studies of climatic change over the last 150 years. There are few records for pre-1850 outside Europe and eastern North America, and the global network shows a recent decline. Over the ocean, sea surface temperature (SST) has been measured using buckets, engine intakes, hull sensors, buoys, and satellites. Many of these data have been effectively homogenized, but new challenges arise as observing systems evolve. Available SST and marine air temperature datasets begin in the 1850s. The data are concentrated in shipping lanes especially before 1900, and very sparse during the world wars, but additional historical data are being digitized.The radiosonde record is short (40 years) and has major gaps over the oceans, tropics and Southern Hemisphere. Instrumental heterogeneities are beginning to be assessed and removed using physical and statistical techniques. The MSU record is complete but only began in 1979, and is not highly resolved in the vertical: major biases, mainly affecting the lower-tropospheric retrieval, have been reduced as a result of recent analyses.Advanced interpolation or data-assimilation techniques are being applied to these data, but the results must be interpreted with care.     

Amplification of the influence of solar flux variations on the winter stratosphere by planetary waves

Recent observational evidence has suggested that variations in solar activity may affect winter stratospheric polar ozone and temperature levels. The paucity of direct sunlight available during this season points strongly to a dynamical mechanism. We have carried out several large ensemble experiments within the middle atmosphere and the coupled middle atmosphere and lower thermosphere to simulate the radiative/dynamical coupling via planetary waves for a range of solar fluxes. In the former case, the model response in the winter stratosphere was linear and of the order of the summer stratopause forcing, whilst in the latter, the level of correlation in the winter stratosphere remained high, but was diluted over a wider volume. The inclusion of the upper atmosphere enhanced the winter polar stratospheric response by a factor of three.     

Dynamics of an Eddy-Current-Torqued Gyro-Stabilized Assembly

Prominent among the commonly encountered gyro-stabilized assemblies used in guidance and tracking are those which are eddy-current torqued. Although eddy-current-torquecd lead- computing gunsights, which use spinning mirrors, have been well known for thirty years, it has been difficult to find an analysis of the torques developed by the precession mechanism. In this paper a model configuration of the torquer is presented. The total gyro dynamics are then determined by including these torque terms in the model presented in the preceding paper.     

An Algorithm for Designing Burst Waveforms with Quantized Transmitter Weights

An algorithm is described which finds optimum transmitter and receiver weights to maximize clutter suppression in a predetermined clutter region when using burst waveforms. It is assumed that the transmitter weights can only take on values from a finite set. This optimization problem is solved using a branch and bound algorithm. An example is given which shows the improvement in clutter suppression when this new design procedure is used as compared to a simpler nonoptimal procedure.     

束丝SiC纤维增强铝复合材料界面TEM研究

利用透射电镜 (TEM )对由几种不同方法制备的束丝SiC纤维增强铝复合材料 (包括超声液相浸渗法制备的复合丝、由复合丝热压得到的板材以及由真空液相压渗法制备的板材等 )的界面微观特征进行了研究 ,结果显示 ,制造态及 5 5 0℃× 1h热暴露条件下复合材料没有发生界面反应 ,在 6 5 0℃× 1h热暴露条件下有厚度 10 0～2 0 0nm的界面反应区。该研究表明 ,SiC/Al复合材料在制备工艺条件下具有有良好的界面化学相容性     

扩压器-水泵内非稳定流动研究

水泵内部流动实质上是复杂的三维非稳定流动 ,它对水泵性能及结构振动有重要影响。本文介绍了一种求解这种复杂内流动的数值方法。三维雷诺数平均的纳维斯托克斯方程 ( 3-DReynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes,RANS)以及标准 k-ε的方程用于描述水泵内非定常紊流流场。系统特性方程与水泵的 CFD模型相结合以考虑流体在管道中的加速 ;采用任意滑移网格界面模拟叶轮和静止部件之间的相互干涉 ;将整个叶轮作为分析对象 ,以考虑失速情况下流动的周向非对称。这些技术的结合包括了水泵内非稳定流动的物理实质。一台实验数据比较齐全的离心式 -扩压器水泵被用于验证所提出的数值方法     

缩尺模拟板相关性研究

介绍了模拟板由小模型到大模型的研制过程，着重讨论了模拟板小模型与大模型在流场总压恢复系数、周向不均匀度、低压区范围等方面的相关性问题。研究结果表明由小模型到大模型的研制方案是正确可行的。