Alfvénic Electron Acceleration in Aurora Occurs in Global Alfvén Resonosphere Region

Auroral emission caused by electron precipitation (Hardy et al., 1987, J. Geophys. Res. 92, 12275–12294) is powered by magnetospheric driving processes. It is not yet fully understood how the energy transfer mechanisms are responsible for the electron precipitation. It has been proposed (Hasegawa, 1976, J. Geophys. Res. 81, 5083–5090) that Alfvén waves coming from the magnetosphere play some role in powering the aurora (Wygant et al., 2000, J. Geophys. Res. 105, 18675–18692, Keiling et al., 2003, Science 299, 383–386). Alfvén-wave-induced electron acceleration is shown to be confined in a rather narrow radial distance range of 4–5 R _E (Earth radii) and its importance, relative to other electron acceleration mechanisms, depends strongly on the magnetic disturbance level so that it represents 10% of all electron precipitation power during quiet conditions and increased to 40% during disturbed conditions. Our observations suggest that an electron Landau resonance mechanism operating in the “Alfvén resonosphere” is responsible for the energy transfer.     

Stellar flares

Radio and X-ray observations of stellar flares provide the most direct probes of energy relaase particle acceleration, and energy transport on stars other than the Sun. In this review, the observational basis for our understanding of the flare phenomenon on other stars is briefly described and outstanding interpretive and theoretical issues are discussed. I shall confine my attention to objects which are solar-like, to the extent that they possess deep convective envelopes and display activity which is presumed to be magnetic in origin. These include pre-main sequence objects, classical flare stars, and close binaries. Future directions are briefly discussed.     

UWB radar for patient monitoring

During the last few years the Moscow Aviation Institute (Russia) and the Industrial Technology Research Institute (Taiwan) have worked jointly on the development of ultrawideband (UWB) medical radars for remote and contactiess monitoring of patients in hospitals. Preliminary results of these works were published in [1]. As of the present, several radars have been produced and tested in real conditions in hospitals in Russia and Taiwan. Some results of these tests are given.     

ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) Science Ground Segment (SGS)

The ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) Science Ground Segment (SGS), comprised of payload Instrument Team, ESA and Russian operational centres, is responsible for planning the science operations of the TGO mission and for the generation and archiving of the scientific data products to levels meeting the scientific aims and criteria specified by the ESA Project Scientist as advised by the Science Working Team (SWT). The ExoMars SGS builds extensively upon tools and experience acquired through earlier ESA planetary missions like Mars and Venus Express, and Rosetta, but also is breaking ground in various respects toward the science operations of future missions like BepiColombo or JUICE. A productive interaction with the Russian partners in the mission facilitates broad and effective collaboration. This paper describes the global organisation and operation of the SGS, with reference to its principal systems, interfaces and operational processes.     

Lithium Depletion in the Sun: A Study of Mixing Based on Hydrodynamical Simulations

Based on radiation hydrodynamics modeling of stellar convection zones, a diffusion scheme has been devised describing the downward penetration of convective motions beyond the Schwarzschild boundary (overshoot) into the radiative interior. This scheme of exponential diffusive overshoot has already been successfully applied to AGB stars. Here we present an application to the Sun in order to determine the time scale and depth extent of this additional mixing, i.e. diffusive overshoot at the base of the convective envelope. We calculated the associated destruction of lithium during the evolution towards and on the main-sequence. We found that the slow-mixing processes induced by the diffusive overshoot may lead to a substantial depletion of lithium during the Sun's main-sequence evolution. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.