Wave emissions at half electron gyroharmonics in the equatorial plasmasphere region: CLUSTER observations and statistics

Intense (n + 1/2) f_ce emissions are a common phenomenon observed in the terrestrial inner magnetosphere. One of their interests is their possible effect in the pitch angle scattering of plasmasheet keV-electron, leading to diffuse auroras. In this paper, we present CLUSTER’s point of view about this topic, in the equatorial region of the plasmasphere, via a statistical study using 3 years of data. Spectral characteristics of these waves, which represent an important clue concerning their generation mechanism, are obtained using WHISPER data near perigee. Details on the wave spectral signature are shown in an event study, in particular their splitting in fine frequency bands. The orbit configuration of the four spacecraft offers a complete sampling on all MLT sectors. A higher occurrence rate of the emissions in the dawn sector and their confinement to the geomagnetic equator, pointed out in previous studies, are confirmed and described with additional details. The proximity of emission sites, both to the plasmapause layer and to the geomagnetic equator surface, seems to be of great importance in the behaviour of the (n + 1/2) f_ce wave characteristics. Our study indicates for the first time, that both the intensity of (n + 1/2) f_ce emissions, and the number of harmonic bands they cover, are increasing as the observation point is located further away outside from the plasmapause layer. Moreover, a study of the wave intensity in the first harmonic band (near 3/2 f_ce) shows higher amplitude for these emissions than previous published values, these emissions can play a role in the scattering of hot electrons. Finally, geomagnetic activity influence, studied via time series of the D_st index preceding observations, indicates that (n + 1/2) f_ce emission events are observed at CLUSTER position under moderate geomagnetic activity conditions, no specific D_st time variation being required.     

Investigations on temperature distribution of satellite surfaces affected by solar absorptivity

Based on the Monte Carlo ray-tracing method, the network coefficients of thermal network model describing the radiation heat transfer among satellite surfaces is solved by considering the surface material optical characters. It is superiority to the conventional Gebhart’s method in view of the grey body and the diffuse reflection assumptions. The zone leveling method is used to discrete the governing equations and the solar absorpivity is separated and considered to be an important correction parameter. Effects of the solar incidence round angle, the zenith angle and the ratio of absorpivity to emissivity (RAE) on temperature distribution are numerically simulated and discussed in detail. The higher or the lower the RAE may be lead to the alternative heating and cooling tend with a larger heating or cooling velocity of main body surfaces than the solar array surfaces. Furthermore, maximum temperature of main body is almost larger than solar arrays. Under the same RAE, solar incidence angle make a great effect on the uniform character of temperature distribution.     

激光合成金属间化合物基复合材料研究进展

对激光合成颗粒增强金属间化合物基复合材料进行了研究,包括Ni3Al/WC、NiAl/TiC、Ti3Al/TiC和MoSi2/SiC,用扫描电镜、能谱仪和X射线衍射仪对材料成分和组织特征进行了分析,提出并讨论了影响激光合成金属间化合物基复合材料的关键问题.激光合成具有多种强韧化方法协同、提高金属间化合物强度和塑性的特点,有利于金属间化合物性能的综合改善.     

非线性自适应控制理论在无人直升机飞行控制系统设计中的应用

最近，国内外很多研究结果表明，基于神经网络的直接自适应控制方法，在飞行器控制系统设计中有着诸多优点。其中最重要的是它减少了设计对飞机动态特性高保真建模的依赖。这种设计方法在某无人直升机上得以实际飞行验证。本文主要介绍这种非线性自适应控制系统及其外回路航迹跟踪器的设计问题。     

The Relativistic Electron-Proton Telescope (REPT) Instrument on Board the Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) Spacecraft: Characterization of Earth’s Radiation Belt High-Energy Particle Populations

Particle acceleration and loss in the million electron Volt (MeV) energy range (and above) is the least understood aspect of radiation belt science. In order to measure cleanly and separately both the energetic electron and energetic proton components, there is a need for a carefully designed detector system. The Relativistic Electron-Proton Telescope (REPT) on board the Radiation Belt Storm Probe (RBSP) pair of spacecraft consists of a stack of high-performance silicon solid-state detectors in a telescope configuration, a collimation aperture, and a thick case surrounding the detector stack to shield the sensors from penetrating radiation and bremsstrahlung. The instrument points perpendicular to the spin axis of the spacecraft and measures high-energy electrons (up to ～20 MeV) with excellent sensitivity and also measures magnetospheric and solar protons to energies well above E=100 MeV. The instrument has a large geometric factor (g=0.2 cm²?sr) to get reasonable count rates (above background) at the higher energies and yet will not saturate at the lower energy ranges. There must be fast enough electronics to avert undue dead-time limitations and chance coincidence effects. The key goal for the REPT design is to measure the directional electron intensities (in the range 10^?2–10⁶ particles/cm²?s?sr?MeV) and energy spectra (ΔE/E～25 %) throughout the slot and outer radiation belt region. Present simulations and detailed laboratory calibrations show that an excellent design has been attained for the RBSP needs. We describe the engineering design, operational approaches, science objectives, and planned data products for REPT.     

Phase asynchrony between coronal index and sunspot numbers

In this paper, the phase asynchrony between coronal index and sunspot numbers is investigated. It is found that, (1) the sunspot numbers begin one month earlier than coronal index, which should mathematically lead to phase asynchrony between them but with a slight effect; (2) the 11-year Schwabe cycle is the only one period with statistical significance for coronal index and sunspot numbers, and the difference between the length of the Schwabe cycle of them should also lead to phase asynchrony between them; (3) although coronal index and sunspot numbers are coherent in low-frequency components corresponding to the 11-year Schwabe cycle, they are asynchronous in phase in high-frequency components; (4) their different definitions and physical meanings may be a major reason why there is a phase asynchrony between them.     

Can an impulsive variation of the solar wind plasma pressure trigger a plasma bubble? A case study based on CSES,Swarm and THEMIS data

During the August 25, 2018 geomagnetic storm, the new borne CSES-01 satellite and the Swarm A satellite detected a really large equatorial plasma bubble (EPB) in the post-midnight sector over western Africa. We investigated the features of this deep ionospheric plasma depletion using data from the Langmuir probes on-board CSES-01 and Swarm A satellites, and data from the high-precision magnetometer and the electric field detector instruments on-board CSES-01. Using also plasma and magnetic field data from THEMIS-E satellite we found that, during the passage of the magnetic cloud that drove the geomagnetic storm, an impulsive variation lasting about ten minutes characterized the solar wind (SW) pressure. The analysis of the delay time, between the occurrence of such impulsive variation and the detection of the plasma bubble, suggests a possible link between the SW pressure impulsive variation as identified by THEMIS-E and the generation of the EPB as detected by CSES-01 and Swarm A. We put forward the hypothesis that the SW pressure impulsive variation might have triggered an eastward prompt penetrating electric field that propagated from high to equatorial latitudes, overlapping in the nightside region to the zonal westward electric field, causing either a reduction or an inversion, at the base of the EPB triggering.     

Characterisation of residual ionospheric errors in bending angles using GNSS RO end-to-end simulations

Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) radio occultation (RO) is an innovative meteorological remote sensing technique for measuring atmospheric parameters such as refractivity, temperature, water vapour and pressure for the improvement of numerical weather prediction (NWP) and global climate monitoring (GCM). GNSS RO has many unique characteristics including global coverage, long-term stability of observations, as well as high accuracy and high vertical resolution of the derived atmospheric profiles. One of the main error sources in GNSS RO observations that significantly affect the accuracy of the derived atmospheric parameters in the stratosphere is the ionospheric error. In order to mitigate the effect of this error, the linear ionospheric correction approach for dual-frequency GNSS RO observations is commonly used. However, the residual ionospheric errors (RIEs) can be still significant, especially when large ionospheric disturbances occur and prevail such as during the periods of active space weather. In this study, the RIEs were investigated under different local time, propagation direction and solar activity conditions and their effects on RO bending angles are characterised using end-to-end simulations. A three-step simulation study was designed to investigate the characteristics of the RIEs through comparing the bending angles with and without the effects of the RIEs. This research forms an important step forward in improving the accuracy of the atmospheric profiles derived from the GNSS RO technique.     

Countermeasures for space radiation induced adverse biologic effects

Radiation exposure in space is expected to increase the risk of cancer and other adverse biological effects in astronauts. The types of space radiation of particular concern for astronaut health are protons and heavy ions known as high atomic number and high energy (HZE) particles. Recent studies have indicated that carcinogenesis induced by protons and HZE particles may be modifiable. We have been evaluating the effects of proton and HZE particle radiation in cultured human cells and animals for nearly a decade. Our results indicate that exposure to proton and HZE particle radiation increases oxidative stress, cytotoxicity, cataract development and malignant transformation in in vivo and/or in vitro experimental systems. We have also shown that these adverse biological effects can be prevented, at least partially, by treatment with antioxidants and some dietary supplements that are readily available and have favorable safety profiles. Some of the antioxidants and dietary supplements are effective in preventing radiation induced malignant transformation in vitro even when applied several days after the radiation exposure. Our recent progress is reviewed and discussed in the context of the relevant literature.     

Biomedical study on combined effects of simulated weightlessness and emergent depressurization of spacecraft

Cabin emergent depressurization (CED) may occur in spacecraft during manned space flight. The purpose of this paper was to study the combined effects of simulated weightlessness (SW) and CED factors on humans and animals. It was found that the amplitude of T wave of human electrocardiograms (ECG) significantly decreased in bed rest and hypoxia compared with the control condition (P<0.05), and that suspension with pure O₂ induced severer edema in the lungs of rats than that in only a pure O₂ environment. SW and pure O₂ caused middle ear congestion and decreased the barofunction during pressure changes. These results indicate that human response to CED factors become more serious under SW because of the blood redistribution.