The Magnetic Electron Ion Spectrometer (MagEIS) Instruments Aboard the Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) Spacecraft

This paper describes the Magnetic Electron Ion Spectrometer (MagEIS) instruments aboard the RBSP spacecraft from an instrumentation and engineering point of view. There are four magnetic spectrometers aboard each of the two spacecraft, one low-energy unit (20–240 keV), two medium-energy units (80–1200 keV), and a high-energy unit (800–4800 keV). The high unit also contains a proton telescope (55 keV–20 MeV). The magnetic spectrometers focus electrons within a selected energy pass band upon a focal plane of several silicon detectors where pulse-height analysis is used to determine if the energy of the incident electron is appropriate for the electron momentum selected by the magnet. Thus each event is a two-parameter analysis, an approach leading to a greatly reduced background. The physics of these instruments are described in detail followed by the engineering implementation. The data outputs are described, and examples of the calibration results and early flight data presented.     

Dynamical theory of the solar wind

This paper is a review of the basic theoretical dynamical properties of an atmosphere with an extended temperature strongly bound by gravity. The review begins with the historical developments leading up to the realization that the only dynamical equilibrium of an atmosphere with extended temperature is supersonic expansion. It is shown that sufficient conditions for supersonic expansion are T(r) declining asymptotically less rapidly than 1/r, or the density at the base of the corona being less than N _b given by (40) if no energy is available except through thermal conductivity, or the temperature falling within the limits given by (18) if T N ^-1 throughout the corona. Less extended temperatures lead to equilibria which are subsonic or static. The hypothetical case of a corona with no energy supply other than thermal conduction from its base is considered at some length because the equations may be solved by analytical methods and illustrate the transition from subsonic to supersonic equilibrium as the temperature becomes more extended. Comparison with the actual corona shows that the solar corona is actively heated for some distance into space by wave dissipation.The dynamical stability of the expanding atmosphere is demonstrated, and in a later section the radial propagation of acoustic and Alfvén waves through the atmosphere and wind is worked out. The calculations show that the magnetometer will probably detect waves more easily than the plasma instrument, but that both are needed to determine the mode and direction of the wave. An observer in the wind at the orbit of Earth can listen to disturbances generated in the corona near the sun and in turbulent regions in interplanetary space.The possibility that the solar corona is composed of small-scale filaments near the sun is considered. It is shown that such filamentary structure would not be seen at the orbit of Earth. It is pointed out that the expansion of a non-filamentary corona seems to lead to too high a calculated wind density at the orbit of Earth to agree with the present observations, unless T(r) is constant or increases with r. A filamentary corona, on the other hand, would give the observed wind density for declining T(r).It is shown that viscosity plays no important role in the expansion of an atmosphere either with or without a weak magnetic field. The termination of the solar wind, presumably between 10–10³ AU, is discussed briefly. The interesting development here is the interplanetary L recently observed, which may come from the interstellar neutral hydrogen drifting into the outer regions of the solar wind.Theory is at the present time concerned with the general dynamical principles which pertain to the expansion equilibrium of an atmosphere. It is to be expected that the rapid progress of direct observations of the corona and wind will soon permit more detailed studies to be carried out. It is important that the distinction between detailed empirical models and models intended to illustrate general principles be kept clearly in mind at all times.This work was supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under Grant NASA-NsG-96-60.     

Large-scale flows of viscous incompressible vortical fluid

An exact solution of the Navier - Stokes equations is given that describes the vorticity of a viscous incompressible liquid or gas, dissipative mediums, stationary shear counter-current of continuous vortical medium in the absence of the Coriolis field.     

Determination of the Microacceleration Quasisteady Component onboard the International Space Station

A comparison of two methods of determination of the microacceleration quasisteady component arising onboard the International Space Station was performed. In the first method the acceleration was calculated using the relative motion of the station reconstructed on the basis of telemetry data. The second method was a direct measurement of the microacceleration by a low-frequency accelerometer and a smoothing of the data obtained. The used measurements were made by the American accelerometer MAMS. The above comparison can theoretically be used to refine the position of the station center of mass relative to its body.