嫦娥四号能量中性原子观测揭示太阳风与月面相互作用新特征

与地球不同,月球暴露在太阳风中。太阳风注入到月面,与月壤相互作用,部分太阳风质子以能量中性原子（Energetic Neutral Atom, ENA）的形式被月表散射。另外,月球局部地区的磁异常能阻挡太阳风到达月面,并形成微磁层,成为月面天然的保护屏障。然而以往相关的观测数据都来自轨道器,月面的真实情况无从知晓。嫦娥四号任务搭载的中性原子探测仪首次在月面就位测量ENA,为研究月面和太阳风相互作用提供了新的视角。本文综述了嫦娥四号的ENA探测,重点介绍了一些不同于以往遥感观测的新现象,包括月面ENA反射率较高,ENA通量向低能段聚集,以及除了氢ENA还有其他重成分ENA等。分析上游太阳风观测数据发现,月面对太阳风的作用主要体现在105~523 eV能量段,且在磁异常下游时ENA通量整体偏低。利用全球Hall MHD数值模拟,证明了微磁层是造成ENA通量降低的原因。同时,还发现月球微磁层的形成与太阳风动压以及离子惯性长度有关,微磁层内的静电场使得太阳风减速和偏转,对应的电势差为50~260 V。

     

The radial diffusion of trapped particles induced by fluctuating magnetospheric fields

Small fluctuations in magnetospheric electric and magnetic fields lead to random changes in the radial positions of trapped particles. The characteristics of this radial diffusion are described theoretically in terms of the statistical properties of the field fluctuations, in particular the power spectra of the various spatial components. A large body of trapped particle data demonstrates that diffusion with the predicted properties actually takes place. These data include the average radial and energy distributions and the time variations in particle fluxes. This radial diffusion has a major influence on the structure of the radiation belts; and since the net flow of particles is inward at most positions of the magnetosphere, the process acts as a strong source of trapped particles. Further experiments are needed to establish the importance of this mechanism relative to magnetic storm effects and to collective instabilities.     

A technique for enhanced slant range resolution for SAR systems inknowledge-based environment

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) is an airborne (or spaceborne) radar mapping technique for generating high resolution maps of surface target areas including terrain. High resolution is achieved by coherently combining the returns from a number of radar transmissions. The resolution of the images is determined by the parameters of the emissions, with more data giving greater resolution. A requirement of the Microwave Radar Division's SAR radar is to provide classification of targets. This paper presents a technique for enhancing slant range resolution in SAR images by dithering the carrier centre frequency of the transmitted signal. The procedure controls the radar waveforms so they will optimally perform the classification function, rather than provide an image of best quality. It is shown that a Knowledge-Based engineering approach to determining the waveform of the radar gives considerably improved performance as a classifier of targets (of large radar cross-section), even though the corresponding image is degraded     

A Simple Development of the Wiener-Hopf Equation and the Derived Kalman Filter

The Wiener-Hopf equation is developed using only a knowledge of elementary calculus and the definition of ensemble average from statistics. Then using the Leibniz equation for differentiating an integral, the Kalman filter and its relation to orthogonal projection is presented.     

Low cost planetary exploration: surrey lunar minisatellite and interplanetary platform missions

In order to meet the growing global requirement for affordable missions beyond Low Earth Orbit, two types of platform are under design at the Surrey Space Centre. The first platform is a derivative of Surrey's UoSAT-12 minisatellite, launched in April 1999 and operating successfully in-orbit. The minisatellite has been modified to accommodate a propulsion system capable of delivering up to 1700 m/s delta-V, enabling it to support a wide range of very low cost missions to LaGrange points, Near-Earth Objects, and the Moon. A mission to the Moon - dubbed “MoonShine” - is proposed as the first demonstration of the modified minisatellite beyond LEO. The second platform - Surrey's Interplanetary Platform - has been designed to support missions with delta-V requirements up to 3200 m/s, making it ideal for low cost missions to Mars and Venus, as well as Near Earth Objects (NEOs) and other interplanetary trajectories. Analysis has proved mission feasibility, identifying key challenges in both missions for developing cost-effective techniques for: spacecraft propulsion; navigation; autonomous operations; and a reliable safe mode strategy. To reduce mission risk, inherently failure resistant lunar and interplanetary trajectories are under study. In order to significantly reduce cost and increase reliability, both platforms can communicate with low-cost ground stations and exploit Surrey's experience in autonomous operations. The lunar minisatellite can provide up to 70 kg payload margin in lunar orbit for a total mission cost US$16–25 M. The interplanetary platform can deliver 20 kg of scientific payload to Mars or Venus orbit for a mission cost US$25–50 M. Together, the platforms will enable regular flight of payloads to the Moon and interplanetary space at unprecedented low cost. This paper outlines key systems engineering issues for the proposed Lunar Minisatellite and interplanetary Platform Missions, and describes the accommodation and performance offered to planetary payloads.     

Shock Acceleration of Ions in the Heliosphere

Energetic particles constitute an important component of the heliospheric plasma environment. They range from solar energetic particles in the inner heliosphere to the anomalous cosmic rays accelerated at the interface of the heliosphere with the local interstellar medium. Although stochastic acceleration by fluctuating electric fields and processes associated with magnetic reconnection may account for some of the particle populations, the majority are accelerated by the variety of shock waves present in the solar wind. This review focuses on “gradual” solar energetic particle (SEP) events including their energetic storm particle (ESP) phase, which is observed if and when an associated shock wave passes Earth. Gradual SEP events are the intense long-duration events responsible for most space weather disturbances of Earth’s magnetosphere and upper atmosphere. The major characteristics of gradual SEP events are first described including their association with shocks and coronal mass ejections (CMEs), their ion composition, and their energy spectra. In the context of acceleration mechanisms in general, the acceleration mechanism responsible for SEP events, diffusive shock acceleration, is then described in some detail including its predictions for a planar stationary shock, shock modification by the energetic particles, and wave excitation by the accelerating ions. Finally, some complexities of shock acceleration are addressed, which affect the predictive ability of the theory. These include the role of temporal and spatial variations, the distinction between the plasma and wave compression ratios at the shock, the injection of thermal plasma at the shock into the process of shock acceleration, and the nonlinear evolution of ion-excited waves in the vicinity of the shock.     

Ulysses' race to the pole: Symposium Summary

This paper reproduces the Symposium Summary presentation at the 28th ESLAB Symposium on The High Latitude Heliosphere. The summary is not comprehensive but with considerable latitude covers the highlights of the conference. Featured are the observations of the high-speed wind from the growing southern polar coronal hole, new measurements of the interstellar gas and pickup ions, new measurements of cosmic ray modulation at high latitude, and our growing awareness of the three-dimensional heliosphere.     

A material experiment for small satellites to characterise the behaviour of carbon nanotubes in space – development and ground validation

Over the last years, Carbon Nanotubes (CNT) drew interdisciplinary attention. Regarding space technologies a variety of potential applications were proposed and investigated. However, no complex data on the behaviour and degradation process of carbon nanotubes under space environment exist. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the performance of these new materials in space environment and to revaluate the application potential of CNTs in space technologies.Hence, CiREX (Carbon Nanotubes – Resistance Experiment) was developed as a part of a student project. It is a small and compact experiment, which is designed for CubeSat class space satellites. These are a class of nanosatellites with a standardized size and shape. The CiREX design, electrical measurements and the satellites interfaces will be discussed in detail. CiREX is the first in-situ space material experiment for CNTs.To evaluate the data obtained from CiREX, ground validation tests are mandatory. As part of an extensive test series the behaviour of CNTs under solar ultra violet light (UV) and vacuum ultraviolet light (VUV) was examined. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT), multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNT) and MWNT/resin composite (ME) were exposed to different light sources. After the exposure, the defect density was investigated with Raman spectroscopy. There is a clear indication that UV and VUV light can increase the defect density of untreated CNTs and influence the electrical behaviour.