In-orbit operation and performance of the CubeSat Soft X-ray polarimeter PolarLight

PolarLight is a compact soft X-ray polarimeter onboard a CubeSat, which was launched into a low-Earth orbit on October 29, 2018. In March 2019, PolarLight started full operation, and since then, regular observations with the Crab nebula, Sco X-1, and background regions have been conducted. Here we report the operation, calibration, and performance of PolarLight in the orbit. Based on these, we discuss how one can run a low-cost, shared CubeSat for space astronomy, and how CubeSats can play a role in modern space astronomy for technical demonstration, science observations, and student training.     

Predicting the effects of gas diffusivity on photosynthesis and transpiration of plants grown under hypobaria

As part of a Bio-regenerative Life Support System (BLSS) for long-term space missions, plants will likely be grown at reduced pressure. This low pressure will minimize structural requirements for growth chambers on missions to the Moon or Mars. However, at reduced pressures the diffusivity of gases increases. This will affect the rates at which CO₂ is assimilated and water is transpired through stomata. To understand quantitatively the possible effects of reduced pressure on plant growth, CO₂ and H₂O transport were calculated for atmospheres of various total pressures (101, 66, 33, 22, 11 kPa) and CO₂ concentrations (0.04, 0.1 and 0.18 kPa). The diffusivity of a gas is inversely proportional to total pressure and shows dramatic increases at pressures below 33 kPa (1/3 atm). A mathematical relationship based on the principle of thermodynamics was applied to low pressure conditions and can be used for calculating the transpiration and photosynthesis of plants grown in hypobaria. At 33 kPa total pressure, the stomatal conductance increases by a factor of three with the boundary layer conductance increasing by a factor of ∼1.7, since the leaf conductance is a function of both stomatal and the boundary layer conductance, the overall conductance will increase resulting in significantly higher levels of transpiration as the pressure drops. The conductance of gases is also regulated by stomatal aperture in an inverse relationship. The higher CO₂ concentration inside the leaf air space during low pressure treatments may result in higher CO₂ assimilation and partial stomata closure, resulting in a decrease in transpiration rate. The results of this analysis offer guidelines for experiments in pressure and high CO₂ environments to establish ideal conditions for minimizing transpiration and maximizing the plant biomass yield in BLSS.     

空气动压探头的动态响应研究

本文采用动力类比法对用于核爆炸测量的空气动压探头的动态响应进行了理论分析,并对探头的三个压力量程计算了总压边和静压边进气管道中的阻尼孔直径和动压波形的上升时间。分析计算表明,在探头的三个系统中,电学系统对动态响应的影响可忽略不计;力学系统的影响也是较小的;对动态响应起主要作用的是声学系统(即管道空腔系统)。在直径为130mm 激波管中进行了全尺寸探头的动态响应实验。实验表明,阻尼孔直径和波形上升时间的实验值与计算值符合较好。此探头曾多次用于我国大气层核试验测试中。从核爆炸和激波管实验中测得的空气动压波形可看出,它们的前沿都是很好的,这反映出此探头具有良好的动态响应特性。     

Optical/X-ray correlations as a signature of jet-disc coupling in the accreting black hole XTE J1118+480

We interpret the rapid correlated UV/optical/X-ray variability of XTE J1118+480 as a signature of the coupling between the X-ray corona and a jet emitting synchrotron radiation in the optical band. We propose a scenario in which the jet and the X-ray corona are fed by the same energy reservoir where large amounts of accretion power are stored before being channelled into either the jet or the high energy radiation. This time-dependent model reproduces the main features of the rapid multi-wavelength variability of XTE J1118+480. A strong requirement of the model is that the total jet power should be at least a few times larger than the observed X-ray luminosity, implying a radiative efficiency for the jet _j  3 × 10⁻³. This would be consistent with the overall low radiative efficiency of the source. We present independent arguments showing that the jet probably dominates the energetic output of all accreting black holes in the low-hard state.     

Time dependent accretion onto a black hole in a disk plus corona system

Hard X-ray lightcurves exhibit delays of 1 s with respect to the soft X-ray lightcurves when the microquasar GRS 1915+105 is in the state of frequent, regular outbursts. Such outbursts are supposed to be driven by the radiation pressure instability of the inner disk parts. The hard X-ray delays are then caused by the time needed for the adjustment of the corona to changing conditions in the underlying disk. We support this claim by the computation of the time evolution of the disk, including a non-stationary evaporation of the disk and mass exchange with the corona.     

Determination of temperature maps of EUV coronal hole jets

Coronal hole jets are fast ejections of plasma occurring within coronal holes, observed at Extreme-UltraViolet (EUV) and X-ray wavelengths. Recent observations of jets by the STEREO and Hinode missions show that they are transient phenomena which occur at much higher rates than large-scale impulsive phenomena like flares and Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs). In this paper we describe some typical characteristics of coronal jets observed by the SECCHI instruments of STEREO spacecraft. We show an example of 3D reconstruction of the helical structure for a south pole jet, and present how the angular distribution of the jet position angles changes from the Extreme-UltraViolet-Imager (EUVI) field of view to the CORonagraph1 (COR1) (height ∼2.0 R_⊙ heliocentric distance) field of view. Then we discuss a preliminary temperature determination for the jet plasma by using the filter ratio method at 171 and 195 Å and applying a technique for subtracting the EUV background radiation. The results show that jets are characterized by electron temperatures ranging between 0.8 and 1.3 MK. We present the thermal structure of the jet as temperature maps and we describe its thermal evolution.     

SnO2薄膜在可见光区的气敏透光研究

研制以ＳｎＯ２江膜作敏感材料的气敏比色皿，发现在可见光区透射率随被测气体浓度伯增大而增大，并解释敏感机理。     

导弹垂直发射装置对燃气流压强周期性振荡的响应

本文对舰载导弹垂直发射装置中的燃气流周期性振荡特性进行了分析与实验测量，对装置产生的响应特性也进行了实验研究和有限元分析。实验测量结果与理论计算在规律上有定性的一致     

被动活塞式气体流量主标准器

研制成功的气体小流量标准装置以被动活塞式气缸作为主标准器。活塞采用水银环密封方式,该方式可有效降低活塞与缸体摩擦,并且消除泄露。通过活塞自重形成稳定被压,保证主标准器内压力和气体流量稳定。主标准器流量范围为3ml/min～10L/min,不确定度为0.2%（k=2）。     

Neutrino flares from black hole coronae

We present a model for neutrino flares in accreting black holes based on the injection of a non-thermal population of relativistic particles in a magnetized corona. The most important products of hadronic and photohadronic interactions at high energies are pions. Charged pions decay into muons and neutrinos; muons also decay yielding neutrinos. Taking into account these effects, coupled transport equations are solved for all species of particles and the neutrino production is estimated for the case of accreting galactic black holes.