A laboratory study on the thermally induced transformation of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) to the cyanogen anion (CN) in Solar System analog ices

Mixtures of molecular nitrogen and methane have been identified in numerous outer Solar Systemices including the icy surfaces of Pluto and Triton. We have simulated the interaction of ionizing radiation in the Solar System by carrying out a radiolysis experiment on a methane – molecular nitrogen ice mixture with energetic electrons. We have identified the hydrogen cyanide molecule as the most prominent carbon–nitrogen-bearing reaction product formed. Upon warming the irradiated sample, we followed for the first time the kinetics and temporal evolution of the underlying acid–base chemistry which resulted in the formation of the cyanide ion from hydrogen cyanide. On the surfaces of Triton and Pluto and on comets in Oort’s cloud this sort of complex chemistry is likely to occur. In particular, hydrogen cyanide can be produced in low temperature environments (Oort cloud comets) and may be converted into cyanide ions once the comets reach the warmer regions of the Solar System.     

Using high-energy proton fluence to improve risk prediction for consequences of solar particle events

The potential for exposure to large solar particle events (SPEs) with high energy levels is a major concern during interplanetary transfer and extra-vehicular activities (EVAs) on the lunar and Mars surface. Previously, we have used data from the last 5 solar cycles to estimate percentiles of dose to a typical blood-forming organ (BFO) for a hypothetical astronaut in a nominally shielded spacecraft during a 120-d lunar mission. As part of this process, we made use of complete energy spectra for 34 large historical SPEs to calculate what the BFO mGy-Eq dose would have been in the above lunar scenario for each SPE. From these calculated doses, we then developed a prediction model for BFO dose based solely on an assumed value of integrated fluence above 30 MeV (Φ₃₀) for an otherwise unspecified future SPE. In this study, we reasoned that since BFO dose is determined more by protons with higher energies than by those with lower energies, more accurate BFO dose prediction models could be developed using integrated fluence above 60 (Φ₆₀) and above 100 MeV (Φ₁₀₀) as predictors instead of Φ₃₀. However to calculate the unconditional probability of a BFO dose exceeding a pre-specified limit (“BFO dose risk”), one must also take into account the distribution of the predictor (Φ_30,Φ₆₀, or Φ₁₀₀), as estimated from historical SPEs. But Φ₆₀ and Φ₁₀₀ have more variability, and less available historical information on which to estimate their distributions over many SPE occurrences, than does Φ₃₀. Therefore, when estimating BFO dose risk there is a tradeoff between increased BFO dose prediction at a given energy threshold and decreased accuracy of models for describing the distribution of that threshold over future SPEs as the threshold increases. Even when taking the second of these two factors into account, we still arrived at the conclusion that overall prediction improves as the energy level threshold increases from 30 to 60 to 100 MeV. These results can be applied to the development of approaches to improve radiation protection of astronauts and the optimization of mission planning for future space missions.     

Possible physical properties of the flow in the vicinity of the heliopause

An interface between the fully ionized hydrogen plasma of the solar wind (SW) and the partially ionized hydrogen gas flow of the local interstellar medium (LISM) is formed as a region where there is a strong interaction between these two flows. The interface is bounded by the solar wind termination shock (TS) and the LISM bow shock (BS) and is separated on two regions by the heliopause (HP) separating the solar wind and charged component of the LISM (plasma component below). The BS is formed due to the deceleration of the supersonic LISM flow relative to the solar system. Regions of the interface between the TS and HP and between the HP and BS were in literature named as the inner and outer heliosheaths, respectively. An investigation of the structure and physical properties of the heliosheath is at present especially interested due to the fact that Voyager-1 and Voyager-2 have crossed the TS in December 2004 (Burlaga, L.F., Ness, N.F., Acuna, M.Y., et al. Crossing the termination shock into the the heliosheath. Magnetic fields. Science 309, 2027–2029, 2005; Fisk, L.A. Journey into the unknown beyond. Science 309, 2016–2017, 2005; Decker, R.B., Krimigis, S.M., Roelof, E.C., et al. Voyager 1 in the foreshock, termination shock and heliosheath. Science 309, 2020–2024, 2005; Stone, E.C., Cummings, A.C., McDonald, F.B., et al. Voyager 1 explores the termination shock region and the heliosheath beyond. Science 309, 2017–2020, 2005) and in September 2007 (Jokipii, J.R. A shock for Voyager 2. Nature 454, 38–39, 2008; Gurnett, D.A., Kurth, W.S. Intense plasma waves at and near the solar wind termination shock. Nature 454, 78–80, 2008. doi: 10.1038/nature07023; Wang, L., Lin, R.P., Larson, D.E., Luhmann, J.G. Domination of heliosheath pressure by shock-accelerated pickup ions from observations of neutral atoms. Nature 454, 81–83, 2008. doi: 10.1038/nature07068.14; Burlaga, L.F., Ness, N.F., Acuna, M.H., et al. Magnetic fields at the solar wind termination shock. Nature 454, 75–77, 2008. doi: 10.1038/nature07029; Richardson, J.D., Kasper, J.C., Wang, C., et al. Cool heliosheath plasma and deceleration of the upstream solar wind at the termination shock. Nature 454, 63–66, 2008. doi: 10.1038/nature07024; Stone, E.C., Cummings, A.C., McDonald, F.B., et al. An asymmetric solar wind termination shock. Nature 454, 71–74, 2008. doi: 10.1038/nature07022; Decker, R.B., Krimigis, S.M., Roelof, E.C., et al. Mediation of the solar wind termination shock by non-thermal ions. Nature 454, 67–70, 2008. doi: 10.1038/nature 07030), respectively, and entered to the inner heliosheath.     

Induction of genomic instability after an acute whole-body exposure of mice to Fe ions

The purpose of this study was to evaluate dose–response relationships for the in vivo induction of micronuclei (MN) as a measure of both initial radiation damage and the induction of genomic instability. These measurements were made in mouse blood erythrocytes as a function of radiation dose, radiation quality, time after irradiation, and the genetic background of exposed individuals. Blood samples were collected from two strains of mouse (CBA/CaJ and C57BL/6J) at different times up to 3 months following a whole-body exposure to various doses of 1 GeV/amu ⁵⁶Fe ions (0, 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0 Gy, at the dose rate of a 1 Gy/min) or ¹³⁷Cs gamma rays (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 3.0 Gy, at the dose rate of 0.72 Gy/min). Blood-smear slides were stained with acridine orange (AO). The frequencies of MN were measured in mature normochromatic-erythrocytes (MN-NCEs) and in immature polychromatic-erythrocytes (MN-PCEs). Effects of both types of radiation on erythropoiesis were also evaluated. As a measure of cell progression delay, a dose-dependent decrease in numbers of PCEs was observed at day 2 post-exposure in both strains, regardless of radiation quality. Subsequently, the levels of PCEs increased in all exposed mice, reaching control levels (or higher) by day 7 post-exposure. Further, at day 2 after the exposure, there was no increase in the frequency of MN-PCEs in CBA/CaJ mice exposed to ⁵⁶Fe ions while the frequency of MN-PCEs elevated as a function of dose in the C57BL/6J mice. At day 4, there was no dose related increase in MN-NCEs in either strain of mouse exposed to ¹³⁷Cs gamma rays. Additionally, at the early sacrifice times (days 2 and 4), ⁵⁶Fe ions were slightly more effective (per unit dose) in inducing MN-NCEs than ¹³⁷Cs gamma rays in CBA/CaJ mice. However, there was no increase in the frequency of MN-NCEs at late times after an acute exposure to either type of radiation. In contrast, both types of radiation induced increased MN-PCEs frequencies in irradiated CBA/CaJ mice, but not C57BL/6J mice, at late times post-exposure. This finding indicates the potential induction of genomic instability in hematopoietic cells of CBA/CaJ mice by both types of radiation. The finding also demonstrates the influence of genetic background on radiation-induced genomic instability in vivo.     

模压压力对焦炭颗粒增强沥青基炭复合材料性能的影响(英文)

采用普通液压机和新型高效的模压半炭化成型工艺,在大气环境下制备出了高密度、低成本的焦炭颗粒增强沥青基炭复合材料.研究了模压压力对焦炭颗粒增强沥青基炭复合材料的体积密度和抗压强度的影响趋势,并探讨了复合材料的体积密度与抗压强度之间的相互关系.结果表明,增大模压压力,沥青基炭复合材料的体积密度和抗压强度随之明显增加;继续增大模压压力,体积密度仍然呈上升趋势,但抗压强度却突然下降;沥青基炭复合材料的体积密度越高,其抗压强度未必也就越大.     

带导流叶排的轴流压气机级叶尖处理机匣容畸变特性

基于叶尖处理机匣轴流压气机叶排实验特性,应用畸变传递的矩阵分析模型,分析了进口导流叶排对叶尖处理机匣结构容总压畸变特性影响,初步建立了在进口导流叶排下几种处理机匣结构对总压畸变及其沿轴流压气机叶排衰减特性影响规律。计算结果表明,叶尖处理机匣虽均能有效提高压气机级的稳定工作范围,但削弱了转子叶排和静子叶排的抗总压畸变能力,这对设计合理的扩大轴流压气机稳定裕度处理机匣结构尤为重要。      

燃烧室柱部直径对脉动发动机工作特性的影响研究

建立了直接测量Helmholtz型脉动发动机燃烧室内气流压力的压力测试系统,应用该系统可实时监测发动机内气流脉动情况。研究了燃烧室柱部直径对燃烧室内气流压力波形、发动机的工作频率、燃油消耗率和过量空气系数等参数之间的影响关系。结论为在所研究的燃烧室柱部直径变化范围内,燃烧室柱部直径的变化对这些参数的影响并不明显,而油门开度对这些参数的影响却较大。      

气体静压轴颈-止推串接型轴承静特性的分析

采用有限元方法研究了狭缝节流气体静压轴颈-止推串接型轴承的静态特性,分析了节流狭缝宽度和气膜厚度等因素对径向和轴向承载性能的影响,研究了三棱形圆度误差对径向和轴向承载能力的影响, 揭示了轴颈轴承部分和止推轴承部分之间的相互影响规律,并且研究了当有误差存在时轴承内部气膜压力分布的规律。     

电推进系统压力调节单元的建模和分析

 建立了电推进系统压力调节单元的数学模型,利用Matlab/Simulink软件分析几个重要参数对系统的影响。仿真结果表明,采用bang-bang控制策略具有较高的控制精度,可满足系统的指标要求。