Short term topological changes of coronal holes associated with prominence eruptions and subsequent CMEs

We study the short-term topological changes of equatorial and polar coronal hole (CH) boundaries, such as a variation of their area and disintegration, associated to reconnection with nearby (within 15° distance) quiescent prominence magnetic fields leading to eruptions and subsequent Coronal Mass Ejections (CMEs). The examples presented here correspond to the recent solar minimum years 2008 and 2009. We consider a temporal window of one day between the CH topological changes and the start and end times of prominence eruptions and onset of CMEs. To establish this association we took into account observational conditions related to the instability of prominence/filaments, the occurrence of a CME, as well as the subsequent evolution after the CME. We found an association between short-term local topological changes in CH boundaries and the formation/disappearance of bright points near them, as well as, between short-term topological changes within the whole CH and eruptions of nearby quiescent prominences followed by the appearance of one or more CMEs.     

Solar and interplanetary precursors of geomagnetic storms in solar cycle 23

Estimating the magnetic storm effectiveness of solar and associated interplanetary phenomena is of practical importance for space weather modelling and prediction. This article presents results of a qualitative and quantitative analysis of the probable causes of geomagnetic storms during the 11-year period of solar cycle 23: 1996–2006. Potential solar causes of 229 magnetic storms (Dst ? −50 nT) were investigated with a particular focus on halo coronal mass ejections (CMEs). A 5-day time window prior to the storm onset was considered to track backward the Sun’s eruptions of halo CMEs using the SOHO/LASCO CMEs catalogue list. Solar and interplanetary (IP) properties associated with halo CMEs were investigated and correlated to the resulting geomagnetic storms (GMS). In addition, a comparative analysis between full and partial halo CME-driven storms is established. The results obtained show that about 83% of intense storms (Dst ? −100 nT) were associated with halo CMEs. For moderate storms (−100 nT < Dst ? −50 nT), only 54% had halo CME background, while the remaining 46% were assumed to be associated with corotating interaction regions (CIRs) or undetected frontside CMEs. It was observed in this study that intense storms were mostly associated with full halo CMEs, while partial halo CMEs were generally followed by moderate storms. This analysis indicates that up to 86% of intense storms were associated with interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs) at 1 AU, as compared to moderate storms with only 44% of ICME association. Many other quantitative results are presented in this paper, providing an estimate of solar and IP precursor properties of GMS within an average 11-year solar activity cycle. The results of this study constitute a key step towards improving space weather modelling and prediction.     

CME dynamics using coronagraph and interplanetary ejecta data

In this work, we present a study of the coronal mass ejection (CME) dynamics using LASCO coronagraph observations combined with in-situ ACE plasma and magnetic field data, covering a continuous period of time from January 1997 to April 2001, complemented by few extreme events observed in 2001 and 2003. We show, for the first time, that the CME expansion speed correlates very well with the travel time to 1 AU of the interplanetary ejecta (or ICMEs) associated with the CMEs, as well as with their preceding shocks. The events analyzed in this work are a subset of the events studied in Schwenn et al. (2005), from which only the CMEs associated with interplanetary ejecta (ICMEs) were selected. Three models to predict CME travel time to Earth, two proposed by Gopalswamy et al. (2001) and one by Schwenn et al. (2005), were used to characterize the dynamical behavior of this set of events. Extreme events occurred in 2001 and 2003 were used to test the prediction capability of the models regarding CMEs with very high LASCO C3 speeds.     

SMESE (SMall Explorer for Solar Eruptions): A microsatellite mission with combined solar payload

The SMESE (SMall Explorer for Solar Eruptions) mission is a microsatellite proposed by France and China. The payload of SMESE consists of three packages: LYOT (a Lyman α imager and a Lyman α coronagraph), DESIR (an Infra-red Telescope working at 35–80 and 100–250 μm), and HEBS (a High Energy Burst Spectrometer working in X- and gamma-rays).     

Evolution of solar wind structures from 0.72 to 1 AU

Understanding the evolution of solar wind structures in the inner heliosphere as they approach the Earth is important to space weather prediction. From the in situ solar wind plasma and magnetic field measurements of Pioneer Venus Orbiter (PVO) at 0.72 AU (1979–1988), and of Wind/Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) missions at 1 AU (1995–2004), we identify and characterize two major solar wind structures, stream interaction regions (SIRs) and interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs). The average percentage of SIRs occurring with shocks increases significantly from 3% to 24% as they evolve from 0.72 to 1 AU. The average occurrence rate, radial extent, and bulk velocity variation of SIRs do not change from 0.72 to 1 AU, while peak pressure and magnetic field strength both decrease with the radial evolution of SIRs. Within the 0.28 AU distance from the orbit of Venus to that of Earth, the average fraction of ICMEs with shocks increases from 49% to 66%, and the typical radial extent of ICMEs expands by about a fraction of 1.4, with peak pressure and magnetic field strength decreasing significantly. The mean occurrence rate and expansion velocity of ICMEs do not change from 0.72 to 1 AU.     

Hydrodynamic atmosphere models for hot luminous stars II. Method and improvements over unified models

In a paper submitted to A&A we present the first line blanketed hydrodynamic models of spherically expanding atmospheres of hot stars. This paper is complementary to the submitted paper. Here, we emphasize the advantages and the weak points of our approach and we present additional technical aspects.The models are characterised by a simultaneous solution of the equation of motion, the non-LTE populations of H and He, and radiation transfer in a line blanketed atmosphere. The entire domain from the optically thick photosphere out to the terminal velocity of the wind is treated. The radiative forces are evaluated consistently with the depth-dependent radiation field, taking into account multiple scattering by metal lines and line overlap.     

空间碎片质量分布模型建模方法研究

利用空间碎片环境演化模型的建模思想，对碎片环境建模的过程进行了分析与研究，通过分析1999年以前空间环境中碎片产生，衰减及在未来时间中的演化因素，建立了质量分布模型，并利用可得到的碎片数据进行了仿真研究，所得结果可供有关研究人员参考。     

枢纽机场航站楼面向旅客的构型优化分析

采用一种基于中转旅客步行距离的新颖分析方法，来确定枢纽机场旅客航站楼面向旅客的最优构型、该方法考虑了被以往研究忽略的两个重要事实，通过使用简便的电子数据表工具，分析在各种组合和型式的流量下，相关旅客航站楼构型的运行表现。     

液体火箭发动机对单级入轨运载器的影响

对给定的飞行任务，计算了推进系统采用国外现有、改型以及新型液体火箭发动机时，主推进系统发动机的组成方式对单级入轨运载器干质量的影响。对推进系统采用改进SSME的单级入轨运载器，计算了在运载器起飞质量不变的情况下，发动机比冲和质量对运载器有效载荷的影响，以及在有效载荷不变的情况下，发动机比冲和质量对运载器子质运的影响。计算结果表明，推进系统采用双燃料双膨胀发动机的单级入轨运载器具有最小的干质量。     

用飞行时间质谱仪研究固体推进剂催化燃烧行为

介绍了使用飞行时间质谱仪对高氯酸铵(Ap)、Ap加附加物、草酸铵加附加物、含与不含附加物的推进剂热分解进行的实验研究.结果表明XTC-02是Ap热分解的有效催化剂,它不仅能加速Ap的热分解,而且能加速氨的氧化;另外还能加速推进剂的凝聚相反应,改变Ap分解历程.