真空等离子装置的改进设计

利用旧的真空装置改造成一个物理气相沉积设备，不仅节约了大量的资金，而且还为今后的科研工作开辟了一个崭新的领域。本文主要讨论了在改造过程中，根据物理气相沉积的共性以及本实验装置的特定要求和需要注意的几个问题，如一个真空沉积腔的整体结构、密封性和冷却结构，如何有效地利用载物台、励磁电路和点火电路的设计等，提出了改造方案。目前，已成功地将它改造成真空度为１０－ ２τ的低真空等离子沉积装置。     

Relation between solar wind velocity and properties of its source region

Different kinds of coronal holes are sources of different kind of solar winds. A successful solar wind acceleration model should be able to explain all those solar winds. For the modeling it is important to find a universal relation between the solar wind physical parameters, such as velocity, and coronal physical parameters such as magnetic field energy. To clarify the physical parameters which control the solar wind velocity, we have studied the relation between solar wind velocity and properties of its source region such as photospheric/coronal magnetic field and the size of each coronal hole during the solar minimum. The solar wind velocity structures were derived by using interplanetary scintillation tomography obtained at Solar-Terrestrial Environment Laboratory, Japan. Potential magnetic fields were calculated to identify the source region of the solar wind. HeI 1083 nm absorption line maps obtained at Kitt Peak National Solar Observatory were used to identify coronal holes. As a result, we found a relation during solar minimum between the solar wind velocity and the coronal magnetic condition which is applicable to different kind of solar winds from different kind of coronal holes.     

微波等离子推进器的原理与应用研究

简要介绍了空间动力装置的分类及其特点，重点分析和讨论新型空间动力装置－微波等离子推进器（ＭＰＴ）的基本原理，结构特征和应用前景。分析现有理论与实验研究结果后认为，ＭＰＴ是一种高比冲，长寿命的小推力动力装置，特别适合用作空间动力，进行航天器的轨道转移，姿态控制，位置保持，对接交会和星际航行，尽管目前ＭＰＴ仍处于理论探索与实验研究阶段，但研究结果表明，它是前景十分诱人的新型空间动力系统。     

Heliosphereic Physics Research in China:2002-2003

This brief report summarized the latest advances of the heliospheric physics research in China during the period of 2002-2003, made independently by Chinese space physicists and through international collaboration. The report covers all aspects of the heliospheric physics, including theoretical studies, numerical simulation and data analysis.     

套筒式等离子体周期结构电磁特性研究

为分析研究等离子体色散媒质在周期结构中对电磁波的作用机理,设计一种在二维方向上周期排列的内外双层套筒式柱体结构单元,对不同的等离子体密度组合和周期间距下进行仿真分析。结果表明,改变内外层等离子体密度可以有效调节传输频带,且在不改变单元结构的基础上通过便捷开关等离子体激发湮灭状态,进而对单元的周期间距进行间接调控,拓宽了传输频带,体现了等离子体动态重构的可行性,对研究等离子体周期结构具有一定的启发性。     

Kinetic theory of the current sheath. I. On polarization of an equilibrium current sheath

The basic theme of this paper is the investigation of the polarizing electric fields caused by anisotropy of thermal plasma of a current sheath. The paper provides a generalization of the equilibrium distribution function of the current sheath (Harris function) to the case of temperature anisotropy of plasma along and across the sheath. It appears that solution of the electroneutral equilibrium represents a narrow class of solutions and is true only for certain relations between the parameters of the problem. In the general case, the plasma of a stationary current sheath is polarized. The structure of the current sheath of a magnetosphere tail is investigated with regard to the effect of polarization, and profiles of the polarization electric fields are obtained. This field should be taken into account in the study of current sheath stability.     

Observations of the Sun at Vacuum-Ultraviolet Wavelengths from Space. Part II: Results and Interpretations

In Part I of this review, the concepts of solar vacuum-ultraviolet (VUV) observations were outlined together with a discussion of the space instrumentation used for the investigations. A section on spectroradiometry provided some quantitative results on the solar VUV radiation without considering any details of the solar phenomena leading to the radiation. Here, in Part II, we present solar VUV observations over the last decades and their interpretations in terms of the plasma processes and the parameters of the solar atmosphere, with emphasis on the spatial and thermal structures of the chromosphere, transition region and corona of the quiet Sun. In addition, observations of active regions, solar flares and prominences are included as well as of small-scale events. Special sections are devoted to the elemental composition of the solar atmosphere and theoretical considerations on the heating of the corona and the generation of the solar wind.     

A laser-optical system to re-enter or lower low Earth orbit space debris

Collisions among existing Low Earth Orbit (LEO) debris are now a main source of new debris, threatening future use of LEO space. Due to their greater number, small (1–10 cm) debris are the main threat, while large (>10 cm) objects are the main source of new debris. Flying up and interacting with each large object is inefficient due to the energy cost of orbit plane changes, and quite expensive per object removed. Strategically, it is imperative to remove both small and large debris. Laser-Orbital-Debris-Removal (LODR), is the only solution that can address both large and small debris. In this paper, we briefly review ground-based LODR, and discuss how a polar location can dramatically increase its effectiveness for the important class of sun-synchronous orbit (SSO) objects. With 20% clear weather, a laser-optical system at either pole could lower the 8-ton ENVISAT by 40 km in about 8 weeks, reducing the hazard it represents by a factor of four. We also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of a space-based LODR system. We estimate cost per object removed for these systems. International cooperation is essential for designing, building and operating any such system.     

The plasma sheet and boundary layers under northward IMF: A multi-point and multi-instrument perspective

During conditions of northward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), the near-tail plasma sheet is known to become denser and cooler, and is described as the cold-dense plasma sheet (CDPS). While its source is likely the solar wind, the prominent penetration mechanisms are less clear. The two main candidates are solar wind direct capture via double high-latitude reconnection on the dayside and Kelvin–Helmholtz/diffusive processes at the flank magnetopause. This paper presents a case study on the formation of the CDPS utilizing a wide variety of space- and ground-based observations, but primarily from the Double Star and Polar spacecraft on December 5th, 2004. The pertinent observations can be summarized as follows: TC-1 observes quasi-periodic (∼2 min period) cold-dense boundary layer (compared to a hot-tenuous plasma sheet) signatures interspersed with magnetosheath plasma at the dusk flank magnetopause near the dawn-dusk terminator. Analysis of this region suggests the boundary to be Kelvin–Helmholtz unstable and that plasma transport is ongoing across the boundary. At the same time, IMAGE spacecraft and ground based SuperDARN measurements provide evidence of high-latitude reconnection in both hemispheres. The Polar spacecraft, located in the southern hemisphere afternoon sector, sunward of TC-1, observes a persistent boundary layer with no obvious signature of boundary waves. The plasma is of a similar appearance to that observed by TC-1 inside the boundary layer further down the dusk flank, and by TC-2 in the near-Earth magnetotail. We present comparisons of electron phase space distributions between the spacecraft. Although the dayside boundary layer at Polar is most likely formed via double high-altitude reconnection, and is somewhat comparable to the flank boundary layer at Double Star, some differences argue in favour of additional transport that augment solar wind plasma entry into the tail regions.     

Ring Current Dynamics

This chapter reviews the current understanding of ring current dynamics. The terrestrial ring current is an electric current flowing toroidally around the Earth, centered at the equatorial plane and at altitudes of ∼10,000 to 60,000 km. Enhancements in this current are responsible for global decreases in the Earth’s surface magnetic field, which have been used to define geomagnetic storms. Intense geospace magnetic storms have severe effects on technological systems, such as disturbances or even permanent damage of telecommunication and navigation satellites, telecommunication cables, and power grids. The main carriers of the ring current are positive ions, with energies from ∼1 keV to a few hundred keV, which are trapped by the geomagnetic field and undergo an azimuthal drift. The ring current is formed by the injection of ions originating in the solar wind and the terrestrial ionosphere into the inner magnetosphere. The injection process involves electric fields, associated with enhanced magnetospheric convection and/or magnetospheric substorms. The quiescent ring current is carried mainly by protons of predominantly solar wind origin, while active processes in geospace tend to increase the abundance (both absolute and relative) of O⁺ ions, which are of ionospheric origin. During intense geospace magnetic storms, the O⁺ abundance increases dramatically. This increase has been observed to occur concurrently with the rapid intensification of the ring current in the storm main phase and to result in O⁺ dominance around storm maximum. This compositional change can affect several dynamic processes, such as species-and energy-dependent charge-exchange and wave-particle scattering loss.