Scientific requirements for future spatially resolved white-light and broad-band high-cadence observations of the Sun

Several important issues are open in the field of solar variability and they wait their solution which up to now was attempted using critical ground-based instrumentations. However, accurate photometric data are attainable only from space. New observational material should be collected with high enough spatial and spectral resolution, covering the whole visible range of the electromagnetic spectrum as well infrared and ultraviolet to reconstruct the total solar irradiance: (1) the absolute contributions of different small-scale structural entities of the solar atmosphere from the white light flares and from micro-flares are still poorly known; (2) we do not know the absolute contributions of different structural elements of the solar atmosphere to the long-term and to the cyclic variations of the solar irradiance, including features of the polar regions of the Sun; (3) the variations of the chromospheric magnetic network are still poorly evaluated; (4) only scarce information is available about the spectral variations of different small-scale features in the high photosphere. Variability of the Sun in white light can be studied with higher spectral, spatial and time resolution using space-born telescopes, which are more appropriate for this purpose than ground based observatories because of better seeing conditions, no interference of the terrestrial atmosphere and a more precise calibration procedure. Scientific requirements for such observations and the possible experimental tools proposed for their solution. Suggested solar studies have broader astrophysical importance.     

Three-line structured light vision system for non-cooperative satellites in proximity operations

Adapter ring is a commonly used component in non-cooperative satellites, which has high strength and is suitable to be recognized and grasped by the space manipulator. During proximity operations, this circle feature may be occluded by the robot arm or limited field of view. Moreover, the captured images may be underexposed when there is not enough illumination. To address these problems, this paper presents a structured light vision system with three line lasers and a monocular camera. The lasers project lines onto the surface of the satellite, and six break points are formed along both sides of the adapter ring. A closed-form solution for real-time pose estimation is given using these break points. Then, a virtual structured light platform is constructed to simulate synthetic images of the target satellite. Compared with the predefined camera parameters and relative positions, the proposed method is demonstrated to be more effective, especially at a close distance. Besides, a physical space verification system is set up to prove the effectiveness and robustness of our method under different light conditions. Experimental results indicate that it is a practical and effective method for the pose measurement of on-orbit tasks.     

HORACE: A compact cold atom clock for Galileo

HORACE (HOrloge à Refroidissement d’Atomes en Cellule = clock based on atoms cooled from vapour cell) is a compact cold caesium atom clock developed in SYRTE at Paris Observatory. This clock can operate both on ground and in microgravity environment. Design of HORACE is based on isotropic light cooling, allowing performing the whole clock sequence (cooling, atomic preparation, Ramsey interrogation and detection) at the same place. Compared to more conventional cold atom clocks such as atomic fountains, the use of isotropic light cooling simplifies both the optical part of the setup and the detection sequence, and leads to a drastic size reduction of the physics package. Very good short-term performances have been demonstrated at SYRTE since relative frequency instability of 2.2 × 10⁻¹³ τ^−1/2 has been obtained. Optimization of the long term stability is still under progress and current results show relative frequency instability around 3 × 10⁻¹⁵ in 10⁴ s of integration. With these performances, HORACE appears as a good candidate both for Galileo’s ground segment clock and for onboard Galileo clock.     

供距离测量用的光波长度标准

介绍用相位测距仪实现波长标准及在大长度范围内传递长度单位尺寸的情况。其传递精度好于通常采用方法。     

Minimizing energy utilization for growing strawberries during long-duration space habitation

Strawberry is a candidate crop for space that is rich in protective antioxidants and could also have psychological benefits as a component of crew diets during long-duration space habitation. Energy for electric lighting is a major input to a controlled-environment crop-production system for space habitation. Day-neutral strawberry cultivars were evaluated at several different photoperiods to determine minimum lighting requirements without limiting yield or negatively impacting fruit quality. The cultivars ‘Tribute’, ‘Seascape’, and ‘Fern’ were grown at 14, 17, or 20 h of light per day, and fruit yield was evaluated over a 31-week production period. This amounted to a difference of 2418 kWh m⁻² in energy usage between the longest and shortest photoperiods. All cultivars produced similar total fresh weight of fruit regardless of photoperiod. Volunteer tasters rated organoleptic characteristics including sweetness, tartness, texture, and overall appeal as measures of fruit quality. Generally, organoleptic attributes were not affected by photoperiod, but these attributes were somewhat dependent upon cultivar and harvest time. Cultivars under different photoperiods varied in their production of fruit over time. ‘Seascape’ was the most consistent producer, typically with the largest, most palatable fruit. ‘Seascape’ plants subsequently were grown at 10-, 12-, or 14-h photoperiods over a treatment period of 33 weeks. Photoperiod again had no significant effect on total fruit weight, although there were periodic flushes of productivity. Fruit under all photoperiods had acceptable approval ratings. A large-fruited, day-neutral strawberry cultivar such as ‘Seascape’ remains productive under shortened photoperiods, allowing reductions in energy and crew labor while maintaining flexibility for mixed-cropping scenarios in space.     

基于光敏树脂分析的3D打印加速度传感器设计

MEMS加速度传感器所采用的硅微机械加工技术存在个性化定制、小批量生产成本方面的不足，而3D打印技术的优势就在于无需模具的自由化定制、一机多用实现低成本产品生产，3D打印的发展趋势就是实现微纳尺度结构的制造。在此背景下，采用光固化立体成型技术设计了一种3D打印压阻式加速度传感器结构。传感器基底使用耐高温光敏树脂制作，并采用丝网印刷工艺在基底表面印制导电碳浆形成应变计结构。为此，首先对耐高温光敏树脂的相关热学与机械性能进行分析。通过测试，得到该光敏树脂固化后的起始分解温度等热力学参数。其次，通过控制光敏树脂紫外光固化时间，取得了较好杨氏模量和弯曲强度的树脂，且为该加速度传感器的结构仿真优化与制作工艺提供了必需数据与重要依据。除此之外，还对所设计的碳浆应变计结构进行了测试，得到了有效灵敏系数。通过以上工作，为最终实现3D打印加速度传感器的制作做好铺垫，助力3D打印技术与MEMS传感器技术相融合。     

基于拉曼散射的分布式光纤温度传感技术的研究

论述了基于拉曼散射的分布式光纤温度传感器的基本工作原理、结构、系统特点及信号处理方法。该结构及信号处理方法具有一定的空问分辨率，保证了系统的实用性。将分布式光纤传感器与传统的复用温度光纤传感器阵列进行了比较。通过使用分布式光纤温度传感器信号处理系统和信号处理软件相结合进行实验，得出结论。     

光笔式无导轨三坐标测量系统中的光笔冗余优化设计

研究了光笔系统的自标定原理及算法,建立了自标定数学模型,并进行大量的计算机仿真,确定了求解系统自标定最小二乘问题的有效算法。并通过计算机仿真计算分析了光笔上点光源的分布位置对光笔系统测量精度的影响。     

机载光电跟踪系统模糊控制的优化设计与仿真

 分析了机载光电跟踪系统的构成,并对机载光电跟踪系统的最主要组成部分——陀螺稳定平台框架系统设计了基于遗传算法的模糊控制器,通过遗传算法来优化模糊控制器的规则、参数以及量化因子和比例因子。并对系统进行了详细的仿真研究,仿真结果证明基于 GA的模糊控制器设计获得了良好的控制效果。     

O-star winds in the Magellanic Clouds and the Milky Way

UV P-Cygni profiles of OB-stars in the Magellanic Clouds (observed with HST), and the galaxy (observed with IUE) are analyzed empirically using a line formation procedure similar to the one described by Lamers et al. (1987). The assumption of a constant microturbulencev _turb throughout the wind is dropped and replaced by a radially increasing turbulence parameterv _turb(v), thus improving the fit for the emission peaks substantially, and at the same time avoiding the need for a justification of extremely supersonic turbulence in the vicinity of the wind's sonic point. The Sobolev optical depth is determined interatively at fixed velocities in the wind, which removes the bias introduced by the choice of a specific parameterization function. Where it was possible and necessary a full photospheric spectrum was used to illuminate the wind line. The terminal velocitiesv are are found to be largest in the Galaxy, smallest in the Small Magellanic Cloud, and intermediate or similar to galactic in the Large Cloud.