SOME RESULTS OF UPPER ATMOSPHERIC COMPOSITION MEASUREMENTS BY A MASS-SPECTROMETER ON BOARD "SZ-2":CHANGE OF COMPOSITIONS DURING SOLAR AND GEOMAGNETIC DISTURBANCES

Upper atmosphere composition data were obtained for the last half year with a quadruple mass spectrometer on board spacecraft "SZ-2" launched on 10 Jan uary 2001. Based on the analysis of these data, the variations of atmospheric compositions in solar and geomagnetic quiet conditions are reported first, then a detailed discussion on the atmospheric composition variations under the so lar and geomagnetic disturbed conditions is given. The results show that near the altitude of 400 km the variations of main atmospheric compositions corre sponding to solar disturbances are more remarkable in the sunlit area than in the shade area. On the contrary, in geomagnetic disturbance events the corre sponding variations are more obvious in the shade area, an evident increase of N2 density at relatively higher latitudes was observed.     

高能CO2激光腔镜高反介质薄膜的传输特性

为了获得适用于高能CO2激光器的高抗破坏阈值高反薄膜,以10.6μm高反膜ZnSe/YbF3,PbTe/BaF2膜系为例,数值模拟了激光在高反介质膜中的传输的场特性;给出了激光在多层介质膜中的场强分布、温度场分布及热应力分布。结果表明硅镜基体上的PbTe/BaF2膜系所需膜层厚度小、膜层数少,反射率可高达99.98%。     

A Comparative Study of the Influence of the Active Young Sun on the Early Atmospheres of Earth, Venus, and Mars

Because the solar radiation and particle environment plays a major role in all atmospheric processes such as ionization, dissociation, heating of the upper atmospheres, and thermal and non-thermal atmospheric loss processes, the long-time evolution of planetary atmospheres and their water inventories can only be understood within the context of the evolving Sun. We compare the effect of solar induced X-ray and EUV (XUV) heating on the upper atmospheres of Earth, Venus and Mars since the time when the Sun arrived at the Zero-Age-Main-Sequence (ZAMS) about 4.6 Gyr ago. We apply a diffusive-gravitational equilibrium and thermal balance model for studying heating of the early thermospheres by photodissociation and ionization processes, due to exothermic chemical reactions and cooling by IR-radiating molecules like CO₂, NO, OH, etc. Our model simulations result in extended thermospheres for early Earth, Venus and Mars. The exospheric temperatures obtained for all the three planets during this time period lead to diffusion-limited hydrodynamic escape of atomic hydrogen and high Jeans’ escape rates for heavier species like H₂, He, C, N, O, etc. The duration of this blow-off phase for atomic hydrogen depends essentially on the mixing ratios of CO₂, N₂ and H₂O in the atmospheres and could last from ∼100 to several hundred million years. Furthermore, we study the efficiency of various non-thermal atmospheric loss processes on Venus and Mars and investigate the possible protecting effect of the early martian magnetosphere against solar wind induced ion pick up erosion. We find that the early martian magnetic field could decrease the ion-related non-thermal escape rates by a great amount. It is possible that non-magnetized early Mars could have lost its whole atmosphere due to the combined effect of its extended upper atmosphere and a dense solar wind plasma flow of the young Sun during about 200 Myr after the Sun arrived at the ZAMS. Depending on the solar wind parameters, our model simulations for early Venus show that ion pick up by strong solar wind from a non-magnetized planet could erode up to an equivalent amount of ∼250 bar of O⁺ ions during the first several hundred million years. This accumulated loss corresponds to an equivalent mass of ∼1 terrestrial ocean (TO (1 TO ∼1.39×10²⁴ g or expressed as partial pressure, about 265 bar, which corresponds to ∼2900 m average depth)). Finally, we discuss and compare our findings with the results of preceding studies.     

Cosmic ray studies at Moussala – Past,present and future

We review the main activities carried out at Moussala peak (2925 m above sea level, 42°11′N, 23°35′E) station in Bulgaria, connected with cosmic ray investigations during the last five decades. Several important results obtained at the station are reported. The detector design and corresponding methodological studies of the presently operational devices are shown as well, precisely the Cherenkov light telescope, lead free neutron monitor and muon telescope. The scientific potential of the existing complex is discussed.     

Aerothermodynamic and stability analyses of a deployable re-entry capsule

Recent research projects, in the field of atmospheric re-entry technology, are focused on the design of deployable, umbrella-like Thermal Protection Systems (TPSs). These TPSs are made of flexible high temperature resistant fabrics, folded at launch and deployed in space for de-orbit and re-entry operations. In the present paper two possible sphere–cone configurations for the TPS have been investigated from an aerodynamic point of view. The analyzed configurations are characterized by the same reentry mass and maximum diameter, but have different half-cone angles (45° and 60°). The analyses involve both the evaluation of thermal and aerodynamic loads and the assessment of the capsule longitudinal stability. The aerothermodynamic analysis has been performed for the completely deployed heat shield in transitional and continuum regimes, while the longitudinal stability has been analyzed in free molecular, transitional and continuum regimes, also taking into consideration the heat shield deployment sequence at high altitudes.     

地外人工光合成装置研制与试验

原位资源利用技术是地外生命保障体系构建、实现人类地外生存的有效途径,是载人深空探索的核心技术。基于微通道技术的人工光合成反应器,采用流动反应器设计,用于低微重力等特殊环境条件下模拟人工光合作用,实现CO₂向O₂和含碳燃料的转化。微通道芯片通过气液剪切作用力使气体反应产物快速脱离电极表面并随反应介质排出反应器,理论上可以克服微重力条件对反应过程的影响,尚需进行微重力试验进行验证。同时,微通道结构可以通过精确控制反应气液的压力、流速、流量比等反应条件,获得优化的反应条件。通过地面试验,验证了该反应器将CO₂还原为O₂和含碳化合物的功能可行性。以Au和Ir/C作为阴极和阳极材料,3 V电压条件下,O₂产率可达11.74 mL/h。此外,基于人工光合成反应器搭建了集反应模块、控制模块、流路驱动模块以及检测模块等于一体的地外人工光合成装置,形成原位反应、介质供给、精确控制、在线收集和检测等功能一体化的系统,并实现CO₂有效转换和O₂供给。为后续...     

吸气模式激光推进空气等离子体光谱

利用实验室自行研制的紫外预电离CO2激光器进行了激光等离子体实验,实验采用底面直径均为60mm,焦距分别为5 mm和10 mm的两种抛物面光船。介绍了激光等离子体光谱和明显的特征谱线,以及激光等离子体温度估计模型;分析了两种光船对激光等离子体的影响。实验表明:相同底面直径10 mm焦距光船产生的等离子体信号峰值和持续时间均略大于5 mm焦距光船;10 mm焦距光船产生的等离子体温度明显高于5 mm的,最大温度产生时间比5 mm光船要晚一些。