Optimisation of X-ray proportional counters for Scanning Sky Monitor (SSM) on ASTROSAT

The Scanning Sky Monitor (SSM) on ASTROSAT is a position-sensitive gas-filled proportional counter with a wide field of view. The scientific objective of SSM is to scan the sky within few hours to detect and locate transient X-ray sources in the outburst phase. Once detected, this information will be provided for studies in all energy bands. The energy range of operation of SSM is 2–10 keV. The optimisation of the parameters of the proportional counter such as the cell size, the gas mixture and the gas pressure for the SSM are discussed here.     

Effect of the seed perturbation amplitude on the equatorial spread F initiation during solar minimum

The contribution of gravity wave (GW) to the initiation/development of spread F during a solar minimum year was investigated through the comparison of the observed precursory parameters and characteristics of the corresponding equatorial spread F (ESF) events. The ionospheric parameters were recorded at the magnetic equatorial station Sao Luis (2.3°S, 44°W, dip latitude 2°S) during March and October 2010. These data were used to estimate the influence of the relative gravity wave amplitude and the ambient ionospheric condition on the diurnal variation of the spread F initiation. The vertical velocity drift indicated a clear control and defines the threshold for the seasonal variability of the ESF occurrence. However, it was insufficient to solely determine or predict the day to day variation of ESF occurrence. Thus, few days with contrasting ambient ionospheric condition and magnitude of GW amplitude were analysed in order to investigate the role of the different precursory factors in the observed diurnal variation of the plasma irregularity development. The density scale length and gravity wave amplitude were shown to immensely contribute to the linear instability growth rate, especially during the days with a low post-sunset rise. Thus, the experimental observations have demonstrated the strong inter-dependence between the precursory factors and they have also highlighted the probable control of the ESF morphology.     

用反圆环面刀加工变曲率过渡曲面原理

基于宽行加工理论和广域曲率吻合原则,提出一种利用圆环面内侧作为刀具工作面的反圆环面刀具宽行加工叶片进排气边的新方法.该方法通过优化刀具摆角使具有定母圆半径刀具工作面的包络面充分逼近叶片进排气边曲面,从而使刀具能在给定的精度范围内以最大行宽和最少刀轨行数加工出进排气边.最后,以某型号发动机叶片的进气边为例进行了加工实验.结果表明该方法能够大幅提高进排气边的加工质量,且反圆环面刀的加工行宽比球头刀提高了5倍.     

Vertical TEC variations and model during low solar activity at a low latitude station,Xiamen

GPS-derived vertical TEC recorded at Xiamen (24.5°N, 118.1°E, geomagnetic latitude 13.2°N), China, during year 2006 is analyzed for the first time and compared to that predicted by ionosphere model SPIM recommend by ISO. A manifest seasonal anomaly is found with the high value during equinoctial season and low value during summer and winter season. Relative standard deviation for VTEC shows high value at around midnight and before sunrise. The correlation analysis exhibits that the variation of VTEC has a very weak relation with geomagnetic and solar activities (Dst, AP, SSN and F10.7). Comparative results reveal that the SPIM overestimates the observed VTEC at most of the time.     

IRI-2007预测TEC在广州地区的适用性分析

利用广州站(23.2°N, 113.3°E) GPS双频接收机监测的电离层TEC数据和IRI-2007模型不同电离层输入参数计算得到的TEC预测值, 对比分析了太阳活动低年(2008年)广州地区TEC的变化特征. 结果表明, TEC观测值周日变化在16:00LT左右达到最大值, 而IRI-TEC最大值出现时间较GPS-TEC提前1h左右. TEC季节变化在春秋分较高, 两至季节较低, 表现出明显的半年特性和季节依赖性, 并出现冬季异常现象. IRI-TEC与GPS-TEC在白天具有较好的一致性, 夜间偏差较大. 不同电离层输入参数得到的TEC预测值也相差较大, 选用顶部电子密度参数NeQuick、底部厚度参数B0 Table并用URSI系数计算F₂层峰值参数时, 能较好地反映TEC观测值的变化特征. 在对磁暴的响应上, 预测值无明显变化, 观测值则有比较明显的表现. 通过对比, 初步分析了利用IRI-2007模型预测TEC在广州地区的适用性, 并给出了合理的参数选择方案.      

Equatorial Ionospheric Anomaly (EIA) and comparison with IRI model during descending phase of solar activity (2005–2009)

The ionospheric variability at equatorial and low latitude region is known to be extreme as compared to mid latitude region. In this study the ionospheric total electron content (TEC), is derived by analyzing dual frequency Global Positioning System (GPS) data recorded at two stations separated by 325 km near the Indian equatorial anomaly region, Varanasi (Geog latitude 25°, 16^/ N, longitude 82°, 59^/ E, Geomagnetic latitude 16°, 08^/ N) and Kanpur (Geog latitude 26°, 18^/ N, longitude 80°, 12^/ E, Geomagnetic latitude 17°, 18^/ N). Specifically, we studied monthly, seasonal and annual variations as well as solar and geomagnetic effects on the equatorial ionospheric anomaly (EIA) during the descending phase of solar activity from 2005 to 2009. It is found that the maximum TEC (EIA) near equatorial anomaly crest yield their maximum values during the equinox months and their minimum values during the summer. Using monthly averaged peak magnitude of TEC, a clear semi-annual variation is seen with two maxima occurring in both spring and autumn. Results also showed the presence of winter anomaly or seasonal anomaly in the EIA crest throughout the period 2005–2009 only except during the deep solar minimum year 2007–2008. The correlation analysis indicate that the variation of EIA crest is more affected by solar activity compared to geomagnetic activity with maximum dependence on the solar EUV flux, which is attributed to direct link of EUV flux on the formation of ionosphere and main agent of the ionization. The statistical mean occurrence of EIA crest in TEC during the year from 2005 to 2009 is found to around 12:54 LT hour and at 21.12° N geographic latitude. The crest of EIA shifts towards lower latitudes and the rate of shift of the crest latitude during this period is found to be 0.87° N/per year. The comparison between IRI models with observation during this period has been made and comparison is poor with increasing solar activity with maximum difference during the year 2005.     

Mean solar quiet daily variations in the earth’s magnetic field along East African longitudes

Solar quiet daily (Sq) variation in the earth’s magnetic field along the East African meridian was studied using data of the H, D and Z components recorded with Magnetic Data Acquisition System of SERC. One year data recorded at ten African geomagnetic observatories was used in the analysis of worldwide solar quiet daily variation (Wsq). The study revealed that the focus of Sq (H) in the southern hemisphere lies at the boundary of low and middle latitude region. Noon-time enhancement of Sq (H) was generally noticed at all stations along the meridian, though it is latitudinal dependent in terms of magnitude as it reduces with distance from dip equator. In addition, night-time variations also occur in small magnitude along African meridian in Sq (H) and Sq (Z) which could be attributed to non-ionospheric sources. Semi-diurnal variation was noticed in Sq (D) at all stations except in AAB that is under the influence of electrojet current. Dusk sector calm condition of Sq (D) current was notice in some stations and the same condition was also noticed at dawn sector in some other stations. The usual sunrise maximum and sunset minimum for D component at stations north of dip equator as well as sunrise minimum and sunset maximum was found to increase with distance away from dip equator. Day-time perturbation of Sq current was noticed to be more pronounced in all the three field elements. Mass plots of annual mean hourly value show contrasting phase pattern about the focus in H element and the results of the variations at each region with the associated standard error. It was concluded from the result of correlation coefficients computed that different currents system flowing in opposite directions could be responsible for contrasting patterns.     

Quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) of tropical total ozone under alternative QBO scenarios of equatorial stratospheric wind

Equatorial total column ozone variations with quasi-biennial periodicity are described by paying attention to their coupling with the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO) of zonal wind in equatorial stratosphere. Analysis is made for the 35-year time interval from 1978 to 2013 using the zonal mean total ozone (TOZ) data in latitude band from 5° S to 5° N derived from satellite measurements by means of Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) and Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI). The study was performed using strong seasonal regularities of the wind QBO and the discrete variation of the QBO-period revealed earlier. The forecast of the wind QBO evolution made in Gabis (2012) is fully justified. The comparison between predicted and actually observed changes of the height wind structure shows the prominent accordance, which confirms the forecast validity. It is shown that variations of deseasonalized TOZ are in strong coupling with changes of equatorial wind QBO that coincides with the numerous previous researches. However our results contradict the assumption about quite complicated ozone response in the equatorial region due to continuously varying with time relationship between annual and quasi-biennial cycles and irregularly variable wind QBO-period. The total ozone changes actually observed clearly corresponds to the mean ozone variations calculated for different QBO scenarios and aligned according to the sequence of QBO scenarios already occurred in fact. This close association indicates the possibility of forecasting the equatorial total ozone QBO based on the predicted wind QBO.     

不同机载电子干扰条件下的飞机敏感性模型

对典型作战场景中雷达制导导弹威胁下的飞机敏感性进行了研究,分别从导弹发射和命中2个方面,建立了远距离支援干扰(SOJ)和自卫干扰(SPJ)条件下的飞机敏感性模型。首先分析了在典型电子对抗措施(ECM)和电子抗干扰措施(ECCM)条件下的雷达探测距离;其次提出了用于评价欺骗干扰的有效时间模型,结合典型制导律,建立了不同干扰条件下导弹命中分析的仿真模型;最后对不同干扰条件下的飞机敏感性进行了仿真实验。结果表明:电子干扰一定程度上能够降低非隐身战机的敏感性,但是对于低雷达散射截面(RCS)或者采用先进抗干扰措施的武器系统而言,电子干扰对飞机敏感性降低的作用有限甚至有害。研究结果对现役飞机通过电子干扰降低敏感性以及对在研飞机的敏感性设计具有一定的参考意义。     

关于星座设计中碰撞检测问题的探讨

对于卫星数量较多的星座, 在星座设计过程中就应当考虑避免星座运行过程中卫星之间的碰撞现象。文章首先针对发生在赤道上空的严格碰撞现象进行了研究, 提出了避免赤道碰撞的星座参数配置方法; 进一步从广义碰撞检测要求出发, 对星座中卫星间的相对距离变化规律进行了研究, 并给出了设计阶段解决碰撞问题的方案。文中的内容对星座设计工作有一定的帮助。