On electromagnetic phenomena in Mercury’s magnetosphere

Mercury has a small but intriguing magnetosphere. In this brief review, we discuss some similarities and differences between Mercury’s and Earth’s magnetospheres. In particular, we discuss how electric and magnetic field measurements can be used as a diagnostic tool to improve our understanding of the dynamics of Mercury’s magnetosphere. These points are of interest to the upcoming ESA-JAXA BepiColombo mission to Mercury.     

Height and time variability of planetary wave activity

The height–season and year-to-year regularities of parameters of first and second spatial harmonics determine the structure of the stratosphere and mesosphere circulation and its variability. In the period 1992–2002 at heights 0–55 km, the amplitudes and phases of the first and second spatial harmonics in the field of temperature, geopotential height, zonal and meridional wind were calculated by the method of harmonic decomposition. Dispersion (standard or mean square deviation) of their day-to-day and year-to-year variations was calculated by their wavelength constants. Height and season patterns of variability have been estimated. The difference in height–longitude variability for wave numbers m = 1 and 2 has been discovered. At the same time, the intensity of wave disturbances for m = 1 is less than for m = 2 excluding the polar areas, where a significant variability appears at the heights 0–55 km. There is also a tendency for the intensity of year-to-year variations to decrease in comparison with day-to-day variations. In cold and warm periods the amplitude of perturbation waves with m = 2 both for day-to-day and year-to-year variations is greater than for waves with m = 1. Transient height areas in the interval of 20–30 km are more distinct for day-to-day variations of polar area.     

Physical mechanism of the vertical electric field generation over active tectonic faults

The concept of the Global Electric Circuit (GEC) provides an explanation of the existence of a vertical atmospheric electric field and coupling between the ground and ionosphere. Presently, ionospheric physics pays more attention to electric fields and coupling processes in the polar and auroral regions, whereas in other areas the potential difference between the ground and ionosphere usually is not taken into account. Regional processes exist, however, that are able to significantly affect the GEC parameters and through modification of the ionospheric potential to create plasma density irregularities of different scales within the ionosphere. One such source of ionosphere modification is air ionization in the vicinity of active tectonic faults, which takes place due to increased radon emanation. This paper considers the process of local modification of the GEC and corresponding ionospheric variability due to tectonic activity.     

Investigation of natural and artificial stimulation of the ionospheric Alfvén resonator at high latitude

A brief review is provided of recent progress in understanding the ionospheric Alfvén resonator (IAR) at high latitude. Firstly, naturally occurring resonances of the IAR as detected by pulsation magnetometers in the auroral zone at Sodankylä and in the polar cap at Barentsburg are considered. The characteristics of the IAR in the two regions are broadly similar, although the effects of solar illumination are less clear at the higher latitudes. Secondly we review recent attempts to stimulate the IAR through high-power radio frequency experiments both in the auroral zone at Tromsø with the European Incoherent SCATter (EISCAT) heater, and within the polar cap at Longyearbyen with the Space Plasma Exploration by Active Radar (SPEAR) facility. In the auroral zone at, Tromsø the stimulated IAR has been observed by ground-based magnetometers, and through electron acceleration observed on the FAST spacecraft. At SPEAR in the polar cap, the stimulated IAR has been investigated, with ground magnetometers, with the first results indicative of a positive detection.     

大气行星波对LF和VLF无线电波传播的影响

本文采用最大熵谱估计方法,对1985-1987年三个冬天,在东半球(20°S—65°N、13°E—141°E)白天观测的LF和VLF电波相位、幅度、卫星观测的Ly-α射线通量及高纬上空的行星波活动等大量资料,进行了熵谱分析。观测及分析结果表明:(1)LF和VLF电波的相位具有2—2.2天、3—4天、6—12天、12—20天、20—32天周期范围的行星尺度扰动.Ly-α射线辐射通量主要具有20—32天周期范围内的波动.(2)发现在中纬地区冬天观测的LF电波幅度大的扰动与高纬60°N上空观测的行星波H_1的变化规律非常一致. 波形结构的主要峰和谷几乎完全对应,仅在时间上前者约滞后3—4天.计算给出两者的相关系数在0.65—0.85之间.根据观测事实和谱分析结果对比,作者认为LF和VLF电波相位、幅度周期在20天以上的扰动主要受太阳Ly-α辐射通量变化的控制.冬天其周期在2—20天范围内的扰动,主要受来自对流层和下平流层中激发的大气行星波的影响.     

Ground experiments of Chang’e-5 lunar regolith penetrating radar

The Lunar Regolith Penetrating Radar (LRPR) is an Ultra-Wideband (UWB) array-based Ground penetrating radar (GPR) onboard the lander of Chang’e-5 (CE-5) mission. The primary scientific objectives of the LRPR are to probe the thickness and structure of lunar regolith of the landing site, and support the drilling and sampling process. In order to evaluate the performance of the LRPR, a series of ground experiments are performed using the LRPR prototype mounted on a CE-5 lander model. The performance of the LRPR is evaluated by comparing the experimental data with the simulated data. Data processing and imaging method are verified, and the interferences from the lander and other aspects are analyzed. The results of the ground experiments and simulation demonstrate that the LRPR is able to meet the design requirement of 2-m detection depth. They also indicate that the upper and lower interfaces of the stratified structure in the lunar regolith can be well distinguished by the LRPR when the dielectric constant difference is greater than 0.3, and the imaging effect of the location under the dense antennas is better than that of other positions. However, the identification capability of the LRPR to the independent blocky objects is relatively poor mainly due to the clutters caused by the lander, the sparsity of the antenna elements compared to the size of the basalt block, the limited aperture of the antenna array, and the tail of the transmitted waveform.     

Simulating planetary wave propagation to the upper atmosphere during stratospheric warming events at different mountain wave scenarios

Parameterization schemes of atmospheric normal modes (NMs) and orographic gravity waves (OGWs) have been implemented into the mechanistic Middle and Upper Atmosphere Model (MUAM) simulating atmospheric general circulation. Based on the 12-members ensemble of runs with the MUAM, a composite of the stratospheric warming (SW) has been constructed using the UK Met Office data as the lower boundary conditions. The simulation results show that OGW amplitudes increase at altitudes above 30 km in the Northern Hemisphere after the SW event. At altitudes of about 50 km, OGWs have largest amplitudes over North American and European mountain systems before and during the composite SW, and over Himalayas after the SW. Simulations demonstrate substantial (up to 50–70%) variations of amplitudes of stationary planetary waves (PWs) during and after the SW in the mesosphere-lower thermosphere of the Northern Hemisphere. Westward travelling NMs have amplitude maxima not only in the Northern, but also in the Southern Hemisphere, where these modes have waveguides in the middle and upper atmosphere. Simulated variations of PW and NM amplitudes correspond to changes in the mean zonal wind, EP-fluxes and wave refractive index at different phases of the composite SW events. Inclusion of the parameterization of OGW effects leads to decreases in amplitudes (up to 15%) of almost all SPWs before and after the SW event and their increase (up to 40–60%) after the SW in the stratosphere and mesosphere at middle and high northern latitudes. It is suggested that observed changes in NM amplitudes in the Southern Hemisphere during SW could be caused by divergence of increased southward EP-flux. This EP-flux increases due to OGW drag before SW and extends into the Southern Hemisphere.     

A drilling tool design and in situ identification of planetary regolith mechanical parameters

The physical and mechanical properties as well as the heat flux of regolith are critical evidence in the study of planetary origin and evolution. Moreover, the mechanical properties of planetary regolith have great value for guiding future human planetary activities. For planetary subsurface exploration, an inchworm boring robot (IBR) has been proposed to penetrate the regolith, and the mechanical properties of the regolith are expected to be simultaneously investigated during the penetration process using the drilling tool on the IBR. This paper provides a preliminary study of an in situ method for measuring planetary regolith mechanical parameters using a drilling tool on a test bed. A conical-screw drilling tool was designed, and its drilling load characteristics were experimentally analyzed. Based on the drilling tool-regolith interaction model, two identification methods for determining the planetary regolith bearing and shearing parameters are proposed. The bearing and shearing parameters of lunar regolith simulant were successfully determined according to the pressure-sinkage tests and shear tests conducted on the test bed. The effects of the operating parameters on the identification results were also analyzed. The results indicate a feasible scheme for future planetary subsurface exploration.     

用于空间探测飞行时间质谱仪的真空系统和取样系统设计

文章介绍了可用于空间探测飞行时间质谱仪的真空系统和取样系统设计,并建立了该TOFMS原理样机的地面试验系统。为适应空间探测和地面试验2种不同工作模式,设计了2套不同的真空系统。根据文章建立的气体样本进样的理论分析模型进行理论分析计算,并通过地面适应性试验测定了质谱室的真空度、空气的Voltage-Amu谱图、Kr样本Voltage-Amu谱图及进样时间。试验结果表明:真空系统和取样系统设计合理,能够满足试验需求;理论分析模型正确,能够用于指导试验。     

High-adaption locomotion with stable robot body for planetary exploration robot carrying potential instruments on unstructured terrain

There is a strong demand for Planetary Exploration Mobile robots (PEMRs) that have the capability of the traversability, stability, efficiency and high load while tackling the specialized tasks on planet surface. In this paper, an electric parallel wheel-legged hexapod robot which has high-adaption locomotion on the unstructured terrain is presented. Also, the hybrid control framework, which enables robot to stably carry the heavy loads as well as to traverse the uneven terrain by utilizing both legged and wheeled locomotion, is also proposed. Based on this framework, robot controls the multiple DOF leg for performing high-adaption locomotion to negotiate obstacles via Gait Generator (GG). Additionally, by using Whole-Body Control (WBC) of framework, robot has the capability of flexibly accommodating the uneven terrain by Attitude Control (AC) kinematically adjusting the length of legs like an active suspension system, and by Force/torque Balance Control (FBC) equally distributing the Ground Reaction Force (GRF) to maintain a stable body. The simulation and experiment are employed to validate the proposed framework with the physical system in the planetary analog environments. Particularly, to smoothly demonstrate the performance of robot transporting heavy loads, the experiment of carrying 3-person load of about 240 kg is deployed.