第23周不同角宽CME的分布及与太阳黑子数位相的比较

统计分析了1996-2008年期间CME数量随角宽的分布, 将几个典型角宽的CME数量随时间变化的特征与太阳黑子数随时间变化特征进行比较. 分析结果表明, 角宽为0°～ 180°的CME占CME总数的95%以上, 全晕CME占2.83%, 角宽301°～ 359°的CME数量非常少. 角宽0° ～ 60°的CME有三个峰值, 与太阳黑子数随时间变化的特征不吻合. 角宽为121°～ 180°CME的数量无双峰分布. 全晕CME的分布具有明显的双峰结构, 第一个峰值出现在2001年, 第二个峰值出现在2005年, 与太阳黑子数的变化不同步.      

结合光球磁场特征物理量的质子事件短期预报

利用描述太阳活动区光球磁场复杂性和非势性特征的三个物理量(纵向磁场最大水平梯度|▽_hB_z |_m, 强梯度中性线长度L, 孤立奇点数目η)建立了质子事件短期预报模型, 验证了磁场特征物理量对质子事件短期预报的有效性. 目前已建立或使用的太阳质子事件短期预报模型中仍然没有正式将磁场特征物理量作为预报因子. 由于太阳质子事件是小概率事件, 其物理产生机制尚不完全清楚, 这些预报模型往往存在虚报率偏高或报准率偏低的问题. 本文试图将原有质子事件模型所用的传统因子与磁场特征物理量结合起来, 利用神经网络方法建立一个更为有效的质子事件短期预报模型. 利用1997--2001年的训练数据集1871个样本建立了输入层为传统预报因子的模型A以及输入层为传统预报因子和磁场特征物理量的模型B. 通过对2002--2003年973个样本的测试数据集进行模拟预报发现, 模型A与B在具有相同质子事件报准率的情况下, 模型B的虚报率明显降低. 这进一步验证了磁场特征物理量在质子事件短期预报中的作用, 进而可以加强对太阳质子事件的实际预报能力.      

小天体探测器电源系统方案设计及仿真

研究了小天体探测器在深空特殊环境下电源系统所面对的问题,提出了全调节母线能量直接传递的电源系统方案。根据探测器的轨道特性,分析了探测器在飞行过程中环境条件和不同负载等对电源系统的影响,考虑光照条件和峰值功率之间的关系,基于能量平衡的原理,对探测器的电源系统进行分析、设计。最后,通过数学仿真验证了方案设计的合理性。     

太阳风中小尺度磁通量管边界重联的统计研究

通过对WIND卫星1995—2005年的数据,利用程序筛选及人工识别两种不同方法确定的小尺度磁通量管进行比较,发现程序筛选法中41%的小尺度磁通量管有边界重联现象,与人工识别法确定的小尺度磁通量管的统计结果接近;通过人工识别和程序筛选两种方法确定的小尺度磁通量管的边界重联特征,包括磁场剪切角、磁场强度以及重联耗散区的持续时间等,也具有相同的统计趋势.结果表明,两种方法确定的小尺度磁通量管在重联特性上没有本质区别,因此采用这两种方法得到的数据作为样本来统计小尺度磁通量管前后边界重联事件.本文共确定了71个重联事件,统计结果显示有50个(70%)重联耗散区磁场的减小超过20%,47个(66%)磁场剪切角大于90°;多数重联事件的磁场剪切角大于90°,表明小尺度磁通量管边界中主要发生的是反平行重联.将小尺度磁通量管的前后边界重联分开进行统计,结果显示其前后边界重联的特征是相似的,与磁云前后边界存在差异的性质不同,这意味着太阳风中的小尺度磁通量管并不具有磁云这种大尺度磁通量管的膨胀特征.     

Effect of current sheets on the power spectrum of the solar wind magnetic field using a cell model

A puzzling observation of solar wind MHD turbulence is the often seen Kolmogorov scaling of k^-5/3$k^{-5/3}$, even though the solar wind MHD turbulence is dominated by Alfvénic fluctuations. Recently Li et al. (2011) proposed that the presence of current sheets may be the cause of the Kolmogorov scaling. Here, using a cell model of the solar wind we examine the effect of current sheets on the power spectrum of the solar wind magnetic field. We model the solar wind as multiple cells separated by current sheets. We prescribe the spectra of turbulent magnetic field in individual cells as IK-like and examine the spectra along trajectories that cross multiple boundaries. We find that these spectra become softer and are consistent with the Kolmogorov-scaling. Our finding supports our recent proposal of Li et al. (2011).     

Degradation of thermal control materials under a simulated radiative space environment

A spacecraft with a passive thermal control system utilizes various thermal control materials to maintain temperatures within safe operating limits. Materials used for spacecraft applications are exposed to harsh space environments such as ultraviolet (UV) and particle (electron, proton) irradiation and atomic oxygen (AO), undergo physical damage and thermal degradation, which must be considered for spacecraft thermal design optimization and cost effectiveness. This paper describes the effect of synergistic radiation on some of the important thermal control materials to verify the assumptions of beginning-of-life (BOL) and end-of-life (EOL) properties. Studies on the degradation in the optical properties (solar absorptance and infrared emittance) of some important thermal control materials exposed to simulated radiative geostationary space environment are discussed. The current studies are purely related to the influence of radiation on the degradation of the materials; other environmental aspects (e.g., thermal cycling) are not discussed. The thermal control materials investigated herein include different kind of second-surface mirrors, white anodizing, white paints, black paints, multilayer insulation materials, varnish coated aluminized polyimide, germanium coated polyimide, polyether ether ketone (PEEK) and poly tetra fluoro ethylene (PTFE). For this purpose, a test in the constant vacuum was performed reproducing a three year radiative space environment exposure, including ultraviolet and charged particle effects on North/South panels of a geostationary three-axis stabilized spacecraft. Reflectance spectra were measured in situ in the solar range (250–2500 nm) and the corresponding solar absorptance values were calculated. The test methodology and the degradations of the materials are discussed. The most important degradations among the low solar absorptance materials were found in the white paints whereas the rigid optical solar reflectors remained quite stable. Among the high solar absorptance elements, as such the change in the solar absorptance was very low, in particular the germanium coated polyimide was found highly stable.     

Where does the heliospheric modulation of galactic cosmic rays start?

The long outstanding question of where the heliospheric (solar) modulation of galactic cosmic rays actually begins, in terms of spatial position, as well as at what high kinetic energy, can now be answered. Both answers are possible by using the results of an advanced numerical model, together with appropriate observations. Voyager 1 has been exploring the outskirts of the heliosphere and is presently entering what can be called the very local interstellar medium. It has been generally expected, and accepted, that once the heliopause is crossed, the local interstellar spectrum (LIS) should be measured in situ by the Voyager spacecraft. However, we show that this may not be the case and that modulation effects on galactic cosmic rays can persist well beyond the heliopause. For example, proton observations at 100 MeV close to the heliopause can be lower by ∼$\sim$25% to 40% than the LIS, depending on solar modulation conditions. It is also illustrated quantitatively that significant solar modulation diminishes above ∼$\sim$50 GeV at Earth. It is found that cosmic ray observations above this energy contain less that 5%$5\%$ solar modulation effects and should therefore reflect the LIS for galactic cosmic rays. Input spectra, in other words the very LIS, for solar modulation models are now constrained by in situ observations and can therefore not any longer be treated arbitrarily. It is also possible for the first time to determine the lower limit of the very LIS from a few MeV/nuc to very high energies.     

Particle Acceleration at Interplanetary Shocks

This paper briefly reviews proton acceleration at interplanetary shocks. This is key to describing the acceleration of heavy ions at interplanetary shocks because wave excitation—and hence particle scattering—at oblique shocks is controlled by the protons and not the heavy ions. Heavy ions behave as test particles, and their acceleration characteristics are controlled by the properties of proton-excited turbulence. As a result, the resonance condition for heavy ions introduces distinctly different signatures in abundance, spectra, and intensity profiles, depending on ion mass and charge. Self-consistent models of heavy-ion acceleration and the resulting fractionation are discussed. This includes discussion of the injection problem and the acceleration characteristics of quasi-parallel and quasi-perpendicular shocks.     

Isotopic Composition of the Solar Wind Inferred from In-Situ Spacecraft Measurements

The Sun is the largest reservoir of matter in the solar system, which formed 4.6 Gyr ago from the protosolar nebula. Data from space missions and theoretical models indicate that the solar wind carries a nearly unfractionated sample of heavy isotopes at energies of about 1 keV/amu from the Sun into interplanetary space. In anticipation of results from the Genesis mission’s solar-wind implanted samples, we revisit solar wind isotopic abundance data from the high-resolution CELIAS/MTOF spectrometer on board SOHO. In particular, we evaluate the isotopic abundance ratios ¹⁵N/¹⁴N, ¹⁷O/¹⁶O, and ¹⁸O/¹⁶O in the solar wind, which are reference values for isotopic fractionation processes during the formation of terrestrial planets as well as for the Galactic chemical evolution. We also give isotopic abundance ratios for He, Ne, Ar, Mg, Si, Ca, and Fe measured in situ in the solar wind.