Prompt effects of solar wind variations on the inner magnetosphere and midlatitude ionosphere

It is well known that the solar wind can significantly affect high-latitude ionospheric dynamics. However, the effects of the solar wind on the middle- and low-latitude ionosphere are much less studied. In this paper, we report observations that large perturbations in the middle- and low-latitude ionosphere are well correlated with solar wind variations. In one event, a significant (20–30%) decrease of the midlatitude ionospheric electron density over a large latitudinal range was related to a sudden drop in the solar wind pressure and a northward turning of the interplanetary magnetic field, and the density decrease became larger at lower latitudes. In another event, periodic perturbations in the dayside equatorial ionospheric E × B drift and electrojet were closely associated with variations in the interplanetary electric field. Since the solar wind is always changing with time, it can be a very important and common source of ionospheric perturbations at middle- and low-latitudes. The relationship between solar wind variations and significant ionospheric perturbations has important applications in space weather.     

太阳宁静及耀斑期间1AU附近等离子体轫致辐射研究

在太空等离子体中，尤其在等离子体内部磁场较弱时，轫致辐射是等离子体能量损失的主要机制．本文对太阳宁静及耀斑期间1AU处等离子体轫致辐射计算表明，等离子体辐射强度If的变化与辐射的电磁波频率有直接的关系．当辐射频率，接近于等离子体频率，fpe时，辐射强度显著增大．随着电磁波辐射频率的增大，辐射强度随频率增大作缓慢对数下降．辐射亮温Tb与等离子体电子温度Te、介质光深成正比．Tb与If随辐射频率变化的整体趋势一致．在相同的辐射频率情况下，太阳宁静期间If值、Tb值低于太阳耀斑期间If值、Tb值．     

Progress on Space Solar Telescope in 2004 - 2006

The progress on Chinese Space Solar Telescope (SST) in 2004-2006 is introduced. The scientific objectives are further clarified and the ground operation system has been planned. The 7 key technical problems of SST satellite platform and payloads have been tackled, which lay solid scientific and technological foundations for engineering prototype phase of the SST project. At present the SST project undergoes evaluation by CNSA and CAS so as to enter the engineering prototype phase of the SST project if it is finally approved.     

A first step towards proton flux forecasting

We present a preliminary version of a potential tool for real time proton flux prediction which provides proton flux profiles and cumulative fluence profiles at 0.5 and 2 MeV of solar energetic particle events, from their onset up to the arrival of the interplanetary shock at the spacecraft position (located at 1 or 0.4 AU). Based on the proton transportation model by Lario et al. [Lario, D., Sanahuja, B., Heras, A.M. Energetic particle events: efficiency of interplanetary shocks as 50 keV E < 100 MeV proton accelerators. Astrophys. J. 509, 415–434, 1998] and the magnetohydrodynamic shock propagation model of Wu et al. [Wu, S.T., Dryer, M., Han, S.M. Non-planar MHD model for solar flare-generated disturbances in the Heliospheric equatorial plane. Sol. Phys. 84, 395–418, 1983], we have generated a database containing “synthetic” profiles of the proton fluxes and cumulative fluences of 384 solar energetic particle events. We are currently validating the applicability of this code for space weather forecasting by comparing the resulting “synthetic” flux profiles with those of several real events.     

太阳风质子束流的演化

太阳神飞船观测表明，太阳风高速流中质子束分量相对于核分量的密度随日心距离增加而增加．提出解释这一观测现象的机理并给出二维数值模拟结果．由于阿尔芬波速随日心距离增加而减少，第二支左旋波将与更多的质子共振，把部分原来属于核分布的质子拉到束分布中来．用数值模拟方程方法求解回旋波共振导致的准线性扩散方程，数值结果与观测结果相符合．     

地磁急始年发生数周期特征的小波分析

采用小波分析方法分析了急始年发生数的时间序列的周期特征，并对急始发生数的特征与太阳黑子相对数的特征进行了简要的对照分析，分析结果表明，急始发生数的周期规律与太阳黑子相对数的周期规律是有差异的．还进行了太阳黑子相对数与急始数的相关性，太阳黑子相对数与急始磁暴的相关性研究，分析结果表明它们之间显著相关．还对急始数与急始磁暴致以及其他的一些参数之间的相关性进行了分析，最后对分析结果进行了讨论．     

1989年3月太阳活动引起的强烈磁暴群

本文分析了1989年3月上旬一个太阳超级活动区中多次特大耀斑引起的强磁暴群.联系源耀斑的等级、位置等讨论了磁暴形态特征.随着耀斑活动区位置由东向西旋转,磁暴的形态呈现有规律的变化,充分显示了磁暴形态特征有依赖于耀斑位置的中心子午线效应和东西不对称性.     

Cyclotron masers and solar spike bursts

The theory of electron cyclotron maser emission and its application to solar spike bursts are reviewed. By analogy with the Earth's AKR, three sources of free energy are considered: a loss-cone anisotropy, a velocity-space hole, and a trapped distribution. The problem of how the radiation escapes through the second harmonic absorption layer is emphasized. Harmonic emission due to z mode coalescence may operate for some bursts, but the 2–5s delay between hard X-ray bursts and spike bursts suggests that some other mechanisms is required for most spike bursts. A model involving formation of a trapped distribution in low-density regions neighboring the flaring flux tube is considered.     

Transition region line-shifts in the rebound shock spicule model

Spectral emission lines created in the solar chromosphere — corona transition region show net red-shifts. It has been proposed that this may be the result of the return of spicular material. We simulate a spicule numerically using the rebound shock model and find that the resulting hydrodynamic evolution leads to a perceived up-flow in transition region spectral lines even though the average velocity in the line forming region is directed downward. The explanation for this apparent paradox is found in the correlation between density and velocity in the waves generated by the rebound shock spicule.     

Evolution of the Protosolar Nebula and Formation of the Giant Planets

The formation of planetary systems is intimately tied to the question of the evolution of the gas and solid material in the early nebula. Current models of evolution of circumstellar disks are reviewed here with emphasis on the so-called “alpha models” in which angular momentum is transported outward by turbulent viscosity, parameterized by an dimensionless parameter α. A simple 1D model of protoplanetary disks that includes gas and embedded particles is used to introduce key questions on planetesimal formation. This model includes the aerodynamic properties of solid ice and rock grains to calculate their migration and growth. We show that the evolution of the nebula and migration and growth of its solids proceed on timescales that are generally not much longer than the timescale necessary to fully form the star-disk system from the molecular cloud. Contrary to a widely used approach, planet formation therefore can neither be studied in a static nebula nor in a nebula evolving from an arbitrary initial condition. We propose a simple approach to both account for sedimentation from the molecular cloud onto the disk, disk evolution and migration of solids. Giant planets have key roles in the history of the forming Solar System: they formed relatively early, when a significant amount of hydrogen and helium were still present in the nebula, and have a mass that is a sizable fraction of the disk mass at any given time. Their composition is also of interest because when compared to the solar composition, their enrichment in elements other than hydrogen and helium is a witness of sorting processes that occured in the protosolar nebula. We review likely scenarios capable of explaining both the presence of central dense cores in Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune and their global composition. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.