Patterns of carbon monoxide in the middle atmosphere and effects of solar variability

We determine the spatial-time patterns of zonally averaged carbon monoxide (CO) in the middle atmosphere by applying Principle Component Analysis to the CO data obtained from the Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) measurements on the Aura satellite in 2004–2012. The first two principal components characterize more than 90% of the CO variability. Both principal components are localized in the low thermosphere near the mesopause. The first principal component is asymmetric relative to the poles. It has opposite signs in the Northern and Southern Hemisphere at mid to high latitudes and strongly oscillates with an annual periodicity. The second principal component has the same sign in both hemispheres and oscillates mainly with a semi-annual frequency. Both principal components are modulated by the 11-year solar cycle and display short-term variations. To test possible correlations of these variations with the short term solar ultraviolet (UV) variability we use the simultaneous measurements of the UV solar radiance from the Solar-Stellar Irradiance Comparison Experiment (SOLSTICE) on the Solar Radiation and Climate Experiment (SORCE) satellite to investigate the correlation between CO in the middle atmosphere and solar UV in 2004–2012. Using a wavelet coherence technique a weak, intermittent 27-day signal is detected in high-frequency parts of the CO principal components.     

Study of the influence of solar variability on a regional (Indian) climate: 1901–2007

We use Indian temperature data of more than 100 years to study the influence of solar activity on climate. We study the Sun–climate relationship by averaging solar and climate data at various time scales; decadal, solar activity and solar magnetic cycles. We also consider the minimum and maximum values of sunspot number (SSN) during each solar cycle. This parameter SSN is correlated better with Indian temperature when these data are averaged over solar magnetic polarity epochs (SSN maximum to maximum). Our results indicate that the solar variability may still be contributing to ongoing climate change and suggest for more investigations.     

Experimental investigation of transient thermal behavior of an airship under different solar radiation and airflow conditions

Knowledge of the thermal behavior of airships is crucial to the development of airship technology. An experiment apparatus is constructed to investigate the thermal response characteristics of airships, and the transient temperature distributions of both hull and inner gas are obtained under the irradiation of a solar simulator and various airflow conditions. In the course of the research, the transient temperature change of the experimental airship is measured for four airflow speeds of 0 m/s (natural convection), 3.26 m/s, 5.5 m/s and 7.0 m/s, and two incident solar radiation values of 842.4 W/m² and 972.0 W/m². The results show that solar irradiation has significant influence on the airship hull and inner gas temperatures even if the airship stays in a ground airflow environment where the heat transfer is dominated by radiation and convection. The airflow around the airship is conducive to reduce the hull temperature and temperature nonuniformity. Transient thermal response of airships rapidly varies with time under solar radiation conditions and the hull temperature remains approximately constant in ∼5–10 min. Finally, a transient thermal model of airship is developed and the model is validated through comparison with the experimental data.     

Cross-hemisphere comparison of mid-latitude ionospheric variability during 1996–2009: Juliusruh vs. Hobart

Analysis of a long-time series of hourly median characteristics of the ionospheric plasma at two mid-latitude locations in the Northern and Southern hemisphere, Juliusruh (54.6N; 13.4E) and Hobart (42.9S; 147.3E), reveals patterns of their synchronous and independent variability. We studied timelines of GPS vTEC, ionogram-derived F2-layer peak electron density NmF2, ionospheric equivalent slab thickness τ, and their ratios at two locations during the complete 23rd solar cycle and its following period of the extremely low solar activity in 2008–2009. This study has also involved the comparative analysis of the observed data versus the model predictions by IRI-2012. During the high solar activity in 2000–2002, seasonal variations show a complicated cross-hemisphere behavior influenced by the winter and semi-annual anomalies, with the largest noon-time values of TEC and NmF2 observed around equinoxes. Strength of the winter anomaly in NmF2 was significantly greater at Juliusruh in comparison with Hobart. The winter anomaly in GPS vTEC values was much weaker than in NmF2 for the Northern hemisphere mid-latitudes and was entirely absent at the Southern hemisphere. Cross-hemisphere analysis of the equivalent slab thickness shows its clear seasonal dependence for all levels of solar activity: the day-time maximum τ_max is observed during local summer, whereas the day-time minimum τ_min is observed during local winter. The night-time values of τ were higher compared to the day-time values during the winter and equinox seasons. Comparative model-data study shows rather good IRI performance of the day-time NmF2 for mid-latitudes of both hemispheres and rather noticeable overestimations for the mid-night NmF2 values during high solar activity. Analysis of IRI vTEC demonstrates the model limitations, related with the absence of the plasmaspheric part, and actual demand in a reliable and standard ionosphere–plasmasphere model for analysis of GPS vTEC.     

考虑地球自转的探月返回反馈线性化跟踪制导律设计

研究考虑地球自转的探月返回跳跃式再入的纵向制导问题.通过对制导动力学进行详细分析,给出了地球自转对制导精度产生影响的原因.在此基础上,针对探月返回跳跃式再入的纵向制导问题,研究了考虑地球自转的反馈线性化跟踪制导律的设计问题.当考虑地球自转时,制导动力学十分复杂,如果直接按照非线性系统反馈线性化控制理论进行制导律设计,所需测量量较多,制导律难以实现.设计了一种简化的反馈线性化跟踪制导律,并分析了设计机理.最后进行了数学仿真,与航天飞机反馈线性化跟踪制导律进行了比较,所设计的制导律在一定不确定下制导精度更高.     

Hesperides: Solar/nuclear missions to the Sun׳s inner gravity focus

The Sun?s gravity focus at >550 AU is of interest to astrophysicists including SETI scientists, researchers seeking to image extra-solar planets and others. One method for an extra-solar probe to reach the Sun?s inner gravity focus within a human working lifetime (less than 50 years) is to combine solar and nuclear propulsion techniques. Here, we present a non-optimized probe concept including state-of-the-art solar-sail, radioisotope-electric propulsion and giant-planet gravity assists. Application of radioisotope propulsion allows some cross range capability during and after the powered and cruise phases of the flight to >600 AU. Such a capability is likely necessary to fully utilize the solar gravitational lens effect for SETI and astrophysical observations.     

动量轮微振动扰振频谱对三反同轴相机的影响

随着遥感卫星分辨率的不断提高,动量轮扰振对遥感成像的影响逐渐成为卫星总体设计时需要关注的问题。目前对动量轮微振动的研究多侧重于时域分析,经常把卫星平台和载荷分立开来单独研究。鉴于平台和相机之间具有耦合作用,分立研究会带来较大误差。动量轮的输出响应并不是一个单一频率的时域信号,不同频谱对相机的影响不同,频谱分析往往更能反映问题。文章联合卫星平台和相机进行整星建模,分析了微振动扰振从动量轮处传递到相机光学元件的频谱特征,得到动量轮扰振不同频谱对相机造成的具体影响。分析结果显示,低于相机基频的动量轮扰振频谱造成相机光轴晃动,相机特征频率区间的扰振频谱不仅会放大光轴晃动,还会造成相机内部的光学元件光轴不一致。最后文章定量计算比较了这两种影响带来的MTF下降。     

MTF曲面构造方法研究

调制传递函数（modulation transfer function, MTF）是定义在二维频率域空间的实函数,可用一个MTF空间曲面描述,是光学成像系统成像性能的一种重要的评价指标。由于成像系统的二维MTF曲面不能直接测量,需要先测量几个特定方向的一维 MTF曲线,再由曲面构造方法间接获得。对于同样的MTF曲线组,用不同方法构造出的MTF曲面各不相同,因此有必要研究MTF曲面构造方法的有效性。文章对现有构造 MTF 曲面的乘积法和插值法进行分析,提出一种新的旋转插补法,并使用（准）高斯函数和4次多项式函数作为二维MTF曲面的模拟标准,对上述3种方法的有效性和误差分布进行定量分析。实验结果显示,旋转插补法具有更好的适用性。     

A Qualitative Calculus for Three-Dimensional Rotations

We have developed a qualitative calculus for three-dimensional directions and rotations. A direction is characterized in terms of the signs of its components relative to an absolute coordinate system. A rotation is characterized in terms of the signs of the components of the associated 3 × 3 rotation matrix.

A system has been implemented that can solve the following problems: 1. Given the signs of direction and rotation matrix P, find the possible signs of the image of under P. Moreover, for each possible sign vector of · P, generate numerical instantiations of and P that yields that result.

2. Given the signs of rotation matrices P and Q, find the possible signs of the composition P · Q. Moreover, for each possible sign matrix for the composition, generate numerical instantiations of P and Q that yield that result.

We have also proved some related complexity and expressivity results. The satisfiability problem for a qualitative rotation constraint network is NP-complete in two dimensions and NP-hard in three dimensions. In three dimensions, any two directions are distinguishable by a qualitative rotation constraint network.     

应用旋转矩阵的卫星姿态输出反馈机动控制

针对卫星姿态机动控制问题,提出一种只利用向量测量信息的无角速度反馈的输出反馈控制方法。卫星姿态的指向直接通过旋转矩阵进行描述,而不是先进行参数化过程,避免了由欧拉角、修正的罗德里格参数（MRPs）与四元数等姿态描述方式产生的奇异问题与退绕问题。首先,通过向量测量信息与一组期望姿态向量,引入一个新的姿态指向误差向量,并对其性质进行分析。其次,进一步结合主导滤波器的思想,设计了无需角速度信息的卫星姿态机动控制器,并应用Lyapunov理论,对闭环系统的全局稳定性进行了严格的证明。最后,对所提出的控制算法进行了数值仿真,其结果验证了所设计的输出反馈控制算法的可行性和有效性。