The Earth’s Magnetopause: Reconstruction of Motion and Structure

The Earth’s magnetosphere is an accessible region for improving our knowledge of the dynamics of collisionless plasmas. We focus here on the magnetopause a typical plasma discontinuity. We discuss recent developments in describing the structure of the magnetopause by means of reconstruction techniques, which translate in situ data into spatial information. We review short- and long-duration reconstruction methods and discuss the ideas behind them. The emphasis is on long-duration reconstruction methods in a multi-spacecraft context.     

A multi-wavelength study of the merger candidate Abell S0721 and the activities of its member galaxies

We present a multi-wavelength study of the merging history and its influence on galaxy activities of a newly detected merger candidate – Abell S0721. This cluster was only known as a poor cluster in the Shapley Supercluster, but when several survey data of different wavelengths are combined, evidence of strong merging is revealed. We have analyzed the optical and X-ray structures of the cluster, as well as galaxy dynamics and properties of the radio galaxies in the cluster. The dynamics analysis shows the velocity distribution of this system is significantly deviated from a 1-Gaussian model, indicating the existence of 2–3 dynamically different sub-systems; in addition, both optical and X-ray structures of the cluster show an elongated and multi-clump structure, two X-ray clumps imaged by ROSAT All Sky Survey are well correlated with two galaxy density peaks. This cluster is possibly a merger of several groups; our analysis shows that the projection angle for two clumps in the main structure is possibly near the projection plane, and the substructure is seen at ∼30–75° from the projection plane. The merging process could also be the origin to boost the activities of its member galaxies. Finally, as compared with other merger candidates in the Shapley Supercluster, the radio galaxies identified in Abell S0721 are all optically luminous, and the fraction of luminous radio galaxies is only lower than one merger candidate (which is proposed to be at the very beginning of a merger event), this suggests Abell S0721 is also at the beginning of a merger event.     

The plasma sheet and boundary layers under northward IMF: A multi-point and multi-instrument perspective

During conditions of northward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), the near-tail plasma sheet is known to become denser and cooler, and is described as the cold-dense plasma sheet (CDPS). While its source is likely the solar wind, the prominent penetration mechanisms are less clear. The two main candidates are solar wind direct capture via double high-latitude reconnection on the dayside and Kelvin–Helmholtz/diffusive processes at the flank magnetopause. This paper presents a case study on the formation of the CDPS utilizing a wide variety of space- and ground-based observations, but primarily from the Double Star and Polar spacecraft on December 5th, 2004. The pertinent observations can be summarized as follows: TC-1 observes quasi-periodic (∼2 min period) cold-dense boundary layer (compared to a hot-tenuous plasma sheet) signatures interspersed with magnetosheath plasma at the dusk flank magnetopause near the dawn-dusk terminator. Analysis of this region suggests the boundary to be Kelvin–Helmholtz unstable and that plasma transport is ongoing across the boundary. At the same time, IMAGE spacecraft and ground based SuperDARN measurements provide evidence of high-latitude reconnection in both hemispheres. The Polar spacecraft, located in the southern hemisphere afternoon sector, sunward of TC-1, observes a persistent boundary layer with no obvious signature of boundary waves. The plasma is of a similar appearance to that observed by TC-1 inside the boundary layer further down the dusk flank, and by TC-2 in the near-Earth magnetotail. We present comparisons of electron phase space distributions between the spacecraft. Although the dayside boundary layer at Polar is most likely formed via double high-altitude reconnection, and is somewhat comparable to the flank boundary layer at Double Star, some differences argue in favour of additional transport that augment solar wind plasma entry into the tail regions.     

Study of waves in the magnetotail region with cluster and DSP

The study of the neutral sheet is of fundamental importance in understanding the dynamics of the Earth’s magnetosphere. From the earliest observation of the magnetotail, it has been found that the neutral sheet frequently appears to be in motion due to changing solar wind conditions and geomagnetic activity. Multiple crossings of the neutral sheet by spacecraft have been attributed to a flapping motion of the neutral sheet in the north–south direction, a wavy profile either along the magnetotail or the dawn–dusk direction. Cluster observations have revealed that the flapping motions of the Earth’s magnetotail are of internal origin and that kink-like waves are emitted from the central part of the tail and propagate toward the tail flanks. This flapping motion is shown here to propagate at an angle of ∼45° with x_GSM. A possible assumption that the flapping could be created by a wake travelling away from a fast flow in the current sheet is rejected. Other waves in the magnetotail are found in the ULF range. One conjunction event between Cluster and DoubleStar TC1 is presented where all spacecraft show ULF wave activity at a period of approximately 5 min during fast Earthward flow. These waves are shown to be Kelvin–Helmholtz waves on the boundaries of the flow channel. Calculations show that the conversion of flow energy into magnetic energy through the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability can contribute to a significant part of flow breaking between Cluster and DoubleStar TC1.     

Simultaneous observations of the plasma density on the same field line by the CPMN ground magnetometers and the Cluster satellites

By applying the cross-phase method and the amplitude-ratio method to magnetic field data obtained from two ground stations located close to each other, we can determine the frequency of the field line resonance (FLR), or the field line eigenfrequency, for the field line running through the midpoint of the two stations. From thus identified FLR frequency we can estimate the equatorial plasma mass density (ρ)$(\rho )$ by using the T05s magnetospheric field model [Tsyganenko, N.A., Sitnov, M.I. Modeling the dynamics of the inner magnetosphere during strong geomagnetic storms, J. Geophys. Res. 110, A03208, 2005] and the equation of Singer et al. [Singer, H.J., Southwood, D.J., Walker, R.J., Kivelson, M.G. Alfven wave resonances in a realistic magnetospheric magnetic field geometry, J. Geophys. Res. 86 (A6) 4589–4596, 1981].     

任务表集群计算平台的实时性研究

实时计算系统的关键特征包含计算时限保证和可信度两个方面。本文从进程配置、负载分配、消息传递等方面介绍任务表算法集群平台的计算时间保证措施;从瞬间故障表现和长期运行表现介绍平台在实时应用中的可信度措施。     

Magnetospheric Physics in China: 2012–2014

In the past two years, many progresses have been made in magnetospheric physics by using the data of Double Star Program, Cluster, THEMIS and RBSP missions, or by computer simulations. This paper briefly reviews these works based on papers selected from the 126 publications from March 2012 to March 2014. The subjects cover various sub-branches of magnetospheric physics,including geomagnetic storm, magnetospheric substorm and magnetic reconnection.     

带簇式推力室的固液火箭发动机装药设计

讨论了带簇式推力室的固液火箭发动机多孔装药的设计方法,并针对某ＨＴＰＢ／ＬＯＸ（或ＧＯＸ）发动机给出了不同推力室数和不同孔数情形下某些参数随时间的变化,以及中一些参数的总体值或平均值,表明簇式推力室方案是可行的,研制适用于固液燃料配方也是必要的。     

移动自组网MAC协议组网和业务调度算法研究

为满足无中心的移动自组网对多变网络拓扑、实时通信和网络规模可扩展的需求,提出一种网络建立时间短、时延短和信道利用率高的MAC协议策略。通过网络分簇组网算法建立健壮高效的组网模型,利用时隙动态复用算法实现基于竞争的TDMA接入协议,从而提高信道利用率和网络吞吐量。在NS2中对单簇20个节点作性能仿真,分析多种队形的网络拓扑以及端到端时延,并对固定TDMA和基于竞争的TDMA接入方式做了对比实验。仿真结果显示,各种拓扑结构的网络建立时间都很短,基于竞争的TDMA接入方式相比固定TDMA可获得更高的网络吞吐量和更短的端到端时延。     

集群空间控制框架下的四旋翼编队飞行研究

针对四旋翼编队控制问题,采用水平通道与高度通道解耦的四旋翼动力学模型,基于集群空间控制方法设计了编队控制器.首先介绍了集群空间控制方法的两个重要概念,即集群空间变量和集群运动学关系,进而以3架四旋翼为例,详细地给出了集群空间编队控制器的设计思路.在选取集群变量并建立编队与单机的运动学关系后,设计了不完全微分PD控制器以...