Space storm measurements of the July 2005 solar extreme events from the low corona to the Earth

The Athens Neutron Monitor Data Processing (ANMODAP) Center recorded an unusual Forbush decrease with a sharp enhancement of cosmic ray intensity right after the main phase of the Forbush decrease on 16 July 2005, followed by a second decrease within less than 12 h. This exceptional event is neither a ground level enhancement nor a geomagnetic effect in cosmic rays. It rather appears as the effect of a special structure of interplanetary disturbances originating from a group of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) in the 13–14 July 2005 period. The initiation of the CMEs was accompanied by type IV radio bursts and intense solar flares (SFs) on the west solar limb (AR 786); this group of energetic phenomena appears under the label of Solar Extreme Events of July 2005. We study the characteristics of these events using combined data from Earth (the ARTEMIS IV radioheliograph, the Athens Neutron Monitor (ANMODAP)), space (WIND/WAVES) and data archives. We propose an interpretation of the unusual Forbush profile in terms of a magnetic structure and a succession of interplanetary shocks interacting with the magnetosphere.     

A calibration neutron monitor: Statistical accuracy and environmental sensitivity

This paper is a follow-on of that of Krüger et al. [Krüger, H., Moraal, H., Bieber, J.W., Clem, J.M., Evenson, P.A., Pyle, K.R., Duldig, M.L., Humble, J.E. A calibration neutron monitor: energy response and instrumental temperature sensitivity. J. Geophys. Res. 113, A08101, doi:10.1029/2008JA013229, 2008], that describes the characteristics of a pair of calibration neutron monitors that were developed to intercalibrate the count rates of the world’s neutron monitors against each other. Such an intercalibration will allow the calculation of energy (rigidity) spectra, which will enhance the quality of the neutron monitor data. Krüger et al. (2008) investigated the energy and temperature response of the calibrators. This paper studies the statistical accuracy of the calibration procedure, its repeatability, and the sensitivity to its environment. The paper concludes with a calibration procedure that can minimise the uncertainties caused by these five effects, or at least correct for them.     

Multimodal characteristics of a piezoelectric lead zirconate titanate element impacted with iron particles having velocities above 20 km/s

The responses of a piezoelectric lead zirconate titanate (PZT) element to hypervelocity collisions were experimentally studied. In this study, the particles of masses ranging from 0.3 to 10 fg were made to collide with PZT at velocities between 20 and 96 km/s. The amplitude and the corresponding rise time of the single-pulse output signals that were produced in the piezoelectric PZT element were measured to determine the possible collision states. The results revealed an apparently multimodal output; three classes were assumed to be involved in the pulse formation mechanism. The amplitude and rise time were sensitive to the collision velocity. The multimodal behavior implied that the PZT-based cosmic dust detectors should be calibrated according to the class they belong to.     

计算模拟月壤颗粒吸收及散射特性的一种球叠加模型

针对模拟月壤复杂的外形特征以及多相非均质的微观结构,提出了一种计算模拟月壤颗粒吸收及散射特性的球叠加模型。根据模拟月壤颗粒的形状指数和分形特征识别结果,归纳了4种主要的模拟月壤颗粒类型,并采用蒙特卡罗光线跟踪法研究了这4种颗粒在单色平行光照射下的吸收及散射特性。与已有的非球形颗粒辐射特性的算法比较显示,该模型具有良好的计算准确性。在数值计算的基础上,分析了颗粒尺度参数及光学常数对其自身辐射特性的影响,并通过改变平行光照下的光线入射角度,分析了非球形颗粒的朝向对其自身辐射特性的影响。由计算结果推断,该模型不仅可以应用于计算模拟月壤颗粒的辐射特性,还可以满足其他适用于几何光学近似的非球形粒子。     

“嫦娥三号”探测器月尘环境分析及试验要求

"嫦娥三号"是我国首个成功实施地外天体表面就位探测的航天器,在其研制过程中充分考虑了月面环境对探测器的影响,开展了针对性设计及地面验证工作。文章综述了探测器针对月尘环境方面的设计因素,总结了月面月尘激扬的因素及其相关数值分析工作,对月尘验证试验的设计及条件制定进行了说明。相关结果或工作思路可为后续月面探测器及火星表面探测器的研制提供参考。     

月尘对热控系统的退化影响

月尘对热控系统的退化影响直接威胁到探测器在月面的生存,是探测器热控系统设计时所必须考虑的技术重点和难点之一。随着我国探月工程的深入,急需开展月尘对热控系统影响程度的研究,文章在调研的基础上,阐述了目前国内外在月尘的特性、危害性和防护方面的研究现状,并探讨了针对月面探测器设计上的一些可行的防尘措施。     

开发月球车用的月表环境的地面模拟方法研究

当前中国正在进行自己的探月工程,预计将会发射月球车登陆月球表面.在研制月球探测器过程中,为了在地面验证月球车的可靠性和各项功能(如着陆冲击、自主巡航和遥控),必须建立相应的地面试验中心.根据目前对月球表面环境的认识和现有的仿真技术,文章提出了实现月表综合环境模拟的试验设施的设想.由于月球表面环境非常恶劣并且月表的地形也非常复杂,文章提出了一种组合式月表环境模拟器的设想.主要部分是模拟各种月貌特征(如陨石坑、斜坡、沟壑等)的可移动单元.每个单元是一个用模拟月壤制作的小沙盘,其化学成分、组成颗粒分布和力学性能和已经获取的真实月壤样品相似.根据不同的试验要求,选择相应的单元按照一定的规律组合成为试验场.这样在有限的场地面积内可以按需实现对月表不同地域的地貌特征模拟.同时,可以选择少量单元的组合构成更小规模的试验场,以方便与其它环境模拟器(如落塔,热/真空容器等)联合,实现模拟月表的综合环境.     

Time-dependent cosmic ray modulation

Time-dependent cosmic ray modulation is calculated over multiple solar cycles using our well established two-dimensional time-dependent modulation model. Results are compared to Voyager 1, Ulysses and IMP cosmic ray observations to establish compatibility. A time-dependence in the diffusion and drift coefficients, implicitly contained in recent expressions derived by , ,  and , is incorporated into the cosmic ray modulation model. This results in calculations which are compatible with spacecraft observations on a global scale over consecutive solar cycles. This approach compares well to the successful compound approach of Ferreira and Potgieter (2004). For both these approaches the magnetic field magnitude, variance of the field and current sheet tilt angle values observed at Earth are transported time-dependently into the outer heliosphere. However, when results are compared to observations for extreme solar maximum, the computed step-like modulation is not as pronounced as observed. This indicates that some additional merging of these structures into more pronounced modulation barriers along the way is needed.     

Median filtering algorithms for multichannel detectors

Particle detectors of worldwide networks are continuously measuring various secondary particle fluxes incident on Earth surface. At the Aragats Space Environmental Center (ASEC), the data of 12 cosmic ray particle detectors with a total of ∼280 measuring channels (count rates of electrons, muons and neutrons channels) are sent each minute via wireless bridges to a MySQL database. These time series are used for the different tasks of off-line physical analysis and for online forewarning services. Usually long time series contain several types of errors (gaps due to failures of high or low voltage power supply, spurious spikes due to radio interferences, abrupt changes of mean values of several channels or/and slowly trends in mean values due to aging of electronics components, etc.). To avoid erroneous physical inference and false alarms of alerting systems we introduce offline and online filters to “purify” multiple time-series. In the presented paper we classify possible mistakes in time series and introduce median filtering algorithms for online and off-line “purification” of multiple time-series.     

Fast Probabilistic Particle Identification algorithm using silicon strip detectors

Active detectors used as radiation monitors in space are not usually able to perform Particle Identification (PID). Common techniques need energy loss spectra with high statistics to estimate ion abundances. The ALTEA-space detector system is a set of silicon strip particle telescopes monitoring the radiation environment on board the International Space Station since July 2006 with real-time telemetry capabilities. Its large geometrical factor due to the concurrent use of six detectors permits the acquisition of good energy loss spectra even in a short period of observation. In this paper we present a novel Fast Probabilistic Particle Identification (FPPI) algorithm developed for the ALTEA data analysis in order to perform nuclear identification with low statistics and, with some limitations, also in real time.