Design and Coupled Thermo-Mechanical Analysis of Silicon Carbide Primary Mirror Assembly

Based on the principle that the thermal expansion coefficient of the support structure should match that of the mirror, three schemes of primary mirror assembly were designed. Of them, the first is fused silica mirror plus 4J32 flexible support plus ZTC4 sup-port back plate, the second K9 mirror plus 4J45 flexible support plus ZTC4 support back plate, and the third SiC mirror plus SiC rigid support back plate. A coupled thermo-mechanical analysis of the three primary mirror assemblies was made with finite element method. The results show that the SiC assembly is the best of all schemes in terms of their combination properties due to its elimination of the thermal expansion mismatch between the materials. The analytical results on the cryogenic property of the SiC primary mirror assembly show a higher surface finish of the SiC mirror even under the cryogenic condition.     

Operational modal analysis via image based technique of very flexible space structures

Vibrations represent one of the most important topics of the engineering design relevant to flexible structures. The importance of this problem increases when a very flexible system is considered, and this is often the case of space structures. In order to identify the modal characteristics, in terms of natural frequencies and relevant modal parameters, ground tests are performed. However, these parameters could vary due to the operative conditions of the system. In order to continuously monitor the modal characteristics during the satellite lifetime, an operational modal analysis is mandatory. This kind of analysis is usually performed by using classical accelerometers or strain gauges and by properly analyzing the acquired output. In this paper a different approach for the vibrations data acquisition will be performed via image-based technique. In order to simulate a flexible satellite, a free flying platform is used; the problem is furthermore complicated by the fact that the overall system, constituted by a highly rigid bus and very flexible panels, must necessarily be modeled as a multibody system. In the experimental campaign, the camera, placed on the bus, will be used to identify the eigenfrequencies of the vibrating structure; in this case aluminum thin plates simulate very flexible solar panels. The structure is excited by a hammer or studied during a fast attitude maneuver. The results of the experimental activity will be investigated and compared with respect to the numerical simulation obtained via a FEM-multibody software and the relevant results will be proposed and discussed.     

Dynamics of the dayside Aurora Australis

Current dayside optical studies of Aurora Australis from the Amundsen-Scott Research Station at the South Pole (74 degrees magnetic latitude) show some striking differences from optical results reported from Svalbard. A 6-channel meridian scanning photometer operating during the past three austral winters shows, in particular, the 630 nm emission is much lower, on average, than the Arctic dayside aurora and very weak on some days. The 558 nm intensity is higher relative to 630 nm suggesting the incoming electrons have a higher average energy. There are notable differences in auroral forms, giving further evidence of asymmetries in the two dayside ovals.     

Properties of the high area-to-mass ratio space debris population at high altitudes

In the framework of its space debris research activities ESA established an optical survey program to study the space debris environment at high altitudes, in particular in the geostationary ring and in the geostationary transfer orbit region. The Astronomical Institute of the University of Bern (AIUB) performs these surveys on behalf of ESA using ESA’s 1-m telescope in Tenerife. Regular observations were started in 1999 and are continued during about 120–140 nights per year. Results from these surveys revealed a substantial amount of space debris at high altitudes in the size range from 0.1 to 1 m. Several space debris populations with different dynamical properties were identified in the geostationary ring. During the searches for debris in the geostationary transfer orbit region a new population of objects in unexpected orbits, where no potential progenitors exist, was found. The orbital periods of these objects are clustered around one revolution per day; the eccentricities, however, are scattered between 0 and 0.6. By following-up some of these objects using the ESA telescope and AIUB’s 1-m telescope in Zimmerwald, Switzerland, it was possible to study the properties of this new population. One spectacular finding from monitoring the orbits over time spans of days to months is the fact that these objects must have extreme area-to-mass ratios, which are by several orders of magnitudes higher than for ‘normal-type’ debris. This in turn supports the hypothesis that the new population actually is debris generated in or near the geostationary ring and which is in orbits with periodically varying eccentricity and inclination due to perturbations by solar radiation pressure. In order to further study the nature of these debris, multi-color and temporal photometry (light curves) were acquired with the Zimmerwald telescope. The light curves show strong variations over short time intervals, including signals typical for specular reflections. Some objects exhibit distinct periodic variations with periods ranging from 10 to several 100 s. All this is indicative for objects with complicated shapes and some highly reflective surfaces.     

一种高陡度光学镜面高精度机械式测量方法

本文建立了高陡度光学镜面的多段拼接测量方法,将高陡度光学镜面轮廓的测量分割为具有一定重叠区域的数段较短面形轮廓的测量.通过测量系统与被测工件之间的相对旋转与平移运动调整被测工件的姿态实现分段轮廓的测量.之后通过拼接算法将各段面形轮廓拼接起来,重构出被测工件的面形误差.在建立了测量数学模型的基础上,介绍了设计的测量实验系统.并进行了相关实验.仿真与测量实验表明:上述方法能够高精度的重构出被测轮廓.     

Patterns of variability in γ-ray blazars

Preliminary results of a systematic study on the simultaneous optical-to-X-rays variability in blazars are presented. Data from Swift observations of four bright γ-ray blazars (3C 279, ON +231, S5 0716+71, PKS 2155−304) have been analyzed, compared, and discussed. Specifically, 3C 279 shows a variable flattening in the low energy part of the X-ray spectrum that appears to be confined in a specific X-ray vs optical/UV fluxes region. Some implications are shortly analyzed.     

航天多光谱扫描仪物方摆镜尺寸的确定

本文讨论多光谱扫描仪中扫描摆镜尺寸的计算方法,给出摆镜参数和望远镜参擞之间的尺寸关系。     

用光纤半圆阵列测量准二维工件表面粗糙度参数的仿真研究

提出了一种反散射计算的简单、快速方法,用于用光纤半圆阵列的光散射技术测量准二维工件表面的粗糙度参数。这些参数包括高度特性参数 R_a、间距特性参数λ_a 和混合参数△_a。我们的研究证明了上述测量方法的正确性。因而,这种测量方法可用于测量工件表面粗糙度参数仪器的设计。     

质子和电子对光学反射镜辐射效应的研究

研究了能量为E=160keV质子和电子单独及综合辐照作用对两种空间反射镜光学表面的影响。观察到在辐照剂量达到Φ=10×105/cm2后反射镜表面形咸了明显的结构缺陷,并导致某些谱段反射率的降低和成像质量的下降。辐照诱发缺陷的类型及分布特征除与粒子种类和反射镜结构有关外,还依赖于试样的接地方式。质子幅照主要引起反射镜表面膜层的起泡现象;电子辐照则使SiO2保护膜着色;综合辐照的影响复杂,尤其是在接近于空间使用条件的第二种接地方式下,起泡现象和静电效应成为镜面损伤的主要机制。     

空间相机用碳化硅(SiC)反射镜的研究

根据空间光学遥感器发展的要求 ,提出碳化硅 (SiC)反射镜的研究 ,论述空间相机采用SiC反射镜的原因 ,介绍国外SiC反射镜发展概述 ,提出发展SiC反射镜的研究目标和应用方向。