The Rossi X-ray timing explorer: Capabilities, achievements and aims

The prime scientific objectives of the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) were the study of astrophysical compact objects: black holes (galactic and extragalactic), many types of neutron stars, and accreting white dwarfs. RXTE was successful in achieving its original observing objectives of large area and high time resolution observations with broadband (2–200 keV) spectra, scheduled flexibly enough to enable observations of targets of opportunity on any timescale greater than a few hours. These capabilities enabled qualitatively new discoveries about dynamical timescale phenomena related to neutron stars and black holes, phenomena which probe basic physics in the most extreme environments of gravity, density, and magnetic fields. RXTE has extended its lifetime by applying the proportional counter area selectively and maintains schedule flexibility by making use of the distribution of targets around the sky. Proposed future observations emphasize opportunity to discover and study additional millisecond pulsars, pursue the high frequency quasi-periodic oscillations in black hole transients, and connect high frequency phenomena with longer-term characteristics. RXTE will continue to strongly support, for both galactic and extragalactic targets, combining RXTE observations with other wavelengths (from IR to TeV) or with other capabilities, such as high spectral resolution.     

新型双脚步推式微型进给机构的研究

相对于传统“尺蠖式”进给原理，模仿人走路的方式，提出“双脚步推式”进给原理。利用压电元件为驱动源，研制出在大范围内，具有很高分辨力，同时能够连续平稳进给的微型进给机构。该机构的优点概括为：１）不论压电元件的电致伸缩量是多么的有限，利用“双脚步推式”进给原理，可以实现连续平稳的大范围进给；２）在开环控制状态下，该机构能够得到高于０．１μｍ的位移分辨力；３）系统结构简单，控制容易，性能稳定。     

Impact effects from small size meteoroids and space debris

When the impact risk from meteoroids and orbital debris is assessed the main concern is usually structural damage. With their high impact velocities of typically 10–20 km/s millimeter or centimeter sized objects can puncture pressure vessels and other walls or lead to destruction of complete subsystems or even whole spacecraft. Fortunately chances of collisions with such larger objects are small (at least at present). However, particles in the size range 1–100 μm are far more abundant than larger objects and every orbiting spacecraft will encounter them with certainty. Every solar cell (8 cm² area) of the Hubble Space Telescope encountered on average 12 impacts during its 8.25 years of space exposure. Most were from micron sized particles.     

带有加强肋的涡轮机匣排孔冲击连腔结构内部换热特性研究

为获得涡轮机匣内部表面换热系数分布数据,以带有加强肋的排孔冲击连腔结构为对象进行了瞬态液晶实验。研究了不同射流雷诺数（Re=5.1×10³~1.1×10⁴）、冲击间距比（2.5,5.0,7.5）及轴向间距比（4.0,9.0,14.0）对靶面努塞尔数的影响规律。实验结果表明：增大射流雷诺数对靶面平均努塞尔数的提升最显著。随着冲击间距比的增大,靶面平均努塞尔数逐渐减小,但这种换热削弱效果局限在距冲击驻点2D~3D（D为冲击孔直径）范围内,其它区域的变化很小。在靠近前后端壁的局部区域,表面努塞尔数随冲击间距比的增大而增大。轴向间距比的改变不会影响无出流孔靶面的换热情况,对于有出流孔靶面而言,轴向间距比为9.0的结构换热效果最好。Re=5.1×10³条件下,轴向间距比为9.0结构在有出流孔靶面上的平均努塞尔数相比4.0和14.0结构分别增大了5.7%和8.1%,并且随雷诺数增大,增幅越大。     

‘Spectro-temporal’ characteristics and disk-jet connection of the outbursting black hole source XTE J1859+226

We re-investigated the ‘spectro-temporal’ behavior of the source XTE J1859+226 in X-rays during its outburst phase in 1999, by analysing the RXTE PCA/HEXTE data in 2–150 keV spectral band. Detailed analysis shows that the source evolves through different spectral states during its entire outburst as indicated by the variation in the spectral and temporal characteristics. Although the evolution pattern of the outburst followed the typical q-shaped profile, we observed an absence of ‘canonical’ soft state and a weak presence of ‘secondary’ emission during the decay phase of the outburst. The broad-band spectra, modeled with high energy cutoff, shows that the fold-energy increases monotonically in the hard and hard-intermediate states followed by a random variation in the soft-intermediate state. We attempted to estimate the mass of the source based on the evolution of Quasi-Periodic Oscillation (QPO) frequencies during rising phase modeled with the propagating oscillatory shock solution, and from the correlation of photon index and QPO frequency. It is also observed that during multiple ejections (observed as radio flares) the QPO frequencies are not present in the power spectra and there is an absence of lag in the soft to hard photons. The disk flux increases along with a decrease in the high energy flux, implying the soft nature of the spectrum. These results are the ‘possible’ indication that the inner part of the disk (i.e., Comptonized corona), which could be responsible for the generation of QPO and for the non-thermal Comptonized component of the spectrum, is disrupted and the matter gets evacuated in the form of jet. We attempted to explain the complex behavior of ‘spectro-temporal’ properties of the source during the entire outburst and the nature of the disk-jet connection before, during and after the ejection events in the context of two different types of accreting flow material, in presence of magnetic field.     

Jitter reduction of a reaction wheel by management of angular momentum using magnetic torquers in nano- and micro-satellites

Nowadays, nano- and micro-satellites, which are smaller than conventional large satellites, provide access to space to many satellite developers, and they are attracting interest as an application of space development because development is possible over shorter time period at a lower cost. In most of these nano- and micro-satellite missions, the satellites generally must meet strict attitude requirements for obtaining scientific data under strict constraints of power consumption, space, and weight. In many satellite missions, the jitter of a reaction wheel degrades the performance of the mission detectors and attitude sensors; therefore, jitter should be controlled or isolated to reduce its effect on sensor devices. In conventional standard-sized satellites, tip-tilt mirrors (TTMs) and isolators are used for controlling or isolating the vibrations from reaction wheels; however, it is difficult to use these devices for nano- and micro-satellite missions under the strict power, space, and mass constraints. In this research, the jitter of reaction wheels is reduced by using accurate sensors, small reaction wheels, and slow rotation frequency reaction wheel instead of TTMs and isolators. The objective of a reaction wheel in many satellite missions is the management of the satellite’s angular momentum, which increases because of attitude disturbances. If the magnitude of the disturbance is reduced in orbit or on the ground, the magnitude of the angular momentum that the reaction wheels gain from attitude disturbances in orbit becomes smaller; therefore, satellites can stabilize their attitude using only smaller reaction wheels or slow rotation speed, which cause relatively smaller vibration. In nano- and micro-satellite missions, the dominant attitude disturbance is a magnetic torque, which can be cancelled by using magnetic actuators. With the magnetic compensation, the satellite reduces the angular momentum that the reaction wheels gain, and therefore, satellites do not require large reaction wheels and higher rotation speed, which cause jitter. As a result, the satellite can reduce the effect of jitter without using conventional isolators and TTMs. Hence, the satellites can achieve precise attitude control under low power, space, and mass constraints using this proposed method. Through the example of an astronomical observation mission using nano- and micro-satellites, it is demonstrated that the jitter reduction using small reaction wheels is feasible in nano- and micro-satellites.     

Polarization effects in radiation from compact X-ray sources

The theory of polarization effects in radiation from compact X-ray sources is presented. The following four problems are considered: 1) the polarization of X-rays from the magnetized neutron stars; 2) the polarization of X-rays from the accretion disk around a black hole; 3) the optical polarization from X-ray binaries, and 4) the results of X-ray polarimetric observations.     

陶瓷材料小裂纹的生长与聚合

对陶瓷材料小裂纹的生长与聚合规律进行了试验研究。结果表明由Ｖｉｋｅｒｓ压痕法引入的单个小裂纹的裂纹扩展速率（ｄａ／ｄｔ）随裂尖应力强度因子的增大呈先降后升的Ｖ形特征。理论分析和数据处理均表明这种特征是由压痕法引入的残余应力场的影响所致。试验结果还表明多个小裂纹的生长与聚合规律也与残余应力场密切相关。文中提出的叠加残余应力场模型很好地解释了上述试验结果     

SMESE (SMall Explorer for Solar Eruptions): A microsatellite mission with combined solar payload

The SMESE (SMall Explorer for Solar Eruptions) mission is a microsatellite proposed by France and China. The payload of SMESE consists of three packages: LYOT (a Lyman α imager and a Lyman α coronagraph), DESIR (an Infra-red Telescope working at 35–80 and 100–250 μm), and HEBS (a High Energy Burst Spectrometer working in X- and gamma-rays).     

利用普通钻床或铣床加工高精度坐标孔

本文提供了一种用普通钻床加工高精度坐标孔的方法。提出了联合使用量块和一套导向镗孔装置的解决方案。