Why should the latitude of the observer be considered when modeling gradual proton events? An insight using the concept of cobpoint

The shape of flux profiles of gradual solar energetic particle (SEP) events depends on several not well-understood factors, such as the strength of the associated shock, the relative position of the observer in space with respect to the traveling shock, the existence of a background seed particle population, the interplanetary conditions for particle transport, as well as the particle energy. Here, we focus on two of these factors: the influence of the shock strength and the relative position of the observer. We performed a 3D simulation of the propagation of a coronal/interplanetary CME-driven shock in the framework of ideal MHD modeling. We analyze the passage of this shock by nine spacecraft located at ∼0.4 AU (Mercury’s orbit) and at different longitudes and latitudes. We study the evolution of the plasma conditions in the shock front region magnetically connected to each spacecraft, that is the region of the shock front scanned by the “cobpoint” (Heras et al., 1995), as the shock propagates away from the Sun. Particularly, we discuss the influence of the latitude of the observer on the injection rate of shock-accelerated particles and, hence, on the resulting proton flux profiles to be detected by each spacecraft.     

Earth-Based Visible and Near-IR Imaging of Mercury

New planned orbiter missions to Mercury have prompted renewed efforts to investigate the surface of Mercury via ground-based remote sensing. While the highest resolution instrumentation optical telescopes (e.g., HST) cannot be used at angular distances close to the Sun, advanced ground-based astronomical techniques and modern analytical and software can be used to obtain the resolved images of the poorly known or unknown part of Mercury. Our observations of the planet presented here were carried out in many observatories at morning and evening elongation of the planet. Stacking the acquired images of the hemisphere of Mercury, which was not observed by the Mariner 10 mission (1974–1975), is presented. Huge features found there change radically the existing hypothesis that the “continental” character of a surface may be attributed to the whole planet. We present the observational method, the data analysis approach, the resulting images and obtained properties of the Mercury’s surface.     

基于滑模控制的末端能量管理方法

简要介绍了末端能量管理的研究情况,然后对末端能量管理段进行轨迹规划。在轨迹规划的基础上,设计基于滑模变结构控制的制导律,对轨迹进行跟踪,对能量进行管理。仿真结果表明,滑模变结构控制在末端能量管理制导中合理、有效,具有很强的鲁棒性。     

Large geomagnetic storms of extreme solar event periods in solar cycle 23

During extreme solar events such as big flares or/and energetic coronal mass ejections (CMEs) high energy particles are accelerated by the shocks formed in front of fast interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs). The ICMEs (and their sheaths) also give rise to large geomagnetic storms which have significant effects on the Earth’s environment and human life. Around 14 solar cosmic ray ground level enhancement (GLE) events in solar cycle 23 we examined the cosmic ray variation, solar wind speed, ions density, interplanetary magnetic field, and geomagnetic disturbance storm time index (D_st). We found that all but one of GLEs are always followed by a geomagnetic storm with D_st  −50 nT within 1–5 days later. Most(10/14) geomagnetic storms have D_st index  −100  nT therefore generally belong to strong geomagnetic storms. This suggests that GLE event prediction of geomagnetic storms is 93% for moderate storms and 71% for large storms when geomagnetic storms preceded by GLEs. All D_st depressions are associated with cosmic ray decreases which occur nearly simultaneously with geomagnetic storms. We also investigated the interplanetary plasma features. Most geomagnetic storm correspond significant periods of southward B_z and in close to 80% of the cases that the B_z was first northward then turning southward after storm sudden commencement (SSC). Plasma flow speed, ion number density and interplanetary plasma temperature near 1 AU also have a peak at interplanetary shock arrival. Solar cause and energetic particle signatures of large geomagnetic storms and a possible prediction scheme are discussed.     

FEA OF RUBBER WITH NOVEL STRAIN ENERGY FUNCTIONS

This paper presents the results of finite element analysis of rubber structures based on novel strain energy functions stemming from the representation theorem of tensorial function. The stress tensor is represented by Taylor expansion, using the representation theorem of tensorial function of a single tensorial argument for all terms in each order of the expansion. The scalar-valued coefficient functions of the theorem are represented by the integrity bases of the strain tensor and material constants to be determined by experiment. The computer implementation of the new constitutive laws has been verified by comparing the FE results with analytical solutions. A complicated structure of rubber bearing was analyzed. The FE results show good correlation with experimental data.     

液体火箭发动机阻尼机架减振特性研究

对具有橡胶——惯性结构的火箭发动机机架简化模型中动态载荷传播特性进行了研究。机架内动态载荷在依次通过橡胶-惯性结构粘贴位置时，携带的部分动能传递到橡胶材料内，导致机架内应力幅值显著低于能量交换前的应力。通过分析橡胶材料内外表面的速度，发现速度差引起了橡胶阻尼材料沿轴向发生剪切加载和卸载过程，并导致机架传递到橡胶材料的动态能量发生剪切变形的过程中被耗散吸收；此外，机架内动态载荷大小与机架内质点速度的变化量有关，机架内质点动能减小及运动速度降低是引起机架动态载荷幅值降低的根本原因。     

Radio Emissions from Solar Active Regions

Solar active region coronae are known for strong magnetic fields permeating tenuous plasma, which makes them an ideal astronomical laboratory for magnetohydrodynamics research. It is, however, relatively less known that this physical condition also permits a very efficient radiation mechanism, gyro-resonant emission, produced by hot electrons gyrating in the coronal magnetic field. As a resonant mechanism, gyro-emission produces high enough opacity to fully reveal the coronal temperature, and is concentrated at a few harmonics of the local gyrofrequency to serve as an excellent indicator of the magnetic field. In addition, the polarization of the ubiquitous free–free emission and a phenomenon of depolarization due to mode coupling extend the magnetic field diagnostic to a wide range of coronal heights. The ability to measure the coronal temperature and magnetic field without the complications that arise in other radiative inversion problems is a particular advantage for the active region radio emissions available only at these wavelengths. This article reviews the efforts to understand these radiative processes, and use them as diagnostic tools to address a number of critical issues involved with active regions.     

Relativistic proton production at the Sun in the 20 January 2005 solar event

Based on the concept of multiple acceleration of solar energetic particles (SEP) we analyzed the super-event of 20 January 2005 by the data of ground level, balloon and spacecraft observations. The main characteristics of relativistic solar protons (energy spectra, anisotropy directions and pitch-angle distributions) are derived and their dynamics during the event is studied. It is shown that the flux of relativistic solar protons may consist of two distinct components, the so-called prompt and delayed ones. Within a two-source model of particle generation, one of which is associated with an expanding magnetic loop, we solved the transport equation in energy phase space, including adiabatic losses simultaneously with the stochastic acceleration process, and calculate the expected spectra of the delayed component at the source. The confrontation of experimental spectra with theoretical ones shows that the delayed component may be correctly described by stochastic acceleration, but not the prompt component. The required acceleration efficiencies turned out to be rather high, so that, for this particular event, adiabatic cooling is practically negligible. Our results provide a new support to the existence of two populations of relativistic solar protons in some SEP events.     

Dynamic processes in the outer heliosphere: voyager observations and models

We review recent Voyager 2 observations in the vicinity of 70 AU. The character of the solar wind plasma data between 2002 and 2003 changed to a regime in which the speed, density and magnetic field magnitude are positively correlated. The average speed of the solar wind at Voyager 2 increased between early 2003 and mid-2004, which we attribute to a return of fast coronal hole flow. We use solar wind data at Earth as input to numerical models which include the effect of pickup ions to model the radial evolution of the solar wind. The model reproduces the basic features of the observations. As a specific example, we investigate the propagation of the Halloween (Oct.–Nov.), 2003 storms in the outer heliosphere. The model predictions are in reasonable agreement with Voyager 2 observations.     

多层太阳大气模式中Alfven波的传播

将实际的太阳大气划分为多个等温层次，导出了均匀倾斜磁场下线性Alfven波通过任意多等温层的能量透射率，结果表明，两等温层模式与三等温层模式的结果存在本质的区别。在两等温层中，温度的跃变式增高对Alfven波起着高通滤波的作用，而三等温层中在高频端Alfven波的透射率显示为振荡形态，对实际大气温度模式的计算结果表明，太阳低层大气更适合于周期为数秒的Alfven波的能量传输。