Interplanetary shocks and geomagnetic activity during solar maximum (2000) and solar minimum (1995–1996)

Plasma and magnetic field parameter variations through fast forward interplanetary shocks were correlated with the peak geomagnetic activity index Dst in a period from 0 to 3 days after the shock, during solar maximum (2000) and solar minimum (1995–1996). Solar wind speed (V) and total magnetic field (B_t) were the parameters with higher correlations with peak Dst index. The correlation coefficients were higher during solar minimum (r² = 56% for V and 39% for B_t) than during solar maximum (r² = 15% for V and 12% for B_t). A statistical distribution of geomagnetic activity levels following interplanetary shocks was obtained. It was observed that during solar maximum, 36% and 28% of interplanetary shocks were followed by intense (Dst  −100 nT) and moderate (−50  Dst < −100 nT) geomagnetic activity, whereas during solar minimum 13% and 33% of the shocks were followed by intense and moderate geomagnetic activity. It can be concluded that the upstream/downstream variations of V and B_t through the shocks were the parameters better correlated with geomagnetic activity level, and during solar maximum a higher relative number of interplanetary shocks can be followed by intense geomagnetic activity than during solar minimum. One can extrapolate, for forecasting goals, that during a whole solar cycle a shock has a probability of around 50% to be followed by intense/moderate geomagnetic activity.     

无振荡、无自由参数格式在数值模拟盔型磁场中太阳风流动的应用

提出了一种离散二维三分量理想磁流体力学守恒型方程组（MHD）的算法（NNDMHD），它有效地控制了磁场散度不为零误差对动量方程组的影响，把气体动力学中计算跨音速流动问题的有效算法——无振荡、无自由参数（NND）格式推广应用到MHD方程组中。利用该算法首先对常见一维和二维算例进行数值试验，得到比较好的结果，消除了间断处的非物理振荡。然后对太阳风在子午面轴对称盔形磁场位形中流动进行数值试验，在这个算例中，物理量沿径向变化大，NNDMHD格式仍然能够有效地控制磁场散度离散不为零误差导致的非物理流动。这个算例的计算结果表明：在网格划分比通常情况和稀4倍时，该算法仍保持很好的计算稳定性。     

Dynamic modeling and beating phenomenon analysis of space robots with continuum manipulators

Space robotics has been used extensively in complex space missions. Rigid-manipulator space robots may suffer from rigid-body collisions with targets. This collision is likely to cause damage to the space robot and the target. To overcome such a problem, a novel Continuum-Manipulator Space Robot (CMSR) for performing on-orbit servicing missions is proposed in this paper. Compared with rigid-manipulator space robots, CMSRs are able to perform compliant operations and avoid rigid-body collisions with a target. The CMSR consists of two kinds of flexible components, including solar arrays and continuum manipulators. The elastic vibrations of these flexible components disturb the position and attitude of CMSRs. The beating phenomenon introduced by the energy transfer among these flexible components can cause damage to solar arrays. The complicated dynamic coupling poses enormous challenges in dynamic modeling and vibration analysis. The dynamic model for CMSRs is derived and the mechanism of the beating phenomenon is analyzed in this paper. Simulation results show that an obvious beating phenomenon occurs and the amplitude of the solar arrays increases significantly when the natural frequencies of two kinds of flexible components are close. A method is provided to avoid the beating phenomenon.     

Integrated design of solar thermal propulsion system for microsatellite with liquid ammonia as propellant

This paper presents a design of solar thermal propulsion (STP) system for microsatellite with liquid ammonia as propellant. The system was equipped with two concentrators, which were respectively placed in the tank and thrust chamber for propellant supply and heating. A platelet heat exchanger was adopted to heat the propellant in the chamber, and the fluid–solid coupling effect between the wall and the gas was considered. Meanwhile, the effects of satellite mass, initial orbit, nozzle size and target temperature on the performance of STP system were analyzed. The results show that for microsatellites with a total mass of 100 kg, the STP system can fully heat the propellant to more than 2050 K, generate an intermittent thrust of about 26 N, and enable the satellite to obtain a velocity increment of more than 1470 m/s within 19 days, consuming only 42 kg of propellant, which can directly meet the transfer mission from the geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) to the geostationary orbit (GEO). The maximum velocity increment could reach more than 1950 m/s when the propellant was completely consumed; Changing the mass and initial orbit of the satellite will not affect the thrust and specific impulse. Satellites with smaller mass will spend less time and propellant during orbit transfer. The lower is the perigee height of the initial orbit, the greater is the propellant consumption, while the shorter is the time of orbit transfer; The reduction of nozzle throat size and target temperature will lead to the increase of specific impulse and the decrease of orbital transfer time, but the reduction of thrust.     

临近空间超长航时太阳能无人机发展及关键技术

临近空间超长航时太阳能无人机是目前国际上研究的前沿方向,简述了目前国外临近空间太阳能无人机发展概况,梳理并分析了发展临近空间太阳能无人机亟待解决的关键技术,并对临近空间太阳能无人机的发展趋势进行了展望.     

民用飞机迎角传感器及静压探测器布局验证方法

主要针对民用飞机迎角传感器及总静压探测器布局方案的设计及验证方法进行阐述。通过CFD仿真计算确定了适合的安装区域,并通过风洞试验对设计方案进行了验证。从迎角传感器的纵向特性及侧滑角的敏感性、静压测量的纵/ 横向变化规律分别对其进行了比较分析,获得了可靠的结果。     

Solar-tracking methodology based on refraction-polarization in Snell's window for underwater navigation

Underwater navigation system is an indispensable part for autonomous underwater vehicles. Due to the indiscernibility of satellite signal, however, the underwater navigation problem is quite challenging, and a satellite-free navigation scheme should be looked for. Polarization navigation, inspired by insects’ capability of autonomous homing and foraging, is an alternative solution to satellite navigation with great application potential. Underwater polarization provides an indirect sun compass t...     

Corotating Interaction Regions at High Latitudes

Ulysses observed a stable strong CIR from early 1992 through 1994 during its first journey into the southern hemisphere. After the rapid latitude scan in early 1995, Ulysses observed a weaker CIR from early 1996 to mid-1997 in the northern hemisphere as it traveled back to the ecliptic at the orbit of Jupiter. These two CIRs are the observational basis of the investigation into the latitudinal structure of CIRs. The first CIR was caused by an extension of the northern coronal hole into the southern hemisphere during declining solar activity, whereas the second CIR near solar minimum activity was caused by small warps in the streamer belt. The latitudinal structure is described through the presentation of three 26-day periods during the southern CIR. The first at ∼24°S shows the full plasma interaction region including fast and slow wind streams, the compressed shocked flows with embedded stream interface and heliospheric current sheet (HCS), and the forward and reverse shocks with associated accelerated ions and electrons. The second at 40°S exhibits only the reverse shock, accelerated particles, and the 26-day modulation of cosmic rays. The third at 60°S shows only the accelerated particles and modulated cosmic rays. The possible mechanisms for the access of the accelerated particles and the CIR-modulated cosmic rays to high latitudes above the plasma interaction region are presented. They include direct magnetic field connection across latitude due to stochastic field line weaving or to systematic weaving caused by solar differential rotation combined with non-radial expansion of the fast wind. Another possible mechanism is particle diffusion across the average magnetic field, which includes stochastic field line weaving. A constraint on connection to a distant portion of the CIR is energy loss in the solar wind, which is substantial for the relatively slow-moving accelerated ions. Finally, the weaker northern CIR is compared with the southern CIR. It is weak because the inclination of the streamer belt and HCS decreased as Ulysses traveled to lower latitudes so that the spacecraft remained at about the maximum latitudinal extent of the HCS. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

2005年8月24日强磁暴事件对高层大气密度的扰动

对2005年8月24日发生的突发型强磁暴(Kp峰值达到9)事件,利用星载大气密度探测器在轨实时的连续探测数据进行了处理和分析.结果表明,此次强磁暴事件期间,引起560 km高度附近大气密度剧烈扰动,并存在着两种响应过程.一种是跟随地磁扰动程度变化的全球性大气密度涨落变化,响应时间滞后6h左右, 最大涨落变化比为2.5;另一种为磁暴峰期出现在高纬地区的大气密度突发性跃增,增变比高达5.5.后者存在着区域上的不对称性及时间上的突发性和增幅的差异.此次强磁暴峰期还同时出现了南北半球高纬地区的大气密度跃增双峰.同时还表明这种增变峰可能存在着由高纬向低纬地区迅速推移的现象,在中纬地区推移速度可达15°/h(纬度)左右.      

Progress of Solar Corona Study in China

Solar corona study is an important aspect of space weather research.In recent years,great achieVements have been acquired on the solar corona study by the space physics group of China.This paper gives a brief outline of these progresses that have been made during 2006--2008.This kind of research includes observational study of the corona,theoretical investigations,statistical analysis based on a large number of data sets,numerical method for MHD modeling,numerical study of space weather events,and prediction methods for the complicated processes originating from the solar corona.Each is given as a separate part in the following.