Acceleration of Solar-Energetic Particles by Shocks

Our current understanding of the acceleration of solar-energetic particles is reviewed. The emphasis in this paper is on analytic theory and numerical modeling of the physics of diffusive shock acceleration. This mechanism naturally produces an energy spectrum that is a power law over a given energy interval that is below a characteristic energy where the spectrum has a break, or a rollover. This power law is a common feature in the observations of all types of solar-energetic particles, and not necessarily just those associated with shock waves (e.g. events associated with impulsive solar flares which are often described in terms of resonant stochastic acceleration). Moreover, the spectral index is observed to have remarkably little variability from one event to the next (about 50%). Any successful acceleration mechanism must be able to produce this feature naturally and have a resulting power-law index that does not depend on physical parameters that are expected to vary considerably. Currently, only diffusive shock acceleration does this.     

Theory and Simulation of Reconnection

Reconnection is a major commonality of solar and magnetospheric physics. It was conjectured by Giovanelli in 1946 to explain particle acceleration in solar flares near magnetic neutral points. Since than it has been broadly applied in space physics including magnetospheric physics. In a special way this is due to Harry Petschek, who in 1994 published his ground breaking solution for a 2D magnetized plasma flow in regions containing singularities of vanishing magnetic field. Petschek’s reconnection theory was questioned in endless disputes and arguments, but his work stimulated the further investigation of this phenomenon like no other. However, there are questions left open. We consider two of them – “anomalous” resistivity in collisionless space plasma and the nature of reconnection in three dimensions. The CLUSTER and SOHO missions address these two aspects of reconnection in a complementary way -- the resistivity problem in situ in the magnetosphere and the 3D aspect by remote sensing of the Sun. We demonstrate that the search for answers to both questions leads beyond the applicability of analytical theories and that appropriate numerical approaches are necessary to investigate the essentially nonlinear and nonlocal processes involved. Necessary are both micro-physical, kinetic Vlasov-equation based methods of investigation as well as large scale (MHD) simulations to obtain the geometry and topology of the acting fields and flows.     

Probing Solar Subsurface Magnetic Fields

Helioseismology uses solar p-mode oscillations to probe the structure of the solar interior. The modifications of p-mode properties due to the presence of solar magnetic fields provide information on the magnetic fields in the solar interior. Here we review some of results in helioseismology on the magnetic fields in the solar convection zone. We will also discuss a recent result on the magnetic fields at the base of the convection zone. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Dust Environment Modelling of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

Dust is an important constituent of cometary emission; its analysis is one of the major objectives of ESA’s Rosetta mission to comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko (C–G). Several instruments aboard Rosetta are dedicated to studying various aspects of dust in the cometary coma, all of which require a certain level of exposure to dust to achieve their goals. At the same time, impacts of dust particles can constitute a hazard to the spacecraft. To conciliate the demands of dust collection instruments and spacecraft safety, it is desirable to assess the dust environment in the coma even before the arrival of Rosetta. We describe the present status of modelling the dust coma of 67P/C–G and predict the speed and flux of dust in the coma, the dust fluence on a spacecraft along sample trajectories, and the radiation environment in the coma. The model will need to be refined when more details of the coma are revealed by observations. An overview of astronomical observations of 67P/C–G is given, because model parameters are derived from this data if possible. For quantities not yet measured for 67P/C–G, we use values obtained for other comets, e.g. concerning the optical and compositional properties of the dust grains. One of the most important and most controversial parameters is the dust mass distribution. We summarise the mass distribution functions derived from the in-situ measurements at comet 1P/Halley in 1986. For 67P/C–G, constraining the mass distribution is currently only possible by the analysis of astronomical images. We find that both the dust mass distribution and the time dependence of the dust production rate of 67P/C–G are those of a fairly typical comet.     

神舟飞船生长GaMnSb材料过程及性能分析

利用神舟3号飞船(SZ-3)上的多样品空间晶体炉制备出GaMnSb材料．所设计的石英安瓿使用氧化铝棉毡和特殊设计制造的氮化硼坩锅进行减震，经受住了严峻的力学环境的考验，完成了材料的空间生长实验，达到了空间生长材料的初步要求．对空间生长的GaMnSb晶体进行了X射线能谱分析和X射线衍射分析，发现空间生长的GaMnSb是多晶结构．对未获得GaMnSb单晶的原因进行了分析，发现空间晶体炉温度的波动和提供能量的不足是导致生成GaMnSb多晶结构的主要原因．由于在晶体生长的初始阶段晶体炉提供的能量不足，使GaSb单晶部分未能熔化，从而导致GaMnSb材料的生长在没有籽晶的情况下进行．     

Comparison of magnetic flux tube and cosmic string behavior in Kerr metric

Cosmic strings are topological defects which were generated at a transition phase of the very early Universe and are probably responsible for large-scale structure forming. However, they may pull through all history and exist in the recent epoch. Thus, they can have influence for the recent Universe interacting with different objects. We consider the cosmic string behavior in the vicinity of a spinning black hole by means of a numerical simulation. Here we present preliminary results of this work via a comparison of cosmic string and magnetic flux tube behavior in the Kerr metric. Such an approach follows from the similarity of the equations which describe these objects. Therefore, many aspects of this behavior may be comparable.     

Magnetic storm cessation during sustained northward IMF

Times of sustained strong northward IMF can interrupt the magnetic storm development and lead to lower levels of geomagnetic activity for many hours. During 1997–2000 we have found two events of this kind observed on November 8, 1998 and October 13, 2000. In both cases, the storms started as usual after arrival of ejecta with a southward IMF component from the Sun to the Earth, but ceased after several hours due to the onset of sustained northward IMF leading to the faster recovery process. After the passage of this so-called positive domain, the storm development started again. The heliospheric magnetic field intensity remained enhanced and nearly constant. The solar origins of the geomagnetic storm interruptions have been investigated. Tentatively they may be related to strong nonlinear Alfvйn type solitary waves excited by non-stationary coronal current variations with a characteristic time-scale of about a day.     

Chromospheric dynamics

This review focuses on dynamics of the solar chromosphere, which serves as a good proxy for understanding processes in stellar chromospheres as well. In the quiet chromosphere it is useful to distinguish between the magnetic network on the boundaries of supergranulation cells, where strong magnetic fields are organized in mainly vertical magnetic flux tubes, and internetwork regions in the cell interior, where magnetic fields are weaker and dynamically less important. Recently, some progress has been made in understanding the physics of the non-magnetic chromosphere. On the other hand, the physical processes that heat the magnetic network have not been fully identified. Is the network heated by wave dissipation and if so, what are their physical characteristics? These and other aspects relating to the dynamics and energy transport mechanisms will be discussed in detail. In addition, some of the outstanding problems in the field such the driving mechanism for spicules and the nature of internetwork magnetic fields will also be highlighted. Furthermore, a critical assessment will be made on the challenges facing theory and the direction for future investigations, particularly in the light of the new space experiments, will be highlighted.     

Frictional resistance of supercritical pressure RP-3 flowing in a vertically downward tube at constant heat fluxes

Based on the demands of compact heat exchangers and micro cooling channels applied for aviation thermal protection, the flow resistance characteristics of aviation kerosene RP-3 were experimentally studied in a vertically downward circular miniature tube with an inner diameter of 1.86 mm at supercritical pressures and constant heat fluxes. A long and short tube method was used to accurately calculate the frictional pressure drop, and experimental conditions are supercritical pressures of 4 MPa, mass flow rates of 2–4 g/s (i.e., mass fluxes of 736–1472 kg/(m²?s)), heat fluxes of 100–500 kW/m², and inlet temperatures of 373–673 K. Results show that the sharp variations of thermophysical properties, especially density, have significant influences on frictional resistances. Generally, the frictional pressure drop and the friction factor increase with increasing inlet temperatures, and this trend speeds up in the relatively high-temperature region. However, the friction factor has a sudden decline when the fuel outlet temperature exceeds the pseudo-critical temperature. The frictional pressure drop and the friction factor basically remain unchanged with increasing heat flux when the inlet temperature is relatively low, but increase quickly when the inlet temperature is relatively high. Besides, a larger mass flux yields a higher pressure drop but does not necessarily yield a higher friction factor. Finally, an empirical friction factor correlation is proposed and shows better predictive performance than those of previous models.     

Low-latitude geomagnetic response to the interplanetary conditions during very intense magnetic storms

The variations in the horizontal and declination components of the geomagnetic field in response to the interplanetary shocks driven by fast halo coronal mass ejections, fast solar wind streams from the coronal hole regions and the dynamic pressure pulses associated with these events are studied. Close association between the field-aligned current density (j_∥) and the fluctuations in the declination component (ΔD_ABG) at Alibag is found for intense storm conditions. Increase in the dawn-dusk interplanetary electric field (E_y) and ΔD_ABG are generally in phase. However, when the magnetospheric electric field is directed from dusk to dawn direction, a prominent scatter occurs between the two. It is suggested that low-latitude ground magnetic data may serve as a proxy for the interplanetary conditions in the solar wind.