The damping of small-amplitude oscillations in quiescent prominences

The presence of small-amplitude oscillations in prominences is well-known from long time ago. These oscillations, whose exciters are still unknown, seem to be of local nature and are interpreted in terms of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves. During last years, observational evidence about the damping of these oscillations has grown and several mechanisms able to damp these oscillations have been the subject of intense theoretical modelling. Among them, the most efficient seem to be radiative cooling and ion-neutral collisions. Radiative cooling is able to damp slow MHD waves efficiently, while ion-neutral collisions, in partially ionised plasmas like those of solar prominences, can also damp fast MHD waves. In this paper, we plan to summarize our current knowledge about the time and spatial damping of small-amplitude oscillations in prominences.     

Solving a plane problem of elasticity theory with the use of a hybrid FEM formulation

In the framework of a plane problem of elasticity theory in strength analysis based on the finite element method in the hybrid formulation, we suggest that the approximation of displacements and stresses be used as magnitudes of vector and tensor fields, respectively. The quadrilateral finite element, the displacements and stresses of which are accepted as nodal unknowns is proposed. The mixed Reissner functional is applied to form a finite element deformation matrix.     

Spin-stabilized satellite magnetic attitude control scheme without initial detumbling

The angular motion of an axisymmetrical satellite equipped with an active magnetic attitude control system is considered. The dynamics of the satellite are analytically studied on the whole control loop. The control loop is as follows: preliminary reorientation along with nutation damping, spinning about the axis of symmetry, then precise reorientation of the axis of symmetry in inertial space. Reorientation starts right after separation from the launch vehicle. Active magnetic attitude control system time-response with respect to its parameters is analyzed. It is proven that low-inclined orbit forces low control system time-response. Comparison with the common control scheme shows the time-response gain. Numerical analysis of the disturbances effect is carried out and good pointing accuracy is proved.     

IMPROVEMENT OF PHASE GRADIENT AUTOFOCUS ALGORITHM

ＩＭＰＲＯＶＥＭＥＮＴＯＦＰＨＡＳＥＧＲＡＤＩＥＮＴＡＵＴＯＦＯＣＵＳＡＬＧＯＲＩＴＨＭＬｉＬｉｗｅｉ（李立伟），ＭａｏＳｈｉｙｉ（毛士艺），ＡｓｉｆＲａｚａ，ＬｉｕＹｉｎｇ（刘莹）（ＤｅｐａｒｔｍｅｎｔｏｆＥｌｅｃｔｒｏｎｉｃＥｎｇｉｎｅｅｒｉｎｇ...     

M/G/1排队系统性能梯度估计的非标准分析法

如何估计系统性能梯度是离散事件动态系统研究中的一个重要问题.系统性能对于概率参数的梯度无法用传统的摄动分析法来估计,我们从非标准分析的角度提出了一种基于Dirac δ函数的摄动分析算法,分析了相应估计量的强相合性和渐近无偏性.新算法在实现过程中需要用样条函数来近似δ函数,但可以同时估计M/G/1排队系统中顾客期望系统时间和忙期期望长度对概率参数的梯度.数值实验结果表明估计量的相对误差和无偏性检验值都比较小,新算法能够很好地估计M/G/1排队系统的性能梯度.     

Tilts and polarity separation in the sunspot groups and active regions at the ascending and descending phases of the cycle 23

The Solar Feature Catalogues for sunspots and active regions measured with SOHO/MDI instrument and Ca II K3 spectroheliograph of the Paris-Meudon Observatory are analyzed with the automated classification technique for sunspot groups and active region polarities. We report the first classification results for daily variations of tilt angles (normal and trigonometric ones) in sunspot groups (SG) and active (AR) regions in the cycle 23. The average normal tilts are presented for every year at the ascending and descending phases of the cycle 23 which are similar to those deduced by other authors for the cycles 19–22. The normal tilts of both the sunspot groups and active regions are shown to increase in the ascending phase and a decrease in the descending phase. Similar to SG and AR areas, the trigonometric tilts are shown to have the noticeable North–South asymmetry with the Southern hemisphere dominant in the selected ascending and descending periods. The normal tilt variations with latitude follow Joy’s law revealing a periodicity along the meridian of about 10° and reaching the maximum of 14° at the latitude of about 32° corresponding to the top of the ‘royal zone’ where the sunspots appear. The variations of polarity separation with a latitude are in an anti-phase with those of the tilts reaching a maximum at the latitude of 35° and showing a small positive separation for the groups/active regions in a vicinity of the average tilts ±40°. The ratio R of the polarity separation to the trigonometric tilt fits the linear function of a latitude φ as R = −0.0213φ − 0.1245 confirming positive separation for the polarities of active regions with the average tilts, or the dominance of activity in the Southern hemisphere activity, for the selected period of observations.     

The method for predicting solar proton events

Dynamic processes in the interplanetary space have been investigated using time variations in time parameters of the cosmic-ray rigidity spectrum. Change of heliosphere electromagnetic characteristics has been found out to precede sporadic phenomena on the Sun. In particular, it is shown that sporadic phenomena are followed by generation of local polarization electric fields, decrease of the magnetic-field strength in small-scale heliospheric structures, and increase of the potential difference between the pole and the plane of the ecliptic. These features allow prediction of solar proton events in advance (from several hours to several tens of hours) with a high degree of confirmation.     

A simulation study on the mode conversion process from slow Z-mode to LO mode by the tunneling effect and variations of beaming angle

For a particular angle of incidence wave, it is possible for a slow Z-mode wave incident on an inhomogeneous plasma slab to be converted into an LO mode wave. But for another wave normal angle of the incident wave, it has been considered impossible, since an evanescence region exists between two mode branches. In this case we expect that the mode conversion takes place through the tunneling effect. We investigate the effect of the spatial scale of the density gradient on the mode conversion efficiency in an inhomogeneous plasma where the mode conversion can occur only by the tunneling effect. We use the computer simulation solving Maxwell’s equations and the motion of a cold electron fluid. By considering the steepness of the density gradient, the simulation results show the efficient mode conversion could be expected even in the case that the mismatch of the refractive indexes prevents the close coupling of plasma waves. Also, we show for these cases the beaming angle does not correspond to Jones’ formula. This effect leads to the angles larger and smaller than the angle estimated by the formula. This type of mode conversion process becomes important in a case where the different plasmas form a discontinuity at their contact boundary.     

Impact of local and global factors and meteorological parameters in temporal variation of atmospheric potential gradient

In this research work, we have performed comparative diurnal variations of atmospheric Potential Gradient (PG) of fair-weather days by using the data of three stations installed in Northern, Pakistan for the year 2018. We investigated the impact of both local and global factors and meteorological parameters in the diurnal variation of atmospheric Potential Gradient on the annual and seasonal time scale. We observed two peaks, primary and secondary. This is because of the land-based measurements of annual and seasonal variations. The annual average curve of Potential Gradient of all three stations: Islamabad (CES), Muzaffarabad (MZF), and Balakot (BKT) demonstrated a notable deviation from the standard oceanic Carnegie curve. The atmospheric Potential Gradient variations are due to numerous meteorological factors e.g., air pollution, humidity, aerosol particles, fog, and temperature. Among three stations, the MZF station is located in highland (mountainous) and it demonstrated a higher atmospheric Potential Gradient. We further differentiate the results of our three stations with global results for authenticity and observed coherence between them. In addition, a positive correlation of fair-weather Potential Gradient is observed with temperature and a notable correlation between relative humidity and atmospheric Potential Gradient for all the three observatories.     

Variations of geomagnetic cutoff rigidity in the southern hemisphere close to 70°W (South-Atlantic Anomaly and Antarctic zones) in the period 1975–2010

We report the existence of rapid variations in (effective) geomagnetic cutoff rigidity (Rc) between the equatorial and Antarctic zones adjacent to the Andes Mountains, revealed by the variation rate of geomagnetic cutoff rigidity (VRc) in the period 1975–2010. Our analysis is based on empirical records and theoretical models of the variations in cosmic rays and on the structure of geomagnetic fields. These have given us a different view of variations in Rc in time and space along the 70°W meridian, where secular variations in the geomagnetic field are strongly influenced by the proximity of the South Atlantic Magnetic Anomaly (SAMA), one of the most important characteristics of the terrestrial magnetic field that affects our planet, close from the equator to the 50°S parallel and from South America to South Africa. The VRc presents rapid changes in mid-latitudes where SAMA exerts its influence despite the existence of smooth changes in the geomagnetic field. This shows that these changes occur mainly in the spatial configuration, rather than in the temporal evolution of Rc. The analysis was performed using measurements from the Chilean Network of Cosmic Rays and Geomagnetism Observatories, equipped with BF-3 and latest generation He-3 neutron monitors, Fluxgate magnetometers, geomagnetic reference field (IGRF) and Tsyganenko 2001 model (just for completeness).