The organic aerosols of Titan

A dark reddish organic solid, called tholin, is synthesized from simulated Titanian atmospheres by irradiation with high energy electrons in a plasma discharge. The visible reflection spectrum of this tholin is found to be similar to that of high altitude aerosols responsible for the albedo and reddish color of Titan. The real (n) and imaginary (k) parts of the complex refractive index of thin films of Titan tholin prepared by continuous D.C. discharge through a 0.9 N₂/0.1 CH₄ gas mixture at 0.2 mb is determined from x-ray to microwave frequencies. Values of n (1.65) and k (0.004 to 0.08) in the visible are consistent with deductions made by ground-based and spaceborne observations of Titan. Many infrared absorption features are present in k(λ), including the 4.6 μm nitrile band. Molecular analysis of the volatile component of this tholin was performed by sequential and non-sequential pyrolytic gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. More than one hundred organic compounds are released; tentative identifications include saturated and unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons, substituted polycyclic aromatics, nitriles, amines, pyrroles, pyrazines, pyridines, pyrimidines, and the purine, adenine. In addition, acid hydrolysis produces a racemic mixture of biological and non-biological amino acids. Many of these molecules are implicated in the origin of life on Earth, suggesting Titan as a contemporary laboratory environment for prebiological organic chemistry on a planetary scale.     

片切磨削方法构造的自由曲面磨削支持系统

以操作者高效准确操作数控磨削中心为目的,开发了自由曲面磨削支持系统,进行了基于球头磨具的磨削中心基础研究。讨论了获得高精度曲面的加工要点,并提出了片切磨削方法。     

One-Dimensional-Unsteady Thermal Stress in Heat-Ray Absorbing Sheet Glass： Influence of a Sudden Weather Change

Heat-ray absorbing sheet glass can decrease electric energy used for air-conditioning by controling the in- coming heat-ray through windows into the rooms. On the other hand, the glasses increase the temperature and sometimes yield heat cracks by thermal stresses. It is important to know the state of thermal stress accurately in order to develop heat-ray absorbing sheet glasses with higher performance and without heat cracks. A conventional design manual at field site treats the steady state and the thermal boundary condition that all heat-rays are absorbed at glass surface. In this paper, it is assumed that the heat-ray is absorbed over all the plate thickness. The idea of the local absorptibity per unit length is introduced. The modeling of internal heat absorbing process is proposed. It can explain well that the total absorptivity depends on the plate thickness. The temperature and the thermal stres- ses are calculated and discussed. Sudden weather changes such as rain and/or wind after the glass is heated to be steady state are also discussed. Those weather changes are treated with the change of amount of absorbed heat-ray and/or the change of heat transfer coefficient between the glass surface and the outside atmosphere.     

Current status of X-ray spectrometer development in the SELENE project

The X-ray spectrometer (XRS) on the SELENE (SELenological and ENgineering Explorer) spacecraft, XRS, will observe fluorescent X-rays from the lunar surface. The energy of the fluorescent X-ray depends on the elements of which the lunar soil consists, therefore we can determine elemental composition of the upper most lunar surface. The XRS consists of three components: XRF-A, SOL-B, and SOL-C. XRF-A is the main sensor to observe X-rays from the lunar surface. SOL-B is direct monitor of Solar X-ray using Si-PIN photodiode. SOL-C is another Solar X-ray monitor but observes the X-rays from the standard sample attached on the base plate. This enables us to analyze by a comparative method similar to typical laboratory XRF methods. XRF-A and SOL-C adopt charge coupled device as an X-ray detector which depletion layer is deep enough to detect X-rays. The X-ray spectra were obtained by the flight model of XRS components, and all components has been worked well to analyze fluorescent X-rays. Currently, development of the hardware and software of the XRS has been finished and we are preparing for system integration test for the launch.     

Test results of the air turbo ramjet for a future space plane

The Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) has been engaged in the development study on the Air Turbo Ramjet (ATR) engine since 1986 in cooperation with the Ishikawajima Harima Heavy Industries Co. Ltd (IHI). The ATR is one of the most preferable candidates for the propulsion system of a future space plane. Our ATR engine is a combined cycle air breathing propulsion system which consists of the turbojet and the fan boosted ramjet using the liquid hydrogen as a fuel. This engine system was named “ATREX” after employing the expander cycle. The ATREX is energized by thermal energy extracted regeneratively in both the pre-cooler installed in the air intake and the heat exchanger in combustion chamber. The ATREX works in the flight condition from sea level static up to Mach 6 at 35 km altitude. The ATREX employs the tip turbine configuration for compactness of turbo machinery. We are assessing the feasibility of the ATREX system by the sea level static tests using the 1/4-scale model (ATREX-500) with a fan inlet diameter of 300 mm and overall length of 2120 mm. In 1990, the ATREX-500 engine was tested in a sea level static condition to verify the performance characteristics of the turbo machinery and the combustor. In September of 1991, the heat exchanger was installed in the combustion chamber and tested independently from the turbo system. In November of 1991, the heat exchanger was coupled with the turbo system and tested to verify the overall system of the ATREX. In this paper are presented the test results of the ATREX-500 engine tested in the sea level static condition.     

Stability of amino acids and their oligomerization under high-pressure conditions: implications for prebiotic chemistry

The polymerization of amino acids leading to the formation of peptides and proteins is a significant problem for the origin of life. This problem stems from the instability of amino acids and the difficulty of their oligomerization in aqueous environments, such as seafloor hydrothermal systems. We investigated the stability of amino acids and their oligomerization reactions under high-temperature (180-400°C) and high-pressure (1.0-5.5?GPa) conditions, based on the hypothesis that the polymerization of amino acids occurred in marine sediments during diagenesis and metamorphism, at convergent margins on early Earth. Our results show that the amino acids glycine and alanine are stabilized by high pressure. Oligomers up to pentamers were formed, which has never been reported for alanine in the absence of a catalyst. The yields of peptides at a given temperature and reaction time were higher under higher-pressure conditions. Elemental, infrared, and isotopic analyses of the reaction products indicated that deamination is a key degradation process for amino acids and peptides under high-pressure conditions. A possible NH(3)-rich environment in marine sediments on early Earth may have further stabilized amino acids and peptides by inhibiting their deamination.     

Organic solids produced from simple C/H/O/N ices by charged particles: applications to the outer solar system.

CH4, CO, and CO2 are all potential one-carbon molecular repositories in primitive icy objects. These molecules are all found in the Comet Halley coma, and are probable but, (except for CH4 detected on Triton and Pluto) undetected subsurface constituents in icy outer solar system objects. We have investigated the effects of charged particle irradiation by cold plasma discharge upon surfaces of H2O:CH4 clathrate having a 200:1 ratio, as well as upon ices composed of H2O plus C2H6 or C2H2 (sometimes plus NH3) which are also plausible constituents. These materials color and darken noticeably after a dose 10(9) - 10(10) erg cm-2, which is deposited rapidly (< or = 10(4) yr.) in solar system environments. The chromophore is a yellowish to tan organic material (a tholin) which we have studied by UV-VIS reflection and transmission, and IR transmission spectroscopy. Its yield, -1 C keV-1, implies substantial production of organic solids by the action of cosmic rays and radionuclides in cometary crusts and interiors, as well as rapid production in satellite surfaces. This material shows alkane bands which Chyba and Sagan have shown to well match the Halley infrared emission spectrum near 3.4 microns, and also bands due to aldehyde, alcohol and perhaps alkene/aromatic functional groups. We compare the IR spectral properties of these tholins with the spectra of others produced by irradiation of gases and ices containing simple hydrocarbons.     

Influence of Patch Side on One-Dimensional Unsteady of Heat-Ray Absorbing Film Thermal Stresses in Window Glass

Heat-ray absorbing film is used to be bonded on the existing sheet glasses of the windows. It is effective for air-conditioning energy saving against the global warming, because it absorbs heat-ray in the thin film and de- creases the incoming heat-ray into the room. On the other hand, the sheet glasses increase the temperature at the surface which the sheet is bonded and sometimes yield heat cracks by thermal stresses. It is important to know the state of thermal stresses accurately in order to develop the heat-ray absorbing film with higher performance and without heat cracks. In this paper, the analysis model is treated as the two-layer plate of the conventional soda sheet glass and the heat-ray absorbing film with different absorptivities. The unsteady temperature and thermal stresses are analyzed and calculated numerically. The influence of the patch side, which the heat-ray absorbing film is bonded at the exterior side or the interior side, on the heat-ray absorbing performance and the thermal stresses is discussed. It is found that the alternative patch side has no effect on the heat-ray absorbing performance and that the patch side is recommended to be interior side from a view point of decreasing thermal stresses against the heat crack of glasses.     

带压燃烧场2D温度分布的激光吸收光谱测量初步研究

以实现冲压发动机等高压燃烧流场诊断为目标,采用可调谐半导体激光吸收光谱技术对带压的燃烧流场温度诊断进行初步研究。使用一种光谱适应的CT重构二维温度方法,以误差平方和和零均值归一化互相关作为评价指标分析CT-TDLAS的重构精度。搭建带压燃烧腔温度分布测量的实验系统,使用压力传感器和CCD相机记录带压点火燃烧过程变化;使用1335-1375nm的宽波段可调节半导体激光器对燃烧腔内带压点火燃烧过程进行了时间分辨的二维温度重建。实验结果表明：CT-TDLAS具有较高的重构精度;燃烧过程的压力变化趋势,火焰变化趋势及时间分辨二维温度分布变化趋势,三者保持一致;在带压条件下,CT-TDLAS可以实现高分辨率的时间分辨温度测量,反应定量的温度分布变化信息,为带压及进一步的高温高压燃烧流场的诊断提供帮助。     

Ionospheric disturbance associated with radiation accidents of Fukushima I nuclear power plant damaged by the M9.0 2011 Tohoku Earthquake

Transient ionospheric disturbances in the total electron content (TEC) are examined before and after the M9.0 2011 off the Pacific coast of Tohoku Earthquake to find ionospheric responses to the radiation caused by Fukushima I nuclear power plant accident, which was damaged by the earthquake and tsunamis. The TEC is derived from records of a ground-based receiving network of GPS Earth Observation Network (GEONET) in Japan. Both small enhancement and disturbance of TEC were detected over the nuclear power plant after the radiation was suddenly enhanced on March 14 of 2011, while similar signatures were not detected in the other sudden radiation enhancements. Further, no continuous enhancement and disturbance lasting for more than an hour were observed over the nuclear power plant. Therefore, the results indicate that radioactive materials may not cause the ionospheric disturbance or disturb the ionosphere in highly specific circumstance even if such effects exist.