Ionization processes in the heliosphere — Rates and methods of their determination

The rates of the most important ionization processes acting in interplanetary space on interstellar H, He, C, O, Ne and Ar atoms are critically reviewed in the paper. Their long-term modulations in the period 1974 – 1994 are reexamined using updated information on relevant cross-sections as well as direct or indirect data on variations of the solar wind/solar EUV fluxes based on IMP 8 measurements and monitoring of the solar 10.7 cm radio emission. It is shown that solar cycle related variations are pronounced (factor of 3 between maximum and minimum) especially for species such as He, Ne, C for which photoionization is the dominant loss process. Species sensitive primarily to the charge-exchange (as H) show only moderate fluctuations 20% around average. It is also demonstrated that new techniques that make use of simultaneous observations of neutral He atoms on direct and indirect orbits, or simultaneous measurements of He⁺ and He⁺⁺ pickup ions and solar wind particles can be useful tools for narrowing the uncertainties of the He photoionization rate caused by insufficient knowledge of the solar EUV flux and its variations.     

Multiple-site investigation of the properties of an HF radio channel and the ionosphere using Digital Radio Mondiale broadcasting

The Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM), one of the new digital radio broadcasting standards, has been designed to overcome typical short wave radio channel difficulties, such as the multipath propagation and fast temporal changes of the received signal level, both related to the properties of the ionosphere along the path of propagation. In particular, some of the RF carriers used in the applied COFDM transmission technique serve to estimate the current state of the radio channel to enable the proper demodulation of the received signal.We have been detecting such RF carriers on select frequency channels (standard DRM broadcast) using a network of recording stations located in different parts of Poland in order to collect data on the HF radio channel. We have been also evaluating the usefulness of this procedure in providing information on the current state of the ionosphere in the refraction region between the transmitter and receivers. When the DRM system becomes more widespread, this method can supplement data that comes from the ionosondes, since it does not require much financial resources and the receivers can be easily scattered over a large area. This paper presents a set of experimental data and its analysis.     

Optimization of the propulsion for meteorological probe

The paper discusses the problem of optimization of the power distribution between a rocket booster and a ramjet second stage of meteorological probe. The best solution was found for the case when the ramjet stage starts to operate at the velocity equal to 1.5 M.     

Developments in space activities in Poland

Poland has a long-standing tradition in space activities. Polish institutions have participated as co-investigators in almost all European Space Agency (ESA) science projects, as well as on many other missions. However, the first Polish satellite (PW-SAT) was only launched in 2012. Poland was one of the first Eastern European countries to conclude a Cooperation Agreement with ESA in the peaceful use of outer space; it was signed in 1994 and followed by a second in January 2002. Negotiations on Polish membership in the ESA were started in autumn of 2011, and ended in April 2012. Following ratification of the agreement, Poland officially became the 20th Member State of ESA on 19 November 2012. This article examines how Poland is setting its way as a space nation. It describes recent developments in the Polish space programme, including the road to Poland's full membership in the European Space Agency.     

Streamwise vortex generation by the rod

The technology development related to aerodynamics is leading to ever increasing loads of wings, airfoils and turbine and compressor blades. The increase in aerodynamic forces is often leading to flow separation and depreciation of the aerodynamic performance of flying objects or propulsion systems. Flow control methods are required to avoid these negative effects. In the recent two decades the flow control by means of air-jet vortex generators has been also intensively investigated. In this method a streamwise vortex is introduced by an oblique jet. The necessity to supply air by a pipe system may be considered a disadvantage. In order to eliminate this feature, it has been proposed to put out a rod instead of a jet. It has been shown that the application of a rod can introduce the same effect as a jet, as long as the streamwise vortex generation is concerned and appropriate dimensions are used. The present paper focuses on the influence of rod vortex generators on a flow pattern downstream. The results presented here concern experimental and numerical investigations and provide guidelines for the design of a new flow control method dedicated mainly to external flows.     

Modelling of the interstellar hydrogen distribution in the heliosphere

The detailed knowledge of the distribution of neutral interstellar hydrogen in the interplanetary space is necessary for a reliable interpretation of optical and H⁺ pickup ions observations. In the paper, we review the status of the modelling efforts with the emphasis on recent improvements in that field. We discuss in particular the role of the nonstationary, solar cycle-related effects and the consequences of hydrogen filtration through the heliospheric interface region for its distribution in the inner Solar System. We demonstrate also that the use of the simple cold model, neglecting the thermal character of the hydrogen gas (T 8000 K), is generally incorrect for the whole region of the inner heliosphere (R < 5 AU) since it leads to a substantial underestimation of the local hydrogen density and thus influences the derivation of the H properties in the outer heliosphere/LISM. Referring to recent Ulysses measurements, we point out also the need to consider in the modelling the effects of the latitudinal asymmetry of the ionization rate.     

On Superconductive Gravity Gradiometry in Space

Superconductive gravity gradiometers for space have been expected in vain for more than fifteen years, since the niobium superconductor technology has maturated and became commonly regarded as adequate to the purpose. Therefore an old design idea may be suspected of inefficiency, and new concepts should be considered. We propose one that abandons an attractive yet restrictive method of spatial differentiation by the principle of the magnetic flux conservation. Instead, it uses the SQUID just as a low noise sensor in the test mass displacement transducers, and differentiates by means of a negative feedback. We argue that the feedback can ease the known obstacles. Especially, it provides convenient practical means for neutralization of the low frequency SQUID noise, and for correction of dimensional inaccuracies of the sensor mechanics. Moreover, the feedback can organize a cluster of twelve elementary accelerometers into a precise tensor gradiometer that can self-correct its inaccuracies by tuning the cross-coupling between its elements. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.