K-ionization and biological effect.

Experimental inactivation cross sections are compared to vacancy production in inner shell (K-shell) of so-called strategic C, N, O atoms of the DNA: in a trial calculation, atoms on the DNA backbone or just contiguous to it are considered as strategic. Various processes are considered: ionization and electron capture by the primary particle, ionization by secondary electrons. The last phenomenon is shown to be important for highly charged and medium velocity ions. A strong similarity is observed between variations versus LET of inactivation and K-vacancy cross sections, especially with regards to LET values for which they maximize: for K-ionization these maxima occur when the ion impact velocity roughly matches the K electron velocity. It is shown that the "K-hypothesis" allows a quantitative fit of experimental inactivation cross sections if a 4% mean lethal efficiency is attributed to ion-induced K-vacancies in strategic C, N, O atoms.     

Microscopic approach to analyze solar-sail space-environment effects

Near-sun space-environment effects on metallic thin films solar sails as well as hollow-body sails with inflation fill gas are considered. Analysis of the interaction of the solar radiation with the solar-sail materials is presented. This analysis evaluates worst-case solar radiation effects during solar-radiation-pressure acceleration. The dependence of the thickness of solar sail on temperature and on wavelength of the electromagnetic spectrum of solar radiation is investigated. Physical processes of the interactions of photons, electrons, protons and α-particles with sail material atoms and nuclei, and inflation fill gas molecules are analyzed. Calculations utilized conservative assumptions with the highest values for the available cross sections for interactions of solar photons, electrons and protons with atoms, nuclei and hydrogen molecules. It is shown that for high-energy photons, electrons and protons the beryllium sail is mostly transparent. Sail material will be partially ionized by solar UV and low-energy solar electrons. For a hollow-body photon sail effects including hydrogen diffusion through the solar-sail walls, and electrostatic pressure is considered. Electrostatic pressure caused by the electrically charged sail’s electric field may require mitigation since sail material tensile strength decreases with elevated temperature. It also can substitute inflation-gas pressure loss due to gas diffusion and perforation by micrometeoroids impact to keep the sail inflated.     

Reevaluation of thermosphere heating by auroral electrons

This paper presents a new calculation of neutral gas heating by precipitating auroral electrons. It is found that the heating rate of the neutral gas is significantly lower than previous determinations below 200 km altitude. The neutral gas heating arises from the many exothermic chemical reactions that take place from the ions and excited species created by the energetic electrons. The calculations show that less than half the energy initially deposited ends up heating the neutral gases. The rest is radiated or lost in the dissociation of O₂ because the O atoms do not recombine in the thermosphere. This paper also presents a new way of calculating the heating rate per ionization that can be used for efficient determination of the overall neutral gas heating for global thermosphere models. The heating rates are relatively insensitive to the neutral atmosphere when plotted against pressure rather than altitude coordinates. At high altitudes, the heating rates are sensitive to the thermal electron density and long-lived species. The calculations were performed with the Field Line Interhemispheric Plasma (FLIP) model using a 2-stream auroral electron precipitation model. The heating rate calculations in this paper differ from previous heating rate calculations in the treatment of backscattered electrons to produce better agreement with observed flux spectra. This paper shows that more realistic model auroral electron spectra can be obtained by reflecting the up going flux back to the ionosphere at the upper boundary of the model. In this case, the neutral gas heating rates are 20%–25% higher than when the backscattered flux escapes from the ionosphere.     

Ionization and recombination processes determining plasma density at the initial stage of artificial cloud injection

The initial reduction of the electron density after the injection explosion is shown to be associated with recombination at the adiabatic cooling under the cloud expansion. Primordial thermal ions can disappear in triple collisions almost entirely. Nevertheless, a minor amount of ions is conserved due to the freezing effect. The further rapid increase in the electron concentration may be attributed to the secondary ionization process. It is shown that the cumulative electronic ionization can account for the observed electron density elevation. The modified two-stream instability can provide a longitudinal (anomalous) resistance for the longitudinal electric field required for an avalanche. The electric field and longitudinal currents arise owing to the polarization with ions entrained by the neutral gas across the magnetic field and magnetized electrons moving along the field.     

What can we learn about accelerated electrons in coronal loops from analysis of solar type IV radio bursts?

Specific type IV radio burst with fine structure – quasi-periodic broadband pulsations (BBPs) and zebra pattern (ZP), recorded by OSRA spectrograph (Potsdam) on October 25, 1994, is considered as a source of information about electrons accelerated during solar flare. The type IV bursts are generated in coronal trap-like structures (coronal loops) accumulating accelerated electrons. BBP are considered as a result of periodically repeated injections of fast electrons into the magnetic trap. The ZP is well understood as a result of plasma wave instability at the levels of double plasma resonance. Using the observed features of fine structure, we found the number of electrons and energy of electrons capable to provide the observed structure as well as the physical conditions in the coronal magnetic loop.     

Heavy ions in Jupiter's environment

The extended atmosphere of the Jupiter system consists of heavy-element atoms and ions. This material originates on the satellite Io. Energy is lost from the thermal plasma in collisionally-excited optical and ultra-violet emission. The juxtaposition of Earth and spacecraft measurements provide insight concerning the underlying processes of particle transport and energy supply.     

低功率氮氢电弧加热发动机非平衡数值模拟

文章对低功率氮氢电弧加热发动机进行了双温度化学非平衡数值模拟研究,模型中包含总的能量方程和电子能量方程,等离子体组分包括分子、原子、离子和电子等7个组分,采用的化学动力学模型中包含了氮氢组分解离、电离等重要的动力学过程,气体的物性根据当地的组分和温度实时计算。通过计算获得了发动机内部气体温度及各组分数密度分布。结果表明,发动机轴线附近等离子体接近热力学平衡,而在发动机阳极壁面电弧贴附区域等离子体明显偏离热力学平衡;计算获得的组分分布表明电弧加热发动机内存在反混合过程,即发动机内各组分分布与入口浓度分布明显不同。氢组分由发动机中心到阳极壁面沿径向呈现先减小后增大的趋势;而氮组分的浓度分布趋势与氢组分相反;进一步的分析表明,发动机内各组分的扩散主要受到气体解离和电离过程引起的浓度梯度所驱动。     

Factors influencing the heating of the auroral electrojet by high power radio waves

Results are presented from recent ionospheric modification experiments in which the EISCAT UHF radar measured the E-region temperature and density response to high power RF heating above Tromsø. A variety of electrojet conditions were encountered during these experiments. In particular, the electron drift velocity varied considerably allowing the heating efficiency of the RF heater to be investigated as a function of electron flow velocity. These observations constitute the first direct investigation of electrojet temperature modifications by high power radio waves and provide a test of a recent theoretical model in which the combined effects of RF heating and of natural plasma turbulence associated with the Farley-Buneman instability have been considered.     

Ionospheric losses of Venus in the solar wind

The nature of ionospheric losses from Venus is of essential importance for understanding the ionosphere dynamics of this unmagnetized planet. A plausible mechanism that can explain the escape of charged particles involves the solar wind interaction with the upper atmospheric layers of Venus. The hydrodynamic approach proposed for plasma expansion in the present study comprises two populations of positive ions and the neutralizing electrons, which interact with the solar wind electrons and protons. The fluid equations describing the plasma are solved numerically using a self-similar approach. The behavior of plasma density, velocity, and electric potential, as well as their reliance upon solar wind parameters have been examined. It is found that for noon midnight sites, the oxygen ion-to-electron relative density may be the main factor to enhance the ionic loss. However, the other parameters, like hydrogen density and solar wind density and velocity seem to do not stimulate the runaway ions. For lower dawn-dusk region, the plasma are composed of hydrogen and oxygen ions as well as electrons, but for higher altitudes only hydrogen ions and electrons are encountered. All ionic densities play an important role either to reduce or boost the ionic loss. The streaming solar wind velocity has no effect on the plasma escaping for lower altitudes, but it reduces the expansion at higher altitudes.     

霍尔推力器分割高偏压电极等离子体放电特性

霍尔推力器通道等离子体与壁面有很强的相互作用,为了降低壁面腐蚀,提高在轨寿命, 针对推力器全通道放电过程建立二维物理模型,采用粒子模拟方法（Particle In Cell）,数值研究了电离区壁面分割高于阳极偏压的低发射石墨电极对推力器放电特性的影响,讨论了放电通道电势、离子数密度、电子温度、电离速率及比冲的变化规律。结果表明：在电离区不同位置分割高偏压电极对等离子体放电特性影响明显,电极位置在电离区前端时,电极偏压高于阳极电压60V时通道内放电等离子体参数几乎不变。而电极位置在电离区末端,电极偏压高于阳极电压18V时就会导致加速区轴向扩张,离子聚焦效果强,电子温度显著升高,电子与壁面相互作用减弱,羽流发散角减小。由此推力器比冲提升约12%,寿命延长,性能提高。     

Tearing,coalescence and fragmentation processes in solar flare current sheet and drifting pulsating structures

The paper presents a summary of results from two different simulations which study the tearing, coalescence and fragmentation of current sheets, the associated production of energetic electrons and of plasma waves from these electrons which could explain drifting pulsation structures observed at radio wavelengths. Using a 2.5-D particle-in-cell (PIC) model of the current sheet it is shown that due to the tearing mode instability the current sheet tears into plasmoids and these plasmoids later on coalesce into larger ones. During these processes electrons are accelerated and they produce observable electromagnetic waves. Furthermore, the 3-D PIC model with two current sheets extended in the electric current direction shows their fast fragmentation associated with the exponential dissipation of the free magnetic field energy. An example of the drifting pulsating structure which is considered to be a radio signature of the above mentioned processes in solar flares is shown.     

Physical conditions in the non-nuclear gas in PKS0349-27

We present measurements of velocities and emission line ratios for [OIII]/Hβ,[NII]/Hα, and [SII]/Hα associated with the extended “spiral” structure in the FRII radio galaxy PKS 349-27. The ionized gas clouds split into two distinct velocity systems, separated by as much as 450 km s⁻¹. BPT diagrams constructed from the measured emission line ratios show that neither of these systems is composed of normal HII regions. The excitation conditions in both systems are consistent with either shock heating/ionization or photoionization by relatively powerful, high energy, electromagnetic continuum radiation.     

New insights into SNR evolution revealed by the discovery of recombining plasmas

We report the discovery of recombining plasmas in three supernova remnants (SNRs) with the Suzaku X-ray astronomy satellite. During SNR’s evolution, the expanding supernova ejecta and the ambient matter are compressed and heated by the reverse and forward shocks to form an X-ray emitting hot plasma. Since ionization proceeds slowly compared to shock heating, most young or middle-aged SNRs have ionizing (underionized) plasmas. Owing to high sensitivity of Suzaku, however, we have detected radiative recombination continua (RRCs) from the SNRs IC 443, W49B, and G359.1–0.5. The presence of the strong RRC is the definitive evidence that the plasma is recombining (overionized). As a possible origin of the overionization, an interaction between the ejecta and dense circumstellar matter is proposed; the highly ionized gas was made at the initial phase of the SNR evolution in dense regions, and subsequent rapid adiabatic expansion caused sudden cooling of the electrons. The analysis on the full X-ray band spectrum of IC 443, which is newly presented in this paper, provides a consistent picture with this scenario. We also comment on the implications from the fact that all the SNRs having recombining plasmas are correlated with the mixed-morphology class.     

Study of fast atoms in molecular gas plasma via emission spectroscopy

Fast atoms are generated in reactions of ions with the molecular gas in laboratory and astrophysical plasma. In hydrogen they are observed in the emission spectra via Excessive line broadening. Energetic atoms also occur in astrophysical plasma in hydrogen, nitrogen and oxygen. The proposal here is that low pressure discharges can be used to simulate the phenomena in certain space plasma. In this study, we have used a special configuration of the electrode system, to obtain energetic atoms in plasma of three types of diatomic gases (H₂, O₂, N₂). Emission spectroscopy was used to detect the atoms and measure their velocity. Energy analysis was performed to obtain atoms’ distributions and evaluate the mean energy of atoms. This was compared to the potential energy available from the electric field. The field acceleration model, previously established for hydrogen, was extended to nitrogen and oxygen. We suggest, that the same method of analysis can be applied for astrophysical plasma spectrum.     

Self-similar flow of a rotating dusty gas behind the shock wave with increasing energy, conduction and radiation heat flux

A self-similar solution is obtained for one dimensional adiabatic flow behind a cylindrical shock wave propagating in a rotating dusty gas in presence of heat conduction and radiation heat flux with increasing energy. The dusty gas is assumed to be a mixture of non-ideal (or perfect) gas and small solid particles, in which solid particles are continuously distributed. It is assumed that the equilibrium flow-condition is maintained and variable energy input is continuously supplied by the piston (or inner expanding surface). The heat conduction is expressed in terms of Fourier’s law and the radiation is considered to be of the diffusion type for an optically thick grey gas model. The thermal conductivity K and the absorption coefficient α_R are assumed to vary with temperature only. In order to obtain the similarity solutions the initial density of the ambient medium is assumed to be constant and the angular velocity of the ambient medium is assumed to be decreasing as the distance from the axis increases. The effects of the variation of the heat transfer parameters and non-idealness of the gas in the mixture are investigated. The effects of an increase in (i) the mass concentration of solid particles in the mixture and (ii) the ratio of the density of solid particles to the initial density of the gas on the flow variables are also investigated.     

Impact induced plasma during a cometary fly-by

GIOTTO, the probe which is presently developed by the European Space Agency, will encounter comet Halley in March 1986 with a relative velocity of 69 km/s. The fore section of the surface will be submitted to the bombardment of dust grains and neutral molecules in the final phase of the mission, like that of an Earth orbiter during atmospheric re-entry. These particles have a kinetic energy of 24 eV per a.m.u.; they produce secondary ions and electrons which form a plasma cloud around the body and control the electric potential of its surface. This paper is a review of the work which has been performed on the subject by dedicated study groups; the purpose of their action was to gather information and produce new findings which might have an influence on the design of the spacecraft and help in the interpretation of the data collected by the scientific payload.

The effect of impact induced plasma may already be significant at 10⁵ km from the comet nucleus; at a distance of 1000 km the flux of ions and electrons produced by cometary dust and neutrals will possibly exceed that of the ambient plasma by more than three orders of magnitude. It is expected that the spacecraft surface potential will be positive and will reach at least a few tens of volts; coating the leading surface of the spacecraft with a thin layer of gold or silver will help reducing the emission of ions from neutral gas. Computer simulation models are used to predict the structure of the charged particle density distribution in the vicinity of the surface. Effects associated with the wake and differential charging are also discussed. The significance of these results is conditioned by the validity of the models and the largest source of uncertainty seems to be associated with the plasma generated by dust impact.     

在静电离子迴旋波中电子分布的演化及不稳定性分析

静电离子迴旋波可以导致异常电阻及平行电场的出现.本文分析了电子分布函数在这种波场及平行电场中的演化.结果表明, 电子分布可分成捕获和逃逸两部分.双流不稳定性的发展使逃逸部分变平, 形成具有长而平的尾巴的分布函数.后者在一定速度空间范围内对异常迴旋共振是不稳定的, 结果导致电子的热化和投掷角扩散, 使电子损失掉平行方向的能量, 形成尾部隆起的分布特征, 导致新的不稳定性的出现, 使隆起的部分基本拉平.此后虽然有少部分电子仍可能被加速, 但要慢得多, 且边加速边被热化.      

热流效应对场向电流确定的影响

给出了任意速度分布函数条件下复频率的介电函数和色散关系的求解方法. 讨论了16矩近似条件下, 场向热流对电子速度分布函数, 介电函数实部与虚部, 以及离子与电子谐振频率和阻尼率的影响, 并与平衡态时麦克斯韦分布等离子体的计算结果进行了比较. 忽略场向热流效应, 正向电子漂移速度条件下, 上行等离子线探测, 会过高估计场向电流; 负向电子漂移速度条件下, 上行等离子线探测会过低估计场向电流. 对上下行等离子线同时探测情况, 忽略热流效应同样会过高估计场向电流.