大型射电望远镜主反射面调整方法研究

随着毫米波天文学和空间通信的重要性日益提高, 对天线性能提出了越来越高的要求, 而天线性能往往受到其反射器表面精度的限制. 微波全息技术是一种快速有效的检测反射面天线表面轮廓的测量技术. 通过微波全息测量得到天线口径场, 计算天马65m射电望远镜反射面与理想抛物面的偏差. 天马65m射电望远镜的主反射面板是放射状的, 有14圈. 面板的每个角都固定在面板下方促动器的螺栓上进行上下移动, 且相邻面板交点处的拐角共用一个促动器. 采用平面拟合的方法可以计算各块面板拐角处的调整值, 但是同一个促动器会得到4个不同的调整量. 通过平面拟合, 同时以天线照明函数为权重的平差计算方法得到相邻面板拐角的一个平差值, 即天马65m射电望远镜1104个促动器的最佳调整值. 通过多次调整和新算法的应用, 天马65m射电望远镜反射面的面形精度逐渐提高到了0.24mm.     

天线面板重力变形的主动控制量计算方法研究

提出了理想反射面及2参数、5参数和6参数最佳吻合抛物面方法,计算大型卡氏天线结构重力变形后主反射面板的调整量和对应的副反射面调整量,同时分析馈源偏焦对天线电性能的影响.以上海天文台天马65 m望远镜(TM65m)为研究对象,综合对比分析促动器调整量、6杆并联机构调整量、主反射面精度及偏焦后天线指向变化等,认为针对实际结构而言,经过调整修正后,6参数最佳吻合抛物面方法可以作为高精度天线理想的计算面板变形主动控制量方法,计算结果为天线的主动控制提供初调数据.     

德令哈13.7m望远镜热变形研究

热变形是影响大型毫米波天线性能的关键因素之一.这种变形会改变天线反射面的轴线和焦距、恶化反射面面形,导致天线效率和指向精度恶化,同时也使天线效率和指向的长时间稳定性降低.由于太阳的周日运动,造成望远镜4个主支撑腿(简称支腿)之间存在温差,且该温差是变化的,从而引起方位轴的倾斜周期性变化.采用数字摄影测量、倾斜仪测量及天文实测等多种仪器和方法,研究了德令哈13.7m望远镜天线的热变形规律,并根据实时测量的主面温度分布,实现了副面自适应调焦补偿,使得天线效率提高近1倍.测量发现常规指向模型修正后的残差与天线主反射面(包括反射面板和背架,简称主面)直径方向温差存在线性相关性,故在指向解析模型中加入了温差修正项,并通过采用隔热材料包裹支腿的办法显著减小了支腿之间的温差,从而改善了望远镜的指向精度.     

TM65 m射电望远镜副面位姿建模

大型射电望远镜在观测过程中,随着俯仰角度的变化,副面支撑、背架、主反射面等都有不同程度的变形,这将导致天线效率在高低俯仰角上明显下降,天马65 m射电望远镜副面系统的安装可以用来补偿副面支撑和主面的重力变形,在不同的俯仰角度上,副面位姿的调整可以提高天线的效率和指向性能.通过在X波段和Ku波段研究副面位姿变化对天线效率的影响,用射电法建立了随俯仰角度变化的副面位姿随动调整模型和指向补偿模型.此外还测试了副面随动与固定对天线效率的影响,结果表明副面随动模型可以有效改善65 m望远镜在高低俯仰角上的效率,使得在整个俯仰角范围内,X波段的接受效率均达到60%以上.     

基于数字摄影测量技术的13.7m毫米波天线面形检测

将工业数字摄影测量技术首次应用于13.7 m毫米波射电望远镜天线的面形精度检测中.为克服现场条件的限制,在测量中使用环形轨道输送相机,采用无线传输的方式进行现场摄影.采用回光材料制作人工的标志,利用编码标志完成摄站的自动定向和同名点匹配,用光束法平差的方法解算点的3D坐标.利用CAD面形转换法和自由拟合法计算面形偏差,最终480个调整点的面形CAD拟合后的偏差调整到了0.083 mm.验证了摄影测量在射电天文天线测量中的可行性和优越性.     

轨道不平度对天线指向的影响分析与修正

基于天线轨道不平度对望远镜指向的影响机理,测量并分析采用整体焊接轨道技术后的乌鲁木齐南山26 m射电望远镜(NanShan Radio Telescope,NSRT)天线轨道误差的分布情况及对指向的影响,从而对指向模型进行修正.采用移动最小二乘法(Moving Least-Squares,MLS)将测得的天线轨道高度差拟合成一个闭合的轨道高度分布曲线,确定因轨道不平度影响的天线方位轴偏差,对比实测天线座架变形的方位轴偏差,发现二者具有较强的相关性.考虑到天线座架重力变形的偏差包含南北向和东西向偏差,建立新的指向偏差模型进行校正.最后通过对已知校准射电源进行扫描测量,将指向偏差数据进行拟合.结果表明:新建的指向修正模型能够抑制已知指向模型偏差中的正弦分量,从而说明所建模型很好地反映了天线的指向偏差并对偏差具有一定修正作用.     

65 m射电望远镜背架结构日照温度效应实验研究

借助精密工程测量手段,对65 m天线背架的日照温度效应进行了实验研究.在天线背架设计坐标系下分析实验数据,建立了日照温度变形模型,得出背架结构沿X方向变形系数为Kx=1.30×10-5,沿Z方向变形系数为Kz=-0.44×10-5,沿Y方向变形偏向太阳照射一侧.根据实验数据建立的背架变形模型,模拟分析了65 m天线背架日照温度变形对面形精度的影响,得出环境温度变化1℃带来的面形精度(均方根值rms)影响分量约为0.09 mm.实验结果为65 m天线主动面调节提供了很有价值的参考数据.     

斜轴式太赫兹天线的卡焦近场全息测量研究

天线反射面的面形精度直接影响天线效率, 是望远镜的关键指标之一. 近场射电全息具有测量精度高, 便捷高效的优点, 是毫米波和亚毫米波射电望远镜面形检测最为常用的方法之一, 卡焦近场全息可以完整测量望远镜光路中整体的面形误差. 斜轴式机架结构能够更好地适应太赫兹望远镜在极端台址环境下的整体保温和热控需求, 但斜轴天线特殊的转动特性会在近场全息测量过程中引入额外的系统误差. 针对斜轴式天线的卡焦近场全息测量, 分析了数据处理中需要额外考虑的参考路接收机位置和副面衍射的影响, 并在1.2m口径斜轴式太赫兹天线上开展了测量实验. 实验结果表明, 卡焦近场全息测量的重复测量精度优于2.0μm RMS (Root Mean Square), 面形误差分布与摄影测量所得结果一致, 验证了误差分析与修正的正确性.     

基于应变的变形副反射面位姿形貌快速重构方法

随着双反射面天线口径的增大、工作频段的升高,天线对副反射面的精度要求也越来越高.当天线受到自重以及风荷、温度等外界因素的影响时,为了更好地保证满足天线的高指向精度等电性能要求,基于应变传感器和模态叠加原理,分别利用天线变形后副反射面支撑腿与副反射面自身结构的应变值来快速重构副反射面的位姿、形貌,便于副反射面调整机构对其进行实时修正,以实现更加精准的主副反射面位置匹配,降低因天线结构变形造成的波束指向误差和增益损失.     

FAST单元面板面型检测算法研究

500 m口径球面射电望远镜(Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Radio Telescope,FAST)是一个超大口径的可动望远镜,有三项技术创新,一是选址,二是轻型馈源索支撑,三是主动反射面。在主动反射面上,单元面板的面型和面板的出厂加工精度对电磁波在反射面的汇聚有很大影响。FAST主反射面由4 600块三角形反射面板拼接而成,每块面板为边长11 m三角形,这对FAST反射面面板的测量技术提出了更高的要求。摄影测量直接在影像上进行量测,无需接触物体本身;所摄影像信息丰富,可以从中获得所研究物体的大量几何信息和物理信息;适用于大范围、多目标测量,效率高。目前世界上最大的射电望远镜,如GBT和ARECIBO都是采用摄影测量技术进行反射面面形检测。在对现有的面型检测技术调研并试验后,提出基于数字近景摄影测量的方法,对FAST反射面11 m单元面板的面型进行检测,数分钟完成反射面板面型的一次检测,测量精度达到2.5 mm,经过调整后的单元面板的面型精度达到了3.0 mm,结果表明摄影测量应用于FAST反射面单元面板面型检测是可行的。     

Instructions for authors

正Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics publishes original research papers and reviews 011 all liranchcs of astronoiriy and astrophysics.Reviews arc by invitation only.Important new results that require rapid publication can be submitted as a Letter(Letters must be restricted in length     

A thermodynamic model of high temperature lava vaporization on Io

We modified the MAGMA chemical equilibrium code developed by Fegley and Cameron (1987, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 82, 207-222) and used it to model vaporization of high temperature silicate lavas on Io. The MAGMA code computes chemical equilibria in a melt, between melt and its equilibrium vapor, and in the gas phase. The good agreement of MAGMA code results with experimental data and with other computer codes is demonstrated. The temperature-dependent pressure and composition of vapor in equilibrium with lava is calculated from 1700 to 2400 K for 109 different silicate lavas in the ONaKFeSiMgCaAlTi system. Results for five lavas (tholeiitic basalt, alkali basalt, Barberton komatiite, dunite, and a molten type B1 Ca, Al-rich inclusion) are discussed in detail. The effects of continuous fractional vaporization on chemistry of these lavas and their equilibrium vapor are presented. The predicted abundances (relative to Na) of K, Fe, Si, Al, Ca, and Ti in the vapor equilibrated with lavas at 1900 K are lower than published upper limits for Io's atmosphere (which do not include Mg). We predict evaporative loss of alkalis, Fe, and Si during volcanic eruptions. Sodium is more volatile than K, and the Na/K ratio in the gas is decreased by fractional vaporization. This process can match Io's atmospheric Na/K ratio of 10±3 reported by Brown (2001, Icarus 151, 190-195). Silicon monoxide is an abundant species in the vapor above lavas. Spectroscopic searches are recommended for SiO at IR and mm wavelengths. Reactions of metallic vapors with S- and Cl-bearing volcanic gases may form other unusual gases including MgCl₂, MgS, MgCl, FeCl₂, FeS, FeCl, and SiS.     

Instructions for authors

正Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics publishes original research papers and reviews on all branches of astronomy and astrophysics.Reviews are by invitation only.Important new results that require rapid publication can be submitted as a Letter(Letters must be restricted in length to 6 printed pages).Authors who submit a paper are expected to be able to certify that the paper is original work,     

Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics CONTENTS

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Alkali and halogen chemistry in volcanic gases on Io

We use chemical equilibrium calculations to model the speciation of alkalis and halogens in volcanic gases emitted on Io. The calculations cover wide temperature (500-2000 K) and pressure (10⁻⁶ to 10⁺¹ bars) ranges, which overlap the nominal conditions at Pele (T=1760 K, P=0.01 bars). About 230 compounds of 11 elements (O, S, Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, F, Cl, Br, I) are considered. The elemental abundances for O, S, Na, K, and Cl are based upon observations. CI chondritic elemental abundances relative to sulfur are used for the other alkalis and halogens (as yet unobserved on Io). We predict the major alkali species in Pele-like volcanic gases and the percentage distribution of each alkali are LiCl (73%), LiF (27%); NaCl (81%), Na (16%), NaF (3%); KCl (91%), K (5%), KF (4%); RbCl (93%), Rb (4%), RbF (3%); CsCl (92%), CsF (6%), Cs (2%). Likewise the major halogen species and the percentage distribution of each halogen are NaF (88%), KF (10%), LiF (2%); NaCl (89%), KCl (11%); NaBr (89%), KBr (10%), Br (1%); NaI (61%), I (30%), KI (9%). We predict the major halogen condensates and their condensation temperatures at P=0.01 bar are NaF (1115 K), LiF (970 K); NaCl (1050 K), KCl (950 K); KBr (750 K), RbBr (730 K), CsBr (645 K); and solid I₂ (200 K). We also model disequilibrium chemistry of the alkalis and halogens in the volcanic plume. Based on this work and our prior modeling for Na, K, and Cl in a volcanic plume, we predict the major loss processes for the alkali halide gases are photolysis and/or condensation onto grains. Their estimated photochemical lifetimes range from a few minutes for alkali iodides to a few hours for alkali fluorides. Condensation is apparently the only loss process for elemental iodine. On the basis of elemental abundances and photochemical lifetimes, we recommend searching for gaseous KCl, NaF, LiF, LiCl, RbF, RbCl, CsF, and CsCl around volcanic vents during eruptions. Based on abundance considerations and observations of brown dwarfs we also recommend a search of Io's extended atmosphere and the Io plasma torus for neutral and ionized Li, Cs, Rb, and F.     

Study on the Stressed Mirror Polishing with a Continuous Polishing Machine for Large Aperture Off-axis Aspheric Mirrors

A special stressed annular polishing technique is proposed to mill the off-axis aspheric sub-mirrors of a large segmented mirror with an annular polishing machine. Based on the basic principle of stressed annular polishing technique, a set of special stressing mechanisms are designed to convert milling the aspheric surfaces of sub-mirrors with different off-axis distances into milling the spherical surfaces with identical radii of curvature, so that they can be pol- ished simultaneously on a continuous polishing machine. It took about contin- uous 40 hours to polish a scaled-down mirror of the planning Chinese Future Giant Telescope (CFGT) using this technique. This mirror has the 330 mm di- ameter, 3.6 m off-axis distance, and the 21.6 m radius of curvature, and its max- imum asphericity is 16 micron. The experiment shows that this method has a high effciency, suits batch manufacturing, especially the batch manufacturing of aspheric sub-mirrors of the segmented primary mirror of an extremely large aperture telescope.     

The climatic and physiographic controls of the eastern Mediterranean over the late Pleistocene climates in the southern Levant and its neighboring deserts

Modern-day synoptic-scale eastern Mediterranean climatology provides a useful context to synthesize the diverse late Pleistocene (60–12 ka) paleohydrologic and paleoenvironmental indicators of past climatic conditions in the Levant and the deserts to its south and east. We first critically evaluate, extract, and summarize paleoenvironmental and paleohydrologic records. Then, we propose a framework of eastern Mediterranean atmospheric circulation features interacting with the morphology and location of the southeast Mediterranean coast. Together they strongly control the spatial distribution of rainfall and wind pattern. This cyclone–physiography interaction enforces the observed rainfall patterns by hampering rainfall generation south and southeast of the latitude of the north Sinai coast, currently at 31°15′.The proposed framework explains the much-increased rains in Lebanon and northern Israel and Jordan as deduced from pollen, rise and maintenance of Lake Lisan, and speleothem formation in areas currently arid and semiarid. The proposed framework also accounts for the southward and eastward transition into semiarid, arid, and hyperarid deserts as expressed in thick loess accumulation at the deserts' margins, dune migration from west to east in the Sinai and the western Negev, and the formation of hyperarid (< 80 mm yr^− 1) gypsic–salic soils in the southern Negev and Sinai. Our climatic synthesis explains the hyperarid condition in the southern Negev, located only 200–250 km south of the much-increased rains in the north, probably reflecting a steeper rainfall gradient than the present-day gradient from the wetter Levant into its bordering southern and eastern deserts.At present, the rainiest winter seasons in Lebanon and northern and central Israel are associated with more frequent (+ 20%), deeper Cyprus Lows traversing the eastern Mediterranean at approximately the latitude of southern Turkey. Even these wettest years in northern Israel do not yield above average annual rainfall amounts in the hyperarid southern Negev. This region is mainly influenced by the Active Red Sea Troughs that produce only localized rains. The eastern Mediterranean Cyprus Lows also produce more dust storms and transport higher amounts of suspended dust to the loess area than any other atmospheric pattern. Concurrent rainfall and dust are essential to the late Pleistocene formation of the elongated thick loess zone along the desert northern margin. Even with existing dust storms, the lack of rain and very sparse vegetation account for the absence of late Pleistocene loess sequences from the southern Negev and the formation of hyperarid soils.When the north Sinai coast shifted 30–70 km northwest due to last glacial global sea level lowering, the newly exposed coastal areas supplied the sand and dust to these active eastern Mediterranean cyclones. This enforced the latitude of the northern boundary of the loess zone to be directly due east of the LGM shoreline. This shift of coast to the northwest inhibited rainfall in the southern Levant deserts and maintained their hyperaridity. Concurrently, frequent deep eastern Mediterranean Cyprus Lows were funneled along the northern Mediterranean increasing (probably doubling) the rains in central and northern Israel, Lebanon, southwestern Syria and northern Jordan. These storms and rains formed lakes, forests, and speleothems only a short distance north of the deserts in the southern Levant.     

Active hot star shells

Interferometry in the visible provides milliarcsecond spatial resolution and thus has been used for studying the circumstellar environment of active hot stars. In this paper I will illustrate how the visibility modulus and phase can be used to better constrain the physics of Be disks through results from the VLA, the MkII and the GI2T interferometers. I will insist on the importance and the potential of coupling high angular resolution with high spectral resolution to the study of Be shells. Finally I will present a possible study of the circumstellar disk of Be stars using the VLTI. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.