火星电离层无线电掩星探测仿真研究

对中俄联合火星星-星电离层掩星技术体制进行了分析和介绍,采用三维射线追踪方法对电离层掩星事件的电波观测值进行了模拟计算,并利用模拟的掩星观测数据进行了电子密度廓线反演,结果说明仿真算法可靠.利用仿真的方法,分别对掩星电波相位观测误差和卫星轨道误差等带来的反演误差进行了个例计算和分析,结果得到:5%周的相位测量误差对白天电离层掩星探测结果的影响可以忽略,而夜间电子密度测量的绝对误差小于4×108 m-3;卫星轨道误差对掩星的主要影响是导致电离层高度抬升或下降.结果表明,中俄联合火星电离层掩星探测技术体制先进,可望获得高精度的电子密度廓线;其技术体制也可以用于月球电离层环境的探测.     

Detection of Titan's Ionosphere from Voyager 1 Radio Occultation Observations

Evidence for a marginal detection of the Titan ionosphere has been obtained from a new analysis of the dual-frequency Doppler data recorded during theVoyager 1occultation in 1980. The original report by Lindalet al.(1983,Icarus53,348–363) gave only upper bounds on the peak electron density of 3000 cm⁻³during ingress (evening terminator) and 5000 cm⁻³during egress (morning terminator). The dual-frequency ingress data imply a maximum electron density of 2400 ± 1100 cm⁻³for Titan's upper ionosphere at an altitude of 1180 ± 150 km. The egress data were determined to be of limited use for this analysis because the X-band signal was received for only a few seconds. Nevertheless, a distinct ionospheric peak is revealed in the S-band data for both ingress and egress. The height and peak density of this ionized layer are in good agreement with expectations from numerical models that invoke photoionization and energetic electron impacts.     

基于MGS探测器掩星观测的火星电离层数据初步分析

该文简要介绍了行星无线电掩星技术的意义、历史和原理.利用MGS探测器无线电科学掩星实验得到的火星电离层电子浓度EDS数据,可研究火星电离层的结构.文中分析了MSG电子浓度廓线的峰值高度随经度的变化特性,并结合火星电离层的Chapman模型和实测的电子浓度廓线,探讨了火星电离层的双层或多层结构的可能性及其物理机制.分析了峰值电子浓度和峰值高度同太阳天顶角的关系和TEC在各数据集中的分布.     

电离层与电波传播路径

电离层从猜想到证实完全是无线电技术发展的结果。通过地面无线电探测和火箭、卫星的空间探测、证实了Ｃｈａｐｍａｎ的理论。由于太阳紫外线，Ｘ射线辐射致使高空上层大气电离。电离层介质是电子、正负离子和中性粒子全体的混合物。它们构成了地磁场中磁离子介质。本文根据磁离子理论，研究了电离层中等离子体的频率特性，从而解释了Ｄ、Ｅ、Ｆ１和Ｆ２层的电波反射特性。最后计算了陕西天文台至云南天文台电离层波导的传播时延，获得了有意义的结果。     

Solar Occultation Measurements of the Martian Atmosphere on the Phobos Spacecraft: Water Vapor Profile,Aerosol Parameters,and Other Results

The Auguste experiment onboard the Phobos spacecraft was devoted to solar occultation spectroscopy of the Martian atmosphere in the ultraviolet through infrared wavelength region. Despite the short duration of the space mission and problems associated largely with a fault in the solar pointing system, data have been obtained on the chemical composition and aerosol content in the atmosphere of Mars at sunset early in the summer at equatorial latitudes (in the northern hemisphere). This paper presents a somewhat detailed review of the experiment performed, the data obtained, and their interpretation, and compares these data with new results. Ozone traces were detected at altitudes of 40–60 km, and, in one case, an ozone profile was obtained. Nine profiles of water vapor content at altitudes between 12 and 50 km were obtained from absorption data in the 1.87-m band. At altitudes of 23–25 km, the mean H₂O concentration profile falls steeply to the value of 3 ppm, but at lower altitudes the relative H₂O content is approximately constant (130 ppm). The overall content of water vapor is estimated as 8.3^+2.5 _-1.5 m of settled water. The temperature profile for the saturated atmosphere yields a cooling rate of 2 ± 1 K/km at altitudes from 25 to 35 km. The atmospheric extinction profiles were measured at altitudes from 10 to 50 km at the wavelengths 1.9 and 3.7 m. The atmosphere is transparent up to 25–33 km; below this level radiation is attenuated by dust; it is also possible that a layer of water ice clouds is present at altitudes of 20–25 km. High-altitude transparent ( 0.03) clouds consisting supposedly of water ice were observed in 5 of 38 cases at altitudes z 50 km. The optical depth ₀ of the atmosphere was estimated to be 0.2 ± 0.1, and constraints on the form of the size distribution of dust particles were established. Spectral features in the 3.7 m range have been previously attributed to formaldehyde; its content is substantially higher than the limits deduced from new ground-based observations. The spectrum in the 3.7 m range is discussed and other unsettled problems are pointed out.     

GPS/LEO掩星方法中的电离层延迟量对太阳射电辐射流量的响应

对无线电信号在电离层中的传播路径进行了数值模拟;针对掩星观测中的五组实际卫星轨道数据(包括GPS和LEO卫星),给出了在太阳射电辐射流量(FLUX)分别为0,70,160和240等几种情况下的电离层延迟量对10.7cm波长的太阳辐射流量的响应结果;这分别对应着无太阳辐射、太阳射电辐射处于活动低谷、平静期和高峰期等几种情形。从中可以发现,掩星观测中电离层延迟量对10.7cm波长的太阳射电辐射流量的响应表现为如下特性:电离层延迟同参数FLUX的大小有明显的对应关系,即FLUX越大,则掩星观测中的电离层延迟越大;对于上升掩星情况而言,掩星观测中电离层延迟量起先逐渐增加,然后达到某一峰值,其后逐渐下降;在掩星观测的初期和中期,太阳射电辐射处于活动低谷、平静期和高峰期等几种情形之间的电离层延迟量差异都较为显著,而在掩星观测的后期,几种情形相互间电离层延迟量的差异都比较小。     

An analysis of Martian satellite photographic observations of 1967

Photographic observations of the Martian satellites were made at the opposition of 1967 with the Naval Observatory's 61-inch astrometric reflector. A small partially transparent metallic film filter was used to diminish the light from Mars in order that a measurable image for the planetary disk as well as for the satellites could be obtained. The plates were reduced by the method of plate constants using positions for the faint background stars determined from astrographic field plates. The random mean error of these observations was estimated to be not greater than ±0″.10.The main result of the orbital adjustment is a +2° correction to the zero of mean longitude for Phobos. This confirms the findings of Wilkins (1970) and is compatible with the results of the Mariner 9 observations. The scale of the orbits of both satellites gave accordant values for the mass of Mars and the combined value of 30 99 500 ± 2800 (m.e.) is in good agreement with modern determinations.The mean error for Deimos derived from the residuals after solution is ±0″.11, which agrees well with the observational error and indicates no large systematic error in either the theory or the observations. For Phobos, however, the residual error, ±0″.19, is twice the expected observational error. The implications of this discrepancy are discussed.     

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.     

Nature of the Martian uplands: Effect on Martian meteorite age distribution and secondary cratering

Abstract— Martian meteorites (MMs) have been launched from an estimated 5–9 sites on Mars within the last 20 Myr. Some 80–89% of these launch sites sampled igneous rock formations from only the last 29% of Martian time. We hypothesize that this imbalance arises not merely from poor statistics, but because the launch processes are dominated by two main phenomena: first, much of the older Martian surface is inefficient in launching rocks during impacts, and second, the volumetrically enormous reservoir of original cumulate crust enhances launch probability for 4.5 Gyr old rocks. There are four lines of evidence for the first point, not all of equal strength. First, impact theory implies that MM launch is favored by surface exposures of near‐surface coherent rock (≤10² m deep), whereas Noachian surfaces generally should have ≥10² m of loose or weakly cemented regolith with high ice content, reducing efficiency of rock launch. Second, similarly, both Mars Exploration Rovers found sedimentary strata, 1–2 orders of magnitude weaker than Martian igneous rocks, favoring low launch efficiency among some fluvial‐derived Hesperian and Noachian rocks. Even if launched, such rocks may be unrecognized as meteorites on Earth. Third, statistics of MM formation age versus cosmic‐ray exposure (CRE) age weakly suggest that older surfaces may need larger, deeper craters to launch rocks. Fourth, in direct confirmation, one of us (N. G. B.) has found that older surfaces need larger craters to produce secondary impact crater fields (cf. Barlow and Block 2004). In a survey of 200 craters, the smallest Noachian, Hesperian, and Amazonian craters with prominent fields of secondaries have diameters of ?45 km, ?19 km, and ?10 km, respectively. Because 40% of Mars is Noachian, and 74% is either Noachian or Hesperian, the subsurface geologic characteristics of the older areas probably affect statistics of recognized MMs and production rates of secondary crater populations, and the MM and secondary crater statistics may give us clues to those properties.     

Amino acid photostability on the Martian surface

Abstract— In the framework of international planetary exploration programs, several space missions are planned to search for organics and bio‐signatures on Mars. Previous attempts have not detected any organic compounds in the Martian regolith. It is therefore critical to investigate the processes that may affect organic molecules on and below the planet's surface. Laboratory simulations can provide useful data about the reaction pathways of organic material at Mars' surface. We have studied the stability of amino acid thin films against ultraviolet (UV) irradiation and use those data to predict the survival time of these compounds on and in the Martian regolith. We show that thin films of glycine and D‐alanine are expected to have half‐lives of 22 ± 5 hr and of 3 ± 1 hr, respectively, when irradiated with Mars‐like UV flux levels. Modelling shows that the half‐lives of the amino acids are extended to the order of 10⁷ years when embedded in regolith. These data suggest that subsurface sampling must be a key component of future missions to Mars dedicated to organic detection.     

Photochemistry of the Martian atmosphere

A variety of models are explored to study the photochemistry of CO₂ in the Martian atmosphere with emphasis on reactions involving compounds of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Acceptable models are constrained to account for measured concentrations of CO and O above 90 km, with an additional requirement that they should be in accord with observations of CO, O₂, and O₃ in the lower atmosphere. Dynamical mixing must be exceedingly rapid at altitudes above 90 km, with effective eddy diffusion coefficients in excess of 10⁷ cm² sec^?1. If recombination of CO₂ is to occur mainly by gas phase chemistry, catalyzed by trace quantities of H, OH, and HO₂, mixing must be rapid over the altitude interval 30 to 40 km. The value implied for the diffusion coefficient in this region is a function of assumptions made regarding the rates for reaction of OH with HO₂ to form H₂O and of the rate for reaction of HO₂ with itself to form H₂O₂. If rates for these reactions are taken to have values similar to rates used in current models for the Earth's stratosphere, the eddy diffusion coefficient at 40 km on Mars should be about 5 × 10⁷ cm² sec^?1, consistent with Zurek's (1976) estimate for this parameter inferred from tidal theory. Surface chemistry could have an influence on the abundances of atmospheric CO and O₂, but a major effect would imply sluggish mixing at all altitudes below 50 km and in addition would carry implications for the magnitude of the rates for reaction of OH with HO₂ and HO₂ with itself.     

Global color variations on the Martian surface

Surface materials exposed throughout the equatorial region of Mars have been classified and mapped on the basis of spectral reflectance properties determined by the Viking II Orbiter vidicon cameras. Frames acquired at each of three wavelengths (0.45 ± 0.03 μm, 0.53 ± 0.05 μm, and 0.59 ± 0.05 μm) during the approach of Viking Orbiter II in Martian summer (L_s = 105°) were mosaicked by computer. The mosaics cover latitudes 30°N to 63°S for 360° of longitude and have resolutions between 10 and 20 km per line pair. Image processing included Mercator transformation and removal of an average Martian photometric function to produce albedo maps at three wavelengths. The classical dark region between the equator and ～30°S in the Martian highlands is composed of two units: (i) and ancient unit consisting of topographic highs (ridges, crater rims, and rugged plateaus riddled with small dendritic channels) which is among the reddest on the planet $\text{(0.59/0.45 μ}\text{m}\text{? 3)}$; and (ii) intermediate age, smooth, intercrater volcanic plains displaying numerous mare ridges which are among the least red on Mars $\text{(0.59/0.45 μ}\text{m}\text{? 2)}$. The relatively young shield volcanoes are, like the oldest unit, dark and very red. Two probable eolian deposits are recognized in the intermediate and high albedo regions. The stratigraphically lower unit is intermediate in both color $\text{(0.59/ 0.45 μ}\text{m}\text{? 2.5)}$ and albedo. The upper unit has the highest albedo, is very red $\text{(0.59/0.45 μ}\text{m}\text{? 3)}$, and is apparently the major constituent of the annual dust storms as its areal extent changes from year to year. The south polar ice cap and condensate clouds dominate the southernmost part of the mosaics.     

Distribution of small channels on the Martian surface

The distribution of small channels on Mars has been mapped from Mariner 9 images, at the 1:5 000 000 scale, by the author. The small channels referred to here are small valleys ranging in width from the resolution limit of the Mariner 9 wide-angle images (～1 km) to about 10 km. The greatest density of small band occurs in dark cratered terrain. This dark zone forms a broad subequatorial band around the planet. The observed distribution may be the result of decreased small-channel visibility in bright areas due to obscuration by a high albedo dust or sediment mantle. Crater densities within two small-channel segments show crater size-frequency distributions consistent with those of the oldest of the heavily cratered plains units. Such crater densities coupled with the almost exclusive occurrence of small channels in old cratered terrain and the generally degraded appearance of small channels in the high-resolution images (～100 m) imply a major episode of small-channel formation early in Martian geologic history.     

日球边界射电辐射的研究进展

日球边界射电辐射是太阳系最强的射电辐射现象,辐射功率至少达1013 W,能够提供日球边界附近高能电子束和背景磁等离子体结构的重要物理信息.自1983年旅行者号卫星首次探测到日球边界射电辐射后,其便受到研究者们的广泛持续关注.日球边界射电辐射大致有两类:辐射频率相对较高的瞬时辐射或称漂移辐射以及辐射频率相对较低的持续辐射或称非漂移辐射.通常两类辐射都从大约2 kHz开始,漂移辐射具有向高频率漂移的特征,频漂率约为1–3 kHz/yr,频率范围1.8–3.6 kHz,持续时间较短大致100–300 d;非漂移辐射没有明显的频率漂移,频率范围1.8–2.6 kHz,持续时间较长大致3 yr.目前普遍认为日球边界射电辐射与激波有关.介绍了该射电辐射可能的辐射产生源区、辐射物理机制以及与辐射相关的激波来源,并且讨论了尚存在的科学问题以及展望了未来可以进一步开展的研究.     

木星掩星的相对论效应

本文计算了木星掩星的相对论效应的数量级,同时讨论了利用木星掩星观测法检验广义相对论光线偏折效应的可能性。     

Evidence for topographic effects on the Martian ionosphere

The Radio occultation experiment on board Mariner 9 has been used to demonstrate that the altitude of the main electron density peak in the Martian ionosphere is closely related to the height of Mars’ surface at the occultation point. This is direct evidence for topographic effects on the Martian ionosphere. Modeling indicates that topographic-induced modulations of the neutral density in the upper atmosphere can account for the observed ionospheric effects. The neutral density modulation is likely to be caused by nonmigrating tides in the Martian thermosphere.     

Photometric properties of the Martian satellites

New photoelectric observations yield V(1, α) = 12.95 + 0.036 α ± 0.05, BV = 0.65 ± 0.03, and UB = 0.18 ± 0.03 for Deimos and V(1, 0) = 11.9 ± 0.2 for Phobos. The derived geometric albedos of both satellites are near 0.065. Combined photometric and polarimetric results lead to the conclusion that the satellites have dusty surfaces and are possibly basaltic but more likely carbonaceous in composition.     

The motion of the Martian satellites

An extensive analysis of the motion of Phobos and Deimos from 1877 to 1973 has been fulfilled. The new values of the parameters of the orbital model first developed by Struve have been determined for both satellites. The new sets of the orbital parameters compete with the solutions of similar accuracy found by Wilkins and Sinclair. A secular acceleration in longitude of Phobos is found to be equal to +(0.107±0.011)×10^?7 deg day^?2. The value of the acceleration is little affected when one or another group of oppositions is omitted. The acceleration of Deimos is determined with great uncertainty: +(0.06±0.34)×10^?9 deg day^?2. Values found for the orbital parameters seem to be in good agreement since the mass, oblateness and coordinates of the pole of Mars inferred from the motion of each satellite have similar values in both cases.     

Hydrogen isotopic composition of the Martian mantle inferred from the newest Martian meteorite fall,Tissint

The hydrogen isotopic composition of planetary reservoirs can provide key constraints on the origin and history of water on planets. The sources of water and the hydrological evolution of Mars may be inferred from the hydrogen isotopic compositions of mineral phases in Martian meteorites, which are currently the only samples of Mars available for Earth‐based laboratory investigations. Previous studies have shown that δD values in minerals in the Martian meteorites span a large range of ?250 to +6000‰. The highest hydrogen isotope ratios likely represent a Martian atmospheric component: either interaction with a reservoir in equilibrium with the Martian atmosphere (such as crustal water), or direct incorporation of the Martian atmosphere due to shock processes. The lowest δD values may represent those of the Martian mantle, but it has also been suggested that these values may represent terrestrial contamination in Martian meteorites. Here we report the hydrogen isotopic compositions and water contents of a variety of phases (merrillites, maskelynites, olivines, and an olivine‐hosted melt inclusion) in Tissint, the latest Martian meteorite fall that was minimally exposed to the terrestrial environment. We compared traditional sample preparation techniques with anhydrous sample preparation methods, to evaluate their effects on hydrogen isotopes, and find that for severely shocked meteorites like Tissint, the traditional sample preparation techniques increase water content and alter the D/H ratios toward more terrestrial‐like values. In the anhydrously prepared Tissint sample, we see a large range of δD values, most likely resulting from a combination of processes including magmatic degassing, secondary alteration by crustal fluids, shock‐related fractionation, and implantation of Martian atmosphere. Based on these data, our best estimate of the δD value for the Martian depleted mantle is ?116 ± 94‰, which is the lowest value measured in a phase in the anhydrously prepared section of Tissint. This value is similar to that of the terrestrial upper mantle, suggesting that water on Mars and Earth was derived from similar sources. The water contents of phases in Tissint are highly variable, and have been affected by secondary processes. Considering the H₂O abundances reported here in the driest phases (most likely representing primary igneous compositions) and appropriate partition coefficients, we estimate the H₂O content of the Tissint parent magma to be ≤0.2 wt%.