The visible and near infrared module of EChO

The Visible and Near Infrared (VNIR) is one of the modules of EChO, the Exoplanets Characterization Observatory proposed to ESA for an M-class mission. EChO is aimed to observe planets while transiting by their suns. Then the instrument had to be designed to assure a high efficiency over the whole spectral range. In fact, it has to be able to observe stars with an apparent magnitude M_v?=?9–12 and to see contrasts of the order of 10^?4–10^?5 necessary to reveal the characteristics of the atmospheres of the exoplanets under investigation. VNIR is a spectrometer in a cross-dispersed configuration, covering the 0.4–2.5 μm spectral range with a resolving power of about 330 and a field of view of 2 arcsec. It is functionally split into two channels respectively working in the 0.4–1.0 μm and 1.0–2.5 μm spectral ranges. Such a solution is imposed by the fact the light at short wavelengths has to be shared with the EChO Fine Guiding System (FGS) devoted to the pointing of the stars under observation. The spectrometer makes use of a HgCdTe detector of 512 by 512 pixels, 18 μm pitch and working at a temperature of 45 K as the entire VNIR optical bench. The instrument has been interfaced to the telescope optics by two optical fibers, one per channel, to assure an easier coupling and an easier colocation of the instrument inside the EChO optical bench.     

On the design of the PEPSI spectropolarimeter for the LBT

We present the design concept of the spectropolarimeter for the high‐resolution echelle spectrograph PEPSI tobe installed at the 2 × 8.4 m Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) in Arizona. We discuss the optical key elements, the principles of operations of the instrument and its instrumental polarization effects (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Novel spaceways for reaching the Moon: an assessment for exploration

The renewed interest of the major space agencies for the exploration of the Moon has made a review of the present/near future scenario and the related accessible mission profiles desirable. In particular the application of the dynamical systems approach to spaceflight dynamics could bring a significant contribution. A simple method for evaluating the efficiency of these novel spaceways for reaching the Moon if compared to more traditional mission profiles is presented and some general considerations on their utilization for automatic precursor missions as well as for the setting up and the maintenance of a Moon Base are discussed.     

Short-Period Fluctuations in Coronal Mass Ejection Activity during Solar Cycle 23

We have constructed a time series of the number of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) observed by SOHO/LASCO during solar cycle 23. Using spectral analysis techniques (the maximum entropy method and wavelet analysis) we found short-period (< one year) semiperiodic activity. Among others, we found interesting periodicities at 193, 36, 28, and 25 days. We discuss the implications of such short-period activity in terms of the emergence and escape of magnetic flux from the convection zone, through the low solar atmosphere (where these periodicities have been found for numerous activity parameters), toward interplanetary space. This analysis shows that CMEs remove the magnetic flux in a quasiperiodic process in a way similar to that of magnetic flux emergence and other solar eruptive activity.     

4株海洋红球菌产类胡萝卜素分析及其全基因组测序

以源于东太平洋海水的4株红球菌分离菌Rhodococcussp. EPR-134、Rhodococcus sp. EPR-147、Rhodococcus sp. EPR-157和Rhodococcus sp. EPR-279为研究对象,开展了菌株的色素提取和色素全波长扫描,并基于全基因组测序分析了4株细菌类胡萝卜素代谢通路中的相关基因。色素全波长扫描结果显示,菌株EPR-134不具备类胡萝卜素产生能力,而其它3株红球菌能够产生类胡萝卜素,且所产类胡萝卜素组分不同。基因组分析表明,4个细菌基因组中存在较为完整的促使类胡萝卜素形成的基因簇。对菌株参与番茄红素形成的3个关键基因crt E、crt B和crt I的氨基酸序列同源性两两比对分析表明,菌株EPR-134 3个基因氨基酸序列与其它3个菌株相应基因氨基酸序列同源性最低,这可能是导致该菌株不产类胡萝卜素的关键原因。该研究结果为产类胡萝卜素红球菌的遗传改造,以及为产类胡萝卜素工程菌的构建奠定了前期基础。     

中国农业气象模式(CAMM1.0)构建与应用

为发展适宜中国区域农业种植特点的农业气象模式,基于国外作物生长模拟方法,通过模式机理过程改进或重构以及应用方式革新,建立了中国农业气象模式（Chinese AgroMeteorological Model version 1.0,CAMM1.0）。CAMM1.0利用平均温度和土壤水分改进了作物发育进程模式,利用土壤水分改进了作物叶片光合作用、干物质分配和叶面积扩展过程模式,通过蒸发比法扩展了作物蒸散过程模式;自主建立了基于发育进程的冬小麦株高、基于遥感信息的作物灌溉、遥感数据同化、作物长势与灾害评价等模式。基于互联网技术构造了实时运转平台,主要功能包括作物生长过程实时常规模拟与用户个性化定制模拟。CAMM1.0的部分子模式采用多种方法构造,便于多模式集成。CAMM1.0对作物发育进程、光合过程、株高的模拟效果较好,但对土壤水分变化过程的拟合略差,模拟产量略偏低。CAMM1.0评价淮河流域夏玉米年际干旱减弱而涝渍增加的趋势与实际基本相符。     

南海西部围区中特提斯东延通道问题

通过对南海西部围区中生代岩相古地理资料的收集整理和分析,编制了该区T_2,T_3~1,T_3~2,T_3~3,J_1-J_2,J_3-K_1共6个时段的岩相古地理简图,根据其中生代海相地层的时空分布和岩相特征,讨论了尚存争议的中特提斯进入南海的通道问题。实际资料表明,黑水河盆地在三叠纪受印支运动影响完成了从海到陆的过程,之后不再出现海相沉积,中特提斯不可能从红河裂谷带进入南海。在新加坡所见的晚三叠世至早侏罗世浅海至陆相沉积代表古特提斯的残余海,到中侏罗世完全消失。早侏罗世时期在印支半岛南部出现的近南北走向的海湾可能经过泰国湾与当时的滇缅海相通;但是这个海湾浅而短暂,滇缅海能否从这里进入南海值得怀疑,更不可能是中特提斯的通道。在南海西部围区,迄今已证实的中生代洋壳碎片(蛇绿岩套)和深海沉积仅见于南部Woyla—Maratus—Lupar一线及其附近。这套延伸2000余km,从洋壳、深海到浅海岩相齐全的岩石所代表的晚侏罗世至早白垩纪世大洋应是中特提斯洋的一部分。中特提斯东延而最可能是走南路,即从班公一怒江带南下之后,经Woyla线穿过苏门答腊岛,绕加里曼丹岛南缘到Maratus线,向北再经沙巴到Lupar线,在沙捞越北部或纳土纳岛附近进入南海。     

基于直升机平台的南极非量测数码航空摄影测量技术研究

使用直升机作为飞行平台并应用哈苏H1D非量测数码相机进行南极中山站和拉斯曼丘陵地区摄影测量。通过对非量测相机标定,获取相机的内方位元素,从而可进行航空摄影测量。两个区域的具体试验表明基于直升机平台和非量测数码相机的航空摄影测量可应用于南极等困难地区的地形图测绘。     

内蒙古西辽河流域特种玉米品种特性及气候区划

基于玉米本身的特性和用途的不同,将玉米分为高油型玉米、高淀粉型玉米、高赖氨酸型玉米和甜玉米四大类型.根据每种玉米品种对气候条件、土壤类型、地形特征等的不同需求,以通辽地区作为内蒙古东部西辽河流域玉米主产区的示范区,提出了特种玉米的区划指标,并利用GIS技术进行适宜种植区域划分.内蒙古通辽地区大部分农区适宜种植特种玉米,最适宜区、适宜区基本上均位于通辽南部和中部农业区.     

北斗系统及GNSS多星座组合导航性能研究

针对北斗、GPS、GLONASS和GALILEO等单星座系统定位中存在的定位精度不足、可见星不多、定位可靠性不强等问题,研究了一种利用北斗、GPS、GLONASS和GALI—LEO多星座信息在统一坐标系中采用最小二乘法进行组合导航定位的方法。仿真结果表明：北斗与GPS双系统的定位精度优于单纯的北斗系统精度,而采用北斗／GPS／GLONASS／GALILEO多星座组合导航定位能够有效提高用户的定位精度和可靠性,研究成果对北斗系统的精度验证和多星座接收机的实现具有参考意义。