Accretion of Saturn’s mid-sized moons during the viscous spreading of young massive rings: Solving the paradox of silicate-poor rings versus silicate-rich moons

The origin of Saturn’s inner mid-sized moons (Mimas, Enceladus, Tethys, Dione and Rhea) and Saturn’s rings is debated. Charnoz et al. [Charnoz, S., Salmon J., Crida A., 2010. Nature 465, 752–754] introduced the idea that the smallest inner moons could form from the spreading of the rings’ edge while Salmon et al. [Salmon, J., Charnoz, S., Crida, A., Brahic, A., 2010. Icarus 209, 771–785] showed that the rings could have been initially massive, and so was the ring’s progenitor itself. One may wonder if the mid-sized moons may have formed also from the debris of a massive ring progenitor, as also suggested by Canup [Canup, R., 2010. Nature 468, 943–946]. However, the process driving mid-sized moon accretion from the icy debris disks has not been investigated in details. In particular, Canup’s (2010) model does not seem able to explain the varying silicate contents of the mid-sized moons (from 6% to 57% in mass). Here, we explore the formation of large objects from a massive ice-rich ring (a few times Rhea’s mass) and describe the fundamental properties and implications of this new process. Using a hybrid computer model, we show that accretion within massive icy rings can form all mid-sized moons from Mimas to Rhea. However in order to explain their current locations, intense dissipation within Saturn (with Q_p < 2000) is required. Our results are consistent with a satellite origin tied to the rings formation at least 2.5 Gy ago, both compatible with either a formation concurrent to Saturn or during the Late Heavy Bombardment. Tidal heating related to high-eccentricity post-accretional episodes may induce early geological activity. If some massive irregular chunks of silicates were initially present within the rings, they would be present today inside the satellites’ cores which would have accreted icy shells while being tidally expelled from the rings (via a heterogeneous accretion process). These moons may be either mostly icy, or, if they contain a significant amount of rock, already differentiated from the ice without the need for radiogenic heating. The resulting inner mid-sized moons may be significantly younger than the Solar System and a ∼1 Gyr formation delay is possible between Mimas and Rhea. The rings resulting from this process would evolve to a state compatible with current mass estimates of Saturn’s rings, and nearly devoid of silicates, apart from isolated silicate chunks coated with ice, interpreted as today Saturn’s rings’ propellers and ring-moons (like Pan or Daphnis).     

A study of secondary cosmic ray flux variation during the annular eclipse of 15 January 2010 at Rameswaram, India

The gamma ray flux was measured during the annular solar eclipse on January 15, 2010 at Rameswaram, India using NaI (Tl) scintillator detectors and the variation in charged particles and gamma rays was monitored using Geiger Mu¨ller (GM) counters. The gamma ray flux variation was studied in energy range of 0.1–3.5 MeV. Weather parameters (temperature and humidity) were continuously recorded throughout the duration of the eclipse at the site and correlation between gamma ray flux and weather parameters was examined. Analysis of the secondary cosmic ray flux using Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) was carried out to study the impact of the eclipse on the flux modulation. An overall decrease in flux was observed by both GM counters and scintillator detectors. A relative enhancement observed for short time during the eclipse which could be associated with the presence of counter electrojet observed at Rameswaram. This is suggestive of an increase in secondary cosmic ray flux at the geomagnetic equator during every counter electrojet due to decrease in geomagnetic rigidity.     

太阳射电频谱观测数据分析系统方案设计

中国太阳射电宽带动态频谱仪(solar Broadband Radio Spectrometer)在太阳物理研究和国际合作交流中发挥了重要作用.为进一步扩大该设备观测数据的国际交流和共享、挖掘数据的深层信息、加快科学产出,有必要开发一套与SSW(Solar Soft Ware)兼容的数据分析系统.该系统具有以下主要特点:(1)按SSW规范设计编写,既可以在SSW环境下运行也可以独立安装使用;(2)新界面设计更易于用户上手,也可以进行复杂深层的数值分析;(3)规范明晰的功能模块和流程设计减少了漏洞和排错时间,定标和特征信息提取等多种亟需功能的完善为科学研究开拓了空间,节省了时间;(4)利用MySQL关系数据库管理系统建设一个安全稳定、易于升级管理的数据库,便于浏览搜索和批量下载.此外,该数据分析系统的开发将为正在研制的中国太阳射电频谱日像仪积累经验和储备技术,并为国内其它台站提供模式和经验.     

风云二号03批卫星空间环境监测器

风云二号卫星以自旋稳定方式工作于地球静止轨道,自1997年以来,01批与02批卫星空间环境监测器成功的业务运行获得了大量重要探测成果;在继承01批与02批产品研制技术的基础上,提高了03批空间环境监测器的探测性能指标和技术设计,更好地满足空间天气预警业务发展的新需求.本文对风云二号03批卫星空间环境监测器的新设计、关键技术研制和发射前的定标试验结果进行分析和讨论.     

行星际扰动和地磁活动对GEO相对论电子影响

利用1988—2010年小时平均的GOES卫星数据,对地球同步轨道(GEO)相对论电子变化进行了统计分析,研究了相对论电子通量(Fe)增强事件的发展过程,探讨了利于相对论电子通量增强的太阳风和地磁活动条件.主要结论如下:(1)GEO相对论电子通量即使是峰值,也具有明显的地方时特性,最大电子通量出现在磁正午时.午/夜电子通量比率随着太阳风速度(Vsw)增加而增大;在Dst-50nT时相对论电子具有规则的地方时变化.在太阳活动下降相,电子通量与各参数的相关性较好,与其相关性最好的Vsw、Kp指数以及三次根号下的太阳风密度(N)分别出现在电子通量前39~57h、57~80h和12~24h.(2)强(日平均电子通量峰值Femax≥104 pfu)相对论电子事件,在距离太阳活动谷年前两年左右和春秋分期间发生率最高,较弱(104Femax≥103 pfu)事件无此特点;大部分强相对论电子事件中,电子通量在磁暴主相开始增加,较弱事件中则在恢复相开始回升.(3)太阳风密度变化对相对论电子事件的发展具有重要指示作用.电子通量在太阳风密度极大值后0~1天达到极小值,太阳风密度极小值后0~2天达到极大值.(4)90%以上相对论电子事件是在磁暴及高速太阳风的条件下发生的,与其伴随的行星际参数和地磁活动指数极值满足以下条件:Vswmax516km/s,Dstmin-31nT,Nmin2.8cm-3,Nmax14.1cm-3,Bzmin-2.9nT,AEmax698nT.(5)磁暴过程中,Dstmin后日平均电子通量大于103 pfu的发生概率为53%左右,强/弱相对论电子事件占总数比例分别为36%/64%左右,磁暴强度对其无影响.磁暴过程中的Vsw、N和AE指数大小对于能否引起相对论电子增强起着指示作用.     

太阳风中磁流体湍流的特征和本质

在空间探测的早期,太阳风湍流现象就已经被空间飞船的观测发现了。但是太阳风湍流不同于过去学术界熟悉的流体湍流。虽然国际学术界已进行了长期的研究,但太阳风湍流的本质仍不能得到明确的认识,许多观测现象都得不到解释。涂传诒等^［1～5］研究了这些现象,促进了理论上的新进展。这些研究指出,太阳风起伏中存在着非线性湍流相互作用,但不是完全发展的湍流,而是正处于由阿尔芬波向着完全发展的湍流过渡的状态。这一新的概念把阿尔芬波传播理论与磁流体湍流理论结合起来,导致了理论上的新进展,从而揭示了太阳风湍流的本质,阐明了一系列过去不能解释的观测现象。着重介绍了这些研究的成果和意义。     

日地系统学中的太阳活动研究（Ⅱ）爆发型太阳活动—太阳耀斑

爆发型太阳活动是日地系统中重要的扰动源。本文介绍日地系统学中最剧烈的爆发型太阳活动－太阳耀斑的观测研究进展。综述了最近两个太阳周的地面与空间观测所得到的耀斑的物理图象和统计性质，简单讨论了空间观测设备的发展和面临的研究课题。     

双重电流片和日冕瞬变

当背景磁场在日冕中存在零磁场线时,反向新磁通量的喷发将会产生双重电流片,包括零场区附近的磁场受到挤压而形成的横向电流片和新喷发场、原背景场之间形成的拱形电流片、本文用一对线偶极子来模拟背景场,用一对线磁荷来模拟反向喷发场,讨论了上述双重电流片的形成和演变过程。在电流片形成过程中,物质将向电流片集中。拱形电流片物质主要来自过渡层和光球层,并通过辐射损失进一步冷却,形成低温日珥环;横向电流片的物质则全部来自日冕,从而形成高温日冕环。以上结果可用来解释1984年4月14日观测到的日冕瞬变。     

1984年2月18日太阳边缘日珥自反变谱线分析

本文对1984年2月18日耀斑后环珥的二维SSHG扫描谱线资料中的几个线心微略自反变谱线轮廓进行了拟合,结果表明:自反变Hα线源函数向日珥内增加,线心源函数是边缘的1.3～1.6倍,线心自反变谱线的线心光深比没有线心自反变谱线的要大得多。     

LOFAR: The potential for solar and space weather studies

The Low Frequency array (LOFAR) will be a next generation digital aperture synthesis radio telescope covering the frequency range from 10 to 240 MHz. The instrument will feature full polarisation and multi-beaming capability, and is currently in its design phase. This work highlights the solar, heliospheric and space weather applications where LOFAR, with its unique and unprecedented capabilities, can provide useful information inaccessible by any other means. The relevant aspects of the LOFAR baseline design are described, and the most promising techniques of interest are enumerated. These include tracking coronal mass ejections (CMEs) out to large distances using interplanetary scintillation (IPS) methods, tomographic reconstruction of the solar wind in the inner heliosphere using IPS, direct imaging of the radio emission from CMEs and finally possible Faraday rotation studies of the magnetic field structure of the heliosphere and the CMEs. This work is a part of an effort directed towards ensuring the compatibility of LOFAR design with solar and space weather applications, in collaboration with the wider community.