Standing Alfvén waves with m ? 1 in an axisymmetric magnetosphere excited by a stochastic source

International audienceIn the framework of an axisymmetric magnetospheric model, we have constructed a theory for broad-band standing Alfvén waves with large azimuthal wave number m » 1 excited by a stochastic source. External currents in the ionosphere are taken as the oscillation source. The source with statistical properties of "white noise" is considered at length. It is shown that such a source drives oscillations which also have the "white noise" properties. The spectrum of such oscillations for each harmonic of standing Alfvén waves has two maxima: near the poloidal and toroidal eigenfrequencies of the magnetic shell of the observation. In the case of a small attenuation in the ionosphere the maximum near the toroidal frequency is dominated, and the oscillations are nearly toroidally polarized. With a large attenuation, a maximum is dominant near the poloidal frequency, and the oscillations are nearly poloidally polarized

Standing Alfvén waves with m ? 1 in an axisymmetric magnetosphere excited by a non-stationary source

International audienceAs a continuation of our earlier paper, we consider here the case of the excitation of standing Alfvén waves by a source of the type of sudden impulse. It is shown that, following excitation by such a source, a given magnetic shell will exhibit oscillations with a variable frequency which increases from the shell's poloidal to toroidal frequency. Simultaneously, the oscillations will also switch over from poloidally (radially) to toroidally (azimuthally) polarized. With a reasonably large attenuation, only the start of this process, the stage of poloidal oscillations, will be observed in the ionosphere

The structure of standing Alfvén waves in a dipole magnetosphere with moving plasma

The structure and spectrum of standing Alfvén waves were theoretically investigated in a dipole magnetosphere with moving plasma. Plasma motion was simulated with its azimuthal rotation. The model's scope allowed for describing a transition from the inner plasmasphere at rest to the outer magnetosphere with convecting plasma and, through the magnetopause, to the moving plasma of the solar wind. Solutions were found to equations describing longitudinal and transverse (those formed, respectively, along field lines and across magnetic shells) structures of standing Alfvén waves with high azimuthal wave numbers <i>m</i>>>1. Spectra were constructed for a number of first harmonics of poloidal and toroidal standing Alfvén waves inside the magnetosphere. For charged particles with velocities greatly exceeding the velocity of the background plasma, an effective parallel wave component of the electric field appears in the region occupied by such waves. This results in structured high-energy-particle flows and in the appearance of multiband aurorae. The transverse structure of the standing Alfvén waves' basic harmonic was shown to be analogous to the structure of a discrete auroral arc

The main peculiarities of the processes of the deformation and destruction of lunar soil

The main results of study of the physical and mechanical properties of lunar soil, obtained by laboratory study of samples returned from the moon by Luna 16 and Luna 20, as well as by operation of the self-propelled Lunokhod 1 and Lunokhod 2 on the surface of the moon, are analyzed in the report. All studies were carried out by single methods and by means of unified instruments, allowing a confident comparison of the results obtained. The investigations conducted allowed the following values of the main physical-mechanical properties of lunar soil to be determined: in the natural condition the solid density corresponds to the porosity of 0.8; the modal value of the carrying capacity is 0.4 kg/square cm; adhesion is 0.04 to 0.06 kg/square cm; and the internal angle of friction is 20 to 25 degree. The main mechanisms of deformation and destruction of the soil are analyzed in the report, and the relationships between the mechanical properties and physical parameters of the soil are presented

Нанофибробетон: многоуровневое армирование

Concrete is the most commonly used building material worldwide. One of its main disadvantages is the fragility of fracture and low crack resistance. The use of dispersed reinforcement of concrete composites is a promising direction in solving this type of problem. Dispersed fibers, evenly distributed over the entire volume of the material, create a spatial frame and contribute to the inhibition of developing cracks under the action of destructive forces. In order to increase the fracture toughness of concrete, dispersed fiber reinforcement is increasingly used in practice. The beginning of crack nucleation occurs at the nanoscale in the cement matrix. Thus, the use of nano-reinforcement with dispersed nanofibers can have a positive effect on the crack resistance of the cement composite. It is proposed to consider carbon nanotubes as such nanofibers. The presence of carbon nanofibers changes the microstructure and nanostructure of cement modified with carbon nanotubes. The result of the processes occurring in capillaries and cracks are deformations in the intergranular matrix, the free flow of which is prevented by rigid clinker grains and nanocarbon tubes, which creates a certain stress intensity at the tips of the separation cracks. The working hypothesis is confirmed that the required fracture toughness of structural concrete is provided by multi-level reinforcement: at the level of the crystalline aggregate of cement stone – carbon nanotubes, and at the level of fine-grained concrete – various macro-sized fibers (steel, polymer). Reinforcement of a crystalline joint with carbon nanotubes leads to an increase in the fracture toughness of the matrix (cement stone) by 20 %, compressive strength by 12 %, and tensile strength in bending by 20 %. When reinforcing at the level of fine-grained concrete, we obtain a composite – nanofibre-reinforced concrete with fracture toughness.Бетон является наиболее распространенным строительным материалом во всем мире. Основными его недостатками являются хрупкость при растяжении и низкая трещиностойкость. Применение дисперсного армирования бетонных композитов – перспективное направление в решении такого рода задач. Дисперсные волокна, равномерно распределенные по всему объему материала, создают пространственный каркас и способствуют торможению развития трещин под действием разрушающих сил. Для повышения трещиностойкости бетона на практике все чаще применяют армирование дисперсными волокнами. Начало зарождения трещины происходит на наноуровне в цементной матрице. Таким образом, применение наноармирования дисперсными нановолокнами может положительно сказаться на трещиностойкости цементного композита. В качестве таких нановолокон предлагается рассматривать углеродные нанотрубки. Присутствие углеродных нановолокон изменяет микроструктуру и наноструктуру цемента, модифицированного углеродными нанотрубками. Результатом процессов, происходящих в капиллярах и трещинах, являются деформации в межзерновой матрице, свободному течению которых препятствуют жесткие зерна клинкера и наноуглеродные трубки, что создает в вершинах разделительных трещин некоторую интенсивность напряжения. Подтверждена рабочая гипотеза, что требуемая трещиностойкость конструкционного бетона обеспечивается многоуровневым армированием: на уровне кристаллического заполнителя цементного камня – углеродными нанотрубками, на уровне мелкозернистого бетона – различными видами макроразмерной фибры (стальные, полимерные). Армирование углеродными нанотрубками кристаллического сростка приводит к повышению показателя вязкости разрушения матрицы (цементного камня) на 20 %, прочности на сжатие на 12 %, прочности на растяжение при изгибе на 20 %. При армировании на уровне мелкозернистого бетона получаем композит – нанофибробетон с вязкостью разрушения

GPS detection of the instantaneous response of the global ionosphere to strong magnetic storms with sudden commencement

Using a new technology for global GPS detection of ionospheric disturbances, GLOBDET, it has been established that a drastic increase in the time derivative of the magnetic field strength during magnetic storms is accompanied by an almost simultaneous decrease in mid-latitude total electron content on the entire dayside. The corresponding correlation coefficient is not below -0.8; the delay with respect to the time of a magnetic storm sudden commencement is about 3-10 min. This is most pronounced for magnetic storms with a well-marked sudden storm commencement. The sudden storm commencements presented in the paper were observed during the initial storm phase. The analysis reported here was made for a set of from 90 to 300 GPS stations for 10 days in 1998-2001 with a different level of geomagnetic activity (Dst from -6 nT to -295 nT, and K p from 0 to 9). The «simultaneous» total electron content response for the events under consideration was 0.1-0.4 TECU, and the travel velocity of the disturbance from the dayside to the nightside was in the order of 10-20 km/s. Results obtained are consistent with earlier ionospheric parameter measurements obtained using high temporal resolution methods