• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.181-186
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• 2002

We study a role of the proto-accretion disk during the formation of the planetary system, which is motivated with recent X-ray observations. There is an observational correlation of the mass of extrasolar planets with their orbital period, which also shows the minimum orbital period. This is insufficiently accounted for by the selection effect alone. Besides, most of planetary formation theories predict the lower limit of semimajor axes of the planetary orbits around 0.01 AU. While the migration theory involving the accretion disk is the most favorable theory, it causes too fast migration and requires the braking mechanism to halt the planet~0.01 AU. The induced gap in the accretion disk due to the planet and/or the truncated disk are desperately required to stop the planet. We explore the planetary evaporation in the accretion disk as another possible scenario to explain the observational lack of massive close-in planets. We calculate the location where the planet is evaporated when the mass and the radius of the planet are given, and find that the evaporation location is approximately proportional to the mass of the planet as ${m_p}^{-1.3}$ and the radius of the planet as ${r_p}^{1.3}$. Therefore, we conclude that even the standard cool accretion disk becomes marginally hot to make the small planet evaporate at~0.01 AU. We discuss other auxiliary mechanisms which may provide the accretion disk with extra heats other than the viscous friction, which may consequently make a larger planet evaporate.

• Journal of Powder Materials
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• v.12 no.6 s.53
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• pp.433-440
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• 2005

The hydrogen sorption speed of $Zr_{57}V_{36}Fe_7$ nanocrystalline and amorphous alloys was evaluated at room temperature. Nanocrystalline alloys of $Zr_{57}V_{36}Fe_7$ were prepared by planetary ball milling. The hydrogen sorption speed of nanocrystalline alloys was higher than that of the amorphous alloy. The enhanced sorption speed of nanocrystalline alloys was explained in terms of surface oxygen stability which has been known to retard the activation of amorphous alloys. The retardation can be reduced by formation of nanocrystals, which results in the observed increase in sorption properties.

• Journal of Bio-Environment Control
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.218-231
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• 2005

This paper reviews the engineering approach needed to support humans during their long-term missions in space. This approach includes closed plant production systems under microgravity or low pressure, mass recycling, air revitalization, water purification, waste management, elimination of trace contaminants, lighting, and nutrient delivery systems in controlled ecological life support system (CELSS). Requirements of crops f3r space use are high production, edibility, digestibility, many culinary uses, capability of automation, short stems, and high transpiration. Low pressure on Mars is considered to be a major obstacle for the design of greenhouses fer crop production. However interest in Mars inflatable greenhouse applicable to planetary surface has increased. Structure, internal pressure, material, method of lighting, and shielding are principal design parameters for the inflatable greenhouse. The inflatable greenhouse operating at low pressure can reduce the structural mass and atmosphere leakage rate. Plants growing at reduced pressure show an increasing transpiration rates and a high water loss. Vapor pressure increases as moisture is added to the air through transpiration or evaporation from leaks in the hydroponic system. Fluctuations in vapor pressure will significantly influence total pressure in a closed system. Thus hydroponic systems should be as tight as possible to reduce the quantity of water that evaporates from leaks. And the environmental control system to maintain high relative humidity at low pressure should be developed. The essence of technologies associated with CELSS can support human lift even at extremely harsh conditions such as in deserts, polar regions, and under the ocean on Earth as well as in space.