• Bulletin of the Korean Space Science Society
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• 2009.10a
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• pp.23.1-23.1
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• 2009

Space physics is more than fifty years old and is going through middle age. Looking back and thinking about what has been learned during the past fifty years, one finds that progress was made at the expense of exactness. Past observations have been interpreted using theory with unreal assumptions. Theory and models must be testable, verifiable and consistent with observations. Current theory cannot explain many important observational results that are relevant for understanding how space plasmas work. This talk will examine the current model of space plasma and assess its capabilities. We will then discuss the required level of theory and models that should be developed to advance space physics to the next tier.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.181-189
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• 2012

To broaden the understanding of classical Cepheid structure, evolution and atmospheres, we have extended our continuing secret lives of Cepheids program by obtaining XMM/Chandra X-ray observations, and Hubble space telescope (HST) / cosmic origins spectrograph (COS) FUV-UV spectra of the bright, nearby Cepheids Polaris, ${\delta}$ Cep and ${\beta}$ Dor. Previous studies made with the international ultraviolet explorer (IUE) showed a limited number of UV emission lines in Cepheids. The well-known problem presented by scattered light contamination in IUE spectra for bright stars, along with the excellent sensitivity & resolution combination offered by HST/COS, motivated this study, and the spectra obtained were much more rich and complex than we had ever anticipated. Numerous emission lines, indicating $10^4$ K up to ${\sim}3{\times}10^5$ K plasmas, have been observed, showing Cepheids to have complex, dynamic outer atmospheres that also vary with the photospheric pulsation period. The FUV line emissions peak in the phase range ${\varphi}{\approx}0.8-1.0$ and vary by factors as large as $10{\times}$. A more complete picture of Cepheid outer atmospheres is accomplished when the HST/COS results are combined with X-ray observations that we have obtained of the same stars with XMM-Newton & Chandra. The Cepheids detected to date have X-ray luminosities of log $L_X{\approx}28.5-29.1$ ergs/sec, and plasma temperatures in the $2-8{\times}106$ K range. Given the phase-timing of the enhanced emissions, the most plausible explanation is the formation of a pulsation-induced shocks that excite (and heat) the atmospheric plasmas surrounding the photosphere. A pulsation-driven ${\alpha}^2$ equivalent dynamo mechanism is also a viable and interesting alternative. However, the tight phase-space of enhanced emission (peaking near 0.8-1.0 ${\varphi}$) favor the shock heating mechanism hypothesis.

• Bulletin of the Korean Space Science Society
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.93-93
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• 2003

우주환경은 궤도상의 우주비행체 임무에 다양한 종류의 문제를 발생시킬 수 있으며, 이러한 우주환경 인자로는 방사선대, 태양으로부터 날아오는 고에너지 입자, 우주선(cosmic rays), 플라즈마(plasmas), 미세 우주 파편 등 다양하게 존재한다. 따라서 인공위성을 비롯한 우주비행체의 설계 시 우주환경에 대한 영향을 사전에 예측하고 이를 우주비행체 개발에 반영하고 있다. European Spare Research & Technology Center(ESTEC)는 1998년 European Space Agency(ESA)의 지원을 받아 Space Environment Information System(SPENVIS) 프로젝트를 시작하였다. SPENVIS는 인공위성을 비롯한 우주비행체의 우주환경에 대한 영향을 연구할 수 있는 인터넷 기반 시뮬레이션 프로그램으로서 각종 우주환경 모델을 통해 사용자가 파라메타(parameter) 값을 입력하고 그래픽과 텍스트로 결과를 알아볼 수 있다. SPENVIS 시스템은 인터넷으로 사용자 등록을 통해 이용 가능하며, 시스템의 지속적인 개선 및 확장을 통해 신뢰도를 높여가고 있다. 본 시뮬레이션 연구수행을 통하여 SPENVIS의 우주환경 영향 연구에 향후 활용 가능성을 알아보고자 한다.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.70.1-70.1
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• 2019

Multiple-harmonic electron cyclotron emissions, often known in the literature as the (n + 1∕2)fce emissions, are a common occurrence in the magnetosphere. These emissions are often interpreted in terms of the Bernstein mode instability driven by the electron loss cone velocity distribution function. Alternatively, they can be interpreted as quasi-thermal emission of electrostatic fluctuations in magnetized plasmas. The present paper carries out a one-dimensional relativistic electromagnetic particle-in-cell simulation and also employs a reduced quasi-linear kinetic theoretical analysis in order to compare against the simulation. It is found that the Bernstein mode instability is indeed excited by the loss cone distribution of electrons, but the saturation level of the electrostatic mode is quite low, and that the effects of instability on the electrons is rather minimal. This supports the interpretation of multiple-harmonic emission in the context of the spontaneous emission and reabsorption in quasi-thermal magnetized plasma in the magnetosphere.

• The Bulletin of The Korean Astronomical Society
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.101.2-101.2
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• 2012

Shocks are ubiquitous in astrophysical plasmas: bow shocks are formed by the interaction of solar wind with planetary magnetic fields, and supernova explosions and jets produce shocks in interstellar and intergalactic spaces. The global morphologies of these shocks are usually described by a set of magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations which tacitly assumes local thermal equilibrium, and the resulting Rankine-Hugoniot shock jump conditions are applied to obtain the relationship between the upstream and downstream physical quantities. While thermal equilibrium can be achieved easily in collisional fluids, it is generally believed that collisions are infrequent in astrophysical settings. In fact, shock widths are much smaller than collisional mean free paths and a variety of kinetic phenomena are seen at the shock fronts according to in situ observations of planetary shocks. Hence, both the MHD and kinetic equations have been adopted in theoretical and numerical studies to describe different aspects of the physical phenomena associated with astrophysical shocks. In this paper, we present the results of 3D relativistic particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations for ion-electron plasmas, with focus on the shock structures: when a jet propagates into an unmagnetized ambient plasma, a shock forms in the nonlinear stage of the Weibel instability. As the shock shows the structures that resemble those predicted in MHD systems, we compare the results with those predicted in the MHD shocks. We also discuss the thermalization processes of the upstream flows based on the time evolutions of the phase space and the velocity distribution, as well as the wave spectra analyses.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2015

We have developed a 2.5-dimensional electromagnetic particle simulation code using the particle-in-cell (PIC) method to investigate electromagnetic phenomena that occur in space plasmas. Our code is based on the leap-frog method and the centered difference method for integration and differentiation of the governing equations. We adopted the relativistic Buneman-Boris method to solve the Lorentz force equation and the Esirkepov method to calculate the current density while maintaining charge conservation. Using the developed code, we performed test simulations for electron two-stream instability and electron temperature anisotropy induced instability with the same initial parameters as used in previously reported studies. The test simulation results are almost identical with those of the previous papers.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.289-295
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• 2015

By adopting a 2D time-dependent wave code, we investigate how mode-converted waves at the Ion-Ion Hybrid (IIH) resonance and compressional waves propagate in 2D density structures with a wide range of field-aligned wavenumbers to background magnetic fields. The simulation results show that the mode-converted waves have continuous bands across the field line consistent with previous numerical studies. These waves also have harmonic structures in frequency domain and are localized in the field-aligned heavy ion density well. Our results thus emphasize the importance of a field-aligned heavy ion density structure for ultra-low frequency wave propagation, and suggest that IIH waves can be localized in different locations along the field line.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.101-112
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• 2015

Magnetic reconnection is a fundamental process occurring in a wide range of astrophysical, heliospheric and laboratory plasmas. This process alters magnetic topology and triggers rapid conversion of magnetic energy into thermal heating and nonthermal particle acceleration. Efforts to understand the physics of magnetic reconnection have been made across multiple disciplines using remote observations of solar flares and in-situ measurements of geomagnetic storms and substorms as well as laboratory and numerical experiments. This review focuses on the progress achieved with solar flare observations in which most reconnection-related signatures could be resolved in both space and time. The emphasis is on various observable emission features in the low solar atmosphere which manifest the coronal magnetic reconnection because these two regions are magnetically connected to each other. The research and application perspectives of solar magnetic reconnection are briefly discussed and compared with those in other plasma environments.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.253-259
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• 1974

The output signal voltage of the pulsed ionization chamber (PIC) was measured for a range of electron density (10$^{13}$ -10$^{17}$ m$^{-3}$ ) of the 3He plasmas. This experimental data was in excellent agreement with the theory including space charge effects. As an application of the PIC techniques, two-body recombination coefficients were obtained with electron densities measured from output signal voltage of the PIC. These values as a function of pressure were in good agreement with theoretical predictions and ranged from 5$\times$10$^{-14}$ to 3$\times$10$^{-13}$ (㎥/sec) at 300$^{\circ}$K for 1 to 10 atmospheric $^3$He plasma.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Propulsion Engineers Conference
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• 2004.03a
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• pp.306-313
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• 2004

The microwave discharge ion engine generates plasmas of both the main ion source and the neutralizer using 4㎓ microwave without discharge electrodes and hollow cathodes, so that long life and durability against oxygen and air are expected. The MUSES-C “HAYABUSA” asteroid explorer installing four microwave discharge ion engines “$\mu$10s” was launched into deep space by M-V rocket No.5 on May 9, 2003. After vacuum exposure and several runs of baking for reduction of residual gas the ion engine system established the continuous acceleration of the spacecraft toward the asteroid “ITOKAWA”. The Doppler shift measurement of the communication microwave revealed the performance of ion engines, which is 8mN thrust force for a single unit with 3,200sec specific impulse at 23mN/㎾ thrust power ratio. At the end of 2003 the accumulated operational time exceeded 8,000 hour and unit. HAYABUSA will execute the Earth swing-by on June 2004 and arrive at the asteroid in 2005 and return to Earth in 2007.