A Consolidated Grant Proposal for Solar System Research at the University of Leicester (2016-2019)

莱斯特大学太阳系研究综合资助提案（2016-2019）

• 批准号: ST/N000749/1
• 负责人: Mark Lester
• 金额: $ 292.09万
• 依托单位: University of Leicester
• 依托单位国家: 英国
• 项目类别: Research Grant
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 英国
• 起止时间: 2016 至 无数据
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=ST%2FN000749%2F1
• 关键词: Consolidated; Grant; Proposal; Solar; System

We propose a world-class programme of research that focuses on two main areas of study concerned with our solar system. The first involves study of the outer environments of the planets where the gas is in the plasma (ionized) state, such that it not only feels the gravitational pull of the planet, but also interacts strongly with its magnetic field. In the second area we seek to study the origin and development of solar system bodies, and the impact on the evolution of life, through detailed examination of the composition of samples from comets, asteroids, and Mars, that are returned by spacecraft for study at Earth, or examined in situ during planetary exploration missions.Previous work in the first area shows that the outer environments of the planets vary widely, determined by the interaction with the plasma wind that blows continuously from the Sun on the outside, and the interaction with the planet and its moons on the inside. The solar wind is prone to outbursts that can lead to magnetic storms and bright auroras at Earth, as well as varying strongly over the 11-year solar cycle, and with distance from the Sun. Its interaction with the planets then depends on whether the planet is magnetised, has an atmosphere, and has active moons orbiting close in. We will use spacecraft data to study Mercury close to the Sun that has a magnetic field but almost no atmosphere (MESSENGER mission), Mars further away that has an atmosphere but no strong magnetic field to prevent its erosion by the solar wind (Mars Express and MAVEN), and Earth at intermediate distances having both an atmosphere and a magnetic field (using data from a number of missions including the auroral-imaging IMAGE and Polar satellites, and the Iridium satellite constellation). We will also study the strongly magnetized giant planets Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus, using data from the new Juno mission at Jupiter and Cassini at Saturn, combined with observations of the auroras at ultraviolet wavelengths using the Hubble Space Telescope and at infrared wavelengths using large ground-based telescopes. Auroras are caused by large-scale electric currents flowing between the outer environments and the upper ionized atmospheres, which communicate force between these regions. Overall emphasis will be on the complex physical processes that couple the solar wind on the outside, the magnetic field surrounding the planet (if any), and the planetary atmosphere or surface on the inside. In a related project we also propose to develop a flight-ready compact low mass ultraviolet imager that can be used to study the auroras at Earth and elsewhere, as well as for wider applications.Research on the origins and evolution of solar system bodies builds on the expertise we have developed in the microanalysis of micron-sized samples of planetary materials, through a unique combination of electron microscopy and synchrotron-based X-ray spectroscopy. Such techniques are essential due to the small amounts of material returned from solar system bodies such as S-class asteroid Itokawa (Hayabusa mission) and Comet 81P/Wild2 (Stardust mission), studies of both forming part of our programme. Analysis of such grains offers the chance to provide a direct comparison to known primitive meteorite types and to reveal the processes that shaped the earliest stages of the solar system. We will also use these techniques to study a recently discovered Martian meteorite which will allow us to constrain the thermal and water-rock interaction history in a sample of Martian impact regolith for the first time. In a related area we also propose to develop an astrobiology instrument that will be able to detect organic compounds and minerals. The primary aim will be to build a miniaturized analytical instrument that can be configured for both in-situ and remote analysis and will be suitable for inclusion in future planetary exploration missions such as those planned by NASA and ESA.

我们提出了一个世界一流的研究计划，该计划重点介绍了与我们的太阳系有关的两个主要研究领域。第一个涉及研究气体处于血浆（电离）状态的行星外部环境，因此它不仅感觉到行星的引力拉力，而且与磁场相互作用。在第二个领域，我们试图通过详细检查彗星，小行星和火星的样品组成，并通过航天器返回地球进行研究，或者在行星探索过程中进行的效果，该外部效果的相互作用是通过comet，小行星和火星返回的，我们试图研究太阳系机构的起源和发展，以及对生命进化的影响。从外面的太阳连续吹来，与行星及其内部的卫星相互作用。太阳风容易发生爆发，可以导致地球上磁性风暴和明亮的极光，并且在11年的太阳周期中也有很强的变化，并且距离太阳距离。 Its interaction with the planets then depends on whether the planet is magnetised, has an atmosphere, and has active moons orbiting close in. We will use spacecraft data to study Mercury close to the Sun that has a magnetic field but almost no atmosphere (MESSENGER mission), Mars further away that has an atmosphere but no strong magnetic field to prevent its erosion by the solar wind (Mars Express and MAVEN), and Earth at intermediate distances having both an atmosphere and一个磁场（使用来自多个任务的数据，包括极光成像图像和极地卫星，以及虹膜卫星星座）。我们还将使用来自Jupiter的新Juno任务和土星的Cassini的数据来研究强烈磁化的巨型行星木星，土星和天王星，并使用Hubble Space望远镜和使用大地面基于大地面基于大型地面的望远镜在紫外太空望远镜上观察到Auroras在紫外线波长处的观测。极光是由外部环境和上部离子大气之间流动的大规模电流引起的，这些电流在这些区域之间传达力。总体上将重点放在复杂的物理过程上，这些过程将太阳风在外部，行星周围的磁场（如果有）以及内部的行星气氛或表面融为一体。在一个相关项目中，我们还建议开发一个可以使用的紧凑型低质量紫外线成像仪，可用于研究地球和其他地方的极光，以及更广泛的应用。研究太阳系物体的起源和演变是基于专业知识的起源和演变，我们在我们通过微型构造的微型平面材料的微型序列和同步序列序列序列构建，光谱法。这种技术至关重要，这是由于从太阳系机构（例如S级小行星Itokawa）（Hayabusa Mission）和Comet 81p/Wild2（Stardust Mission）（Stardastust Mission）返回的少量材料，这两种研究构成了我们计划的一部分。对这种晶粒的分析提供了与已知的原始陨石类型直接比较的机会，并揭示了塑造太阳系最早阶段的过程。我们还将使用这些技术来研究最近发现的火星陨石，这将使我们能够首次在火星撞击岩石样本中限制热和水摇滚相互作用的历史。在相关领域，我们还建议开发一种可以检测有机化合物和矿物质的天体生物学工具。主要目的是建立一个可以为原位和远程分析配置的小型分析工具，并适合包含在未来的行星探索任务中，例如NASA和ESA计划的任务。

项目成果

Are Saturn's Interchange Injections Organized by Rotational Longitude?

土星的交汇注入是按自转经度组织的吗？

• DOI: 10.1029/2018ja026196
• 发表时间: 2019
• 期刊: Space Physics
• 作者: Azari A

The Structure of Planetary Period Oscillations in Saturn's Equatorial Magnetosphere: Results From the Cassini Mission

土星赤道磁层中行星周期振荡的结构：卡西尼号任务的结果

• DOI: 10.1029/2019ja026804
• 发表时间: 2019
• 期刊: Space Physics
• 作者: Andrews D

Modeling the Temporal Variability in Saturn's Magnetotail Current Sheet From the Cassini F-ring Orbits

从卡西尼 F 环轨道模拟土星磁尾电流片的时间变化

• DOI: 10.1029/2019ja027371
• 发表时间: 2020
• 期刊: Space Physics
• 作者: Agiwal O

Infrared Characterization of Jupiter's Equatorial Disturbance Cycle

• DOI: 10.1029/2018gl080382
• 发表时间: 2018-10-28
• 期刊: GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
• 影响因子: 5.2
• 作者: Antunano, Arrate;Fletcher, Leigh N.;Blake, James S. D.
• 通讯作者: Blake, James S. D.

Jupiter's Atmospheric Variability from Long-Term Ground-based Observations at 5 microns

5 微米长期地基观测得出的木星大气变化

• DOI: 10.48550/arxiv.1906.11088
• 发表时间: 2019
• 作者: Antuñano A