Chinese researchers have announced the first ever plasma discharge from China's superconducting research center is set to occur next month. Their experiment is known as the artificial sun. The device is research into what is hoped ultimately will be a potentially infinite source of energy. This is achieved through the process of extracting deuterium from sea water under extreme temperatures. The discharge is expected to take place on August 15th. It will take place at the Science Island in Hefei, which is in the eastern part of China in the Anhui Province. The People's Daily reported these developments. Scientists, in interviews with the paper, stated that a successful test in August will represent the world's first nuclear fusion device to work. Many scientists around the world are concerned with what they see as risks inherent in the process. Chinese researchers have countered that any radiation from the process will be confined and will cease when the test is completed.
Sun and ionosphere:
It is impossible to study the ionosphere without corresponding research of processes near the Sun and their influences on processes in terrestrial atmosphere. This statement, first of all, is based on, that radiation of Sun radiation is the basic source of energy for atmospheric processes. Moreover, specific ionizing radiation, which is the reason for the existence of an ionosphere, or directly occurs as a result of specific processes near the Sun, or strongly depends on solar magnetic fields. Ionizing radiation, radiated by the Sun, constitutes only a small portion of all irradiation energy. Nevertheless, the influence of the Sun appears to be rather significant, if the question is about the distribution of radio-waves. Influence of superfluous ionizing radiation, which occurs due to perturbations on the Sun, appears to be much stronger.
The ionosphere is formed during the photo ionization of atmospheric components by the x-ray radiation of the Sun and the short-wave (shorter than 1300 A) ultra-violet radiation. The bottom area is an exception; it is formed by galactic space beams. Despite extensive information on the ionosphere, the relative influence of these radiations is not yet clear. The reason is that accurate data about characteristics of the ionizing radiation of the Sun is not available and insufficient knowledge about the deionization processes and their speeds. At present, the most important problem is, possibly, the lack of knowledge about the radiation of the sun.
Solar flares are the most important part of solar activity, which renders influence on the ionosphere. During these perturbations, intensive radiation in the x-ray spectrum takes place. X-rays with a huge amount of energy penetrate deep into the ionosphere, due to which ionized areas are formed at lesser heights and it essentially changes the distribution characteristics of radio-waves so that the complete termination of radio communication on high frequencies occurs from time to time. The energy stream, causing similar effects, can be less than 10 - 2 erg/cm2•sec.
Sometimes radiation of a large quantity of protons, which are the reason for the temporary increased ionization at lower heights in the region of the polar caps, occurs during solar flares. Solar flares are also accompanied by geomagnetic disturbances, which influence the behavior of the streams of electrons in Polar Regions, causing a reduction in intensity of space rays. |
