Understanding Pulsars and Space Navigations

Description

Preface Introduction Contents Acronyms 1 Introduction to the Pulsars 1.1 Theoretically Predicted Neutron Stars 1.1.1 A Brief Story of Discovering Neutron 1.1.2 Neutron Stars in the Universe 1.2 The Discovery and Identification 1.2.1 Observations of Interplanetary Scintillations and Quasars 1.2.2 Discovery of Pulsating Radio Sources 1.2.3 The Pulsars Identified as Neutron Stars 1.3 The Name, Classification and Distribution 1.3.1 Naming Rules 1.3.2 Fundamental Classification 1.3.3 Spatial Distribution 1.4 The Physical Mechanisms and Characteristics 1.4.1 Lighthouse Effect 1.4.2 Radiation Mechanisms 1.4.3 Internal Structures 1.4.4 Physical Conditions 1.4.5 Formation Processes 1.5 The Observational Features 1.5.1 Pulse Profiles 1.5.2 Periodic Features 1.5.3 Radiant Energy Spectrum 1.5.4 Distance Measurement 1.5.5 Pulsar Polarization 1.5.6 Spatial Motion References 2 Observations of Radio and X-ray Pulsars 2.1 A Brief History of Radio Astronomy 2.2 Principles of Radio Telescopes 2.2.1 Composition of Radio Telescope System 2.2.2 Two-Element Radio Interferometer 2.2.3 Synthetic Aperture Radio Telescopes 2.3 Modern Large Radio Telescopes 2.4 Investigations into Radio Pulsars 2.4.1 Discovery of the First Binary Pulsar System 2.4.2 Discovery of the First Millisecond Pulsar 2.4.3 Acceleration Mechanism and Application of Millisecond Pulsars 2.5 X-ray and Its Physical Characteristics 2.6 Mechanism of X-ray Detection 2.6.1 Photoelectric Effect 2.6.2 Compton Scattering Effect 2.6.3 Electron–Positron Pair Effect 2.7 Classification of X-ray Detectors 2.7.1 Typical X-ray Detectors 2.7.2 Positioning and Imaging Technologies of X-rays 2.8 Development of X-ray Astronomy 2.8.1 Opening X-ray Astronomical Observations 2.8.2 Röntgen Satellite 2.8.3 Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astrophysics 2.8.4 Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer 2.8.5 Chandra X-ray Observatory 2.8.6 X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission 2.9 Observability of X-ray Pulsars 2.9.1 Early X-ray Detections 2.9.2 Flux Analysis of X-ray Pulsars References 3 A Brief History of Space Flight 3.1 Concepts of Space Flights 3.2 Ideas and Technologies of Ancient Space Flights 3.2.1 Flying Myths, Legends and Fantasies 3.2.2 Development of Gunpowder and Rocket Technology 3.2.3 Wan Hu Flying to Sky 3.2.4 Historical Context of Space Science Development 3.2.5 Rise of Space Science Fictions 3.3 Four Founders of Modern Rocketry and Astronautics 3.3.1 Konstantin Eduardovich Tsiolkovsky 3.3.2 Robert Albert Charles Esnault-Pelterie 3.3.3 Robert Hutchings Goddard 3.3.4 Hermann Julius Oberth 3.4 Early Astronautical Societies and Historical Merits 3.4.1 Soviet Societies on Rocketry and Astronautics 3.4.2 German Society for Space Flight 3.4.3 American Space Research Organizations 3.4.4 British Interplanetary Society 3.4.5 Other Countries’ Groups and Individuals 3.5 Entering the Age of Space Flight 3.5.1 Liquid Rockets and V-2 Missiles 3.5.2 Launching the First Artificial Earth Satellite 3.5.3 Manned Earth Orbit Flights 3.5.4 Manned Landing on the Moon 3.6 Flying Out of the Solar System 3.6.1 Boundaries of the Solar System 3.6.2 Pioneer Probes 3.6.3 Pioneer Plaque and Pulsar Positioning 3.6.4 Voyager Probes 3.6.5 Debates on Voyager-1 3.6.6 New Horizons Probe References 4 Navigations from Ground to Space 4.1 Connotations Related to Navigation 4.2 From Ancient South-Pointing Chariot to Modern Navigation System 4.3 Celestial Navigation System 4.3.1 Basic Principle 4.3.2 Development and Application 4.4 Inertial Navigation System 4.4.1 Basic Principle 4.4.2 Development and Application 4.5 Radio Navigation System 4.5.1 Ranging and Bearing Navigation System 4.5.2 Hyperbolic Navigation System 4.5.3 Doppler Navigation System 4.6 Navigation Satellite System 4.6.1 Origin of Navigation Satellite Idea 4.6.2 First-Generation Navigation Satellite System 4.6.3 Second-Generation Navigation Satellite System 4.7 The Navigations for Spacecrafts 4.7.1 Orbit and Attitude Determinations 4.7.2 Orbit and Attitude Controls 4.8 Ground Navigation Networks for Spacecrafts 4.8.1 Relation Between TT&C System and Navigation Network 4.8.2 Ground Control Networks of GNSS 4.8.3 Ground Deep Space Networks 4.9 Autonomous Navigation Technology for Spacecrafts 4.9.1 Concepts of Autonomous Navigation 4.9.2 Autonomous Navigation of GPS Constellation 4.9.3 Whole Rotation of Navigation Constellation References 5 X-ray Pulsar-Based Navigation: Theories and Experiments 5.1 Principle of Pulsar Navigation 5.2 Progress on Pulsar Navigation 5.2.1 The Proposed Concepts 5.2.2 Relevant Development Programs 5.3 Space-Time Reference Based on Newtonian Mechanics 5.3.1 Description for Particle Motion 5.3.2 Concepts and Classifications of Time 5.3.3 International Terrestrial Reference System and Its Realization 5.3.4 Defects on the Theory 5.4 Space-Time Reference Based on General Relativity 5.4.1 Concept of Riemann Space 5.4.2 Gravity and Space-Time Bending 5.4.3 Physical Interpretation of Space-Time Measurement 5.4.4 Timescale of Relativity 5.4.5 International Celestial Reference System and Its Realization 5.5 Theory of Pulsar Timing System 5.5.1 Expressions of Pulsar Time 5.5.2 Pulsar Timing Reference Frame 5.5.3 Evaluation of Pulsar Timing Stability 5.5.4 Stability of Comparing PT with ATI 5.6 Methods of Large-Scale Navigation 5.6.1 Navigational Modes and Basic Observables 5.6.2 Transformation of Photon Arriving Time 5.6.3 Methods of Getting Pulse Profiles 5.6.4 Integer Ambiguity of Pulse Phase 5.6.5 Determination of Orbit and Time Parameters 5.6.6 Determination of Attitude Parameters 5.7 Design of Ground Test System 5.7.1 The Analysis of Necessity 5.7.2 The Composition and Function 5.7.3 Design of Overall Layout 5.7.4 Design of Operating Modes 5.7.5 Numerical Experiments and Their Results 5.8 The First Space Flight Test and Its Results 5.8.1 Mission Design of XPNAV-1 5.8.2 Observations of Typical Pulsars and X-Ray Binary Stars 5.8.3 Timing Model and Largest Glitch of Crab Pulsar 5.8.4 Orbit Determination Experiment Using Single Pulsar 5.9 Future of Navigation Satellite System 5.9.1 Application of Pulsar Navigation 5.9.2 Generation Gap Between Navigation Satellite Systems 5.9.3 Conception of Third-Generation Navigation Satellite System References About the Author Index