[1] We investigate the solar wind -magnetosphere coupling efficiency in response to solar wind dynamic pressure impulses. We carry out a superposed epoch analysis of 236 pressure impulses from the years 1998 -2002 detected by the ACE/SWEPAM instrument. For the coupling efficiency, we use four definitions based on: the polar cap potential from SuperDARN radars, the northern polar cap index (PCN), the available magnetospheric potential, and the interplanetary electric field (IEF). All definitions show consistent results: the coupling efficiency depends on the internal structure of the impulse. The coupling efficiency increases (decreases) for events mimicking slow (fast) MHD shocks. The coupling energy estimated from the IMAGE magnetometer chain is larger for the ''fast-type'' events and stronger drivers. Hence, our results indicate that the magnetosphere uses the energy from the weaker driver more geoeffectively, while the energy associated with stronger drivers is partly transmitted through the system. Citation: Palmroth, M., N. Partamies,
Irradiation effects in polyethylene and cellulose were examined using molecular dynamics simulations. The governing reactions in both materials were chain scissioning and generation of small hydrocarbon and peroxy radicals. Recombination of chain fragments and cross-linking between polymer chains were found to occur less frequently. Crystalline cellulose was found to be more resistant to radiation damage than crystalline polyethylene. Statistics on radical formation are presented and the dynamics of the formation of radiation damage discussed.
Using molecular dynamics simulations, we determined the threshold energy for creating defects as a function of the incident angle for all carbon and oxygen atoms in the cellulose monomer. Our analysis shows that the damage threshold energy is strongly dependent on the initial recoil direction and on average slightly higher for oxygen atoms than for carbon atoms in cellulose chain. We also performed cumulative bombardment simulations mimicking low-energy electron irradiation (such as TEM imaging) on cellulose. Analyzing the results, we found that formation of free molecules and broken glucose rings were the most common forms of damage, whereas cross-linking and chain scission were less common. Pre-existing damage was found to increase the probability of cross-linking.
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