The Pleiades Moving Group: Substructures and Evolution

We analyse here the spatial and kinematic evolution of the Pleiades moving group substructures found in Asiain et al. (1999). This allows us to investigate both the birthplaces and kinematic ages of these substructures. We also study the possibility that stellar complexes are the progenitors of moving groups. Our main tools are the epicycle theory and the integration of the equations of motion using a realistic gravitational potential of the Galaxy. The disc heating effect is implemented in our algorithm to determine stellar trajectories in order to study the disruption of unbound stellar systems. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Dynamical Models of the Thick Disc

Thick discs are components intermediate between thin discs and stellar halos, they are also expected to gives clues concerning intermediate stages of the galaxy formation. Numerical models from N-body accretion to hydrodynamical collapse may reproduce part of kinematics or other observational facts. Consistent kinematic models of thick discs allow one to understand which kinematic features are intrinsic to thick discs and consequently do not depend really on the precise conditions of their formation. Establishing a dynamical continuity between the thick disc and the other stellar populations will provide the opportunity to discriminate between formation scenarios: -free-fall collapse, halo formed as a merger of dwarf galaxies or thick disc puff-up by galaxy harassment. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The Discovery of the Chemical Composition - Kinematics Connection in the 1950's

This paper reviews the recognition that kinematic characteristics of stars are related to their spectroscopic appearance on low and intermediate dispersion spectra. These differences result from the differences in the abundances of metals as determined from high dispersion spectra. Presumably, these abundance differences reflect differences in age. The high-velocity carbon stars share the molecular peculiarities of the high-velocity oxygen giants but, because of the greater strength of the bands of carbon-containing molecules, exhibit them to a greater degree. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Analysis of the wide area differential correction for BeiDou global satellite navigation system

The regional BeiDou Satellite System, or BDS2, broadcasts a differential correction as Equivalent Satellite Clock Correction to correct both orbit and satellite clock errors. For the global BDS, or BDS3, satellite orbit and clock corrections conforming with RTCA standards will be broadcast to authorized users. The hybrid constellation and regional monitoring network pose challenges for the high precision separation of orbit and satellite clock corrections. Three correction models of kinematic,dynamic and Two-way Satellite Time Frequency Transfer(TWSTFT)-based dynamic were studied to estimate the satellite orbit and clock corrections. The correction accuracy of the three models is compared and analyzed based on the BDS observation data. Results show that the accuracies(root mean square, RMS) of dual-frequency real-time positioning for the three models are about 1.76 m, 1.78 m and 2.08 m respectively, which are comparable with the performance of WAAS and EGNOS. With dynamic corrections, the precision of Precise Point Positioning(PPP) experiments may reach about 23 cm after convergence.     

Stellar Velocity Field in the Central Region of NGC 1068

We present the velocity field of the stars in the central 25″ × 22″ of NGC 1068 derived from 2-D spectroscopy of the Ca II triplet. A preliminary analysis provides evidence for two distinct stellar systems in the centre of NGC 1068. In the outer regions (say r > 10″), the mean stellar velocity field seems coupled to those of the ionized and molecular gas, indicating aproximately regular rotation with the kinematic minor axis at PA ~ 0°. However, in the inner region, the stars are rotating, whereas the ionized gas is outflowing in the NE-SW direction probably due to the effects of the nuclear activity, and the molecular gas is responding to the bar potential. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

NGC 3521: Stellar Counter-Rotation Induced by a Bar Component

The spiral galaxy NGC 3521 exhibits apparently normal kinematic properties of gas and stars along its major axis. However, the analysis of the LOSVD reveals strong asymmetries. A decomposition of the LOSVD data with a two-Gaussian component model shows two counter-rotating stellar components. The observed kinematic decoupling is interpreted as a projection effect induced by the presence of a bar component seen almost end on. The bar produces locally a greater concentration of retrograde stellar orbits but this does not relate to a specific counter-rotating population. The signatures of the bar are identified in the velocity field derived from long-slit spectra obtained along the major, minor and 45° intermediate axes and from R-band surface photometry. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

MrK86: A 'Not-So-Dark' Galaxy

We have studied the velocity field of the Blue Compact Dwarf galaxy Mrk86 using an Hα Fabry-Perot image and 14 long-slit optical spectra. From the ionized gas velocities measured we have found that Mrk86 follows a solid-body rotation law with a central angular velocity of 34 ± 5 km s^-1 kpc^-1. The comparison of the modeled rotation curve with our velocity data indicates a clear dominance of the stellar mass component over the dark matter. Related with the galaxy most intense star forming knot, a very strong gradient steeping is observed. Finally, we give kinematic evidence for the Mrk86-C expanding bubble. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The dynamical structure of dwarf elliptical galaxies

Deep imaging and long-slit spectroscopy was obtained for a sample of dwarf ellipticals in the Fornax cluster, NGC 5044 and NGC 5898 groups using the ESO VLT. The observational data extend out to typically 1.5–2 effective radii and indicate a kinematic dichotomy in the family of ellipticals. The observed stellar kinematics indicate a luminosity–velocity dispersion relation largely supporting Supernova-driven stellar mass loss scenarios for the formation of dwarf ellipticals. Stellar dynamical models favour dark matter halos with typical mass-to-light ratios in the range of 3 to 9 solar units. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The properties of the galaxies in the ENACS clusters, and the relation between spirals and S0 galaxies

We discuss the properties of the galaxies in about 60 rich, nearby clusters, using kinematic data from the ESO Nearby Abell Cluster Survey, combined with new imaging data. The images were used to classify the galaxies, and to recalibrate the galaxy types derived from the ENACS spectra; this yields galaxy-type estimates for about4800 galaxies. For about 1200 galaxies, a bulge/disk decomposition could be made, which yields sizes and luminosities of bulges and disks. From the projected radial distances and relative l.o.s.-velocities we derived the galaxy ensembles with significantly different phase-space distributions. We find that galaxies in and outside substructure must be distinguished. The morphological composition of the substructures appears to vary with projected radius. Outside substructures, 4 galaxy ensembles must be defined: viz. the brighest Es, the other early-type galaxies, the early spirals(Sa-Sb), and the late spirals (including the emission-line galaxies). We also study the morphology-density relation, and we find that the segregation of the late spirals is driven mostly by global factors, while the segregation of Es, S0s and early spirals is driven mostly by local density. The properties of early spirals and S0ssupport the picture in which early spirals transform into S0s, while the properties of the late spirals do not support such a relation. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Unveiling the Launching Region of YSO Jets with AMBER

The interplay between accretion and ejection in the environment of young stellar objects (YSOs) is believed to be a crucial element in the star formation process. Since most of the properties of the models are set up in the first few AUs from the source (below the so-called Alfvèn surface), to validate and constrain the models observationally we need very high angular resolution. With HST (resolution ∼ 0.'1, i.e. about 14 AU in Taurus)we have been able to access the external border of the acceleration region, for jets in the Taurus-Auriga cloud. Here we see an onion-like kinematic structure in the first 200 AU of the flow, and indications for rotation around the symmetry axis for the resolved low/moderate velocity component. We have now planned observations with AMBER on the VLTI to investigate at 1 mas resolution (in J) the core of the central engine, down to 0.1 AU from the source. Here we describe a joint project by several Institutes in the AMBER consortium dedicated to the study of the morphology and detailed kinematics of a few selected targets. On one hand we will use the large UV coverage of the ATs to explore at medium spectral resolution the structure of the flow. On the other hand the large collection area of the UTs combined with the high resolution mode (R=10000) of AMBER will allow us to search for interesting kinematic features, among which signatures of rotation around the axis, that would constitute an important validation of the proposed models for the jet launching. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The Orthogonal Bulge–Disc Decoupling in NGC 4698

The R-band isophotal map of the Sa galaxy NGC 4698 shows that the inner region of the bulge is elongated perpendicularly to the major axis of the disc. At the same time a central stellar velocity gradient is found along the minor axis of the disc. The same properties have also been recognized in the Sa galaxy NGC 4672. This remarkable geometric and kinematic decoupling is a direct indication that a second event occurred in the history of these galaxies suggesting that acquisition phenomena could play a primary role in the formation of early-type spirals. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

北斗广域增强系统星钟和星历误差改正算法研究

区域北斗星基增强系统提供等效钟差改正数统一修正星历和钟差误差。随着系统的建设发展,新一代北斗星基增强系统将区分星历和钟差误差改正信息,以提高差分改正精度。由于北斗卫星混合星座设计及区域监测网的局限,星历和钟差误差的高精度分离计算面临着新的挑战。对北斗星基增强系统的星历和钟差改正算法进行了研究,分别采用动力学和运动学模式计算了卫星星历和钟差改正数,并基于北斗实测数据,对两种处理模式的差分改正精度进行了对比研究。试验结果表明,采用动力学和运动学差分方法,得到的双频伪距实时定位精度分别为1.76m和1.78m,定位精度与WAAS及EGNOS相当。利用运动学和动力学差分改正数后均可得到分米级的精密单点定位(precise point position,PPP)结果,其中采用动力学广域差分改正数,收敛后定位精度可达到15cm;采用运动学广域差分改正数,收敛后定位精度可达45cm。     

Relativist ic Corrections to the Thermal Sunyaev-Zel''''dovich Power Spectrum

We present a quantitative estimate of the relativistic corrections to the thermal SZ power spectrum produced by the energetic electrons in massive clusters. The corrections are well within 10% for current experiments with working frequencies below v < 100 GHz, but become non-negligible at high frequencies v > 350 GHz. Moreover, the corrections appear to be slightly smaller at higher l or smaller angular scales. We conclude that there is no need to include the relativistic corrections in the theoretical study of the SZ power spectrum especially at low frequencies unless the SZ power spectrum is used for precision cosmology.     

The estimation of the Sunyaev–Zel'dovich effects with unbiased multifilters

In this work we study the performance of linear multifilters for the estimation of the amplitudes of the thermal and kinematic Sunyaev–Zel'dovich (SZ) effects. We show that when both effects are present, estimation of these effects with standard matched multifilters is intrinsically biased. This bias is due to the fact that both signals have basically the same spatial profile. We find a new family of multifilters related to the matched multifilters that cancel this systematic bias, hence we call them unbiased matched multifilters. We test the unbiased matched multifilters and compare them with the standard matched multifilters using simulations that reproduce the future Planck mission observations. We find that in the case of the standard matched multifilters the systematic bias in the estimation of the kinematic Sunyaev–Zel'dovich effect can be very large, even greater than the statistical error bars. Unbiased matched multifilters cancel this kind of bias effectively. In concordance with other works in the literature, our results indicate that the sensitivity and resolution of Planck will not be enough to give reliable estimations of the kinematic Sunyaev–Zel'dovich effects of individual clusters. However, as the estimation with the unbiased matched multifilters is not intrinsically biased, it can be possible to use them to study statistically any peculiar cosmological bulk flows via the kinematic SZ effect.     

Does the fine structure constant vary? A third quasar absorption sample consistent with varying α

We report results from a third sample of quasar absorption line spectra from the Keck telescope which has been studied to search for any possible variation of the fine structure constant, α. This third sample, which is larger than the sum of the two previously published samples, shows the same effect, and also gives, as do the previous two samples, a significant result. The combined sample yields a highly significant effect, Δα = (α_z - α₀ )/α₀ = -0.57 ± 0.10 × 10^-5, averaged over the redshift range 0.2 < z < 3.7. We include a brief discussion of small-scale kinematic structure in quasar absorbing clouds. However, kinematics are unlikely to impact significantly on the averagednon-zeroΔα /α above, and we have so far been unable to identify any systematic effect which can explain it. New measurements of quasar spectra obtained using independent instrumentation and telescopes are required to properly check the Keck results. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Scaling relations of field spirals at intermediate redshift

In the last few years, galaxies at redshifts up to z ∼ 1 have become accessible for medium-resolved spectroscopy thanks to the new generation of 10 m-class telescopes. With kinematic and photometric information on spiral galaxies in this regime, well-known scaling relations like the Tully-Fisher relation (TFR) can be studied over half a Hubble time. By comparison to local samples, these studies facilitate simultaneous tests of the hierarchical merging scenario and stellar population models. Using the Very Large Telescope, we obtained spatially resolved rotation curves of 78 spiral galaxies in the FORS Deep Field (FDF), covering all Hubble types from Sa to Sm/Irr at redshifts 0.1 < z < 1.0. We find evidence for a B-band luminosity increase of up to 2 mag for low-mass spirals, whereas the most massive galaxies are of the same luminosity as their local counterparts. In effect, the TFR slope decreases significantly. This would explain the discrepant results of previous observational studies. We also present the velocity-size relation and compare it to the predictions of numerical simulations based on the hierarchical merging scenario. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Distortion of the stellar velocity field parameters due to systematic variations of parallaxes over the celestial sphere

We study the effect of systematic variations in stellar parallaxes over the celestial sphere on the results of a kinematic analysis of stellar proper motions. Our approach is based on the representation of stellar parallaxes by scalar spherical harmonics and on the decomposition of stellar proper motions into a system of vector spherical harmonics. We derive theoretical relations that relate the coefficients of the decomposition of stellar proper motions into toroidal and spheroidal harmonics to the coefficients of the decomposition of stellar parallaxes into scalar spherical harmonics. We have established that the systematic variations of parallaxes over the celestial sphere distort all parameters of the linear Ogorodnikov-Milne model and can be responsible for the appearance of beyond-the-model harmonics. We have performed a kinematic analysis of the proper motions of blue-white and red giants based on Hipparcos data. The parallaxes of blue-white giants show a strong dependence on Galactic latitude (with predominant contraction along the Galactic equator). In contrast, the deviations of the parallaxes from the mean for red giants are localized only in two regions of the celestial sphere. For these samples, the effect of parallax variations over the celestial sphere on kinematic parameters has turned out to be comparable to their rms errors. The global solutions performed using both samples have revealed strong beyond-the-model kinematic effects described by second-order toroidal harmonics and third-order spheroidal harmonics. Using the solutions performed separately in the northern and southern Galactic hemispheres, we have established that not the systematic variations of parallaxes over the celestial sphere but the retardation of Galactic rotation with increasing distance of stars from the principal Galactic plane is mainly responsible for the appearance of these harmonics. Based on these samples of stars, we have estimated the magnitude of the vertical Galactic rotation velocity gradient to be 18.0±2.9 and 22.7±2.2 km s^?1 kpc^?1, respectively.     

In Situ Study of the Thick Disk. Preliminary Results

We report the advancement of our chemical and kinematical study of thethick disk. The methods used to derive the stellar parameters arediscussed and the preliminary results presented. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A Linear Dependence between the Magnitude and the Logarithm of the Length of the Time the Quasars OJ287 and 3C345 Stay below this Magnitude

We have studied the optical historical light curves of two Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs): OJ287 and 3C345. We find a linear dependence between the magnitude and the logarithm of the length of the time the objects stay below this magnitude. The relation may originate from a fractal structure of the light curve. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

GAIA: An Astrometric and Photometric Survey of our Galaxy

In October 2000, the GAIA astrometric mission was approved as one of the next two `cornerstones' of ESA's science programme, with a launch date target of 2010–12. GAIA will provide positional, radial velocity, and photometric measurements with the accuracies needed to produce a stereoscopic and kinematic census of about one billion stars throughout our Galaxy (and into the Local Group), amounting to about 1 per cent of the Galactic stellar population. GAIA's main scientific goal is to clarify the origin and history of our Galaxy, from a quantitative census of the stellar populations. It will advance questions such as when the stars in our Galaxy formed, when and how it was assembled, and its distribution of dark matter. The survey aims for completeness toV =20 mag, with accuracies of 10 μas at 15 mag. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.