河外星系中的厚盘

自1979年以来,越来越多的观测证据表明,在许多盘状星系中普遍存在厚盘成分,它们在结构、化学组成和运动学等方面与薄盘有着明显的不同.一般而言,星系中厚盘的标高比薄盘大得多,厚盘恒星与薄盘恒星相比,金属丰度较低而年龄较老,绕星系中心的转动速度较慢而速度弥散度较大,上述观测证据表明厚盘确实是星系长期演化后的产物,对于研究河外星系的形成和演化史有着重要的天体物理意义.该文在简单回顾银河系和河外星系中厚盘发现和确认史的基础上.介绍了对星系厚盘结构参数等性质的探测途径和目前取得的一些主要认识,并与薄盘恒星的相应特征作了比较,结构参数主要包括厚盘和薄盘的标长、标高和轴比,其他观测性质有两类盘的颜色、年龄、金属度和运动学特性等.最后,结合上述观测性质,对厚盘形成的几种可能的机制及未来可以开展的工作做了简要的说明和讨论.     

观测结果对三成分多分量星系化学演化模型的约束

本文是在银河系化学演化的基础上,利用银河系的三成分(threezone)(即晕、厚盘和薄盘)多相(multi phase)(气体,分子云,大、小质量恒星以及剩余物质)的化学演化的理论模型,讨论了以下观测约束:1、质量面密度、恒星形成率,各分区质量比;2、场星的年龄-金属丰度关系;3、α元素化学演化;4、太阳附近G矮星金属丰度分布;5、三成分金属丰度特征量;6、超新星爆发率;7、内落速率。结果表明,三成分多分量模型能够较好地满足观测约束,比较真实地反映星系演化过程。可以用该模型计算元素的星系化学演化。     

观测结果对三成分多分量星系化学演化模型的约束

本文是在银河系化学演化的基础上，利用银河系的三成分(threezone)(即晕、厚盘和薄盘)多相(multi-phase)(气体，分子云，大、小质量恒星以及剩余物质)的化学演化的理论模型，讨论了以下观测约束：1、质量面密度、恒星形成率，各分区质量比；2、场星的年龄-金属丰度关系；3、α元素化学演化；4、太阳附近G矮星金属丰度分布；5、三成分金属丰度特征量；6、超新星爆发率；7、内落速率。结果表明，三成分多分量模型能够较好地满足观测约束，比较真实地反映星系演化过程。可以用该模型计算元素的星系化学演化。     

银河系铝元素丰度研究

恒星的Al元素丰度可以为探索星团和星系的化学演化提供重要线索.通过系统分析银河系薄盘、厚盘、核球、银晕以及M4、M5等球状星团中恒星的[Al/Fe]随恒星金属丰度[Fe/H]的变化趋势,得出银河系薄盘、厚盘和核球恒星的[Al/Fe]随着[Fe/H]的增加而缓慢下降,而球状星团M4和M5恒星的[Al/Fe]随[Fe/H]增加没有下降趋势,这暗示Ia超新星对M4和M5恒星元素丰度的贡献比较小.详细研究了银河系恒星[Al/Fe]与[Mg/Fe]、[Na/Fe]的相关性,结果表明银河系场星的[Al/Fe]与[Mg/Fe]正相关,但在球状星团M4和M5恒星中未见此相关性;银河系盘星及M4和M5等球状星团恒星的[Al/Fe]与[Na/Fe]都存在正相关.     

银盘恒星的年龄-金属丰度关系研究

该文回顾了恒星的AMR(年龄-金属丰度关系)研究的历史,评述了研究的现状;介绍和比较了确定恒星年龄和金属丰度的有关方法;分析和讨论了最近有关AMR研究的4个大样本工作,分别利用每两样本之间的共同样本星,详细比较了它们分别给出的恒星年龄、金属丰度和AMR;结果表明样本的选择效应以及确定恒星年龄和金属丰度的方法或采用参数的不同都会影响AMR.通过比较选取了恒星年龄比较一致且金属丰度精度相对较高的2个样本,分别包括4 007和1 042颗恒星,用纯运动学标准确定了各自的星族成分,分别讨论了薄盘和厚盘恒星的AMR,结果显示厚盘恒星的存在明显的AMR,而薄盘恒星的A:MR不如厚盘那么明显,也提出了进一步研究AMR需要开展的几项工作.     

化学元素的起源问题

本文对化学元素起源问题的研究现状作了综合性的评述。一部分是元素的恒星合成理论,包括元素通过核聚变、轻核俘获反应及中子俘获而产生的机制,以及用星系演化讨论元素丰度的有关问题。另一部分是轻元素的宇宙学合成理论,包括早期宇宙中轻核形成机制,丰度的计算结果,原始丰度的观测确定,有关的争议以及支持宇宙学核合成理论的论据。     

银河系厚盘恒星的年龄-金属度关系

对太阳邻域内银河系盘星、特别是厚盘恒星年龄-金属度关系的研究进展作了较为详细的回顾和评述；说明目前对盘星是否确实存在年龄-金属度关系还存在争议，而厚盘恒星可能存在这种关系。同时指出，要得出明晰的结论，在观测资料的基础上取得合理的恒星样本至关重要。     

贫金属星中子俘获元素丰度

贫金属星的中子俘获元素丰度与恒星的形成和演化密切相关,它为研究星系形成早期的历史背景和化学演化提供了重要信息。贫金属星中子俘获元素丰度的研究已成为近年来核天体物理研究的前沿和热点。介绍了恒星内部重元素的核合图像,ｓ过程和ｒ过程核合成的概念及其核合成场所。着重介绍了近年来有关贫金属星中子俘获元素丰度的观测结果,综述了近年来贫金属星子俘获元素分布的理论研究进展情况和中子俘获元素的星系化学演化的研究进展     

银河系化学演化及球状星团多星族问题研究

<正>恒星的化学元素丰度特征能够反映其形成和演化历史.以化学元素丰度为手段,研究了银河系中恒星的径向迁移对银河系化学演化的影响,以及球状星团中渐进巨星支(AGB)恒星的多星族问题.近年的观测和理论研究表明:恒星在银盘里有径向迁移.基于详细的银河系化学演化模型,再采用分布函数模拟恒星径向迁移过程,研究了恒星的径向迁移对银盘径向元素丰度梯度的影响.结果显示:     

恒星锂丰度研究进展

锂是少数几种在大中生成的元素之一,研究锂丰度对于探讨各种元素核合成理论以及星系的早期化学演化规律都具有十分重要的意义,阐述了有关恒星（类太阳星,晕族恒星和主序前得）及星团锂丰度的新近观测结果。介绍了在锂的核合成理论研究方面非局部热动平衡效应的影响及锂在恒星演化中的衰竭机制等理论的研究进展和存在的问题。     

A thermodynamic model of high temperature lava vaporization on Io

We modified the MAGMA chemical equilibrium code developed by Fegley and Cameron (1987, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 82, 207-222) and used it to model vaporization of high temperature silicate lavas on Io. The MAGMA code computes chemical equilibria in a melt, between melt and its equilibrium vapor, and in the gas phase. The good agreement of MAGMA code results with experimental data and with other computer codes is demonstrated. The temperature-dependent pressure and composition of vapor in equilibrium with lava is calculated from 1700 to 2400 K for 109 different silicate lavas in the ONaKFeSiMgCaAlTi system. Results for five lavas (tholeiitic basalt, alkali basalt, Barberton komatiite, dunite, and a molten type B1 Ca, Al-rich inclusion) are discussed in detail. The effects of continuous fractional vaporization on chemistry of these lavas and their equilibrium vapor are presented. The predicted abundances (relative to Na) of K, Fe, Si, Al, Ca, and Ti in the vapor equilibrated with lavas at 1900 K are lower than published upper limits for Io's atmosphere (which do not include Mg). We predict evaporative loss of alkalis, Fe, and Si during volcanic eruptions. Sodium is more volatile than K, and the Na/K ratio in the gas is decreased by fractional vaporization. This process can match Io's atmospheric Na/K ratio of 10±3 reported by Brown (2001, Icarus 151, 190-195). Silicon monoxide is an abundant species in the vapor above lavas. Spectroscopic searches are recommended for SiO at IR and mm wavelengths. Reactions of metallic vapors with S- and Cl-bearing volcanic gases may form other unusual gases including MgCl₂, MgS, MgCl, FeCl₂, FeS, FeCl, and SiS.     

Instructions for authors

正Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics publishes original research papers and reviews on all branches of astronomy and astrophysics.Reviews are by invitation only.Important new results that require rapid publication can be submitted as a Letter(Letters must be restricted in length to 6 printed pages).Authors who submit a paper are expected to be able to certify that the paper is original work,     

Alkali and halogen chemistry in volcanic gases on Io

We use chemical equilibrium calculations to model the speciation of alkalis and halogens in volcanic gases emitted on Io. The calculations cover wide temperature (500-2000 K) and pressure (10⁻⁶ to 10⁺¹ bars) ranges, which overlap the nominal conditions at Pele (T=1760 K, P=0.01 bars). About 230 compounds of 11 elements (O, S, Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, F, Cl, Br, I) are considered. The elemental abundances for O, S, Na, K, and Cl are based upon observations. CI chondritic elemental abundances relative to sulfur are used for the other alkalis and halogens (as yet unobserved on Io). We predict the major alkali species in Pele-like volcanic gases and the percentage distribution of each alkali are LiCl (73%), LiF (27%); NaCl (81%), Na (16%), NaF (3%); KCl (91%), K (5%), KF (4%); RbCl (93%), Rb (4%), RbF (3%); CsCl (92%), CsF (6%), Cs (2%). Likewise the major halogen species and the percentage distribution of each halogen are NaF (88%), KF (10%), LiF (2%); NaCl (89%), KCl (11%); NaBr (89%), KBr (10%), Br (1%); NaI (61%), I (30%), KI (9%). We predict the major halogen condensates and their condensation temperatures at P=0.01 bar are NaF (1115 K), LiF (970 K); NaCl (1050 K), KCl (950 K); KBr (750 K), RbBr (730 K), CsBr (645 K); and solid I₂ (200 K). We also model disequilibrium chemistry of the alkalis and halogens in the volcanic plume. Based on this work and our prior modeling for Na, K, and Cl in a volcanic plume, we predict the major loss processes for the alkali halide gases are photolysis and/or condensation onto grains. Their estimated photochemical lifetimes range from a few minutes for alkali iodides to a few hours for alkali fluorides. Condensation is apparently the only loss process for elemental iodine. On the basis of elemental abundances and photochemical lifetimes, we recommend searching for gaseous KCl, NaF, LiF, LiCl, RbF, RbCl, CsF, and CsCl around volcanic vents during eruptions. Based on abundance considerations and observations of brown dwarfs we also recommend a search of Io's extended atmosphere and the Io plasma torus for neutral and ionized Li, Cs, Rb, and F.     

The climatic and physiographic controls of the eastern Mediterranean over the late Pleistocene climates in the southern Levant and its neighboring deserts

Modern-day synoptic-scale eastern Mediterranean climatology provides a useful context to synthesize the diverse late Pleistocene (60–12 ka) paleohydrologic and paleoenvironmental indicators of past climatic conditions in the Levant and the deserts to its south and east. We first critically evaluate, extract, and summarize paleoenvironmental and paleohydrologic records. Then, we propose a framework of eastern Mediterranean atmospheric circulation features interacting with the morphology and location of the southeast Mediterranean coast. Together they strongly control the spatial distribution of rainfall and wind pattern. This cyclone–physiography interaction enforces the observed rainfall patterns by hampering rainfall generation south and southeast of the latitude of the north Sinai coast, currently at 31°15′.The proposed framework explains the much-increased rains in Lebanon and northern Israel and Jordan as deduced from pollen, rise and maintenance of Lake Lisan, and speleothem formation in areas currently arid and semiarid. The proposed framework also accounts for the southward and eastward transition into semiarid, arid, and hyperarid deserts as expressed in thick loess accumulation at the deserts' margins, dune migration from west to east in the Sinai and the western Negev, and the formation of hyperarid (< 80 mm yr^− 1) gypsic–salic soils in the southern Negev and Sinai. Our climatic synthesis explains the hyperarid condition in the southern Negev, located only 200–250 km south of the much-increased rains in the north, probably reflecting a steeper rainfall gradient than the present-day gradient from the wetter Levant into its bordering southern and eastern deserts.At present, the rainiest winter seasons in Lebanon and northern and central Israel are associated with more frequent (+ 20%), deeper Cyprus Lows traversing the eastern Mediterranean at approximately the latitude of southern Turkey. Even these wettest years in northern Israel do not yield above average annual rainfall amounts in the hyperarid southern Negev. This region is mainly influenced by the Active Red Sea Troughs that produce only localized rains. The eastern Mediterranean Cyprus Lows also produce more dust storms and transport higher amounts of suspended dust to the loess area than any other atmospheric pattern. Concurrent rainfall and dust are essential to the late Pleistocene formation of the elongated thick loess zone along the desert northern margin. Even with existing dust storms, the lack of rain and very sparse vegetation account for the absence of late Pleistocene loess sequences from the southern Negev and the formation of hyperarid soils.When the north Sinai coast shifted 30–70 km northwest due to last glacial global sea level lowering, the newly exposed coastal areas supplied the sand and dust to these active eastern Mediterranean cyclones. This enforced the latitude of the northern boundary of the loess zone to be directly due east of the LGM shoreline. This shift of coast to the northwest inhibited rainfall in the southern Levant deserts and maintained their hyperaridity. Concurrently, frequent deep eastern Mediterranean Cyprus Lows were funneled along the northern Mediterranean increasing (probably doubling) the rains in central and northern Israel, Lebanon, southwestern Syria and northern Jordan. These storms and rains formed lakes, forests, and speleothems only a short distance north of the deserts in the southern Levant.     

Active hot star shells

Interferometry in the visible provides milliarcsecond spatial resolution and thus has been used for studying the circumstellar environment of active hot stars. In this paper I will illustrate how the visibility modulus and phase can be used to better constrain the physics of Be disks through results from the VLA, the MkII and the GI2T interferometers. I will insist on the importance and the potential of coupling high angular resolution with high spectral resolution to the study of Be shells. Finally I will present a possible study of the circumstellar disk of Be stars using the VLTI. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Fitting X-ray Afterglow Light curves of Gamma-ray Bursts by Using the Magnetar Energy Injection Model

The central compact object for some gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) may be a strongly magnetized millisecond pulsar. It can inject energy to the outer shock of the GRB by through the magnetic dipole radiation, and therefore causes the shallow decay of the early afterglow. Recently, from a large number of GRB X-ray afterglows observed by Swift/XRT(X-ray telescope), it is revealed that many of them exhibit the shallow decay about 10²∼10⁴ s after the burst prompt emission. We have fitted the X-ray afterglow light curves of 11 GRBs by using the energy injection model of a magnetar with the rotation period in the millisecond order of magnitude. The obtained result shows the validity and universality of the magnetar energy injection model in explaining the shallow decay of afterglows, and simultaneously provides some constraints on the magnetic field strength and rotation period of the central magnetar.     

Born–Infeld type phantom model in the ω–ω′ plane

In this paper, we investigate the dynamics of Born–Infeld (B–I) phantom model in the ω–ω′ plane, which is defined by the equation of state parameter for the dark energy and its derivative with respect to N (the logarithm of the scale factor a). We find the scalar field equation of motion in ω–ω′ plane, and show mathematically the property of attractor solutions which correspond to ω _φ ∼−1, Ω _φ =1, which avoid the “Big rip” problem and meets the current observations well.      

Shear and vorticity in a combined Einstein-Cartan-Brans-Dicke inflationary lambda-Universe

A combined BCDE (Brans-Dicke and Einstein-Cartan) theory with lambda-term is developed through Raychaudhuri’s equation, for inflationary scenario. It involves a variable cosmological constant, which decreases with time, jointly with energy density, cosmic pressure, shear, vorticity, and Hubble’s parameter, while the scale factor, total spin and scalar field increase exponentially. The post-inflationary fluid resembles a perfect one, though total spin grows, but the angular speed does not (Astrophys. Space Sci. 312: 275, 2007d).