云南红外太阳塔选址及其结果

介绍了云南太阳光学选址的历程，主要叙述了自1996年开始的红外太阳选址的过程：初选踏勘，比对筛选、定点观测。最佳选点为澄江县抚仙湖畔的半岛老鹰地。     

红外太阳塔抚仙湖老鹰地选址

介绍红外太阳塔抚仙湖老鹰地选址点的初步观测结果以及白日视宁度监测仪－“太阳差分像运行监测仪和闪仪的原理结构及用这两套仪的抚仙湖老鹰地红外太阳塔选址点进行的对比观测实验。     

白日视宁度监测仪和在抚仙湖的初步观测结果

报导了用南方基地云南天文台太阳差分像运动视宁度监测仪和美国国立太阳天文台的太阳闪烁仪 ,在云南省澄江县抚仙湖老鹰地红外太阳塔选址点进行的对比观测 ,简要地介绍了这两种视宁度测量方法的原理 ,对观测的初步结果进行了分析。     

白日视宁度监测仪和在抚仙湖的初步观测结果

报导了用南方基地云南天文台太阳差分像运动视宁度监测仪和美国国立太阳天文台的太阳闪烁仪,在云南省澄江县抚仙湖老鹰地红外太阳塔选址点进行的对比观测,简要地介绍了这两种视宁度测量方法的原理,对观测的初步结果进行了分析。     

现代日晕光度计多波段测光系统初步测试结果分析

现代日晕光度计是用于精确测定监测址点的多种大气参量的精密仪器,它已列为我国西部太阳设备选址工作中的重要设备。利用同一架日晕光度计首先对昭通大山包进行了多波段数据采集。在仔细分析初步测光结果的基础上,进一步完善日晕光度计的光学系统。使用改进后的设备对昆明凤凰山址点进行了多次数据采集,都获得了理想数据。这表明日晕光度计的多波段测光系统已能够用于西部太阳选址工作中。     

昭通大山包天文气象条件统计分析

采用云南省昭通市昭阳区气象局1960年到1988年间在大山包实地采集的气象数据资料,并根据优良太阳观测台址所要求的各项参数指标,对大山包29年来的气象资料进行了系统的统计分析,发现该候选址点在干季(10月到次年4月)具有年日照时间增长、云量减少、相对湿度降低、风速较小且风向稳定、气候变化具有明显的周期性等特征。考虑到交通条件便利,初步判定它是一个具有潜力的优良太阳观测候选址点。     

西德基彭霍伊尔太阳物理研究所及其太阳观测站选址工作

中国天文代表团于1978年11月21日至23日访问了西德弗赖堡(Freiburg)基彭霍伊尔太阳物理研究所(Kiepenheuer-Institut fur Sonnenphysik),在1978年9月1日以前该所名称是Fraunhofer Institut。着重了解了该所的太阳观测站选址经验和对未来大太阳观测仪器的设想。在文献中,这二方面的工作都已有详细报导,这里仅对     

国内首架日冕仪落户云南丽江

日冕仪的重要功能是通过人造日食的巧妙方式来直接观测太阳最外层大气——日冕层。借助日冕仪,人们在常规太阳观测条件下就可以欣赏美丽的日冕以及壮丽的日冕爆发过程。我们的前辈自上世纪50年代末就开始了针对日冕观测址点的不断考察,但遗憾的是一直未能寻找到理想的候选点。随着近几年我国西部太阳选址工作的不断深入,我们选址科考队得到了一批颇有价值的潜在理想址点,大香格里拉地区便是其中得到证认的区域之一。滇西北的丽江高美古天文基地就位于大香格里拉地区南部,海拔较高,空气十分洁净,每年旱季日照充沛。高美古目前拥有东亚最大的地面天文望远镜集群,为我们日冕仪观测站的建立提供了极其便利的基本条件。     

太阳精细结构望远镜塔体高度的确定

本文报告了1978年12月-1979年2月我们在本台太阳观测区对地面不同高度所进行的温度脉动测量和太阳光学观测对比结果。结果表明,该地点是一个良好的太阳光学观测地点,适合建立太阳精细结构望远镜观测室。详细结果见表Ⅴ(二)、Ⅵ(二)。通过对上述两项观测结果的分析,确定了太阳精细结构望远镜塔体的高度为15m。此外,在本观测期问对该地点的太阳宁静度状况有了进一步的了解(详见4.资料的分析与比较)。最后,对我们进行的这项工作及今后太阳观测点的选址提出了一些改进的意见和建议。     

西行漫谈——太阳西部选址的故事

太阳西部选址队!这是一个响亮的名称,这是一个特别的天文部落,这儿拥有一群不辞辛劳、跋涉奔波在祖国西部最艰苦地区的热血队员,这儿聚集着我国最好的天文选址专家。两年来,我国西部地区蕴藏的丰厚天文资源正逐渐向世人揭开神秘的面纱,寻找到未来一流天文址点的信心在他们的心中日益增强。     

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.     

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.      

A Comparison of Several Image Locating Algorithms in Astronomical Instruments

In astronomical observations at optical wavelengths, a fast image tracking system can be adopted to reduce the effects of the atmospheric seeing and telescopic tracking error, and therefore improve the observing efficiency. Aiming at the need of astronomical observations, totally 5 kinds of algorithms in two categories were selected to make a comparative study on their accuracies and stabilities under different noise conditions by both numerical experiment and laboratory test. The results indicate that the normalized cross-correlation method and barycenter method have not only a higher accuracy but also a better reliability against interferences, they will be applied to the high-resolution spectrograph of the Xinglong 2.16 m telescope and the scienti?c instruments of the SONG (Stellar Observations Network Group) project, respectively.     

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).      

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.