第二个天体测量卫星(Gaia)项目的进展

简述了第二个天体测量卫星Gaia(将于2013年3月发射)项目的科学意义,并给出了该项目的组织工作和最近的进展.描述了Gala观测资料处理的基本原理,以及与依巴谷观测资料处理的不同点.介绍了Gaia参考架构建的考虑,以及为了构建微角秒量级的参考架,应在自行中加入系统差改正,如长期光行差、引力波效应、宇宙膨胀各向异性的影响,弱的微引力透镜和微引力透镜噪声效应等.介绍了Gaia光学参考架与射电参考架ICRFL2之间建立联系过程中,选择河外射电源的准则,其中包括源的核漂移和光学长期变化监测等.最后,提出了我国现有设备参与支持Gaia的地基观测,以及正在研制的65 m射电天线在射电天体测量方面可以开展的若干课题.     

ICRF与Gaia-CRF参考架特性分析

天体测量学是天文学中最古老的分支之一, 它是天文学的基础, 对天体物理学和大地测量学的许多方面至关重要.天体测量学的核心任务之一就是建立一个高精度天文参考系, 以便利用这样的惯性参照系来描述天体的位置和运动、研究银河系的运动学特征及对同一天体在不同波段的对应体进行位置认证和比较.当前的天文参考系是参照银河系外天体(主要是活动星系核)的位置来定义的, 称为国际天球参考系(ICRS).在实测上, 与之相对应的基本星表为国际天球参考架(ICRF), 它由甚长基线干涉测量(VLBI)技术在S/X、K和X/Ka波段的观测资料解算而得, 位置精度达到数十微角秒($\mathrm{\mu as}$)水平.另一方面, Gaia卫星的观测也将在光学波段建立类似精度的光学参考架(Gaia-CRF).ICRF与Gaia-CRF的连接成为天体测量领域需要解决的重大问题之一, 这要求对ICRF与Gaia-CRF参考架特性进行细致深入的分析. 首先, 分析了ICRF的整体特性.VLBI星表的内部符合精度估计值在$\mathrm{10\mu as}$和$\mathrm{40\mu as}$之间, 依赖于射电源的观测次数.这一结果一方面验证了ICRF3星表给出的位置噪声水平, 也说明了VLBI技术在天体测量方面的潜力.利用Gaia的河外源位置为参考, 分析了历代ICRF星表的外部符合精度, 指出ICRF3 X/Ka波段参考架存在约$\mathrm{200\mu as}$的系统误差.最后, 发明了一种评估射电源全天分布均匀性的量化指标并改进了ICRF定义源筛选策略, 结果表明相较于ICRF2而言, 这一方法能将ICRF轴指向稳定性提高2至3倍.这些工作很好地解释并补充了国际上ICRF3工作组的相关结果. 其次, 研究Gaia-CRF的参考架性质.使用了相对于依巴谷参考架的全局旋转和结合银河系动力学分析两种方法来评估Gaia-CRF1的惯性水平, 指出Gaia-CRF1可能存在约$\mathrm{0.3mas\cdot yr^{-1}}$的剩余旋转.对于Gaia-CRF2, 研究了其系统精度与河外源样本极限星等的依赖关系, 发现Gaia-CRF2的整体精度几乎不受星等差的影响.这一结果可作为未来ICRF与Gaia-CRF连接源选择的参考. 活动星系核的光学-射电位置差是影响参考架连接精度的重要因素之一.本文首次将光学-射电位置差研究延伸到K和Ka波段, 并研究其与河外源性质参数的相关性, 发现: 光学-射电位置差与星等的相关性是由于星等差而非真实的物理原因造成的, 因此在前人工作中被忽略的暗源也有可能作为ICRF与Gaia-CRF连接源.此外, 本文提出了一种新的参考架连接方法, 即在Gaia-CRF2框架下重新处理VLBI的历史观测资料.先期结果发现使用Gaia-CRF2来替代ICRF3尚不足以显著提高VLBI产品的精度, 但未来在Gaia-CRF参考架精度进一步提高后, 此方法仍值得进一步检验. 本文的研究, 一方面指出了ICRF与Gaia-CRF参考架中可能存在的种种问题, 另一方面也为将来光学与射电参考架连接提供了第一手的参考资料.     

GAIA计划与微角秒天体测量学

欧洲空间局正在考虑的空间天体测量卫星计划（GAIA计划）将对目视星等V亮于15．5mag的5千万颗目标进行位置、自行和视差的测定,其精度为10μas,同时还对这些目标进行多色多历元光度测定．该计划可对星系距离尺度、恒星演化、银河系运动学和动力学以及参考架联结等方面进行深入研究．其开创的微角秒天体测量学亦将会对天体物理学、太阳系天体和参考架联结等方面的研究产生深远的影响．     

银河系旋臂结构和运动学的VLBI高精度探测

直接测量恒星形成区的距离;从而确定银河系的旋臂结构以及银河系运动学的工作正在逐步展开.通过对恒星形成区脉泽的多历元VLBI观测,利用类星体和脉泽相位参考技术,精确地测定脉泽的位置、自行和视差.精确的距离能够确定旋臂的位置,从而建立银河系旋臂结构的新模型;运用绝对自行确定该处天体的三维运动,由此精确测定银河系的旋转曲线,...     

IAU 2000和后IAU 2000岁差-章动模型中岁差量的二历元表达式

IAU第24届大会决议从2003年起采用IAU2000岁差－章动模型．IERS规范(2003)给出了上述岁差－章动模型中7个常用岁差量的单历元表达式；2003年，Capitaine等对上述模型进行了改进，改进后的新模型称为后IAU2000(post IAU2000)岁差一章动模型．在此基础上，分别得到了上述两种岁差一章动模型中相关岁差量的二历元表达式．应用到坐标变换中，该两种表达式与原模型的精度相当，在1800到2200年的时间范围内，分别达到～1毫角秒和～1微角秒．由于除展开阶数外所给出的岁差量表达式与IAU1976岁差模型具有相同的形式，因此为实际应用提供了便利．结果已用于中国天文年历的编算．     

空间参考系自行系统与地面自行系统

针对地面FK5和空间依巴谷自行系统 ,采用银河系运动学分析方法发现 ,即使考虑了岁差改正的影响 ,两种自行系统之间仍存在很大差异。用建立在FK5系统上的PPM和ACRS自行与依巴谷自行比较 ,发现FK5自行系统内部存在非刚性运动 ;同时无法用VLBI及LLR所测定的岁差改正值来解释FK5与依巴谷自行系统的关系。     

视角创新：探索银河系的结构

近年,在“斯必泽”空间红外望远镜的帮助之下,一个天文学家小组对银河系实施了最全面的结构分析,发现银河系属于棒状星系。令人兴奋的观测证据表明,银河系与普通的旋涡星系之间存在着巨大的差异;新的研究为银河系棒状结构的大小和指向提供了最佳的估计,这与以前的估计值相去甚远。研究表明,一条由相对年老和偏红的恒星组成的棒状结构横跨在银河系中心,大约长达2.7万光年——比此前所认为的数值长了7000光年。     

用造父变星视向速度求银河系自转参数A

为建立银河系自转理论,由视向速度观测得到的较差自转效应曾用 O 型星及 B 型星、银河星团、造父变星等类天体详尽研究过.这方面的研究,不但显著证实银河系自转理论,而且可以决定自转参数,而自转参数又可以用来研究银河系的自转周期,系内力学定律及质量分布等问题.假定系内恒星的运动在稳定状态,且都绕核心作圆周运动.某恒星和银河系中心(简称银心)的距离为 R,银径为 l,银纬为 b,则因银河系自转而产生的视向速度较差效应     

是谁发射了银河系中的“飞毛腿”？

2003年至今,天文学家已经发现了16颗正在逃离银河系的恒星。银河系中心的黑洞可能是其背后的“元凶”。有一些恒星正在银河系中加速,它们的方向是更为广袤的星系际空间。由于它们运动的速度实在太快,银河系的引力也无法“挽留”住它们。也就是在2003年,天文学家才第一次发现了这些超高速的天体。然而几十年前理论学家就预言了它们的存在。     

STEP天体测量误差源分析

系外类地行星空间探测计划(Search for Terrestrial Exo-Planets,以下简称"STEP")采用天体测量法和微像素级焦平面定标测量技术,设计望远镜焦平面检测精度达到1μas.在假定焦平面设计能达到检测精度的前提条件下,系统分析了恒星自行、视差、卫星速度和位置、光学系统的光心等关键因素对检测系外行星的影响.有别于传统的窄视场照相底片常数法,提出了一种恒星相对角距测量方法,以检测由于可能存在的系外行星而引起星对角距变化的非线性项,消除了传统窄视场天体测量中参考星位置和自行精度对检测系外行星的直接影响.针对同一天区内的8颗参考星和1颗具有行星系统的待测星,分别模拟出5 yr内的观测数据,利用最小二乘法进行处理,发现基于STEP自身1μas的观测精度,在这种情况下是可以观测到类地行星的.     

The Galactic Aberration and Its Impact on Astronomical Reference Frames

The Galactic aberration effect, also known as the secular aberration drift, is a consequence of the centripetal acceleration of the Solar System Barycenter in the circular orbit around the Galactic center. It causes distance-independent apparent proper motions (the amplitude is about 5 ${\mu \mathit{as}·\mathit{yr}}^{-1}$) for extragalactic sources which were regarded as motionless before 21th century. As the very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) has been greatly developed, and the ESA (European Space Agency) space mission Gaia has provided ultra high-precision astrometric data, the Galactic aberration effect has becoming important. It causes slow spin of the reference frame due to the non-uniform distribution of extragalactic sources. Therefore systematic corrections have to be applied to the Earth rotation parameters. For the precession rate, the correction is about 1 ${\mu \mathit{as}·\mathit{yr}}^{-1}$. For the very high accurate VLBI and Gaia reference frames, the Galactic aberration effect will introduce small distortion which is a crucial systematic effect for the link of the two reference frames.     

An observational program for a unified optical-radio reference frame

An observational pilot program is described which provides a first step towards the construction of an inertial extragalactic reference frame from optical and radio measurements. Candidate objects will be selected from extragalactic compact radio sources which display optical counterparts. Galactic radio stars will be secondary reference objects. The reference frame will be defined by the radio positions of the extragalactic objects. Based on a coordinated effort in both hemispheres, a global homogeneous net of about 400 quasars and 100 radio stars is expected to result from a five year campaign.     

VLBI at the Hartebeesthoek radio astronomy Observatory

The Hartebeesthoek Radio Astronomy Observatory has played a key role in the development of very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) in the southern hemisphere since 1971. This paper describes how the VLBI programme evolved and the instrumentation used. Contributions to high resolution mapping of compact radio sources are described, for both the Southern Hemisphere VLBI Experiment, SHEVE, and for Global networks, where HartRAO has made significant improvements in the N-S resolution. The unique geographical location of the telescope has been used to establish the terrestrial reference frame in the southern hemisphere and to measure tectonic motions over the past nine years. The Observatory has also been a fundamental station in extending the celestial reference frame defined by extragalactic radio sources to the southern hemisphere, and results of these programmes are given.     

Surveys of compact extragalactic radio sources

Several recent global and Space VLBI surveys of quasars, Active Galactic Nuclei of other types and star-burst galaxies provide a wealth of material on milli- and sub-milliarcsecond radio structures in hundreds of sources. Results of these projects are presented with an emphasis on the statistics of redshift- and angular-scale-dependent properties of the milli- and sub-milliarcsecond radio structures. These studies make possible disentanglement of intrinsic (possibly, evolutionary) phenomena of parsec-scale radio structures and the imprints of the cosmological model. The studies indicate a very promising potential of high-resolution applications of the Square Kilometer Array. Based on our pilot projects we estimate that a sample containing of the order of 10⁴ faint radio sources in the luminosity range 10²²–10²⁶ W/Hz can be surveyed by a high-resolution SKA with the milliarcsecond resolution at cm wavelengths. Such the high resolution radio survey, including those conducted jointly by SKA and Space VLBI missions, in conjunction with data from other domains, will provide a new ground for extragalactic studies.     

天球参考系实现中的问题评述

本文评述了在建立历表参考架和恒星参考架过程中所面临的问题和困难，回顾了建立河外射电天球参考架的发展历史，并介绍了其目前状况，讨论了河外射电天球参考架在与其他天球参考架连接过程中所遇到的问题及其可能的解决途径。     

Milestones in the Observations of Cosmic Magnetic Fields

Magnetic fields are observed everywhere in the universe. In this review, we concentrate on the observational aspects of the magnetic fields of Galactic and extragalactic objects. Readers can follow the milestones in the observations of cosmic magnetic fields obtained from the most important tracers of magnetic fields, namely, the star-light polarization, the Zeeman effect, the rotation measures (RMs, hereafter) of extragalactic radio sources, the pulsar RMs, radio polarization observations, as well as the newly implemented sub-mm and mm polarization capabilities. The magnetic field of the Galaxy was first discovered in 1949 by optical polarization observations. The local magnetic fields within one or two kpc have been well delineated by starlight polarization data. The polarization observations of diffuse Galactic radio background emission in 1962 confirmed unequivocally the existence of a Galactic magnetic field. The bulk of the present information about the magnetic fields in the Galaxy comes from anal     

Extragalactic Astronomy with the VLTI: a new window on the Universe

Interferometry in the optical and near infrared has so far played a marginal role in Extragalactic Astronomy. Active Galactic Nuclei are the brightest and most compact extragalactic sources, nonetheless only a very limited number could be studied with speckle interferometry and none with long baseline interferometry. The VLTI will allow the study of moderately faint extragalactic objects with very high spatial resolution thus opening a new window on the universe. With this paper we focus on three scientific cases to show how AMBER and MIDI can be used to tackle open issues in extragalactic astronomy. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

On the errors and stability of reference frames

The distribution of systematic errors in the coordinates of 1217 extragalactic radio sources included in the latest version of the ICRF2 (International Celestial Reference Frame) reference catalog has been mapped for the first time by processing VLBI observations from international astrometric and geodetic programs spanning the period 1980–2012. These errors are shown to reach ±1.0 mas (milliarcseconds). However, for a sample of 752 sources observed more than 100 times, these errors do not exceed ±0.2 mas, suggesting that ICRF2 is inhomogeneous. In addition, the individual stability of dozens of extragalactic radio sources and ground-based stations included in the latest version of the International Terrestrial Reference Frame, ITRF2005, has been investigated. Significant linear trends and anomalous shifts reaching ±20 µas (microarcseconds) have been detected for many of the sources. Significant systematic shifts have also been found for some of the reference stations. The results obtained stimulate a search for new methods of analyzing VLBI observations and ways of their global adjustment that would provide greater homogeneity and stability of the ICRF and ITRF. This is needed both to increase the accuracy of determining the astrometric, geodetic, and geodynamic parameters derived from these observations and to facilitate their physical interpretation. The work has been performed with the QUASAR multifunction software package developed at the Institute of Applied Astronomy of the Russian Academy of Sciences.     

南天区20个河外射电源的VLBI研究

本文报道南天区5GHzVLBI普查式观测结果．首次观测是在1992年11月期间进行的，共观测了23个河外射电源，获得了20个河外射电源的VLBI高分辨率的射电图象．有15个射电源呈现核喷流结构，1个有双向喷流，3个未分解，末发现有致密观源．在16个核喷流（包括一个双向喷流源）源中有11个呈现弯曲喷流现象．此外还首次发现有3个源中可能有超光速运动现象．