QUEST on DASI: a South Pole CMB polarization experiment

QUEST on DASI is a ground-based, high-sensitivity, high-resolution (ℓ_max2500) experiment designed to map CMB polarization at 100 and 150 GHz and to measure the power spectra from E-modes, B-modes from lensing of the CMB, and B-modes from primordial gravitational waves. The experiment comprises a 2.6 m Cassegrain optical system, equipped with an array of 62 polarization-sensitive bolometers (PSBs), located at the South Pole. The instrument is designed to minimize systematic effects; features include differencing of pairs of orthogonal PSBs within a single feed, a rotatable achromatic waveplate, and axisymmetric rotatable optics. In addition the South Pole location allows both repeatable and highly controlled observations. QUEST on DASI will commence operation in early 2005.     

Photometric Study of the W Uma-Type Eclipsing Binary System GSC 4832.400

We present a photometric analysis of the eclipsing binary systemGSC4832.400 based on 732 photometric observations obtained on sixteen clear nights during 1999–2000 in the V-Johnson and yb-Strömgren filters. The observed times of the minima yielded a linear ephemeris showing that the system has a constant period of 0.313150 ± 0.000002days. The light curve corresponds to a circular orbit for the system and clearly shows that GSC4832.400 has the defining characteristics of a W UMa-type eclipsing binary. It also shows a small O'Connell effect, which could be due to the presence of a hot spot in the primary star. A preliminary photometric solution based on the assumption of an over contact systemsatis factorily reproduced the observed light curve.     

Effect of spatial variation characteristics on contouring of design storm depth

The ordinary kriging method, a geostatistical interpolation technique, was applied for developing contour maps of design storm depth in northern Taiwan using intensity–duration–frequency (IDF) data. Results of variogram modelling on design storm depths indicate that the design storms can be categorized into two distinct storm types: (i) storms of short duration and high spatial variation and (ii) storms of long duration and less spatial variation. For storms of the first category, the influence range of rainfall depth decreases when the recurrence interval increases, owing to the increasing degree of their spatial independence. However, for storms of the second category, the influence range of rainfall depth does not change significantly and has an average of approximately 72 km. For very extreme events, such as events of short duration and long recurrence interval, we do not recommend usage of the established design storm contours, because most of the interstation distances exceed the influence ranges. Our study concludes that the influence range of the design storm depth is dependent on the design duration and recurrence interval and is a key factor in developing design storm contours. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Baryte and calcite cements in the 'breccias' of Ogmore-by-Sea, South Wales

Each year many hundreds, if not thousands, of Earth-science students visit the coastline at Ogmore-by-Sea, mid-Glamorgan. They study the excellent exposures of Lower Carboniferous Limestone, with their well-preserved coral and other shelly faunas, together with the presumed late Triassic 'breccias'* that rest unconformably on top. A study of the cements within the breccias may give an insight into syndepositional mineralization and the formation of sedimentary basins linked to the opening of the Atlantic in early Mesozoic times.     

Can Brans-Dicke universes in five dimensions be interpreted as 4-dimensional general relativity cosmologies?

The 5-dimensional Jordan-Brans-Dicke cosmologies in vacuum are found for the Bianchi type I metric, their relation with general relativity cosmologies is studied. Two solutions are possible, both produce effective pressure and energy density in the 4-dimensional G.R.-universes. One is a power-law relation, with two cases, the first one is forp _eff=_eff and the other forp _eff=_eff(– 1 < < 1) has a behaviour as the open flat universe. The second solution is an exponential only valid forp _eff=–_eff. In all cases the three-space expansion reaches infinity ast and the fifth dimension can be made to decrease approaching zero. The scalar field can increase or decrease with time.     

针式微萃取结合GC-IRMS测定水溶液中甲酸、乙酸的稳定碳同位素组成

甲酸和乙酸稳定碳同位素组成（δ^13C）的分析对环境、食品、制药和自然产品等的研究具有重要的应用价值。但目前尚缺乏有效的测定方法。本研究利用最近出现的针式固相微萃取技术（NeedlEX）,以吹扫．捕集方式对水溶液中的有机酸进行了萃取,然后利用气相色谱．同位素比值质谱联用仪（GC—IRMS）对所萃取的有机酸分子进行了占δ^13C的测定。结果显示,质谱计的信号强度与水溶液中有机酸的浓度存在显著的线性相关关系（R^2〉0．99,P〈0．05）,表明Needl EX对水溶液中有机酸具有稳定的萃取能力。在甲酸与乙酸含量分别不低于300μg／mL与200μg／mL的水溶液中,1000mL的吹扫体积可以使两者δ^13C多次分析结果的相对误差分别保持在3％和1％左右,且整个实验流程没有造成可检测的碳同位素分馏作用。低于这两个浓度界线,则分析误差随浓度的降低迅速增加。本研究虽然是针对水溶液中有机酸δ^13C的测定,其萃取方法对其他水溶性挥发和半挥发有机物δ^13C的分析也同样具有应用价值。     

淡水双壳类壳体碳同位素研究:以河蚬(corbicula fluminea,Müller 1774)为例

双壳类壳体碳酸盐(文石)稳定同位素组成已被广泛地用于古气候和古环境重建研究中,但是双壳类壳体碳同位素组成所指示的气候和环境意义一直是争议的问题.对双壳类河蚬(corbicula fluminea)进行了室内养殖,并选取两个壳体样品(壳高,A=13 mm,B=9mm),测定其生长部分壳体和生长期间水体碳同位素,研究表明,随着水体碳同位素的升高(δ13CDIC由-5.24‰升至1.41‰),两壳体碳同位素也随之升高,表明水体对壳体碳同位素的影响;δ13CA分布范围为-4.76‰～2.09‰,δ13CB为-8.49‰～2.89,壳体A和B碳同位素均比预测平衡值偏负,表明壳体在形成过程中利用了新陈代谢产生的富集12C的CO2.根据计算壳体A在实验中沉淀部分壳体利用新陈代谢碳的比例(M值)为24%～43%,平均值为33%;壳体B为33%～75%,平均值为58%.M值随生物的生长呈下降变化,这说明在实验中河蚬主要是通过增加对DIC的吸收和利用来满足壳体生长对物质量增加的需求.