Earth rotation in the hipparcos reference frame

New determination of the Earth orientation parameters (EOP), based on optical astrometry observations since the beginning of the century, is now under preparation by the Working group established by Commission 19 of the IAU. The Hipparcos catalog is to define the celestial reference frame in which the new series of EOP are to be described, The novelties of the prepared solution are the higher resolution (5 days) and more parameters estimated from the solution (celestial pole offsets, rheological parameters of the Earth, certain instrumental constants). The mathematical model of the solution is described, and the results based on the observations made with 46 instruments at 29 observatories and a preliminary Hipparcos catalog are presented.     

Kinematics in the z = 2.81 Galaxy and the Evidence for Rotation

The existence of rotation signatures in damped Lyαabsorption systems represents a crucial test of the hypothesis that these features arise in disks of normal spiral galaxies. We apply the method for evaluating such signatures to the metal absorption lines in QSO 0528-250. In particular, the systemic redshift of the absorber is inferred from the recent detection of emission in the absorber by Möller and Warren. The kinematics of this absorber are particularly interesting because molecular hydrogen, the densest ISM component of the assumed foreground absorbing galaxy, is detected. Contrary to a recent claim, the method yields a satisfactory value for the assumed rotation velocity of the absorber.     

Core, Halo and Strahl Electrons in the Solar Wind

Electron velocity distribution functions (VDF) observed in the low speed solar wind flow are generally characterized by ‘core’ and ‘halo’ electrons. In the high speed solar wind, a third population of ‘strahl’ electrons is generally observed. New collisional models based on the solution of the Fokker-Planck equation can be used to determine the importance of the different electron populations as a function of the radial distance. Typical electron velocity distribution functions observed at 1 AU from the Sun are used as boundary conditions for the high speed solar wind and for the low speed solar wind. Taking into account the effects of external forces and Coulomb collisions with a background plasma, suprathermal tails are found to be present in the electron VDF at low altitudes in the corona when they exist at large radial distances. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

UV Leo: The Binary with the Two Suns

BV light curves of the eclipsing binary UV Leo obtained at the Kryonerion Astronomical Station of the National Observatory of Athens, Greece, are analyzed. The analysis is based on a Roche configuration with two spots on the secondary surface. The elements of the two components of the system are calculated and the spot characteristics are given.     

Testing the consistency of the Starburst scenario for active galactic nuclei

In the frame of the Starburst Model, we show that the evolution of a massive stellar cluster in a high metallicity environment can reproduce the observed emission-line spectrum and the UV-optical Spectral Energy Distribution of the Seyfert 2 galaxies and LINERs. We apply the results of our models to three objects: NGC 5506, NGC 5643 and Mk 348.     

Chemical Enrichment of the Intra-Cluster Medium

We investigate the metal enrichment of the intra-cluster medium by using a method that combines N-Body simulations and a semi-analytic model (SAM) of galaxy formation. The cluster of galaxies is simulated in a flat, low density universe, with a numerical resolution that allows the detection of substructures in the dark matter background of the cluster. The phenomenological approach used to model the physical processes involved in the galaxy formation and metal production is applied to the substructures found in the dark matter halos detected at different redshifts. Details of the chemical implementation in the SAM and first results related to the mean properties of the baryonic matter components are presented. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The estimate of the deceleration in the earth's rotation due to the sun

The tidal long-term decrease in the angular velocity of the Earth's rotation has been estimated on the basis of the angular momentum tidal balance in the Earth-Moon-Sun system. The observed (LLR) tidal long-term decrease in the Moon's mean motion, the apparent secular acceleration in the mean longitude of the Sun and the long-term decrease in the 2nd degree zonal geopotential parameter were used.Presented at the XXth General Assembly of the I.A.G., Vienna, August 15, 1991.     

Radiative association in Li+H revisited: the role of quasi-bound states

The role in radiative association of narrow resonances arising from quasi-bound levels is examined. For the rate coefficient the contribution from such levels is readily calculated in terms of the Einstein A -coefficient from bound rovibrational levels generated using a suitable alternative boundary condition. By locating systematically all the quasi-bound levels, an enhancement by more than an order of magnitude of the rate coefficient for Li(2s) + H(1s) association above about 600 K is obtained. The effect on the LiH abundance in the early Universe is no more than an increase of a factor of 3 for limited ranges of values of the redshift. For the Li(2p) state the effect of narrow resonances appears to have been taken into account in previous calculations.     

Beam Mode Expansion of Corrugated Conical Horns with Phase Correcting Lens: Application to Radioastronomy Receivers

A classical radioastronomy receiver is fed with a corrugated horn and an independent lens, both placed in a cryostat to lower the noise temperature. The beam is focused and directed using a combination of elliptical and plane mirrors. This paper proposes modifying the initial feeding system by placing the lens onto the horn aperture, thereby allowing a size reduction of the horn and lens, and a simplification of their mechanical design. The profiled lens is shaped to correct the phase error on the horn aperture. A quasi-optical model of the horn-plus-lens system has been developed using a Beam Mode Expansion (BME). Results using both a hyperbolic-planar lens and a spherical-elliptical lens, as well as results obtained by using Geometrical Optics (GO) with a Kirchoff–Huygens integration to get the far-field pattern, have been compared with measurements. As a direct application, a full focusing system for the new 40-m radiotelescope at the “Centro Astronómico de Yebes” is presented for the 22, 30 and 45 GHz bands. This paper has developed a QO model for a corrugated conical horn with a phase-correcting lens. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.