Evolution of isolated G-band bright points： size,intensity and velocity

We study the evolution pattern of isolated G-band bright points(GBPs)in terms of their size, intensity and velocity. Using a high resolution image sequence taken with the Hinode/Solar Optical Telescope(SOT), we detect GBPs in each image by the Laplacian and Morphological Dilation algorithm, and track their evolutions by a 26-adjacent method in a three-dimensional space-time cube. For quantifying the evolution, we propose a quantification method based on lifetime normalization which aligns the different lifetimes to common stages. The quantification results show that, on average, the diameter of isolated GBPs changes from 166 to 173 km, then down to 165 km; the maximum intensity contrast changes from 1.012 to 1.027, then down to 1.011; however, the velocity changes from 1.709 to 1.593 km s-1, then up to 1.703 km s-1. The results indicate that the evolution follows a pattern such that the GBP is small, faint and fast-moving at the birth stage, becomes big, bright and slow-moving at the middle stage, then gets small, faint and fast-moving at the decay stage until disappearance. Although the differences are very small, a two-sample t-test is used to demonstrate there are significant differences in means between the distributions of the different stages. Furthermore, we quantify the relationship between the lifetimes of GBPs and their properties. It is found that there are positive correlations between the lifetimes and their sizes and intensities with correlation coefficients of0.83 and 0.65, respectively; however, there is a negative correlation between the lifetimes and velocities with a correlation coefficient of –0.49. In summary, the longer the GBP persists, the bigger, brighter and slower it will be.     

Noise reduction methods in the analysis of near infrared lunar occultation light curves for high angular resolution measurements

A lunar occultation （LO） technique in the near-infrared （NIR） provides angular resolution down to milliarcseconds for an occulted source, even with ground- based 1 m class telescopes. LO observations are limited to brighter objects because they require a high signal-to-noise ratio （S/N ~40） for proper extraction of angular diameter values. Hence, methods to improve the S/N ratio by reducing noise using Fourier and wavelet transforms have been explored in this study. A sample of 54 NIR LO light curves observed with the IR camera at Mt Abu Observatory has been used. It is seen that both Fourier and wavelet methods have shown an improvement in S/N compared to the original data. However, the application of wavelet transforms causes a slight smoothing of the fringes and results in a higher value for angular diameter. Fourier transforms which reduce discrete noise frequencies do not distort the fringe. The Fourier transform method seems to be effective in improving the S/N, as well as improving the model fit, particularly in the fainter regime of our sample. These methods also provide a better model fit for brighter sources in some cases, though there may not be a significant imorovement in S/N.     

Astrometric calibration of the Xuyi Schmidt Telescope Photometric Survey of the Galactic Anti-center （XSTPS-GAC）

We present astrometric calibration of the Xuyi Schmidt Telescope Photometric Survey of the Galactic Anti-center(XSTPS-GAC). XSTPS-GAC is the photometric part of the Digital Sky Survey of the Galactic Anti-center(DSS-GAC),which is a photometric and spectroscopic sky survey, in combination with LAMOST.In order to select an astrometric reference catalog, we made comparisons between the four widely used astrometric catalogs, GSC2.3, USNO-B1.0, UCAC3 and PPMXL.PPMXL shows relatively small systematic errors in positions and more homogeneous proper motion distributions toward the Galactic Anti-center(GAC), and was selected as the reference catalog. Based on the high quality and bright reference stars that were picked out from PPMXL, we performed a 4th-order polynomial fitting in image units,to construct the transformation relation between coordinates used by XSTPS-GAC and standard coordinates, and to simultaneously correct the image distortions in the CCD. Then we applied the derived relation to all sources to obtain their mean celestial coordinates based on the International Celestial Reference System. For bright point sources with r 17.0 mag, the accuracy of astrometric calibration could reach about80 mas for each of the g, r, i bands, with systematic errors being less than 10 mas. But for the faint sources at the brightness limit of the survey, which was r ～ 19.0 mag, the accuracy can still reach 200 mas. After combining all observations, the final weighted average coordinates could reach an accuracy of less than 70 mas for bright stars. For faint stars, the rms residuals of weighted coordinates decrease to ～ 110 mas. The final combined XSTPS-GAC coordinates show a good consistency with the Sloan Digital Sky Survey.     

The breakdown of the power-law frequency distributions for the hard X-ray peak count rates of solar flares

The frequency distribution for several characteristics of a solar flare obeys a power law only above a certain threshold, below which there is an apparent loss of small scale events presumably caused by limited instrumental sensitivity and th：e corresponding event selection bias. It is also possible that this deviation in the power law can have a physical origin in the source. We propose two fitting models incorpo- rating a power law distribution with a low count rate cutoff plus a noise component for the frequency distribution of the hard X-ray peak count rate of all solar flare sam- ples obtained with HXRBS/SMM and BATSE/CGRO observations. Our new fitting method produces the same power-law index as previously developed methods, a low cutoff of the power-law function and its corresponding noise level, which is consistent with measurements of the actual noise level of the hard X-ray count rate. We found that the fitted low cutoff appears to be related to the noise level, i.e., flares are only recognized when their peak count rate is 3or greater than noise. Therefore, the fitted low cutoff, which is smaller than the aforementioned threshold, might be attributed to selection bias, and probably not to the actual count rate cutoff in flares at smaller scales. Whether or not the actual low cutoff physically exists needs to be checked by future observations with increased sensitivities.     

Mass flow in a circumbinary disk with a gap around supermassive binary black holes

We study the interaction between supermassive binary black holes in an elliptical orbit and their surrounding disk with a gap. The gap in the disk is a low density region formed due to the tidal effects of the less massive black hole. The binary we have investigated has a sub-parsec separation and is coplanar with the disk. We find that the maximum variation of the surface density in the gap reaches 50% during an orbital period. However, in other regions of the disk, the density variation is much less than 1%. Furthermore, we calculate the corresponding variation of spectral energy distribution within a period, but little variation is found. The reason for these results is that the viscosity timescale of the disk at the binary radius is much longer than the orbital period of the binary.     

Dependence of the length of solar filament threads on the magnetic configuration

High-resolution Hαobservations indicate that filaments consist of an assembly of thin threads.In quiescent filaments,the threads are generally short,whereas in active region filaments,the threads are generally long.In order to explain these observational features,we performed one-dimensional radiative hydrodynamic simulations of filament formation along a dipped magnetic flux tube in the framework of the chromospheric evaporation-coronal condensation model.The geometry of a dipped magnetic flux tube is characterized by three parameters,i.e.,the depth(D),the half-width(w)and the altitude(h)of the magnetic dip.A survey of the parameters in numerical simulations shows that when allowing the filament thread to grow in 5 days,the maximum length(Lth)of the filament thread increases linearly with w,and decreases linearly with D and h.The dependence is fitted into a linear function Lth=0.84w-0.88D-2.78h+17.31(Mm).Such a relation can qualitatively explain why quiescent filaments have shorter threads and active region filaments have longer threads.     

Relativistic transformation between T and TCB for Mars missions： Fourier analysis on its accessibility with clock offset

In the context of the fact that Einstein＇s general relativity has become an inevitable part of deep space missions, we will extend previous works on relativistic transformation between the proper time ~- of a clock onboard a spacecraft orbiting Mars and the Barycentric Coordinate Time （TCB） by taking the clock offset into ac- count and investigate its accessibility by Fourier analysis on the residuals after fitting the ~--TCB curve in terms of n-th order polynomials. We find that if the accuracy of a clock can achieve better than ~ 10-5 s or ~ 10-6 s （depending on the type of clock offset） in one year after calibration, the relativistic effects on the difference between 7- and TCB will need to be carefully considered.     

Gnomon shadow lengths recorded in the Zhoubi Suanjing： the earliest meridian observations in China？

The Zhoubi Suanjing, one of the most important ancient Chinese books on mathematical astronomy, was compiled about 100 BC in the Western Han dynasty （BC 206 - AD 23）. We study the gnomon shadow lengths for the 24 solar terms as recorded in the book. Special attention is paid to the so-called law of ‘cun qian li’, which says the shadow length of a gnomon of 8 chi （about 1.96 m） high will increase （or decrease） 1 cun （1/10chi） for every 10001i （roughly 400kin） the gnomon moves northward （or south- ward）. From these data, one can derive the time and location of the observations. The resuits, however, do not fit historical facts. We suggest that compilers of the Zhoubi Suanjing must have modified the original data according to the law of ‘cun qian li’. Through reversing the situation, we recovered the original data, our analysis of which reveals the best possible observation time as 564 BC and the location of observation as 35.78° N latitude. We conclude that this must be the earliest records of solar meridian observations in China. In the meantime, we give the errors of solar altitudes for the 24 solar terms. The average deviation is 5.22°, and the mean absolute deviation is 5.52°, signifying the accuracy of astronomical calculations from that time.     

Foreground removal of 21 cm fluctuation with multifrequency fitting

The 21 centimeter （21 cm） line emission from neutral hydrogen in the intergalactic medium （IGM） at high redshifts is strongly contaminated by foreground sources such as the diffuse Galactic synchrotron emission and free-free emission from the Galaxy, as well as emission from extragalactic radio sources, thus making its observation very complicated. However, the 21 cm signal can be recovered through its structure in frequency space, as the power spectrum of the foreground contamination is expected to be smooth over a wide band in frequency space while the 21 cm fluctuations vary significantly. We use a simple polynomial fitting to reconstruct the 21 cm signal around four frequencies 50, 100, 150 and 200 MHz with an especially small channel width of 20 kHz. Our calculations show that this multifrequency fitting approach can effectively recover the 21 cm signal in the frequency range 100 - 200 MHz. However, this method doesn＇t work well around 50 MHz because of the low intensity of the 21 cm signal at this frequency. We also show that the fluctuation of detector noise can be suppressed to a very low level by taking long integration times, which means that we can reach a sensitivity of ≈ 10 mK at 150 MHz with 40 antennas in 120 hours of observations.     

Flare-induced signals in polarization measurements during the X2.6 flare on 2005 January 15

Flare-induced signals in polarization measurements which were manifested as apparent polarity reversal in magnetograms have been reported since 1981. We are motivated to further quantify the phenomenon by asking two questions： can we distinguish the flare-induced signals from real magnetic changes during flares, and what we can learn about flare energy release from the flare-induced signals？ We select the X2.6 flare that occurred on 2005 January 15, for further study. The flare took place in NOAA active region （AR） 10720 at approximately the central meridian, which makes the interpretation of the vector magnetograms less ambiguous. We have identified that flare-induced signals during this flare appeared in six zones. The zones are located within an average distance of 5 Mm from their weight center to the main magnetic neutral line, have an average size of （0.6±0.4） ×10^17 cm^2, duration of 13±4 min, and flux density change of 181±125 G in the area of reversed polarity. The following new facts have been revealed by this study： （1） the flare-induced signal is also seen in the transverse magnetograms but with smaller magnitude, e.g., about 50 G; （2） the flare-induced signal mainly manifests itself as apparent polarity reversal, but the signal starts and ends as a weakening of flux density; （3） The flare-induced signals appear in phase with the peaks of hard X-ray emission as observed by the Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager （RHESSI）, and mostly trace the position of RHESSI hard X-ray footpoint sources. （4） in four zones, it takes place cotemporally with real magnetic changes which persist after the flare. Only for the other two zones does the flux density recover to the pre-flare level immediately after the flare. The physical implications of the flare-induced signal are discussed in view of its relevance to the non-thermal electron precipitation and primary energy release in the flare.     

Measurements of spectral lines observed with Hinode/EIS as implications for coronal heating

We have measured the line widths and nonthermal velocities in 12 solar regions using high resolution EUV data taken by Hinode/EIS. We find that there exists a positive correlation between the intensity and nonthermal velocity for the Fe xII emission line as well as some other lines. The correlation coefficients decrease from the disk center to the limb. However, the nonthermal velocities of a particular spectral line do not vary much in different regions, so they are considered isotropic. In particular, we find that for a coronal loop structure, the largest widths and nonthermal velocities occur at the footpoints, where outflows appear. Based on these observational results, we discuss several physical processes responsible for coronal heating.     

Molecular outflows and gas rotation associated with G20.08-0.14N

We present the results of a high-resolution study with the Submillimeter Array （SMA） toward the massive star-forming complex G20.08-0.14N. With the SMA data, we have detected and analyzed the transitions in the 12CO （3-2） and 12CO （2-1） molecular lines as well as CHaCN. The millimeter observations reveal highly collimated bipolar molecular outflows, traced by high-velocity 12CO （2-1） and 12CO （3-2） emissions. Using a rotation temperature diagram, we derive that the rota- tional temperature and the column density of CHaCN are 244 K and 1.2 ~ 1015 cm-2, respectively. We also suggest that the minor outflow is probably driven by the hy- percompact （HC） HII region A that is inside. We find the molecular gas （traced by ClrO, SO, CH3OH and SO2） surrounding G20.08-0.14N appears to be undergoing bulk rotation. The HCHII region A that is inside is most probably the main source of accretion and heating for G20.08-0.14N.     

Braking PSR J1734-3333 with a possible fall-back disk

The very small braking index of PSR J1734-3333, n = 0.9 ± 0.2, chal- lenges the current theories of braking mechanisms in pulsars. We present a possible interpretation that this pulsar is surrounded by a fall-hack disk and braked by it. A modified braking torque is proposed based on the competition between the magnetic energy density of the pulsar and the kinetic energy density of the fall-back disk. With this torque, a self-similar disk can fit all the observed parameters of PSR J1734-3333 with natural initial values of parameters. In this regime, the star will evolve to the re- gion having anomalous X-ray pulsars and soft gamma repeaters in the P -/5 diagram in about 20 000 years and stay there for a very long time. The mass of the disk around PSR J1734-3333 in our model is about 10M similar to the observed mass of the disk around AXP 4U 0142＋61.     

Variable stars in the field of open cluster NGC 2126

We report the results of a time-series CCD photometric survey of variable stars in the field of open cluster NGC 2126. In about a one square degree field covering the cluster, a total of 21 variable candidates are detected during this survey, of which 16 are newly found. The periods, classifications and spectral types of 14 newly discovered variables are discussed, which consist of six eclipsing binary systems, three pulsating variable stars, three long period variables, one RS CVn star, and one W UMa or δ Scuff star. In addition, there are two variable candidates, the properties of which cannot be determined. By a method based on fitting observed spectral energy distributions of stars with theoretical ones, the membership probabilities and the fundamental parameters of this cluster are determined. As a result, five variables are probably members of NGC 2126. The fundamental parameters of this cluster are determined as： metallicity to be 0.008 Z, age log（t） = 8.95, distance modulus （m - M）0 = 10.34 and reddening value E（B - V） = 0.55 mag.     

Analyzing the capability of a radio telescope in a bistatic space debris observation system

A bistatic space debris observation system using a radio telescope as the receiving part is introduced. The detection capability of the system at different working frequencies is analyzed based on real instruments. The detection range of targets with a fixed radar cross section and the detection ability of small space debris at a fixed range are discussed. The simulations of this particular observation system at different transmitting powers are also implemented and the detection capability is discussed. The simulated results approximately match the actual experiments. The analysis in this paper provides a theoretical basis for developing a space debris observation system that can be built in China.     

Relations between stellar mass and electron temperature-based metallicity for star-forming galaxies in a wide mass range

We select 947 star-forming galaxies from SDSS-DR7 with [O III]λ4363emission lines detected at a signal-to-noise ratio larger than 5σ. Their electron temperatures and direct oxygen abundances are then determined. We compare the results from different methods. t2, the electron temperature in the low ionization region, estimated from t3, that in the high ionization region, is compared using three analysis relations between t2- t3. These show obvious differences, which result in some different ionic oxygen abundances. The results of t3, t2, O++/H+and O+/H+derived by using methods from IRAF and literature are also compared. The ionic abundances O++/H+are higher than O+/H+for most cases. The different oxygen abundances derived from Teand the strong-line ratios show a clear discrepancy, which is more obvious following increasing stellar mass and strong-line ratio R23. The sample of galaxies from SDSS with detected [O III]λ4363 have lower metallicites and higher star formation rates, so they may not be typical representatives of the whole population of galaxies. Adopting data objects from Andrews Martini, Liang et al. and Lee et al. data, we derive new relations of stellar mass and metallicity for star-forming galaxies in a much wider stellar mass range: from 106 M to 1011 M.     

Abundances of 23 field RR Lyrae stars

We present stellar parameters and abundances of 15 elements （Na, Mg, A1, Si, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Y and Ba） for 23 field RR Lyrae variables based on high-resolution （R ~ 60 000） and high signal-to-noise （S/N~ 200） spectra obtained using the High Dispersion Spectrograph on the Subaru Telescope. Six stars in the sample have more than one spectrum observed at different pulsation phases. The derived abundance ratios of [X/Fe] for 14 elements （except for Ba） do not vary during the pulsation cycle. An interesting curve of [Ba/Fe] versus phase is detected for the first time and it shows decreasing [Ba/Fe] with increasing temperature at a given metallicity. Combining with data in the literature, abundances of most RR Lyrae stars as a function of [Fe/H] follow the same trends as those of dwarf stars, but [Sc/Fe] and [Y/Fe] ratios of RR Lyrae stars at solar metallicity are lower than those of dwarf stars. The kinematics of RR Lyrae stars indicate that three comparatively metal-rich RR Lyrae stars might originate from the thick disk and they show higher [a/Fe] ratios than RR Lyrae stars with thin disk kinematics. Among 23 RR Lyrae stars, two special objects are found with abnormal abundances; TV Lib has high [a/Fe], [Sc/Fe], [Y/Fe] and [Ba/Fe] ratios while TW Her has solar [a/Fe] but significantly lower [Sc/Fe], [Y/Fe] and [Ba/Fe] ratios as compared with other RR Lyrae stars.     

The ROSAT bright source 1RXS J201607.0＋251645： an active Algol-type binary

1RXS J201607.0＋251645 is identified as an eclipsing binary. We present preliminary observations in the V band with the 0.6-m telescope for three years and extensive observations in the V and R bands with the 0.8-m telescope for six nights, respectively. The light curve of the system is E13 type. Five light minimum times were obtained and the orbital period of 0.388058^d（±0.00044d） is determined. The photometric solution given by the 2003-version of the Wilson-Devinney program suggests that the binary is a semidetached system with photometric mass ratio 0.895（±0.006）, which is probably comprised of a G5 primary and an oversized K5 secondary. The tess massive component has completely filled its Roche lobe, while the other one almost fills its Roche lobe with a filling factor of 93.4%. The system shows a varying O＇Connell effect in its phase folded diagrams from 2005 to 2007, and is X-ray luminous with log Lx/Lbol - -3.27. Possible mechanisms to account for these two phenomena are discussed. Finally, we infer that the binary may be in thermal oscillation or may evolve into a contact binary.     

A Chandra study of the massive,distant galaxy cluster SDSS J0150–1005

We present a study of a fossil cluster,SDSS J0150–1005（z 0.364）,with high spatial resolution based on the imaging spectroscopic analysis of Chandra observations.The Chandra X-ray image shows a relaxed and symmetric morphology,which indicates that SDSS J0150–1005 is a well-developed galaxy cluster with no sign of a recent merger.According to the isothermal model,its global gas temperature is 5.73±0.80 keV,and the virial mass is 6.23±1.34×1014M⊙.Compared with the polytropic temperature model,the mass calculated based on the isothermal model is overestimated by 49%±11.The central gas entropy,S0.1 r200=143.9±18.3 keV cm2,is significantly lower than the average value of normal galaxy clusters with similar temperatures.Our results indicate that SDSS J0150–1005 formed during an early epoch.     

A photometric study of an EW-type binary system： GV Leo

A photometric study of a contact binary system, GV Leo is presented. New observations were done using the B VR filter bands. We find that a revised orbital period is 0.26673171 d and the orbital period of this system is decreasing at a rate of dP/ dt = -4.95 × 10-7 d yr-1. The photometric solutions are fairly well fitted at a mass ratio of q = 0.1879, with a fillout factor of f = 17.74%. The results indicate that there exists mass transfer from the more massive component to the less massive one at a rate of relative mass exchange, 6zl/m = -1.09× 10-7 yr-1. It is possible that this weak- contact system, that shows a decreasing orbital period, may undergo contraction of the inner and outer critical Roche lobes and evolve into a deep-contact binary.