Measurements for the Performance of the Digital Autocorrelation Spectrometer

Injecting phase calibration (PCAL) signals to the feed horn of the observation sys- tem and analyzing the output response signals of the spectrometer, we measured the working performance of a 4096-channel digital autocalibration spectrometer. The results demonstrate that the spectrometer has a fine working performance: (1) the channels are distributed uni- formly in the spectrometer; (2) line drift produces little effect on the observation results; (3) spectral resolution shows little changes with observation time. The distribution of the fre- quency resolution in an 80 MHz bandwidth was measured. A trial observation on the two molecular spectral lines of H2CO and H110α taken with this spectrometer is described.     

Improved nutation series for the non–rigid earth with a precise adjustment of parameters with nonlinear dependence

In this paper, the previous nutation series corresponding to the rotation of a non‐rigid earth composed of a rigid mantle and a liquid core obtained by Getino and Ferrándiz in 1997 are notably improved by using a high performance data fitting method. This method can be applied to many other problems presenting a non‐linear dependence on the free parameters. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Population Synthesis for the Symbiotic Stars with Main-sequence Accretors

Using a population synthesis code, we have investigated the formation of symbiotic systems in which the hot component is a main-sequence star that is accreting matter from the cool component via Roche lobe overflow (RLOF). The RLOF can be divided into two cases: dynamically unstable and stable. In the first case, the birthrate of symbiotic stars is 0.056 yr-1 or 0.045 yr-1 depending on different assumptions; in the stable RLOF case, it is 0.002 yr-1 or 0.005 yr-1. The number of symbiotic stars with main-sequence accretors and unstable RLOF in our galaxy is about 5, that with stable RLOF is about 60 to 280. Comparison between our results with those of Yungelson et al. shows that symbiotic stars with MS accretors make only a small contribution ((?) 8%) to the whole population of symbiotic stars in the Galaxy.     

Opportunities to search for extraterrestrial intelligence with the FAST

The discovery of ubiquitous habitable extrasolar planets,combined with revolutionary advances in instrumentation and observational capabilities,has ushered in a renaissance in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence(SETI).Large scale SETI activities are now underway at numerous international facilities.The Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical radio Telescope(FAST)is the largest single-aperture radio telescope in the world,and is well positioned to conduct sensitive searches for radio emission indicative of exo-intelligence.SETI is one of the five key science goals specified in the original FAST project plan.A collaboration with the Breakthrough Listen Initiative was initiated in 2016 with a joint statement signed both by Dr.Jun Yan,the then director of National Astronomical Observatories,Chinese Academy of Sciences(NAOC),and Dr.Peter Worden,Chairman of the Breakthrough Prize Foundation.In this paper,we highlight some of the unique features of FAST that will allow for novel SETI observations.We identify and describe three different signal types indicative of a technological source,namely,narrow band,wide-band artificially dispersed and modulated signals.Here,we propose observations with FAST to achieve sensitivities never before explored.For nearby exoplanets,such as TESS targets,FAST will be sensitive to an EIRP of 1.9×1011 W,well within the reach of current human technology.For the Andromeda Galaxy,FAST will be able to detect any Kardashev type II or more advanced civilization there.     

Constraining Ω with the fluctuation of the local Hubble flow

We present an analysis of the fluctuation of the local Hubble flow using 350 galaxies in the Local Volume (D＜5 Mpc, hereafter LV) with accurate measurements of distances, positions and radial velocities, and compare the results with the theoretical prediction of the local Hubble flow induced by density perturbations. This allows us to set a useful constraint on the local Ω parameters: ΩM～0.6 and ΩΛ～0.7, which may serve as compelling evidence for the existence of dark energy in the local Universe.     

Time Evolution of the Turnover Frequency for Diagnosis of the Coronal Magnetic Field

Two impulsive microwave bursts observed by Owens-Valley Solar Arrays (OVSA)are studied.The fast time variation of the turnover frequency in these bursts is quite different from the constant value in the earlier conclusion.The observational turnover frequencies are consistent with the calculations using the non-thermal gyro- synchrotron radiation model.We find the turnover frequency may play an important role for calculating the coronal magnetic field on the basis of Dulk and Marsh's ap- proximations.     

The first detection of the solar U+Ⅲ association with an antenna prototype for the future lunar observatory

We report about observations of solar U+Ⅲ bursts on 2020 June 5 by means of a new active antenna designed to receive radiation in 4–70 MHz. This instrument can serve as a prototype of the ultralong-wavelength radio telescope for observations on the farside of the Moon. Our analysis of experimental data is based on simultaneous records obtained with the antenna arrays GURT and NDA in high frequency and time resolution, e-Callisto network as well as by using the space-based observatories STEREO and WIND. The results from this observational study confirm the model of Reid and Kontar.     

Numerical simulations of the κ-mechanism with convection

A strong coupling between convection and pulsations is known to play a major role in the disappearance of unstable modes close to the red edge of the classical Cepheid instability strip. As mean-field models of time-dependent convection rely on weakly-constrained parameters (see, e.g., Baker in Physical Processes in Comets, Stars and Active Galaxies, p. 105, 1987), we tackle this problem by the means of 2-D Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS) of the κ-mechanism with convection. Using a linear stability analysis, we first determine the physical conditions favourable for the κ-mechanism to occur inside a purely-radiative layer. Both the instability strips and the nonlinear saturation of unstable modes are then confirmed by the corresponding DNS. We next present the new simulations with convection, where a convective zone and the driving region overlap. The coupling between the convective motions and acoustic modes is then addressed by using projections onto an acoustic subspace.     

Asymmetric periodic solutions of the averaged Hill problem with allowance for a planet’s oblateness

We consider asymmetric periodic solutions of the double-averaged Hill problem by taking into account oblateness of the central planet. They are generated by steady-state solutions, which are stable in the linear approximation and correspond to satellite orbits orthogonal to the line of intersection of the planet’s equatorial plane with the orbital plane of a disturbing point. For two model systems [(Sun+Moon)-Earth-satellite] and [Sun-Uranus-satellite], these periodic solutions are numerically continued from a small vicinity of the equilibrium position. The results are illustrated by projecting the solutions onto the (pericenter argument-eccentricity) and (longitude-inclination) planes.     

Physical mechanisms of the spectral variability of α Orionis with IUE

We present a spectroscopic study of Mg II k&h emission lines in the 2000–3000 Å region of 91 high resolution IUE spectra of α Orionis obtained during the period 1978–1996. There are absorption and emission components on the blue sides of the k&h emission lines, these components may be coming from the dust envelope located inside the extended atmosphere of α Orionis. A set of 91 Mg II k&h emission lines have been identified and measured to determine their fluxes and widths. We found that there is a spectral variability for these physical parameters with phase, similar to that found for the light curve, which we attribute to the changes of density and temperature of the regions from which these emission lines are coming, as a result of the semi-regular pulsation and the variability of mass loss of the red supergiant.Also we present a study of C II and Fe II emission features in the 2000–3000 Å region of 55 high resolution IUE spectra during the period 1978–1996. A set of 55 C II and Fe II emission lines have been identified and measured to determine their fluxes and widths. We found the same result as with the Mg II emission lines.     

Calculations for the Pre-Calibration of LAMOST Active Optics

Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fibre Spectroscopic Telescope (L AMOST) is one of the major on-going national large scientific projects in China. Active optics is a key technology for the LAMOST with which the thin-mirror active optics and segmented-mirror active optics are tied in. A pre-calibration method considering all active forces and displacements specially for LAMOST has been developed in early 2004. We give a detailed mathematical derivation and calculation including numerical simulation and computer program realization of the pre-calibration method of LAMOST open-loop control for the third-order as-pherical aberration. We have also carried out calculations on the application of the pre-calibration method and the parameters of actuator design in LAMOST active optics in observation mode, including estimations of the actuator ranges, the interval of active optics correction and the ranges and trends of load changes on all the actuators during LAMOST tracking a given star.     

Theoretical calculation of the interannual variability of the Earth’s insolation with daily resolution

Based on the astronomical ephemerides DE-406, theoretical calculations have been performed of the interannual variability of the Earth’s insolation related to celestial-mechanical processes for 365 points of a tropical year in the time period from 1900 to 2050. It has been determined that the average amplitude of variations of the interannual insolation is 0.310 W/m² (0.023% of the solar constant). The calculated variations are characterized by strict periodicity that corresponds with the length of a synodic month. Connection between the extreme values of the calculated insolation variability and syzygies has been defined. The average amplitude of the calculated variability exceeds by 1.7 times (0.01% of the solar constant) the amplitude of the interannual variability in the 11-year variation of the total Earth’s insolation.     

15-digit accuracy calculations of Ambartsumian-Chandrasekhar’s $$-functions for four-term phase functions with the double-exponential formula

We have established an iterative scheme to calculate with 15-digit accuracy the numerical values of Ambartsumian-Chandrasekhar’s \(H\)-functions for anisotropic scattering characterized by the four-term phase function: the method incorporates some advantageous features of the iterative procedure of Kawabata (Astrophys. Space Sci. 358:32, 2015) and the double-exponential integration formula (DE-formula) of Takahashi and Mori (Publ. Res. Inst. Math. Sci. Kyoto Univ. 9:721, 1974), which proved highly effective in Kawabata (Astrophys. Space Sci. 361:373, 2016). Actual calculations of the \(H\)-functions have been carried out employing 27 selected cases of the phase function, 56 values of the single scattering albedo \(\varpi_{0}\), and 36 values of an angular variable \(\mu(= \cos\theta)\), with \(\theta\) being the zenith angle specifying the direction of incidence and/or emergence of radiation. Partial results obtained for conservative isotropic scattering, Rayleigh scattering, and anisotropic scattering due to a full four-term phase function are presented. They indicate that it is important to simultaneously verify accuracy of the numerical values of the \(H\)-functions for \(\mu<0.05\), the domain often neglected in tabulation. As a sample application of the isotropic scattering \(H\)-function, an attempt is made in Appendix to simulate by iteratively solving the Ambartsumian equation the values of the plane and spherical albedos of a semi-infinite, homogeneous atmosphere calculated by Rogovtsov and Borovik (J. Quant. Spectrosc. Radiat. Transf. 183:128, 2016), who employed their analytical representations for these quantities and the single-term and two-term Henyey-Greenstein phase functions of appreciably high degrees of anisotropy. While our results are in satisfactory agreement with theirs, our procedure is in need of a faster algorithm to routinely deal with problems involving highly anisotropic phase functions giving rise to near-conservative scattering.     

Computation of the polarization characteristics of RATAN-600 in the “Southern sector with a flat reflector” mode with the diffraction effects considered

We report the Mueller matrix elements for RATAN-600 computed with the allowance for the diffraction effects in the space between the main, secondary, and flat mirrors in the Souther sector with a flat reflector (“South+flat”) observing mode and in the mode of single-sector observations at the horizon throughout the entire operating wavelength range. We show that the vertical size of the M ₄₁ and M ₃₂ elements decreases, the elements shift relative to the central horizontal section, and the lobe structure of the elements changes with increasing wavelength. In the “South+flat’ mode these changes, which are due to diffraction effects, begin to show up at shorter wavelength compared to the single-sector mode. We investigated the variation of the structure of the elements M ₄₁ and M ₃₂ with the elevation angle of the flat reflector and in the case of longitudinal and transversal off-focus offsets of the primary feed.     

Dynamics of the Jupiter Trojans with Saturn’s perturbation in the present configuration of the two planets

The dynamics of the two Jupiter triangular libration points perturbed by Saturn is studied in this paper. Unlike some previous works that studied the same problem via the pure numerical approach, this study is done in a semianalytic way. Using a literal solution, we are able to explain the asymmetry of two orbits around the two libration points with symmetric initial conditions. The literal solution consists of many frequencies. The amplitudes of each frequency are the same for both libration points, but the initial phase angles are different. This difference causes a temporary spatial asymmetry in the motions around the two points, but this asymmetry gradually disappears when the time goes to infinity. The results show that the two Jupiter triangular libration points should have symmetric spatial stable regions in the present status of Jupiter and Saturn. As a test of the literal solution, we study the resonances that have been extensively studied in Robutel and Gabern (Mon Not R Astron Soc 372:1463–1482, 2006). The resonance structures predicted by our analytic theory agree well with those found in Robutel and Gabern (Mon Not R Astron Soc 372:1463–1482, 2006) via a numerical approach. Two kinds of chaotic orbits are discussed. They have different behaviors in the frequency map. The first kind of chaotic orbits (inner chaotic orbits) is of small to moderate amplitudes, while the second kind of chaotic orbits (outer chaotic orbits) is of relatively larger amplitudes. Using analytical theory, we qualitatively explain the transition process from the inner chaotic orbits to the outer chaotic orbits with increasing amplitudes. A critical value of the diffusion rate is given to separate them in the frequency map. In a forthcoming paper, we will study the same problem but keep the planets in migration. The time asymmetry, which is unimportant in this paper, may cause an observable difference in the two Jupiter Trojan groups during a very fast planet migration process.     

Does the speed of light decrease with time?

Rust (1974) stated that the classical (e.g., Doppler) explanations of the cosmological red shift contradict the results of astronomical observations of the period of changes in the brightness of supernovae. This paper is an attempt at explaining this discrepancy between observations and the theoretical predictions on the grounds of a hypothesis published by the author (Bellert, 1969). That hypothesis explains the cosmological red shift by the geometry of the space of events, which is a static space.We regret to report that, soon after the submission of this paper, Professor Bellert passed away on 27 March, 1976 in Warsaw.     

An Analytical Model of the Comet's Collision with Jupiter

We employ an simplified analytical model to investigate the wave motion produced by the impact of Comt SL9 on the Jovian atmosphere and,under the assumption that all the kinetic energy of a comet fragment is completely converted in-to the energy of wave motions in the Jovian atmosphere,derive an analytical fromula describing the relation between the resulting wave motion in the atmosphere and the parameters of a comet fragment (the radius,density and speed).     

Ambartsumian’s paradigm for the activity of galactic nuclei and the evolution of galaxies

Ambartsumian’s paradigm for the creation of galaxies owing to the decay of denser matter is examined. The roots of this concept can be found in the very earliest papers of Ambartsumian on quantum fields and the structure of atomic nuclei. In the early 1930’s his papers contained new ideas regarding the ejection by one physical object of another which had not originally existed inside the first. The basic observational data which served as the basis for the final formulation of the new concept are described. Special attention is devoted to those objects and phenomena, which, upon further study, have confirmed the validity of Ambartsumian’s reasoning and arguments. It is noted that the discovery of Hubble expansion’s acceleration of the universe opened up new possibilities for the interpretation of activity phenomena in terms of Ambartsumian’s concept. The further extension of this concept is discussed and it is suggested that the major result of this approach should be the proof of the existence of galaxies of all ages within a finite volume of space.     

A Comparison of Wolf's Reconstructed Record of Annual Sunspot Number with Schwabe's Observed Record of ‘Clusters of Spots’ for the Interval of 1826–1868

Samuel Heinrich Schwabe, the discoverer of the sunspot cycle, observed the Sun routinely from Dessau, Germany during the interval of 1826–1868, averaging about 290 observing days per year. His yearly counts of ‘clusters of spots’ (or, more correctly, the yearly number of newly appearing sunspot groups) provided a simple means for describing the overt features of the sunspot cycle (i.e., the timing and relative strengths of cycle minimum and maximum). In 1848, Rudolf Wolf, a Swiss astronomer, having become aware of Schwabe's discovery, introduced his now familiar ‘relative sunspot number’ and established an international cadre of observers for monitoring the future behavior of the sunspot cycle and for reconstructing its past behavior (backwards in time to 1818, based on daily sunspot number estimates). While Wolf's reconstruction is complete (without gaps) only from 1849 (hence, the beginning of the modern era), the immediately preceding interval of 1818–1848 is incomplete, being based on an average of 260 observing days per year. In this investigation, Wolf's reconstructed record of annual sunspot number is compared against Schwabe's actual observing record of yearly counts of clusters of spots. The comparison suggests that Wolf may have misplaced (by about 1–2 yr) and underestimated (by about 16 units of sunspot number) the maximum amplitude for cycle 7. If true, then, cycle 7's ascent and descent durations should measure about 5 years each instead of 7 and 3 years, respectively, the extremes of the distributions, and its maximum amplitude should measure about 86 instead of 70. This study also indicates that cycle 9's maximum amplitude is more reliably determined than cycle 8's and that both appear to be of comparable size (about 130 units of sunspot number) rather than being significantly different. Therefore, caution is urged against the indiscriminate use of the pre-modern era sunspot numbers in long-term studies of the sunspot cycle, since such use may lead to specious results.