Bayesian joint analysis of cluster weak lensing and Sunyaev–Zel'dovich effect data

As the quality of the available galaxy cluster data improves, the models fitted to these data might be expected to become increasingly complex. Here we present the Bayesian approach to the problem of cluster data modelling: starting from simple, physically motivated parametrized functions to describe the cluster's gas density, gravitational potential and temperature, we explore the high-dimensional parameter spaces with a Markov-Chain Monte Carlo sampler, and compute the Bayesian evidence in order to make probabilistic statements about the models tested. In this way sufficiently good data will enable the models to be distinguished, enhancing our astrophysical understanding; in any case the models may be marginalized over in the correct way when estimating global, perhaps cosmological, parameters. In this work we apply this methodology to two sets of simulated interferometric Sunyaev–Zel'dovich effect and gravitational weak lensing data, corresponding to current and next-generation telescopes. We calculate the expected precision on the measurement of the cluster gas fraction from such experiments, and investigate the effect of the primordial cosmic microwave background (CMB) fluctuations on their accuracy. We find that data from instruments such as the Arcminute Microkelvin Imager (AMI), when combined with wide-field ground-based weak lensing data, should allow both cluster model selection and estimation of gas fractions to a precision of better than 30 per cent for a given cluster.     

Astronomical time series analysis in South Africa

This review is essentially a bibliography. In the first part, work done locally on period-finding methods is discussed. Some of the topics referred to are: periodogram significance testing, identification of non-sinusoidal periodicities, and computational shortcuts useful for calculating periodograms of large data sets. A number of aspects of period-finding in ray astronomy are briefly mentioned: these include various test statistics for the presence of a periodicity, the influence of oversampling on significance levels, estimation of the pulse shape, and the specification of a flux limit in the case of a non-detection. The second part of the review deals with the analysis of stochastic astronomical time series. Topics dealt with are ARMA modelling, Kalman filtering, problems associated with O-C analyses, and continuous time ARMA modelling. Two aspects of bivariate astronomical time series are touched on, namely time domain transfer function modelling and the estimation of the lag between two irregularly observed series.     

Malvinas (Falkland) Plateau structure versus Mjølnir crater: Geophysical workflow template for proposed marine impact craters

A diagnostic geophysical‐based template, supported by modelling, is suggested to be used prior to, or in combination with geological/drilling data, when proposing a marine impact crater. The latter refers to impacts occurring in a marine setting and resulting in structures that are currently partially or totally underwater. The methodology is based on the well‐documented Mjølnir crater in the Barents Sea. The template has been developed in conjunction with the recently proposed and debated impact crater on the Malvinas (Falkland) Plateau in the South Atlantic. Despite their different sizes, their comparison adds to the ambiguous nature of the Malvinas structure and shows that the integrated analysis of seismic and potential field data and modelling is crucial for any interpretation of a marine impact crater without relevant geological information. The proposed workflow template utilizes all available geophysical data and is composed of a series of iterative steps, including a range of alternative nonimpact interpretations that must be discussed and accounted for. Subsequently, further iterative geophysical modelling is required to support and decipher the impact related processes. A more complex impact crater model and additional impact crater features can be resolved by physical property modelling. In all cases, a close spatial correspondence of the defined impact structure with potential field anomalies is a necessity to establish a causal relationship. We suggest that the diagnostic workflow template provides a methodology to be applied to future studies of the Malvinas structure, as well as to proposed marine (and, with minor adaptions, to nonmarine) impact craters in general.     

A novel method for telescope polarization modeling based on an artificial neural network

The polarization characteristics of an astronomical telescope is an important factor that affects polarimetry accuracy. Polarization modeling is an essential means to achieve high precision and efficient polarization measurement of the telescope, especially for the alt-azimuth mount telescope. At present, the polarization model for the telescope(i.e., the physical parametric model) is mainly constructed using the polarization parameters of each optical element. In this paper, an artificial neural network(ANN) is used to model the polarization characteristics of the telescope. The ANN model between the physical parametric model residual and the pointing direction of the telescope is obtained, which reduces the model deviation caused by the incompleteness of the physical parametric model. Compared with the physical parametric model, the model fitting and predictive accuracy of the New Vacuum Solar Telescope(NVST) is improved after adopting the ANN model. After using the ANN model, the polarization cross-talk from I to Q, U, and V can be reduced from 0.011 to 0.007, and the crosstalk among Q, U, and V can be reduced from 0.047 to 0.020, which effectively improves the polarization measurement accuracy of the telescope.     

Synthetic pulsational line profile variations

We have produced simulated time series of high resolution spectroscopy for sdBs. We present the first results of testing classical mode identification techniques. Here, in particular, we analyse the behaviour of individual spectral lines and discuss the results and applicability of the moment method.     

Probable Inner Magnetic Structures of Magnetic Stars. I

In this paper we consider two-dipole inner structures of magnetic fields of magnetic stars obtained by modelling. A series of our papers on modelling the structures including this paper shows that there is an extraordinary variety of structures and parameters of stellarmagnetic fields.Actually, there are no two stars with exactly the same properties. This indicates a large variety of magnetized parent protostellar clouds, from which magnetic stars are formed.     

Modelling gaseous and stellar kinematics in the disc galaxies NGC 772, 3898 and 7782

We present V -band surface photometry and major-axis kinematics of stars and ionized gas of three early-type spiral galaxies, namely NGC 772, 3898 and 7782. For each galaxy we present a self-consistent Jeans model for the stellar kinematics, adopting the light distribution of bulge and disc derived by means of a two-dimensional parametric photometric decomposition. This allows us to investigate the presence of non-circular gas motions, and derive the mass distribution of luminous and dark matter in these objects.
NGC 772 and 7782 have apparently normal kinematics with the ionized gas tracing the gravitational equilibrium circular speed. This is not true in the innermost region (| r |≲8 arcsec) of NGC 3898, where the ionized gas is rotating more slowly than the circular velocity predicted by dynamical modelling. This phenomenon is common in the bulge-dominated galaxies for which dynamical modelling enables us to make the direct comparison between the gas velocity and the circular speed, and it poses questions about the reliability of galaxy mass distributions derived by the direct decomposition of the observed ionized-gas rotation curve into the contributions of luminous and dark matter.     

A procedure for modelling asymptotic g‐mode pulsators: The case of γ Doradus stars

Mode identification is one of the first and main problems we encounter in trying to develop the complete potential of asteroseismology. In the particular case of g‐mode pulsators, this is still an unsolved problem, from both the observational and theoretical points of view. Nevertheless, in recent years, some observational and theoretical efforts have been made to find a solution. In this work we use the latest theoretical and computational tools to understand asymptotic g‐mode pulsators: 1) the Frequency Ratio Method, and 2) Time Dependent Convection. With these tools, a self‐consistent procedure for mode identification and modelling of these g‐mode pulsators can be constructed. This procedure is illustrated using observational information available for the γ Doradus star 9Aurigae. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

间隙时间序列谱分析方法的检验及其在激变变星短周期振荡分析中的应用

本文对具有或长或短间隙（gap）的时间序列的谱分析方法进行研究，给出递推公式，并且用模拟信号进行检验，证实这个方法的可靠性．并把它应用到激变变星V795Her和激变前变星HWVir的短周期振荡分析中，结果表明这两颗变星都有明显的闪变，在V795Her中还存在周期为265.91s和116.70s的振荡．     

exofit: orbital parameters of extrasolar planets from radial velocities

Retrieval of orbital parameters of extrasolar planets poses considerable statistical challenges. Due to sparse sampling, measurement errors, parameters degeneracy and modelling limitations, there are no unique values of basic parameters, such as period and eccentricity. Here, we estimate the orbital parameters from radial velocity data in a Bayesian framework by utilizing Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) simulations with the Metropolis–Hastings algorithm. We follow a methodology recently proposed by Gregory and Ford. Our implementation of MCMC is based on the object-oriented approach outlined by Graves. We make our resulting code, exofit , publicly available with this paper. It can search for either one or two planets as illustrated on mock data. As an example we re-analysed the orbital solution of companions to HD 187085 and HD 159868 from the published radial velocity data. We confirm the degeneracy reported for orbital parameters of the companion to HD 187085, and show that a low-eccentricity orbit is more probable for this planet. For HD 159868, we obtained slightly different orbital solution and a relatively high 'noise' factor indicating the presence of an unaccounted signal in the radial velocity data. exofit is designed in such a way that it can be extended for a variety of probability models, including different Bayesian priors.     

Space weathering and the interpretation of asteroid reflectance spectra

Lunar-style space weathering is well understood, but cannot be extended to asteroids in general. The two best studied Asteroids (433 Eros and 243 Ida) exhibit quite different space weathering styles, and neither exhibits lunar-style space weathering. It must be concluded that at this time the diversity and mechanisms of asteroid space weathering are poorly understood. This introduces a significant unconstrained variable into the problem of analyzing asteroid spectral data. The sensitivity of asteroid surface material characterizations to space weathering effects - whatever their nature - is strongly dependent upon the choice of remote sensing methodology. The effects of space weathering on some methodologies such as curve matching are potentially devastating and at the present time essentially unmitigated. On other methodologies such as parametric analysis (e.g., analyses based on band centers and band area ratios) the effects are minimal. By choosing the appropriate methodology(ies) applied to high quality spectral data, robust characterizations of asteroid surface mineralogy can be obtained almost irrespective of space weathering. This permits sophisticated assessments of the geologic history of the asteroid parent bodies and of their relationships to the meteorites. Investigations of the diversity of space weathering processes on asteroid surfaces should be a fruitful area for future efforts.     

A possible contribution of the solar wind to annual fluctuation in the Length of Day

Applying Vondrák narrow-band filters on high precision Length of Day (LOD) measurements provided by space observation techniques as well as Atmosphere Angular Momentum (AAM) computed by U.S. National Meteorological Center (NMC), we show variation in amplitude of the annual components. From filter series of LOD and AAM, we find that annual variation of the LOD induced by AAM is about 20% higher than observed one. The aim of this work is to investigate how far the torque applied by the solar wind on the Earth's magnetosphere could contribute to explain this excess. The advocated dynamical mechanism could counterbalance annual discrepancies between AAM and LOD by an amount of 20%. Therefore, the torque produced by the solar wind on the earth might be considered as one of the most possible contributions to annual fluctuation in LOD.     

A systematic fitting scheme for caustic-crossing microlensing events

We outline a method for fitting binary-lens caustic-crossing microlensing events based on the alternative model parametrization proposed and detailed by Cassan. As an illustration of our methodology, we present an analysis of OGLE-2007-BLG-472, a double-peaked Galactic microlensing event with a source crossing the whole caustic structure in less than three days. In order to identify all possible models we conduct an extensive search of the parameter space, followed by a refinement of the parameters with a Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithm. We find a number of low-  χ²  regions in the parameter space, which lead to several distinct competitive best models. We examine the parameters for each of them, and estimate their physical properties. We find that our fitting strategy locates several minima that are difficult to find with other modelling strategies and is therefore a more appropriate method to fit this type of event.     

Modification of the 21-cm power spectrum by quasars during the epoch of reionization

We assess the effect of a population of high-redshift quasars on the 21-cm power spectrum during the epoch of reionization. Our approach is to implement a seminumerical scheme to calculate the three-dimensional structure of ionized regions surrounding massive haloes at high redshift. We include the ionizing influence of luminous quasars by populating a simulated overdensity field with quasars using a Monte Carlo Markov Chain algorithm. We find that quasars modify both the amplitude and shape of the power spectrum at a level which is of the same order as the fractional contribution to reionization. The modification is found both at constant redshift and at constant global neutral fraction, and arises because ionizing photons produced by quasars are biased relative to the density field at a level that is higher than stellar ionizing photons. The modification of the power spectrum is likely to be small, rendering the effect of quasars difficult to isolate. However, we find the modification of the power spectrum by quasars to be at a level that is comparable to the precision expected for future low-frequency telescopes. Correct interpretation of observations will therefore require the effect of quasars to be considered, and our results imply that quasar ionization will need to be included in detailed modelling of observed 21-cm power spectra.     

Analytical evaluation of the Voigt function using binomial coefficients and incomplete gamma functions

Using the binomial expansion theorem, the simple general analytical expressions are obtained for the Voigt function arising in various fields of physical research. As we will seen, the present formulation yields compact closed-form expressions which enable the ready analytical calculation of the Voigt function. The validity of this approximation is tested by other calculation methods. The series expansion relations established in this work are accurate enough in the whole range of parameters. The convergence rate of the series is estimated and discussed. Some examples of this methodology are presented.     

Setting new constraints on the age of the Universe

There are three independent techniques for determining the age of the Universe: via cosmochronology of long-lived radioactive nuclei, via stellar modelling and population synthesis of the oldest stellar populations, and, most recently, via the precision cosmology that has become feasible with the mapping of the acoustic peaks in the cosmic microwave background. We demonstrate that all three methods give completely consistent results, and enable us to set rigorous bounds on the maximum and minimum ages that are allowed for the Universe. We present new constraints on the age of the Universe by performing a multiband colour analysis of bright cluster ellipticals over a large redshift range     , which allows us to infer the ages of their stellar populations over a wide range of possible formation redshifts and metallicities. Applying a prior to Hubble's constant of     we find the age of the Universe to be     (1 σ ), in agreement with the estimates from Type Ia supernovae, as well as with the latest uranium decay estimates, which yield an age for the Milky Way of     . If we combine the results from cluster ellipticals with the analysis of the angular power spectrum of the cosmic microwave background and with the observations of Type Ia supernovae at high redshift, we find a similar age:     . Without the assumption of any priors, universes older than 18 Gyr are ruled out by the data at the 90 per cent confidence level.     

宇宙线直接探测进展概述

宇宙线从发现起至今已超过百年。在20世纪上半叶,大型粒子加速器技术成熟以前,对宇宙线的研究引领着基本粒子物理的发展,从宇宙线研究中取得的多项成果斩获诺贝尔奖。21世纪,宇宙线因其与极端高能的物理规律和暗物质等新物理现象联系密切而绽放出新的活力,宇宙线起源、加速、传播等相关的天文学及物理学问题也备受关注。简述了近年来在空间直接观测宇宙线实验方面取得的进展,以及其对理解宇宙线物理问题的推动。最后概述了中国在相关领域的研究历程和现状。     

Very low mass stars in binaries: a theoretical look

We have undertaken a series of hydrodynamic + N ‐body simulations in order to explore the binary properties of young stars. We find that multiple stars are a natural outcome of collapsing turbulent flows, with a high incidence of N > 2 multiples, specially among the higher mass objects. We find a positive correlation of multiplicity with primary mass and a companion frequency that decreases with age, during the first few Myr after formation. Binary brown dwarfs are rarely formed, in conflict with observations. Brown dwarfs as companions are predominantly found orbiting binaries or triples at large separations. The paucity of ultra low mass and low mass ratio binaries has been investigated further, and we tentatively conclude that their formation is intricately related to an appropriate selection of initial conditions and an accurate modelling of disc accretion and evolution. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

The double‐mode RR Lyrae variable BS Com

We present the frequency analysis of the multicolour time series photometry of the field RRd variable BS Comae. The large number of data points in each of the BV (RI)_C bands and the ∼0.01 magnitude accuracy of the individual measurements allow us a high precision analysis of the properties of the combination frequencies due to nonlinear coupling. Through the combination of the frequency spectra in different colors we show that except for the components corresponding to the linear combinations of the two pulsation modes, there are no other components present above the millimagnitude amplitude level. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)