Theory of gravitational radiation of the (Ω,A µν )-field

Further exploration of the -field theory as first proposed by Yu (1989) is here presented to cover the equation of motion of a test particle which induces gravitational radiation. The same theory is shown to contain an exact gravitational radiation equation derived as a logical consequence of field equations without extra postulates. In this general dynamic context the theory is renamed The (,A _µ )-field Theory.     

The Lyman-alpha Solar Telescope(LST) for the ASO-S mission——Ⅱ. design of LST

As one of the three payloads for the Advanced Space-based Solar Observatory(ASO-S) mission,the Lyman-alpha(Lyα) Solar Telescope(LST) is composed of three instruments: a Solar Corona Imager(SCI), a Lyα Solar Disk Imager(SDI) and a full-disk White-light Solar Telescope(WST). When working in-orbit, LST will simultaneously perform high-resolution imaging observations of all regions from the solar disk to the inner corona up to 2.5 R_⊙(R_⊙ stands for the mean solar radius) with a spatial resolution of 4.8′′and 1.2′′for coronal and disk observations, respectively, and a temporal resolution of 30 – 120 s and 1 – 120 s for coronal and disk observations, respectively. The maximum exposure time can be up to20 s due to precise pointing and image stabilization function. Among the three telescopes of LST, SCI is a dual-waveband coronagraph simultaneously and independently observing the inner corona in the HI Lyα(121.6±10 nm) line and white light(WL)(700±40 nm) wavebands by using a narrowband Lyα beam splitter and has a field of view(FOV) from 1.1 to 2.5 R_⊙. The stray-light suppression level can attain10~(-6) B_⊙(B_⊙ is the mean brightness of the solar disk) at 1.1 R_⊙ and ≤5×10~(-8) B_⊙ at 2.5 R_⊙. SDI and WST are solar disk imagers working in the Lyα line and 360.0 nm wavebands, respectively, which adopt an off-axis two-mirror reflective structure with an FOV up to 1.2 R_⊙, covering the inner coronal edge area and relating to coronal imaging. We present the up-to-date design for the LST payload.     

The Chromospheric Network – (A) Network Evolution Viewed as a Diffusion Process

Autocorrelation and cross-correlation techniques have been applied to obtain quantitative information about the dynamics of magnetic flux on the solar surface. The speed of network magnetic elements and the diffusion coefficient associated with their random motion is derived. The speed is found to be about 0.1 km s^–1, independent of activity level. However, the diffusion coefficient shows a strong activity dependence: it is about 370–500 km² s^–1in the quiet network and 135–210 km² s^–1in the enhanced network. It is found that the lifetime of the enhanced network relative to the quiet network is compatible with that suggested by a comparison of their respective diffusion coefficients. This supports the proposition that a diffusion-like dispersion of magnetic flux is the dominant factor in the large-scale, long-term evolution of the network.     

The circumstellar matter of type Ⅱ intermediate luminosity optical transients(ILOTs)

I find that a ■ outflowing equatorial dusty disk (torus) that the binary system progenitor of an intermediate luminosity optical transient (ILOT) ejects several years to several months before and during the outburst can reduce the total emission to an equatorial observer by two orders of magnitude and shifts the emission to wavelengths of mainly λ■10μm.This is termed a type Ⅱ ILOT(ILOT Ⅱ).To reach this conclusion,I use calculations of type Ⅱ active galactic nuclei and apply them to the equatorial ejecta (disk/torus) of ILOTs Ⅱ.This reduction in emission can last for tens of years after outburst.Most of the radiation escapes along the polar directions.The attenuation of the emission for wavelengths ofλ5μm can be more than three orders of magnitude,and the emission at λ■2μm is negligible.Jets that the binary system launches during the outburst can collide with polar CSM and emit radiation above the equatorial plane and dust in the polar outflow can reflect emission from the central source.Therefore,during the event itself the equatorial observer might detect an ILOT.I strengthen the previously suggested ILOT Ⅱ scenario to the event N6946-BH1,where a red giant star disappeared in the visible.     

Variations of UV chromospheric emissions during a pulsation period ofϱ Puppis (HD 67523)

The peculiar δ Del-variable ? Puppis (F6IIp) has been analysed on nine UV high-resolution spectra in the region of Mgii h- and k-lines. This analysis has shown: (1) The Mgii emission is present during the whole pulsation period and increases with increasing luminosity. Maximum emission fluxes seem to occur at phases 0.96–0.12. (2) The phase shift between intensity maxima of Caii and Mgii chromospheric emissions is probably about 0.26. Moreover, it seems that the phase shift between ? Pup and the Cepheid β Dor is longer for the Mgii emission (～0.44) than for the Caii one (～0.27). (3) Violet-red asymmetries are present in emission components. Moreover, the violet component K1V has always an intensity higher than the red one K1R. (4) The averaged radial velocity (RV) curve obtained from three metallic lines is in agreement with that obtained in the optical region. The RV curves of red emission and absorption components are rather similar to that of the metallic lines. Near the minimum of this RV curve, the chromospheric emissions show an intensity enhancement with a negative phase shift similar to that of light curve (～?30 deg). (5) A model with an emitting extended atmosphere around the star is proposed to explain an emission like feature in the self-reversed absorption component K3 and in K1.     

In search of infall motion in molecular clumps Ⅱ: HCO~+(1-0) and HCN(1-0)observations toward a sub-sample of infall candidates

Gravitational accretion accumulates the original mass.This process is crucial for us to understand the initial phases of star formation.Using the specific infall profiles in optically thick and thin lines,we searched the clumps with infall motion from the Milky Way Imaging Scroll Painting(MWISP) CO data in previous work.In this study,we selected 133 sources as a sub-sample for further research and identification.The excitation temperatures of these sources are between 7.0 and 38.5 K,while the H_2 column densities are between 10~(21) and 10~(23) cm~(-2).We have observed optically thick lines HCO~+(1-0) and HCN(1-0) using the DLH 13.7-m telescope,and found 56 sources with a blue profile and no red profile in these two lines,which are likely to have infall motions,with a detection rate of 42%.This suggests that using CO data to restrict the sample can effectively improve the infall detection rate.Among these confirmed infall sources are 43 associated with Class O/I young stellar objects(YSOs),and 13 which are not.These 13 sources are probably associated with the sources in the earlier evolutionary stage.In comparison,the confirmed sources that are associated with Class O/I YSOs have higher excitation temperatures and column densities,while the other sources are colder and have lower column densities.Most infall velocities of the sources that we confirmed are between 10~(-1) to 10~0 km s~(-1),which is consistent with previous studies.     

The ratios I(K1)/I(H1) and I(K3)/I(H3) of ca II as diagnostics of the chromosphere above sunspots

The ratios I(K ₁)/I(H ₁) and I(K ₃)/I(H ₃) were calculated from four semi-empirical models of sunspot umbra. We determined the dependencies of both ratios of such parameters as temperature gradient and atmospheric opacity. A certain influence on the expected ratios I(K ₁)/I(H ₁) and I(K ₃)/I(H ₃) can also come from the FIP effect provided it exists in the chromosphere above sunspot umbra. Theoretical and observed values of I(K ₁)/I(H ₁) and I(K ₃)/I(H ₃) are compared. It is shown that for one of the sunspots we observed, the values obtained for the ratio I(K ₁)/I(H ₁) cannot be explained in terms of existing umbra models.     

Results of a long-term monitoring of the 1.35-cm water-vapor maser source ON 1 (1981–2013)

We present the results of our long-term monitoring of the 1.35-cm water-vapor maser source ON 1 performed at the 22-m radio telescope of the Pushchino Radio Astronomy Observatory from 1981 to 2013. Maser emissionwas observed in a wide range of radial velocities, from ?60 to +60 km s^?1. Variability of the integrated flux with a period of ～9 years was detected. We show that the stable emission at radial velocities of 10.3, 14.7, and 16.5 km s^?1 belongs to compact structures that are composed of maser spots with close radial velocities and that are members of two water-maser clusters, WMC 1 and WMC 2. The detected short-lived emission features in the velocity ranges from ?30 to 0 and from 35 to 40 km s^?1 as well as the high-velocity ones are most likely associated with a bipolar molecular outflow observed in the CO line.     

Gamma (γ)-Ray Activity as a Tool for Identification of Hidden Ejecta Deposits Around Impact Crater on Basaltic Target: Example from Lonar Crater, India

Geophysical techniques based on radioactivity measurements are not generally used for exploration of asteroid impact craters. Our studies on the field and laboratory measurements of radioactivity on samples from the Lonar crater, India, show that this technique could be an important method for mapping the distribution of ejecta around the deeply excavated impact craters particularly when these structures are formed on relatively old target rocks/palaeosol. The Lonar ejecta shows ~1.3 times higher γ-ray count rates in the field on average compared to the underlying palaeosol and ~1.9 times higher values over the target basalt while measured by a portable Geiger–Müller pulse counter. The absorbed γ-dose rate (D) of the Lonar samples, computed from ²³²Th, ²³⁸U, and ⁴⁰K abundances in these samples, also show that the ejecta has distinct bulk dose rates (average ~8.42 nGy h^?1) as compared to those of the palaeosol (~18.34 nGy h^?1), target basalt (~11.97 nGy h^?1), and the impact-melts and spherules (~14 nGy h^?1). Therefore, radioactivity mapping of the terrestrial and planetary impact craters by direct methods has importance in mapping ejecta distributions around these structures.     

The model of a flat (Euclidean) expansive homogeneous and isotropic relativistic Universe in the light of the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) observations

The Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) confirmed the model of a flat (Euclidean) expansive homogeneous and isotropic relativistic universe with the total zero mass (energy), which describes the properties of our observed expansive homogeneous and isotropic relativistic Universe in the first (linear, Newtonian or classical-mechanical) approximation.     

Chandra archival study of (U)LIRGs with a double nucleus:binary AGNs?

We present our initial results from a study of 14(U)LIRGs with a doublenucleus(z <0.15)and an AGN signature in the Chandra archive.The goals of our study are to search for more possible cases of binary AGNs and to investigate the X-ray properties and energy sources of these energetic objects,a major effort devoted specifically to searching for binary AGNs from(U)LIRGs.Our studies suggest that Mrk 266 might be a new candidate in hosting binary AGNs supported by X-ray observations.Our analysis shows that most(U)LIRGs are essentially weak X-ray sources and are not dominated by AGNs,due to both the lack of Fe K line detections and weak emission in the hard X-ray band.We find evidence for thermal emission with temperature kT～0.7 keV in seven nuclear regions,and this component is possibly associated with the nuclear or circumnuclear starburst.The soft and hard X-ray to far-infrared ratios also suggest that most(U)LIRGs are not energetically dominated by AGNs.Therefore,this study only provides one additional candidate of binary AGNs.We cannot rule out the existence of low luminosity AGNs and thus binary AGNs in all of them,particulaxly,those highly obscured and spatially unresolved systems.Nine of 14(U)LIRGs,including three previously known binary AGNs and a new candidate Mrk 266,clearly have obvious X-ray counterparts to their double optical/near-IR nuclei,whereas only two out of 14 have one obvious X-ray counterpart detected.Additionally,Arp 220 and Mrk 273 are not spatially resolved owing to their small nuclear separations(～1"),and no significant X-ray detection in the most distant source.     

Preface: Frontiers in Astrophysics(Ⅱ)——A special issue dedicated to the 20th anniversary of RAA(2001–2020)

On the arrival of the 20 th anniversary of the journal, Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics(RAA), we see rapid progress in the frontiers of astronomy and astrophysics. To celebrate the birth and growth of RAA, a special issue consisting of 11 invited reviews from more than 30 authors, mainly from China, has been organized. This is the second volume of the special issues entitled Frontiers in Astrophysics published in RAA. The publication aims at evaluating the current status and key progress in some frontier areas of astronomy and astrophysics with a spirit of guiding future studies.     

Gas—Dust Shells around Some Early-Type Stars with an IR Excess (of Emission)

The results of an investigation of IR (IRAS) observations of 58 O—B—A—F stars of different luminosity classes, which are mainly members of various associations, are presented. The color indices of these stars are determined and two-color diagrams are constructed. The emission excesses at 12 and 25 mm (E ₁₂ and E ₂₅) are also compared with the absorption A₁₆₄₀ of UV radiation. It is concluded that 24 stars (of the 58 investigated) are disk systems of the Vega type, to which Vega = N 53 also belongs. Eight known stars of the Vega type are also given in the figures for comparison. The remaining 34 stars may have gas—dust shells and/or shell—disks. The IR emission excesses of the 34 investigated stars and 11 comparison stars (eight of them are Be-Ae stars) are evidently due both to thermal emission from grains and to the emission from free—free transitions of electrons in the gas—dust shells of these stars.     

Lα, Lβ (of Hi), k and h (of Mgii), K and H (of Ca ii) observations in a quiescent prominence with the OSO-8 LPSP instrument

A sequence of images taken at different positions in the resonance lines of Ca ii, Mg ii, and H i was obtained over a quiescent prominence with the LPSP instrument on OSO-8. Ca ii K (and H) profiles are reconstructed at different locations in the prominence with a (10 × 5) arc sec² resolution. Significant variations of FWHM and line shifts are found: FWHM range from 0.14 Å to 0.5 Å; blue shifts reach about 14 km s^-1. The ratio of K to H absolute intensities shows a large spread around the average value of 1.2. The same ratio for the Mg ii lines in the whole prominence is higher (1.7), a fact already noticed at the edge of an active prominence (Vial et al., 1979). The ionization degree, as measured by the L/Ca K ratio, shows noticeable variations within the prominence. The L intensity is about 0.3 times the intensity measured in the quiet Sun, and the L/L ratio is less than one half the disk value. These results indicate important variations of the thermal conditions inside the prominence.DASOP, Observatoire de Paris, 92190 Meudon, France.     

Chinese sunspot drawings and their digitization –(Ⅱ) accuracy analysis for digitized sunspot hand-drawing records of Yunnan Observatories

Sunspots are the most striking and easily observed magnetic structures of the Sun, and statistical analysis of solar historical data could reveal a wealth of information on the long-term variation of solar activity cycle. The hand-drawn sunspot records of Yunnan Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences have been accumulating for more than 60 years, and nearly 16 000 images have been preserved. In the future, the observation mode of recording sunspots by hand-drawing will be replaced inevitably by digital images observed either at ground or in space. To connect the hand-drawn sunspot data and the purely digital sunspot data in future, it is necessary to analyze the systematic errors of the data which are observed by the two observation modes in the period of transition. In this paper, we choose 268 round sunspots(Htype in modified Zurich sunspot classification) from the drawing of Yunnan Observatories to compare their positions and areas with the CCD observations made by Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager(HMI) on board Solar Dynamic Observatory(SDO) and Global Oscillation Network Group(GONG). We find that the latitude and longitude accuracy of hand-drawn sunspot are within-0.127 and 2.29 degree respectively,and the area accuracy is about 16.36 sunspot unit(μHem). Systematic errors apparently decrease with large sunspot.     

The relationship between the radio core-dominance parameter and spectral index in different classes of extragalactic radio sources(Ⅱ)

Active galactic nuclei(AGNs) can be divided into two major classes, namely radio-loud and radio-quiet AGNs. A small subset of the radio-loud AGNs is called blazars, which are believed to be unified with Fanaroff-Riley type Ⅰ/Ⅱ(FRI/Ⅱ) radio galaxies. Following our previous work(Fan et al.), we present a sample of 2400 sources with measured radio flux densities of the core and extended components. The sample contains 250 BL Lacs, 520 quasars, 175 Seyferts, 1178 galaxies, 153 FRI or FRⅡ galaxies and 104 unidentified sources. We then calculate the radio core-dominance parameters and spectral indices, and study their relationship. Our analysis shows that the core-dominance parameters and spectral indices are quite different for different types of sources. We also confirm that the correlation between core-dominance parameter and spectral index exists for a large sample presented in this work.     

Stability of the stellar structure and nonequilibrium dynamical characteristics of (g — T) effects in nuclear reactions in stellar cores

The nonequilibrium dynamical theory of thermonuclear reaction in the stars is used to analyse the stabilities of P-PI reactions in the solar core and 3 reactions of helium burning in the core of red giant stars. The constant stability of stars on the main sequence and the helium flash instability have been explained from a new point of view. Calculations show that the (g - T) term in the dynamical equation has a damaging effect on the stability of the thermonuclear reaction, but its intensity in the core of red giant stars is ~ 10⁷ times that in the solar core. It may be intimately related to some instability of the stellar structure. The effect on the flash instability is especially analysed.