Kinetic Models of Solar and Polar Winds

The study of the solar corona has been strewn with great discoveries, surprises and controversies. The major steps since van de Hulst's (1953)and Chapman's (1957) early hydrostatic models of the extended corona, until the most recent generations of kinetic models of the coronal expansion and of the supersonic solar wind flows, are presented. These models are compared to in-situ observations. Progress in polar wind models went through a somewhat similar evolution that is outlined also. The advantages and limitations of the successive brands of solar wind and polar wind models are considered. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

图象的模型及其统计特性

本文对图象的统计特性及其适用模型作了分析。讨论了以前常用的平稳图象模型的缺陷,对实际图象的统计特性作了分析,认为它是非平稳的,不满足各态历经性,同时在空间上是高度相关的;讨论了相应的随机参数统计模型和描述性统计模型。指出作用于整幅图象的“全局”图象复原算法比每次只独立计算单个象元的“点”图象复原算法更为优越。     

Period–colour and amplitude–colour relations in classical Cepheid variables – III. The Large Magellanic Cloud Cepheid models

Period–colour (PC) and amplitude–colour (AC) relations are studied for the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) Cepheids under the theoretical framework of the hydrogen ionization front (HIF)–photosphere interaction. LMC models are constructed with pulsation codes that include turbulent convection, and the properties of these models are studied at maximum, mean and minimum light. As with Galactic models, at maximum light the photosphere is located next to the HIF for the LMC models. However, very different behaviour is found at minimum light. The long-period  ( P > 10 d)  LMC models imply that the photosphere is disengaged from the HIF at minimum light, similar to the Galactic models, but there are some indications that the photosphere is located near the HIF for the short-period  ( P < 10 d)  LMC models. We also use the updated LMC data to derive empirical PC and AC relations at these phases. Our numerical models are broadly consistent with our theory and the observed data, though we discuss some caveats in the paper. We apply the idea of the HIF–photosphere interaction to explain recent suggestions that the LMC period–luminosity (PL) and PC relations are non-linear with a break at a period close to 10 d. Our empirical LMC PC and PL relations are also found to be non-linear with the F -test. Our explanation relies on the properties of the Saha ionization equation, the HIF–photosphere interaction and the way this interaction changes with the phase of pulsation and metallicity to produce the observed changes in the LMC PC and PL relations.     

Formation and evolution of Lakshmi Planum, Venus: Assessment of models using observations from geological mapping

Detailed geological analysis of the Lakshmi Planum region of western Ishtar Terra results in the establishment of the sequence of major events during the formation and evolution of western Ishtar Terra, an important and somewhat unique area on Venus characterized by a raised volcanic plateau surrounded by distinctive folded mountain belts, such as Maxwell Montes. These mapping results and the stratigraphic and structural relationships provide a basis for addressing the complicated problem of Lakshmi Planum formation and for testing the suite of models previously proposed to explain this structure. We review and classify previous models of formation for western Ishtar Terra into “downwelling” models (generally involving convergence and underthrusting) and “upwelling” models (generally involving plume-like upwelling and divergence). The interpreted nature of units and the sequence of events derived from geological mapping are in contrast to the predictions of the divergent models. The major contradictions are as follows: (1) The very likely presence of an ancient (craton-like) tessera massif in the core of Lakshmi, which is inconsistent with the model of formation of Lakshmi due to rise and collapse of a mantle diapir; (2) The absence of rift zones in the interior of Lakshmi that are predicted by the divergent models; (3) The apparent migration of volcanic activity toward the center of Lakshmi, whereas divergent models predict the opposite trend; (4) The abrupt cessation of ridges of the mountain ranges at the edge of Lakshmi Planum and propagation of these ridges over hundreds of kilometers outside Lakshmi; the divergent models predict the opposite progression in the development of major contractional features. In contrast, convergent models of formation and evolution of Lakshmi Planum appear to be more consistent with the observations and explain this structure by collision and underthrusting/subduction of lower-lying plains with the elevated and rigid block of tessera. These models are capable of explaining formation of the major features of western Ishtar (for example, the mountain belts), the sequences of events, and principal volcanic and tectonic trends during the evolution of Lakshmi. To explain the pronounced north-south asymmetry of Lakshmi these models need to consider the likelihood that the major focal points of collision are at the north and north-west margins of the plateau. We note that pure downwelling models, however, face three important difficulties: (1) The possibly unrealistically long time span that appears to be required to produce the major features of Lakshmi; (2) The strong north-south asymmetry of the Planum; the pure downwelling models predict the formation of a more symmetrical structure; and (3) The absence of radial contractional structures (arches and ridges) in the interior of Lakshmi that would represent the predictions of the downwelling models.     

Configuration,structure, and dynamics of magnetic clouds from solar flares in light of measurements on board Vega 1 and Vega 2 in January–February 1986

Simple models of flare-generated magnetic clouds are considered in the light of magnetic measurements on board Vega 1 and Vega 2 during the solar-interplanetary events in January–February 1986. The models are in approximate accordance with the experimental data if the following conditions are satisfied: (1)the clouds are force-free finite aspect ratio toroids; (2) the large radius of each cloud is parallel to the magnetic axis of the nearest bipolar group; (3) the magnetic buoyancy, gravity, and hydrodynamical deceleration are taken into consideration.     

Estimating the modal mineralogy of eucrite and diogenite meteorites using visible–near infrared reflectance spectroscopy

Reliable quantitative mapping of minerals exposed on Vesta's surface is crucial for understanding the crustal composition, petrologic evolution, and surface modification of the howardite, eucrite, and diogenite (HED) parent body. However, mineral abundance estimates derived from visible–near infrared (VIS–NIR) reflectance spectra are complicated by multiple scattering, particle size, and nonlinear mixing effects. Radiative transfer models can be employed to accommodate these issues, and here we assess the utility of such models to accurately and efficiently determine modal mineralogy for a suite of eucrite and olivine‐bearing (harzburgitic) diogenite meteorites. Hapke and Shkuratov radiative transfer models were implemented to simultaneously estimate mineral abundances and particle size from VIS–NIR reflectance spectra of these samples. The models were tested and compared for laboratory‐made binary (pyroxene–plagioclase) and ternary mixtures (pyroxene–olivine–plagioclase) as well as eucrite and diogenite meteorite samples. Results for both models show that the derived mineral abundances are commonly within 5–10% of modal values and the estimated particle sizes are within the expected ranges. Results for the Hapke model suggest a lower detection limit for olivine in HEDs when compared with the Shkuratov model (5% versus 15%). Our current implementation yields lower uncertainties in mineral abundance (commonly <5%) for the Hapke model, though both models have an advantage over typically used parameters such as band depth, position, and shape in that they provide quantitative information on mineral abundance and particle size. These results indicate that both the Hapke and Shkuratov models may be applied to Dawn VIR data in a computationally efficient manner to quantify the spatial distribution of pyroxene, plagioclase, and olivine on the surface of Vesta.     

Intercomparisons of earth gravity models by means of lumped coefficients: Terms for eccentricity and longitude

The comparisons of the Earth gravity field models by the order of their harmonic coefficients, performed with the basic lumped coefficients (Planet. Space Sci.29, 653, 1981, Paper I) are here extended to cover all harmonic coefficients (both odd and even degree). The lumped coefficients (the “e-terms” and “longitudinal” terms), corresponding to 18 Earth models, are compared mutually (Figs. 2–15). The large differences, observed for various models and orders, are of particular interest: they are gathered into Table 1. The result of Paper I was a little pessimistic. The same is true here: various inhomogeneities, sometimes very large, in the accuracy of the harmonic coefficients must exist—even for low orders. Most of our comments and objections, however, relate to the older Earth models, which have only a historical value now. Our comparisons are only relative ones; an actual test of the accuracy of the models (their calibration) is possible via data with independent status (Kloko?ník, 1982, 1983).     

Constraints on cosmological and biasing models using active galactic nucleus clustering

We attempt to put constraints on different cosmological and biasing models by combining the recent clustering results of X-ray sources in the local ( z ≤0.1) and distant Universe ( z ∼1) . To this end we compare the measured angular correlation function for bright (Akylas et al.) and faint (Vikhlinin & Forman) ROSAT X-ray sources respectively with those expected in three spatially flat cosmological models. Taking into account the different functional forms of the bias evolution, we find that there are two cosmological models which match the data well. In particular, low-Ω_○ cosmological models (Ω_Λ=1−Ω_○=0.7) that contain either (i) high σ ₈^mass=1.13 value with galaxy merging bias, b ( z )∝(1+ z )^1.8 or (ii) low σ ₈^mass=0.9 with non-bias, b ( z ) ≡ 1 best reproduce the AGN clustering results, while τ CDM models with different bias behaviour are ruled out at a high significance level.     

Constraints on the clustering, biasing and redshift distribution of radio sources

We discuss how different theoretical predictions for the variance σ ² of the counts-in-cells distribution of radio sources can be matched to measurements from the FIRST survey at different flux limits. The predictions are given by the integration of models for the angular correlation function w ( θ ) for three different functional forms of the redshift distribution N ( z ), different spatial correlation functions that match the observed present-day shape and by different evolutions of the bias b ( z ) with redshift. We also consider the two cases of open and flat universes. Although the predicted w ( θ ) show substantial differences because of differences in the values of N ( z ), these differences are not significant compared to the uncertainties in the current observations. It turns out that, independent of the geometry of the universe and the flux limit, the best fit is provided by models with constant biasing at all times, although the difference between models with epoch-independent bias and models with bias that evolves linearly with redshift is not very large. All models with strong evolution of bias with epoch are ruled out, as they grossly overestimate the amplitude of the variance over the whole range of angular scales sampled by the counts-in-cells analysis. As a further step we directly calculated w _obs( θ ) at 3 mJy from the catalogue and matched it with our models for the angular correlation function, in the hypothesis that the clustering signal comes from two different populations, namely AGN-powered sources and starbursting galaxies. The results are consistent with a scenario for hierarchical clustering where the fainter starbursting galaxies trace the mass at all epochs, while the brighter AGNs are strongly biased, with b ( z ) evolving linearly with redshift, as suggested by some theories of galaxy formation and evolution.     

Mass-accreting white dwarfs and type Ia supernovae

Type Ia supernovae(SNe Ia) play a prominent role in understanding the evolution of the Universe. They are thought to be thermonuclear explosions of mass-accreting carbon-oxygen white dwarfs(CO WDs) in binaries, although the mass donors of the accreting WDs are still not well determined. In this article, I review recent studies on mass-accreting WDs, including H-and He-accreting WDs. I also review currently most studied progenitor models of SNe Ia, i.e., the single-degenerate model(including the WD+MS channel, the WD+RG channel and the WD+He star channel), the doubledegenerate model(including the violent merger scenario) and the sub-Chandrasekhar mass model.Recent progress on these progenitor models is discussed, including the initial parameter space for producing SNe Ia, the binary evolutionary paths to SNe Ia, the progenitor candidates for SNe Ia, the possible surviving companion stars of SNe Ia, some observational constraints, etc. Some other potential progenitor models of SNe Ia are also summarized, including the hybrid CONe WD model, the core-degenerate model, the double WD collision model, the spin-up/spin-down model and the model of WDs near black holes. To date, it seems that two or more progenitor models are needed to explain the observed diversity among SNe Ia.     

Future desertification and climate change: The need for land-surface system evaluation improvement

In already drought-stressed areas and places with the potential for desertification as a result of greenhouse-induced change, high quality model-derived climate projections are essential for sustainable management. Today's challenge is how to select from the plethora of models and proposed new analyses the tools most likely to be valid for areas already water-stressed and those threatened by future surface moisture reduction. Here, the land-surface skills of models involved in the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report and new techniques of isotopic enrichment of components of evapotranspiration are analyzed. Both are found to have shortcomings. Surprisingly poor reporting of fundamental components of the land-surface system in standard model output was the largest challenge for widely accepted models. We show that very few of a large group (20) of today's climate models report land-surface water and energy budgets correctly in a well-controlled international experiment and that most fail basic conservation tests. Our analysis of a smaller (5) experiment suggests that isotopic techniques employed in arid zone irrigation management may not transition to evaluation and model improvement. Land-surface conditions important for policy are found to be poorly reported which raises questions about equal weighting given by international assessments to all models: good and bad.     

北斗系统测站钟差短期预报模型比较及其在单星定轨中的应用

北斗卫星导航系统(BDS)地面跟踪站都配置有高精度的氢原子钟,并基于精密定轨数据处理与主站的时间基准进行同步.在卫星轨道机动以及机动恢复期间,通常采用几何法定轨以及单星定轨确定卫星的轨道.而在这两种定轨模式中,需要提供精确的测站钟差作为输入.为提高定轨的实时性,需要对测站钟差进行预报处理.分析了2次多项式模型、附加周期项模型、灰色模型3种模型对北斗地面跟踪站钟差短期拟合和预报的性能,并将钟差预报结果应用于单星定轨,同时还分析了不同预报钟差用于定轨的精度.试验发现,以上3种模型对6个测站钟差的平均拟合精度分别为0.14 ns、0.05 ns、0.27 ns,预报1 h的平均精度分别为1.17 ns、0.88 ns、1.28 ns,预报2 h的平均精度分别为2.72 ns、2.09 ns、2.53 ns.采用3种模型对测站钟差进行预报并用于单星定轨,采用附加周期项的钟差预报模型轨道3维误差最小,不同模型轨道径向精度差异在3 cm以内.以上结果表明,附加周期项的站钟拟合及预报模型在北斗系统机动期间的轨道恢复数据处理具有最好的效果.     

Spectral Models of Kuiper Belt Objects and Centaurs

We present models of the spectral reflectances of groups of outer Solar System objects defined primarily by their colors in the spectral region 0.4–1.2 mu;m, and which have geometric albedo ～0.04 at wavelength 0.55 μm. Our models of the groups with the strongest reflectance gradients (reddest colors) use combinations of organic tholins. We test the hypothesis that metal-reddened igneous rock-forming minerals contribute to the red colors of Centaurs and KBOs by using the space-weathered lunar soil as one of the components of our models. We find that our models can admit the presence of moderate amounts of space-weathered (metal-reddened) minerals, but that they do not require this material to achieve the red colors of the reddest outer Solar System bodies. Our models with organic tholins are consistent with the results of other investigators.     

Tests and comparisons of gravity models

Optical observations of the GEOS satellites were used to obtain orbital solutions with different sets of geopotential coefficients. The solutions were compared before and after modification to high order terms (necessary because of resonance) and then analyzed by comparing subsequent observations with predicted trajectories. The most important source of error in orbit determination and prediction for the GEOS satellites is the effect of resonance found in most published sets of geopotential coefficients. Modifications to the sets yield greatly improved orbits in most cases.The sets of coefficients analyzed are APL 3.5, NWL5E-6, Köhnlein (1967), Rapp (1967), Kaula (1967), Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory (SAO)M-1 (1966), SAO AGU (1969), SAO COSPAR (1969) and SAO 1969 Standard Earth. The SAO 1969 models generally give better orbital fits and prediction results than the other models above. However these models can be improved by corrections to resonant coefficients.The results of these comparisons suggest that with the best optical tracking systems and gravity models, satellite position error due to gravity model uncertainty can reach 50–100 m during a heavily observed 5–6 day orbital arc. If resonant coefficients are estimated, the uncertainty is reduced considerably.     

Chemo-spectrophotometric evolution of spiral galaxies – III. Abundance and colour gradients in discs

We study the relations between luminosity and chemical-abundance profiles of spiral galaxies, using detailed models for the chemical and spectrophotometric evolution of galactic discs. The models are 'calibrated' on the Milky Way disc and are successfully extended to other discs with the help of simple 'scaling' relations, obtained in the framework of semi-analytic models of galaxy formation. We find that our models exhibit oxygen abundance gradients that increase in absolute value with decreasing disc luminosity (when expressed in dex kpc⁻¹) and are independent of disc luminosity (when expressed in dex scalelength⁻¹), both in agreement with observations. We notice an important strong correlation between abundance gradient and disc scalelength. These results support the idea of 'homologous evolution' of galactic discs.     

Radial orbital anisotropy and the Fundamental Plane of elliptical galaxies

The existence of the Fundamental Plane imposes strong constraints on the structure and dynamics of elliptical galaxies, and thus contains important information on the processes of their formation and evolution. Here we focus on the relations between the Fundamental Plane thinness and tilt and the amount of radial orbital anisotropy: in fact, the problem of the compatibility between the observed thinness of the Fundamental Plane and the wide spread of orbital anisotropy admitted by galaxy models has often been raised. By using N -body simulations of galaxy models characterized by observationally motivated density profiles, and also allowing for the presence of live, massive dark matter haloes, we explore the impact of radial orbital anisotropy and instability on the Fundamental Plane properties. The numerical results confirm a previous semi-analytical finding (based on a different class of one-component galaxy models): the requirement of stability matches almost exactly the thinness of the Fundamental Plane. In other words, galaxy models that are radially anisotropic enough to be found outside the observed Fundamental Plane (with their isotropic parent models lying on the Fundamental Plane) are unstable, and their end-products fall back on the Fundamental Plane itself. We also find that a systematic increase of radial orbit anisotropy with galaxy luminosity cannot explain by itself the whole tilt of the Fundamental Plane, the galaxy models becoming unstable at moderately high luminosities: at variance with the previous case, their end-products are found well outside the Fundamental Plane itself. Some physical implications of these findings are discussed in detail.     

Lineament Analysis and Geophysical Modelling of the Alba Patera Region on Mars

Global data sets of images, topography and gravity are available for Mars from several orbiter missions. At the eve of new global data from Mars Global Surveyor (MGS), the capabilities of 3D geophysical modelling based on areal topography and gravity data combined with geologic-tectonic image interpretation is demonstrated here. A unique structure is chosen for the model calculations: the Alba Patera volcanic complex at the northern border of the Tharsis rise. Five groups of graben are discriminated: Ceraunius Fossae, Catenae, Tantalus Fossae (radial group) radial to the Tharsis rise, mainly associated to the formation of Tharsis, and Alba and Tantalus Fossae (circular group), younger than the other graben and circular around Alba Patera. Combining 3D elastic flexure of the lithosphere due to a 3D topographic surface load with 3D gravity models results in a rather thick lithosphere (150–200 km) and thick crust (60–100 km). In another model estimate it has been assumed that the circular grabens are induced by the stresses from the surface load of Alba Patera. In a first order calculation the surface stresses under a point load have been determined resulting in a good correlation of the stress maximum with the location of the circular grabens for a 50-km thick lithosphere. This is in accordance with earlier results from this method, but in contradiction with the thick lithosphere derived from flexure-gravity models. One possibility for this contradiction may be that the different models represent two evolutionary points of Alba Patera. (1) The correlation of stresses with the circular grabens may represent an older stage of evolution with a thinner lithosphere. (2) The flexure-gravity models represent a younger to present stage with a thick lithosphere. The results of the lithosphere thicknesses are compared with an admittance calculation and different thermal evolution models which determine comparable thicknesses (150 km). More detailed models including 3D stress models should wait for new data sets from MGS. The results from the lineament analysis and geophysical modelling are summarized in an evolution model for Alba Patera.     

Topological differences and similarities between force-free and potential models of coronal magnetic fields

Potential fields and linear force-free fields are often used as models for the magnetic field of the Sun's corona. They can be written as analytical expressions in terms of boundary values at the photosphere. Because of their relative simplicity compared with nonlinear force-free fields, these two models are of particular importance in topological analysis of solar phenomena. However, it has been suggested by Hudson and Wheatland (1999) that the topologies of potential and force-free models are in general not even qualitatively equivalent. In this paper, their example is re-examined and it is found that the opposite conclusions hold. In general, potential and force-free fields are topologically similar sufficiently close to localized sources. The exception to this are structurally unstable states, such as bifurcation states, where a small change of current can produce a significant change of topology.     

Narrow-band photometry and differential effects in close binary systems

The application of narrow-band photometry to close binary systems is considered, with particular attention to the effects of eclipses. Models are examined, first in which two normal absorption spectra are superposed and then in which a third emission component is present. The purpose of these models is to relate to narrow-band observations of a kind similar to some preliminary results presented for U Sge in H. It is shown that, under the conditions obtaining for such observations, the role of Doppler effects should be small, but that the observations should be sensitive to any difference between the limb darkening in the line and surrounding continuum.In the three-component models, the emitting volume is pictured as (i) a chromospheric shell and (ii) an equational disk about the primary star. The expected modifications corresponding to such models of observations of primary eclipse are calculated. Possible applicability of the models to the preliminary observations is briefly considered.