The hierarchical origin of galaxy morphologies

We report first results from a series of N-body/gasdynamical simulations designed to study the origin of galaxy morphologies in a cold dark matter-dominated universe. The simulations include star formation and feedback and have numerical resolution sufficiently high to allow for a direct investigation of the morphology of simulated galaxies. We find, in agreement with previous theoretical work, that the presence of the main morphological components of galaxies—disks, spheroids, bars—is regulated by the mode of gas accretion and intimately linked to discrete accretion events. In the case we present, disks arise from the smooth deposition of cooled gas at the center of dark halos, spheroids result from the stirring of preexisting disks during mergers, and bars are triggered by tides generated by satellites. This demonstrates that morphology is a transient phenomenon within the lifetime of a galaxy and that the Hubble sequence reflects the varied accretion histories of galaxies in hierarchical formation scenarios. In particular, we demonstrate directly that disk/bulge systems can be built and rebuilt by the smooth accretion of gas onto the remnant of a major merger and that the present-day remnants of late dissipative mergers between disks are spheroidal stellar systems with structure resembling that of field ellipticals. The perplexing variety of galaxy morphologies is thus highly suggestive of—and may actually even demand—a universe where structures have evolved hierarchically.     

The role of toroidal magnetic field in the stability of accretion disks with alpha viscosity and other viscosities

The standard thin accretion disk model predicts that the inner regions of alpha model disks, where radiation pressure is dominant, are thermally and viscously unstable. However, observations show that the bright X-ray binaries and AGN accretion disks, corresponding to radiation-pressure thin disks, are stable. In this paper, we reconsider the linear and local instability of accretion disks in the presence of a toroidal magnetic field. In the basic equations, we consider physical quantities such as advection, thermal conduction, arbitrary viscosity, and an arbitrary cooling function also. A fifth order diffusion equation is obtained and is solved numerically. The solutions are compared to non-magnetic cases. The results show that the toroidal magnetic field can make the thermal instability in radiation pressure-dominated slim disks disappear if ? _m ≥0.3. However, it causes a more thermal instability in radiation pressure alpha disks without advection. Also, we consider the thermal instability in accretion disks with other values of the viscosity and obtain a general criterion for thermal instability in the long-wavelength limit and in the presence of a toroidal magnetic field.     

Signatures of planets in protoplanetary and debris disks

We discuss selected possibilities to detect planets in circumstellar disks. We consider the search for characteristic signatures in these disks caused by the interaction of giant planets with the disk as the most promising approach. Numerical simulations show that these signatures are usually much larger in size than the planet itself and thus much easier to detect. The particular result of the planet–disk interaction depends on the evolutionary stage of the disk. Primary signatures of planets embedded in disks are gaps in the case of young disks and characteristic asymmetric density patterns in debris disks.We present simulations which demonstrate that high spatial resolution observations performed with instruments/telescopes that will become available in the near future will be able to trace the location and other properties of young and evolved planets. These observations will allow to directly investigate the formation and evolution of planets in protoplanetary and debris disks.     

The detection and study of pre-planetary disks

A variety of evidence suggests that at least 50% of low-mass stars are surrounded by disks of the gas and dust similar to the nebula that surrounded the Sun before the formation of the planets. The properties of these disks may bear strongly on the way in which planetary systems form and evolve. As a result of major instrumental developments over the last decade, it is now possible to detect and study the circumstellar environments of very young, solar-type stars in some detail, and to compare the results with theoretical models of the early solar system. For example, millimeter-wave aperture synthesis imaging provides a direct means of studying in detail the morphology, temperature and density distributions, velocity field and chemical constituents in the outer disks, while high resolution, near infrared spectroscopy probes the inner, warmer parts; the emergence of gaps in the disks, possibly reflecting the formation of planets, may be reflected in the variation of their dust continuum emission with wavelength. We review progress to date and discuss likely directions for future research.Paper presented at the Conference onPlanetary Systems: Formation, Evolution, and Detection held 7–10 December, 1992 at CalTech, Pasadena, California, U.S.A.     

The cradle of life

The emerging field of bioastronomy is beginning to address one of the oldest questions in science and philosophy: Are we alone? By virtue of its sheer sensitivity, high frequency coverage, and long baselines, the SKA will play a pivotal role in bioastronomical studies. It will be a unique instrument with the capability to image proto-planetary disks in nearby star-forming regions and monitor the evolution of structures within those disks (“movies of planetary formation”). It will also be able to assess the extent to which interstellar molecules are incorporated into proto-planetary disks. It will also be able to reach qualitatively new levels of sensitivity in the search for intelligence elsewhere in the Galaxy, including for the first time the realistic possibility of detecting unintentional emissions or “leakage” (such as from TV transmitters) from nearby stars.     

Active hot star shells

Interferometry in the visible provides milliarcsecond spatial resolution and thus has been used for studying the circumstellar environment of active hot stars. In this paper I will illustrate how the visibility modulus and phase can be used to better constrain the physics of Be disks through results from the VLA, the MkII and the GI2T interferometers. I will insist on the importance and the potential of coupling high angular resolution with high spectral resolution to the study of Be shells. Finally I will present a possible study of the circumstellar disk of Be stars using the VLTI. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

High angular resolution millimeter observations of circumstellar disks

In this lecture, we review the properties of protoplanetary disks as derived from high angular resolution observations at millimeter wavelengths. We discuss how the combination of several different high angular resolution techniques allow us to probe different regions of the disk around young stellar objects and to derive the properties of the dust when combined with sophisticated disk models. The picture that emerges is that the dust in circumstellar disks surrounding pre-main sequence stars is in many cases significantly evolved compared to the dust in molecular clouds and the interstellar medium. It is however still difficult to derive a consistent picture and timeline for dust evolution in disks as the observations are still limited to small samples of objects.We also review the evidence for and properties of disks around high-mass young stellar objects and the implications on their formation mechanisms. The study of massive YSOs is complicated by their short lifetimes and larger average distances. In most cases high angular resolution data at millimeter wavelengths are the only method to probe the structure of disks in these objects.We provide a summary of the characteristics of available high angular resolution millimeter and submillimeter observatories. We also describe the characteristics of the ALMA observatory being constructed in the Chilean Andes. ALMA is going to be the world leading observatory at millimeter wavelengths in the coming decades, the project is now in its main construction phase with early science activities envisaged for 2010 and full science operations for 2012.     

Combining optical spectroscopy and interferometry

Modern optical spectrographs and optical interferometers push the limits in the spectral and spatial regime, providing important new tools for the exploration of the Universe. In this contribution I outline the complementary nature of spectroscopic and interferometric observations and discuss different strategies for combining such data. Most remarkable, the latest generation of “spectro‐interferometric” instruments combine the milliarcsecond angular resolution achievable with interferometry with spectral capabilities, enabling direct constraints on the distribution, density, kinematics, and ionization structure of the gas component in protoplanetary disks. I will present some selected studies from the field of star‐ and planet formation and hot star research in order to illustrate these fundamentally new observational opportunities. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Numerical experiments on the stability of preplanetary disks

Gravitational stability of gaseous protostellar disks is relevant to theories of planetary formation. Stable gas disks favor formation of planetesimals by the accumulation of solid material; unstable disks allow the possibility of direct condensation of gaseous protoplanets. We present the results of numerical experiments designed to test the stability of thin disks against large-scale, self-gravitational disruption. The disks are represented by a distribution of about 6 × 10⁴ point masses on a two-dimensional (r, φ) grid. The motions of the particles in the self-consistent gravity field are calculated, and the evolving density distributions are examined for instabilities. Two parameters that have major influences on stability are varied: the initial temperature of the disk (represented by an imposed velocity dispersion), and the mass of the protostar relative to that of the disk. It is found that a disk as massive as 1M_⊙, surrounding a 1M_⊙ protostar, can be stable against long-wavelength gravitational disruption if its temperature is about 300°K or greater. Stability of a cooler disk requires that it be less massive, but even at 100°K a stable disk can have an appreciable fraction ($\text{～}\text{1}\text{3}$) of a solar mass.     

A new view of proto-planetary disks with ALMA

The dynamical, physical and chemical processes which lead to planet formation constitute an astrophysical domain which will strongly benefit from ALMA in terms of frequency coverage, sensitivity and angular resolution. Recent results from current mm/submm interferometers obtained on molecules and dust in proto-planetary disks are presented. The observational coupling between gas and dust is discussed and it is shown that dust disks must be analyzed with the knowledge provided by gas disks, and respectively, both from the chemical and physical points. For these purposes, the methods of analysis of mm/submm interferometric data specific to disks are summarized. Emphasis is given on recent, unexpected, findings obtained in the highest sensitivity and resolution observations obtained so far, as they provide a hint of what ALMA could discover. A comparison with the expected sensitivities for ALMA illustrates how ALMA can enhance our knowledge of the disk physics, either by providing statistics or by allowing much more detailed studies of representative objects.     

Europium abundances in cool dwarf stars of the galactic thick and thin disks

Abundances of europium for 112 FGK dwarf stars of thick and thin disks have been determined in the metallicity range of ?1.0 < [Fe/H] < +0.3. Spectra of the studied stars have been obtained using the 1.93-m telescope of Haute-Provence Observatory (France) with spectral resolution R = 42000 and signal-to-noise ratio S/N = 100?300. Eu content has been calculated with assumption of LTE using the synthetic spectrum approach with detailed consideration of superfine structure. Analysis of europium abundances as a function of metallicity in kinematically selected stars of the Galactic thick and thin disks revealed different values in the disks. Comparison of europium abundances with magnesium abundances makes it possible to assume that at [Fe/H] < ?0.2 dex the origins of these elements are similar and at [Fe/H] > ?0.2 dex they are, probably, different.     

A space Fresnel Imager for ultra-violet astrophysics: example on accretion disks

The Fresnel Diffractive Imager concept is proposed for space borne astronomical imaging at Ultra-Violet wavelengths, using diffractive focalization. The high angular resolution and high dynamic range provided by this new concept makes it an ideal tool to resolve circumstellar structures such as disks or jets around bright sources, among them, pre-main sequence stars and young planetary disks. The study presented in this paper addresses the following configuration of Fresnel diffractive imager: a diffractive array 4 m large, with 696 Fresnel zones operating in the ultra-violet domain. The diffractive arrays are opaque foils punched with a large number of void subapertures with carefully designed shapes and positions. In the proposed space missions, these punched foils would be deployed in space. Depending on the size of the array and on the working spectral band, the focal length of such imagers will range from a few kilometers to a few tens of kilometers. Thus, such space mission requires a formation flying configuration for two satellites around the L2 Sun-Earth Lagragian point. In this article, we investigate numerically the potential of Fresnel arrays for imaging circumstellar dust environments. These simulations are based upon simple protostellar disk models, and on the computed optical characteristics of the instrument. The results show that protoplanetary disks at distances up to a few thousand parsecs can be successfully studied with a 4 m aperture Fresnel imager in the UV.     

Solar System Capabilities of the Thirty Meter Telescope

The TMT Project is completing the design of a telescope with a primary mirror diameter of 30 m, yielding ten times more light gathering power than the largest current telescopes. It is being designed from the outset as a system that will deliver diffraction-limited resolution (8, 15 and 70 milliarcsec at 1.2, 2.2 and 10 microns, respectively) and high Strehl ratios over a 30 arcsecond science field with good performance over a 2 arcmin field. Studies of a representative suite of instruments that span a very large discovery space in wavelength (0.3–30 microns), spatial resolution, spectral resolution and field-of-view demonstrate their feasibility and their tremendous scientific potential. Of particular interest for solar system research, one of these will be IRIS (Infrared Imaging Spectrometer), a NIR instrument consisting of a diffraction-limited imager and an integral-field spectrometer. IRIS will be able to investigate structures with dimensions of only a few tens of kilometers at the distance of Jupiter. Two other instruments, NIRES and MIRES (Near- and Mid IR Echelle Spectrographs) will enable high angular, high spectral resolution observations of solar system objects from the ground with sensitivities comparable to space-based missions. The TMT system is being designed for extremely efficient operation including the ability to rapidly switch to observations with different instruments to take advantage of “targets-of-opportunity” or changing conditions. Thus TMT will provide capabilities that will enable very significant solar system science and be highly synergistic with JWST, ALMA and other planned astronomy missions.     

A new formulation of the viscosity in planetary rings

We present a new formulation of the viscosity in planetary rings, where particles interact through their gravitational forces and direct collisions. In the previous studies on the viscosity in self-gravitating rings, the viscosity consists of three components, which are defined separately in different ways. The complex definitions make it difficult to evaluate the viscosity in N-body simulation of rings. In our new formulation, the viscosity is expressed in terms of changes in orbital elements of particles due to particle interactions. This makes the expression of the viscosity simple. The new formulation gives a simple way to evaluate the viscosity in N-body simulation. We find that for practical evaluation of the viscosity of planetary rings, only energy dissipation at direct inelastic collisions is needed.For tenuous particle disks (i.e., optically thin disks), we further derive a formula of the viscosity. The formula requires only a numerical coefficient that can be obtained from three-body calculation. Since planetesimal disks are also tenuous, the viscosity in planetesimal disks can be also obtained from this formula. In a subsequent paper, we will evaluate this coefficient through three-body calculation and obtain the viscosity for a wide range of parameters such as the restitution coefficient and the radial location in rings.     

近红外偏振观测在恒星形成研究中的应用

近红外偏振是研究恒星形成的有效工具.该文介绍了近红外偏振器的工作原理,然后分几个方面介绍了近红外偏振在恒星形成研究中的应用.红外反射云能很好地示踪年轻星天体及分子外流,通过分析偏振矢量的方法确定红外反射云的偏振对称中心,从而确定它的照亮源;偏振波长相关曲线包含了年轻星天体的星周物质的很多信息;年轻星的分子外流导致了红外反射云的形成,因此红外反射云的照亮源通常与年轻星天体成协,并是分子外流的驱动源;一些年轻星天体埋藏得很深,一般在近红外波段无法直接探测到,人们称之为深埋源,通过分析偏振矢量的方法可以找到深埋源;一般认为比较年轻的年轻星天体都是有尘埃盘的,尘埃盘的存在会导致它的偏振形态出现偏振盘,偏振盘町以用来研究尘埃盘;恒星形成区里成员星的偏振主要是由尘埃的二色性消光产生的,这样偏振方向会平行于致使尘埃排列的磁场的方向,从而能够揭示磁场的结构.最后进行了总结,并论述了中远红外偏振研究的优势和意义.     

Detecting protoplanets with ALMA

Theoretical investigations show that planet-disk interactions cause structures in circumstellar disks, which are usually much larger in size than the planet itself and thus more easily detectable. The specific result of planet-disk interactions depends on the evolutionary stage of the disk. Exemplary signatures of planets embedded in disks are gaps and spiral density waves in the case of young, gas-rich protoplanetary disks and characteristic asymmetric density patterns in debris disks. Numerical simulations convincingly demonstrate that high-resolution imaging performed with observational facilities which are already available or will become available in the near future will allow to trace these “fingerprints” of planets in protoplanetary and debris disks. These observations will provide a deep insight into specific phases of the formation and early evolution of planets in circumstellar disks. In this context, the Atacama Large Millimeter Array (ALMA) will play a crucial role by allowing to trace features in disks which are indicative for various stages of the formation and early evolution of planets in circumstellar disks.     

太阳磁场观测研究

简要回顾了近几年国际上太阳磁场研究的一些重要进展，包括耀斑与磁切和电流的关系，电流螺度和磁螺度，磁场拓扑性，三维磁场外推，色球磁场研究，日冕磁场研究，内网络磁元，磁流和振荡，极区磁场观测以及色球磁元观测等方面内容，同时也介绍了怀柔太阳观测站最近所取得的主要成果，自20世纪90年代以来，YOHKOH高分辨率的太阳X射线数据，SOHO的多波段大尺度观测，TRACE的高分辨太阳过渡区资料，为研究太阳磁场从内部到距离几十太阳半径处的大范围演化提供了依据，高效的空间资料结合长期的地面资料，将是正派推动太阳磁场研究的重要手段和必然趋势。     

Turbulence in Accretion Disks

An accretion disk is an inevitable part of the star forming process. Recent years have witnessed dramatic progress in our understanding of how turbulence arises and transports angular momentum in astrophysical accretion disks. The key conceptual point is that the combination of a subthermal magnetic field and outwardly decreasing differential rotation is subject to the magnetorotational instability. This rapidly generates magnetohydrodynamical (MHD) turbulence, leading to greatly enhanced angular momentum transport. Purely hydrodynamic disks, on the other hand, are stable. Disks that are too cool to couple effectively to the magnetic field will not be turbulent. Fully global three dimensional MHD simulations are now beginning to probe the properties of accretion disks from first principles.     

Fossil magnetic field of accretion disks of young stars

We elaborate the model of accretion disks of young stars with the fossil large-scale magnetic field in the frame of Shakura and Sunyaev approximation. Equations of the MHD model include Shakura and Sunyaev equations, induction equation and equations of ionization balance. Magnetic field is determined taking into account ohmic diffusion, magnetic ambipolar diffusion and buoyancy. Ionization fraction is calculated considering ionization by cosmic rays and X-rays, thermal ionization, radiative recombinations and recombinations on the dust grains. Analytical solution and numerical investigations show that the magnetic field is coupled to the gas in the case of radiative recombinations. Magnetic field is quasi-azimuthal close to accretion disk inner boundary and quasi-radial in the outer regions. Magnetic field is quasi-poloidal in the dusty “dead” zones with low ionization degree, where ohmic diffusion is efficient. Magnetic ambipolar diffusion reduces vertical magnetic field in 10 times comparing to the frozen-in field in this region. Magnetic field is quasi-azimuthal close to the outer boundary of accretion disks for standard ionization rates and dust grain size a _d=0.1 μm. In the case of large dust grains (a _d>0.1 μm) or enhanced ionization rates, the magnetic field is quasi-radial in the outer regions. It is shown that the inner boundary of dusty “dead” zone is placed at r=(0.1–0.6) AU for accretion disks of stars with M=(0.5–2)?M _⊙. Outer boundary of “dead” zone is placed at r=(3–21) AU and it is determined by magnetic ambipolar diffusion. Mass of solid material in the “dead” zone is more than 3?M _⊕ for stars with M≥1?M _⊙.     

POLARIX: a pathfinder mission of X-ray polarimetry

Since the birth of X-ray astronomy, spectral, spatial and timing observation improved dramatically, procuring a wealth of information on the majority of the classes of the celestial sources. Polarimetry, instead, remained basically unprobed. X-ray polarimetry promises to provide additional information procuring two new observable quantities, the degree and the angle of polarization. Polarization from celestial X-ray sources may derive from emission mechanisms themselves such as cyclotron, synchrotron and non-thermal bremsstrahlung, from scattering in aspheric accreting plasmas, such as disks, blobs and columns and from the presence of extreme magnetic field by means of vacuum polarization and birefringence. Matter in strong gravity fields and Quantum Gravity effects can be studied by X-ray polarimetry, too. POLARIX is a mission dedicated to X-ray polarimetry. It exploits the polarimetric response of a Gas Pixel Detector, combined with position sensitivity, that, at the focus of a telescope, results in a huge increase of sensitivity. The heart of the detector is an Application-Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) chip with 105,600 pixels each one containing a full complete electronic chain to image the track produced by the photoelectron. Three Gas Pixel Detectors are coupled with three X-ray optics which are the heritage of JET-X mission. A filter wheel hosting calibration sources unpolarized and polarized is dedicated to each detector for periodic on-ground and in-flight calibration. POLARIX will measure time resolved X-ray polarization with an angular resolution of about 20 arcsec in a field of view of 15 × 15 arcmin and with an energy resolution of 20% at 6 keV. The Minimum Detectable Polarization is 12% for a source having a flux of 1 mCrab and 10⁵ s of observing time. The satellite will be placed in an equatorial orbit of 505 km of altitude by a Vega launcher. The telemetry down-link station will be Malindi. The pointing of POLARIX satellite will be gyroless and it will perform a double pointing during the earth occultation of one source, so maximizing the scientific return. POLARIX data are for 75% open to the community while 25% + SVP (Science Verification Phase, 1 month of operation) is dedicated to a core program activity open to the contribution of associated scientists. The planned duration of the mission is one year plus three months of commissioning and SVP, suitable to perform most of the basic science within the reach of this instrument. A nice to have idea is to use the same existing mandrels to build two additional telescopes of iridium with carbon coating plus two more detectors. The effective area in this case would be almost doubled.