Recent Advances in Bolide Entry Modeling: A Bolide Potpourri

In this paper, we will review recent research on numerous aspects of bolide entry into a planetary atmosphere, including such topics as the entry dynamics, energetics, ablation, deceleration, fragmentation, luminosity, mechanical wave generation processes, a total (panchromatic) power budget including differential and integral efficiencies versus time, etc. Fragmentation, triggered by stagnation pressures exceeding the bolide breaking strength, has been subsequently included in either a collective or non-collective wake behavior limit. We have also utilized the differential panchromatic luminous efficiency of ReVelle and Ceplecha (2002) to compute bolide luminosity. In addition we also introduce the concept of the differential and integral acoustic/infrasonic efficiency and generalized it to the case of mechanical wave efficiency including internal atmospheric gravity waves generated during entry. Unlike the other efficiencies which are assumed to be a constant multiple of the luminous efficiency, the acoustic efficiency is calculated independently using a “first principles” approach. All of these topics have been pursued using either a homogeneous or a porous meteoroid model with great success. As a direct result, porosity seems to be a rather good possibility for explaining anomalous meteoroid behavior in the atmosphere. Invited Paper Presented at Meteoroids 2004; Presented at University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada, August 16–20, 2004     

General relativistic magnetohydrodynamic and Monte Carlo Modeling of sagittarius A*

Using the tunneling method we derive the Hawking temperature of the nonextremal rotating charged black hole in the Gödel universe of five-dimensional minimal supergravity theory found by Wu. We successfully recovered the tunneling probability of charged Dirac particles and the expected Hawking temperature of the black hole, which is exactly consistent with that obtained by other methods.     

Recent Advances in Laboratory Astrophysics on Megajoule-class Laser Facilities

In recent years, with the development of megajoule-class laser, to create the physical conditions similar to those of extreme celestial environments in the laboratory has become possible. This makes scientists able to study some important astrophysical processes and physical phenomena in the laboratory. This paper briefly introduces several advances in the high energy density laboratory astrophysics driven by the National Ignition Facility (NIF), including the Rayleigh-Taylor instability in supernova remnants, the collisionless shock wave, the laser inertially-confined fusion detection of the thermonuclear reaction under the stellar core condition, the study of planetary interior state, the study of star formation, etc., which will provide a reference for the scientific experiments in the field of laboratory astrophysics performed by using the Shenguang IV laser facility under construction in China. Finally, the possible scientific issues relevant to the direction of laboratory astrophysics by using the Shenguang IV laser facility in the future are briefly discussed.     

Advances in Numerical Modeling of Astrophysical and Space Plasmas

Advances in the simulation of astrophysical and cosmic plasmas are the direct result of advances in computational capabilities, today consisting of new techniques such as multilevel concurrent simulation, multi-teraflop computational platforms and experimental facilities for producing and diagnosing plasmas under extreme conditions for the benchmarking of simulations. Examples of these are the treatment of mesoscalic plasma and the scaling to astrophysical and cosmic dimensions and the Accelerated Strategic Computing Initiative whose goal is to construct petaflop (10¹⁵ floating operations per second) computers, and pulsed power and laser inertial confinement plasmas where megajoules of energy are delivered to highly-diagnosed plasmas. This paper concentrates on the achievements to date in simulating and experimentally producing plasmas scaled to both astrophysical and cosmic plasma dimensions. A previous paper (Part I, Peratt, 1997) outlines the algorithms and computational growth.     

MSFC Stream Model Preliminary Results: Modeling Recent Leonid and Perseid Encounters

The cometary meteoroid ejection model of Jones and Brown [Physics, Chemistry, and Dynamics of Interplanetary Dust, ASP Conference Series 104 (1996b) 137] was used to simulate ejection from comets 55P/Tempel-Tuttle during the last 12 revolutions, and the last 9 apparitions of 109P/Swift-Tuttle. Using cometary ephemerides generated by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s (JPL) HORIZONS Solar System Data and Ephemeris Computation Service, two independent ejection schemes were simulated. In the first case, ejection was simulated in 1 h time steps along the comet’s orbit while it was within 2.5 AU of the Sun. In the second case, ejection was simulated to occur at the hour the comet reached perihelion. A 4th order variable step-size Runge–Kutta integrator was then used to integrate meteoroid position and velocity forward in time, accounting for the effects of radiation pressure, Poynting–Robertson drag, and the gravitational forces of the planets, which were computed using JPL’s DE406 planetary ephemerides. An impact parameter (IP) was computed for each particle approaching the Earth to create a flux profile, and the results compared to observations of the 1998 and 1999 Leonid showers, and the 1993 and 2004 Perseids.     

Empirical Modeling of TSI: A Critical View

Solar empirical models based on regression of two variability indices for radiation from the photosphere and chromosphere fit total solar irradiance (TSI) observations with accuracy comparable to the precision reported for the observations themselves. However, the physical meaning of the fitting coefficients and their stability during different phases of the solar cycle has not been examined in detail. We test the stability of the coefficients in regression models of the VIRGO TSI observations over the nine years from the minimum of Cycle 23 in 1996 through the maximum to 2005. We also show how the coefficients converge to the ‘`best fit’' using a search in the coefficient space. Analysis of TSI variability in different phases of this cycle shows little change in regression models as long as the time periods used in the regression are long enough to show the slow solar cycle variation in TSI. We extend our analysis to TSI observations from ERB, ACRIM2, ACRIM3, DIARAD, and TIM. The regression models from these time series show large systematic differences in fitting coefficients for the plage and sunspot indices that we used. These differences are significantly larger than the estimated uncertainties in the coefficients and point to the difficulty of combining observations from different instruments to create an accurate composite TSI record over several solar cycles. Our results clearly demonstrate the improvement in precision of TSI measurements from the Nimbus 7 ERB in Cycle 22 to the latest SORCE TIM data in Cycle 23.     

G359.95-0.04: an energetic pulsar candidate near Sgr A*

We report the discovery of a prominent non-thermal X-ray feature located near the Galactic centre that we identify as an energetic pulsar wind nebula. This feature, G359.95-0.04, lies 1-lyr north of Sgr A* (in projection), is comet like in shape, and has a power-law spectrum that steepens with increasing distance from the putative pulsar. The distinct spectral and spatial X-ray characteristics of the feature are similar to those belonging to the rare class of ram-pressure confined pulsar wind nebulae. The luminosity of the nebula at the distance of Sgr A*, consistent with the inferred X-ray absorptions, is   L_x ∼ 1 × 10³⁴ erg s⁻¹  in the 2–10 keV energy band. The cometary tail extends back to a region centred at the massive stellar complex IRS 13 and surrounded by an enhanced diffuse X-ray emission, which may represent an associated supernova remnant. Furthermore, the inverse Compton scattering of the strong ambient radiation by the nebula consistently explains the observed TeV emission from the Galactic centre. We also briefly discuss plausible connections of G359.95-0.04 to other high-energy sources in the region, such as the young stellar complexes IRS 13 and SNR Sgr A East.     

Terrestrial impact: The record in the rocks*

Abstract— Approximately 130 terrestrial craters are currently known. They range up to 140 km, and perhaps as much as 200 km, in diameter and from Recent to ～2 billion years in age. The known sample, however, is highly biased to geologically young craters on the better known cratonic areas. The sample is also deficient in small (D < 20 km) craters compared to other planetary bodies. These biases are largely the result of active terrestrial geologic processes and their effects have to be considered when interpreting the record. The strength of the terrestrial cratering record lies in the availability of ground truth data, particularly on the structural and lithological nature of craters, which can be interpreted to understand and constrain large-scale impact processes. Some contributions include the definition of the concept of transient cavity formation and structural uplift during cratering events. Depths of excavation are poorly constrained, as very few terrestrial craters have preserved ejecta. Unlike their planetary counterparts, terrestrial impact craters are mostly recognized not by morphology but by the occurrence of characteristic shock metamorphic effects. Their study has led to models of shock wave attenuation and an understanding of the character and formation of various impact-lithologies, including impact melt rocks. They, in turn, aid in interpreting the nature of extraterrestrial samples, particularly samples from the lunar highlands. The recognition of diagnostic shock metamorphic effects and the signature of projectile contamination through geochemical anomalies in impact lithologies provide the basis for recognizing the impact signature in K/T boundary samples. The record also provides a basis for testing hypotheses of periodic cometary showers. Although inherently not suitable to define short wavelength periods in time due to relatively large uncertainties associated with crater ages, the current record shows no evidence of periodicity. Future directions in terrestrial impact studies will likely continue to focus on the K/T and related problems, including the recognition of other impact signatures in the stratigraphic record. Some emphasis will likely be given to the economic potential of craters and individual large structures, such as Sudbury, will provide an increasingly better understood context for interpreting planetary impact craters. To live up to the full potential of the record to constrain impact processes, however, more basic characterization studies are required, in addition to emphasis on topical areas of study.     

Supergiant variables: Recent observational results

Recent observations of several types of supergiant variable stars are reviewed: massive blue, yellow and red supergiants; classical and population II Cepheids; RV Tauri stars; yellow semi-regular (SRd) variables, including UU Herculis stars; and R Coronae Borealis stars. The emphasis is on non-linear aspects such as: amplitude and shape of the light and velocity curves; multiperiodicity, irregularity and chaos; long-term changes in period and amplitude; episodic and continuous mass loss.     

Modeling of A Feed Support System for Fast

As an engineering demonstrator for SKA, the Five-hundred-meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) is proposed in China. This paper is focused on one of the most critical components of FAST, the feed support system. The engineering concept, the configuration and results from model experiments are presented. The mechanical characteristics of the structure are analyzed. The performance of the feedback control system of the model is described. The feasibility of the design is tentatively confirmed by the experiments described at the end of the report.     

Disharmony of the spheres: Recent trends in planetary surface nomenclature

Inadvisable departures from tradition in naming newly mapped features on Mars, Mercury, and the Moon have been implemented and proposed since 1970. Functional need for place names also has become confused with cartographic convenience. Much of the resulting new nomenclature is neither unique, efficient, nor imaginative. The longstanding classical orientation in Solar System geography needs to be firmly reasserted. The Mädler scheme for designating smaller craters on the Moon should be retained and extended to the farside. Names of surface features on other bodies might best reflect the traditional connotations of planet and satellite names: for example, most crates on Mars would be named for mythical heroes and military personalities in ancient history, craters on Mercury might commemorate explorers or commercial luminaries, and features on Venus would bear the names of famous women.     

Asteroid families: Recent results and present scenario

After several decades of frustrating results showing a generally poor agreement among different asteroid family classifications, recent studies based on high accuracy proper elements, as well as on objective statistical methods of cluster analysis have largely improved the situation. Now, a number of asteroid families have been recognized on the basis of different methods of cluster analysis, using asteroid proper elements data sets computed by means of different theories. For these reasons, they should be considered of very high reliability. Moreover, spectroscopic observations confirm in some cases these results, indicating surface compositions of the family members in agreement with a geochemically plausible parent body. However, in particular zones of the belt, like the Flora region, further efforts should be performed in order to establish the real consistence of the resulting clusterings of objects. In addition, the size distribution and the taxonomic types of some well established families seem to indicate particular features of the family sample when compared with the field objects. We recall that asteroid families, in the framework of asteroid collisional evolution, are of the highest importance for understanding the mechanisms of injection of fragments into the Earth-crossing zone through mean-motion and secular resonances and, as a consequence, for evaluating the impact rate on Earth of asteroidal objects.     

Pulsar Scintillation: Overview and Some Recent Results

Radio signals from pulsars are significantly affected by scattering in the interstellar medium. A review of this phenomenon of pulsar scintillation forms the main objective of this paper. The basic concepts are described and some new results related to the following aspects are presented: (i) understanding of refractive scintillation effects and (ii) constraining the spectrum of electron density fluctuations in the interstellar medium. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Nonlinear Force-Free Modeling of Coronal Magnetic Fields Part I: A Quantitative Comparison of Methods

We compare six algorithms for the computation of nonlinear force-free (NLFF) magnetic fields (including optimization, magnetofrictional, Grad–Rubin based, and Green's function-based methods) by evaluating their performance in blind tests on analytical force-free-field models for which boundary conditions are specified either for the entire surface area of a cubic volume or for an extended lower boundary only. Figures of merit are used to compare the input vector field to the resulting model fields. Based on these merit functions, we argue that all algorithms yield NLFF fields that agree best with the input field in the lower central region of the volume, where the field and electrical currents are strongest and the effects of boundary conditions weakest. The NLFF vector fields in the outer domains of the volume depend sensitively on the details of the specified boundary conditions; best agreement is found if the field outside of the model volume is incorporated as part of the model boundary, either as potential field boundaries on the side and top surfaces, or as a potential field in a skirt around the main volume of interest. For input field (B) and modeled field (b), the best method included in our study yields an average relative vector error E_n = 〈 |B−b|〉/〈 |B|〉 of only 0.02 when all sides are specified and 0.14 for the case where only the lower boundary is specified, while the total energy in the magnetic field is approximated to within 2%. The models converge towards the central, strong input field at speeds that differ by a factor of one million per iteration step. The fastest-converging, best-performing model for these analytical test cases is the Wheatland, Sturrock, and Roumeliotis (2000) optimization algorithm as implemented by Wiegelmann (2004).