Internal Structure Models and Dynamical Parameters of the Galilean Satellites

Radio Doppler data generated by the Deep Space Network (DSN) from the recent encounters of the Galileo spacecraft with the Galilean satellites have been used to determine the mass (GM) and unnormalized quadruple gravity coefficients in the external gravitational fields of the Galilean satellites. Therefore, a series of internal structure models, which satisfy the given constraints for the mean density and the mean moment of inertia, can be presented by solving Emden equations. And some dynamical parameters can also be calculated based on the density distributions given by internal structure models.     

Models of the Internal Structure of Callisto

Models of the internal structure of Callisto were constructed and the extent of its differentiation was determined based on geophysical information from the Galileo spacecraft (the mass, the radius, the mean density, and the moment of inertia), geochemical data (the chemical composition of meteorites), and the equations of state of water, ices, and meteoritic material. The thickness and the phase state of the water-ice shell were defined as well as the ice concentrations in the rock-ice mantle and the bulk concentration of H₂O. The constraints on the density distribution in the mantle and the size of the rock-iron core were derived. We considered models of the internal structure of Callisto in which the presence of a continuous ice shell was assumed (models without ocean) and models with an internal ocean. We demonstrated that it is possible to apply three-layer models with an icy shell up to 320 km in thickness and a rock-iron core in different combinations with a rock-ice mantle. These models do not reject a two-layer structure of Callisto (an ice lithosphere plus a rock-ice mantle or a rock-ice mantle plus a rock-iron core) and a one-layer model of the satellite composed only of a rock-ice mantle with an ice concentration that is variable in depth. Taking into account the chemically bound water, the bulk content of H₂O in the satellite is found to be 49–55 wt %. For the model with an internal ocean, the geophysically allowed thickness of the water-ice shell of Callisto was estimated to be 270–315 km with thicknesses of the icy crust and the underlying water layer of 135–150 and 120–180 km, respectively. The results of reconstruction of the composition and structure of the regular satellites of Jupiter allow us to conclude that they were possibly formed from material whose composition was close to ordinary L/LL chondrites at relatively low temperatures, lower than the temperature of evaporation of iron and Fe-Mg silicates.__________Translated from Astronomicheskii Vestnik, Vol. 39, No. 4, 2005, pp. 321–341.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Kuskov, Kronrod.     

OPAL不透明度对恒星结构和演化模型的影响

本文利用国际上最新公布的OPAL不透明度表及相应的化学丰度，计算了三颗不同初始质量的星族互恒星的非守恒演化模型，并和过去长期采用的LAOL不透明度的结果进行详细比较，得出以下主要结论：（1）恒星HR图中的演化轨迹光度降低，主序位置明显向红方向移动；（2）恒星中心H，He燃烧寿命大大延长了；（3）小质量星氢燃烧核和对流核都变小，大、中质量星的中心对流核和燃烧核都有所增大；（4）恒星中心温度－密度关系基本不受影响．     

Internal structure of Europa and Callisto

Models of the internal structure of completely differentiated Europa and partially differentiated Callisto have been constructed on the basis of Galileo gravity measurements, geochemical constraints on composition of ordinary and carbonaceous chondrites, and thermodynamic data on the equations of state of water, high-pressure ices, and meteoritic material. We assume thermal and mechanical equilibrium for the interiors of the satellites. A geophysically and geochemically permissible thickness of Europa's outer water-ice shell lies between 105 and 160 km (6.2-9.2% of total mass). Our results show that the bulk composition of the rock-iron core of Europa may be described by material approaching the L/LL-type chondrites in composition, but cannot be correlated either with the material of CI chondrites or H chondrites. For Europa's L/LL-chondritic models, core radii are estimated to be 470-640 km (5.3-12.5% of total mass). The allowed thickness of Europa's H₂O layer ranges from 115±10 km for a differentiated L/LL-type chondritic mantle with a crust to 135±10 km for an undifferentiated mantle. We show that Callisto must only be partially differentiated into an outer ice-I layer, a water ocean, a rock-ice mantle, and a rock-iron core (mixture of anhydrous silicates and/or hydrous silicates + FeFeS alloy). We accept that the composition of the rock-iron material of Callisto is similar to the bulk composition of L/LL-type chondritic material containing up to 10-15% of iron and iron sulfide. Assuming conductive heat transfer through the ice-I crust [Ruiz, 2001. The stability against freezing of an internal liquid-water ocean on Gallisto. Nature, 412, 409-411], heat flows were estimated and the possibility of the existence of a water ocean in Callisto was evaluated. The liquid phase is stable (not freezing) beneath the ice crust, if the heat flow is between 3.3 and 3.7 mW m⁻², which corresponds to the heat flow from radiogenic sources. The thickness of the ice-I crust is 135-150 km, and that of the underlying water layer, 120-180 km. The results of modeling support the hypothesis that Callisto may have an internal liquid-water ocean. The allowed total (maximum) thickness of the outer water-ice shell is up to 270-315 km. Rock-iron core radii, depending on the presence or absence of hydrous silicates, do not exceed 500-700 km, the thickness of an intermediate ice-rock mantle is not less than 1400 km, and its density is in the range of 1960-2500 kg m⁻³. The surface temperature of Callisto is expected to be 100-112 K. The total amount of H₂O in Callisto is found to be 49-55 wt%. The correspondence between the density and moment of inertia values for bulk ice-free Io, rock-iron core of ice-poor Europa, and rock-iron cores of Ganymede and Callisto shows that their bulk compositions may be, in general, similar and may be described by the composition close to a material of the L/LL-type chondrites with the (Fe_tot/Si) weight ratios ranging from 0.9 to 1.3. Planetesimals composed of these types of ordinary chondrites could be considered as analogues of building material for the rock-iron cores of the Galilean satellites. Similarity of bulk composition of the rock-iron cores of the inner and outer satellites implies the absence of iron-silicon fractionation in the protojovian nebula.     

Models of the Internal Structure of the Earth-like Venus

Solar System Research - A working model of the Venusian interior (radial distribution of the density, pressure, gravitational acceleration, and velocities of compressional and shear seismic waves)...     

Galileo PPR observations of Europa: Hotspot detection limits and surface thermal properties

The Galileo photopolarimeter–radiometer (PPR) made over 100 observations of Europa’s surface temperature. We have used these data to constrain a diurnal thermal model and, thus, map the thermal inertia and bolometric albedo over 20% of the surface. We find an increased thermal inertia at mid-latitudes that is widespread in longitude and does not appear to correlate with geology, albedo, or other observables. Our derived thermophysical properties can be used to predict volatile stability across the surface over the course of a day and in planning of infrared instruments on future missions. Furthermore, while observations in the thermal infrared can and have been used to find endogenic activity, no such activity was detected at Europa. We have calculated the detection limits of these PPR observations and find that 100 km² hotspots with temperatures of 116–1200 K could exist undetected on the surface, depending on the location.     

Thermal and topographic tests of Europa chaos formation models from Galileo E15 observations

Stereo topography of an area near Tyre impact crater, Europa, reveals chaos regions characterised by marginal cliffs and domical topography, rising to 100-200 m above the background plains. The regions contain blocks which have both rotated and tilted. We tested two models of chaos formation: a hybrid diapir model, in which chaos topography is caused by thermal or compositional buoyancy, and block motion occurs due to the presence of near-surface (1-3 km) melt; and a melt-through model, in which chaos regions are caused by melting and refreezing of the ice shell. None of the hybrid diapir models tested generate any melt within 1-3 km of the surface, owing to the low surface temperature. A model of ocean refreezing following melt-through gives effective elastic thicknesses and ice shell thicknesses of 0.1-0.3 and 0.5-2 km, respectively. However, for such low shell thicknesses the refreezing model requires implausibly large lateral density contrasts (50-100 kg m⁻³) to explain the elevation of the centres of the chaos regions. Although a global equilibrium ice shell thickness of ≈2 km is possible if Europa's mantle resembles that of Io, it is unclear whether local melt-through events are energetically possible. Thus, neither of the models tested here gives a completely satisfactory explanation for the formation of chaos regions. We suggest that surface extrusion of warm ice may be an important component of chaos terrain formation, and demonstrate that such extrusion is possible for likely ice parameters.     

Modeling the Subsurface Structure of Sunspots

While sunspots are easily observed at the solar surface, determining their subsurface structure is not trivial. There are two main hypotheses for the subsurface structure of sunspots: the monolithic model and the cluster model. Local helioseismology is the only means by which we can investigate subphotospheric structure. However, as current linear inversion techniques do not yet allow helioseismology to probe the internal structure with sufficient confidence to distinguish between the monolith and cluster models, the development of physically realistic sunspot models are a priority for helioseismologists. This is because they are not only important indicators of the variety of physical effects that may influence helioseismic inferences in active regions, but they also enable detailed assessments of the validity of helioseismic interpretations through numerical forward modeling. In this article, we provide a critical review of the existing sunspot models and an overview of numerical methods employed to model wave propagation through model sunspots. We then carry out a helioseismic analysis of the sunspot in Active Region 9787 and address the serious inconsistencies uncovered by Gizon et al. (2009a, 2009b). We find that this sunspot is most probably associated with a shallow, positive wave-speed perturbation (unlike the traditional two-layer model) and that travel-time measurements are consistent with a horizontal outflow in the surrounding moat.     

The Figure and Dynamical Parameters of Io Inferred from Internal Structure Models

The recent Galileo spacecraft explored Jupiter and its satellite system and provided us with new geodetic data. In order to discuss the dynamical parameters and secular tidal effect of Io, the theory of synchronous satellite is described in detail. Using the new geodetic data of Io, two sets of Io‘s internal structure models are constructed based on the asthenosphere assumption. The liberation parameters α，β，γ and dynamical flattening H are calculated for the models of Io. A comparison of Io with the Moon indicates the they are quite different in many characteristics in spite of the fact that they are approximately equal in mass and size and that they both orbit synchronously.     

转动恒星结构与演化研究

恒星的自转 ,是恒星结构和演化理论的难点。近年来有许多观测事实 ,特别是早型大质量星的观测事实 ,预示恒星的自转效应可能引起恒星内部的物质向外转移 ,造成恒星表面一些元素丰度超丰 ,并且对恒星结构和演化产生重要影响 ,因此 ,恒星的自转问题受到了越来越多的关注。考虑自转效应后 ,恒星结构和演化模型将是二维模型 ,本文综述了诸多作者如何将二维的恒星结构和演化模型简化为一维模型。作者在研究了以上作者的简化方法后 ,提出了一种比较简单的新方法。这种方法基于如下假设 :假设在等势面上的温度 ,密度 ,压强 ,光度 ,化学组成和角速度等物理和化学量近似于均匀分布 ,并且这些量与等价球面上的量相同。 (等价球面是假想的球面 ,它包围的体积与等势面包围的体积相等。)我们在等价球面上推出新的转动恒星结构和演化方程 ,构造出新的演化模型。这个模型与不考虑转动效应的演化模型相比 ,有以下变化 :流体静力学平衡方程变化 ;辐射温度梯度变化 ,并引起对流判据变化 ;星风物质损失和角动量损失增大。作为转动恒星结构和演化模型的应用 ,我们研究了中 ,小质量星中心氦燃烧阶段在赫罗图中的演化轨迹发生来回摆动 (又称为蓝回绕 )的物理机制问题。有诸多作者曾经研究了可以影响蓝回绕的各种因素。但是不知