FX型相关处理机长期累加器子系统的研究

介绍了中国VLBI网FX型相关处理机的结构和功能，并着重阐述了相关处理机的长期累加器子系统(LTA)，它是相关处理机的条纹数据压缩部件。通过对长期累加器子系统的研究，提出了对该子系统的改进方案，以提高硬件线路的集成度和系统的可靠性，适应了对相关处理机更快速度、更高精度及多台站测量的要求，并说明了实现方法及其改进后的特点。     

嵌入式千兆以太网传输系统在VLBI硬件相关处理机中的应用

甚长基线干涉测量（VLBI）是重要的射电天文技术，具有极高的空间分辨率，是国际上广泛采用的深空探测器高精度测量手段。硬件相关处理机则是VLBI数据预处理的核心设备。随着以FPGA（Field Programmable Gate Array）为实现平台的嵌入式系统的不断发展，用FPGA和嵌入式系统作为实现方式成为硬件相关处理机研究的一个方向。研究了如何利用嵌入式千兆以太网传输系统对硬件相关处理机的长期累加子系统（LTA）进行改进。     

上海天文台硬件相关处理机Mark5数据回放功能实现

m2hc程序是上海天文台硬件相关处理机的一个子系统，实现从Mark5系统自动回放甚长基线干涉测量（VLBI）原始观测数据给相关处理机的功能。目前已工作在绕月探测工程VLBI测轨任务中。该文详细介绍了m2hc的设计和实现以及应用结果。     

中国VLBI网相关处理机研制进展

经过数年的艰苦努力，中国VLBI网相关处理机继2000年元月取得天文观测数据的互相关条纹后，VLBI技术实验室的研究人员又为提高相关处理机工作稳定性和处理结果质量进行了大量的软硬件调试工作，获得了较为稳定的相关处理机工作状态，于2000年8月获得射电源DA193在佘山－南册基线上的清晰互相关条纹，经验证，互相关条纹的相位变化值与台站时延补偿修改值相符，中国VLBI网相关处理机是一架两台相关处理机，它由两台数据注总计达秒648兆位的高速大容量磁带回放系统和接口电路，高速FFT和交叉相乘模块以及长期累加和控制部件组成，每台站最大信号带宽为128MHz，其高速FFT和交叉相乘模块每秒种可同时连续进行138亿次以上的浮点乘法和309亿次以上的浮点加法运算。     

相关处理机多制式兼容性测试的初步结果

我国VLI网包括上海佘山，乌鲁木齐和昆明3个观测站，以及上海天台研制的两台站相关处理机，上海佘山和乌鲁木齐站已升级成MK4制式和只使用薄磁带，而昆明站只能使用S2制式，因此，实现相关处理机对不同制式数据和薄磁带的兼容。是我国VLBI网顺利运行的关键，给出了多制式VLBI观测实验和相关处理的初步结果。总结了相关处理机升级后的处理能力。并对相关处理机的下一步发展作简单讨论。     

VLBI软件件相关处理机现状和发展趋势

相关处理机是VLBI数据处理系统的核心设备。基于计算机集群和高性能并行计算技术研发的软件相关处理机,正逐渐成为VLBI海量观测数据处理的主流,并以其灵活性、扩展性、易用性等特点,在天文、测地和深空探测领域中获得广泛应用。梳理了国内外主流VLBI软件相关处理机系统发展历史和技术架构,并做归纳比较,最后分析未来的应用需求及发展趋势。     

带有时延的VLBI数字基带信号仿真

研究了利用时域相关法和频域相位加权法,仿真生成具有小数比特时延的实信号,通过数值试验验证了两种方法的一致性和正确性,并且对量化和积分的影响做了分析。最后对射电源信号和双目标探测器信号进行仿真,并通过软件处理机处理得到结果。未来可为VLBI相关处理机的处理精度估计、各类噪声分析及未来多目标试验创造必要条件。     

相关处理机多制式兼容性测试的初步结果

我国VLBI网包括上海佘山、乌鲁木齐和昆明 3个观测站 ,以及上海天文台研制的两台站相关处理机。上海佘山和乌鲁木齐站已升级成MK4制式和只使用薄磁带 ,而昆明站只能使用S2制式。因此 ,实现相关处理机对不同制式数据和薄磁带的兼容 ,是我国VLBI网顺利运行的关键。给出了多制式VLBI观测实验和相关处理的初步结果 ,总结了相关处理机升级后的处理能力 ,并对相关处理机的下一步发展作简单讨论     

脉冲星信号VLBI软件相关处理方法研究

脉冲星自发现以来一直是天文学家们关注的对象,甚长基线干涉测量(very long baseline interferometer,VLBI)更是以极高的角分辨率和灵敏度成为脉冲星研究的重要手段。为了使上海天文台现有的中国VLBI网(Chinese VLBI network,CVN)软件处理机能够处理脉冲星信号,讨论了用频率通道间时延补偿的方法实现非相干消色散,并通过加入矩形脉冲门同步信号,提取有效脉冲,提高了信噪比。然后改进现有CVN处理机结构,实现脉冲星信号的相关处理。最后,对脉冲位置搜索和脉冲星数据分箱(pulsar binning)技术做了初步分析与探索。VLBI数据处理结果表明此方法正确可行,能够消除色散,并获得脉冲星信号的相关处理条纹。     

S—2VLBI相关处理系统

本概述了上海天台S－2VLBI相关处理机的结构组成、工作原理、所采用的数学模型。并给出了它的应用实例。本还讨论了MK2型相关处理机在目前VLBI研究中的地位及其优缺点。     

A thermodynamic model of high temperature lava vaporization on Io

We modified the MAGMA chemical equilibrium code developed by Fegley and Cameron (1987, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 82, 207-222) and used it to model vaporization of high temperature silicate lavas on Io. The MAGMA code computes chemical equilibria in a melt, between melt and its equilibrium vapor, and in the gas phase. The good agreement of MAGMA code results with experimental data and with other computer codes is demonstrated. The temperature-dependent pressure and composition of vapor in equilibrium with lava is calculated from 1700 to 2400 K for 109 different silicate lavas in the ONaKFeSiMgCaAlTi system. Results for five lavas (tholeiitic basalt, alkali basalt, Barberton komatiite, dunite, and a molten type B1 Ca, Al-rich inclusion) are discussed in detail. The effects of continuous fractional vaporization on chemistry of these lavas and their equilibrium vapor are presented. The predicted abundances (relative to Na) of K, Fe, Si, Al, Ca, and Ti in the vapor equilibrated with lavas at 1900 K are lower than published upper limits for Io's atmosphere (which do not include Mg). We predict evaporative loss of alkalis, Fe, and Si during volcanic eruptions. Sodium is more volatile than K, and the Na/K ratio in the gas is decreased by fractional vaporization. This process can match Io's atmospheric Na/K ratio of 10±3 reported by Brown (2001, Icarus 151, 190-195). Silicon monoxide is an abundant species in the vapor above lavas. Spectroscopic searches are recommended for SiO at IR and mm wavelengths. Reactions of metallic vapors with S- and Cl-bearing volcanic gases may form other unusual gases including MgCl₂, MgS, MgCl, FeCl₂, FeS, FeCl, and SiS.     

Instructions for authors

正Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics publishes original research papers and reviews on all branches of astronomy and astrophysics.Reviews are by invitation only.Important new results that require rapid publication can be submitted as a Letter(Letters must be restricted in length to 6 printed pages).Authors who submit a paper are expected to be able to certify that the paper is original work,     

Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics CONTENTS

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Alkali and halogen chemistry in volcanic gases on Io

We use chemical equilibrium calculations to model the speciation of alkalis and halogens in volcanic gases emitted on Io. The calculations cover wide temperature (500-2000 K) and pressure (10⁻⁶ to 10⁺¹ bars) ranges, which overlap the nominal conditions at Pele (T=1760 K, P=0.01 bars). About 230 compounds of 11 elements (O, S, Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, F, Cl, Br, I) are considered. The elemental abundances for O, S, Na, K, and Cl are based upon observations. CI chondritic elemental abundances relative to sulfur are used for the other alkalis and halogens (as yet unobserved on Io). We predict the major alkali species in Pele-like volcanic gases and the percentage distribution of each alkali are LiCl (73%), LiF (27%); NaCl (81%), Na (16%), NaF (3%); KCl (91%), K (5%), KF (4%); RbCl (93%), Rb (4%), RbF (3%); CsCl (92%), CsF (6%), Cs (2%). Likewise the major halogen species and the percentage distribution of each halogen are NaF (88%), KF (10%), LiF (2%); NaCl (89%), KCl (11%); NaBr (89%), KBr (10%), Br (1%); NaI (61%), I (30%), KI (9%). We predict the major halogen condensates and their condensation temperatures at P=0.01 bar are NaF (1115 K), LiF (970 K); NaCl (1050 K), KCl (950 K); KBr (750 K), RbBr (730 K), CsBr (645 K); and solid I₂ (200 K). We also model disequilibrium chemistry of the alkalis and halogens in the volcanic plume. Based on this work and our prior modeling for Na, K, and Cl in a volcanic plume, we predict the major loss processes for the alkali halide gases are photolysis and/or condensation onto grains. Their estimated photochemical lifetimes range from a few minutes for alkali iodides to a few hours for alkali fluorides. Condensation is apparently the only loss process for elemental iodine. On the basis of elemental abundances and photochemical lifetimes, we recommend searching for gaseous KCl, NaF, LiF, LiCl, RbF, RbCl, CsF, and CsCl around volcanic vents during eruptions. Based on abundance considerations and observations of brown dwarfs we also recommend a search of Io's extended atmosphere and the Io plasma torus for neutral and ionized Li, Cs, Rb, and F.     

Study on the Stressed Mirror Polishing with a Continuous Polishing Machine for Large Aperture Off-axis Aspheric Mirrors

A special stressed annular polishing technique is proposed to mill the off-axis aspheric sub-mirrors of a large segmented mirror with an annular polishing machine. Based on the basic principle of stressed annular polishing technique, a set of special stressing mechanisms are designed to convert milling the aspheric surfaces of sub-mirrors with different off-axis distances into milling the spherical surfaces with identical radii of curvature, so that they can be pol- ished simultaneously on a continuous polishing machine. It took about contin- uous 40 hours to polish a scaled-down mirror of the planning Chinese Future Giant Telescope (CFGT) using this technique. This mirror has the 330 mm di- ameter, 3.6 m off-axis distance, and the 21.6 m radius of curvature, and its max- imum asphericity is 16 micron. The experiment shows that this method has a high effciency, suits batch manufacturing, especially the batch manufacturing of aspheric sub-mirrors of the segmented primary mirror of an extremely large aperture telescope.     

The climatic and physiographic controls of the eastern Mediterranean over the late Pleistocene climates in the southern Levant and its neighboring deserts

Modern-day synoptic-scale eastern Mediterranean climatology provides a useful context to synthesize the diverse late Pleistocene (60–12 ka) paleohydrologic and paleoenvironmental indicators of past climatic conditions in the Levant and the deserts to its south and east. We first critically evaluate, extract, and summarize paleoenvironmental and paleohydrologic records. Then, we propose a framework of eastern Mediterranean atmospheric circulation features interacting with the morphology and location of the southeast Mediterranean coast. Together they strongly control the spatial distribution of rainfall and wind pattern. This cyclone–physiography interaction enforces the observed rainfall patterns by hampering rainfall generation south and southeast of the latitude of the north Sinai coast, currently at 31°15′.The proposed framework explains the much-increased rains in Lebanon and northern Israel and Jordan as deduced from pollen, rise and maintenance of Lake Lisan, and speleothem formation in areas currently arid and semiarid. The proposed framework also accounts for the southward and eastward transition into semiarid, arid, and hyperarid deserts as expressed in thick loess accumulation at the deserts' margins, dune migration from west to east in the Sinai and the western Negev, and the formation of hyperarid (< 80 mm yr^− 1) gypsic–salic soils in the southern Negev and Sinai. Our climatic synthesis explains the hyperarid condition in the southern Negev, located only 200–250 km south of the much-increased rains in the north, probably reflecting a steeper rainfall gradient than the present-day gradient from the wetter Levant into its bordering southern and eastern deserts.At present, the rainiest winter seasons in Lebanon and northern and central Israel are associated with more frequent (+ 20%), deeper Cyprus Lows traversing the eastern Mediterranean at approximately the latitude of southern Turkey. Even these wettest years in northern Israel do not yield above average annual rainfall amounts in the hyperarid southern Negev. This region is mainly influenced by the Active Red Sea Troughs that produce only localized rains. The eastern Mediterranean Cyprus Lows also produce more dust storms and transport higher amounts of suspended dust to the loess area than any other atmospheric pattern. Concurrent rainfall and dust are essential to the late Pleistocene formation of the elongated thick loess zone along the desert northern margin. Even with existing dust storms, the lack of rain and very sparse vegetation account for the absence of late Pleistocene loess sequences from the southern Negev and the formation of hyperarid soils.When the north Sinai coast shifted 30–70 km northwest due to last glacial global sea level lowering, the newly exposed coastal areas supplied the sand and dust to these active eastern Mediterranean cyclones. This enforced the latitude of the northern boundary of the loess zone to be directly due east of the LGM shoreline. This shift of coast to the northwest inhibited rainfall in the southern Levant deserts and maintained their hyperaridity. Concurrently, frequent deep eastern Mediterranean Cyprus Lows were funneled along the northern Mediterranean increasing (probably doubling) the rains in central and northern Israel, Lebanon, southwestern Syria and northern Jordan. These storms and rains formed lakes, forests, and speleothems only a short distance north of the deserts in the southern Levant.     

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.     

Fitting X-ray Afterglow Light curves of Gamma-ray Bursts by Using the Magnetar Energy Injection Model

The central compact object for some gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) may be a strongly magnetized millisecond pulsar. It can inject energy to the outer shock of the GRB by through the magnetic dipole radiation, and therefore causes the shallow decay of the early afterglow. Recently, from a large number of GRB X-ray afterglows observed by Swift/XRT(X-ray telescope), it is revealed that many of them exhibit the shallow decay about 10²∼10⁴ s after the burst prompt emission. We have fitted the X-ray afterglow light curves of 11 GRBs by using the energy injection model of a magnetar with the rotation period in the millisecond order of magnitude. The obtained result shows the validity and universality of the magnetar energy injection model in explaining the shallow decay of afterglows, and simultaneously provides some constraints on the magnetic field strength and rotation period of the central magnetar.