Black holes and core expansion in massive star clusters

In this study we present the results from realistic N -body modelling of massive star clusters in the Magellanic Clouds. We have computed eight simulations with   N ∼ 10⁵  particles; six of these were evolved for at least a Hubble time. The aim of this modelling is to examine in detail the possibility of large-scale core expansion in massive star clusters, and search for a viable dynamical origin for the radius–age trend observed for such objects in the Magellanic Clouds. We identify two physical processes which can lead to significant and prolonged cluster core expansion – mass-loss due to rapid stellar evolution in a primordially mass-segregated cluster, and heating due to a retained population of stellar mass black holes, formed in the supernova explosions of the most massive cluster stars. These two processes operate over different time-scales and during different periods of a cluster's life. The former occurs only at early times and cannot drive core expansion for longer than a few hundred Myr, while the latter typically does not begin until several hundred Myr have passed, but can result in core expansion lasting for many Gyr. We investigate the behaviour of each of these expansion mechanisms under different circumstances – in clusters with varying degrees of primordial mass segregation, and in clusters with varying black hole retention fractions. In combination, the two processes can lead to a wide variety of evolutionary paths on the radius–age plane, which fully cover the observed cluster distribution and hence define a dynamical origin for the radius–age trend in the Magellanic Clouds. We discuss in some detail the implications of core expansion for various aspects of globular cluster research, as well as the possibility of observationally inferring the presence of a significant population of stellar mass black holes in a cluster.     

Biomass,carbon ingestion,and ammonia excretion by zooplankton associated with an upwelling plume in western Cook Strait,New Zealand

The biomass, elemental composition, and rates of ingestion and excretion by macrozoo‐plankon associated with the upwelling plume off the north‐west coast of the South Island, New Zealand, were investigated in March‐April 1983. Ingestion and excretion rates of the major zoo‐plankton species were combined with abundance data to determine the spatial and temporal variability which may influence phytoplankton dynamics in the plume system. Zooplankton biomass near Cape Kahurangi was dominated by small copepods like Acartia ensifera (up to 60%). In the South Tar‐anaki Bight, larval and adult forms of the euphau‐siid Nyctiphanes australis commonly contributed up to 60% of biomass. However, the carbon ingestion and ammonia excretion patterns of N. australis were spatially displaced from those of the total zooplankton community in the South Taranaki Bight because of higher weight‐specific metabolic rates for the smaller copepods. Close to the focus of the upwelling near the Kahurangi Shoals, grazing pressure on the phytoplankton was high, but as the upwelled water was advected into the Taranaki Bight, carbon production exceeded utilisation by zooplankton. Relatively high rates of ammonia excretion were also associated with peak zooplankton biomass near the Kahurangi Shoals and in the eastern Taranaki Bight.     

Square Kilometre Array: The radio telescope of the XXI century

The Square Kilometre Array (SKA) will be the world’s largest and most sensitive radio telescope. It will address fundamental unanswered questions about our Universe including how the first stars and galaxies formed after the Big Bang, how dark energy is accelerating the expansion of theUniverse, the role of magnetism in the cosmos, the nature of gravity, and the search for life beyond Earth. This project envisages the construction of 133 15-m antennas in South Africa and 131072 log-periodic antennas in Australia, together with the associated infrastructure in the two desert sites. In addition, the SKA is an exemplar Big Data project, with data rates of over 10 Tbps being transported from the telescope to HPC/HTC facilities.     

Southern hemisphere atmospheric winds in the meteor region

The results of a 12 month radiometeor wind study at Christchurch, New Zealand (43°S), from November 1970 to November 1971, are given for a height of 90–100 km. The analysis procedure of the wind velocity data is fully discussed and the characteristics of the resulting wind spectrum are compared with those of other meteor wind studies.     

Contents of Volume 58

Volume Contents

Contents of Volume 58     

Geologic approaches to the determination of long-term coastal recession rates,matagorda peninsula,Texas

The degree to which human modifications in the coastal zone have increased or decreased coastal erosion rates is difficult to determine owing to the short time period for which shoreline-position data are available. This limitation is circumvented in areas where long-term recession rates can be determined from geologic data. Three such areas from Matagorda Bay have been examined to determine the temporal variation in recession rates over the past several thousand years. Preliminary results indicate that recession rates over the past century may be 30% to 40% greater than those of prehistoric time. Although additional data are needed, it is suggested that accelerated rates result from human modification of the coastal zone, and that in the future increased recession rates can be anticipated.     

Some subcalcic clinopyroxenites from Salt Lake Crater,Oahu, and their petrogenetic significance

Some inclusions from Salt Lake Crater are essentially single-phase subcalcic clinopyroxenites whose original clinopyroxenes, prior to extensive unmixing, were tschermakitic subcalcic varieties with compositions close to Ca₃₄Mg₅₄Fe₁₂. In addition to copious amounts of orthopyroxene, very minor garnet and spinel also were exsolved from the subcalcic clinopyroxenes.The genesis of the garnet pyroxenite suite at Salt Lake Crater has been examined in terms of three models, namely: (i) cumulates from alkali basaltic magmas; (ii) fractional fusion of basanitic garnet clinopyroxenite; and (iii) anatexis of upper mantle lherzolites. Field, mineralogical, chemical and experimental data collectively favour model (iii) and indicate that the nodules are genetically unrelated to their nephelinitic hosts. The Salt Lake garnet pyroxenites can be closely equated with the garnet pyroxenites in magmatictype layers in certain alpine-type ultramafic massifs and they are also similar to many garnet pyroxenite xenoliths in alkaline volcanics from other localities.Liquids produced by anhydrous partial melting of spinel Iherzolite at pressures of approximately 20 kb commonly have picritic chemistries. The crystallization behaviour of picritic liquids at elevated pressures ( 20 kb) indicates that the initial crystallization products may be either essentially single-phase subcalcic clinopyroxenites (with minimal high pressure fractionation) or a range of olivine-aluminous orthopyroxene-aluminous subcalcic clinopyroxene-garnet-(spinel) assemblages with variable 100 Mg/(Mg+Fe) ratios (when fractionation has been operative). All these assemblages may be subsequently modified by subsolidus exsolution and recrystallization.     

Tholeiitic andesite of high-pressure origin from the tweed shield volcano,northeastern New South Wales

A high-alumina tholeiitic andesite from the southern portion of the Tweed Shield Volcano in northeastern New South Wales contains abundant megacrysts of plagioclase (Ab₅₀An₄₆Or₄) and megacrysts of aluminian bronzite (Ca₄Mg₇₁Fe₂₅) and relatively Ca-poor aluminian augite (Ca₃₆Mg₄₁Fe₂₀). The pyroxenes commonly occur as inclusions in the plagioclase megacrysts. Electron probe microanalyses of the pyroxene megacrysts indicate that they differ in character and composition from the groundmass ferromagnesian phases, namely a more Al- and Na-poor augite (Ca₄₁Mg₄₂Fe₁₇) and olivine (Fa₅₃). The bulk composition of the plagioclase megacrysts is slightly more Ab-rich than that of the groundmass plagioclase, but differences in the two compositions are extended by microanalyses of groundmass plagioclases. Evaluation of the megacryst compositions in the light of experimental data and analogous occurrences in alkaline volcanics leads to the interpretation that the megacrysts represent cognate precipitates formed at pressures broadly equivalent to the crust-mantle boundary. More important, they provide strong evidence for the high pressure origin of tholeiitic andesites, customarily interpreted as the products of low pressure fractional crystallization of tholeiitic magma.     

The application of a present-day climatic model to the late quaternary in southern Africa

A present-day climatic model is presented in which extended wet spells of near-decadal duration and dry spells of similar length are explained on the basis of surface and upper tropospheric circulation variations. Wet spells are shown to be the result of increased tropical atmospheric disturbances and tropical-temperate interaction, and to be linked to variations in the Walker Circulation. Conversely, dry spells are shown to result from diminished tropical activity over southern Africa, equatorward movement of westerly storm tracks and temperate perturbations in the westerlies.The present-day analogue is compared to preliminary spatial reconstructions of the climate of southern Africa over the last twenty-five millennia and is shown to have wide applicability in the explanation of the late-Quaternary palaeoclimates of the subcontinent. In particular, it is argued that the Last Glacial Maximum was associated with northward-displaced circulation conditions similar to those of present-day dry spells over the summer rainfall region, whereas the extensive moist conditions that prevailed for several thousand years after 9000 BP were analogous to present-day wet spell conditions with little apparent displacement of major circulation features.