A new concept for the combination of optical interferometers and high-resolution spectrographs

The combination of high spatial and spectral resolution in optical astronomy enables new observational approaches to many open problems in stellar and circumstellar astrophysics. However, constructing a high-resolution spectrograph for an interferometer is a costly and time-intensive undertaking. Our aim is to show that, by coupling existing high-resolution spectrographs to existing interferometers, one could observe in the domain of high spectral and spatial resolution, and avoid the construction of a new complex and expensive instrument. We investigate in this article the different challenges which arise from combining an interferometer with a high-resolution spectrograph. The requirements for the different sub-systems are determined, with special attention given to the problems of fringe tracking and dispersion. A concept study for the combination of the VLTI (Very Large Telescope Interferometer) with UVES (UV-Visual Echelle Spectrograph) is carried out, and several other specific instrument pairings are discussed. We show that the proposed combination of an interferometer with a high-resolution spectrograph is indeed feasible with current technology, for a fraction of the cost of building a whole new spectrograph. The impact on the existing instruments and their ongoing programs would be minimal.     

Fractionation corrections for mixed-isotope spikes of Sr, K, and Pb

Methods are given to correct for isotopic fractionation in the determination of the isotopic composition of mixed-isotope spikes. The simplest method, applicable to Sr, utilizes the fact that the fractionated, measured isotope ratios of a critical three-isotope mixture lie exactly on a tie line that connects the true compositions of spike and normal element. Three-isotope elements that do not have critical mixtures require independent determination of the weight ratio of spike to normal element. A new analytic solution together with a straightforward graphical representation is given to the four-isotope problem.     

Tri- and tetraterpenoid hydrocarbons in the Messel oil shale

The high molecular weight constituents of the branched and cyclic hydrocarbon fraction of the Messel oil shale (Eocene) have been examined by high resolution gas chromatography and combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The following compounds are present: perhydrolycopene (1; lycopane), together with one or more unsaturated analogues with the same skeleton; a series of 4-methylsteranes (2c) in higher abundance than their 4-desmethyl analogues; two series of pentacyclic triterpanes, one series (C₂₇-C₃₂) based on the hopane structure (3a-e), and the other (C₂₇-C₃₁) based on the 17α-H hopane structure (3a-d, 17αH); and an intact triterpene hop-17 (21)-ene [3c, Δ 17(21)]. Only two additional triterpanes were detected in minor concentrations, viz. 30-normoretane (3b, 21αH) and a C₃₁ triterpane based on the hopane/lupane-type skeleton. The presence of these compounds suggests a significant microbial contribution to the forming sediment. Comparison of the tri- and tetraterpenoid hydrocarbons with those of the Green River Shale indicates differences in the organisms contributing to the two sediments.     

Deformationsverhalten tektonisch unterschiedlich beanspruchter Carnallitite

Four different stressed carnallite-rocks were microscopically investigated by U-stage and the indicatrix orientation pattern was treated in topotropic analysis (AVA). The investigation involved a young, post-tectonic carnallitite, a layered carnallite-rock and a weakly cataclastic carnallitite, as well as so-called Trümmercarnallitite, and had as its objective observation of changes in fabric orientation.The youngest, uninfluenced carnallitite is a megagrained (handspecimen 3 grains), the other varieties are heterogenous, and respectively middleto finegrained carnallitite.With increasing tectonically strain, the number of grains with similar indicatrix orientation diminishs from that of the wholegrain. Neighbouring grains are shifted more and more and respectively show varying degrees of recristallisation from layered carnallitite up to the cataclastic Trümmercarnallitite.In addition for interpretation the mechanics undulations, kinkbands and rotationcristallisation by twinning were investigated.An attempt is made to explain the mechanism of the deformation.

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Zusammenfassung Vier unterschiedlich beanspruchte Carnallitite wurden mikroskopisch mit dem U-Tisch gemessen und Achsenverteilungsanalysen angefertigt. Ausgehend von einem posttektonisch entstandenen, jüngeren Carnallitit wurden ein gut geschichteter, ein schwach kataklastischer und sog. Trümmercarnallitit auf die Änderung ihrer Gefüge hin untersucht. Der jüngere unbeeinflußte Carnallitit ist riesenkörnig (Handstück 3 Körner), die anderen Varietäten sind heterogen- und mittel- bis kleinkörnig.Mit zunehmender tektonischer Beanspruchung wird die Zahl der Körner kleiner, die ursprünglich ein Großkorn gebildet haben, d. h. die Lage der Indikatrix benachbarter Körner ist stärker verstellt.Zur Feststellung der Mechanismen werden Messungen an Verbiegungen (undulöse Auslöschungen), Knickbändern und die Rotationskristallisation durch Zwillingsbildung untersucht. Es wird der Versuch unternommen, den mechanischen Ablauf der Deformation zu erklären.

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Résumé Quatre roches à carnallite, ayant subi des sollicitations différentes, ont fait l'objet d'une analyse topotropique («Achsenverteilungsanalyse») au moyen de la platine universelle. Ces quatre roches sont des carnallitites respectivement: (1) grenue posttectonique, (2) à rubanement bien exprimé, (3) légèrement cataclastique, (4) dite «Trümmercarnallitite». La roche jeune non affectée (1) est une Carnallitite à grains géants (3 grains pour l'échantillon); les autres sont des roches à granularité hétérogène moyenne à fine.Lorsque la sollicitation tectonique augmente, on voit diminuer le nombre de grains issus d'un même grain originel; en d'autres termes on voit se modifier de plus en plus la position des indicatrices de grains voisins.En outre, il a été procédé à une investigation des extinctions onduleuses, des kink-bands et des macles de déformation. La note présente finalement un essai d'interprétation du mécanisme de la déformation.

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Contrasting geochemical patterns in the 3.7-3.8 Ga pillow basalt cores and rims, Isua greenstone belt, Southwest Greenland: implications for postmagmatic alteration processes

Pillow basalts from the early Archean (3.7 to 3.8 Ga) Isua greenstone belt, West Greenland, are characterized by well-preserved rims and concentric core structures. The pillow rims and cores have different mineral assemblages, and chemical and isotopic compositions. The rims have systematically higher contents of Fe₂O₃, MgO, MnO, K₂O, Rb, Ba, Ga, Y, and transition metals than the cores. In contrast, the cores possess higher concentrations of SiO₂, Na₂O, P₂O₅, Sr, Pb, U, Nb, and the light rare earth elements (REEs than the rims). These compositional variations in the rims and cores are likely to reflect the mobility of these elements during posteruption alteration. Variations of many major and trace element concentrations between the rims and cores of the Isua pillow basalts are comparable to those of modern pillow basalts undergoing seafloor hydrothermal alteration. Al₂O₃, TiO₂, Th, Zr, and the heavy REEs display similar values in both rims and cores, suggesting that these elements were relatively immobile during postemplacement alteration.In addition, the rims and cores have distinctive Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr isotopic compositions in that the rims are characterized by higher ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios than the cores. The pillow basalts yield 2569 ± 170 Ma and 1604 ± 170 Ma errorchron ages on ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd vs. ¹⁴⁷Sm/¹⁴⁴Nd and ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr vs. ⁸⁷Rb/⁸⁶Sr diagrams, respectively. The Sm-Nd errorchron age may correspond, within errors, to a late Archean tectonothermal metamorphic event recorded in the region. The Sm-Nd errorchron may have resulted from a combination of isotopic homogenization and preferential loss of Nd, relative to Sm, during late Archean metamorphism. Although the Rb-Sr errorchron age overlaps with the timing of an early to mid-Proterozoic tectonothermal metamorphic event recorded in the region, because of a considerably large mean square of weighted deviates value and scatter in ⁸⁶Sr/⁸⁷Sr and ⁸⁷Rb/⁸⁶Sr ratios, this age may not have a precise geological significance. The 1.6 Ga Rb-Sr errorchron is likely to have resulted from the loss of radiogenic ⁸⁷Sr. Collectively, the Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr data obtained from the 3.7-3.8 Ga Isua pillow basalt rims and cores are consistent with disturbances of the Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr systems by tectonothermal metamorphic events long after their eruption.In contrast to the Sm-Nd and Rb-Sr systems, the Lu-Hf system appears to be largely undisturbed by metamorphism. Five core samples and three rim samples yield a 3935 ± 350 Ma age, within error of the approximate age of eruption (3.7 to 3.8 Ga). Two rim samples that have gained Lu give an age of 1707 ± 140 Ma, within error of the Rb-Sr errorchron age. Initial ¹⁷⁶Hf/¹⁷⁷Hf ratios of the undisturbed samples at 3.75 Ga lie within ±1 ε-unit of the chondritic value, suggesting no long-term depletion in the mantle source of the basalts.     

Molecular test for oil pollution in surface sediments

Polycyclic biological markers, such as pentacyclic triterpanes, can be useful as “molecular markers” in the study of crude oil pollution problems. This has been shown in the case of a weakly polluted surface sediment from the west coast of France. The use of these markers is based on the differences in their distribution, which depend on the degree of maturity of the geological sources.     

A sensitive phototube-amplifier combination for measurements of meteorological radiation at day and night

Summary The paper describes a new instrument combination for the measurement of various kinds of radiation. The complete set-up is for mobile use and consists of three units, namely: (A) Phototube and Optical part, (B) Amplifier, and (C) Galvanometer. After a comprehensive introduction to the problems involved, each unit is described in detail and appropriate figures are also included.Another section of the paper covers semi-standard adaptors, useful for this instrument and similar ones, in order to allow controllable readings at all times. Finally, various applications are mentioned.

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Zusammenfassung Die Arbeit beschreibt einen neuartigen Instrumentensatz für Messungen von Strahlung verschiedener Art. Der komplete Satz ist zum leicht beweglichen Betrieb bestimmt und besteht aus drei Einheiten, nämlich (A) Photozelle und optischer Teil, (B) Verstärker, und (C) Galvanometer. Nach einer eingehenden Einführung zu den vorliegenden Problemen ist jede Einheit in einzelheiten beschrieben, und entsprechende Abbildungen sind ebenfalls beigefügt.Ein weiterer Abschnitt der Arbeit behandelt Halbstandardgeräte, die für das beschriebene und ähnliche Instrumente Verwendung finden können, um kontrollierbare Messungen zu jeder Zeit zu erhalten. Abschließend werden mehrere Anwendungsmöglichkeiten erwähnt.