A Linear Dependence between the Magnitude and the Logarithm of the Length of the Time the Quasars OJ287 and 3C345 Stay below this Magnitude

We have studied the optical historical light curves of two Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs): OJ287 and 3C345. We find a linear dependence between the magnitude and the logarithm of the length of the time the objects stay below this magnitude. The relation may originate from a fractal structure of the light curve. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

CSCO_3 CYCLES IN SALAWUSU RIVER BASINSINCE 150KA B.P.

About 70years ago，Frenc卜卜alaeohdoglst回LL sc卜dars al卜ome and a卜road卜ave successively con－HARD de Chardin P．et al．Initiated the Quaternary ducted large amount ofwork on the Later Quaternarygeologlcal research In the ＞alawusu River Basin of strata（TEILHARD，1924； YUAN，1978； LI，1987；desert region of Northern China and established th，ZHENG，1989； SUN et al，1996； LI et al，1993），Salawusu Formation门EILHARD，1924）．Sine，then，palaeobiology…     

Optical Flash of GRB 990123: Constraints on the Physical Parameters of the Reverse Shock

The optical flash accompanying GRB 990123 is believed to be powered by the reverse shock of a thin shell. With the best-fit physical parameters for GRB 990123 and the assumption that the parameters in the optical flash are the same as in the afterglow, we show that: 1) the shell is thick rather than thin, and we have provided the light curve for the thick shell case which coincides with the observation; 2) the theoretical peak flux of the optical flash accounts for only 3×10~-4 of the observed. In order to remove this discrepancy, the physical parameters, the electron energy and magnetic ratios, εe and εB, should be 0.61 and 0.39, which are very different from their values for the late afterglow.     

Simulations of a giant hybrid air shower detector

We have used Monte Carlo simulations to investigate the capabilities of a giant air shower observatory designed to detect showers initiated by cosmic rays with energies exceeding 10¹⁹ eV. The observatory is to consist of an array of detectors that will characterise the air shower at ground level, and optical detectors to measure the fluorescence light emitted by the shower in the atmosphere. Using these detectors together in a ‘hybrid’ configuration, we find that precise geometrical reconstruction of the shower axis is possible, leading to excellent resolution in energy. The technique is also shown to provide very good reconstruction below 10¹⁹ eV, at energies where the ground array is not fully efficient.     

5个新发现的X选BL Lac天体

利用ＲＯＳＡＴＶＬＡ方法筛选，从ＲＯＳＡＴＸ射线源中选出了一批新的ＢＬＬａｃ天体和类星体的候选体．１９９６年１２月８日至１７日，利用北京天文台２．１６ｍ望远镜和新从美国引进的ＯＭＲ摄谱仪，对这批新候选体进行了光谱认证．经ＳＵＮ工作站处理，又发现了５个新的Ｘ选ＢＬＬａｃ天体．此外，还对去年作者在ＯＭＲ引进之前发现的ＢＬＬａｃ天体进行了检验，结果发现，去年发现的７个ＢＬＬａｃ天体中，２３２２＋３４３的ＣａＩＩＨ＆Ｋ“Ｂｒｅａｋｓｔｒｅｎｇｔｈ”为２６．９％，稍大于判据２５％，因此，２３２２＋３４３到底是ＢＬＬａｃ天体还是射电星系还有待于进一步测光及偏振观测的验证．     

MERLIN Images of Five Compact Symmetric Object Candidates at 1.6 GHz

1 INTRODUCTIONCompact Symmetric Objects (CSOs) are powerful and compact sources (overall size <1 bpc) with lobe emission on both sides of the central engine. The small size of these sourcesis almost certainly to be attributed to the youth of the sources themselves (ages < 104 yr) andnot due to a dense coallning medium (Readhead 1996). The unification scenario assumes thatCSOs evolve into compact steep spectrum (CSS) sotirces and then into Fanaroff-Riley type 11objects (Fanti 1995). …     

未来的国际天球参考架

本文简述了国际天球参考架的发展历史和现在射电参考架的现状—基准源选择的标准和参考架的稳定性。描述了地面上光学观测在依巴谷参考架的维持和加密的一系列工作。介绍由天体测量卫星GAIA和SIM给出的天球参考架可能逵到的精度。详述了在今后十年中地面天体测量的作用以及正在开展有关天球参考架的研究课题 ,同时也列出了我国正在和即将开展天体测量的几个研究课题     

A micromechanical finite element model for linear and damage‐coupled viscoelastic behaviour of asphalt mixture

This study presents a finite element (FE) micromechanical modelling approach for the simulation of linear and damage‐coupled viscoelastic behaviour of asphalt mixture. Asphalt mixture is a composite material of graded aggregates bound with mastic (asphalt and fine aggregates). The microstructural model of asphalt mixture incorporates an equivalent lattice network structure whereby intergranular load transfer is simulated through an effective asphalt mastic zone. The finite element model integrates the ABAQUS user material subroutine with continuum elements for the effective asphalt mastic and rigid body elements for each aggregate. A unified approach is proposed using Schapery non‐linear viscoelastic model for the rate‐independent and rate‐dependent damage behaviour. A finite element incremental algorithm with a recursive relationship for three‐dimensional (3D) linear and damage‐coupled viscoelastic behaviour is developed. This algorithm is used in a 3D user‐defined material model for the asphalt mastic to predict global linear and damage‐coupled viscoelastic behaviour of asphalt mixture. For linear viscoelastic study, the creep stiffnesses of mastic and asphalt mixture at different temperatures are measured in laboratory. A regression‐fitting method is employed to calibrate generalized Maxwell models with Prony series and generate master stiffness curves for mastic and asphalt mixture. A computational model is developed with image analysis of sectioned surface of a test specimen. The viscoelastic prediction of mixture creep stiffness with the calibrated mastic material parameters is compared with mixture master stiffness curve over a reduced time period. In regard to damage‐coupled viscoelastic behaviour, cyclic loading responses of linear and rate‐independent damage‐coupled viscoelastic materials are compared. Effects of particular microstructure parameters on the rate‐independent damage‐coupled viscoelastic behaviour are also investigated with finite element simulations of asphalt numerical samples. Further study describes loading rate effects on the asphalt viscoelastic properties and rate‐dependent damage behaviour. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Biogenic silicate accumulation in sediments, Jiaozhou Bay

1 INTRODUCTION Silicate, or silicic acid (H4SiO4), is a very im- portant nutrient in the ocean. Unlike other major nu- trients such as phosphate and nitrate or ammonium, which are needed by almost all marine plankton, silicate is an essential chemical req…