PRIMA for the VLTI – Science

The four main scientific objectives of PRIMA – the Phase-Referenced Imaging and Micro-arc second Astrometry facility for the VLTI – will be described:– extra-solar system characterization with astrometry, to detect planets and evaluate their mass, and imaging of the dust accretion disk,– galactic center study with astrometry(dynamics of the bulge stars) and imaging at 10μm (piercing the gas and dust clouds surrounding the galactic center),– observations of AGNs and other extra-galactic objects, too faint to be observed without PRIMA, for which partial imaging is needed to constrain their structuremodels,– micro-gravitational lensing event resolution (imaging and astrometry of their photo-center) in the Galactic Bulge and Magellanic Clouds, helping to determine directly the lens mass and distance. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Optimal growth of small perturbations in thin gaseous disks

A thin gaseous disk with a nearly Keplerian rotation profile and free boundaries in the external gravitational field of a point gravitating object does not generate any growing perturbation eigenmodes. In spite of this, a significant transient growth of linear perturbations measured by the evolution of their total acoustic energy is possible in such a disk. This is shown within the framework of the simplest model of an inviscid polytropic thin disk with a finite radial extent in which small adiabatic perturbations that are a linear combination of neutral eigenmodes with a corotation radius beyond the outer flow boundary are considered.     

Field Tracer Tests to Evaluate Transport Properties of Tryptophan and Humic Acid in Karst

The monitoring of water quality, especially of karst springs, requires methods for rapidly estimating and quantifying parameters that indicate contamination. In the last few years, fluorescence-based measurements of tryptophan and humic acid have become a promising tool to assess water quality in near real-time. In this study, we conducted comparative tracer tests in a karst experimental site to investigate the transport properties and behavior of tryptophan and humic acid in a natural karst aquifer. These two tracers were compared with the conservative tracer uranine. Fluorescence measurements were conducted with an online field fluorometer and in the laboratory. The obtained breakthrough curves (BTCs) and the modeling results demonstrate that (1) the online field fluorometer is suitable for real-time fluorescence measurements of all three tracers; (2) the transport parameters obtained for uranine, tryptophan, and humic acid are comparable in the fast flow areas of the karst system; (3) the transport velocities of humic acid are slower and the resulting residence times are accordingly higher, compared to uranine and tryptophan, in the slower and longer flow paths; (4) the obtained BTCs reveal additional information about the investigated karst system. As a conclusion, the experiments show that the transport properties of tryptophan are similar to those of uranine while humic acid is partly transported slower and with retardation. These findings allow a better and quantitative interpretation of the results when these substances are used as natural fecal and contamination indicators.     

Improved understanding of dynamic water and mass budgets of high-alpine karst systems obtained from studying a well-defined catchment area

Large areas of Europe, especially in the Alps, are covered by carbonate rocks and in many alpine regions, karst springs are important sources for drinking water supply. Because of their high variability and heterogeneity, the understanding of the hydrogeological functioning of karst aquifers is of particular importance for their protection and utilisation. Climate change and heavy rainfall events are major challenges in managing alpine karst aquifers which possess an enormous potential for future drinking water supply. In this study, we present research from a high-alpine karst system in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Großes Walsertal in Austria, which has a clearly defined catchment and is drained by only one spring system. Results show that (a) the investigated system is a highly dynamic karst aquifer with distinct reactions to rainfall events in discharge and electrical conductivity; (b) the estimated transient atmospheric CO₂ sink is about 270 t/a; (c) the calculated carbonate rock denudation rate is between 23 and 47 mm/1000a and (d) the rainfall-discharge behaviour and the internal flow dynamics can be successfully simulated using the modelling package KarstMod. The modelling results indicate the relevance of matrix storage in determining the discharge behaviour of the spring, particularly during low-flow periods. This research and the consequent results can contribute and initiate a better understanding and management of alpine karst aquifers considering climate change with more heavy rainfall events and also longer dry periods.     

Weitere Versuche zur Messung des erdmagnetischen Feldes in großen Höhen

Summary On 17th and 22nd March, 1951, the measurements of the decrease in the earth's magnetic field were continued by means of a magnetometer set up in a rocket. The experiments which were carried out on the coast of Peru confirmed the existence of an electric current layer within theE-layer of the ionosphere and thus support the theory of Belfour, Stewart and Schuster. There remains still to be cleared the high value of (400±50) observed between 93 and 105 km. Moreover, the experiments from March 17th show a deviation from the dipole formula at lower altitudes which is due to surface anomalies and conforms with anomalies observed in other parts of the Pacific Ocean.

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De nouveaux essais faits pour mesurer le champ magnétique de la terre aux grandes altitudes

Résumé Les mesures relatives au décroissement du champ magnétique du globe furent continuées le 17 et le 22 mars 1951 à l'aide d'un magnétomètre qui était installé dans une fusée volante. Les essais qui furent effectués sur la côte du Peru ont affirmé l'existence supposée d'une couche de courant électrique dans la coucheE de l'ionosphère et ainsi confirment la théorie de Balfour, Stewart et Schuster. Il reste à éclaircir la haute valeur de (400±50) observée à l'hauteur de 93 à 105 kilomètres. En outre, les essais du 17 mars ont montré aux hauteurs inférieures une déviation de la formule relative au dipôle qui doit être attribuée aux anomalies de surface et qui s'accorde avec des anomalies observées dans d'autres parts de l'Océan Pacifique.

     

Über die Zusammenhänge zwischen Porosität,Permeabilität und Korngröße bei Sanden und Sandsteinen

Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology - Es wird theoretisch abgeleitet, daß für alle porösen Stoffe der folgende Zusammenhang zwischen Permeabilität und Porosität...     

Two notes on the isotopic constitution of carbon in minerals

Measurements of the $\text{C}{}^{12}\text{C}{}^{13}$ ratio on two generations of calcite and the matrix from a single specimen are given and discussed. This ratio has also been determined for four examples of graphite and limestone occurring together. The formation of the graphite is briefly discussed in relation to the $\text{C}{}^{12}\text{C}{}^{13}$ ratios.