Gamma暴余辉的相对论流体动力学演化和光变曲线

本文首先对Gamma暴的观测特性和物理过程作了简要的介绍 ,而后 ,对火球模型的相对论流体动力学机制和同步加速辐射机制作了论述。主要工作是 :具体研究火球所抛出壳层的相对论流体动力学演化 ,应用同步加速辐射机制 ,通过由共动坐标系到实验室坐标系的相对论变换 ,得到Gamma暴余辉的光变曲线。对于火球壳层的不同的动力学演化规律 ,各向同性或各向异性的壳层抛出形式 ,以及不同的外部介质环境 ,所得到的光变曲线都各不相同。通过对这些不同的光变曲线的比较 ,明确了Gamma暴余辉的整体的物理演化图象以及各种物理过程在Gamma暴余辉演化过程中所起的作用 ,并从余辉演化的方面进一步理解了Gamma暴的物理本质     

The Kaidun meteorite: Clasts of alkaline‐rich fractionated materials

Abstract— Clasts of alkaline (the second find in meteorites) and subalkaline rocks were found in the Kaidun meteorite. One of them (#d4A) is a large crystal of albite with inclusions of fluorapatite, arfvedsonite, aenigmatite, and wilkinsonite. The two latter minerals were previously unknown in meteorites. Another clast (#d[3–5]D) has a melt crystallization texture of mainly feldspar (oligoclase) composition and contains relict grains of both high‐Ca and low‐Ca pyroxene and fluorapatite. The mineralogical characteristics of these clasts suggest a genetic relationship and an origin from the same parent body. The textural and mineralogical characteristics of the clasts indicate origin by extensive igneous differentiation. Such processes most likely took place in a rather large differentiated body. The material of clast #d(3–5)D is similar in some mineralogical respects to basaltic shergottites.     

Cepheid Limb Darkening Models for the VLTI

We present a new method to compute wavelength- and phase-dependent limb darkening corrections for classical Cepheids. These corrections are derived from hydrodynamic simulations and radiative transfer modeling with a full set of atomic and molecular opacities. Comparison with hydrostatic models having the same stellar parameters show a larger limb darkening for most phases in our models, and temporal variations related to the hydrodynamics of the stellar pulsation. Weassess the implications of our results with respect to the geometric Baade-Wesselink method, which uses interferometric measurements of Cepheid angular diameters to determine their distances and radii. The relevance of the hydrodynamic effects predicted by our model on the limb darkening of pulsating Cepheids is finally discussed in terms of the predicted capabilities of the VLTI. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A search for the optical and near-infrared counterpart of the accreting millisecond X-ray pulsar XTE J1751−305

We have obtained optical and near-infrared images of the field of the accreting millisecond X-ray pulsar XTE J1751−305. There are no stars in the 0.7-arcsec error circle (0.7 arcsec is the overall uncertainty arising from tying the optical and X-ray images and from the intrinsic uncertainty in the Chandra X-ray astrometric solution). We derive limiting magnitudes for the counterpart of   R > 23.1, I > 21.6, Z > 20.6, J > 19.6  and   K > 19.2  . We compare these upper limits with the magnitudes one would expect for simple models for the possible donor stars and the accretion disc subject to the reddening observed in X-rays for XTE J1751−305 and when put at the distance of the Galactic Centre (8.5 kpc). We conclude that our non-detection does not constrain any of the models for the accretion disc or possible donor stars. Deep, near-infrared images obtained during quiescence will, however, constrain possible models for the donor stars in this ultracompact system.     

Giant Meterwave Radio Telescope observations of an M2.8 flare: Insights into the initiation of a flare–coronal mass ejection event

We present the first observations of a solar flare with the GMRT. An M2.8 flare observed at 1060 MHz with the GMRT on 17 November 2001 was associated with a prominence eruption observed at 17 GHz by the Nobeyama radioheliograph and the initiation of a fast partial halo CME observed with the LASCO C2 coronagraph. Towards the start of the eruption, we find evidence for reconnection above the prominence. Subsequently, we find evidence for rapid growth of a vertical current sheet below the erupting arcade, which is accompanied by the flare and prominence eruption.     

Coronal Holes and Icosahedral Symmetry

The study of the expansion of the solar wind out of a system of coronal holes is continued. To this end, we consider the numerical integration of partial differential equations for problems with icosahedral symmetry, in general. First, employing Weyl theory, orbifold coordinates are introduced. Second, the icosahedral coordinates are discussed in detail. Third, following an analysis of the properties of these coordinates and the derivation of a few expressions useful for grid construction, various alternatives for the distribution of lattice points required for numerical integration are considered. A comparison of these numerical grids motivates the choice of a specific grid optimized for the numerical integration carried out in the accompanying paper by Kalish et al.(2002). This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Cosmological Parameters from Cosmic Microwave Background Anisotropies: Status and Prospects

A survey is made of the present constraints on cosmological parameters from Cosmic Microwave Background Anisotropies. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The dynamical structure of dwarf elliptical galaxies

Deep imaging and long-slit spectroscopy was obtained for a sample of dwarf ellipticals in the Fornax cluster, NGC 5044 and NGC 5898 groups using the ESO VLT. The observational data extend out to typically 1.5–2 effective radii and indicate a kinematic dichotomy in the family of ellipticals. The observed stellar kinematics indicate a luminosity–velocity dispersion relation largely supporting Supernova-driven stellar mass loss scenarios for the formation of dwarf ellipticals. Stellar dynamical models favour dark matter halos with typical mass-to-light ratios in the range of 3 to 9 solar units. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Intermediate-age Galactic open clusters: fundamental parameters of NGC 2627

Charge-coupled device (CCD) photometry in the Johnson V , Kron–Cousins I and Washington CMT ₁ systems is presented in the field of the poorly known open cluster NGC 2627. Four independent Washington abundance indices yield a mean cluster metallicity of  [Fe/H]=−0.12 ± 0.08  , which is compatible with the existence of a radial gradient in the Galactic disc. The resultant colour–magnitude diagrams indicate that the cluster is an intermediate-age object of 1.4 Gyr. Based on the best fits of the Geneva group's isochrones to the ( V , V − I ) and  ( T ₁, C − T ₁)  diagrams, we estimate   E ( V − I ) = 0.25 ± 0.05  and   V − M_V = 11.80 ± 0.25  for  log  t = 9.15  , and   E ( C − T ₁) = 0.23 ± 0.07  and   T ₁− M _{T 1}= 11.85 ± 0.25  for  log  t = 9.10  , respectively, assuming solar metal content. The derived reddening value   E ( C − T ₁)  implies   E ( B − V ) = 0.12 ± 0.07  and a distance from the Sun of  2.0 ± 0.4 kpc  . Using the WEBDA data base and the available literature, we re-examined the overall properties of all the open clusters with ages between 0.6 and 2.5 Gyr. We identified peaks of cluster formation at 0.7–0.8, 1.0–1.1, 1.6–1.7 and 2.0–2.1 Gyr, separated by relative quiescent epochs of ∼0.2–0.3 Gyr. We also estimated a radial abundance gradient of  −0.08 ± 0.02  , which is consistent with the most recent determinations for the Galactic disc, but no clear evidence for a gradient perpendicular to the Galactic plane is found.