Are extrusive rhyolites produced from permeable foam eruptions?

This work was sponsored at Sandia National Laboratories (contract DE-AC04-76DP00789) by the US Department of Energy, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, as part of the Continental Scientific Drilling Program     

Pulsar Wind Nebulae in Egret Error Boxes

A remarkable number of pulsar wind nebulae (PWN) are coincident with EGRET γ-ray sources. X-ray and radio imaging studies of unidentified EGRET sources have resulted in the discovery of at least six new pulsar wind nebulae (PWN). Stationary PWN (SPWN) appear to be associated with steady EGRET sources with hard spectra, typical for γ-ray pulsars. Their toroidal morphologies can help determine the geometry of the pulsar which is useful for constraining models of pulsed γ-ray emission. Rapidly moving PWN (RPWN) with more cometary morphologies seem to be associated with variable EGRET sources in regions where the ambient medium is dense compared to what is typical for the ISM.     

Lunar motion: Theory and observations

Results of several fits of the lunar theory ELP 2000-82B and of Moons' theory of libration are presented. The theories are fitted both to JPL numerical integrations and to LLR observations     

Cygnus A

Cygnus A was the first hyper-active galaxy discovered, and it remains by far the closest of the ultra-luminous radio galaxies. As such, Cygnus A has played a fundamental role in the study of virtually all aspects of extreme activity in galaxies. We present a review of jet theory for powering the double-lobed radio emitting structures in powerful radio galaxies, followed by a review of observations of Cygnus A in the radio, optical, and X-ray relevant to testing various aspects of jet theory. Issues addressed include: jet structure from pc- to kpc-scales, jet stability, confinement, composition, and velocity, the double shock structure for the jet terminus and the origin of multiple radio hotspots, the nature of the filamentary structure in the radio lobes, and the hydrodynamic evolution of the radio lobes within a dense cluster atmosphere, including an analysis of pressure balance between the various gaseous components. Also discussed are relativistic particle acceleration and loss mechanisms in Cygnus A, as well as magnetic field strengths and geometries both within the radio source, and in the intracluster medium. We subsequently review the classification, cluster membership, and the emission components of the Cygnus A galaxy. The origin of the activity is discussed. Concentrating on the nuclear regions of the galaxy, we review the evidence for an obscured QSO, also given the constraints on the orientation of the radio source axis with respect to the sky plane. We present an overview of models of central engines in AGN and observations of Cygnus A which may be relevant to testing such models. We conclude with a brief section concerning the question of whether Cygnus A is representative of powerful high redshift radio galaxies. Received October 10, 1995     

Geochemistry of metabauxites in the Bergsträsser Odenwald (Mid German Crystalline Rise) and palaeoenvironmental implications

Summary Pre- to early Variscan metamorphosed volcano-sedimentary series of the western (Bergstr?sser) Odenwald have been intruded by Variscan calc-alkaline magmatites with plate margin affinities. Within the NE-SW trending metabasic and metapelitic series, intercalations of anomalously aluminous- and iron-rich compositions representing former bauxites are distinguishable. Geochemical data indicate that the Al-, Fe-rich rocks are the metamorphic equivalents of a former bauxitic-ferralitic weathering profile, now comprising spinel fels (top) with relics of pisolitic structures, corundum-chlorite fels, corundum-cordierite-plagioclase gneiss, sillimanite-cordierite-plagioclase gneiss, cordierite-plagioclase gneiss and kinzigite (base) displaying a decrease of weathering in the order as listed. The evolution of such terrestrial sediments is related to specific climatic, environmental, and physico-chemical conditions similar to those of the present-day tropical to subtropical humid regions with high seasonal rains and intensive drainage. Comparison with palaeomagnetic and palaeoclimatic data indicate that the Odenwald metabauxites originally formed during the Lower to Mid-Devonian. Our results imply that, during this geological time span, parts of the precursors of the Mid-German Crystalline Rise not only transversed low latitudes but also were exposed to terrestrial weathering.

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Zusammenfassung Die Geochemie der Metabauxite im Bergstr?sser Odenwald (Mitteldeutsche Kristallinschwelle) und ihre Bedeutung für das Pal?omilieu Im westlichen (Bergstr?sser) Odenwald intrudierten variszische Plattenrand-Kalkalkali-Magmatite in pr?- bis früh-variszische, ehemalige vulkano-sediment?re Serien. Innerhalb der heute NE-SW streichenden Metabasit- und Metapelitzüge treten lokal Al-Fe-reiche Einschaltungen auf, die strukturell und geochemisch als metamorphe ?quivalente eines ehemaligen bauxitisch-ferralitischen Verwitterungsprofils klassifiziert werden k?nnen. Sie umfassen Spinellfelse mit erhaltenen, ehemaligen zonierten Pisolithen, Korund-Chloritfelse, Korund-Cordierit-Plagioklasgneise, Sillimanit-Cordierit-Plagioklasgneise, Cordierit-Plagioklasgneise und Kinzigite. Bauxite k?nnen als terrestrische Bildungen nur unter speziellen klimatischen und physiko-chemischen Bedingungen entstehen. Pal?omagnetische und pal?oklimatische Daten legen die Bildung der ehemaligen Bauxite im unteren bis mittleren Devon nahe. Daraus folgt, da? w?hrend dieser geologischen Zeitspanne die Vorl?ufer der mitteldeutschen Kristallinschwelle bei der Norddrift nicht nur ?quatorn?he passierten, sondern auch partiell ungest?rte, terrestrische, tropisch-subtropische Verwitterungsprozesse abliefen.

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Received June 10, 1999; revised version accepted October 30, 2000     

On the Nonlinear Thermal Evolution of Solar Corona Structures

The thermal evolution of structures is investigated for different values of the size of structure. A simplified cooling function and a constant heating mechanism are assumed. Analytical criteria for thermal instability are obtained. It is found that the response of the thermal structure not only depends on the amplitude of the disturbances, but also on whether the disturbance increases or decreases the initial steady temperature. Additionally, the evolution of the structure is examined numerically by using a time-dependent code under the assumption that the inertia terms are small. In particular, the analytical criteria obtained for thermal instability are verified.     

Porphyroblast inclusion-trail orientation data: eppure non son girate*!

Extensive examination of large numbers of spatially orientated thin sections of orientated samples from orogens of all ages around the world has demonstrated that porphyroblasts do not rotate relative to geographical coordinates during highly non-coaxial ductile deformation of the matrix subsequent to their growth. This has been demonstrated for all tectonic environments so far investigated. The work also has provided new insights and data on metamorphic, structural and tectonic processes including: (1) the intimate control of deformation partitioning on metamorphic reactions; (2) solutions to the lack of correlation between lineations that indicate the direction of movement within thrusts and shear zones, and relative plate motion; and (3) a possible technique for determining the direction of relative plate motion that caused orogenesis in ancient orogens.     

Observing the CMB at high-ℓ using the VSA and AMI

We discuss two experiments – the Very Small Array (VSA) and the Arcminute MicroKelvin Imager (AMI) – and their prospects for observing the CMB at high angular multipoles. Whilst the VSA is primarily designed to observe primary anisotropies in the CMB, AMI is designed to image secondary anisotropies via the Sunyaev–Zel’dovich effect. The combined ℓ-range of these two instruments is between ℓ=150 and 10,000.