Deep-ocean vertical noise directionality

The structure of beam noise measured at the output of a vertical array in a range dependent ocean basin was investigated using the modified wide-angle parabolic equation (PE). Noise sources were distributed throughout the basin, and the field due to each noise source at an array located in the midbasin was calculated. The response of the array to the superposition of the noise sources was found by beamforming. An efficient and direct approach that superimposes the noise sources on the PE field as the field is marched toward the array was developed. Downslope calculations of the midbasin vertical directionality were made between 50 and 400 Hz with this technique. Use of a geoacoustic model shows that the bottom behaves as a low-pass filter     

A comparison of type II shock speeds

Type II radio bursts are produced by material moving outwards in the solar atmosphere. Their drift in frequency allows the calculation of the radial speed with which the shock is moving- very basic information in assessing the likelihood that the shock will reach the Earth and its time of arrival. This paper compares the shock speeds derived from radio bursts observed by the Swept Frequency Interferometric Radiometer (SFIR) equipment at the US Air Force Radio Solar Telescope Network (RSTN) of observatories with those measured with the Culgoora radiospectrograph operated by IPS Radio and Space Services. The SFIR shock speeds are found to be 1.5–3.0 times larger than the Culgoora values which are consistent with earlier results. This difference appears to originate from the incorrect interpretation of events as a result of the smaller frequency range of the SFIR equipment.     

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．     

A time series analysis of sound propagation in a strongly multipathshallow water environment with an adiabatic normal mode approach

Measured time series were generated by small omnidirectional explosive sources in a shallow water area. A bottom-mounted hydrophone recorded sound signals that propagated over a sloping bottom. The time series in the 250-500 Hz band were analyzed with a broad-band adiabatic normal mode approach. The measured waveforms contain numerous bottom interacting multipaths that are complicated by the subbottom structure that contains high-velocity layers near the water-sediment interface. Several of the details of the geoacoustic structure and the depth of the water column at the receiver are inferred from comparisons of the measured data to simulated time series. The sensitivity of broad-band matched-field ambiguity surfaces in the range-depth plane for a single receiver to selected waveguide parameters is examined. A consistent analysis is made where the simulated time series are compared to the measured time series along with the single-receiver matched-field localization solutions for ranges out to 5 km. In this range interval, it was found that the peak cross-correlation between the measured and simulated time series varied between 0.84 and 0.69. The difference between the GPS range and the range obtained from the matched-field solution varied from 0 to 63 m. The geoacoustic structure obtained in the analysis consists of an 8-m low-velocity sediment layer over an 8-m high-velocity layer followed by a higher velocity, infinite half-space     

Semi-Classical Cosmological Models with Scalar, Dirac and Electromagnetic Fields

Exact solutions of the semi-classical Einstein equations for conformally invariant free quantum fields in an homogeneous and isotropic space-time, with cosmological constant and containing a classical scalar field, dust matter, an unquantised Dirac field and electromagnetic radiation are found. The initial behaviour of the semiclassical models is investigated. Some of the solutions found avoid the singularity and do not have particle horizons. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Exposure history of the Torino meteorite

Abstract— We determined He, Ne, Ar, ¹⁰Be, ²⁶Al, ³⁶Cl, and ¹⁴C concentrations, as well as cosmic-ray track densities and halogen concentrations in different specimens of the H6 chondrite Torino, in order to constrain its exposure history to cosmic radiation. The Torino meteoroid had a radius of ～20 cm and travelled in interplanetary space for 2.5–10 Ma. Earlier, Torino was part of a larger body. The smallest possible precursor had a radius of 55 cm and a journey through space longer than ～65 Ma. If the first-stage exposure took place in a body with a radius of >3 m or in the parent asteroid, then it lasted nearly 300 Ma. The example of Torino shows that it is easy to underestimate first-stage exposure ages when constructing two-stage histories.     

Low-cost volcano surveillance from space: case studies from Etna, Krafla, Cerro Negro, Fogo, Lascar and Erebus

 Satellite data offer a means of supplementing ground-based monitoring during volcanic eruptions, especially at times or locations where ground-based monitoring is difficult. Being directly and freely available several times a day, data from the advanced very high resolution radiometer (AVHRR) offers great potential for near real-time monitoring of all volcanoes across large (3000×3000 km) areas. Herein we describe techniques to detect and locate activity; estimate lava area, thermal flux, effusion rates and cumulative volume; and distinguish types of activity. Application is demonstrated using data for active lavas at Krafla, Etna, Fogo, Cerro Negro and Erebus; a pyroclastic flow at Lascar; and open vent systems at Etna and Stromboli. Automated near real-time analysis of AVHRR data could be achieved at existing, or cheap to install, receiving stations, offering a supplement to conventional monitoring methods. Received: 21 January 1997 / Accepted: 3 April 1997     

Stellar models and Hyades: the Hipparcos test

We compare theoretical stellar models for main sequence (MS) stars with the Hipparcos data base for the Hyades cluster to give a warning against the uncritical use of available theoretical scenarios and to show how formal MS fittings can be fortuitous if not fictitious. Moreover, we find that none of the current theoretical scenarios appears able to account for an observed mismatch between theoretical predictions and observations of the coolest Hyades MS stars. Finally, we show that current theoretical models probably give too faint He burning luminosities unlike the case of less massive He burning models, with degenerate progenitors, which have been suggested to suffer the opposite discrepancy.