Asteroid motion near the 3 : 1 resonance

A mapping model is constructed to describe asteroid motion near the 3 : 1 mean motion resonance with Jupiter, in the plane. The topology of the phase space of this mapping coincides with that of the real system, which is considered to be the elliptic restricted three body problem with the Sun and Jupiter as primaries. This model is valid for all values of the eccentricity. This is achieved by the introduction of a correcting term to the averaged Hamiltonian which is valid for small values of the ecentricity.We start with a two dimensional mapping which represents the circular restricted three body problem. This provides the basic framework for the complete model, but cannot explain the generation of a gap in the distribution of the asteroids at this resonance. The next approximation is a four dimensional mapping, corresponding to the elliptic restricted problem. It is found that chaotic regions exist near the 3 : 1 resonance, due to the interaction between the two degrees of freedom, for initial conditions close to a critical curve of the circular model. As a consequence of the chaotic motion, the eccentricity of the asteroid jumps to high values and close encounters with Mars and even Earth may occur, thus generating a gap. It is found that the generation of chaos depends also on the phase (i.e. the angles andv) and as a consequence, there exist islands of ordered motion inside the sea of chaotic motion near the 3 : 1 resonance. Thus, the model of the elliptic restricted three body problem cannot explain completely the generation of a gap, although the density in the distribution of the asteroids will be much less than far from the resonance. Finally, we take into account the effect of the gravitational attraction of Saturn on Jupiter's orbit, and in particular the variation of the eccentricity and the argument of perihelion. This generates a mixing of the phases and as a consequence the whole phase space near the 3 : 1 resonance becomes chaotic. This chaotic zone is in good agreement with the observations.     

Theoretical infrared spectra of some model polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: effect of ionization

In order to test the hypothesis of ionized polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as possible carriers of the UIR bands, we realized a computational exploration on selected PAHs of small dimension in order to identify which changes ionization would induce on their IR spectra. In this study we performed ab initio calculations of the spectra of neutral and positively ionized naphthalene, anthracene, and pyrene. The results are significantly important. The frequencies in the cations are slightly shifted with respect to the neutral species, but no general conclusion can be reached from the three molecules considered. By contrast, the relative intensities of most vibrations are strongly affected by ionization, leading to a much better agreement between the calculated CH/CC vibration intensity ratios and those deduced from observations.     

Preservation of biological information in thermal spring deposits: developing a strategy for the search for fossil life on Mars

Current interpretations of the early history of Mars suggest many similarities with the early Earth and therefore raise the possibility that the Archean and Proterozoic history of life on Earth could have a counterpart on Mars. Terrestrial experience suggests that, with techniques that can be employed remotely, ancient springs, including thermal springs, could well yield important information. By delivering water and various dissolved species to the sunlit surface of Mars, springs very likely created an environment suitable for life, which could have been difficult, if not impossible, to attain elsewhere. The chemical and temperature gradients associated with thermal springs sort organisms into sharply delineated, distinctive and different communities, and so diverse organisms are concentrated into relatively small areas in a predictable and informative fashion. A wide range of metabolic strategies are concentrated into small areas, thus furnishing a useful and representative sampling of the existing biota. Mineral-charged springwaters frequently deposit chemical precipitates of silica and/or carbonate which incorporate microorganisms and preserve them as fossils. The juxtaposition of stream valley headwaters with volcanoes and impact craters on Mars strongly implies that subsurface heating of groundwater created thermal springs. On Earth, thermal springs create distinctive geomorphic features and chemical signatures which can be detected by remote sensing. Spring deposits can be quite different chemically from adjacent rocks. Individual springs can be hundreds of meters wide, and complexes of springs occupy areas up to several kilometers wide. Benthic microbial mats and the resultant stromatolites occupy a large fraction of the available area. The relatively high densities of fossils and microbial mat fabrics within these deposits make them highly prospective in any search for morphological evidence of life, and there are examples of microbial fossils in spring deposits as old as 300 Myr.     

Coupled atmosphere-ocean models of Titan's past

We have developed a coupled atmosphere and ocean model of Titan's surface. The atmospheric model is a 1-D spectrally-resolved radiative-convective model. The ocean thermodynamics are based upon solution theory. The ocean, initially composed of CH4, becomes progressively enriched in ethane over time. The partial pressures of N2 and CH4 in the atmosphere are dependent on the ocean temperature and composition. We find that the resulting system is stable against a runaway greenhouse. Accounting for the decreased solar luminosity, we find that Titan's surface temperature was about 20 K colder 4 Gyr ago. Without an ocean, but only small CH4 lakes, the temperature change is 12 K. In both cases we find that the surface of Titan may have been ice covered about 3 Gyr ago. In the lakes case condensation of N2 provides the ice, whereas in the ocean case the ocean freezes. The dominant factor influencing the evolution of Titan's surface temperature is the change in the solar constant--amplified, if an ocean is present, by the temperature dependence of the solubility of N2. Accretional heating can dramatically alter the surface temperature; a surface thermal flux of 500 erg cm-2 sec-1, representative of small levels of accretional heating, results in a approximately 20 K change in surface temperatures.     

Quasi-periodical structures in the galaxy populations: mass and luminosity functions for the cluster galaxies

A search and estimation of the statistical significance of the quasi-periodical structures (QPS) has been carried out: for the luminosity function of the galaxies in a few rich clusters; for the integrated mass function of galaxies in the superclusters identified via = 21 cm observations. Some statistically significant QPS have been revealed. The periods for these structures are in agreement between each other, at this basis the hypothesis has been proposed that an effect of the QPS at the level of galaxies has some universal character. Frequency doubling has been discovered for these QPS.     

The effect of Antarctic O3 decline on night airglow intensity of Na5893Å, O5577Å, OH emissions and its correlation with total solar flare numbers

The paper presents the effect of O₃ depletion on different night airglow emission lines. Calculations based on chemical kinetics show that the airglow intensity of Na5893Å, O5577Å and OH band emissions will also be affected due to the depletion of O₃ concentration. Intensity of Na5893Å is calculated theoretically for Halley Bay (76° S,27° W), British Antarctic Survey Station, during the period 1973 to 1984. It is concluded from the covariation of different emission lines that O5577Å and OH emissions also follow the same trend of variation. A study has been made to find the correlation between the depletion of O₃ concentration and total solar flare numbers. Important results are as follows:

Adsorption of fluoride on goethite surfaces-implications on dental epidemiology

Fluoride ion interaction with synthetically prepared goethite has been investigated over a range of pH values (4–9) and F^– concentrations (10^–3–10^–5 M). The amount of F^– retained by goethite suspensions was found to be a function of pH, media ionic strength, F^– concentration, and goethite concentration. The lowest ionic strength (0.001 M KNO₃) gave the highest adsorption medium. Uptake was minimal at pH >7 and increased with decreasing pH. Thermodynamic properties for fluoride adsorption at 298 K and 323 K were investigated. The isosteric heat of adsorption (H _r) was calculated and the heterogeneity and homogeneity of the surface examined for goethite. In view of the importance of fluoride in dental health, the interaction of fluoride on goethite in the physical environment has important implications on dental epidemiology.     

The new Russian minorities: a statistical overview

The author "presents a succinct review of the newly constituted Russian minorities situated in the former Soviet republics. Based on census data series (1897 to 1989) and original computations, the paper covers location (highest proportion of Russians in Kazakhstan, Latvia, and Estonia), concentration (predominantly urban), occupational structure (largely in industry and science), and related data on issues such as language affinities and migration."     

The petrogenesis of the Edough amphibolites, Annaba, NE Algeria: two unrelated basic magmas and the lherzolite-harzburgite residue of a possible magma source

Summary The conditions of metamorphism and petrogenesis of Kef Lakhal amphibolites and associated amphibolite and olivine-rich lenses are discussed. The Kef Lakhal amphibolites contain plagioclase ranging from An₈₅ and An₁₂ and Ca-poor normally zoned garnet (< 9 wt% CaO) and were last metamorphosed to upper amphibolite facies. The amphibolite lenses invariably contain calcic plagioclase (An_97-78) and Ca-rich (up to 14 wt% CaO) doubly zoned garnets. Based on garnet zoning, it is found that the lenses experienced the three metamorphisms recorded elsewhere in the massif whereas the main amphibolites suffered only the last two metamorphisms, the last of which reached conditions of about T= 700 ± 80 °C and P= 8–10 Kb. This agrees with two unrelated igneous suites and is supported by the chemistry of the rocks and quantitative modelling. The Kef Lakhal amphibolites were formed by olivine-dominated fractional crystallisation processes from melts derived by partial melting of a homogeneous source and preserve MORB affinities. The amphibolite lenses were also evolved by fractional processes dominated by olivine but from a less homogeneous source and have island arc characteristics. The associated olivine-rich lenses are lherzolite-harzburgite mantle residua which suffered up to 35% melting. Bearing in mind the lack of isotopic and structural information, the data presented in this study indicate that fractional crystallisation of liquids produced through non model melting of these residua does not reproduce the composition of either of the amphibolites. Fractionation of melts similar to those derived from the Ronda peridotites yield compositions similar to the Edough amphibolites.

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Die Entstehung der Edough Amphibolite, Annaba, NE Algerien; zwei basische Magmen und das Lherzolit-Harzburgit-Residuum einer möglichen Magmenquelle

Zusammenfassung Die Metamorphosebedingungen und die Petrogenese der Amphibolite von Kef Lakhal und der mit ihnen assoziierten Amphibolit- und Olivin-reichen Linsen werden diskutiert. Die Kef Lakhal-Amphibolite enthalten Plagioklas, dessen Zusammensetzung von An₈₅ bis An₁₂ schwankt, und Ca-armen, normal zonierten Granat (< 9 Gew % CaO). Sie wurden unter Bedingungen der obenen Amphibolitfacies metamorphosiert. Die Amphibolit-Linsen führen stets Ca-reichen (An_97-78) Plagioklas und doppelt zonierten Granat (bis zu 14 Gew % Ca0). Die Granatzonierung läßt erkennen, daß die Linsen drei Metamorphose-Phasen, die auch sonst in dem Massiv nachgewiesen wurden, ausgesetzt waren. Die letzte Phase erreichte Bedingungen von ungefähr T = 700 ± 80 °C und P = 8–10 kb. Dies weist auf zwei, miteinander nicht verwandte magmatische Gesteinsabfolgen hin; dieses Konzept wird durch die chemische Zusammensetzung und durch quantitative Modellierung unterstützt. Die Kef Lakhal-Amphibolite wurden durch Olivin-dominierte fraktionierte Kristallisation aus Schmelzen gebildet, die durch partielle Aufschmelzung einer homogenen Quelle entstanden sind und MORB-Charakteristik haben. Die Amphibolit-Linsen gehen auch auf Olivin-dominierte Fraktionierungs-Prozesse zurück, hatten aber eine weniger homogene Quelle und zeigen Inselbogen-Charakteristika. Die assoziierten Olivin-reichen Linsen sind Lherzolit-Harzburgit Mantel-Residua, die von bis zu 35% Aufschmelzung betroffen waren. Obwohl zu berücksichtigen ist, daß isotopengeologische und strukturelle Daten fehlen, zeigen die Ergebnisse, daß fraktionierte Kristallisation von Schmelzen, die durch Non-Modell Aufschmelzung der Residua entstanden sind, nicht die Zusammensetzung der Amphibolite reproduzieren können. Hingegen liefert Fraktionierung von Schmelzen, die denen des RondaPeridotits ähnlich sind, Zusammensetzungen, die denen der Edough Amphibolite ähnlich sind.

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With 11 Figures