Luminous infrared galaxies with the submillimeter array: probing the extremes of star formation

Luminous and Ultraluminous infrared galaxies (ULIRGs) contain the most intense regions of star formation in the local universe. Because molecular gas is the fuel for current and future star formation, the physical properties and distribution of the warm, dense molecular gas are key components for understanding the processes and timescales controlling star formation in these merger and merger remnant galaxies. We present new results from a legacy project on the Submillimeter Array which is producing high resolution images of a representative sample of galaxies with log L _FIR >11.4 and D<200 Mpc.     

Rädler effect in a collisionless plasma and field-aligned currents in the magnetotail

The mean electromotive force perpendicular to the mean current (Rädler effect) by random hydromagnetic waves in a collisionless plasma is derived. The results are applied to the field-aligned currents in the Earth's magnetotail. It is shown that the Rädler-effect electric field is large enough to give the observed value of the field-aligned currents and can be identified as a possible source for the field-aligned currents.     

AMS 14C ages and petrological features for solidified fractures with carbonates at coastal outcrops of Yakushima Island, Japan

This paper describes the petrological features and the ages of rock fractures filled mainly with carbonates at coastal outcrops of Yakushima Island, Japan. Microscopic observation and geochemical analysis were used to investigate the petrological features and the compositions of the fracture fillings. In addition, AMS ¹⁴C dating was also performed to estimate the ages of them. Microscopic study indicated that the fracture fillings contain not only cementing materials but also lithic fragments from host rock and bioclasts. SEM observation showed that the cements exhibit the characteristic textures of beachrocks. The cements were identified as Mg-calcite from XRD analysis. It was also observed from geochemical analysis that there were at least two stages of precipitation within the fractures. In addition, AMS ¹⁴C dating for seventeen samples of fracture fillings showed that the ages range from 2,460 to 5,130 years BP which is found to be younger than that of the uplifted coral at Yakushima Island (approximately 5,300–5,600 years BP). The results suggest that the fractures were solidified after the coral was uplifted.     

SPATIO-TEMPORAL STRESS FIELD VARIATION IN THE CENTRAL LONGMENSHAN FAULT ZONE AFTER THE 2008 WENCHUAN EARTHQUAKE FROM FOCAL MECHANISM SOLUTIONS OF SMALL EARTHQUAKES

We determined the focal mechanism solutions(FMS)of aftershocks of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake using the waveform data recorded by the Western Sichuan movable seismic array. We further obtained the spatio-temporal variation of the stress field by inverting the stress tensors from these data. The results show that the FMSs of the small earthquakes are primarily reverse faulting with considerable number of normal and strike-slip. The proportion of reverse type earthquakes clearly increases with time, and the spatial distribution of the FMSs is closely related with local geology and the characteristics of the deep faults. The stress tensor inversion results reveal that the orientations of the maximum horizontal compressive stress(S_H)shortly after the mainshock in each area are mainly in EW to NWW-SEE directions, while in the area along Xiaoyudong-to-Lixian aftershock branch it is in NE-SW direction in shallow crust. This implies that the stress field at the early stage after the Wenchuan earthquake is mainly controlled by the dynamic stress change caused by the rupture propagation, and the conspicuous factor determining the S_H direction is the characteristics of the rupture plane. Temporal variations of the stress tensors show that the stress regimes at depth changed from a mixture of reverse and strike-slip faulting to pure reverse, implying that local Coulomb stress caused by the main shock is released through strike-slip faulting and gradually recovers into the background stress field. The change of stress in the shallow subsurface follows that in the deep subsurface with observable time delay.     

基于水体反射光谱和组分浓度的固有光学特性反演算法

吸收系数和后向散射系数是水体的固有光学特性参数,在探测水体中各组分浓度的过程中起着至关重要的作用.但通常组分固有光学特性的测定是一个操作复杂且费时费力的过程.提出了一种利用已知组分浓度和相应的反射光谱的水体样本来推定水体中各组分的吸收和后向散射系数的算法,并利用生物光学模型产生的模拟光谱数据对算法的合理性进行了验证.结果表明,在理想的实验条件下(反射光谱满足机理模型,且选取的训练样本相互独立),可以高精度地反演出各组分的固有光学特性,从而证实了本算法在理论卜的合理性.     

CaPtO3 as a novel post-perovskite oxide

Structural, morphological, magnetic, and thermal properties have been investigated for a novel post-perovskite oxide CaPtO₃ synthesized under high pressure. By comparing obtained structural parameters with those for known post-perovskite compounds, we argue that the chemical bond has a strong covalent character. Precise measurements of the Langevin susceptibility χ ₀ = −9.6 × 10⁻⁵ emu/mol and Debye temperature θ ∼ 470 K provide a good opportunity to confirm the reliability of first-principle calculations on predicting physical properties of the Earth’s D” layer.     

Cautions for the estimation of equivalent current systems from geomagnetic data

Spherical harmonic geomagnetic data analysis is a convenient technique to estimate equivalent current systems and to separate the external from the internal fields. However, there are certain cautions which need to be taken in the procedure, as demonstrated by some examples of the analyses of geomagnetic daily variations during solar active and quiet periods. Questions concerning the proper level of series truncation, problems with sharp gradients of the northward amplitude in narrow latitudinal zones, and dependence of results on which horizontal component is selected (northward, eastward or both) are discussed for the northern hemispheric equivalent current systems.     

Land suitability analysis for maize production in Indonesia using satellite remote sensing and GIS-based multicriteria decision support system

GeoJournal - Maize is one of the potential crops can help in regional food production with self-sufficiency of foods in the drought prone areas of East Java in Indonesia. The purpose of this...