The plane of the Edgeworth-Kuiper belt

We examine possible locations for the primordial disk of the Edgeworth-Kuiper Belt (EKB), using several subsets of the known objects as markers of the total mass distribution. Using a secular perturbation theory, we find that the primordial plane of the EKB could have remained thin enough to escape detection only if it is clustered very closely about the invariable plane of the Solar System.     

High-resolution H i and radio continuum observations of the SNR G290.1−0.8

We have observed the supernova remnant (SNR) G290.1−0.8 in the 21-cm H  i line and the 20-cm radio continuum using the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA). The H  i data were combined with data from the Southern Galactic Plane Survey to recover the shortest spatial frequencies. In contrast, H  i absorption was analysed by filtering extended H  i emission, with spatial frequencies shorter than 1.1 kλ. The low-resolution ATCA radio continuum image of the remnant shows considerable internal structure, resembling a network of filaments across its 13-arcmin diameter. A high-resolution ATCA radio continuum image was also constructed to study the small-scale structure in the SNR. It shows that there are no structures smaller than ∼17 arcsec, except perhaps for a bright knot to the south, which is probably an unrelated object. The H  i absorption study shows that the gas distribution and kinematics in front of SNR G290.1−0.8 are complex. We estimate that the SNR probably lies in the Carina arm, at a distance 7 (±1) kpc. In addition, we have studied nearby sources in the observed field using archival multiwavelength data to determine their characteristics.     

Cosmological tensor perturbations in brane world models

We discuss the problems faced in trying to deduce the evolution of cosmological perturbations in brane-world models. There are two natural ways to formulate the problem: one which makes the equations of motion simple and the other which makes the boundary condition simple. Unfortunately the problem is difficult to solve, even numerically, in either formalism. We present a more phenomenological approach which, while it does not solve the problem for any given model, illustrates some generic features one might expect to see in the tensor part of the cosmic microwave background power spectrum. We find that the observed scale invariance of the cosmic microwave background provides bounds on brane world models. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The efficiency of the spiral-in of a black hole to the Galactic Centre

We study the efficiency at which a black hole or dense star cluster spirals in to the Galactic Centre. This process takes place on a dynamical friction time-scale, which depends on the value of the Coulomb logarithm (ln Λ). We determine the accurate value of this parameter using the direct N -body method, a tree algorithm and a particle-mesh technique with up to two million plus one particles. The three different techniques are in excellent agreement. Our measurement for the Coulomb logarithm appears to be independent of the number of particles. We conclude that  ln Λ= 6.6 ± 0.6  for a massive point particle in the inner few parsec of the Galactic bulge. For an extended object, such as a dense star cluster, ln Λ is smaller, with a value of the logarithm argument Λ inversely proportional to the object size.     

Wolf-Rayet stars

Summary Recent literature on Population I Wolf-Rayet star research extending from the Milky Way to blue compact dwarf galaxies is reviewed, broken down into inventory, basic parameters and galactic distribution, atmospheres, binaries, intrinsic variability, mass loss, enrichment and evolution. Also the incidence of Wolf-Rayet stars with variable non-thermal radio emission, excess X-ray fluxes, and episodic/periodic IR excesses is reviewed. These phenomena appear to be associated with wind-wind interaction in wide long-period WR+OB binaries and with wind-compact object interaction in WR+c binaries, with orbit sizes of the order of magnitude of the WR radio photosphere sizes or larger.     

Report of the International Astronomical Union Division I Working Group on Precession and the Ecliptic

The IAU Working Group on Precession and the Equinox looked at several solutions for replacing the precession part of the IAU 2000A precession–nutation model, which is not consistent with dynamical theory. These comparisons show that the (Capitaine et al., Astron. Astrophys., 412, 2003a) precession theory, P03, is both consistent with dynamical theory and the solution most compatible with the IAU 2000A nutation model. Thus, the working group recommends the adoption of the P03 precession theory for use with the IAU 2000A nutation. The two greatest sources of uncertainty in the precession theory are the rate of change of the Earth’s dynamical flattening, ΔJ₂, and the precession rates (i.e. the constants of integration used in deriving the precession). The combined uncertainties limit the accuracy in the precession theory to approximately 2 mas cent⁻². Given that there are difficulties with the traditional angles used to parameterize the precession, z_A, ζ_A, and θ_A, the working group has decided that the choice of parameters should be left to the user. We provide a consistent set of parameters that may be used with either the traditional rotation matrix, or those rotation matrices described in (Capitaine et al., Astron. Astrophys., 412, 2003a) and (Fukushima Astron. J., 126, 2003). We recommend that the ecliptic pole be explicitly defined by the mean orbital angular momentum vector of the Earth–Moon barycenter in the Barycentric Celestial Reference System (BCRS), and explicitly state that this definition is being used to avoid confusion with previous definitions of the ecliptic. Finally, we recommend that the terms precession of the equator and precession of the ecliptic replace the terms lunisolar precession and planetary precession, respectively.     

1999年8月11日日全食期间的重力吸引效应研究

对1999年8月11日日全食阴影扫过欧洲期间,设在Annelles,Uccle,Walferdange和Bondy弹簧和超导重力仪的记录进行了分析.为了确定月亮对太阳万有引力可能的遮挡效应的极限,对超导和弹簧重力仪记录进行了比较.同时也对LCR和阿斯卡尼亚重力仪观测结果进行了讨论.结论是如果日食重力吸引效应存在,它应在超导重力仪±1 nm/s2(0.1×10-8ms-2)的观测精度范围之内.研究发现在以上情形下,弹簧和超导重力仪都在它们的精度范围内工作,并且日食引起的异常环境干扰可能使重力信号有重大的改变.