An efficient algorithm for prioritizing NEA physical observations

The present near‐Earth asteroids (NEA) discovery rate has surpassed 1500 objects per year, thus calling for extensive observation campaigns devoted to physical characterization in order to define successful mitigation strategies in case of possible impactors. A tool is presented which, through a prioritization algorithm, aims to optimize the planning and the execution of NEA physical observations. Two ranking criteria are introduced, Importance and Urgency, accounting for the need of satisfying the two basic observational modes for physical characterization, that is, rapid response and large observing programs, aimed at selecting targets for exploration and mitigation space missions. The resulting tool generates a daily table of observable targets and it can also be run as a stand‐alone tool in order to provide future observing opportunities at a specific date of interest. It has been developed and implemented within the framework of the NEOShield‐2 EU/HORIZON 2020 Project; the output of the prioritization algorithm is publicly available, in tabular format, on the NEOShield‐2 NEO Properties Portal ( http://www.neoshield.net/the-neoshield-project/project-activities/neo-properties-portal ), reachable from the main page of the Project website ( http://www.neoshield.eu ).     

Contribution to the solution of the three-body problem in power series form

After reviewing the existing procedures for solving the three-body problem by convergent power series, the author develops two algebraic methods in terms of the independent variable which is either the time t or Levi-Civita's regularizing variable u. These power series solve in Weierstrass' and Painlevé's sense the problem formulated in its greatest generality, since no restrictions at all are made on the order of magnitude of masses and none of the three bodies is restricted to moving along a prescribed conic section. Besides, the reference system used is a tridimensional Cartesian one. In the t-domain, the expressions for the high-order derivatives of the coordinates are computed using repeatedly Leibnitz's rule for derivatives of products of functions. In the u-domain, an extremely simple successive approximation procedure is established by means of a single recursion formula which requires elementary operations to be performed on polynomials of increasing degrees.     

Application of a newN-body code to the encounters of galaxies and dissipationless formation of elliptical galaxies

A new code has been used to simulate the formation of elliptical galaxies via a dissipationless collapse by a numerical experiment. Preliminary results of numerical simulations are presented for initial 2T/|W| conditions ranging from 10^–2 to 10^–5. The importance of inhomogeneity in the initial density distribution and of merging is outlined.Paper presented at the 11th European Regional Astronomical Meetings of the IAU on New Windows to the Universe, held 3–8 July, 1989, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.     

On the heat flux related to stretching in the NW-Mediterranean continental margins

Summary The surface thermal flux of the continental margins of the northwestern Mediterranean Sea is interpreted on the basis of a 1-D instantaneous pure shear stretching model of the lithosphere in terms of three components: the background heat flowing out from the asthenosphere (38 mW m^–2), the transient contribution depending on the rift age and extension amount (35 mW m^–2 at the most), and the contribution due to the radiogenic elements of the lithosphere. The radiogenic component is estimated at the continental margins of the Ligurian-Provençal basin and Valencia trough, and in the surrounding mainland areas by means of available data of surface heat generation from Variscan Corsica, Maures-Estérel and the Central Massif along with a geophysical-petrological relationship between heat production and seismic velocity. The lithosphere radiogenic heat contribution q_l decreases with the thinning factor according to the exponential law: q_l() = a exp(-b), in which factor b is greater for that part of the lithosphere below the uppermost 10 km. Considering also the heat generated by radioactive isotopes in sediments, the stable Variscan lithosphere produces an average thermal flux of 30 mW m^–2 which decreases by about one half where the lithosphere is thinned by one third. Although the surface heat generation is 2·1 – 3·3 µW m^–3 in the Maures-Estérel massif — excepting small outcrops of dioritic rocks with lower heat production — and 1·8 µW m^–3 for most of Corsica, the radiogenic heating within the lithosphere for such areas is nearly the same and does not explain the higher heat flux of the Corsica margin. This asymmetric thermal pattern with surface heat flux which is 10 – 15 mW m^–2 higher than predictions is probably of upper mantle origin, or can be ascribed to penetrative magmatism.     

Modelling the rainfall-induced mobilization of a large slope movement in northern Calabria

Two recent phases of mobilization of a large, rainfall-induced debris slide are analysed in terms of relationships between rains and phases of displacement. The first activation at San Rocco (San Benedetto Ullano, Calabria) occurred on 28 January 2009, after extraordinary rains had stricken the region for a couple of months. Detailed geomorphologic field surveys, combined with measurements of superficial displacements at datum points, were performed to properly recognize the evolution of the phenomenon. In addition, a real-time control system of rains and superficial displacements measured at extensometers was implemented, to better analyse the evolution of the phenomenon. In early May 2009, the activity reduced to very slow displacements, persisting in the same condition for the following 8 months. On 1 February 2010, premonitory signs of a new phase of activation were noticed, again following 2 months of extraordinary rainfalls. After few days of further precipitations, the middle sector of the landslide activated since 11 February, disrupting the road network and threatening the major lifelines and some buildings. A hydrological analysis aimed at simulating the dates of activation and the main phases of acceleration of the phenomenon was carried out, by calibrating the empirical model FLaIR against the daily rainfalls and the history of known phases of mobilization since 1970. Calibration allowed to successfully simulate both the cited phases of activity of the San Rocco landslide, by predicting the beginning of the movements as well as the following paroxysmal stages, as testified by the measurements at datum points and extensometers. The set of parameters obtained through calibration reflects the influence of both prolonged antecedent rains, and of high-intensity rainfalls of shorter duration, which slightly preceded the major displacements. Once calibrated the model, a suitable threshold could be defined, by analysing the trend of the mobility function against the history of activations of the considered slope movement, and by excluding false alarms. Accordingly, a reliable tool for predicting the phases of activity of a large slope movement could therefore be obtained.     

Tracing the warm–hot intergalactic medium in the local Universe

We present a simple method for tracing the spatial distribution and predicting the physical properties of the Warm–Hot Intergalactic Medium (WHIM), from the map of galaxy light in the Local Universe. Under the assumption that biasing is local and monotonic we map the  ∼2 h ⁻¹ Mpc  smoothed density field of galaxy light into the mass-density field, from which we infer the spatial distribution of the WHIM in the Local Supercluster. Taking into account the scatter in the WHIM density–temperature and density–metallicity relation, extracted from the z = 0 outputs of high-resolution and large-box-size hydrodynamical cosmological simulations, we are able to quantify the probability of detecting WHIM signatures in the form of absorption features in the X-ray spectra, along arbitrary directions in the sky. To illustrate the usefulness of this semi-analytical method we focus on the WHIM properties in the Virgo cluster region.     

The maximum momentum of particles accelerated at cosmic ray modified shocks

Particle acceleration at non-relativistic shocks can be very efficient, leading to the appearance of non-linear effects due to the dynamical reaction of the accelerated particles on the shock structure and to the non-linear amplification of the magnetic field in the shock vicinity. The value of the maximum momentum, p _max, in these circumstances cannot be estimated using the classical results obtained within the framework of test-particle approaches. We provide here the first attempt at estimating p _max in the cosmic ray modified regime, taking into account the non-linear effects mentioned above.