Anomalous X-ray pulsars: persistent states with fallback disks

The anomalous X-ray pulsar 4U 0142+61 was recently detected in the mid infrared bands with the SPITZER Observatory (Wang, Chakrabarty and Kaplan: Nature 440, 772 (2006)). This observation is the first instance for a disk around an AXP. From a reanalysis of optical and infrared data, we show that the observations indicate that the disk is likely to be an active disk rather than a passive dust disk beyond the light cylinder, as proposed in the discovering paper. Furthermore, we show that the irradiated accretion disk model can also account for all the optical and infrared observations of the anomalous X-ray pulsars in the persistent state.     

The rocks of Mars,from far and near

Abstract— The age, structure, composition, and petrogenesis of the martian lithosphere have been constrained by spacecraft imagery and remote sensing. How well do martian meteorites conform to expectations derived from this geologic context? Both data sets indicate a thick, extensive igneous crust formed very early in the planet's history. The composition of the ancient crust is predominantly basaltic, possibly andesitic in part, with sediments derived from volcanic rocks. Later plume eruptions produced igneous centers like Tharsis, the composition of which cannot be determined because of spectral obscuration by dust. Martian meteorites (except Allan Hills 84001) are inferred to have come from volcanic flows in Tharsis or Elysium, and thus are not petrologically representative of most of the martian surface. Remote‐sensing measurements cannot verify the fractional crystallization and assimilation that have been documented in meteorites, but subsurface magmatic processes are consistent with orbital imagery indicating thick crust and large, complex magma chambers beneath Tharsis volcanoes. Meteorite ejection ages are difficult to reconcile with plausible impact histories for Mars, and oversampling of young terrains suggests either that only coherent igneous rocks can survive the ejection process or that older surfaces cannot transmit the required shock waves. The mean density and moment of inertia calculated from spacecraft data are roughly consistent with the proportions and compositions of mantle and core estimated from martian meteorites. Thermal models predicting the absence of crustal recycling, and the chronology of the planetary magnetic field agree with conclusions from radiogenic isotopes and paleomagnetism in martian meteorites. However, lack of vigorous mantle convection, as inferred from meteorite geochemistry, seems inconsistent with their derivation from the Tharsis or Elysium plumes. Geological and meteoritic data provide conflicting information on the planet's volatile inventory and degassing history, but are apparently being reconciled in favor of a periodically wet Mars. Spacecraft measurements suggesting that rocks have been chemically weathered and have interacted with recycled saline groundwater are confirmed by weathering products and stable isotope fractionations in martian meteorites.     

Linear current instability in loop prominences

By use of the dispersion equation given by Song, Wu, and Dryer (1987) for a cylinder plasma with mass motion and gravity included, we investigate the linear current instabilities developed in loop prominences. The results indicate that the mode of linear instability depends mainly on whetherv _s ² > or not, wherev _s is the sonic velocity at heightz, =GM/(R +z) is the gravity potential,G the gravitational constant,M andR the mass and the radius of the Sun respectively. Ifv _s ² > , then the sausage instability will be dominant. Otherwise, the kink instability will be more important. A possible explanation of knot structure, which appears sometimes in solar loop prominences has been given.     

Catastrophe of Coronal Magnetic Flux Ropes Caused by Photospheric Motions

Using a 2.5-D, time-dependent ideal MHD model in Cartesian coordinates, we carried out numerical simulations to investigate the equilibrium and evolution properties of a magnetic configuration that consists of a coronal magnetic flux rope and a partly open photospheric background field, which is equivalent to that produced by a two-patch magnetic source on the photospheric surface. The axial and annular magnetic fluxes of the flux rope are given and fixed. The global magnetic configuration evolves in response to three types of changes of the background field: decreasing of the distance between the two sources, shrinking of the size of each source, and increasing of the shear in the closed component of the background field. As a result, the geometrical parameters of the flux rope, i.e. the height of the rope axis, the half-width of the rope and the length of the vertical current sheet below the rope, change due to the variation of the background field. It is shown that for a given coronal magnetic flux rope in a partly open background field, the variation of the geometrical parameters of the flux rope displays a catastrophic behavior, namely, there exists a critical point for each case, at which an infinitesimal change of the background field leads to a loss of equilibrium, and thus a jump of the flux rope. The implication of such a catastrophe in solar active phenomena is briefly discussed.     

Hydrogen burning on a white dwarf accreting hydrogen in a binary system

We follow the accretion of hydrogen-rich matter onto the surface of a white dwarf in a close binary system. Two phases of accretion are assumed. First—slow accretion from the interstellar clouds, second—fast accretion from the companion.Hydrogen is ignited at the interface between the fast and slowly accreted layers. After a short runaway burning continues in the form of quasistationary deflagration front propagating inwards. The features of this front are discussed. A possibility of mass loss is indicated.     

浙江中生代陆缘火山岩金矿成矿系统

浙江地处中国东南沿海大陆边缘火山岩成矿带，已发现众多金（银）矿床（点），它们在空间上往往不是孤立地出现，而是在数十至数百平方公里内围绕岩浆热中心相对集中，并与有色金属在矿田范围内伴生。研究证明，金（银）及有色金属矿床是同一火山—侵入旋回过程中形成的有成因联系的矿床。笔者将这种在同一火山—侵入旋回间，围绕同一个岩浆热中心，在不同深度和水平距离内形成的一系列具有成因联系的金（银）和有色金属矿床的总和称为火山岩金矿成矿系统。本文在此概念基础上，详细论述了浙江中生代陆线火山岩金矿成矿系统的类型。时空结构和物质来源。     

Detection of high-energy solar neutrons and protons by ground level detectors on April 15, 2001

In association with the large solar flare of April 15, 2001, the Chacaltaya neutron monitor observed a 3.6σ enhancement of the counting rate between 13:51 and 14:15 UT. Since the enhancement was observed beginning 11 min before the GLE, solar neutrons must be involved in this enhancement. The integral energy spectrum of solar neutrons can be expressed by a simple power law in energy with the index γ=-3.0±1.0. On the other hand, an integral energy spectrum of solar protons has been obtained in the energy range between 650 MeV and 12 GeV. The spectrum can also be expressed by a power law with the power index γ=-2.75±0.15. The flux of solar protons observed at Chacaltaya (at 12 GeV) was already one order less than the flux of the galactic cosmic rays. It may be the first simultaneous observation of the energy spectra of both high-energy protons and neutrons. Comparing the Yohkoh soft X-ray telescope images with the observed particle time profiles, an interesting picture of the particle acceleration mechanism has been deduced.     

On the Cascading Acceleration of the Quasi-Thermal Electrons by mhd Turbulence in Solar Flares

A model of the cascading acceleration of quasi-thermal electrons by MHD turbulence in solar flares is considered. Analysis shows that fast magnetoacoustic wave modes with large wavenumbers (>3×10^–8 cm^–1) strongly damp due to ion viscosity for both preflare and flare conditions. The viscous damping of fast magnetoacoustic wave modes is 10–100 times more efficient than Fermi or transit-time electron acceleration.