A method for judging decay or growth of the magnetic field of pulsar

This paper provides a method for judging growth or decay of the magnetic field of pulsar by using pulse period P, or frequency ν, and its first and second derivatives $ \dot P,\ddot P $ or $ \dot v,\ddot v $ . The author uses this method to judge the growth or decay of the magnetic field of Crab pulsar. The judged result for Crab pulsar is that the magnetic field of Crab pulsar is growing now, but it is not decaying. The result corresponds with the actual case of Crab pulsar.     

A multidimensional magnetohydrodynamics code based on semidiscrete central WENO and PPM schemes

We present a multidimensional magnetohydrodynamics code based on semidiscrete central Godunov-type schemes and high order weighted essentially non-oscillatory data reconstruction and incorporate elements of the piecewise parabolic method into the reconstruction schemes. This algorithm avoids spectral decomposition into characteristic waves and is easily implemented. We have implemented this algorithm and carried out one and two dimensional tests, which verifies that this code can achieve the accuracy and efficiency to solve the astrophysical problems.     

A Possible 456-Day Optical Period of OQ 530

The post-1994observationsof the blazar OQ 530 in optical BV RI bands, and radio observations at 22GHz and 37GHz were collected. The date compensated discrete Fourier transform (DCDFT) and CLEANest methods were used to search for possible periodicities. Two possible periods of 456±100 days and 258±29 days were found in the optical bands. The existence of possible correlations between the optical and radio emissions was investigated by means of discrete correlation function (DCF) analysis, and no significant correlation was found. Some possible mechanisms for the periodic variability are discussed.     

Velocity Distance of the Open Cluster M11

On the reasonable hypothesis that the internal motions of member stars of a cluster are random and isotropic, a method which can be used to estimate the velocity distance of the cluster and its uncertainty is developed. The velocity distance so determined is an absolute distance estimate, and is completely independent of the (widely used) luminosity distance, which is a relative distance estimate. Using the published high-accuracy observational data of radial velocities and proper motions of the stars in the open cluster M11 region, we have determined the distance of M11 to be 1.89 ± 0.52kpc. This is in quite good agreement with the published luminosity distances of the cluster. We briefly discuss the problems concerned, including the sources of errors in the method and its applicable range.     

Secular influence of change in the heliocentric gravitation constant <Emphasis Type="Italic">GM</Emphasis><Subscript>⊙</Subscript> on evolution of orbits of Meteor Streams

The Secular influence of the change in the heliocentric gravitational constant on the evolution of orbits of Meteor Streams is examined by using the method of celestial mechanics with variable mass and variable gravitational constant. The change in the heliocentric gravitational constant includes the combined changes in the sun’s mass and gravitational constant obtained from the modern observation of planets and spacecraft. The perturbation equations are solved by expanding series with mean anomaly. The solutions of the secular and periodic variation of orbital elements are derived. The theoretical results for the secular variables of the semi-major axes, solar distances at perihelion and orbital periods are given for three Meteor Streams: Dracorids, Quadrantids, and Ursids. The numerical results are shown in Table 2. The discussion and conclusion are drawn.     

A Study on the Long-term Spectral Variability of the Black-hole Candidate X-ray Binary Cyg X-1

Using the All-Sky Monitor (ASM, 1.5–12–kev) data of Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) from January 1996 to May 2005, we have made a detailed analysis of the correlation between photon-count rate and spectral hardness ratio HR2 (5–12 keV/3–5 keV) of the black-hole candidate X-ray binary Cyg X-1 in 3 energy bands, namely the A-band (1.5–3 keV), B-band (3–5 keV) and Cband (5–12 keV). By the study on the ASM data of 1-day time scale, we find: (1) When Cyg X-1 is in the soft state, the A-band photon-count rate and hardness ratio HR2 exhibit an anticorrelation, but in B-band and C-band there appears the positive correlation. When Cyg X-1 is in hard state, the photon-count rates in the A,B,C bands are all inversely correlated with the hardness ratio HR2; (2) No matter whether Cyg X-1 is in the soft state or the hard state, the hardness ratios HR2 and HR1 are always positively correlated. In addition, we have analyzed the “dwell by dwell” data of the ASM, and obtained the following interesting results: (1) In the period of MJD = 52600–52760 (while Cyg X-1 is in the hard state), the photon-count rates in the A-band and B-band are inversely correlated with HR2, but in the C-band there appears a relatively strong positive correlation; (2) During the hard state, a clear anticorrelation exists between the hardness ratios HR2 and HR1.     

Multispacecraft Observations of Magnetic Clouds and Their Solar Origins between 19 and 23 May 2007

We analyze a series of complex interplanetary events and their solar origins that occurred between 19 and 23 May 2007 using observations by the STEREO and Wind satellites. The analyses demonstrate the new opportunities offered by the STEREO multispacecraft configuration for diagnosing the structure of in situ events and relating them to their solar sources. The investigated period was characterized by two high-speed solar wind streams and magnetic clouds observed in the vicinity of the sector boundary. The observing satellites were separated by a longitudinal distance comparable to the typical radial extent of magnetic clouds at 1 AU (fraction of an AU), and, indeed, clear differences were evident in the records from these spacecraft. Two partial-halo coronal mass ejections (CMEs) were launched from the same active region less than a day apart, the first on 19 May and the second on 20 May 2007. The clear signatures of the magnetic cloud associated with the first CME were observed by STEREO B and Wind while only STEREO A recorded clear signatures of the magnetic cloud associated with the latter CME. Both magnetic clouds appeared to have interacted strongly with the ambient solar wind and the data showed evidence that they were a part of the coronal streamer belt. Wind and STEREO B also recorded a shocklike disturbance propagating inside a magnetic cloud that compressed the field and plasma at the cloud’s trailing portion. The results illustrate how distant multisatellite observations can reveal the complex structure of the extension of the coronal streamer into interplanetary space even during the solar activity minimum. Electronic Supplementary Material  The online version of this article () contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Southern high latitude climate variability in the Late Cretaceous greenhouse world

A palynological study of oil exploration wells in the Gippsland Basin southeastern Australia has provided a record of southern high latitude climate variability for the last 12 million years of the Cretaceous greenhouse world. During this time, the vegetation was dominated by a cool to temperate flora of Podocarpaceae, Proteaceae and Nothofagidites spp. at a latitude of 60°S. Milankovitch forced cyclic alternations from drier to wetter climatic periods caused vegetation variability from 72 to 77 Ma. This climate change was probably related to the waxing and waning of ephemeral (100 ky) small ice sheets in Antarctica during times of insolation minima and maxima. Drying and cooling after 72 Ma culminated from 68 to 66 Ma, mirroring trends in global δ¹⁸O data. Quantitative palynofloral analyses have the potential to provide realistic proxies for small-scale climate variability in the predominantly ice-free Late Cretaceous.     

Solar sail time-optimal interplanetary transfer trajectory design

The fuel consumption associated with some interplanetary transfer trajectories using chemical propulsion is not affordable. A solar sail is a method of propulsion that does not consume fuel. Transfer time is one of the most pressing problems of solar sail transfer trajectory design. This paper investigates the time-optimal interplanetary transfer trajectories to a circular orbit of given inclination and radius. The optimal control law is derived from the principle of maximization. An indirect method is used...     

Characteristics of convection and overshooting in RGB and AGB stars

Based on the turbulent convection model (TCM) of Li & Yang, we have studied the characteristics of turbulent convection in the envelopes of 2 and 5M⊙ stars at the red giant branch and asymptotic giant branch phases. The TCM has been successfully applied over the entire convective envelopes, including the convective unstable zone and the overshooting regions. We find that the convective motions become progressively stronger when the stellar models are located farther up along the Hayashi line. In the convect...