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.     

三峡重庆库区深部地球物理特征与断裂构造

为了深入研究三峡重庆库区岩石圈动力学特征及其对断裂构造活动的控制和影响．并为之提供基础资料，为三峡重庆库区地震、地质灾害的监测与防治提供基础依据，在已有地球物理资料的基础上，从综合地球物理研究角度出发，通过实测地震测线资料的再解释．采用新的处理技术方法，对本区的东西向主剖面和南北向支测线的地震测深资料进行二维射线追踪处理、Pg波成像；选用场分离技术、位移数字成像技术重新处理了重力和航磁资料，通过联合反演来建立深部二维构造剖面，对剖面所揭示的基底构造特征和地壳结构特征、主要断裂构造特征以及莫霍面的起伏特征进行了精细分析和细致研究．从地球物理平面场特征出发建立了岩石圈构造三维框架。研究结果表明，这样的研究思路准确、方法得当．结论可靠；沿该剖面，把可解译的断裂分为Ⅲ级：Ⅰ级为超岩石圈断裂；Ⅱ级为壳断裂；Ⅲ级为盖层断裂。依据地球物理特征，准确揭示了库区的断裂构造特征，达到了预期效果。     

甘新蒙北山地区成矿带划分和基本特征对比

在对甘新蒙北山地区成矿地质背景和成矿在时空上的联系性等综合研究分析基础上,运用新理论、新认识,以板块构造单元划分为基础,将本区划分为3个Ⅲ级成矿带、11个Ⅳ级成矿带,并对Ⅲ级成矿带特征进行了阐述,以期为矿产勘查和地质大调查工作部署提供新的思路和依据。进一步就主要矿床(点)、构造单元、矿种、赋矿建造、控矿因素、成矿类型、成矿时代等方面进行了对比,认为各Ⅳ级成矿带在区域上具有相对稳定的展布范围,具有相同的构造环境和成矿条件、类似的矿种和成矿时代,存在一定的相似性、可比性,并且各成矿带具有一定的潜在找矿价值。     

湘西州地质旅游资源及其开发建议

系统地介绍了湘西州的地质旅游资源特征,指出切实保护和合理开发利用湘西州丰富的地质旅游资源,将旅游业作为支柱产业是发展该州经济的合理之举,进而提出了保护和开发该州地质旅游资源的8条建议.     

A Simulating Experiment in the Process of Soil Erosion on Bare Land in Mt. Tanakami

In order to understand the process of surface erosion and acquire basic data of conditions on hillslope without vege tation, a sprinkling experiment is conducted on a bare slope in Mt. Tanakami in the central part of Japan. Based on the mea surements of runoff, mean soil erosion depth, and sediment yield, etc. , the results suggest the following characteristics in the process of surface erosion in the experimental area. (1) The occurrence of sediment discharge is interrupted; (2) Surface runoff is a saturated overland flow; (3) The mean soil erosion depth is thick compared with other areas in Mt. Tanakami;(4) Sediment discharge process is detachment- limited.     

测定度盘分划改正的新方法──组合固定角距法

本文分析了国外用于测定度盘分划改正的几种方法，并分析了固定角距法的优点和不足之处；详细叙述了组合固定角距法测定对径改正的原理和计算公式；并且讨论了两对显微镜之间夹角变化以及显微镜比例尺变化对对径改正的影响，给出了相应的修正方法。用固定角距法所测的对径改正精度可达±０″．００９。     

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.     

海量多波段星表数据的交叉证认的实现

许多天文学家需要星表来选源、证认和研究。目前国外有一些大的数据中心提供了星表查询、多源查询(即小样本交叉证认)、可视化等功能。但是随着大数据量及全波段天文时代的到来,这些服务已经越来越不能满足天文学家的需求。在详细分析了国外数据中心的服务后,提出了新的问题,并给出一套解决方案。着重讨论了任意两个星表的交叉证认和大数据量星表的交叉证认的实现,以及交叉证认结果的分类和参数的自由选择等方面的课题。     

VO_IMPAT:中国虚拟天文台图像处理分析工具

中国虚拟天文台图像处理分析工具（VO_IMPAT），是由国家天文台虚拟天文台项目组开发的一项服务，它提供了对数字巡天图像数据（Digital Sky Survey，DSS）、天文星表以及其他数据库的交互访问。VO_IMPAT的设计目的是实现多波段天文数据的融合。可以将不同波段的星表叠加到DSS底图上，如光学波段的USNO星表、近红外波段的2MASS星表、射电波段的NVSS星表和X射线波段的RASS星表。同时VO_IMPAT还可以对图像进行放大、缩小、伪彩色、等高线、直方图、尖锐化、平滑化、旋转等处理，不同的星表数据可以采用不同的颜色和图标显示。     

Biostratigraphic and aminostratigraphic constraints on the age of the Middle Pleistocene glacial succession in north Norfolk,UK

Considerable debate surrounds the age of the Middle Pleistocene glacial succession in East Anglia following some recent stratigraphical reinterpretations. Resolution of the stratigraphy here is important since it not only concerns the glacial history of the region but also has a bearing on our understanding of the earliest human occupation of north‐western Europe. The orthodox consensus that all the tills were emplaced during the Anglian (Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 12) has recently been challenged by a view assigning each major till to a different glacial stage, before, during and after MIS 12. Between Trimingham and Sidestrand on the north Norfolk coast, datable organic sediments occur immediately below and above the glacial succession. The oldest glacial deposit (Happisburgh Till) directly overlies the ‘Sidestrand Unio‐bed’, here defined as the Sidestrand Hall Member of the Cromer Forest‐bed Formation. Dating of these sediments therefore has a bearing on the maximum age of the glacial sequence. This paper reviews the palaeobotany and describes the faunal assemblages recovered from the Sidestrand Unio‐bed, which accumulated in a fluvial environment in a fully temperate climate with regional deciduous woodland. There are indications from the ostracods for weakly brackish conditions. Significant differences are apparent between the Sidestrand assemblages and those from West Runton, the type site of the Cromerian Stage. These differences do not result from contrasting facies or taphonomy but reflect warmer palaeotemperatures at Sidestrand and a much younger age. This conclusion is suggested by the higher proportion of thermophiles at Sidestrand and the occurrence of a water vole with unrooted molars (Arvicola) rather than its ancestor Mimomys savini with rooted molars. Amino acid racemisation data also indicate that Sidestrand is significantly younger than West Runton. These data further highlight the stratigraphical complexity of the ‘Cromerian Complex’ and support the conventional view that the Happisburgh Till was emplaced during the Anglian rather than the recently advanced view that it dates from MIS 16. Moreover, new evidence from the Trimingham lake bed (Sidestrand Cliff Formation) above the youngest glacial outwash sediments (Briton's Lane Formation) indicates that they also accumulated during a Middle Pleistocene interglacial – probably MIS 11. All of this evidence is consistent with a short chronology placing the glacial deposits within MIS 12, rather than invoking multiple episodes of glaciation envisaged in the ‘new glacial stratigraphy’ during MIS 16, 12, 10 and 6. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.