GRS 1915+105: the distance, radiative processes and energy-dependent variability

We present an exhaustive analysis of five broad-band observations of GRS 1915+105 in two variability states, χ and ω, observed simultaneously by the Proportional Counter Array (PCA) and High-Energy X-ray Timing Experiment (HEXTE) detectors aboard the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer , and the Oriented Scintillation Spectrometer Experiment (OSSE) detector aboard the Compton Gamma-ray Observatory . We find all the spectra well fitted by Comptonization of disc blackbody photons, with very strong evidence for the presence of a non-thermal electron component in the Comptonizing plasma. Both the energy and the power spectra in the χ state are typical of the very high/intermediate state of black hole binaries. The spectrum of the ω state is characterized by a strong blackbody component Comptonized by thermal electrons and a weak non-thermal tail. We then calculate rms spectra (fractional variability as functions of energy) for the PCA data. We accurately model the rms spectra by coherent superposition of variability in the components implied by the spectral fits, namely a less variable blackbody and more variable Comptonization. The latter dominates at high energies, resulting in a flattening of the rms at high energies in most of the data. This is also the case for the spectra of the quasi-periodic oscillations present in the χ state. Then, some of our data require a radial dependence of the rms of the disc blackbody. We also study the distance to the source, and find   d ≃ 11 kpc  as the most likely value, contrary to a recent claim of a much lower value.     

Mortar Upscaling for Multiphase Flow in Porous Media

In mortar space upscaling methods, a reservoir is decomposed into a series of subdomains (blocks) in which independently constructed numerical grids and possibly different physical models and discretization techniques can be employed in each block. Physically meaningful matching conditions are imposed on block interfaces in a numerically stable and accurate way using mortar finite element spaces. Coarse mortar grids and fine subdomain grids provide two-scale approximations. In the resulting effective solution flow is computed in subdomains on the fine scale while fluxes are matched on the coarse scale. In addition the flexibility to vary adaptively the number of interface degrees of freedom leads to more accurate multiscale approximations. This methodology has been implemented in the Center for Subsurface Modeling's multiphysics multiblock simulator IPARS (Integrated Parallel Accurate reservoir Simulator). Computational experiments demonstrate that this approach is scalable in parallel and it can be applied to non-matching grids across the interface, multinumerics and multiphysics models, and mortar adaptivity. Moreover unlike most upscaling approaches the underlying systems can be treated fully implicitly.     

The Tepla(?)/Saxothuringian suture in the Karkonosze–Izera massif, western Sudetes, central European Variscides

The southern and eastern Karkonosze-Izera massif (northern Bohemian Massif) exposes blueschist facies rocks and MORB-type magmatic complexes. During Late Devonian to Early Carboniferous times, these were overthrust within a nappe pile toward the NW onto the pre-Variscan Saxothuringian basement composed of the Izera-Kowary metagranitoids and their envelope. The lowermost nappe (or parautochthonous?) unit of the pile is the low-grade metamorphosed Jewt3d complex, comprising a Devonian to Early Carboniferous sedimentary succession of the Saxothuringian passive margin. This is tectonically overlain by the South Karkonosze complex, which represents Ordovician-Silurian volcano-sedimentary infill of the Saxothuringian basin, affected by Late Devonian HP metamorphism. The uppermost nappe is the Early Palaeozoic epidote-amphibolite grade Leszczyniec MORB-like complex, cropping out on the eastern margin of the Karkonosze-Izera massif. It probably represents a fragment of obducted Saxothuringian basin floor. The nappe pile was stacked beneath the overriding upper plate margin, now concealed below the Intra-Sudetic basin and hypothesized to represent a fragment of the Tepla-Barrandian terrane. The nappe stacking, triggered by buoyancy-controlled upward extrusion of the subducted continental slab, was the main mechanism for the exhumation of HP rocks. The final stages of the NW-ward nappe stacking were accompanied and followed by SE-directed Early Carboniferous extensional collapse. The lower plate of the suture zone was uplifted at that time and intruded by the ~330-Ma-old, nearly undeformed Karkonosze granite pluton. As a result of the collapse, the Tepla-Barrandian(?) upper plate was downthrown on shear zones and brittle faults and buried under several km-thick synorogenic Late Tournaisian(?) through Namurian and post-orogenic Late Carboniferous-Early Permian succession of the Intra-Sudetic basin. The south and east Karkonosze suture most probably is a fragment of the Tepla/Saxothuringian (Münchberg-Tepla) suture belt known from the western Bohemian Massif.     

Normal form,Lie-Poisson structure and reduction for the Henon-Heiles system

The reduced Henon-Heiles system is investigated as a Hamiltonian dynamical system obtained by applying the normalization of the HamiltonianH=1/2(p ₁ ² +p ₂ ² +q ₁ ² +q ₂ ² )+1/3q ₁ ³ –q ₁ q ₂ ² to fourth-degree terms. The related equations of motion are bi-Hamiltonian and possess the Lie-Poisson structure. Each Lie-Poisson structure possesses an associated Casimir function. When reduced to level sets of these functions, the equations of motion take various symplectic forms. The various reductions give different coordinate representations of the solutions. These coordinate representations are used to seek the simplest representation of the solutions.     

Tag retention and survival of fish tagged in controlled pond experiments

Fish survival, tag retention and tag loss were evaluated in pond experiments and described by linear regression equations. Tagging of fish had no significant influence on their survival. However, loss of tags caused strong differences between actual fish survival and the survival rate e^–z estimated on recovered tags. Mathematical functions were derived to correct tag loss. Values of those functions depend upon the type of tag and time after tagging. The B-type of tagging, which approximated the Swedish Carlin method, appeared to be most effective. The rate of tag loss was independent of the fish species (common carp, tench) used in the experiments.     

First-order theory of weakly eccentric orbital motion

Starting from the analytical theory of perturbed circular motions presented in Celestial Mechanics (Bois, 1994), this paper presents an extended resolution valid also for small eccentricity orbits. The solution is of the first order of a small parameter characterizing the magnitude of disturbing forces. The solution has the form of Fourier series with the coefficients given by iterative formation laws. The solution is free from singularities due to small eccentricity or inclination. As an example of numerical application the equatorial artificial satellite orbits are analyzed. For some high satellite orbits with small eccentricity the difference between the numerical integration and the analytical model does not exceed few centimeters per one revolution.On leave from Astronomical Observatory of A. Mickiewicz University, Soneczna 36, PL60-286 Pozna, Poland.     

On the energy gap for Fe-poor oxide and silicate minerals

A relationship between the energy gap (E _G) and the density (ρ) over mean atomic weight (〈A〉) ratio for Fe-poor oxide and silicate minerals is derived from simple properties of their free atom-components. Theoretical considerations are based on the Lorentz electron theory of solids. The eigenfrequency ν ₀ of elementary electron oscillators, in energy units h ν ₀, is identified with the energy gap of a solid. The numerical relation is of the form $$(\langle U_0 \rangle ^2 - E_G^2 )\frac{{\langle A\rangle }}{\rho } = \frac{4}{3}\pi \hbar ^2 \frac{{e^2 }}{m}N = 276.79 eV^2 cm^3 /mol$$ where 〈U ₀〉 is the average first ionization potential (per free atom), ? is crossed Planck's constant, e is the electron charge, m is the electron rest mass, and N is Avogadro's number. For several geophysically interesting oxide and silicate minerals which are in general composed of four different elements (O, Si, Mg and Al), we obtain from laboratory data that the mean value of $$\left\langle {[\langle U_0 \rangle ^2 - (E_G^{lab} )^2 ]\frac{{\langle A\rangle }}{\rho }} \right\rangle \approx 248.2 \pm 20.9eV^2 cm^3 /mol.$$ .     

Distribution of minima of the current size of the triple systems and their disruption

The dynamical evolution of triple systems has been studied by computer simulations. A function (t) has been defined, where p is the maximum distance of the components from their centre of inertia, and t is the time. The value of is used to indicate the current size of the triple system. The minima of have been followed during the course of evolution of the triples. A distribution of f(_min) has been obtained, which is described by the following statistical parameters: the mode is equal to 0.65d, the mean value _min= 0.750d, r.m.s. is 0.477d, the asymmetry is 0.218, the excess is 2.04 where d is the mean harmonic distance between the bodies in the equilibrium state of the triple system. As a rule, escapes from triples occur only after close three-body approaches.