Advances in radiative transfer

This review describes advances in radiative transfer theory since about 1985. We stress fundamental aspects and emphasize modern methods for the numerical solution of the transfer equation for spatially multidimensional problems, for both unpolarized and polarized radiation. We restrict the discussion to two-level atoms with noninverted populations for given temperature, density and velocity fields. Unfortunately this article was originally published with typesetter's errors: The correct publication date was 25 February 2006, not 3 January 2006. The content was not in the final form. The publishers wish to apologize for this mistake. The online version of the original version can be found at /10.1007/s00159-005-0025-8.     

GMRT observations of interstellar clouds in the 21cm line of atomic hydrogen

Nearby interstellar clouds with high (|ν|≥10km s⁻¹) random velocities although easily detected in NaI and CaII lines have hitherto not been detected (in emission or absorption) in the HI 21cm line. We describe here deep Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) HI absorption observations toward radio sources with small angular separation from bright O and B stars whose spectra reveal the presence of intervening high random velocity CaII absorbing clouds. In 5 out of the 14 directions searched we detect HI 21cm absorption features from these clouds. The mean optical depth of these detections is ∼0.09 and FWHM is ∼10km s⁻¹, consistent with absorption arising from CNM clouds.     

TPS测设道路填挖边线方法探讨

道路建设中,测设填挖线是经常遇到的问题,就此提出了TPS(全站仪)在任意控制点设站、测定辅助点和填挖点的放样方法。该方法的关键之处是,利用曲线要素推算各放样点的坐标,然后在道路施工现场附近选择一视野开阔的控制点安置TPS,一次性放样出全视野内的辅助点和填挖点,并连接填挖点组成填挖边线。为保证各阶削坡的精度,应注意保护各辅助点的平面位置,正确地削出最上阶平台,以控制以下各阶削坡。而以往的放样方法是抬竿法,需要在逐个横断面多次设站,用定向、量距、抬高的方法放样填挖点。这种方法的缺点是:效率低下,作业难度大,累计误差大。显然,用TPS一次设站,放样若干横断面填挖点的方法,提高了施工效率,降低了作业难度,且提高了放样点的精度。     

Evidence for Co-Propagation of 4765- and 1720-MHz OH Masers in Star-Forming Regions

Two star-forming regions Cepheus A and W75N, were searched for the 4765-MHz OH maser emission using the multi-element radio linked interferometer network (MERLIN). The excited OH emission has an arc-like structure of 40 mas in Cep A and a linear structure of size 45 mas in W75N. We also found the 1720-MHz line in Cep A and Hutawarakorn [MNRAS 330 (2002) 349] reported the 1720-MHz emission in W75N. The 1720- and 4765-MHz OH spots coincided in space within 60 mas and in velocity within 0.3 km s^–1 in both targets implying that both maser transitions arise from the same region. According to the modelling by Gray [MNRAS 252 (1991) 30] the 1720/4765-MHz co-propagation requires a low density, warm environment. The masers lie at the edges of H II regions where such conditions are expected.     

Comoving frame calculations of spectral lines formed in rapidly expanding media with the partial frequency redistribution function for zero natural line width

Comoving frame calculations have been used to compute the spectral lines formed in rapidly expanding spherical media. We have employed the angle-averaged partial frequency redistribution functionR _I with a two-level atom model in non-LTE atom approximation. A linear velocity law increasing with radius has been employed with maximum velocity at Τ=0 being set equal to 30 mean thermal units. It is found that one obtains almost symmetric emission line profiles at large velocities similar to those found in quasars.