Some properties of synchrotron radio and inverse-Compton gamma-ray images of supernova remnants

The synchrotron radio maps of supernova remnants (SNRs) in a uniform interstellar medium and interstellar magnetic field (ISMF) are analysed, allowing for different 'sensitivity' of the injection efficiency to the obliquity of the shock. The very-high-energy γ-ray maps arising from inverse Compton processes are also synthesized. The properties of images in these different wavelength bands are compared, with particular emphasis on the location of the bright limbs in bilateral SNRs. Recent High-Energy Stereoscopic System (HESS) observations of SN 1006 show that the radio and inverse Compton γ-ray limbs coincide, and we found that this may happen if (i) injection is isotropic but the variation of the maximum energy of electrons is rather fast to compensate for differences in the magnetic field, or (ii) the obliquity dependence of injection (either quasi-parallel or quasi-perpendicular) and the electron maximum energy are strong enough to dominate the magnetic field variation. In the latter case, the obliquity dependences of the injection and the maximum energy should not be opposite. We argue that the position of the limbs alone, and even their coincidence in radio, X-rays and γ-rays, as discovered by HESS in SN 1006, cannot be conclusive as regards the dependence of the electron injection efficiency, the compression/amplification of the ISMF and the electron maximum energy on the obliquity angle.     

Optical polarization of the Crab pulsar: precision measurements and comparison to the radio emission

The linear polarization of the Crab pulsar and its close environment was derived from observations with the high-speed photopolarimeter Optical Pulsar TIMing Analyser at the 2.56-m Nordic Optical Telescope in the optical spectral range (400–750 nm). Time resolution as short as 11 μs, which corresponds to a phase interval of 1/3000 of the pulsar rotation, and high statistics allow the derivation of polarization details never achieved before. The degree of optical polarization and the position angle correlate in surprising details with the light curves at optical wavelengths and at radio frequencies of 610 and 1400 MHz. Our observations show that there exists a subtle connection between presumed non-coherent (optical) and coherent (radio) emissions. This finding supports previously detected correlations between the optical intensity of the Crab and the occurrence of giant radio pulses. Interpretation of our observations requires more elaborate theoretical models than those currently available in the literature.     

The nature of the hard state of Cygnus X-3

The X-ray binary Cygnus X-3 (Cyg X-3) is a highly variable X-ray source that displays a wide range of observed spectral states. One of the main states is significantly harder than the others, peaking at ∼20 keV, with only a weak low-energy component. Due to the enigmatic nature of this object, hidden inside the strong stellar wind of its Wolf–Rayet companion, it has remained unclear whether this state represents an intrinsic hard state, with truncation of the inner disc, or whether it is just a result of increased local absorption. We study the X-ray light curves from RXTE /ASM and CGRO /BATSE in terms of distributions and correlations of flux and hardness and find several signs of a bimodal behaviour of the accretion flow that are not likely to be the result of increased absorption in a surrounding medium. Using INTEGRAL observations, we model the broad-band spectrum of Cyg X-3 in its apparent hard state. We find that it can be well described by a model of a hard state with a truncated disc, despite the low cut-off energy, provided the accreted power is supplied to the electrons in the inner flow in the form of acceleration rather than thermal heating, resulting in a hybrid electron distribution and a spectrum with a significant contribution from non-thermal Comptonization, usually observed only in soft states. The high luminosity of this non-thermal hard state implies that either the transition takes place at significantly higher   L / L _E  than in the usual advection models, or the mass of the compact object is  ≳20 M_⊙  , possibly making it the most-massive black hole observed in an X-ray binary in our Galaxy so far. We find that an absorption model as well as a model of almost pure Compton reflection also fit the data well, but both have difficulties explaining other results, in particular the radio/X-ray correlation.     

High-energy afterglow emission from gamma-ray bursts

We calculate the very high-energy (sub-GeV to TeV) inverse Compton emission of GRB afterglows. We argue that this emission provides a powerful test of the currently accepted afterglow model. We focus on two processes: synchrotron self-Compton emission within the afterglow blast wave, and external inverse Compton emission which occurs when flare photons (produced by an internal process) pass through the blast wave. We show that if our current interpretations of the Swift X-ray telescope (XRT) data are correct, there should be a canonical high-energy afterglow emission light curve. Our predictions can be tested with high-energy observatories such as GLAST , Whipple, HESS and MAGIC. Under favourable conditions we expect afterglow detections in all these detectors.     

石英显微变形机制及流变学特征研究进展

石英是组成地壳的主要矿物之一,其物理性质与地壳的变形行为及流变学属性密切相关,因此石英的显微变形机制及流变学特征研究意义重大。随着石英显微变形机制及流变学属性实验学研究的深入,我们对石英在地壳变形过程中重要作用的认识也随之提升。本文从石英结构入手,对升温过程中石英主滑移系的转换进行了总结,并且升温过程中显微变形机制也发生了改变,对流变学内涵也不同,所以分述了石英的主要变形机制,及其流变学参数;由于应变局部化为地壳变形的研究热点,并且石英对应变局部化具有一定的指示意义,所以本文对石英在应变局部化过程中的表现进行了深入讨论。考虑到地壳变形的研究过程中,石英不常作为单矿物发生变形,所以本文对多相矿物的变形表现也进行了讨论。最后我们将简单介绍一些现今主流的石英显微变形机制的研究手段。     

Torsional mechanisms in ductile building systems

It is postulated that in order to estimate torsional effects on the seismic response of ductile building structures, the associated plastic mechanism to be developed in the three-dimensional system should be identified. The proposed approach is very different from that embodied in building codes. Inelastic structures are classified as either torsionally unrestrained or restrained. It is shown that clearly defined mechanisms that are to be mobilized, enable the acceptable system ductility demand to be estimated. This should ensure that the corresponding demands imposed on critical translatory elements of the system do not exceed their established displacement ductility capacity. To this end familiar quantities, such as element yield displacement and stiffness, are redefined. Comparisons are made of the intents of existing codified design approaches and those emphasising the role of imposed inelastic displacements. A simple treatment of the consequences of earthquake-induced inelastic skew displacements is also addressed. The primary aim of the paper is to offer very simple concepts, based on easily identifiable plastic mechanisms, to be utilized in structural design rather than advancement in analyses. Detailed design applications of these concepts are described elsewhere. The approach is an extension of the deterministic philosophy of capacity design, now used in some countries. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.