Now you see it, now you don't – the circumstellar disc in the GRO J1008−57 system

Multiwavelength observations are reported here of the Be/X-ray binary pulsar system GRO J1008−57. Over ten years worth of data are gathered together to show that the periodic X-ray outbursts are dependant on both the binary motion and the size of the circumstellar disc. In the first instance an accurate orbital solution is determined from pulse periods, and in the second case the strength and shape of the Hα emission line is shown to be a valuable indicator of disc size and its behaviour. Furthermore, the shape of the emission line permits a direct determination of the disc size which is in good agreement with theoretical estimates. A detailed study of the pulse period variations during outbursts determined the binary period to be 247.8 ± 0.4 d, in good agreement with the period determined from the recurrence of the outbursts.     

基于拟准检定的实时单站GPS提取同震速度的改进算法研究

提出了一种基于拟准检定的实时单站GPS载波相位观测数据历元间差分提取同震速度的改进算法.改进算法将实时高频历元差分数据质量控制作为同震速度准确提取的重要保障,对原始高频数据中的小周跳和粗差十分敏感,且能够有效地估计小周跳和粗差,从而抵抗它们对同震速度估计的不良影响;另外,改进算法还简化了数据处理流程,也使得利用广播星历单站提取同震速度、监测地震形变的算法更为稳健.选取了2011年3月11日日本大地震距离震中140 km的MIZU站1 Hz高频GPS观测数据和广播星历来测试改进算法.结果表明：拟准检定法具有更好的小周跳与粗差自动定位和估计性能,改进算法利用广播星历求得的同震速度与事后动态精密单点定位结果表现出很好的一致性.     

>“Resolving” neutron stars physics and geometry

The unprecedented harvest of X‐ray photons detected from dozens of isolated neutron stars has made it possible to glimpse at their emission mechanisms as well as at their emission geometry. Rotating hot spot(s), superimposed to the global thermal emission from the neutron star surface, are seen from several objects, allowing to probe the stars' external heating sources. Non‐thermal emission is also seen to vary as the stars rotate. Moreover, absorption features have been detected in the spectra of several objects, allowing to probe (tentatively) the stars' magnetic fields. Spectacular tails, trailing the stars' supersonic motion, trace the boundaries of the relativist winds streaming from the star's magnetosphere. Apart from classical radio pulsar and certified radio‐quiet neutron stars, XMM‐Newton has devoted significant observation time to the enigmatic central compact objects, presumably isolated neutron stars shining at the center of their supernova remnants. Far from showing a unifying behaviour, XMM‐Newton data have unveiled a surprising diversity. Understanding the reason(s) behind such diversity is the challenge for the next decade of X‐ray observations. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Galactic X‐ray source populations

The landscape of Galactic X‐ray sources made of accreting binaries, isolated objects and active stellar coronae has been significantly modified by the advent of the Chandra, XMM‐Newton and INTEGRAL satellites. New types of relatively low X‐ray luminosity X‐ray binaries have been unveiled in the Galactic disc, while deep observations of the central regions have revealed large numbers of X‐ray binaries of so far poorly constrained nature. Because of the high spatial resolution needed and faint X‐ray luminosities generally emitted, studying the dependency of the X‐ray source composition with parent stellar population, Galactic disc, bulge, nuclear bulge, etc., is only practicable in our Galaxy. The evolutionary links between low L_X X‐ray binaries and classical X‐ray luminous accreting systems are still open in many cases. In addition, the important question of the nature of the compact sources contributing to the Galactic ridge hard X‐ray emission remains unresolved. We review the most important results gathered by XMM‐Newton over the last years in this domain and show how future observations could be instrumental in addressing several of these issues. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Periodicity search for possible X-ray counterparts to radio-quiet gamma-ray pulsar candidates

A periodicity search of gamma-ray data is usually difficult because of the small number of detected photons. A periodicity in the timing signal at other energy bands from the counterpart to the gamma-ray source may help to establish the periodicity in the gamma-ray emission and strengthen the identification of the source in different energy bands. However, it may still be difficult to find the period directly from X-ray data because of limited exposure. We have developed a procedure, by cross-checking two X-ray data sets, to find candidate periods for X-ray sources that are possible counterparts to gamma-ray pulsar candidates. Here, we report on the results of this method obtained with all the currently available X-ray data of eight X-ray sources. Some attractive periodicity features were found. These candidate periods can serve as the target periods for a future search when new data become available, so that a blind search with a huge number of trials can be avoided.     

Vortex structure of neutron stars with CFL quark cores

The Ginzburg-Landau equations are derived for the magnetic and gluomagnetic gauge fields of nonabelian semi-superfluid vortex filaments in color superconducting cores of neutron stars containing a diquark CFL condensate. The interaction of the diquark CFL condensate with the magnetic and gluomagnetic gauge fields is taken into account. The asymptotic values of the energies of these filaments are determined from the quantization conditions. It is shown that a lattice of semi-superfluid vortex filaments with a minimal quantum of circulation develops in the quark superconducting core during rotation of the star. The magnetic field in the core of this vortex is on the order of 10¹⁸ G. A cluster of proton vortices, which develops in the hadron phase surrounding every superfluid neutron vortex owing to an entrainment effect, creates new semi-superfluid vortex filaments with a minimal quantum of circulation in the quark superconducting core. Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 51, No. 4, pp. 633–646 (November 2008).     

热中子数字成像系统的研制

成像系统是中子照相装置的关键组件之一.采用6LiFZnS(Ag)材料中子转换屏、长焦距、小视场专用微光镜头等光学组件,利用科学级CCD芯片、两级热电偶制冷技术、14bit模数转换技术研制了数字CCD摄像机,采用Visula C 和C Builder为工具,开发了双字节图像采集处理分析软件包,并设计了成像系统辐射防护装置,构成了热中子数字成像系统.实验证明:所采用的技术路线是合理的,达到了设计目的,成像质量可以与国外类似装置相媲美.     

数字化X线成像技术

X线数字化技术是当前医学影像领域最新最重要技术之一,本文简要介绍X线数字化成像技术的现状,并阐述了间接数字化X线成像技术和直接数字化X线成像技术的各种类型及原理.     

月球水冰探测进展

月球上是否存在水冰是第二次月球探测热潮中的热点问题。 1 994年克莱门汀号 (Clementine)环月探测器搭载的频率为 2 .2 73GHz双基地雷达探测到月球南极一些地区出现同向极化增加等独特的回波特征 ,这些地区正好处于极地永久阴影区 ,表明这些地区可能存在水冰。Arecibo天文台频率为 2 .38GHz的地基雷达对月球极地进行制图 ,也得到类似结论。 1 998年月球勘探者号 (LunarProspec tor)环月探测器搭载的中子探测仪在月球极地永久阴影区探测到高含量的氢信号大多认为是水冰引起的。但雷达探测和中子探测结果均存在多解性。月球表面粗糙度同样可以引起雷达回波呈现出类似水冰的异常特征 ,而中子探测仪测量到的仅仅是氢信号而非水 ,而且月球勘探者号撞击月表之后并没有探测到任何的水蒸气信号。月球极地水冰存在与否、存在形式和存在数量等科学问题的回答需要对月球极地特别是永久阴影区作进一步探索