An acousto-optical imaging spectrophotometer for astrophysical observations

We present the results of our tests of an acousto-optical imaging spectrophotometer with a CCD detector for astronomical observations. The tunable acousto-optical filter, based on a paratellurite single crystal with a 13 Å pass band operates in the wavelength range 6300–11000 Å. We obtained image spectra for the planetary nebula NGC 7027 in the Hα line and for Saturn in the methane absorption band, as well as Hα and continuum images for the nuclear region of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 1068.     

恒星形成区GGD12-15的近红外观测

给出恒星形成区GGD12-15的宽波段JHK和窄波段H2v=1-0S(1)近红外成像观测．观测图像揭示了致密的年轻红外星团和与红外源成协的红外星云，并发现了以H2发射结表征的星团外流活动．大多数红外点源在光学波段不可见；对76颗红外点源的JHK′测光结果显示，有32颗具有红外超，其中5颗表现原恒星特征，表明分子云中的恒星形成活动很活跃．以B8光谱型作为大质量星分界，由色星等图估计出大质量星所占星团比例为-10％～26％．GGD12—15星团的K′星等分布的峰值位于15.0mag，并在13．0mag-16．0mag平坦分布；[H—K′]色分布的峰值出现在-0．7mag，在此以上更红的星团成分占70％．在GGD12-15区新发现的氢分子发射结集中在星团中心领域，其空间分布明显与剧烈的恒星形成活动相关；有5个发射结位于分子外流的中心区域，暗示其激发可能与分子外流同源．     

Gaseous Jets in Comet Hale-Bopp (1995 O1)

We report the identification of gas jets in comet Hale-Bopp in OH, NH, CN, C₂ and C₃. This is the first time OH and NH jets without an obvious optical dust jet counterpart have been identified in narrowband comet images. We also confirm the existence of CN jets as reported by Larson et al. (1997) and Mueller et al. (1998). Jet features can be seen in the March and April 1997 datasets, approximately a month before and after perihelion. Our results contribute to the understanding of both the chemical properties of the comet as well as the physical mechanisms necessary to produce these features. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

PRIMA for the VLTI – Science

The four main scientific objectives of PRIMA – the Phase-Referenced Imaging and Micro-arc second Astrometry facility for the VLTI – will be described:– extra-solar system characterization with astrometry, to detect planets and evaluate their mass, and imaging of the dust accretion disk,– galactic center study with astrometry(dynamics of the bulge stars) and imaging at 10μm (piercing the gas and dust clouds surrounding the galactic center),– observations of AGNs and other extra-galactic objects, too faint to be observed without PRIMA, for which partial imaging is needed to constrain their structuremodels,– micro-gravitational lensing event resolution (imaging and astrometry of their photo-center) in the Galactic Bulge and Magellanic Clouds, helping to determine directly the lens mass and distance. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

用卫星高光谱数据提取德兴铜矿区植被污染信息

在深入分析研究德兴铜矿矿区植被光谱特征的基础上,利用美国EO-1卫星Hyperion高光谱数据,通过反演表征植物生理状态的光谱特征参数(红边位置和最大吸收深度)变异,提取与污染相关的信息,获取了矿山植被污染生态效应概况,为矿山污染的诊断和监测提供新技术和知识支撑。     

镇江圌山绍隆禅寺“活地”成因

"活地"是宗教的传奇,而由于以往知识与技术的限制以及宗教圣地的"不可侵犯性","活地"也成了大自然的千年未解之谜。通过现场考察和资料调研,明晰了"活地"所在地区的地质构造特征。采用高频率表面波监测、分析技术,通过现场试验,研究了"活地"附近地表浅层岩土体分布情况。采用图像分析技术,经室内试验研究得出了"活地"及周围地区出露岩石的矿物组成。最终,对于"活地"的成因提出以下看法:1.否定了地下深层生长性岩脉诱发"活地"现象的观点;2.膨胀岩及膨胀土吸水膨胀对"活地"的隆升有一定作用,但这不是"活地"的主要诱因;3.提出"活地"是岩石风化作用及特殊地理环境综合作用结果的观点:风化作用使岩体疏松、体积增大,地面隆起;两侧山体运动对其交界处岩石产生挤压作用,为"活地"的持续隆升提供动力源。     

Detection of non-radial pulsation and faint companion in the symbiotic star CH Cyg

We have detected asymmetry in the symbiotic star CH Cyg through the measurement of precision closure phase with the Integrated Optics Near-Infrared Camera (IONIC) beam combiner, at the infrared optical telescope array interferometer. The position of the asymmetry changes with time and is correlated with the phase of the 2.1-year period found in the radial velocity measurements for this star. We can model the time-dependent asymmetry either as the orbit of a low-mass companion around the M giant or as an asymmetric, 20 per cent change in brightness across the M giant. We do not detect a change in the size of the star during a 3-year monitoring period neither with respect to time nor with respect to wavelength. We find a spherical dust shell with an emission size of 2.2 ± 0.1 D _* full width at half-maximum around the M giant star. The star to dust flux ratio is estimated to be 11.63 ± 0.3. While the most likely explanation for the 20 per cent change in brightness is non-radial pulsation, we argue that a low-mass companion in close orbit could be the physical cause of the pulsation. The combined effect of pulsation and low-mass companion could explain the behaviour revealed by the radial velocity curves and the time-dependent asymmetry detected in the closure-phase data. If CH Cyg is a typical long secondary period variable then these variations could be explained by the effect of an orbiting low-mass companion on the primary star.     

X-ray absorption contrast images of binary chemical reactions

Low-divergence synchrotron-sourced X-rays enable a radiographic imaging scheme for full characterization of binary chemical reactions and characterization by type of more complex reactions, in situ, in diamond anvil cells (DAC). Spatially resolved reactants are induced to react by laser heating of their interface. The spatially intermediate products are observed through X-ray absorption contrast. Limits to the technique include the ability to maintain controlled experiment geometry during compression and the ability to resolve chemical differences between reactants and products by X-ray absorption. The ability to make in situ observations at experimental pressure and temperature obviates the problem with quenching techniques for capturing liquid compositions in experiments with dimensions smaller than the diffusion length during quenching time. Partially molten Fe-alloy systems, of poor quenchability, are examined at DAC pressures and temperatures for relevance to Earth's core constitution and evolution. Determinations of eutectic melting in Fe–FeS match known results. Of the probable light elements that may alloy with Fe in the Earth's liquid outer core, Fe–FeS experiments show only modest quenching problems, but C and Si alloy experiments are highly vulnerable to quenching artifacts. The observed reactivity of FeS, Fe₃C, FeSi, and FeO(OH) with Fe in DAC makes the observed non-reactivity between Fe and FeO more significant, reducing the probability that oxygen alone is the major alloy in Earth's molten outer core.     

Converted phases analysis of the Campi Flegrei caldera using active seismic data

We applied a type of depth migration for converted seismic phases to active and passive seismic data sets from the Campi Flegrei volcanic region in southern Italy. The migration method is based on the diffraction summation migration technique. Travel times to grid points in a volume were calculated in smooth P and S-velocity models and trace energy near the calculated converted phase time was stacked over multiple sources at one receiver. Weighting factors based on Snell's Law at an arbitrarily oriented local interface were applied to better focus trace energy. PP reflection images from the active data set provide increased detail to images of the caldera rim from other studies. The migrated images also show features near 2–3 km in depth beneath Pozzuoli City, which may be associated with an over-pressured gas volume, as suggested by other geophysical investigations. Possible deeper features near 4 km depth may be related to the presence of the carbonate basement or may image a previously undetected feature, such as a small body of strongly thermometamorphosed volcanic rock. The current passive earthquake data set from the 1984 ground uplift episode was not well suited to the converted phases analysis due to narrow P–S windows and high noise levels in the traces. However, two stations provide confirmation and extension of imaged features in the active data.