A Chandra observation of the X-ray environment and jet of 3C 31

We have used a deep Chandra observation of the central regions of the twin-jet Fanaroff–Riley class I (FRI) radio galaxy 3C 31 to resolve the thermal X-ray emission in the central few kpc of the host galaxy, NGC 383, where the jets are thought to be decelerating rapidly. This allows us to make high-precision measurements of the density, temperature and pressure distributions in this region, and to show that the X-ray emitting gas in the centre of the galaxy has a cooling time of only  5×10⁷ yr  . In a companion paper, these measurements are used to place constraints on models of the jet dynamics.
A previously unknown one-sided X-ray jet in 3C 31, extending up to 8 arcsec from the nucleus, is detected and resolved. Its structure and steep X-ray spectrum are similar to those of X-ray jets known in other FRI sources, and we attribute the radiation to synchrotron emission from a high-energy population of electrons. In situ particle acceleration is required in the region of the jet where bulk deceleration is taking place.
We also present X-ray spectra and luminosities of the galaxies in the Arp 331 chain of which NGC 383 is a member. The spectrum and spatial properties of the nearby bright X-ray source 1E 0104+3153 are used to argue that the soft X-ray emission is mostly due to a foreground group of galaxies rather than to the background broad absorption-line quasar.     

Chandra observations of the X-ray jet in 3C 66B

Our Chandra observation of the FR I radio galaxy 3C 66B has resulted in the first detection of an X-ray counterpart to the previously known radio, infrared and optical jet. The X-ray jet is detected up to 7 arcsec from the core and has a steep X-ray spectrum, α ≈1.3±0.1 . The overall X-ray flux density and spectrum of the jet are consistent with a synchrotron origin for the X-ray emission. However, the inner knot in the jet has a higher ratio of X-ray to radio emission than the others. This suggests that either two distinct emission processes are present or differences in the acceleration mechanism are required; there may be a contribution to the emission from the inner knot from an inverse Compton process or it may be the site of an early strong shock in the jet. The peak of the brightest radio and X-ray knot is significantly closer to the nucleus in the X-ray than in the radio, which may suggest that the knots are privileged sites for high-energy particle acceleration. 3C 66B's jet is similar both in overall spectral shape and in structural detail to those in more nearby sources such as M87 and Centaurus A.     

Holocene environmental reconstruction from deltaic deposits in northeast Greenland

Terraces of different age in the Zackenberg delta, located at 74°N in northeast Greenland, have provided the opportunity for an interdisciplinary approach to the investigation of Holocene glacial, periglacial, pedological, biological and archaeological conditions that existed during and after delta deposition. The raised Zackenberg delta accumulated mainly during the Holocene Climatic Optimum, starting slightly prior to 9500 cal. yr BP (30 m a.s.l.) and continued until at least 6300 cal. yr BP (0.5 m a.s.l.). Evidence of sea‐level change is based on conventional ¹⁴C dates of shells from the marine delta bottomsets, ¹⁴C AMS dating of macroscopic plant material from the foresets and of fluvial deposits. Arthropod and plant remains from 7960 cal. yr BP in the delta foresets include the oldest evidence of the arctic hare in Greenland and evidence of a rich herb flora slightly different from the modern flora. Empetrum nigrum and Salix herbacea remains indicate a summer temperature at least as high as today during delta deposition. Post‐depositional nivation activity, dated by luminescence, lichenometry and Schmidt Hammer measurements indicate mainly late Holocene activity, at least since 2900 yr BP, including Little Ice Age (LIA) avalanche activity. Pedological analyses of fossil podsols in the Zackenberg delta, including ¹⁴C AMS dating of selected organic rich B‐horizons, show continued podsol development during the Holocene Climatic Optimum and into the subsequent colder period of the late Holocene, until 3000–2400 yr BP. A Neo‐Eskimo house ruin found on the lower part of the delta, presently being eroded by the sea, is dated to AD 1800. It presumably was abandoned prior to AD 1869, and suggests that some of the last Eskimos that lived in northeast Greenland might have occupied the Zackenberg delta. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Chandra measurements of the X-ray core and cluster of 3C 220.1

We report results of an 18-ks exposure with the ACIS instrument on Chandra of the powerful z =0.62 radio galaxy 3C 220.1. The X-ray emission separates into cluster gas of emission-weighted kT ∼5 keV , 0.7–12 keV luminosity (to a radius of 45 arcsec) of 5.6×10⁴⁴ erg s⁻¹ and unresolved emission (coincident with the radio core). While the extended X-ray emission is clearly thermal in nature, a straightforward cooling-flow model, even in conjunction with a point-source component, is a poor fit to the radial profile of the X-ray emission. This is despite the fact that the measured properties of the gas suggest a massive cooling flow of ∼130 M_⊙ yr⁻¹, and the data show weak evidence for a temperature gradient. The central unresolved X-ray emission has a power-law spectral energy index α ∼0.7 and 0.7–12 keV luminosity of 10⁴⁵ erg s⁻¹, and any intrinsic absorption is relatively small. The two-point spectrum of the core emission between radio and X-ray energies has α _rx=0.75 . Since this is a flatter spectrum than seen in other sources where the X-ray emission is presumed to be radio-related, regions close to the active galactic nucleus (AGN) in this source may dominate the central X-ray output, as is believed to be the case for lobe-dominated quasars. Simple unification models would be challenged if this were found to be the case for a large fraction of high-power radio galaxies.     

G359.95-0.04: an energetic pulsar candidate near Sgr A*

We report the discovery of a prominent non-thermal X-ray feature located near the Galactic centre that we identify as an energetic pulsar wind nebula. This feature, G359.95-0.04, lies 1-lyr north of Sgr A* (in projection), is comet like in shape, and has a power-law spectrum that steepens with increasing distance from the putative pulsar. The distinct spectral and spatial X-ray characteristics of the feature are similar to those belonging to the rare class of ram-pressure confined pulsar wind nebulae. The luminosity of the nebula at the distance of Sgr A*, consistent with the inferred X-ray absorptions, is   L_x ∼ 1 × 10³⁴ erg s⁻¹  in the 2–10 keV energy band. The cometary tail extends back to a region centred at the massive stellar complex IRS 13 and surrounded by an enhanced diffuse X-ray emission, which may represent an associated supernova remnant. Furthermore, the inverse Compton scattering of the strong ambient radiation by the nebula consistently explains the observed TeV emission from the Galactic centre. We also briefly discuss plausible connections of G359.95-0.04 to other high-energy sources in the region, such as the young stellar complexes IRS 13 and SNR Sgr A East.     

Evidence for Chemical Heterogeneity in the Nucleus of C/1995 O1 (Hale–Bopp)

We present an analysis of OH, CN, and C₂ jets observed in thecoma of Comet Hale–Bopp on UT April 22, 23, and 25, 1997. Monte Carlomodels designed to simulate the gas jets were employed to analyze thenuclear active areas responsible for the observed coma gas jets. Ourresults indicate that four active areas are necessary to reproduce theCN and C₂ jets while five active areas are required to simulatethe OH jets. The additional OH active area must produce significantlevels of OH, but cannot emit measurable quantities of either carbonradical. This difference suggests that the nucleus of Comet Hale–Boppis chemically heterogeneous.     

Comet Hale–Bopp: Velocity Field Of Ions From Fabry-Pérot Imaging

Fabry-Pérot interferograms of comet Hale-Bopp were obtained on several nights in March and April 1997. For this purpose we utilized the 2-channel focal reducer of the Max-Planck-Institute for Aeronomy at the 2-m telescope of the Pik Terskol Observatory. Solid Fabry-Pérot etalons of resolving power 30000 were used in both channels of the focal reducer. The main aim of this study is to measure the velocities and abundances of OH⁺ and H₂O⁺, both ions closely related to the same parent molecule, H₂O. In the blue channel interferograms we identified several individual OH⁺ rotational lines of the A³Π_i - X³Σ⁻ (0-0) transition and measured their Doppler shifts. The target emissions in the red channel were the H₂O⁺ lines of the A²A₁ − X²B₁ (10-0) band. We found that the line of sight velocities, obtained from the Doppler shifted wavelengths of emissions in the comet are higher in sunward direction than in the plasma tail and do not exceed 20 km s^–1. The corresponding values, deprojected in antisolar direction, are consistent with predictions by magnetohydrodynamical models of the solar-wind-comet interaction, when one accounts for the extremely high gas production rate of comet Hale-Bopp. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

顾及大气延迟效应的YG-13A斜距标定

针对大气延迟时变误差影响遥感卫星十三号(YG-13A)斜距标定精度的问题,提出利用顾及大气延迟时变误差的斜距标定方法提高其斜距标定精度的策略。首先,利用基于NCEP气象资料和全球TEC数据的大气延迟改正方法来计算各标定景的大气延迟改正量。其次,将各标定景的大气延迟改正量代入斜距标定模型中。最后,在地面布设高精度角反射器控制点的情况下通过顾及大气延迟时变误差的斜距标定模型求解斜距测量系统误差,从而提高和验证斜距测量精度,角反射器控制点的平面和高程精度均优于0.1 m。利用嵩山遥感定标场地区的4组不同拍摄模式下获得的YG-13A卫星影像数据对比试验表明,相较于传统的斜距定标方法,在顾及大气延迟时变误差的情况下,4组数据的斜距改正值离散度均有所下降。利用太原、天津两个区域3景影像验证斜距改正后的精度,最小值为0.55 m,最大值为0.91 m,均值为0.70 m。试验结果证明了顾及大气延迟时变误差的斜距标定方法的有效性和可行性。     

甘肃省地矿局“十三五”水文与环境地质成果及“十四五”发展设想综述

水文与环境地质专业服务对象涉及自然资源、生态环境、文化旅游、林业草原、水利水务、农业农村、应急管理、交通住建等政府职能管理部门,服务范围涵盖资源能源调查监测、水土污染评价防治、国土空间生态修复、旅游规划、生态环境保护与治理、防灾减灾、重大工程建设等社会经济领域,水工环队伍是资源、环境、生态、空间等国土要素调查评价、利用及保护和监测预警的重要专业技术力量。本文在总结甘肃省地矿局“十三五”期间的水文与环境地质工作在提供资源能源保障、地质技术服务方面的主要成就和支撑生态环境保护与修复方面成果的基础上,依托行业技术优势和发展基础,结合国家及省经济社会发展和生态文明建设等战略部署,面向政府需要和社会需求,分析提出了甘肃省地矿局“十四五”期间水文与环境地质业务转型升级与高质量发展的宏观设想和思路。对地勘单位适应新发展阶段的水文与环境地质工作新要求,规划部署和构建相应的新发展格局有一定的参考意义。     

内蒙古林西县北三段银铅多金属矿床碳、氧、硫、铅同位素特征及成矿物质来源

本文对内蒙古林西县北三段银铅多金属矿床矿体的碳、氧、硫、铅同位素进行了测定,并对其成矿物质来源及演化进行了探讨。矿区样品的δ34S‰变化范围为-0.24‰~2.37‰,平均值为1.29‰,初步认为矿石中的硫主要来源于深部岩浆,并有少量生物还原硫的加入。样品的δ13CPDB变化范围为-4.57‰~-7.33‰,平均值为-5.96‰,δ18O为-3.4‰~-4.8‰,平均值为-4.06‰;δ13CPDB-δ18OSMOW关系表明,矿体中的碳可能主要由基性-超基性岩浆提供,并有部分来源于地层,且受大气水影响明显。铅同位素表明北三段矿床的成矿物质可能由造山带物质和地幔物质两部分提供。