A deep search for pulsar wind nebulae using pulsar gating

Using the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) we have imaged the fields around five promising pulsar candidates to search for radio pulsar wind nebulae (PWNe). We have used the ATCA in its pulsar-gating mode; this enables an image to be formed containing only off-pulse visibilities, thereby dramatically improving the sensitivity to any underlying PWN. Data from the Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope were also used to provide sensitivity on larger spatial scales. This survey found a faint new PWN around PSR B0906−49; here we report on non-detections of PWNe towards PSRs B1046−58, B1055−52, B1610−50 and J1105−6107. Our radio observations of the field around PSR B1055−52 argue against previous claims of an extended X-ray and radio PWN associated with the pulsar. If these pulsars power unseen, compact radio PWNe, upper limits on the radio flux indicate that a fraction of less than 10⁻⁶ of their spin-down energy is used to power this emission. Alternatively, PSRs B1046−58 and B1610−50 may have relativistic winds similar to other young pulsars and the unseen PWN may be resolved and fainter than our surface brightness sensitivity threshold. We can then determine upper limits on the local interstellar medium (ISM) density of 2.2×10⁻³ and 1×10⁻² cm⁻³, respectively. Furthermore, we derive the spatial velocities of these pulsars to be ∼450 km s⁻¹ and thus rule out the association of PSR B1610−50 with supernova remnant (SNR) G332.4+00.1 (Kes 32). Strong limits on the ratio of unpulsed to pulsed emission are also determined for three pulsars.     

Formation of smooth terrains on Comet Tempel 1

We suggest that the regions of smooth terrain which were observed on Comet 9P/Tempel 1 by the Deep Impact spacecraft were formed by blowing ice grains in an outburst of gas from the comet interior. When gas is released from 10 to 20 m deep layers which were heated to 135 K, it is released quiescently onto the surface by individual conduits. If large amounts of gas are released, the drainage system cannot release them fast enough and wider interconnected channels are formed, leading to sudden outburst of gas. Instability triggering a sudden shift of flow is well known in subglacial drainage of water. The ballistic trajectory of the ice particles reach a distance of 3 km in the atmosphereless comet, whose gravity is 0.034 cm s⁻¹, if ejected at an angle of 45° at a speed of 95 cm s⁻¹. This speed is close to the speeds measured in laboratory experiments: 167, 140×sini and 167 cm s⁻¹, for particles of 0.3, 1000 and 14-650 μm, respectively. Blowing of ice grains can overcome the 1650 m long horizontal section of smooth terrain i1 (Fig. 1), whereas simple flow of material downhill would stop close to the foot of the hill. The ice particles at the end of their trajectory have a horizontal velocity component and this low velocity ballistic sedimentation would lead to formation of lineaments on the smooth terrain, like in solid-particulate volcanic eruptions.     

ADAFs, accretion discs and outbursts in compact binaries

I discuss the status of the soft X-ray transient model. First, I discuss and then compare with observations the assumption that the geometrically thin disc evaporates into an ADAF. Second, I address the problems created by the recent determinations of the distance to SS Cyg, according to which the disc instability model does not apply to this famous dwarf-nova, thus casting doubt on the application of this model to any system at all.     

副蝎蛉科化石（昆虫纲长翅目）在中国首次发现

报道了华夏三叠副蝎蛉Triasoparachorista huaxiaensis gen. et sp nov. (T2t)、吐孜沟准噶尔蝎蛉Junggarochorista tuzigouensis Hong. nom. nov. (J1b) 和1个新转移属——冀北直脉蝎蛉属Jibeiorthophlebia Hoing, 1983 (transl. nov.) (J2)及其2个种J. xiaofangzhangziensis Hong,1983 (transl. nov.)、J. internata Hong,1983 (transl. nov.) 在中国首次发现。根据它们的脉序特征,在分类上应当归于Parachoristidae Tillyard, 1937。这个科既具有二叠蝎蛉科(Permochoristidae) MP 带6支脉的特征,又有直脉蝎蛉科(Orthophlebiidae) Rs1至少带3支脉呈扇形排列的特征, 形成二叠蝎蛉科和直脉蝎蛉科之间的一种独特的过渡特征的中间类群,这个类群对它们之间的演变关系的研究有重要意义。副蝎蛉科化石在中国的发现很有意义：①填补了中国中三叠世、早侏罗世、中侏罗世副蝎蛉科的空白;②可以帮助我们追溯副蝎蛉科、直脉蝎蛉科和二叠蝎蛉科之间在不同地质背景中的演变关系;③关于中侏罗世燕辽生物群及其有关问题,笔者曾先后指出,燕辽生物群(Yanliao Biota)（J2）和热河生物群（K1）均起源于华北古陆（North China Paleocontinent）,燕辽地区（覆盖了新增加的内蒙古宁城地区）是它们的起源中心,尔后向外扩散与迁移,并向北覆盖到蒙古东部、俄罗斯外贝加尔等地区,形成东亚古陆（Eastern Asian Paleocontinent）中一个广阔的燕辽生物群和热河生物群的区系;④讨论了宁城地区地层层位的归属问题。     

Towards a Seamless Transition from TOPEX/Poseidon to Jason-1

The Jason-1 verification phase has proven to be a unique and successful calibration experiment to quantify the agreement with its predecessor TOPEX/Poseidon. Although both missions have met prescribed error budgets, comparison of the mean and time-varying sea surface height profiles from near simultaneous observations derived from the missions' Geophysical Data Records exhibit significant basin scale differences. Several suspected sources causing this disagreement are identified and improved upon, including (a) replacement of TOPEX and Jason project POE with enhanced orbits computed at GSFC within a consistent ITRF2000 terrestrial reference frame, (b) application of waveform retracking corrections to TOPEX significant wave height and sea surface heights, (c) resultant improved efficacy of the TOPEX sea state bias estimation from the value added sea surface height, and (d) estimation of Jason-1 sea state bias employing dual TOPEX/Jason crossover and collinear sea surface height residuals unique to the validation mission. The resultant mean sea surface height comparison shows improved agreement at better than 60 percent level of variance reduction with a standard deviation less then 0.5 cm.     

中全新世福建沿海地区海平面波动：基于NDQK5岩芯介形类化石记录

福建沿海地区第四系较为发育,是研究晚更新世以来相对海平面变化的理想区域。本文以福建宁德NDQK5岩芯中产出的高分辨率介形类化石为研究对象,结合加速器质谱法(accelerator mass spectrometry, AMS)14C和光释光测年技术建立岩芯年代框架,重建了中全新世期间福建沿海地区的相对海平面变化。结果显示,NDQK5岩芯中的介形类化石记录主要分布于4~17. 1 m段,对应年代约为8. 2~6. 9 ka BP。岩芯内共计识别出海相介形类23属26种,根据优势种以及特征种的相对丰度变化特征可将岩芯内的介形类动物群划分为3个组合：① 介形类组合A以Bicornucythere bisanensis和Sinocytheridea impressa为主,代表潮下带环境;② 介形类组合B以Sinocytheridea impressa和Neomonoceratina delicata为优势种,指示近岸内陆架的沉积环境;③ 介形类组合C以Sinocytheridea impressa和Loxoconcha ocellifera为主,代表潮间带的沉积环境。基于介形类组合的分布特征,本文推断福建沿海地区海平面约在8. 2~7. 4 ka BP期间持续上升,并在约7. 9~7. 4 ka BP区间达到最高;7. 4~7. 0 ka BP期间海平面下降,随后再次上升。因此,介形类化石记录指示福建沿海地区在全新世高海平面背景下依然存在相对海平面的次一级波动。同时,结合已有福建沿海地区海平面变化驱动机制的研究结果,本研究推断8. 2~7 ka BP期间福建沿海地区的海平面变化可能主要受控于冰盖融水;7 ka BP后该地区的海平面波动可能受控于“冰川- 水均衡调整”作用。     

精密单点定位估计GPS卫星的P1-C1码偏差及稳定性分析

给出了利用精密单点定位（PPP）技术估计GPS卫星P1-C1码偏差的数学模型,并以BRUS、GODE、SHAO和NIST四个跟踪站2010年10月份一个月的观测数据为例,采用PPP方法计算了所有GPS卫星的P1-C1码偏差,并与欧洲定轨中心提供的P1-C1码偏差进行了比较,结果表明：四个站估计的P1-C1码偏差精度均可达到几个厘米。一个月的计算结果表明：卫星的P1-C1码偏差在一个月内变化平缓。     

Symbiotic stars with spectral indication of bipolar ejection and stellar wind

Four out of a total of five symbiotic systems whose optical spectral lines contain satellite components indicating collimated ejection have an additional absorption of P Cyg type with different velocity. These systems are Z And, Hen 3‐1341, StHα 190, and BF Cyg. It is shown that the line profiles of every of these systems can be interpreted in the framework of a model of a collimated stellar wind from the hot compact component proposed initially to interpret the line profiles of Z And, observed during its last active phase after 2000. (© 2014 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

基于格网的洪水灾害危险性评价分析——以巴基斯坦为例

洪水灾害已成为给当今人类带来严重损失的自然灾害之一,因此,灾害风险评价是区域经济持续发展的前提与条件。本文从致灾因子和孕灾环境两方面进行分析,综合考虑降水(累计降雨量和最大降雨量)、河流(河网密度)、地形(高程值和坡度值)、土地利用和植被(NDVI)共5种相关因子,以1km格网数据为基础,运用AHP(层次分析法)对巴基斯坦洪水灾害进行了危险性评价。结果表明:巴基斯坦洪水灾害危险性受降雨和地形的影响较大,其危险程度东南部大于西北部,并由东南部向西北部逐渐递减。