Cosmological constraints from Chandra X-ray observations of galaxy clusters

Chandra X-ray observations of rich, dynamically relaxed galaxy clusters allow the properties of the X-ray gas and the total gravitating mass to be determined precisely. Here, we discuss how Chandra observations may be used as a powerful tool for cosmological studies. By combining Chandra X-ray results on the X-ray gas mass fractions in clusters with independent measurements of the Hubble constant and the mean baryonic matter density of the universe, we obtain a tight constraint on the mean total matter density of the universe, Ο_m, and an interesting constraint on the cosmological constant, Ο_Λ. Using these results, together with the observed local X-ray luminosity function of the most X-ray luminous galaxy clusters, a mass-luminosity relation determined from Chandra and ROSAT X-ray data and weak gravitational lensing observations, and the mass function predicted by numerical simulations, we obtain a precise constraint on the normalization of the power spectrum of density fluctuations in the nearby universe,σ₈. We compare our results with those obtained from other, independent methods. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

First VLTI observations of Mira stars

We present first observations of Mira stars obtained at the Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) at 2 microns, equipped with the VINCI instrument, using different baselines with both the test siderostats and the 8.2 m unit telescopes. These observations, collected in the course of the VLTI commissining program, have targeted so far about sixty cool giant stars. In this talk, we list and describe the measurements obtained for 14 Mira stars, many of them representing first-time determinations of the visibility. In particular, we devote special attention to a study of Mira itself, for which very accurate determinations of the visibility at several baseline lenghts and orientations could be obtained. We find that a two-component model is more consistent with the data than a single stellar disc. Further observations are needed for a better understanding of this source. The VLTI will constitute an ideal instrument for such studies in the future. In particular it will permit detailed investigations of southern AGB stars, such as accurate measurements of surface structureparameters (diameters, diameter variations, asymmetries, center-to-limbvariations, special features like hot spots) and of circumstellar envelopes. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

长江三峡工程地壳形变监测网络

长江三峡工程地壳形变监测网络，采用了当今高精度GPS、INSAR空间大地测量技术，并与精密水准测量，精密重力测量，精密激光测距和峒体连续形变监测等技术相结合，构成一个空间上点、线、面结合，时间上长、中、短兼顾的高精度，高时空分辨率的地壳形变监测网络。该网络既可获取三峡库区特别是库首区区域形变场和区域应变场的动态变化，监测库区主要断层活动，为水库诱发地震预测及研究服务，又可用于气象、滑坡地质灾害监测等，该监测网络于1997年底开始建设，2001年6月建成，到目前为止，已获得大量宝贵的观测资料，必将产生显著的经济效益和社会效益。     

三峡地区地形变监测与区域地壳稳定性分析

利用三峡地区多年的地形变观测资料，分析了该区的地形变特征。结果表明，各断层活动性甚微或基本不活动，区域地壳相对稳定     

银河系运动学参数的确定

利用 2 0 2个太阳附近疏散星团的视向速度和自行观测资料 ,对太阳的运动和银河系的运动学参数进行了研究。其中 ,距离在 0 .5kpc到 2kpc之间的 12 8个疏散星团对平均太阳运动分量的解算结果是 (u0 ,v0 ,w0 ) =(- 13.8± 1.4 ,- 5 .0± 1.6 ,- 11.6± 2 .9)km/s ;Oort常数和银河系径向运动参数的解算结果分别为 (A ,B) =(16 .9± 1.1,- 11.6± 2 .6 )km·s- 1·kpc- 1及 (C ,D) =(2 .5± 1.1,- 2 .1± 0 .9)km·s- 1·kpc- 1。     

利用地震矩张量反演鲜水河断裂带现今运动学特征

本文探讨了利用地震矩反演断裂形变带运动学参数的基本理论和方法，将其初步应用于鲜水河断裂形变带变形分析和运动机制的研究。结果表明，鲜水河断裂带呈现出走向拉伸、倾向压缩的形变格局，由地震矩反演的断裂带剪切形变速率（１０．９ｍｍ／ａ）与用地质学估算方法（１７ｍｍ／ａ）和现今地壳形变测量（８ｍｍ／ａ）的结果相当。同时，反演出的应变主方向能解释鲜水河断裂现今活动分段性特征以及多种滑动方式共存的现状，从而证明该方法是目前研究区域运动学问题切实有效的手段之一。