Aeronomy of extra-solar giant planets at small orbital distances

One-dimensional aeronomical calculations of the atmospheric structure of extra-solar giant planets in orbits with semi-major axes from 0.01 to 0.1 AU show that the thermospheres are heated to over 10,000 K by the EUV flux from the central star. The high temperatures cause the atmosphere to escape rapidly, implying that the upper thermosphere is cooled primarily by adiabatic expansion. The lower thermosphere is cooled primarily by radiative emissions from H⁺₃, created by photoionization of H₂ and subsequent ion chemistry. Thermal decomposition of H₂ causes an abrupt change in the composition, from molecular to atomic, near the base of the thermosphere. The composition of the upper thermosphere is determined by the balance between photoionization, advection, and H⁺ recombination. Molecular diffusion and thermal conduction are of minor importance, in part because of large atmospheric scale heights. The energy-limited atmospheric escape rate is approximately proportional to the stellar EUV flux. Although escape rates are large, the atmospheres are stable over time scales of billions of years.     

Atmospheric densities derived from CHAMP/STAR accelerometer observations

The satellite CHAMP carries the accelerometer STAR in its payload and thanks to the GPS and SLR tracking systems accurate orbit positions can be computed. Total atmospheric density values can be retrieved from the STAR measurements, with an absolute uncertainty of 10-15%, under the condition that an accurate radiative force model, satellite macro-model, and STAR instrumental calibration parameters are applied, and that the upper-atmosphere winds are less than . The STAR calibration parameters (i.e. a bias and a scale factor) of the tangential acceleration were accurately determined using an iterative method, which required the estimation of the gravity field coefficients in several iterations, the first result of which was the EIGEN-1S (Geophys. Res. Lett. 29 (14) (2002) 10.1029) gravity field solution. The procedure to derive atmospheric density values is as follows: (1) a reduced-dynamic CHAMP orbit is computed, the positions of which are used as pseudo-observations, for reference purposes; (2) a dynamic CHAMP orbit is fitted to the pseudo-observations using calibrated STAR measurements, which are saved in a data file containing all necessary information to derive density values; (3) the data file is used to compute density values at each orbit integration step, for which accurate terrestrial coordinates are available. This procedure was applied to 415 days of data over a total period of 21 months, yielding 1.2 million useful observations. The model predictions of DTM-2000 (EGS XXV General Assembly, Nice, France), DTM-94 (J. Geod. 72 (1998) 161) and MSIS-86 (J. Geophys. Res. 92 (1987) 4649) were evaluated by analysing the density ratios (i.e. “observed” to “computed” ratio) globally, and as functions of solar activity, geographical position and season. The global mean of the density ratios showed that the models underestimate density by 10-20%, with an rms of 16-20%. The binning as a function of local time revealed that the diurnal and semi-diurnal components are too strong in the DTM models, while all three models model the latitudinal gradient inaccurately. Using DTM-2000 as a priori, certain model coefficients were re-estimated using the STAR-derived densities, yielding the DTM-STAR test model. The mean and rms of the global density ratios of this preliminary model are 1.00 and 15%, respectively, while the tidal and latitudinal modelling errors become small. This test model is only representative of high solar activity conditions, while the seasonal effect is probably not estimated accurately due to correlation with the solar activity effect. At least one more year of data is required to separate the seasonal effect from the solar activity effect, and data taken under low solar activity conditions must also be assimilated to construct a model representative under all circumstances.     

埃文斯目视日晕光度计测量原理研究

埃文斯目视日晕光度计（Evans Visual Sky Photometer,EVSP）是应用于日冕仪选址的重要仪器,从20世纪40年代一直使用至今,它为现代日晕光度计的定标提供了参考标准。通过使用云南天文台现存的一架EVSP研究了它的工作原理,并重点介绍了所利用的简易定标方法。给出了国际现有的多台EVSP日晕亮度定标曲线。由于EVSP内部光学元件反射率和透过率,以及中性渐变光楔的光学密度等存在未知的时间缓变特点,因此利用这种新定标手段可以高效经济地获得各自的定标曲线。     

Brief history of ground-based very high energy gamma-ray astrophysics with atmospheric air Cherenkov telescopes

The discovery of the Crab Nebula as the first source of TeV gamma rays in 1989, using the technique of ground-based imaging air Cherenkov telescope, has marked the birthday of observational gamma astronomy in very high energy range. The team led by Trevor Weekes, after twenty years of trial and error, success and misfortune, step-by-step improvements in both the technique and understanding of gamma shower discrimination methods, used the 10 m diameter telescope on Mount Hopkins in Arizona, and succeeded measuring a 9σ signal from the direction of Crab Nebula. As of today over 160 sources of gamma rays of very different types, of both galactic and extra-galactic origin, have been discovered due to this technique. This is a really fast evolving branch in science, rapidly improving our understanding of the most violent and energetic sources and processes in the sky.The study of these sources provides clues to many basic questions in astrophysics, astro-particle physics, physics of cosmic rays and cosmology. Today’s telescopes, despite the young age of the technique, offer a solid performance. The technique is still maturing, leading to the next generation large instrument. This article is devoted to outlining the milestones in a long history that step-by-step have made this technique emerge and have brought about today’s successful source hunting.     

Strong triple interactions in the general three-body problem

Strong three-body interactions play a decisive role in the course of the dynamical evolution of triple systems having positive as well as negative total energies. These interactions may produce qualitative changes in the relative motions of the components. In triple systems with positive or zero total energies the processes of formation, disruption or exchange of the components of binaries take place as the result of close approaches of the three single bodies or as the result of the passages of single bodies past wide or hard binaries. In the triple systems with negative energies, the strong triple interactions may result in an escape from the system as well as a formation of a hard final binary. This paper summarizes the general results of the studies of the strong three-body interactions in the triple systems with positive and negative energies. These studies were conducted at the Leningrad University Observatory by computer simulations during 1968–1989.     

Acoustic-Gravity Waves from Bolide Sources

We have developed a new approach to modeling the acoustic-gravity wave (AGW) radiation from bolide sources. This first effort involves entry modeling of bolide sources that have available satellite data through procedures developed in ReVelle (Earth Moon Planets 95, 441–476, 2004a; in: A. Milani, G. Valsecchi, D. Vokrouhlicky (eds) NEO Fireball Diversity: Energetics-based Entry Modeling and Analysis Techniques, Near-earth Objects: Our Celestial Neighbors (IAU S236), 2007b). Results from the entry modeling are directly coupled to AGW production through line source blast wave theory for the initial wave amplitude and period at (at 10 blast wave radii and perpendicular to the trajectory). The second effort involves the prediction of the formation and or dominance of the propagation of the atmospheric Lamb, edge-wave composite mode in a viscous fluid (Pierce, J. Acoust. Soc. Amer. 35, 1798–1807, 1963) as a function of the source energy, horizontal range and source altitude using the Lamb wave frequency that was deduced directly during the entry modeling and that is used as a surrogate for the source energy. We have also determined that Lamb wave production by bolides at close range decreases dramatically as either the source energy decreases or the source altitude increases. Finally using procedures in Gill (Atmospheric-Ocean Dynamics, 1982) and in Tolstoy (Wave Propagation, 1973), we have analyzed two simple dispersion relationships and have calculated the expected dispersion for the Lamb edge-wave mode and for the excited, propagating internal acoustic waves. Finally, we have used the above formalism to fully evaluate these techniques for four large bolides, namely: the Tunguska bolide of June 30, 1908; the Revelstoke bolide of March 31, 1965; the Crete bolide of June 6, 2002 and the Antarctic bolide of September 3, 2004. Due to page limitations, we will only present results in detail for the Revelstoke bolide.     

Venus upper atmospheric CO, temperature, and winds across the afternoon/evening terminator from June 2007 JCMT sub-millimeter line observations

The Venus mesosphere constitutes a highly variable transition region between the zonal rotation of the lower atmosphere and the diurnal circulation of the upper atmosphere. It further serves as the primary photochemical region of the Venus atmosphere. We obtained James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT, Mauna Kea Hawaii) sub-millimeter line observations of mesospheric ¹²CO and ¹³CO during coordinated space (MESSENGER and Venus Express) and ground-based observations of Venus in June of 2007. Such CO spectra line measurements support temperature, CO mixing ratio, and wind retrievals over the 80-110 km altitude range, encompassing the upper mesosphere and lower thermosphere of Venus. Five-point beam integrations were obtained across the observed Venus disk, allowing distinction of afternoon (noon to 6 p.m.) versus evening (6 p.m. to midnight) local times and northern (0-60N) versus southern (0-60S) latitudes. Distinctive diurnal variations (noon to midnight) are retrieved for both temperatures above 95 km and CO mixing ratios above 85 km altitudes. Separate CO line maps obtained on (UT) June 2, 3, 6, and 11 indicate moderate daily variability in afternoon and evening CO mixing ratios (20-50%) and temperatures (5-10 K). Average Venus mesospheric temperatures over this period were 10 K warmer than returned from 1978 to 1979 Pioneer Venus or 2000-01 sub-millimeter measurements, without evidence for the very large temperature inversions indicated by Venus Express SPICAV measurements at 90-100 km altitudes (Bertaux, J.L., Vandaele, A.-C., Korablev, O., Villard, E., Fedorova, A., Fussen, D., Quémerais, E., Belyaev, D., Mahieux, A., Montmessin, F., Muller, C., Neefs, E., Nevejans, D., Wilquet, V., Dubois, J.P. Hauchecorne, A., Stepanov, A., Vinogradov, I., Rodin, A., Bertaux, J.-L., Nevejans, D., Korablev, O., Montmessin, F., Vandaele, A.-C., Fedorova, A., Cabane, M., Chassefière, E., Chaufray, J.Y., Dimarellis, E., Dubois, J.P., Hauchecorne, A., Leblanc, F., Lefèvre, F., Rannou, P., Quémerais, E., Villard, E., Fussen, D., Muller, C., Neefs, E., Van Ransbeeck, E., Wilquet, V., Rodin, A., Stepanov, A., Vinogradov, I., Zasova, L., Forget, F., Lebonnois, S., Titov, D., Rafkin, S., Durry, G., Gérard, J.C., Sandel, B., 2007. A warm layer in Venus’ cryosphere and high-altitude measurements of HF, HCl, H₂O and HDO. Nature 450, 646-649). Measured Doppler shifts associated with June 2 and 11 ¹²CO line center absorptions indicate nearly supersonic (200 m/s, Mach 1) afternoon-to-evening (retrograde) circulation; composed of additive subsolar-to-antisolar (SSAS) and zonal retrograde wind components, which are not separable due to the particular observational geometry.     

The High-Resolution Solar Reference Spectrum between 250 and 550 nm and its Application to Measurements with the Ozone Monitoring Instrument

We have constructed a new high resolution solar reference spectrum in the spectral range between 250 and 550 nm. The primary use of this spectrum is for the calibration of the Dutch – Finnish Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI), but other applications are mentioned. The incentive for deriving a new high resolution solar reference spectrum is that available spectra do not meet our requirements on radiometric accuracy or spectral resolution. In this paper we explain the steps involved in constructing the new spectrum, based on available low and high resolution spectra and discuss the main sources of uncertainty. We compare the result with solar measurements obtained with the OMI as well as with other UV-VIS space-borne spectrometers with a similar spectral resolution. We obtain excellent agreement with the OMI measurements, which indicates that both the newly derived solar reference spectrum and our characterization of the OMI instrument are well understood. We also find good agreement with previously published low resolution spectra. The absolute intensity scale, wavelength calibration and representation of the strength of the Fraunhofer lines have been investigated and optimized to obtain the resulting high resolution solar reference spectrum.     

Abundances of Jupiter's trace hydrocarbons from Voyager and Cassini

The flybys of Jupiter by the Voyager spacecraft in 1979, and over two decades later by Cassini in 2000, have provided us with unique datasets from two different epochs, allowing the investigation of seasonal change in the atmosphere. In this paper we model zonal averages of thermal infrared spectra from the two instruments, Voyager 1 IRIS and Cassini CIRS, to retrieve the vertical and meridional profiles of temperature, and the abundances of the two minor hydrocarbons, acetylene (C₂H₂) and ethane (C₂H₆). The spatial variation of these gases is controlled by both chemistry and dynamics, and therefore their observed distribution gives us an insight into both processes. We find that the two gases paint quite different pictures of seasonal change. Whilst the 2-D cross-section of C₂H₆ abundance is slightly increased and more symmetric in 2000 (northern summer solstice) compared to 1979 (northern fall equinox), the major trend of equator to pole increase remains. For C₂H₂ on the other hand, the Voyager epoch exhibits almost no latitudinal variation, whilst the Cassini era shows a marked decrease polewards in both hemispheres. At the present time, these experimental findings are in advance of interpretation, as there are no published models of 2-D Jovian seasonal chemical variation available for comparison.