Tests and constraints on theories of galaxy formation and evolution

Tests and constraints on current theories of galaxy formation and evolution are presented. They are derived from observations of the Northern Hubble Deep Field with WFPC2 and NICMOS. Photometric redshifts, extinctions and spectral energy distributions are calculated for all objects in the field. The tests and constraints are derived from the output of this analysis. The tests of the predictions from hierarchical and pure luminosity evolution galaxy evolution calculations favor the hierarchical model. Constraints are provided by the current luminosity function and its evolution to a redshift of 6. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A search for high-redshift molecular absorption lines towards millimetre-loud, optically faint quasars

We describe initial results of a search for redshifted molecular absorption towards four millimetre-loud, optically faint quasars. A wide frequency bandwidth of up to 23 GHz per quasar was scanned using the Swedish–ESO Submillimetre Telescope at La Silla. Using a search list of commonly detected molecules, we obtained nearly complete redshift coverage up to   z _abs= 5  . The sensitivity of our data is adequate to have revealed absorption systems with characteristics similar to those seen in the four known redshifted millimetre-band absorption systems, but none were found. Our frequency-scan technique nevertheless demonstrates the value of wide-band correlator instruments for searches such as these. We suggest that a somewhat larger sample of similar observations should lead to the discovery of new millimetre-band absorption systems.     

Does time dilation tell us the distance to gamma-ray bursts?

Since the discovery that dim gamma-ray bursts last longer on average than bright ones (time dilation) the cosmological origin of this effect has been contested by various researchers. I discuss the current status of this issue and conclude that current models for a non-cosmological time dilation only explain part of the observed phenomenon, and even then betray themselves by distinct signatures in the data. As those signatures have not been seen, the cosmological origin remains the favoured explanation of the time dilation.     

新疆乌鲁木齐地区多年水氡观测资料的统计与分析

通过对乌鲁木齐地区1980—7．001年的水氡观测资料进行全时域扫描分析，以乌鲁木齐为中心300km范围内Ms≥5．0的地震事件为研究对象，挑选出观测资料中异常时段，用地震预报效能评价评分的方法对水氡观测资料预报地震的能力进行评价。     

北京山区与平原冬季近地面风的精细观测特征

利用2009—2018年冬季北京地区200多个自动气象站逐时10 m风速、风向观测数据,分典型区域（山区、山区与平原过渡区、平原区、城区）研究北京地区冬季近地面风的精细特征,并使用有完整记录的2 a（2017和2018年）冬季延庆高山区不同海拔高度10 m风逐时观测数据,多视角分析高山区不同海拔高度近地面风的特征和成因,以深刻认识北京地区复杂地形条件下冬季近地面风的特征和规律。结果表明:（1）北京地区冬季近地面平均风受西部北部地形、城市下垫面粗糙度和冷空气活动共同影响,平均风速沿地形梯度分布,山区高平原低,平原中又以城区风速最小;盛行西北风和北风,在城区东、西两侧盛行风出现扰流,在山区和过渡区一些地方还存在与局地地形环境明显关联的其他盛行风向。（2）4个典型区域冬季近地面风速日变化均表现为白天风速大于夜间,午间风速最大的“峰强谷平”单峰特征,这一特征的稳定性在城区高、山区低。（3）4个区域冬季弱风（< 1 m/s）频率为31%—42%,城区较高、山区较低;强风（> 10.8 m/s）频次则是山区多、城区少,强风风向主要表现为偏西—偏北,与冷空气活动密切关联;城区、平原区和过渡区偏南风频率均为极小,暗示北京“山区—平原”风模态在冬季是“隐式”的、不易被直接观测到。（4）近地面风的水平尺度代表范围在延庆高山区高海拔处明显大于低海拔处,海拔1500 m附近（平均的边界层顶高度）是延庆高山近地面风速日变化特征的“分水岭”,低于该海拔高度时近地面风速日变化表现为前述“峰强谷平”单峰特征,而高于该海拔高度时近地面风速日变化则呈现相反特征,即夜间大白天小、午间最小的“峰平谷深”特征,这是由边界层湍流活动的日变化及伴随的低层自由大气动量向边界层内下传所致。（5）延庆高山近地面风速大体上随观测高度而增大,高海拔站点日平均风速数倍于低海拔站点。白天—前半夜,海拔约2000 m的站点冬季盛行偏西风,风向变化不大,但风速为2—12 m/s;1000 m左右的低海拔站则风速比较稳定（< 6 m/s）,风向从午间至傍晚相对多变。      

Monopole abundance from first-order GUT phase transition of the early Universe

Monopole annihilation and pair creation are investigated in a first order GUT symmetry breaking phase transition without inflation. It is found that even with complete initial monopole suppression, some monopoles are inevitably produced during the transition. According to this, some constraints are obtained for initial and equilibrium monopole densities in order to be compatible with the present observational limits even without inflation.