Orbital periods of the binary sdB stars PG 0940+068 and PG 1247+554

We have used the radial velocity variations of two sdB stars previously reported to be binaries to establish their orbital periods. They are PG 0940+068 ( P =8.33 d) and PG 1247+554 ( P =0.599 d). The minimum masses of the unseen companions, assuming a mass of 0.5 M_⊙ for the sdB stars, are 0.090±0.003 M. for PG 1247+554 and 0.63±0.02 M_⊙ for PG 0940+068. The nature of the companions is not constrained further by our data.     

The evolution of bodies orbiting in the trans-Neptunian region on to intermediate-type orbits

We investigate the dynamical evolution of 210 hypothetical massless bodies initially situated between 10 and 30 au from the Sun in order to determine the general characteristics of the evolved system. This is of particular relevance to the understanding of the origin of Edgeworth–Kuiper belt objects on scattered intermediate orbits, such as 1996 TL ₆₆, which have high eccentricity and semimajor axis but nevertheless have perihelion in the region between 30 and 50 au from the Sun.     

On the physical connections between galaxies of different types

Galaxies can be classified in two broad sequences which are likely to reflect their formation mechanism. The 'main sequence', consisting of spirals, irregulars and all dwarf galaxies, is probably produced by gas settling within dark matter haloes. We show that the sizes and surface densities along this sequence are primarily determined by the distributions of the angular momentum and formation time of dark haloes. They are well reproduced by current cosmogonies provided that galaxies form late, at z  ≲ 2. In this scenario, dwarf ellipticals were small 'discs' at z  ∼ 1 and become 'ellipticals' after they fall into cluster environments. The strong clustering of dwarf ellipticals is then a natural by-product of the merging and transformation process. The number of dwarf galaxies predicted in a cluster such as Virgo is in good agreement with the observed number. On the other hand, the 'giant branch', consisting of giant ellipticals and bulges, is probably produced by the merging of disc galaxies. Based on the observed phase-space densities of galaxies, we show that the main bodies of all giant ellipticals can be produced by dissipationless mergers of high-redshift discs. However, high-redshift discs, although denser than present-day ones, are still not compact enough to produce the high central phase-space density of some low-luminosity ellipticals. Dissipation must have occurred in the central parts of these galaxies during the merger which formed them.     

Model atmosphere and kinematical analyses of early-type stars from the Edinburgh–Cape Survey

We present high-resolution spectroscopic observations of 21 B-type stars, selected from the Edinburgh–Cape Blue Object Survey. Model atmosphere analyses confirm that 14 of these stars are young, main-sequence B-type objects with Population I chemical compositions. The remaining seven are found to be evolved objects, including subdwarfs, horizontal branch and post-AGB objects. A kinematical analysis shows that all 14 young main-sequence stars could have formed in the disc and subsequently been ejected into the halo. These results are combined with the analysis of a previous subsample of stars taken from the Survey. Of the complete sample, 31 have been found to be young, main-sequence objects, with formation in the disc, and subsequent ejection into the halo, again being found to be a plausible scenario.     

大气污染物排放量与颗粒物环境空气质量的空间非协同耦合研究——以武汉市为例

针对区域大气污染物排放量与空气质量在时空分布上存在不完全协同、匹配的现象,论文选择SO₂、NO_X、PM_2.5、CO和VOCs作为大气污染物指标,选择气溶胶光学厚度(Aerosol Optical Depth, AOD)表征颗粒物环境空气质量,以武汉市为例,综合应用耦合模型和空间错位指数模型研究2类指标之间的空间非协同耦合规律。主要结论如下：① 武汉市大气污染物排放量与颗粒物空气质量具有不同空间分布特征,大气污染物排放量呈现由城市中心城区向远城区递减的趋势,其中SO₂、PM_2.5和VOCs的排放具有明显的中心聚集现象,而NO_X和CO聚集现象不显著,且与道路分布明显相关;AOD分布具有明显的空间差异性,总体上呈由西北向东南依次递减的趋势。② 武汉市大气污染物排放与颗粒物空气质量的空间非协同耦合规律：越靠近城市中心城区,空间协同耦合现象越显著,空间错位现象越弱;越远离主城区,空间非协同耦合现象越显著,空间错位现象越显著;SO₂排放量与AOD在武汉市远城区的空间错位指数均大于0.7,且耦合度指数小于0.3,呈现较强的非协同耦合特征,NO_X、VOCs、PM_2.5的排放量与AOD在武汉中心城区的空间错位指数均小于0.5,且耦合度指数大于0.5,协同耦合现象较为显著。③ 基于时空非协同耦合分析城市大气环境污染治理建议：针对污染物与AOD空间错位不显著的城市中心城区,以本地减排治理为主;针对污染物与AOD空间错位显著的远城区,应在污染溯源分析的基础上进行区域协调综合治理。     

Opening angles, Lorentz factors and confinement of X-ray binary jets

We present a collation of the available data on the opening angles of jets in X-ray binaries, which in most cases are small (≲10°). Under the assumption of no confinement, we calculate the Lorentz factors required to produce such small opening angles via the transverse relativistic Doppler effect. The derived Lorentz factors, which are in most cases lower limits, are found to be large, with a mean >10, comparable to those estimated for active galactic nuclei (AGN) and much higher than the commonly assumed values for X-ray binaries of 2–5. Jet power constraints do not, in most cases, rule out such high Lorentz factors. The upper limits on the opening angles show no evidence for smaller Lorentz factors in the steady jets of Cygnus X-1 and GRS 1915+105. In those sources in which deceleration has been observed (notably  XTE J1550−564  and Cygnus X-3), some confinement of the jets must be occurring, and we briefly discuss possible confinement mechanisms. It is however possible that all the jets could be confined, in which case the requirement for high bulk Lorentz factors can be relaxed.     

New brown dwarf companions to dM(e) stars

We present new astrometric and spectroscopic data to confirm two new M/L dwarf systems, G124‐62 and LHS5166, and discuss the nature of a third system (LP261‐75). Age and thus mass determinations of the L dwarf companions are discussed based on various activity‐age relationships of the M dwarf primaries. This publication will update the list of widely separated substellar companions to nearby stars. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Simulations for the Original Distribution of KBOs

Using the N-body dynamical model that includes the sun, the 8 planets, Pluto, UB313 and massless particles, we simulate the orbital evolution of 551 Kuiper Belt Objects (KBOs) with known parameters. The initial conditions of the simulations are the currently observed orbital parameters. The integration backtracks from now to -10×10⁸ yr. The results show that about 10×10⁸ years ago, more than 1/3 of the presently observed KBOs resided in the region of the present Kuiper main belt, a few were located inside the Neptune orbit, and the rest were beyond 50AU; and that about 4.5×10⁸ years ago, all the objects in the Kuiper main belt exhibited a rather good normal distribution, without so many objects concentrated in the Neptune's 3:2 resonance region, as at present time.