Axisymmetry in protoplanetary nebulae: using imaging polarimetry to investigate envelope structure

We use ground-based imaging polarimetry to detect and image the dusty circumstellar envelopes of a sample of protoplanetary nebulae (PPNe) at near-infrared wavelengths. This technique allows the scattered light from the faint envelope to be separated from the glare of the bright central star, and is particularly well suited to this class of object. We detect extended (up to 9-arcsec diameter) circumstellar envelopes around 15 out of 16 sources with a range of morphologies including bipolars and shells. The distribution of scattered light in combination with its polarization (up to 40 per cent) provides unambiguous evidence for axisymmetry in 14 objects, showing this to be a common trait of PPNe. We suggest that the range of observed envelope morphologies results from the development of an axisymmetric dust distribution during the superwind phase at the end of the AGB. We identify shells seen in polarized light with scattering from these superwind dust distributions, which allows us to provide constraints on the duration of the superwind phase. In one object (IRAS 19475+3119) the circumstellar envelope has a two-armed spiral structure, which we suggest results from the interaction of the mass-losing star with a binary companion.     

地震波散射研究回顾与展望

地震波散射是地球物理学中一个非常重要的研究领域,其进展对人们正确认识和了解地球深部的细节及物性具有重大意义,对地球动力学的研究也具有不可忽视的推动作用。这里从地震波散射的理论和方法研究二个方面,对地震波散射研究的进展作评述。首先回顾了地震波散射的基本概念、研究历程及研究的各个方面,对散射理论进行了系统评述,同时对先辈们关于散射波数值模拟的情况进行了总结。     

平面P波在饱和半空间中洞室周围的散射(I):解析解

利用波函数展开法给出了入射平面P波在饱和半空间中圆形洞室周围散射问题的一个解析解。半空间假定为无粘性流体饱和介质,满足Biot理论。采用一种基于实验数据的孔隙率和模量之间的线性关系来确定Biot模型中的介质参数。解答考虑了透水边界和非透水边界两种情况。对边界条件进行了数值检验,结果表明,随着级数截断项数的增大,边界残量衰减很快。解答为进一步研究入射波频率和角度、边界渗透条件、孔隙率、泊松比等参数对散射的影响奠定了基础。     

利用Sato模型研究邢台震区尾波Q_C值特征

利用Sato单次散射模型和红山台的近场数字地震记录研究了邢台震区尾波QC值的变化特征,得到QC值随频率的变化关系:即窗长为15~30 s时QC=(42.9±20.7)f(0.98±0.13);窗长为40~60 s时QC=(103.1±27.9)f(0.85±0.08)。通过分析不同频率点随时间的变化曲线,发现2002年4月22日邢台隆尧5.0级地震前高频部分QC值出现"升高—降低—再升高—发震"的发震模式,对预测邢台地区的中强震的发生有一定的参考意义。还发现相对Aki模型而言Sato模型更适合邢台震区的尾波计算和分析。     

北京上甸子秋冬季大气气溶胶的散射特征

分析了北京上甸子秋冬季气溶胶散射系数的变化特征、散射系数与PM2.5质量浓度的关系, 结合气象资料分析了风场对气溶胶散射系数变化的影响。通过研究得出, 上甸子秋冬季气溶胶散射系数平均值和标准差分别为179.7 Mm-1和253.2 Mm-1；阴天条件下的散射系数明显高于晴天；散射系数与PM2.5质量浓度之间有较好的相关性, 其相关系数为0.93；此外, 由于上甸子特殊的地理位置, 风场对气溶胶散射系数的影响显著, 不同风向条件下气溶胶散射系数差别很大。     

Harmonic wave diffraction by two circular cavities in a poroelastic formation

This study investigates the dynamic interaction of time harmonic plane waves with a pair of parallel circular cylindrical cavities of infinite length buried in a boundless porous elastic fluid-saturated medium. The novel features of Biot dynamic theory of poroelasticity along with the appropriate wave field expansions, the pertinent boundary conditions, and the translational addition theorems for cylindrical wave functions are employed to develop a closed-form solution in the form of infinite series. The analytical results are illustrated with numerical examples in which two empty cavities are insonified by a fast compressional or a shear wave at end-on incidence. The basic dynamic field quantities such as the hoop stress amplitude and the radial displacement of the elastic frame are evaluated and discussed for representative values of the parameters characterizing the system. The effects of the proximity of the two cavities, the incident wave frequency and type are examined. Particular attention has been focused on multiple scattering interactions in addition to the slow wave coupling effects which is known to be the primary distinction of the scattering phenomenon in poroelasticity from the classical elastic case. Limiting case involving two empty cylindrical cavities in an elastic solid is considered and excellent agreement with a well-known solution is established.     

The ATCA intraday variability survey of extragalactic radio sources

We present the results of an Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) survey for intraday variability (IDV) of the total and polarized flux densities of 118 compact, flat-spectrum, extragalactic radio sources from the Parkes 2.7-GHz Survey. A total of 22 total flux density IDV sources were discovered and 15 sources were found to show IDV of their polarized flux density. We discuss the statistical properties of the IDV sources, including the distribution of source modulation indices, and the dependence of the variability amplitude on source spectral index and on Galactic position. We suggest interstellar scintillation (ISS) in the Galactic interstellar medium as the most likely mechanism for IDV. Even so, the inferred high brightness temperatures cannot be easily explained.