Cometary outbursts – the post-Deep Impact outlook on collisions as possible causes

The possibility of impacts between comets belonging to the Jupiter Family and other small bodies orbiting in the main asteroid belt, and the consequences in relation to cometary activity are discussed. The probability of such events and the jumps in cometary brightness caused by impacts are examined. The results are compared with the results of the Deep Impact mission to Comet 9P/Tempel 1. The main conclusion of this paper is in agreement with previous findings, namely that an impact mechanism cannot be the main cause of the outburst activity of comets.     

Evidence for Chemical Heterogeneity in the Nucleus of C/1995 O1 (Hale–Bopp)

We present an analysis of OH, CN, and C₂ jets observed in thecoma of Comet Hale–Bopp on UT April 22, 23, and 25, 1997. Monte Carlomodels designed to simulate the gas jets were employed to analyze thenuclear active areas responsible for the observed coma gas jets. Ourresults indicate that four active areas are necessary to reproduce theCN and C₂ jets while five active areas are required to simulatethe OH jets. The additional OH active area must produce significantlevels of OH, but cannot emit measurable quantities of either carbonradical. This difference suggests that the nucleus of Comet Hale–Boppis chemically heterogeneous.     

Optical Spectroscopy and Near-Infrared Observations of Comet C/2000 Wm1 (Linear) in December 2001 from Chile and Brazil

We report on the preliminary analysis of the high-resolution spectrum of CometC/2000 WM1 (LINEAR), obtained on Dec. 1, 2001 with the Fiber fed ExtendedRange Optical Spectrograph (FEROS) installed on the 1.52-m telescope of ESO(Chile). Many emission lines of the molecules C₂, C₃, CN, CH, CH⁺,NH₂, CO, CO⁺, H₂O⁺ and, presumably, C₂ ^- were identifiedin the spectral range 400–900 nm. Also, near-infrared photometry was performed on Dec. 2 and 3, with the infraredcamera (CamIV) attached to the 0.60-m Boller and Chivens telescope of the Picodos Dias Observatory (LNA/MCT), Brazil. We report the preliminary and comparativeanalysis of the I-J and J-H color indices.     

Optical Spectroscopy of Comet C/2000 WM1 (LINEAR) at the Guillermo Harro Astrophysical Observatory in Mexico

We present a preliminary analysis of medium resolution optical spectra of comet C/2000 WM1 (LINEAR) obtained on 22 November 2001. Theemission lines of the molecules C₂, C₃, CN, NH₂,H₂O⁺ and presumably CO (Asundi and triplet bands) and C₂ ^-were identified in these spectra. By analysing the brightnessdistributions of the C₂, C₃, CN emission lines along theslit of the spectrograph we determined some physical parameters of theseneutrals, such as their lifetimes and expansion velocities inthe coma. The Franck–Condon factors for the CO Asundi bands and C₂ ^- bands were calculated using a Morse potential model.     

How the X-ray spectrum of a narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy may be reflection-dominated

A model for the inner regions of accretion flows is presented where, owing to disc instabilities, cold and dense material is clumped into deep sheets or rings. Surrounding these density enhancements is hot, tenuous gas where coronal dissipation processes occur. We expect this situation to be most relevant when the accretion rate is close to Eddington and the disc is radiation-pressure-dominated, and so may apply to narrow-line Seyfert 1 (NLS1) galaxies. In this scenario, the hard X-ray source is obscured for most observers, and so the detected X-ray emission would be dominated by reflection off the walls of the sheets. A simple Comptonization calculation shows that the large photon-indices characteristic of NLS1s would be a natural outcome of two reprocessors closely surrounding the hard X-ray source. We test this model by fitting the XMM-Newton spectrum of the NLS1 1H  0707–495  between 0.5 and 11 keV with reflection-dominated ionized disc models. A very good fit is found with three different reflectors each subject to the same  Γ=2.35  power law. An iron overabundance is still required to fit the sharp drop in the spectrum at around 7 keV. We note that even a small corrugation of the accretion disc may result in  Γ>2  and a strong reflection component in the observed spectrum. Therefore, this model may also explain the strength and the variability characteristics of the MCG–6-30-15 Fe K α line. The idea needs to be tested with further broad-band XMM-Newton observations of NLS1s.     

大质量年轻星体新的C18O(1-0)发射

利用紫金山天文台青海观测站13.7米的毫米波望远镜对74个大质量年轻星体或候选进行了C^18O(1-0)的谱线观测。在63个源中观测到了C^18O(1-0)发射，其中57个天体第一次探测到C^18O(1-0)谱线发射。根据谱线辐射温度（TR^*)和半宽（△V），利用LTE方法计算了每个测量源的C^18O(1-0)发射的光学厚度和C^18O(1-0)分子的柱密度。讨论了^13CO(1-0)和C^18O(1-0)的谱线强度比和积分强度比。     

毫秒脉冲星定时研究进展

毫秒脉冲星守时的理论和方法研究己取得重要进展,利用现有2颗毫秒脉冲星约10yr的计时观测资料分析得到的 TAI-PT,其长期稳定度为 2×10－14。采用合适的长期稳定度算法,由多颗毫秒脉冲星计时观测可以建立综合脉冲星时间尺度。它可以成为与原子时系统比较的重要手段,并对原子时长期稳定度的改进做出贡献。介绍了该领域研究的基本状况,重点对毫秒脉冲星守时的理论方法,综合脉冲星时间及与原子时的关系等进行了讨论和评述。对由双星系统内毫秒脉冲星的轨道运动定义的双星脉冲星时也做了介绍。     

QPO as the Rosetta Stone for understanding black hole accretion

Quasi‐periodic oscillations (QPO) seen in the X‐ray fluxes of individual neutron stars and black hole sources are one of most intriguing phenomena in today's astrophysics. The QPO nature is visibly determined by super‐strong Einstein's gravity. I argue here that it also profoundly depends on the MRI turbulence in accretion flows. Understanding the QPO physics may therefore guide accretion theory out of its present state of confusion. Readers will find here an up‐to‐date, comprehensible account of what is known, and what is not, about the QPO physics. (© 2005 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)