The first high-amplitude δ Scuti star in an eclipsing binary system

Consider radar ranging of a distant galaxy in a Friedman–Lemaître cosmological model. In this model the comoving coordinate of the galaxy is constant; hence, the equations of null geodesics for photons travelling to the distant galaxy and back imply Here, τ_e, τ_r and τ_o are, respectively, the times of emission, reflection and observation of the reflected photons, and a (τ) is the scalefactor. Since the Universe is expanding, a (τ) is a monotonically increasing function, so the return traveltime, τ_o−τ_r, must be greater than the forward traveltime, τ_r−τ_e. Clearly, space expands, and on their way back, the photons must travel a longer distance! This paper explains why this argument for the Expansion of Space (EoS) is wrong. We argue that, unlike the expansion of the cosmic substratum, the EoS is unobservable. We therefore propose to apply to it – just like to the ether – Ockham's razor.     

时间、距离、速度、红移基本物理概念的演变简史

为了尝试回答“我们能否观测到退行速度超过光速的星系”这一问题,重新考察了在牛顿物理学、狭义相对论、广义相对论和宇宙学中的时伺、距离、速度和红移等概念．揭开了一些错误观念的实质,发现只要摆脱狭义相对论先入为主的束缚,上述问题即可迎刃而解．强调了宇宙学并不是纯粹的广义相对论,而是该理论在服从宇宙学原理的条件下的一个特例,其中一系列基本物理概念都因此得到新的内涵。     

红色泥岩风化含砾粘土的抗剪强度参数与物理性质相关性研究

研究了巴东组红色泥岩风化含砾粘土的含水量、密度及粘粒含量与内聚力C、摩察角φ的关系。通过配制粒径小于10mm的含砾粘土,按不同的含水量、密度及粘粒含量进行了大量的室内样品实验,分析总结了试验数据的一些规律,得出了适用的经验公式。这些经验公式揭示了该土体的一些特性,同时,当测得土体的某些物性指标后,可以运用这些公式计算该类土体的抗剪强度参数。这样,可避免少量试验数据用于设计时的不可靠性。     

Super-Eddington accretion discs around Kerr black holes

We calculate the structure of the accretion disc around a rapidly rotating black hole with a super-Eddington accretion rate. The luminosity and height of the disc are reduced by the advection effect. In the case of large viscosity parameter, α>0.03, the accretion flow deviates strongly from thermodynamic equilibrium and overheats in the central region. With increasing accretion rate, the flow temperature steeply increases, reaches maximum, and then falls off. The maximum is achieved in the advection-dominated regime of accretion. The maximum temperature in the disc around a massive black hole of M =10⁸ M⊙ with α=0.3 is of order 3×10⁸ K. The discs with large accretion rates can emit X-rays in quasars as well as in galactic black hole candidates.     

Differential rotation of relativistic superfluid in neutron stars

It is shown how to set up a mathematically elegant and fully relativistic superfluid model that can provide a realistic approximation (neglecting small anisotropies due to crust solidity, magnetic fields, etc., but allowing for the regions with vortex pinning) of the global structure of a rotating neutron star, in terms of just two independently moving constituents. One of these represents the differentially rotating neutron superfluid, while the other part represents the combination of all the other ingredients, including the degenerate electrons, the superfluid protons in the core, and the ions in the crust, the electromagnetic interactions of which will tend to keep them locked together in a state of approximately rigid rotation. Order of magnitude estimates are provided for relevant parameters such as the resistive drag coefficient.     

Is the Stephani-Krasiński solution a viable model of the Universe?

We present a detailed study of the inhomogeneous Stephani-Krasinski solution with time-dependent curvature index. In general, the cosmological behaviour of the models depends on six arbitrary functions of time. Such models are termed ‘private universes’ and cannot be in accord with observation in the most general case. Two simple models with changing topology are considered as illustrating examples. In one of these models the pressure turns out to be negative and hence a violation of the weak energy condition in the singularity theorems is possible. A brief review of other inhomogeneous cosmologies is included for the sake of clarity. It is shown that the geodesic equation can be reduced to a complicated differential equation, which depends on the three arbitrary functions involved. Therefore, it is difficult to obtain explicit formulas for the various observational relations.     

The maximum mass of neutron stars

Summary. The maximum mass of neutron stars plays an important role in determining the end point of the evolution of massive stars. As the number of stellar mass black holes in binary x-ray sources grows, and as the mass spectrum of the black holes emerges, the value of the maximum mass of neutron stars has acquired great significance. Although it is now more than sixty years since the first attempt by Oppenheimer and Volkoff, no definitive answer can be given. This review will attempt to outline the main difficulties, both conceptual as well as technical, that stand in the way of a reliable estimate of the maximum mass. We shall also highlight how laboratory experiments, as well as astronomical observations, may help to clarify the true nature of the interior of neutron stars. Received 26 November 2001 / Published online 22 April 2002