New giant H ii regions in the southern sky

We present results of a search for giant H  ii regions in southern galaxies. Using high-resolution spectra, obtained with the Magellan Inamori Kyocera Echelle (MIKE) at the Las Campanas Magellan II telescope, we were able to resolve the emission-line profiles and determine the intrinsic velocity dispersion of the ionized gas. Out of four observed regions, selected from previous CCD narrow-band photometry, we detected three H  ii regions showing supersonic velocity dispersion, characteristic of giant H  ii regions, and their location in diagnostic diagrams suggests that a powerful starburst is the source of ionization energy.     

Stability Regions and Quasi-Periodic Motion in the Vicinity of Triangular Equilibrium Points

The regions of quasi-periodic motion around non-symmetric periodic orbits in the vicinity of the triangular equilibrium points are studied numerically. First, for a value of the mass parameter less than Routh's critical value, the stability regions determined by quasi-periodic motion are examined around the existing families of short (L^s ₄) and long (L^l ₄) period solutions. Then, for two values of μ greater than the Routh value, the unified family L^sl ₄, to which, in these cases, L^s ₄ and L^l ₄ merge, is considered. It is found that such regions surround in general the linearly stable segments of the corresponding families and become smaller as the mass ratio increases. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The generation of ionization-shock front oscillations by a variable radiation flux

The effect of a time-varying radiation flux incident on an ionization front on the generation of ionization-shock front oscillations in the interstellar medium is analyzed analytically and numerically. We take into account both variations in the flux of ionizing radiation directly from the source that produces the ionization front and the absorption of energetic photons by the post-front plasma. Based on our calculations, we show that the time dependence of the radiation flux can be an additional factor (apart from small inhomogeneities in the interstellar medium) that contributes to the amplification of oscillations and to the kinetic energy input to the observed turbulent motions in H II regions.     

Phenomenological Theory of the Photoevaporation Front Instability

The dynamics of photoevaporated molecular clouds is determined by the ablative pressure acting on the ionization front. An important step in the understanding of the ensuing motion is to develop the linear stability theory for an initially flat front. Despite the simplifications introduced by linearization, the problem remains quite complex and still draws a lot of attention. The complexity is related to the large number of effects that have to be included in the analysis: acceleration of the front, possible temporal variation of the intensity of the ionizing radiation, the tilt of the radiation flux with respect to the normal to the surface, and partial absorption of the incident radiation in the ablated material. In this paper, we describe a model where all these effects can be taken into account simultaneously, and a relatively simple and universal dispersion relation can be obtained. The proposed phenomenological model may prove to be a helpful tool in assessing the feasibility of the laboratory experiments directed towards scaled modeling of astrophysical phenomena. PACS Numbers: 98.38.Dq, 98.38.Hv, 52.38.Mf, 5257.FG, 52.72.+v     

On the maximum value of the cosmic abundance of oxygen and the oxygen yield

We search for the maximum oxygen abundance in spiral galaxies. Because this maximum value is expected to occur in the centres of the most luminous galaxies, we have constructed the luminosity – central metallicity diagram for spiral galaxies, based on a large compilation of existing data on oxygen abundances of H  ii regions in spiral galaxies. We found that this diagram shows a plateau at high luminosities  (−22.3 ≲ M _B ≲−20.3)  , with a constant maximum value of the gas-phase oxygen abundance  12 + log (O/H) ∼ 8.87  . This provides strong evidence that the oxygen abundance in the centres of the most luminous metal-rich galaxies reaches the maximum attainable value of oxygen abundance. Since some fraction of the oxygen (about 0.08 dex) is expected to be locked into dust grains, the maximum value of the true gas + dust oxygen abundance in spiral galaxies is 12 + log(O/H) ∼ 8.95. This value is a factor of ∼2 higher than the recently estimated solar value. Based on the derived maximum oxygen abundance in galaxies, we found the oxygen yield to be about 0.0035, depending on the fraction of oxygen incorporated into dust grains.     

Near-infrared and optical emission-line structure of the Keyhole Nebula in NGC 3372

Narrow-band infrared and optical images of the Keyhole Nebula in NGC 3372 reveal which structures are caused by extinction, and show the underlying morphology of photoionized and shock-excited gas. Dark clouds conspire with ionized gas to create the apparent keyhole shape, which is prominent at blue wavelengths and less apparent in the infrared. The  Pa β /H α   line ratio shows the spatial distribution of foreground extinction. The wavelength dependence of this extinction indicates a reddening law with   R ≈4.8  , different from the normal interstellar medium. This confirms previous estimates of reddening toward the Carina Nebula determined from stellar photometry, and reveals that the anomalous extinction is patchy and within the H  ii region. The morphology of the ionized gas is different from the extinction clouds; it shows an edge-on ionization front running NE to SW, with a limb-brightened indentation that forms the upper outline of the keyhole shape. A fast polar wind from η Carinae may have punctured the ionization front, since the indentation is directly along a projection of the polar axis of the star. This is supported by the morphology of shock-excited gas revealed by a high  [S  ii ]/H α   ratio. High-excitation gas emitting [O  iii ] and He  i has a smoother distribution. Molecular clumps in the region are also discussed.     

南极地区气温变化的一些特征

本文利用南极地区考察站的气温资料,对该地区气温的季节变化和年变化进行统计分析。结果表明,南极地区气温的季节变化有明显的区域性和两季特点,东南极大陆是冷中心,在南极地区气温变化中起重要作用,极点气温的年际变率不大,南极地区气温场中存在ENSO事件的信号。