Discovery of 13 New Variable Stars in the Field of the Open Cluster NGC 2168 （M35）

A wide-field time-series CCD photometric survey of variable stars in the field of the open cluster NGC 2168 was carried out using the BATC Schmidt telescope. In total 13 new variable stars are discovered with three W UMa systems, one EA type and two EB type eclipsing binaries (one of them could be a W UMa system), and seven pulsating stars including three candidates of δScuti stars.     

Multi-wavelength Diagnostics of Bombardment by Non-thermal Particles in Solar Flares

Chromospheric lines, including Ha, Lyα, Lyβand CaⅡK, CaⅡ8542, are systemically and quantitatively investigated with respect to the non-thermal excitation and ionization due to particle beam bombardment for a series of solar semi-empirical atmospheric models. As a result we propose to use the contrast in the integrated intensity of hydrogen lines to estimate the total energy flux of the bombarding beam during the solar flare impulsive phase. Partial frequency redistribution is considered in the Lyαline calculation and a smaller intensity enhancement in the Ha line-centers is found than in the previous results of Fang et al.     

Can the inner gap sparking take place in millisecond pulsars？

The inner vacuum gap model has become the foundation stone of most theories on pulsar radio emission. The fundamental picture of this model is the sparking, which was conjectured to be induced by magnetic absorption of background gamma photons. However, a question is, can the sparking be triggered in the millisecond pulsars (MSPs) with magnetic fields (B) only about 108 G? We investigate this problem by including the pair production above the inner gap. Under the assumption that the magnetic field is dipolar, our results show the background gamma-ray emission can not be the key factor that triggers the sparking, at least not in MSPs with B - 108 G, if the temperature in the polar cap region is only so high as is observed (< 4 × 106 K). Some other mechanisms are required.     

A New Solar Radio Spectrometer at 1.10-2.06 GHz and First Observational Results

An improved Solar Radio Spectrometer working at 1.10-2.06 GHz with much improved spectral and temporal resolution, has been accomplished by the National Astronomical Observatories and Hebei Semiconductor Research Institute, based on an old spectrometer at 1-2 GHz. The new spectrometer has a spectral resolution of 4 MHz and a temporal resolution of 5ms, with an instantaneous detectable range from 0.02 to 10 times of the quiet Sun flux. It can measure both left and right circular polarization with an accuracy of 10% in degree of polarization. Some results of preliminary observations that could not be recorded by the old spectrometer at 1-2 GHz are presented.     

The Effect of Solar Activity on the Annual Precipitation in the Beijing Area

Using continuous wavelet transform, we examine the relationship between solar activity and the annual precipitation in the Beijing area. The results indicate that the annual precipitation is closely related to the variation of sunspot numbers, and that solar activity probably plays an important role in influencing the precipitation on land.     

On the Period Variation of the W UMa-type Contact Binary V502 Ophiuchi

The variation in the orbital period of the W UMa type contact binary V502 Oph is analyzed. The orbital period exhibits a wavelike variation with a periodicity of 23.0 years and an amplitude of △P = 1.24×10~(-6) days superimposed on secular decrease of dP/dt = 1.68×10-7 day per year. The long-term decrease may be accompanied by the contraction of the secondary at a rate of 83 m per year and a mass transfer rate from the primary to the secondary of 4.28×10~8 M per year. The short-term oscillation may be explained by the presence of a third component. Orbital elements of the third body and its possible mass are presented.     

寸土寸金

今年的10月17日，是令人喜怒参半的一天。这一天，神州六号载人飞船圆满返航，为人类的太空科学探索立下又一里程碑：同一天，日本首相小泉纯一郎及国会议员无视国内外的强烈反对，再次参拜供奉有二战甲级战犯牌位的靖国神社。前者是对科学与进步的贡献，后者则是对和平与美好的破坏。一进一退，一长一消，昭然天下。     

X射线衍射峰五基本要素的物理学意义与应用

本文根据Bragg衍射方程、Scherrer方程、衍射强度计算原理，研究讨论了X射线衍射5构成要素中的衍射峰位置、衍射峰宽度、衍射峰高度的物理学意义。根据实验研究证明了衍射峰不对称性的几何条件特征，并用地质事实验证了衍射形态变化与晶格应变和粒度大小的内在联系。从而阐明了单个衍射峰5基本构成要素的完整物理学意义，并以实例论证了5要素的实际应用价值。     

太空“方便”不方便

宇航员的大小便也是一件复杂的事。早期航天中是用胶布把便袋粘在宇航员的臀部，但这个办法显然不太“安全”。后来，“天空实验室”、“和平号”、航天飞机等航天器上都有了志门的太空厕所分别有不同的小便收集器，大便则是通过马桶的气流抽入一个袋中进行处理。