Steady-state drift-dominated modulation models for galactic cosmic rays

A number of steady-state drift-dominated modulation models has been developed by the Potchefstroom modulation group. In this review a selection of these models is discussed and briefly compared. A short overview of the relevant drift theory incorporated into the models is also given.     

A GRB model satisfying stringent observational constraints

The temporal behavior of GRBs is quantified using a power spectrum analysis. The power spectrum of great variety of GRBs is well represented by the simple ^–2 behavior. We then study a cosmological GRB model in which relativistic flows interact with dense radiation fields. This mechanism in the densest stellar regions known to exist, surprisingly yields the correct temporal behavior. Other characteristics are also reproduced, including the duration bimodality and the hardness-duration distribution.     

The Lateral Trigger Probability function for the Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Ray showers detected by the Pierre Auger Observatory

In this paper we introduce the concept of Lateral Trigger Probability (LTP) function, i.e., the probability for an Extensive Air Shower (EAS) to trigger an individual detector of a ground based array as a function of distance to the shower axis, taking into account energy, mass and direction of the primary cosmic ray. We apply this concept to the surface array of the Pierre Auger Observatory consisting of a 1.5 km spaced grid of about 1600 water Cherenkov stations. Using Monte Carlo simulations of ultra-high energy showers the LTP functions are derived for energies in the range between 10¹⁷ and 10¹⁹ eV and zenith angles up to 65°. A parametrization combining a step function with an exponential is found to reproduce them very well in the considered range of energies and zenith angles. The LTP functions can also be obtained from data using events simultaneously observed by the fluorescence and the surface detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory (hybrid events). We validate the Monte Carlo results showing how LTP functions from data are in good agreement with simulations.     

Precise Synchrotron Radiation Spectrum of Fast-cooling Electrons and the Prompt GRB Emission

It is generally believed that the synchrotron radiation of electrons from the internal shock is the main radiation mechanism of the prompt GRB (gamma-ray burst) emission. However, what this model predicts can not explain observations well. In this paper, we confirm that electrons are quickly cooled due to radiation losses and also point out that the synchrotron radiation spectrum presented in previous papers is a relatively rough estimation. We get the precise synchrotron radiation spectrum of fast-cooling electrons by carrying out a numerical calculation, and thereby reasonably explain the observed distribution of low-energy spectral index (α) of long GRBs based on a unified model. In addition, we fit the correlation between α and the peak energy of the νFν spectrum (E_p).     

A fast and robust two-point ray tracing method in layered media with constant or linearly varying layer velocity

A fast and robust method for two-point ray tracing in one-dimensional layered media is presented. This method is applicable to layered models with constant or linearly varying isotropic layer velocity. For given model properties and source and receiver positions, a ray path can be uniquely determined once its ray parameter (i.e. horizontal slowness) is known. The ray parameter can be obtained by numerically solving the nonlinear offset (i.e. source–receiver horizontal distance) equation using Newton's method, which generally works well at near and mid offsets. However, Newton's method becomes hard to converge at large offsets due to the oversensitivity of offset to ray parameter. Based on the analysis of the characteristic of the offset equation, a modified ray parameter is proposed and used to replace the generic ray parameter in numerical calculation. Numerical experiments show that the iteration process becomes stable and converges rapidly with the modified ray parameter. Moreover, a rational function that asymptotically approximates the shape of the offset equation is introduced for obtaining good initial estimates of the modified ray parameter. Numerical tests show that this method is robust in any situation, and an accurate ray parameter can be obtained within two or three iterations for a wide range of model velocity structure and source–receiver distance. Furthermore, the proposed two-point ray tracing method is easy to implement.     

Directional interpolation of multicomponent data

A method for interpolation of multicomponent streamer data based on using the local directionality structure is presented. The derivative components are used to estimate a vector field that locally describes the direction with the least variability. Given this vector field, the interpolation can be phrased in terms of the solution of a partial differential equation that describes how energy is transported between regions of missing data. The approach can be efficiently implemented using readily available routines for computer graphics. The method is robust to noise in the measurements and particularly towards high levels of low‐frequent noise that is present in the derivative components of the multicomponent streamer data.     

Non-marine selachians from the basal Cretaceous of Charente,SW France

A gypsum quarry at Cherves-de-Cognac in south-western France exposes a large section of Berriasian (basal Cretaceous) sediments deposited in a lagoonal environment. The sediments have yielded rich vertebrate faunas, but only two species of selachians are present; the lonchidiid hybodont Parvodus celsucuspus sp. nov. and the batoid Belemnobatis variabilis. The composition of the fauna, including only a single, seemingly endemic, hybodont species from a time when hybodont faunas are relatively well investigated in Europe, indicate that small hybodonts were not able to migrate longer distances. The recorded batoid species also occurs in southern England, demonstrating that these batoids were primarily marine fishes that regularly explored areas with reduced salinity.     

RHESSI耀斑中非热电子低能截止的研究

太阳耀斑中硬X射线(HXR)光子谱的低能变平过去一般认为是由于耀斑中非热电子的低能截止造成的,但现在也有作者认为耀斑光子与下层大气的逆康普顿散射(albedo效应)或者其他作用也能够使得HXR光子谱出现低能变平的情形.采用Gan etal.(2001,2002)中提出的求非热电子低能截止的方法,统计分析了Ramaty High EnergySolar Spectroscopy Imager(RHESSI)卫星在2002--2005年间观测的100个耀斑,发现经albedo校正,有18个耀斑的HXR光子谱可以利用单幂律谱来拟合,在80个可以用双幂律谱来拟合HXR光子谱的耀斑中,有21个耀斑可以直接用单幂律电子谱加一个低能截止来解释.低能截止范围为20-50keV,平均值约为30keV.同时也分析了耀斑光子谱特征的其他可能解释.     

Stereoscopic observations of gamma rays at the Whipple observatory

Observations of photons at E ≥ 550 GeV from the Crab Nebula are presented and used to assess the potential of multi-telescope systems for γ-ray astronomy.

The Whipple observatory 10 m and 8 m imaging atmospheric erenkov telescopes have been used to provide a stereoscopic view of air showers to make a more complete measurement of air shower parameters. Here we present a measurement of the spread in the arrival direction of primary γ-rays originating from a point source. The data show that the shower arrival direction can be reconstructed with an accuracy of σ = 0.°14.