Mesoscale linear streaks on Mars: environments of dust entrainment     

P.C Thomas  P Gierasch  D.S Miller  B Cantor 《Icarus》2003,162(2):242-258

Variable surface albedo features on Mars are likely caused by the entrainment and deposition of dust by the wind. Most discrete markings are associated with topographic forms or with regional slopes that serve to alter the effective wind shear stress on the surface. Some of the largest variable features, here termed mesoscale linear streaks, are up to 400 km in length and repeatedly occur in one of the smoothest regions of Mars: Amazonis Planitia. Their orientations and apparent season of variability as observed by Viking and Mars Orbiter cameras indicate linear streak formation by enhanced surface wind stresses during regional or local dust storms and during the initial stages of global dust storms. They provide an example of the ability of large-scale winds, without significant local enhancement, to initiate dust motion on Mars. The sizes and spacing of the linear streaks may be controlled by boundary layer rolls. The repetitive formation of these streaks, over a span of more than 11 Mars years, gives one measure of the stability of Mars’ eolian processes.  相似文献   

Steady-state size distributions for collisional populations:: analytical solution with size-dependent strength     

David P. O'Brien  Richard Greenberg 《Icarus》2003,164(2):334-345

The steady-state population of bodies resulting from a collisional cascade depends on how material strength varies with size. We find a simple expression for the power-law index of the population, given a power law that describes how material strength varies with size. This result is extended to the case relevant for the asteroid belt and Kuiper belt, in which the material strength is described by 2 separate power laws—one for small bodies and one for larger bodies. We find that the power-law index of the small body population is unaffected by the strength law for the large bodies, and vice versa. Simple analytical expressions describe a wave that is superimposed on the large body population because of the transition between the two power laws describing the strength. These analytical results yield excellent agreement with a numerical simulation of collisional evolution. These results will help to interpret observations of the asteroids and KBOs, and constrain the strength properties of those objects.  相似文献   

Comet Hale-Bopp (C/1995 O1): UVSTAR-FUV Spectroscopy from the Space Shuttle     

Cristiano B. Cosmovici  Vojko Bratina  Gottfried Schwarz  Gianpaolo Tozzi  Michael J. Mumma  Roberto Stalio 《Astrophysics and Space Science》2006,301(1-4):135-143

We report here on unique post-perihelion (2.3 AU) measurements of Comet Hale-Bopp in the FUV-range (950–1250 Å) by means of the UVSTAR spectrometer from the space shuttle with the main purpose of searching for argon and other FUV emitters. New methods for separating the strong airglow emission at shuttle altitudes are here discussed in detail. Due to our low resolution (15 Å) and S/N ratio the possible rocket-borne detection of argon near perihelion (0.9 AU) could not be confirmed. New species as N₂ are suspected but difficult to separate from the strong airglow emission at shuttle altitudes. From the Lyα brightness (1.30± 0.08 kRy) a water production rate Q = 5.9 ± 0.4 × 10²⁹ molecules s^?1 could be derived and compared with other post-perihelion observations.  相似文献   

The Orion nebula (M42) Herbig–Haro object, HH 201, within the tip of a molecular finger     

M. F. Graham  J. Meaburn  M. P. Redman 《Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society》2003,343(2):419-426

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Laboratory studies of the interaction of carbon monoxide with water ice     

M.P. Collings  J.W. Dever  H.J. Fraser  M.R.S. McCoustra 《Astrophysics and Space Science》2003,285(3-4):633-659

The interaction of carbon monoxide (CO) with vapour-deposited water(H₂O) ices has been studied using temperature programmed desorption (TPD) and Fourier transform reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy (FT-RAIRS) over a range of astrophysically relevant temperatures. Such measurements have shown that CO desorption from amorphous H₂Oices is a much more complex process than current astrochemical models suggest. Re-visiting previously reported laboratory experiments (Collings et al., 2003), a rate model has been constructed to explain, in a phenomenological manner, the desorption of CO over astronomically relevant time scales. The model presented here can be widely applied to a range of astronomical environments where depletion of CO from the gas phase is relevant. The model accounts for the two competing processes of CO desorption and migration, and also enables the entrapment of some of the CO in the ice matrix and its subsequent release as the water ice crystallises and then desorbs. The astronomical implications of this model are discussed. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.  相似文献   

The efficiency of the spiral-in of a black hole to the Galactic Centre     

Piero F. Spinnato  Michael Fellhauer  Simon F. Portegies Zwart 《Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society》2003,344(1):22-32

We study the efficiency at which a black hole or dense star cluster spirals in to the Galactic Centre. This process takes place on a dynamical friction time-scale, which depends on the value of the Coulomb logarithm (ln Λ). We determine the accurate value of this parameter using the direct N -body method, a tree algorithm and a particle-mesh technique with up to two million plus one particles. The three different techniques are in excellent agreement. Our measurement for the Coulomb logarithm appears to be independent of the number of particles. We conclude that  ln Λ= 6.6 ± 0.6  for a massive point particle in the inner few parsec of the Galactic bulge. For an extended object, such as a dense star cluster, ln Λ is smaller, with a value of the logarithm argument Λ inversely proportional to the object size.  相似文献   

In-Orbit Vignetting Calibrations of XMM-Newton Telescopes     

D. H. Lumb  A. Finoguenov  R. Saxton  B. Aschenbach  P. Gondoin  M. Kirsch  I. M. Stewart 《Experimental Astronomy》2003,15(2):89-111

We describe measurements of the mirror vignetting in the XMM-Newton Observatory made in-orbit, using observations of SNR G21.5-09 and SNR 3C58 with the EPIC imaging cameras. The instrument features that complicate these measurements are briefly described. We show the spatial and energy dependences of measured vignetting, outlining assumptions made in deriving the eventual agreement between simulation and measurement. Alternate methods to confirm these are described, including an assessment of source elongation with off-axis angle, the surface brightness distribution of the diffuse X-ray background, and the consistency of Coma cluster emission at different position angles. A synthesis of these measurements leads to a change in the XMM calibration data base, for the optical axis of two of the three telescopes, by in excess of 1 arcmin. This has a small but measureable effect on the assumed spectral responses of the cameras for on-axis targets. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.  相似文献   

Storm Damage Assessment Using Digitised Aerial Photographs: Eltham, New Zealand, 24–25 February 1986     

C. F. PAIN  P. R. STEPHENS 《New Zealand geographer》1990,46(1):21-25

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SAMPLING REMOTELY SENSED IMAGERY FOR STORAGE,RETRIEVAL, AND RECONSTRUCTION*     

P. M. Atkinson  P. J. Curran  R. Webster 《The Professional geographer》1990,42(3):345-353

A major difficulty in remote sensing is handling the many data from sensors aboard aircraft and satellites. In this paper we identify an optimal procedure for sampling remotely sensed data before their storage or on their retrieval. The procedure depends on spatial correlation in the scene and uses kriging to estimate values that have been lost. An example in which data from an airborne multispectral scanner could be diminished to only about one tenth without serious loss of precision illustrates the method.  相似文献   

Investigation of ion beam techniques for the analysis and exposure of particles encapsulated by silica aerogel: Applicability for Stardust     

G. A. GRAHAM  P. G. GRANT  R. J. CHATER  A. J. WESTPHAL  A. T. KEARSLEY  C. SNEAD  G. DOMÍNGUEZ  A. L. BUTTERWORTH  D. S. McPHAIL  G. BENCH  J. P. BRADLEY 《Meteoritics & planetary science》2004,39(9):1461-1473

Abstract— In 2006, the Stardust spacecraft will return to Earth with cometary and perhaps interstellar dust particles embedded in silica aerogel collectors for analysis in terrestrial laboratories. These particles will be the first sample return from a solid planetary body since the Apollo missions. In preparation for the return, analogue particles were implanted into a keystone of silica aerogel that had been extracted from bulk silica aerogel using the optical technique described in Westphal et al. (2004). These particles were subsequently analyzed using analytical techniques associated with the use of a nuclear microprobe. The particles have been analyzed using: a) scanning transmission ion microscopy (STIM) that enables quantitative density imaging; b) proton elastic scattering analysis (PESA) and proton backscattering (PBS) for the detection of light elements including hydrogen; and c) proton‐induced X‐ray emission (PIXE) for elements with Z > 11. These analytical techniques have enabled us to quantify the composition of the encapsulated particles. A significant observation from the study is the variable column density of the silica aerogel. We also observed organic contamination within the silica aerogel. The implanted particles were then subjected to focused ion beam (FIB) milling using a 30 keV gallium ion beam to ablate silica aerogel in site‐specific areas to expose embedded particles. An ion polished flat surface of one of the particles was also prepared using the FIB. Here, we show that ion beam techniques have great potential in assisting with the analysis and exposure of Stardust particles.  相似文献