X-ray spectral evolution of low-mass X-ray binary GX 349+2     

V. K. Agrawal  P. Sreekumar 《Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society》2003,346(3):933-939

We present the results of a systematic investigation of spectral evolution in the Z source GX 349+2, using data obtained during 1998 with the Proportional Counter Array (PCA) on-board the RXTE satellite. The source traced a extended normal branch (NB) and flaring branch (FB) in the colour–colour diagram (CD) and the hardness-intensity diagram (HID) during these observations. The spectra at different positions of the Z-track were best fitted by a model consisting of a disc blackbody and a Comptonized spectrum. A broad (Gaussian) iron line at ∼6.7 keV is also required to improve the fit. The spectral parameters showed a systematic and significant variation with the position along the Z-track. The evolution in spectral parameters is discussed in view of the increasing mass accretion rate scenario, proposed to explain the motion of Z sources in the CD and the HID.  相似文献   

Ion Irradiation of Asphaltite: Optical Effects and Implications for Trans-Neptunian Objects and Centaurs     

Moroz  L. V.  Baratta  G.  Distefano  E.  Strazzulla  G.  Starukhina  L. V.  Dotto  E.  Barucci  M. A. 《Earth, Moon, and Planets》2003,92(1-4):279-289

Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs) and Centaurs show remarkable colour variationsin the visual and near-infrared spectral regions. Surface alteration processes such asspace weathering (e.g., bombardment with ions) and impact resurfacingmay play an important role in the colour diversity of such bodies. Ion irradiation ofhydrocarbon ices and their mixtures with water ice transforms neutral (grey) surfacecolours of ices to red and further to grey. Along with the ices, TNOs and Centaursprobably contain complex carbonaceous compounds, in particular, complexhydrocarbons. Unlike ices, such refractory organic materials have originally lowvisual albedos and red colours in the visible and near-infrared ranges. Here wepresent the first results of ion irradiation experiments on asphaltite. Asphaltite isa natural complex hydrocarbon material. The reflectance spectra of asphaltite inthe 0.4–0.8 μm range have been recorded before irradiation and after eachirradiation step. We demonstrate that irradiation of this red dark material with30 keV H⁺ and 15 keV N⁺ ions gradually transforms its colour from redto grey as a result of carbonization. A moderate increase in the visual albedo hasbeen observed. These results may imply that the surfaces of primitive red objectsoptically dominated by complex refractory organics may show a similar spaceweathering trend. Our laboratory results were compared with published coloursof TNOs and Centaurs. A broad variety of spectral colours observed for TNOs andCentaurs may be reproduced by various spectra of irradiated organics correspondingto different ion fluences. However, such objects probably also contain ices and silicatecomponents which show different space weathering trends. This fact, together with alack of information about albedos, may explain difficulties to reveal correlations between surface colours within TNO and Centaur populations and their other properties, such as absolute magnitudes and orbital parameters.  相似文献   

Transneptunian Binaries     

Noll  Keith S. 《Earth, Moon, and Planets》2003,92(1-4):395-407

The discovery of binaries among the population of transneptunian objects isa landmark advance in the study of this remote region of the solar system.Determination of binary orbits will enable direct determination of systemmasses, fundamental for determination of density, internal structure, and bulkcomposition. The mere existence of binaries with the observed separations andapparent masses constrains models of planetary formation.  相似文献   

Impact of the seasonal variations of composition on the temperature field of Titan’s stratosphere     

Sébastien Lebonnois  Frédéric Hourdin  David Luz 《Icarus》2003,163(1):164-174

We investigate the role of seasonal variations of Titan’s stratospheric composition on the temperature. We use a general circulation model coupled with idealized chemical tracers that reproduce variations of ethane (C₂H₆), acetylene (C₂H₂), and hydrogen cyanide (HCN). Enhancement of the mole fractions of these compounds, at high latitudes in the winter hemisphere relative to their equatorial values, induces a relative decrease in temperature above approximately 0.2 mbar, with a peak amplitude around −20 K, and a relative increase in temperature below, around 1 mbar, with a peak amplitude around +7 K. These thermal effects are mainly due to the variations of the cooling to space induced by the varying distributions. The ethane, acetylene, and hydrogen cyanide variations affect the cooling rates in a similar way, with the dominant effect being due to ethane, though its latitudinal variations are small.  相似文献   

Three Super Active Regions in the Descending Phase of Solar Cycle 23   总被引：2，自引：0，他引：2  

Hong-Qi Zhang  Xing-Ming Bao  Yin Zhang  Ji-Hong Liu  Shu-Dong Bao  Yuan-Yong Deng  Wei Li  Jie Chen  Jin-Ping Dun  Jiang-Tao Su  Juan Guo  Xiao-Fan Wang  Ke-Liang Hu  Gang-Hua Lin  Dong-Guang WangNational Astronomical Observatories  Chinese Academy of Sciences  Beijing   《中国天文和天体物理学报》2003,3(6):491-494

We analyze the magnetic configurations of three super active regions, NOAA 10484, 10486 and 10488, observed by the Huairou Multi-Channel Solar Telescope (MCST) from 2003 October 18 to November 4. Many energetic phenomena, such as flares (including a X-28 flare) and coronal mass ejections (CMEs), occurred during this period. We think that strong shear and fast emergence of magnetic flux are the main causes of these events. The question is also of great interest why these dramatic eruptions occurred so close together in the descending phase of the solar cycle.  相似文献   

On the most general accurate solutions for Buchdahl's fluid spheres     

Y.K. Gupta  M.K. Jasim 《Astrophysics and Space Science》2003,283(3):337-346

The most general accurate solutions for the Buchdhal fluid sphere were obtained and matched with the Schwarzchild's exterior solution at the pressure free interface. Various parameters of the solutions were so adjusted that the energy density, pressure and temperature were positive and decreasing away from the centre, and the velocity of sound was less than unity throughout the spheroid model. Using this procedure, the maximum mass of the fluid sphere with a surface density of2 × 10¹⁴gm cm^-3 was determined to be 3.82MΘ and 4.57 MΘ for strong and weak energy conditions respectively. PACS number: 0402, 0402J, 0440D, 95301 This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.  相似文献   

Meteor stream identification: a new approach – III. The limitations of statistics     

T. J. Jopek  G. B. Valsecchi  Cl. Froeschlé 《Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society》2003,344(2):665-672

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Lithium Abundances in the Atmospheres of SLR C-Giants WZ Cas and WX Cyg from Resonance and Subordinate Li I Lines     

Larisa A. Yakovina  Yakiv V. Pavlenko  Carlos Abia 《Astrophysics and Space Science》2003,288(3):279-286

Lithium abundances in the atmospheres of the super Li-rich C-giants WZ Cas and WX Cyg are derived by the spectral synthesis technique using the Li I resonance line at λ670.8 nm and three subordinate lines at λλ 812.6, 610.4 and 497.2 nm. The differences between the Li abundances derived from the λ670.8 nm line and the λλ 497.2, 812.6 nm lines do not exceed ±0.5 dex. The lithium line at λ610.4 nm provides typically lower abundances than the resonance line (by ≈ 1 dex). The mean LTE and NLTE Li abundances from three Li I lines (excluding λ610.4 nm) are 4.7, 4.9 for WZ Cas, and 4.6, 4.8 for WX Cyg, respectively. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.  相似文献   

Gravitational wave detection through microlensing?   总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1  

Roberto Ragazzoni  Gianpaolo Valente  Enrico Marchetti 《Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society》2003,345(1):100-110

It is shown that accurate photometric observations of a relatively high-magnification microlensing event  ( A ≫ 1)  , occurring close to the line of sight of a gravitational wave (GW) source, represented by a binary star, can allow the detection of subtle gravitational effects. After reviewing the physical nature of such effects, it is discussed to what extent these phenomena can actually be caused by GWs. Expressions for the amplitude of the phenomena and the detection probability are supplied.  相似文献   

An empirical model of the daily evolution of the coronal index     

Mavromichalaki  H.  Plainaki  C.  Zouganelis  I.  Petropoulos  B. 《Solar physics》2003,218(1-2):63-78

Global changes of the solar activity can be expressed by the coronal index that is based upon the total irradiance of the coronal 530.3 nm green line from observations at five stations. Daily mean values of the coronal index of solar activity and other well-correlated solar indices are analyzed for the period 1966–1998 covering over three solar cycles. The significant correlation of this index with the sunspot number and the solar flare index have led to an analytical expression which can reproduce the coronal index of solar activity as a function of these parameters. This expression explains well the existence of the two maxima during the solar cycles taking into account the evolution of the magnetic field that can be expressed by some sinusoidal terms during solar maxima and minima. The accuracy between observed and calculated values of the coronal index on a daily basis reaches the value of 71%. It is concluded that the representative character of the coronal index is preserved even when using daily data and can therefore allow us to study long-term, intermediate and short-term variations for the Sun as a star, in association with different periodical solar–terrestrial phenomena useful for space weather studies.  相似文献