Large-scale,decelerating, relativistic x-ray jets from the microquasar XTE J1550-564

We have detected, at x-ray and radio wavelengths, large-scale moving jets from the microquasar XTE J1550-564. Plasma ejected from near the black hole traveled at relativistic velocities for at least 4 years. We present direct evidence for gradual deceleration in a relativistic jet. The broadband spectrum of the jets is consistent with synchrotron emission from high-energy (up to 10 tera-electron volts) particles that were accelerated in the shock waves formed within the relativistic ejecta or by the interaction of the jets with the interstellar medium. XTE J1550-564 offers a rare opportunity to study the dynamical evolution of relativistic jets on time scales inaccessible for active galactic nuclei jets, with implications for our understanding of relativistic jets from Galactic x-ray binaries and active galactic nuclei.     

Flashing superluminal components in the jet of the radio galaxy 3C120

A 16-month sequence of radio images of the active galaxy 3C120 with the Very Long Baseline Array reveals a region in the relativistic jet where superluminal components flash on and off over time scales of months, while the polarization angle rotates. This can be explained by interaction between the jet and an interstellar cloud located about 8 parsecs from the center of the galaxy. The cloud, which rotates the polarization direction and possibly eclipses a section of the jet, represents a "missing link" between the ultradense broad-emission-line clouds closer to the center and the lower density narrow-emission-line clouds seen on kiloparsec scales.     

Radio emission from an ultraluminous x-ray source

The physical nature of ultraluminous x-ray sources is uncertain. Stellar-mass black holes with beamed radiation and intermediate black holes with isotropic radiation are two plausible explanations. We discovered radio emission from an ultraluminous x-ray source in the dwarf irregular galaxy NGC 5408. The x-ray, radio, and optical fluxes as well as the x-ray spectral shape are consistent with beamed relativistic jet emission from an accreting stellar black hole. If confirmed, this would suggest that the ultraluminous x-ray sources may be stellar-mass rather than intermediate-mass black holes. However, interpretation of the source as a jet-producing intermediate-mass black hole cannot be ruled out at this time.     

Experiments on salt fingers in a hele shaw cell

"Salt fingers" are generated when a slowly diffusing solute overlies a more rapidly diffusing solute in a gravitationally stable fluid. The phenomenon is important in many areas of science; for example, it affects the temperature and salinity structure in the upper half of the ocean, the production of crystals when liquid alloys solidify, and the distribution of properties in magma chambers below the earth's crust. The evolution of a salt finger from initial instability to a fully developed feature is difficult to follow in a fluid because of the close-packed array of cells that is formed. However, when the fluid is contained in a Hele Shaw cell, individual fingers occupy the entire gap width, thereby enabling the experimenter to monitor and record the evolution much more easily. The instability of an array of wide fingers to disturbances that lead to (preferred) smaller scales is documented in a sequence of photographs, and a qualitative, physically consistent argument is offered to explain the instability.     

The double quasar 0957+561: a radio study at 6-centimeters wavelength

The optical double quasar 0957+561 has been interpreted as the gravitational double image of a single object. A radio map made with the Very Large Array of the National Radio Astronomy Observatory shows unresolved sources coincident With the optical images as well as a complex of related extended emission. Although the results cannot rule out the gravitational lens hypothesis, the complex radio structure is more easily interpreted as two separate quasars. The optical and radio properties of the two quasars are so similar that the two must have been formed at the same time with similar initial conditions.     

A transient radio jet in an erupting dwarf nova

Astrophysical jets seem to occur in nearly all types of accreting objects, from supermassive black holes to young stellar objects. On the basis of x-ray binaries, a unified scenario describing the disc/jet coupling has evolved and been extended to many accreting objects. The only major exceptions are thought to be cataclysmic variables: Dwarf novae, weakly accreting white dwarfs, show similar outburst behavior to x-ray binaries, but no jet has yet been detected. Here we present radio observations of a dwarf nova in outburst showing variable flat-spectrum radio emission that is best explained as synchrotron emission originating in a transient jet. Both the inferred jet power and the relation to the outburst cycle are analogous to those seen in x-ray binaries, suggesting that the disc/jet coupling mechanism is ubiquitous.     

辽西一次特大暴雨过程的急流分析

利用常规观测资料和NCEP全球再分析资料,对2010年8月4～5日发生在辽宁西部沿海地区的一次特大暴雨过程进行了分析,结果发现:超低空南风急流给本次特大暴雨提供了主要的水汽;低空南风急流造成了低层大气对流不稳定,为强对流提供了条件;高空西风急流引发高空大气的对称不稳定,促使对流运动向高空发展;高低空急流耦合激发的次级环流有较强的上升运动,使暴雨天气维持。     

Equatorial currents in the Western Indian ocean

Measurements were made in the equatorial Indian Ocean during spring and summer 1979 from the Somali coast to 62 degrees E in the interior of the western basin. The detailed vertical profiles of horizontal current show that the energetic dominance throughout the region of variability was on vertical scales of several hundreds of meters, confined to within a few degrees of the equator, as observed in 1976. The near-surface equatorial circulation responded directly to variations in the wind field, and satellite-tracked drifter buoys showed the equatorial surface jet extending across the width of the ocean. This eastward flow is generated by the eastward winds that appear in the interval between the northeast and southwest monsoons. The zonal velocity fluctuations extended in a consistent pattern over the observation region. The time and meridional scales of the variability were similar to those observed in 1976, suggesting that the velocity field is dominated by long-term, equatorially trapped motions with long zonal scales.     

Triton's Plumes: The Dust Devil Hypothesis

Triton's plumes are narrow columns 10 kilometers in height, with tails extending horizontally for distances over 100 kilometers. This structure suggests that the plumes are an atmospheric rather than a surface phenomenon. The closest terrestrial analogs may be dust devils, which are atmospheric vortices originating in the unstable layer close to the ground. Since Triton has such a low surface pressure, extremely unstable layers could develop during the day. Patches of unfrosted ground near the subsolar point could act as sites for dust devil formation because they heat up relative to the surrounding nitrogen frost. The resulting convection would warm the atmosphere to temperatures of 48 kelvin or higher, as observed by the Voyager radio science team. Assuming that velocity scales as the square root of temperature difference times the height of the mixed layer, a velocity of 20 meters per second is derived for the strongest dust devils on Triton. Winds of this speed could raise particles provided they are a factor of 103 to 104 less cohesive than those on Earth.     

The double quasar 0957+561: examination of the gravitational lens hypothesis using the very large array

A full 12-hour synthesis at 6-centimeter wavelength with the Very Large Array confirms the major features previously reported for the double quasar 0957+561. In addition, the existence of radio jets apparently associated with both quasars is demonstrated. Gravitational lens models are now favored on the basis of recent optical observations, and the radio jets place severe constraints on such models. Further radio observations of the double quasar are needed to establish the expected relative time delay in variations between the images.     

From microwave anisotropies to cosmology

Fluctuations in the temperature of the cosmic microwave background have now been detected over a wide range of angular scales, and a consistent picture seems to be emerging. This article describes some of the implications for cosmology. Analysis of all of the published detections suggests the existence of a peak on degree scales with a height 2.4 to 10 (90 percent confidence level) times the amplitude of the power spectrum at large angular scales. This result confirms an early prediction, implies that the universe did in fact recombine, and limits theories of structure formation. Illustrative examples show how comparison of the microwave background data and the large-scale structure data will be a potentially powerful means of answering fundamental questions about the universe.     

Localization and physical property experiments conducted by Opportunity at Meridiani Planum

The location of the Opportunity landing site was determined to better than 10-m absolute accuracy from analyses of radio tracking data. We determined Rover locations during traverses with an error as small as several centimeters using engineering telemetry and overlapping images. Topographic profiles generated from rover data show that the plains are very smooth from meter- to centimeter-length scales, consistent with analyses of orbital observations. Solar cell output decreased because of the deposition of airborne dust on the panels. The lack of dust-covered surfaces on Meridiani Planum indicates that high velocity winds must remove this material on a continuing basis. The low mechanical strength of the evaporitic rocks as determined from grinding experiments, and the abundance of coarse-grained surface particles argue for differential erosion of Meridiani Planum.     

Jets in extragalactic radio sources

Observations now require that there be a continuous supply of energy to the giant extragalactic radio sources. These observations also suggest that this energy input may be in the form of streams or jets of gas emanating from the centers of galaxies and quasi-stellar objects. Current data indicate that the large-scale jet structures are not moving with relativistic speeds, as previously proposed. Slow-moving jets, which possess turbulent interiors and are dominated by relatively cool gas, can account for the observed jet properties at optical and radio wavelengths. Extremely small-scale jets observed adjacent to the central energy source may or may not be in relativistic motion.     

Polarized gamma-ray emission from the galactic black hole Cygnus X-1

Because of their inherently high flux allowing the detection of clear signals, black hole x-ray binaries are interesting candidates for polarization studies, even if no polarization signals have been observed from them before. Such measurements would provide further detailed insight into these sources' emission mechanisms. We measured the polarization of the gamma-ray emission from the black hole binary system Cygnus X-1 with the International Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory Imager on Board the Integral Satellite (INTEGRAL/IBIS) telescope. Spectral modeling of the data reveals two emission mechanisms: The 250- to 400-keV (kilo-electron volt) data are consistent with emission dominated by Compton scattering on thermal electrons and are weakly polarized. The second spectral component seen in the 400-keV to 2-MeV band is by contrast strongly polarized, revealing that the MeV emission is probably related to the jet first detected in the radio band.     

Large trench-parallel gravity variations predict seismogenic behavior in subduction zones

We demonstrate that great earthquakes occur predominantly in regions with a strongly negative trench-parallel gravity anomaly (TPGA), whereas regions with strongly positive TPGA are relatively aseismic. These observations suggest that, over time scales up to at least 1 million years, spatial variations of seismogenic behavior within a given subduction zone are stationary and linked to the geological structure of the fore-arc. The correlations we observe are consistent with a model in which spatial variations in frictional properties on the plate interface control trench-parellel variations in fore-arc topography, gravity, and seismogenic behavior.     

1次华北回流冷空气引发的罕见暴雪分析

采用常规观测资料和NCEP再分析资料,对2009年11月华北出现的罕见暴雪进行分析。结果表明,暴雪发生在条件性对称不稳定大气层结中;500 hPa低槽、锋区和700 hPa横切变是影响这次暴雪的直接影响系统;700 hPa低涡前的西南急流是主要的水汽输送系统,900 hPa以下东北风急流携带的强冷空气是暴雪形成的重要动力条件和温度条件,这次暴雪具有典型的回流冷锋特征;极锋急流激发的次级环流的下沉支在暴雪发生前将高层高动量强冷空气携带到低层,加大低层的大气不稳定。     

Photoelectric and Spectroscopic Observations Related to a Possible Optical Counterpart for Pulsar CP 1919+21

Spectroscopic observations of the two stars near the pulsar CP 1919+21 are not sufficiently conclusive to permit an identification of either object with the source of the radio pulses. However, our most extensive series of photometric observations of a region of sky near the radio source position, which region includes the brighter of the two stars, suggests an approximately sinusoidal variation. It is significant that the period of the variation is double the period of the radio pulsations.     

秦岭南侧一次弱对流暴雨过程机理分析简

使用地面自动站资料、常规观测资料、NECP再分析资料、卫星TBB云图资料等,通过天气学分析及动力能量诊断分析对2011年8月3～5日汉中、安康一次区域性暴雨过程进行机理分析.结果表明,这次过程东亚中高纬度维持大槽大脊环流形势,高原上东移的低涡直接影响陕西省,陕南大部处在低涡东侧,副高584 dagpm线在河南一带呈“凸”型,陕南位于“凸”型结构西侧,有利于低涡输送的水汽和能量在此地汇集;前期水汽条件输送和堆积条件不是特别良好,后期水汽逐渐上来,低层700 hPa切变线和850 hPa陕南偏南风急流在过程中对水汽输送和堆积贡献很大;动力因子方面高层强辐散、低层弱辐合产生的上升运动十分强盛,但K指数和θse分布表明暴雨区附近不稳定形势比较弱,且暴雨发生时并没有明显的强对流机制迹象,说明暴雨触发机制中不稳定能量的大小比有利的上升运动意义更大;云图分布上,对流发展与强对流过程相比要弱,云团没有达到MCC级别,预报员易忽略雷暴天气的发生;云因发展最旺盛时刻同时也是暴雨最大时段,TBB中心与暴雨中心对应比较一致.     

2008年6月汕头一次特大暴雨天气成因分析

利用常规资料、ncep 2.5°×2.5°6 h再分析资料和卫星云图资料对2008年6月13日～14日汕头地区一次特大暴雨天气过程成因进行了综合分析。结果表明:高低层环流配置为暴雨提供了有利的大尺度环流条件;高低空急流的相互作用是此次暴雨产生的重要原因;中尺度对流云团是此次特大暴雨的直接影响系统;低空急流为暴雨的发生发展提供充沛的水汽和不稳定能量;高低空正负涡度柱和正负散度柱的耦合是产生暴雨的动力机制。     

The variable rotation period of the inner region of Saturn's plasma disk

We show that the plasma and magnetic fields in the inner region of Saturn's plasma disk rotate in synchronism with the time-variable modulation period of Saturn's kilometric radio emission. This relation suggests that the radio modulation has its origins in the inner region of the plasma disk, most likely from a centrifugally driven convective instability and an associated plasma outflow that slowly slips in phase relative to Saturn's internal rotation. The slippage rate is determined by the electrodynamic coupling of the plasma disk to Saturn and by the drag force exerted by its interaction with the Enceladus neutral gas torus.