Synthetic analysis of a two-ribbon microflare

High-resolution Stokes spectral data of Hα, Ca Ⅱ 8542A, and Fe 16302.5A lines for a two-ribbon microflare （TRMF） were simultaneously obtained by the THEMIS telescope on 2002 September 5. We derive the intensity, velocity, and longitudinal magnetic field maps. The hard X-ray emission observed by RHESSI provides evidence of nonthermal particle acceleration in the TRMF. Using Ha and Ca Ⅱ 8542A line profiles and a non-LTE calculation, we obtain semi-empirical atmospheric models for the two brightest kernels of the TRME Our result indicates that the temperature enhancement in the chromosphere is more than 2500 K. The kinetic and radiative energies at the kernels are also estimated, resulting in an estimate of the total energy of the TRMF of about 2.4×10^29 erg. Observations indicate that the TRMF results from the low coronal magnetic reconnection following the eruption of a small fila- ment. However, the local temperature ＂bump＂ in the chromosphere presents a puzzle for such a standard flare model. A possible solution to this is discussed.

Spectral Analysis and Atmospheric Models of Microflares

By use of the high-resolution spectral data obtained with THEMIS on 2002 September 5, the spectra and characteristics of five well-observed microflares have been analyzed. Our results indicate that some of them are located near the longitudinal magnetic polarity inversion lines. All the microflares are accompanied by mass motions. The most obvious characteristic of the Hα microflare spectra is the emission at the center of both Hα and CaⅡ 8542A lines. For the first time both thermal and non-thermal semi-empirical atmospheric models for the conspicuous and faint microflares are computed. In computing the non-thermal models, we assume that the electron beam resulting from magnetic reconnection is produced in the chromosphere, because it requires lower energies for the injected particles. It is found there is obvious heating in the low chromosphere. The temperature enhancement is about 1000-2200 K in the thermal models. If the non-thermal effects are included, then the required temperature increase can be reduced by 100-150 K. These imply that the Hα microflares can probably be produced by magnetic reconnection in the solar lower atmosphere. The radiative and kinetic energies of the Hα microflares are estimated and the total energy is found to be 10^27 - 4× 10^28 erg.

A Parametric Survey of the CME Triggering Process by Numerical Simulations

Observations indicate that solar coronal mass ejections （CMEs） are closely associated with reconnection-favored flux emergence, which was explained in the emerging flux trigger mechanism for CMEs by Chen ＆ Shibata based on numerical simulations. We present a parametric survey of the triggering agent： its polarity orientation, position, and the amount of the unsigned flux. The results suggest that whether a CME can be triggered depends on both the amount and location of the emerging flux, in addition to its polarity orientation. A diagram is presented to show the eruption and non-eruption regimes in the parameter space. The work is aimed at providing useful information for the space weather forecast.

On the Station-Keeping and Control of the World Space Observatory/Ultraviolet

Collinear libration points play an important role in deep space exploration because of their special positions and dynamical characteristics. Since motion around them is unstable, we need to control the spacecraft if we wish to keep them around such a libration point for a long time. Here we propose a continuous low-thrust control strategy, illustrated with numerical simulations combined with the orbit design and control of the World Space Observatory/UltraViolet （WSO/UV）.

Detailed analysis of fan-shaped jets in three dimensional numerical simulation

We performed three dimensional resistive magnetohydrodynamic simulations to study the magnetic reconnection using an initially shearing magnetic field configuration（force free field with a current sheet in the middle of the computational box）.It is shown that there are two types of reconnection jets：the ordinary reconnection jets and fan-shaped jets,which are formed along the guide magnetic field.The fan-shaped jets are significantly different from the ordinary reconnection jets which are ejected by magnetic tension force.There are two driving forces for accelerating the fan-shaped jets.One is the Lorentz force which initially dominates the motion of fluid elements,and then the gas pressure gradient force accelerates the fluid elements in the later stage.The dependence on magnetic reconnection angle and resistivity value has also been studied.The formation and evolution of these jets provide a new understanding of dynamic magnetohydrodynamic jets.

A Monte Carlo Study of the Evolution of the Scale Height of Normal Pulsars in the Galaxy

Based on the undisturbed, finite thickness disk gravitational potential, we carried out 3-D Monte Carlo simulations of normal pulsars. We find that their scale height evolves in a similar way for different velocity dispersions （δv）： it first increases linearly with time, reaches a peak, then gradually decreases, and finally approaches a stable asymptotic value. The initial velocity dispersion has a very large influence on the scale height. The time evolution of the scale height is studied. When the magnetic decay age is used as the time variable, the observed scale height has a similar trend as the simulated results in the linear stage, from which we derive velocity dispersions in the range 70 - 178km s^-1, which are near the statistical result of 90 - 270km s^-1 for 92 pulsars with known transverse velocities. If the characteristic age is used as the time variable, then the observed and theoretical curves roughly agree for t 〉 10^8 yr only if av 〈 25km s^-1.

Measuring the beaming angle of GRB 030329 by fitting the rebrightenings in its multiband afterglow

Multiple rebrightenings have been observed in the multiband afterglow of GRB 030329. In particular, a marked and quick rebrightening occurred at about t 1.2 × 10^5 s. Energy injection from late and slow shells seems to be the best interpretation for these rebrightenings. Usually it is assumed that the energy is injected into the whole external shock. However, in the case of GRB 030329, the rebrightenings are so quick that the usual consideration fails to give a satisfactory fit to the observed light curves. Actually, since these late/slow shells freely coast in the wake of the external shock, they should be cold and may not expand laterally. The energy injection then should only occur at the central region of the external shock. Considering this effect, we numerically re-fit the quick rebrightenings observed in GRB 030329. By doing this, we were able to derive the beaming angle of the energy injection process. Our result, with a relative residual of only 5% - 10% during the major rebrightening, is bet- ter than any previous modeling. The derived energy injection angle is about 0.035. We assume that these late shells are ejected by the central engine via the same mechanism as those early shells that produce the prompt gamma-ray burst. The main difference is that their velocities are much slower, so that they catch up with the external shock relatively late and are manifested as the observed quick rebrightenings. If this were true, then the derived energy injection angle can give a good measure of the beaming angle of the prompt γ-ray emission. Our study may hopefully provide a novel method to measure the beaming angle of gamma-ray bursts.

An Approach of Tropospheric Correction for VLBI Phase-Referencing using GPS Data

The dominant source of error in VLBI phase-referencing is the troposphere at observing frequencies above 5 GHz. We compare the tropospheric zenith delays derived from VLBI and GPS data at VLBA stations collocated with GPS antennas. The systematic biases and standard deviations both are at the level of sub-centimeter. Based on this agreement, we suggest a new method of tropospheric correction in phase-referencing using combined VLBI and GPS data.

Waiting Time Distribution of Coronal Mass Ejections

Inspired by the finding that the large waiting time of solar flares presents a power-law distribution, we investigate the waiting time distribution (WTD) of coronal mass ejections (CMEs). SOHO/LASCO CME observations from 1996 to 2003 are used in this study. It is shown that the observed CMEs have a similar power-law behavior to the flares, with an almost identical power-law index. This strongly supports the viewpoint that solar flares and CMEs are different manifestations of the same physical process. We have also investigated separately the WTDs of fast-type and slow-type CMEs and found that their indices are identical, which imply that both types of CME may originate from the same physical mechanism.

The deep optical imaging of the Extended Groth Strip

We present u＇g＇R optical images taken with the MMT/Megacam and the Subaru/Suprime telescopes of the Extended Groth Strip survey. The total survey covers an area of about -1 degree2, including four sub-fields and is optimized for the study of galaxies at z - 3. Our methods for photometric calibration in AB magnitudes, the limiting magnitude and the galaxy number count are described. A sample of 1642 photometrically selected candidate Lyman-Break Galaxies （LBGs） to an apparent RAB magnitude limit of 25.0 is presented. The average sky surface density of our LBG sample is -1.0 arcmin-2, slightly higher than the previous finding.

A two-step energy injection explanation for the rebrightenings of the multi-band afterglow of GRB 081029

The afterglow of GRB 081029 showed unusual behavior, with a signifi- cant rebrightening being observed at the optical wavelength at about 3000 s after the burst. One possible explanation is that the rebrightening resulted from an energy in- jection. Here we present a detailed numerical study of the energy injection process and interpret the X-ray and optical afterglow light curves of GRB 081029. In our model, we have assumed two periods of energy injection, each with a constant injec- tion power. One injection starts at 2.8 × 10^3 s and lasts for about 2500 s, with a power of 7.0 × 10^47 erg s-1. This energy injection mainly accounts for the rapid rebrighten- ing at about 3000 s. The other injection starts at 8.0 × 10^3 s and lasts for about 5000 s. The injection power is 3.5 × 10^47 erg s-1. This energy injection can help to explain the slight rebrightening at about 10 000 s. It is shown that the observed optical after- glow, especially the marked rebrightening at about 3000 s, can be reproduced well. In the X-ray band, the predicted amplitude of the rebrightening is much shallower, which is also consistent with the observed X-ray afterglow light curve. It is argued that the two periods of energy injection can be produced by clumpy materials falling onto the central compact object of the burster, which leads to an enhancement of accretion and gives rise to a strong temporary outflow.

A Multi-Wavelength Study of the 3B/X1.2 Flare Observed on 2003 October 26

We report results from a multi-wavelength study of the 3B/X1.2 tworibbon disk flare （S15E44）, which was well observed by both ground-based and space-borne instruments. Two pairs of conjugate kernels - K1 and K4, and K2 and K3 - in the Ha images are identified. These kernels are linked by two different systems of EUV loops. K1 and K4 correspond to the two 17 GHz and 34 GHz microwave sources observed by the Nobeyama Radioheliograph （NoRH）, while K2 and K3 have no corresponding microwave sources. Optical spectroscopic observations suggest that all the four kernels are possible precipitating sites of non-thermal electrons. Thus the energy of electron deposited in K2 and K3 should be less than 100keV. Two-dimensional distributions of the full widths at half maximum （FWHM） of the Ha profiles and the line-of-sight （LOS） velocities derived from the Ca n 8542 A profiles indicate that the largest FWHM and LOS velocity tends to be located near the outer edges of Hα kernels, which is consistent with the scenario of current two-ribbon flare models and previous results. When non-thermal electron bombardment is present, the observed Hα and Ca II 8542 A profiles are similar to previous observational and theoretical results, while the He I 10830 A profiles are different from the theoretical ones. This puts some constraints on future theoretical calculation of the He I 10830 A line.

Revisit of Dynamical Mechanisms of Transporting Asteroids in the 3:1 Resonance to the Near-Earth Space

It is well-known that the asteroids in the main belt trapped in the 3：1 Mean Motion Resonance （MMR） with Jupiter （at semi-major axes -2.5 AU） are few in number, forming one of the so-called Kirkwood Gaps. Wisdom pointed out that chaotic motion of such aster- oids can increase their eccentricities and make them approach and cross the orbit of Mars （or even the Earth）. We numerically investigated the orbital evolution of the asteroids involved in 3：1 MMR （NEOs） over millions of years and revisited the dynamical mechanisms of trasporitng such asteroids into the NEO region. The results show that the dynamical evolution of the asteroids around 2.5 AU is mainly dominated by the 3：1 resonance, the v5 and v6 secular resonances and the Kozai resonance, and these bodies can evolve into NEOs through several of the dynamical mechanisms, so indicating possible dynamical origin of the NEOs.

Effect of rapid evolution of magnetic tilt angle on a newborn magnetar's dipole radiation

We study the electromagnetic radiation from a newborn magnetar whose magnetic tilt angle decreases rapidly. We calculate the evolution of the angular spin frequency, the perpendicular component of the surface magnetic field strength, and the energy loss rate through magnetic dipole radiation. We show that the spin-down of the magnetar experiences two stages characterized by two different timescales. The apparent magnetic field decreases with the decrease of the tilt angle. We further show that the energy loss rate of the magnetar is very different from that in the case of a fixed tilt angle. The evolution of the energy loss rate is consistent with the overall light curves of gamma-ray bursts which show a plateau structure in their afterglow stage. Our model supports the idea that some gamma-ray bursts with a plateau phase in their afterglow stage may originate from newborn millisecond magnetars.

Strongly screened electron capture rates of chromium isotopes in presupernova evolution

Taking into account the effect of electron screening on electron energy and electron capture threshold energy, by using the method of Shell-Model Monte Carlo and random phase approximation theory, we investigate the capture rates of chromium isotopes with strong electron screening according to the linear response theory screening model. Strong screening rates can decrease by about 40.43% （e.g., for 6Cr at T9 = 3.44, Ye = 0.43）. Our conclusions may be helpful to researches on supernova explosions and related numerical simulation methods.

Relativistic transformation between τ and TCB for Mars missions: Fourier analysis on its accessibility with clock offset

In the context of the fact that Einstein＇s general relativity has become an inevitable part of deep space missions, we will extend previous works on relativistic transformation between the proper time ^- of a clock onboard a spacecraft orbiting Mars and the Barycentric Coordinate Time （TCB） by taking the clock offset into ac- count and investigate its accessibility by Fourier analysis on the residuals after fitting the ^--TCB curve in terms of n-th order polynomials. We find that if the accuracy of a clock can achieve better than ~ 10-5 s or ~ 10-6 s （depending on the type of clock offset） in one year after calibration, the relativistic effects on the difference between 7- and TCB will need to be carefully considered.

Surface photometry and radial color gradients of nearby luminous early-type galaxies in SDSS Stripe 82

We make use of the images from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Stripe 82（Stripe 82） to present an analysis of r band surface brightness profiles and radial color gradients（g-r,u-r） in our sample of 111 nearby early-type galaxies（ETGs） .Thanks to the Stripe 82 images,each of which is co-added from about 50 single frames,we are able to pay special attention to the low-surface-brightness areas（LSB areas） of the galaxies.The LSB areas affect the Sérsic fittings and concentration indices by making both of the indices less than the typical values for ETGs.In the Sérsic fits to all the surface brightness profiles,we found some Sérsic indices that range from 1.5 to 2.5,much smaller than those of typical de Vaucouleur profiles and relatively close to those of exponential disks,and some others much larger than four but still with accurate fitting.Two galaxies cannot be fitted with a single Sérsic profile,but once we try double Sérsic profiles,the fittings are improved：one with a profile relatively close to the de Vaucouleur law in the inner area and a profile relatively close to an exponential law in the LSB area,the other with a nice fitting in the inner area but still having a failed fitting in the outer area.About 60%of the sample has negative color gradients（red-core） within 1.5Re,much more than the approximately 10%positive ones（blue-core） within the same radius.However,taking into account the LSB areas,we find that the color gradients are not necessarily monotonic：about one third of the red-core（or blue-core） galaxies have positive（or negative） color gradients in the outer areas. So LSB areas not only make ETGs’Sérsic profiles deviate from de Vaucouleur ones and shift to the disk end,but also reveal that quite a number of ETGs have opposite color gradients in inner and outer areas.These outcomes remind us of the necessity of double-Sérsic fitting.These LSB phenomena may be interpreted by mergers and thus have different metallicity in the outer areas.Isophotal parameters are also discussed briefly in this paper with the following conclusion：there are more disky nearby ETGs that are identified than boxy ones.

The Inclination, Pitch Angle and Forbidden Radius of Spiral Arms of PGC 35105

We have studied some properties including surface brightness in the u, g, r, i, and z bands of the nearly face-on galaxy PGC 35105. By subtracting a model surface brightness distribution from the observed image we obtain the residual image that shows only the spiral arms freed from the contamination by the bulge. From this we measured the the inclination, pitch angle, and forbidden radius （identified with the innermost point of the arm） for each of the two arms; and that for each of the five observing bands. We found these three parameters are largely independent of the observing band.

A Possible Mechanism for the Origin of Ultrastrong Magnetic Field of Magnetars

Growing observations reveal that soft gamma-ray repeaters and anomalous x-ray pulsars are magnetars. Their magnetic fields may achieve 10^14 - 10^15G. We explore the origin of the superstrong magnetic field by considering the magnetization of the ^3P2 superfluid neutrons inside neutron stars （NSs）. By solving the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkov equations together with the equation of state adopted by Elgaroy it et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 77 （1996） 1428] in the calculation of the neutron pairing gap, we specifically calculate the NS internal structure, the permissible region for ^3P2 superfluid neutrons inside the NS, and the total magnetic moment contributed by the orderly arranged neutron vortexes. The result shows that the induced magnetic field may cover a wide range, which is consistent with the magnetic field predicted by the standard magnetic dipole radiation for pulsar spindown.

Stellar ages and metallicities of nearby elliptical galaxies

Stellar ages and metallicities are crucial for understanding the formation and evolution of elliptical galaxies. However, due to the age-metallicity degeneracy, it is hard to measure these two parameters accurately with broad-band photometry. In this paper, we observed high-resolution spectra for a sample of 20 nearby elliptical galaxies （EGs） with the NAOC 2.16 m telescope, and determined stellar ages and metallicities by using the empirical population synthesis and Lick/IDS index system methods. We found that stellar ages from these two methods are consistent with each other for purely old EGs; however, stellar metallicities show a zeropoint offset of 0.5 Z⊙. Our results confirm that stellar populations in low-density environment galaxies are more diverse compared to their high-density counterparts. We also investigated the element abundance-galaxy mass relation for nearby elliptical galaxies.