Kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillations in SAX J1808.4–3658

I present a short overview of the behavior and properties of the two simultaneous kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillations (kHz QPOs) seen in the accreting millisecond X-ray pulsar SAX J1808.4–3658. I will focus on the behavior of the upper frequency QPO as a function of time and count rate as seen during the 2002 outburst of this source. I will also discuss briefly the correlated behavior of this QPO with QPOs at lower frequencies (several tens of hertz).     

Broad-band spectral properties of accreting X-ray binary pulsars

Broad-band spectra of accreting X-ray binary pulsars can be fitted by a phenomenological model composed of a power law with a high energy rollover above 10 keV, plus a blackbody component with a temperature of few hundred eV. While, at least qualitatively, the hard tail can be explained in terms of (inverse) Compton scattering, the origin of the soft component cannot find a unique explanation. Recently, a qualitative picture able to explain the overall broad-band spectrum of luminous X-ray pulsars was carried out by taking into account the effect of bulk Comptonization in the accretion column. After a review of these recent theoretical developments, I will present a case study of how different modeling of the continuum affect broad features, in particular the cyclotron resonance features in Vela X-1.     

Appearance of neutron stars in the state of subsonic propeller

The state of subsonic propeller is intermediate between the states of supersonic propeller and accretor in the evolutionary tracks of magnetized compact stars. The rotational rate of a star at this stage decelerates due to the interaction between its magnetosphere and the surrounding hot, quasi-static plasma envelope. The magnetospheric radius is smaller than the corotation radius and the boundary of the magnetosphere is stable with respect to interchange instabilities. The rate of the mass flux from the inner radius of the envelope to the stellar surface is limited by the rate of plasma diffusion into the magnetic field of the star. As a result, the subsonic propeller would appear as a low-luminosity accretion-powered pulsar with a soft X-ray spectrum.     

新型高推比涡轮风扇发动机盘时耦合振动分析

本文将群论算法和动态子结构技术结合起来，并采用计算效率极高的Ｂｅｎｆｉｅｌｄ－Ｈｒｕｄａ的模态代入变换法，分析了某型发动机压气机的叶片／轮盘耦合系统的振动特性，计算了该叶片／轮盘耦合系统的前５阶振动频率和振型．根据叶片／轮盘耦合系统的共振条件进行共振分析，确定该发动机压气机有可能发生叶片／轮盘耦合共振．     

同向旋转盘间换热特性的实验研究

本文将实际发动机高、低压涡轮盘简化成几何形状相对简单的中心轴向进气、径向出气、两盘以不同速度同向旋转的旋转盘系统。用实验方法研究了冷气流量、转速以及两盘间隙对旋转盘间换热的影响规律,并对结果进行了相应的分析。     

Spectra and time variability of black-hole binaries in the low/hard state

We propose a jet model for the low/hard state of galactic black-hole X-ray sources which explains the energy spectra from radio to X-rays and a number of timing properties in the X-ray domain such as the time lag spectra, the hardening of the power density spectra and the narrowing of the autocorrelation function with increasing photon energy. The model assumes that (i) there is a magnetic field along the axis of the jet, (ii) the electron density in the jet drops inversely proportional to distance, (iii) the jet is “hotter” near its center than at its periphery, and (iv) the electrons in the jet follow a power-law distribution function. We have performed Monte Carlo simulations of Compton upscattering of soft photons from the accretion disk and have found power-law high-energy spectra with photon-number index in the range 1.5–2 and cutoff at a few hundred keV, power-law time lags versus Fourier frequency with index 0.8, and an increase of the rms amplitude of variability and a narrowing of the autocorrelation function with increasing photon energy as they have been observed in Cygnus X-1. The spectrum at long wavelengths (radio, infrared, optical) is modeled to come from synchrotron radiation of the energetic electrons in the jet. We find flat to inverted radio spectra that extend from the radio up to about the optical band. For magnetic field strengths of the order 10⁵–10⁶ G at the base of the jet, the calculated spectra agree well in slope and flux with the observations.     

动力对全机水滴收集率的影响计算

针对飞机在飞行中遭遇过冷水滴撞击并结冰现象,建立了适合于发动机带动力情况下结冰过程水滴收集率计算的三维数值方法和计算程序.其基本思路为:采用多块技术与SIMPLE方法计算空气流场,以流场分布的计算结果为基础,求解水滴相的控制方程,进而获得物体表面的水滴收集率.空气相控制方程和水滴相控制方程均写成典型输运方程的形式,采用一致的有限体积法离散求解,方便了计算程序的编制.对某型运输机巡航构型有/无动力条件的水滴收集率进行了比较计算,获得了不同直径水滴在飞机表面的撞击特征以及水滴收集率在飞机机翼、平尾、垂尾和发动机进气道唇口上的分布规律.研究表明:(1)发动机是否带动力对机翼、平尾、垂尾的水滴收集率基本无影响;(2)飞机带动力主要影响发动机进气道唇口处的水滴收集率,带动力后唇口的收集率比无动力情况高,水滴撞击范围增大,在进行防除冰研究和设计时需引起重视.     

Evolution of the periodicities in 2S 0114+650

We have analysed 9 years of data from the All Sky Monitor on the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer for 2S 0114+650 to study the evolution of its spin, binary, and super-orbital periods. The spin history of the neutron star in this system exhibits torque reversals lasting 1 year. The newly discovered super-orbital period has remained stable over the 9-year span, making 2S 0114+650 the fourth known system to exhibit stable super-orbital modulation. We compare its super-orbital period evolution with those of the other three such systems.     

Indicators of black-hole mass and Eddington accretion ratio from QSO X-ray and UV spectra

The evolution of luminous QSOs is linked to the evolution of massive galaxies. We know this because the relic black-holes found locally have masses dependent on the properties of the host galaxy’s bulge. An important way to explore this evolution would be to measure dependences of black-hole masses and Eddington accretion ratios over a range of redshifts, i.e., with cosmological age. For low redshift QSOs (and their lower luminosity Seyfert galaxy counterparts) it has been possible to infer black-hole masses from the luminosities and velocity dispersions of their host-galaxy bulges. These masses agree with those virial black-hole masses calculated from the Doppler widths of the broad Hβ emission lines. The latter method can then be extended to more distant and luminous QSOs, up to redshifts of 0.6 with ground-based optical observations. We discuss ways to extend these explorations to higher redshifts – up to 3 using the widths of QSOs’ broad UV emission lines, and in principle, and to redshifts near 4 from ground-based infrared observations of rest-frame Hβ at 2.5 μm. We discuss the possibility of investigating the accretion history of the higher redshift QSOs using measures of Eddington accretion ratio – the soft X-ray spectral index and the eigenvectors of Principal Components Analyses of QSOs’ UV emission-line spectra.     

Dynamics and Composition of Rings

Planetary rings are found around all four giant planets of our solar system. These collisional and highly flattened disks exhibit a whole wealth of physical processes involving dust grains up to meter-sized boulders. These processes, together with ring composition, can help understand better the formation and evolution of proto-satellite and proto-planetary disks in the early solar system. The present chapter reviews some fundamental aspects of ring dynamics and composition. The forthcoming exploration of the Saturn system by the Cassini mission will bring both high resolution and time-dependent information on Saturn’s rings.