Stellar β-decay rates of iron isotopes and its implications in astrophysics

β-Decay and positron decay are believed to play a consequential role during the late phases of stellar evolution of a massive star culminating in a supernova explosion. The β-decay contributes in maintaining a respectable lepton-to-baryon ratio, Y_e, of the core prior to collapse which results in a larger shock energy to produce the explosion. The positron decay acts in the opposite direction and tends to decrease the ratio. The structure of the presupernova star is altered both by the changes in Y_e and the entropy of the core material. Recently the microscopic calculation of weak interaction mediated rates on key isotopes of iron was introduced using the proton–neutron quasiparticle random phase approximation (pn-QRPA) theory with improved model parameters. Here I discuss in detail the improved calculation of β^±-decay rates for iron isotopes (^54,55,56Fe) in stellar environment. The pn-QRPA theory allows a microscopic “state-by-state” calculation of stellar rates as explained later in text. Excited state Gamow–Teller distributions are much different from ground state and a microscopic calculation of decay rates from these excited states greatly increases the reliability of the total decay rate calculation specially during the late stages of stellar evolution. The reported decay rates are also compared with earlier calculations. The positron decay rates are in reasonable agreement with the large-scale shell model calculation. The main finding of this work includes that the stellar β-decay rates of ^54,55,56Fe are around 3–5 orders of magnitude smaller than previously assumed and hence irrelevant for the determination of the evolution of Y_e during the presupernova phase of massive stars. The current work discourages the inclusion of ^55,56Fe in the list of key stellar β-decay nuclei as suggested by former simulation results.     

Einstein observations of supernova remnants

Recent observations of SNRs have produced X-ray images with resolution comparable to that routinely achieved at optical wavelengths. There has also been a great improvement in the quality of X-ray spectra. Since most of the energy radiated by SNRs appears as X-rays, these new data are crucial to studies of SNRs, the interaction of SNRs with the interstellar medium, and the SN explosion itself. Images show a variety of shapes ranging from shel-like remnants to those dominated by the influence of central objects which appear both as point sources and as centers of diffuse activity. Once the temperature and spatial distribution of X-ray emitting material is known, the mass of ejected material and the energy release of the SN explosion can sometimes be calculated. X-ray images and spectra of several remnants are shown, and some quantitative results are given.     

Compact X-ray binaries in and out of core collapsed globulars

We review new Chandra and HST observations of the core collapsed cluster NGC 6397 as a guide to understanding the compact binary (CB) populations in core collapse globulars. New cataclysmic variables (CVs) and main sequence chromospherically active binaries (ABs) have been identified, enabling a larger sample for comparison of the L_x, F_x/F_V and X-ray vs. optical color distributions. Comparison of the numbers of CBs with L_x  10³¹ erg s⁻¹ in 4 core collapse vs. 12 King model clusters reveals that the specific frequency S_X (number of CBs per unit cluster mass) is enhanced in core collapse clusters, even when normalized for their stellar encounter rate. Although core collapse is halted by the dynamical heating due to stellar (and binary) interaction with CBs in the core, we conclude that production of the hardest CBs – especially CVs – is enhanced during core collapse. NGC 6397 has its most luminous CVs nearest the cluster center, with two newly discovered very low luminosity (old, quiescent) CVs far from the core. The active binaries as well as neutron star systems (MSP and qLMXB) surround the central core. The overall CB population appears to be asymmetric about the cluster center, as in several other core collapse clusters observed with Chandra, suggesting still poorly understood scattering processes.     

Superbursts and long bursts as surface phenomenon of compact objects

We suggest that superbursts from some low mass X-ray binaries may be due to breaking and re-formation of diquark pairs, on the surface of realistic strange stars. Diquarks are expected to break up due to the explosion and shock of the thermonuclear process. After a prolonged accretion when almost all pairs get broken, the subsequent production of copious diquarks may produce sufficient energy to produce the superbursts.     

太阳耀斑可能的储能过程

本文讨论了太阳活动区和黑子区的无力场的演化。文章分析了无力因子随时间变化的运动学含义,讨论了太阳耀斑具体的储能过程,给出了静力学无力场讨论太阳耀斑储能过程的局限性。最后,又提出了一种子午流场的储能过程。将这些"磁能的储存过程"与"适当的不稳定性导致的爆发过程"相结合起来讨论,就有可能来研究太北北阳耀斑的许多特征。      

月球基地能源系统初步研究

建设月球基地、深入开展月球探测是后续深空探测发展的必然趋势,能源系统是维持月球基地正常工作的基本条件。结合月球基地能源需求和月面环境特点,确定了能源系统的基本要求;对比分析了各种能源类型的特点及应用前景,明确了初级阶段月球基地能源系统应以太阳能的利用为主要方式,核心技术是解决太阳能的高效存储问题;通过储能技术的分析,提出了热化学制氢结合氢氧燃料电池及光伏发电装置的能源系统方案,并对系统设计的关键技术进行了分析,相关内容可为月球基地的深入论证及其能源系统的具体设计提供借鉴。     

A model grid for the spectral analysis of X-ray emission in young Type Ia supernova remnants

We address a new set of models for the spectral analysis of the X-ray emission from young, ejecta-dominated Type Ia supernova remnants. These models are based on hydrodynamic simulations of the interaction between Type Ia supernova explosion models and the surrounding ambient medium, coupled to self-consistent ionization and electron heating calculations in the shocked supernova ejecta, and the generation of synthetic spectra with an appropriate spectral code. The details are provided elsewhere, but in this paper we concentrate on a specific class of Type Ia explosion models (delayed detonations), commenting on the differences that arise between their synthetic X-ray spectra under a variety of conditions.     

贮箱爆炸碎片初始速度及影响因素

为确定推进剂爆轰作用下贮箱爆炸碎片的初始速度,基于能量守恒定律,考虑爆炸碎片动能、爆轰产物动能和内能、贮箱壳体的破坏能及其膨胀做功所消耗的能量,建立了贮箱爆炸碎片初始速度（FIV）模型。FIV模型与典型经验公式计算结果、带壳炸药爆炸试验数据吻合较好,验证了模型有效性。采用量纲分析法确定FIV模型中影响碎片初始速度的关键参量,基于AUTODYN软件进行数值仿真,分析贮箱壳体高径比、厚径比以及空气密度等参量对碎片初始速度的影响。结果表明:爆炸碎片初始速度随着壳体高径比增大迅速减小,当高径比大于1.50时,速度衰减变缓;碎片初始速度随着壳体厚径比增加近似呈线性减小;当爆炸高度小于20 km时,随着爆炸高度增大,空气密度减小,爆炸碎片的初始速度增大;在爆炸高度大于40 km时,空气非常稀薄,可以忽略壳体膨胀做功对碎片初始速度的影响。      

超新星爆发发射的γ射线的能量

本文用两箱模型导出了大气中的14C浓度与14C的产率、碳元素在大气和海洋中的贮存量及居留时间等量之间的关系,并进而给出根据树年轮14C数据计算超新星爆发后大气中增加的14C核子数ΔX₁（0）和估算超新星爆发发出的γ射线能量E_γ的公式。      

XMM-Newton observations of faint X-ray sources in globular clusters

Using the new generation of X-ray observatories, we are now beginning to identify populations of close binaries in globular clusters, previously elusive in the optical domain because of the high stellar density. These binaries are thought to be, at least in part, responsible for delaying the inevitable core collapse of globular clusters and their identification is therefore essential in understanding the evolution of globular clusters, as well as being valuable in the study of the binaries themselves. Here, we present observations made with XMM-Newton of six globular clusters, in which we have identified neutron star low mass X-ray binaries and their descendants (millisecond pulsars), cataclysmic variables and other types of binaries. We discuss not only the characteristics of these binaries, but also their formation and evolution in globular clusters and their use in tracing the dynamical history of these clusters.     

Use of combined light flash and plasma measurements to study hypervelocity impact processes

We present new measurements concerning generation of light flash during hypervelocity impacts. We use iron particles (10⁻¹³ to 10⁻¹⁷ kg) with velocities over the range 1 to 42 km/s impacting semi-infinite targets (aluminium and molybdenum). The main results of previous work in the field are found to be reproduced with some slight deviations. For iron projectiles with given mass and velocity the energy of the flash (normalized to mass) is proportional to velocity to the power of 3.5 for aluminium targets and 3.9 for molybdenum targets. The duration of the flash is of order 1 microsecond. Simultaneous measurements of the generation of impact plasma do not change this. The onset of plasma generation of the bulk target material does not affect the total light flash energy. We discuss the duration of the flash compared to a simple calculation of temperature in the target and plasma vs time.     

Supernova remnants with magnetars: Clues to magnetar formation

In this paper I discuss the lack of observational evidence that magnetars are formed as rapidly rotating neutron stars. Supernova remnants containing magnetars do not show the excess of kinetic energy expected for such a formation scenario, nor is there any evidence for a relic pulsar wind nebula. However, it could be that magnetars are formed with somewhat slower rotation periods, or that not all excess rotational energy was used to boost the explosion energy, for example as a result of gravitational radiation. Another observational tests for the rapid initial period hypothesis is to look for statistical evidence that about 1% of the observed supernovae have an additional 10⁴⁰–10⁴⁴ erg/s excess energy during the first year, caused by the spin down luminosity of a magnetar.     

The superbubble origin for galactic cosmic rays

The source of energy for cosmic-ray acceleration appears to be shock waves driven by supernova (SNe) ejecta. The great majority (80–90%) of SNe (SNII and SNIb) are formed by the core collapse of young, massive O and B stars. However, it has been known for more than forty years that the births of such massive stars in stellar clumps, termed OB associations, are correlated in space and time. The combined ejecta of core-collapse SNe, occurring at the deaths of these massive stars, create low-density (∼5.0 × 10⁻³ cm⁻³) superbubbles that reach dimensions of several hundred pc. The occurrence of correlated SNe in superbubbles affects not just the source of cosmic-ray energy, SNe shock waves, it impinges as well on the elemental and isotopic source abundances of cosmic-ray nuclei. We argue that the well-known anomalous cosmic-ray ²²Ne/²⁰Ne ratio, a factor of five times the Solar System ratio, results from a mixing of freshly synthesized nucleosynthetic material in supernova active cores of superbubbles. Although diluted by mixing with older, lower metallicity interstellar gas, the mean metallicities in the superbubble, SNe-dominated cores are high ∼3 times the Solar System value.     

航天火工品爆炸引起的电磁干扰测量

通过地面模拟试验测量了火箭分离时火工品的爆炸产生的电磁辐射.通过杆天线和实时频谱仪测量了不同种类的航天火工品的爆炸辐射,表明辐射随着爆炸能量的增加而增强.使用聚能炸药索时,在爆炸分离后的数十毫秒内都会有明显的电磁脉冲出现,其频率主要集中在兆赫兹量级,在单个频点上的电场峰值可达数个V/m.使用偶极子天线对爆炸时舱体内外的电磁环境进行了对比,并对舱内线路上的感应电流脉冲进行了测量,得到了一些初步结论.试验结果可为舱内电子设备的抗干扰设计提供参考.      

火箭空中爆炸冲击波峰值超压预测方法

研究火箭空中爆炸冲击波参数预测方法对于乘员舱的安全评估具有重要意义。为了探究火箭空中爆炸时飞行高度对峰值超压的影响,获取冲击波参数快速预测方法,利用ANSYS/LS-DYNA有限元软件对火箭飞行至0~20 km高度爆炸进行了有限元仿真分析。结果表明,作用于乘员舱的冲击波峰值超压随飞行高度的增加而快速减小。火箭空中爆炸冲击波压强衰减系数与飞行高度之间的关系服从二次函数衰减。在此基础上,提出了考虑高度效应的火箭空中爆炸冲击波峰值超压预测公式,可为乘员舱的快速危害性评估以及防护研究提供一定参考。      

A physical interpretation of the jet-like X-ray emission from supernova remnant W49B

In the framework of the study of supernova remnants and their complex interaction with the interstellar medium and the circumstellar material, we focus on the galactic supernova remnant W49B. Its morphology exhibits an X-ray bright elongated nebula, terminated on its eastern end by a sharp perpendicular structure aligned with the radio shell. The X-ray spectrum of W49B is characterized by strong K emission lines from Si, S, Ar, Ca, and Fe. There is a variation of the temperature in the remnant with the highest temperature found in the eastern side and the lowest one in the western side. The analysis of the recent observations of W49B indicates that the remnant may be the result of an asymmetric bipolar explosion where the ejecta are collimated along a jet-like structure and the eastern jet is hotter and more Fe-rich than the western one. Another possible scenario associates the X-ray emission with a spherical explosion where parts of the ejecta are interacting with a dense belt of ambient material. To overcome this ambiguity we present new results of the analysis of an XMM-Newton observation and we perform estimates of the mass and energy of the remnant. We conclude that the scenario of an anisotropic jet-like explosion explains quite naturally our observation results, but the association of W49B with a hypernova and a γ-ray burst, although still possible, is not directly supported by any evidence.     

基于解体事件的空间碎片轨道演化算法研究

针对航天器解体事件所生成的空间碎片的演化过程,进行了数学分析,确定了新生成的空间碎片的速度增量,在该增量作用下碎片轨道会发生变更,本文根据该增量得出了空间碎片在轨道变更后的轨道根数,分析了在大气阻力摄动作用下,空间碎片的数目和轨道分布的演化情况,给出了相关结果,结果表明此算法可行。     

蜂窝夹芯梁脱胶问题的力学分析

采用状态分解 解析方法分析了蜂窝荚芯梁由于面板与芯材脱胶而引起的附加位移、附加内力与能量释放率,并讨论了未脱胶段的附加变形对脱胶段附加位移及能量释放率的影响,为简化力学模型提供了理论依据.     

Energy input in solar flares and coronal explosions

A coronal explosion is a density wave observed in X-ray images of solar flares. The wave occurs at the end of the impulsive phase, which is the time at which the flare's thermal energy content has reached its maximum value. It starts in a small area from where it spreads out, mainly into one hemisphere, with velocities that tend to rapidly decrease with time, and which are between ～ 10³ and a few tens of km s^?1. We interpret them as magneto-hydrodynamic waves that (mainly) move downward from the low corona into denser regions.     

航空头盔典型件冲击保护性能实验研究

利用分离式Hopkinson压杆研究了几种航空头盔典型件的冲击保护性能,测量了各构件的能量吸收率.讨论了冲击过程和能量吸收过程,进一步分析了头盔外壳材料力学性能及泡沫衬垫密度对头盔能量吸收率的影响规律.实验表明,在一定范围内外壳力学性能和泡沫衬垫密度对于能量吸收起着重要作用.为设计新一代航空头盔提供了可靠的实验依据.