The tropospheric gas composition of Jupiter's north equatorial belt (NH3, PH3, CH3D, GeH4, H2O) and the Jovian D/H isotropic ratio

The gas composition of the troposphere of Jupiter in the clearest regions of the North Equatorial Belt (NEB) was derived from the Voyager 1 IRIS data. The infrared spectrum for this homogeneous cloud free region was modeled to infer altitude profiles for NH3, PH3, GeH4 and H2O. The Profiles for NH3 and PH3 were found to be depleted in the upper troposphere but otherwise in agreement with their solar values at the 1 bar level. The mole fraction for CH3D was determined to be 3.5(+1.0 or -1.3) x 10 to the minus 7th power. The GeH4 mole fraction of 7+ or -2 x 10 to the minus 10th power at the 2 to 3 bar level is a factor of 10 lower than the solar value. The H2O mole fraction is approximately 1 x 0.00001 at the 2.5 bar level and is increasing to approximately 3 x 0.00001 at 4 bars where it is a factor of 30 lower than solar. Using IRIS infrared values for the mole fractions of CH3D and CH4 a value of D/H = 3.6(+1.0 or -1.4)x 0.00001 is derived. Assuming this Jovian D/H ratio is representative of the protosolar nebula, and correcting for chemical galactic evolution, yields a value of 5.5 - 9.0 x 0.00001 for the primordial D/H ratio and an upper limit of 1.8 to 2.4 x 10 to the minus 31st power cu cm for the present day baryon density

The Rotation of Sub-Populations in omega Centauri

We present the first result of the Ital-FLAMES survey of red giant branch (RGB) stars in omega Cen. Radial velocities with a precision of ~0.5 km/s are presented for 650 members of omega Cen observed with FLAMES-Giraffe at the Very Large Telescope. We found that stars belonging to the metal -poor (RGB-MP), metal-intemediate (RGB-MInt) and metal-rich (RGB-a) sub -populations of Omega Cen are all compatible with having the same rotational pattern. Our results appear to contradict past findings by Norris et al., who could not detect any rotational signature for metal -rich stars. The slightly higher precision of the present measurements and the much larger sample size, especially for the metal-richer stars, appear as the most likely explanation for this discrepancy. The result presented here weakens the body of evidence in favour of a merger event in the past history of omega Cen.Comment: 5 pages, 3 fiures, electronic table can be obtained from E. Pancino. Accepted for publication in ApJ Letter

Identification and one-pass coding objects by image analysis

This paper describes the coding phase that precedes a pattern recognition in a system of automatical object detection . The shapes to be analysed are modelled by simple geometrical figures (rectangle, ellipse) ; this identification is made by a one pass calculation of the smaller number of geometrical characteristics (moment order 0, 1 and 2) . This method gives automatically a classification of all the objects present in the field and defines the zero level of coding. When the objects contain points of ramification, their shape are modelled with several primary figures, a higher level of coding is then defined. This procedure leads to a more or less precise representation of the object to be recognized ; the choice of the level representation depends on the current application . All the steps, computation of geometrical properties, identification of parameters and construction of an arborescent pattern of structure are obtained in one pass mode. This method is particularly well suited when the image analysis is sequential (Une by line) and avoids a storage of the total image.On présente le module de codage précédant la phase de reconnaissance des formes dans un système de détection automatique d'objet

Place et rôle du riz pluvial dans les systèmes de production du lac Alaotra Les systèmes SCV (semis direct sur couverture végétale permanente) : une alternative viable pour une agriculture pluviale durable

La région de l'Alaotra repose sur un plateau situé à 750 mètres d'altitude avec au cœur de la plaine le lac Alaotra. La surface cultivée en riziculture est estimée à 148 500 ha en 2000 (FAO/UPDR, 2000), dont 75-80 000 ha dans la cuvette du Lac et plus de 65-70 000 ha au sud et dans les zones en périphérie, qui constitue 10% de la surface rizicole nationale pour seulement 4% des riziculteurs malgaches. Cette région réalise 33% de la valeur ajoutée de l'ensemble de la filière nationale et 15% de la richesse générée par le secteur riz. Le climat irrégulier constitue une contrainte majeure pour tous les agriculteurs du lac Alaotra. Les relations agriculture-élevage sont au cœur de la problématique de développement et d'évolution des exploitations agricoles.Ainsi, avec la saturation des rizières irrigables ou à Mauvaise Maîtrise de l'Eau (RMME), la colonisation agricole des tanety anciennement dévolus aux pâturages extensifs depuis les années 1980 s'est accélérer, induisant la perturbation des activités d'élevage bovin traditionnel extensif à objectif de capitalisation qui évoluent aujourd'hui vers un élevage productif (embouche et production laitière) ou de trait. Le diagnostic réalisé en 2007 a mis en évidence 7 types d'exploitations agricoles différents. Les différents systèmes de riziculture pluviale se retrouvent sur les plateaux sommitaux et les pentes des collines (en rotation jachère culture sur les sols très pauvres), les bas de pente et les baiboho, en rotation avec d'autres cultures pluviales (maïs, manioc, pois de terre...) avec ou sans jachère, ou en système SCV depuis leur introduction au début des années 2000. L'introduction de variétés composites poly-aptitudes de type Sebota a pu lever une contrainte majeure des zones ni totalement irriguées ni totalement pluviales mais intermédiaires dans les RMME (riziculture pluviale partiellement irriguée, selon l'accès à l'eau et les caractéristiques climatiques de la saison), Les systèmes SCV mis au point sur baiboho avec des successions culturales de type riz de saison / haricot de contre saison - maïs de saison ou riz de saison puis vesce de contre saison associée ou non à des cultures maraîchères montrent également un niveau de production et de sécurité par rapport aux aléas climatiques très proche voire supérieurs à ceux obtenus en riziculture irriguée. La part du riz pluvial dans la formation du revenu et la sécurité alimentaire a été analysée pour chaque type d'exploitation et varie de 20 à 30 % du revenu riz total (avant autoconsommation), et se révèle croissante en fonction du rapport tanety / rizière dans l'exploitation. Ainsi, sur certaines zones, le riz pluvial semble avoir de beaux jours devant lui

Electrostatic model of atomic ordering in complex perovskite alloys

We present a simple ionic model which successfully reproduces the various types of compositional long-range order observed in a large class of complex insulating perovskite alloys. The model assumes that the driving mechanism responsible for the ordering is simply the electrostatic interaction between the different ionic species. A possible new explanation for the anomalous long-range order observed in some Pb relaxor alloys, involving the proposed existence of a small amount of Pb^4+ on the B sublattice, is suggested by an analysis of the model.Comment: 4 pages, two-column style with 1 postscript figure embedded. Uses REVTEX and epsf macros. Also available at http://www.physics.rutgers.edu/~dhv/preprints/index.html#lb_orde

Charge transfer electrostatic model of compositional order in perovskite alloys

We introduce an electrostatic model including charge transfer, which is shown to account for the observed B-site ordering in Pb-based perovskite alloys. The model allows charge transfer between A-sites and is a generalization of Bellaiche and Vanderbilt's purely electrostatic model. The large covalency of Pb^{2+} compared to Ba^{2+} is modeled by an environment dependent effective A-site charge. Monte Carlo simulations of this model successfully reproduce the long range compositional order of both Pb-based and Ba-based complex A(BB^{'}B^{''})O_3 perovskite alloys. The models are also extended to study systems with A-site and B-site doping, such as (Na_{1/2}La_{1/2})(Mg_{1/3}Nb_{2/3})O_3, (Ba_{1-x}La_{x})(Mg_{(1+x)/3}Nb_{(2-x)/3})O_3 and (Pb_{1-x}La_{x})(Mg_{(1+x)/3}Ta_{(2-x)/3})O_3. General trends are reproduced by purely electrostatic interactions, and charge transfer effects indicate that local structural relaxations can tip the balance between different B-site orderings in Pb based materials.Comment: 15 pages, 6 figure

Synthesising, using, and correcting for telluric features in high-resolution astronomical spectra

We present a technique to synthesise telluric absorption and emission features both for in-situ wavelength calibration and for their removal from astronomical spectra. While the presented technique is applicable for a wide variety of optical and infrared spectra, we concentrate in this paper on selected high-resolution near-infrared spectra obtained with the CRIRES spectrograph to demonstrate its performance and limitation. We find that synthetic spectra reproduce telluric absorption features to about 2%, even close to saturated line cores. Thus, synthetic telluric spectra could be used to replace the observation of telluric standard stars, saving valuable observing time. This technique also provides a precise in-situ wavelength calibration, especially useful for high-resolution near-infrared spectra in the absence of other calibration sources.Comment: 11 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in A&A (updated version

CVM studies on the atomic ordering in complex perovskite alloys

The atomic ordering in complex perovskite alloys is investigated by the cluster variation method (CVM). For the 1/3\{111\}-type ordered structure, the order-disorder phase transition is the first order, and the order parameter of the 1:2 complex perovskite reaches its maximum near x=0.25. For the 1/2\{111\}-type ordered structure, the ordering transition is the second order. Phase diagrams for both ordered structures are obtained. The order-disorder line obeys the linear law.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figure