Azimuthal structures in the wind and chromosphere of the herbig Ae star ab aur. preliminary results from the MUSICOS 1992 campaign

MUSICOS (for MUlti-SIte COntinuous Spectroscopy) is an international project to facilitate and organize world-wide multi-site campaigns in high resolution spectroscopy, in view of obtaining a complete time coverage of various types of variable stellar phenomena.In the framework of this project a vast spectroscopic campaign was organized in December 1992, involving 8 sites well distributed in longitude around the Earth. The observations concerned three scientific programs, among which was the study of azimuthal structures in the wind and chromosphere of the pre-Main-Sequence Herbig Ae star AB Aur.The Hei 5876 line of AB Aur, which is formed in the expanding chromosphere of this star, in the innermost parts of its wind, was monitored at a resolution of 30000, nearly continuously for about 4 days. A spectacular variability of this line was discovered, the profile changing from pure emission to a composite profile including a deep absorption component in the course of a few hours. This variability can be the signature of azimuthal structures in the wind of AB Aur.We present the data collected during the campaign, and discuss possible interpretations of the spectacular variations of the Hei 5876 line.ESA/VILSPAUniversity of British Columbia CanadaBased on observations obtained during the MUSICOS 92 MUlti-SIte COntinuous Spectroscopic campaign from the National Solar Observatory McMath/Pierce 1.5 m, University of Hawaii 2.2 m, Beijing Observatory Xinglong 2.16 m, La Palma 4.2 m William Herschel Telescope, and Observatoire de Haute-Provence 1.52 m telescopes.Presented at the Cosmic Winds and the Heliosphere Conference in Tucson, Arizona, U.S.A., October 18–22, 1993.Visiting Astronomer, Kitt Peak National Observatory, National Optical Astronomy Observatories, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation.Visiting Astronomer National Solar Observatory, National Optical Astronomy Observatories, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation.     

Impulsive brightenings/velocity transients in quiescent solar prominences

In some quiescent prominences, areas are found where the H emission profiles are centrally reversed. By combining good spatial, spectral, and temporal resolution, the detailed behavior of these reversal regions has been investigated. Many of the regions show a growth and subsequent decay in the affected area, peak intensity, line width, and depth of the central reversal. Lifetimes of the time-varying reversal features range from 10 to more than 60 min, and they are found near the edges of the prominence fine structure. These events are similar to the impulsive events that the authors discussed in an earlier paper, and may share a common cause. The detailed behavior of the H line profiles is consistent with these reversal features being true self-reversal of the line, indicating unusually high column masses in these areas. Some models of condensation of coronal material to the prominence state predict temporary regions of high density, perhaps high enough to produce the observed reversal. This implies that reversal features are the result of on-going condensation of coronal material into already formed prominences, a result which impacts models of prominence formation and stability.Visiting Astronomer, National Solar Observatory (Sacramento Peak) of National Optical Astronomy Observatories, operated by Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. under contract with the National Science Foundation.     

On the generation of the large-scale and turbulent magnetic fields in solar-type stars

It is thought that the large-scale solar-cycle magnetic field is generated in a thin region at the interface of the radiative core (RC) and solar convection zone (SCZ). We show that the bulk of the SCZ virogoursly generates a small-scale turbulent magnetic field. Rotation, while not essential, increases the generation rate of this field.Thus, fully convective stars should have significant turbulent magnetic fields generated in their lower convection zones. In these stars the absence of a radiative core, i.e., the absence of a region of weak buoyancy, precludes the generation of a large-scale magnetic field, and as a consequence the angular momentum loss is reduced. This is, in our opinion, the explanation for the rapid rotation of the M-dwarfs in the Hyades cluster.Adopting the Utrecht's group terminology, we argue that the residual chromospheric emission should have three distinctive components: the basal emission, the emission due to the large-scale field, and the emission due to the turbulent field, with the last component being particularly strong for low mass stars.In the conventional dynamo equations, the dynamo frequencies and the propagation of the dynamo wave towards the equator are based on the highly questionable assumption of a constant . Furthermore, meridional motions, a necessary consequence of the interaction of rotation with convection, are ignored. In this context we discuss Stenflo's results about the global wave pattern decomposition of the solar magnetic field and conclude that it cannot be interpreted in the framework of the conventional dynamo equations.We discuss solar dynamo theories and argue that the surface layers could be essential for the generation of the poloidal field. If this is the case an -effect would not be needed at the RC-SCZ interface (where the toroidal field is generated). The two central problems facing solar dynamo theories may the transport of the surface poloidal field to the RC-SCZ interface and the uncertainty about the contributions to the global magnetic field by the small-scale magnetic features.Visitor, National Solar Observatory, National Optical Astronomy Observatories.The National Optical Astronomy Observatories are operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation.     

Helium resonance lines in the flare of 15 June, 1973

Time sequences of He i and He ii resonance line intensities at several sites within the flare of 15 June, 1973 are derived from observations obtained with the Naval Research Laboratory's Slitless Spectroheliograph on Skylab. The data are compared with predictions in six model flare atmospheres based on two values for the heating rate and three for the flux of photoionizing coronal X-rays and EUV. A peak ionizing flux more than 10³ times that in the quiet Sun is indicated. For most conditions in flare kernels the He ii L and L lines are found to be formed by collisional excitation, thereby contributing to the local cooling of the plasma at temperatures above 6 × 10⁴ K. Emission in the higher Lyman lines is generally the result of a mixture of collisional excitation at these temperatures and photoionization and recombination at temperatures near 2.5 × 10⁴ K. We discuss implications for the common practice of deriving stellar coronal fluxes from He ii 1640 Å fluxes assuming dominance of the recombination mechanism.Chief, Quantum Physics Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology.Operated jointly by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the University of Colorado.Operated by the National Optical Astronomy Observatories of the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. under contract with the National Science Foundation.     

Integrated photometric properties of magellanic cloud star clusters

Integrated CCD BVR photometric measurements of Magellanic Cloud (MC) star clusters are described and summarized. The integrated colour-magnitude diagrams and colour-age relations for these systems imply that (a) the colour distribution of MC clusters is distinctly bi-modal (although this bi-modality is not simply explained as a distinction between young and old clusters), and (b) the MCs are probably not forming as many (if any) extremely massive clusters at the present as they did early in their lifetimes (i.e., 10 Gyr ago). Structurally, the MC clusters are seen to be intermediate between galactic globular and open clusters and their radial surface brightness profiles can generally be adequately fitted to single-mass King (1966) models (some exceptions do occur, however). Although the distribution of the derived structural parameters of young and old MC clusters are similar, they differ significantly from the distribution of structural parameters observed in intermediate-age clusters, suggesting that these structural properties do not evolve monotonically with time.Visiting astronomer at the Cerro Tololo Interamerican Observatory, National Optical Astronomy Observatories, operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under contract with the National Science Foundation.     

X-ray bright points and He i λ 10830 dark points

Using near-simultaneous full disk solar X-ray images and Hei 10830 spectroheliograms from three rocket flights, we compare dark points identified on the Hei maps with X-ray bright points identified on the X-ray images. We find that for the largest and most obvious features there is a strong correlation: most Hei dark points correspond to X-ray bright points. However, about two-thirds of the X-ray bright points were not identified on the basis of the helium data alone. Once an X-ray feature is identified it is almost always possible to find an underlying dark patch of enhanced Hei absorption which, however, would not a priori have been selected as a dark point. Therefore, the Hei dark points, using current selection criteria, cannot be used as a one-to-one proxy for the X-ray data. Hei dark points do, however, identify the locations of the stronger X-ray bright points.Visitor, National Solar Observatory. National Optical Astronomy Observatories operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. under contract with the National Science Foundation.     

On the calibration of line-of-sight magnetograms

Inference of magnetic fields from very high spatial, spectral, and temporal resolution polarized images is critical in understanding the physical processes that form and evolve fine scale structures in the solar atmosphere. Studying high spectral resolution data also helps in understanding the limits of lower resolution spectral data. We compare three different methods for calibrating the line-of-sight component of the magnetic field. Each method is tested for varying degrees of spectral resolution on both synthetic line profiles computed for known magnetic fields and real data. The methods evaluated are: (a) the differences in the center of gravity of the right and left circular components for different spectral resolution, (b) conversion of circular polarization, at particular wavelengths, to magnetic fields using model-dependent numerical solutions to the equations of polarized radiative transfer, and (c) the derivative method using the weak field approximation. Each method is applied to very high spatial and spectral resolution circular polarization images of an active region, acquired in the Fei 5250 Zeeman-sensitive spectral line. The images were obtained using the 20 m pass-band tunable filter at NSO/Sacramento Peak Observatory Vacuum Tower Telescope. We find that the center-of-gravity separation offers the best way of inferring the longitudinal magnetic field.Work partially done while the author held an NRC-USAF Resarch Associateship.Supported under a USAF/AFOSR research initiative.The National Optical Astronomy Observatories are operated by the Association of Universities Research in Astronomy, Inc. (AURA), under cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation (NSF). Partial support for National Solar Observatory is provided by the United States Air Force under a Memorandum of Understanding with NSF.     

Two high-velocity encounters of elliptical galaxies

We present the results of our study of two collisions of binary elliptical galaxies, NGC 4782/4783 and NGC 2672/2673. Each pair has a high relative velocity (>500 km s^–1 along the line-of-sight) but the two pairs differ in mass ratio (1 for the first pair, and 10 for the second). CCD images and velocities obtained from digital spectra are used to constrain simulations of the galaxy collisions. Once a solution has been found and its uniqueness verified, we derive the binary orbital elements, the orientation of the orbit in the sky, the time since pericenter, and the dynamical mass of the pair. This method provides a quantitative determination of galaxy masses on the scale of the binary separations free from uncertainties due to projection effects. We also derive accurate timing of the collision and information about the fate of the pairs (merger/escape). Among our conclusions, we find that the dumb-bell galaxy NGC 4782/4783 isnot a supermassive galaxy as claimed from the high relative velocity and the high central dispersions, but has a moderateM/L _B10. Its trajectory has been changed from hyperbolic to elliptical as a result of energy lost during the collision. NGC 2672/2673 provides an interesting example of how the collision probes the internal structure and dynamics of a galaxy. It also has a moderateM/L _B7.Space Telescope Science Institute, operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, MA, U.S.A.Kitt Peak National Observatory, National Optical Astronomy Observatories, operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. under contract with the National Science Foundation, AR, U.S.A.     

Solar limb darkening in the interval 7404-24 018 Å, II

The coefficients of third degree and fifth degree polynomial representations of limb darkening are tabulated for 50 wavelengths in the interval 7404-24 018.Operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under contract with the National Science Foundation.Summer Research Assistant at Kitt Peak National Observatory 1975.     

Prominence hydrogen lines at 10–20 microns

An analysis of prominence hydrogen lines is presented in the spectral band 10–20 . The results are consistent with earlier work.Operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under contrast AST 84-18716 with the National Science Foundation.     

Eight decades of solar research at Mount Wilson

The Mount Wilson solar program has figured prominently in the field of solar physics throughout this century. This review describes the development of the instrumentation and the progress of the research at Mount Wilson from 1904 to 1984.The National Optical Astronomy Observatories are operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under contract to the National Science Foundation.     

The morphology of solar granulations and dark networks

Solar granules are classified into four groups according to their shapes and splitting by sharp rifts crossing them. The appearance and evolution of white-light dark networks is described.Operated by the Association of Universites for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under coctact with the National Science Foundation.     

The equatorial photospheric rotation rate

The equatorial photospheric rotation rate has been observed on 14 days in 1978–1980. The resulting rotation rate, = 14.14±0.04°/day, is 2% slower than the rate as observed for long-lived sunspots.Stationed at Kitt Peak National Observatory.Operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. under contract with the National Science Foundation.     

Evidence for downflow following a coronal transient?

On 11 September 1973 a peculiar prominence was observed. The prominence displayed strong ( 50km s^–1) systematic motions toward and away from the observer. The unusual spectrographic appearance of the prominence might have been due to downflowing material lifted into the corona during an earlier coronal transient.The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.Operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under contract with the National Science Foundation.     

Magnetic fields in small and young sunspots

Preliminary results of magnetic field measurements in small sunspots from spectrograms obtained with the aid of the McMath Solar Telescope at the Kitt Peak National Observatory are presented. The measured intensities are greater than or equal to about 1200 Gauss. Furthermore, a broadening of the Fei line 6302.508 Å was found in some places of intergranular space. The importance of intergranular space as a possible potential earliest stage of sunspot development is mentioned.Kitt Peak National Observatory, Contribution No. 222.Visiting Astronomer, 1964, Kitt Peak National Observatory.Operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under contract with the Nat. Science Foundation.     

Some comments on the limb shift of solar lines

The well-known correlation between granulation intensity and velocity fluctuations causes a shift of the average line position called the convective blue shift. It is argued that this convective blue shift is most likely reponsible for the limb effect of solar Fraunhofer lines. To explain the center-to-limb variation of this limb effect it is essential that both horizontal and vertical motions in the granulation are considered. The effects of a variation in the granulation properties across the Sun on large scale velocity pattern observations are discussed. Abnormal granulation patterns observed inactive regions and at the boundaries of supergranules could be responsible for part or all of the downflow observed there.On leave from Astronomy Department, University of Washington, Seattle, Wash., U.S.A.Operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. under contract AST 74-04129 with the National Science Foundation.     

Microwave burst spectra and solar flare magnetic fields

Microwave burst spectra are compared with the position, within the active region, of their associated flares observed in H. The magnetic fields predicted by Takakura's burst model (1972) are found to be in reasonable agreement with the fields expected at the flare locations.Operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under contract with the National Science Foundation.     

Empirical limb effect curves for the FeI lines λ5250 and λ5576

The center to limb variation of solar spectral line positions, or limb effect, has been measured for the two neutral iron lines at 5250.2 Å and 5576.1 Å. Both limb effect curves show a disk-center reversal of 40–60 ms^–1 and the 5576 data also exhibit a possible second reversal at the limb. The limb effect curves are best described by polynomial expressions rather than by traditional power law expressions.Visiting Student, Kitt Peak National Observatory, operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under contract with the National Science Foundation.The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.     

High dispersion spectroscopy of quiescent prominences

A systematic study of the internal horizontal (line-of-sight) motions of quiescent prominences which were observed at the limb has been made by using fourier techniques to analyse the shift of the Ca ii K line as a function of height above the limb. The results indicate that a characteristic size for the velocity elements is present in 70% of the 13 prominences studied. This size of 4700 km is attributed to Alfvén waves induced by horizontal convective motions in the photosphere as previously suggested by Malville. The qualitative aspects of the observations are described by a simple model which is based on this hypothesis.Presently at Department of Astronomy, Pennsylvania State University, 525 Davey Lab., University Park, PA 16802.Operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under contract with the National Science Foundation.     

Impulsive brightenings and velocity transients in prominences

Observations of quiescent prominences with the Zeiss Universal Birefringent Filter at Sacramento Peak show short-lived brightenings and velocity transients in H and D₃. The larger events range in area from 25 to 170 square arc sec, have lifetimes of approximately 30 min, velocities of 30 km s^–1, and total energy excesses up to 7 × 10²⁷ ergs. These events do not disrupt the stable structure of the prominence, and are interpreted as either condensation events or low energy flares.Visiting astronomer, Sacramento Peak Observatory, operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy Inc. under contrast AST-78-17292 with the National Science Foundation.Visiting student, Sacramento Peak Observatory, operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy Inc. under contract AST-78-17292 with the National Science Foundation.