Polarimetry of comets: A review

Some attempts of polarimetric sounding of Comet Halley will be undertaken from the flyby probes. In order to facilitate the final planning and the future interpretation of these experiments we have done a thorough analysis of practically all available polarimetric observations. An emphasis is made on interpretation attempts and their discussion. The results of the phase dependence of polarization investigations are presented covering a wide range of phase angles . The chief peculiarities of this dependence are: maximum polarization at = 90, diminishing through zero at 20, negative values up to several per cent and a final growth to zero at zero . A division into gaseous and dusty comets on polarimetric basis is revealed. The wavelength dependence of polarization is discussed. The numerous results of detailed polarimetry are compared to the negative results of attempts to detect the elliptical polarization. New observational problems arising from the evidence given by the negative polarization at small phase angles and by the opposition effect recently discovered are discussed.     

Hα line emission and infrared excess in Be stars

The H observations of a selected sample of bright Be stars are presented. The available infrared observations at K band (2.2 m) of these stars have been used to find the infrared excess emission. The analysis of the combined data show thatL _H, the luminosity of the H emission line, is proportional toL _IR, the luminosity of the infrared excess emission. The linear correlation betweenL _IR andL _H shows that both the infrared excess and the H line originate in a common region. It is also detected that the infrared excess emission is produced throughout the whole envelope whereas the H is emitted in some defined region of the circumstellar (CS) envelope.     

Interferometric study of the Milky Way between Carina and Aquila

Large field H observations of the Milky Way between Carina and Aquila were made through a narrow interference filter 15 wide. Characteristic large-scale features of the observed region are extended emission areas in Carina, Norma-Scorpius and Scutum-Sagittarius and some weak isolated nebulosities near the Coal Sac, Centauri and Normae. H photographs, a chart mapping the emission, and a list of identified emission regions are given.     

Determination of constant α force-free solar magnetic fields from magnetograph data

At first it is shown that a magnetic field being force-free, i.e. satisfying × B = B, with = constant ( 0) in the whole exterior of the Sun cannot have a finite energy content and cannot be determined uniquely from only one magnetic field component given at the photosphere. Then the boundary value problem for a semi-infinite column of arbitrary cross section is solved by a Green's function method.     

Filter observations of prominences in the D3 and Hα lines

D₃ and H pictures of prominences were obtained with a 21-in. Lyot coronograph and a Fabry-Perot etalon used as a narrow band filter. The monochromatic images of quiescent, quasiquiescent and loop-prominences were studied. The comparison of the isophotes of quiescent and quasi-quiescent prominences in D₃ with those in H shows the similarity of the prominence structure at both wavelength, although there is a strong tendency for an increase in the intensity ratio D₃/H in the upper region of prominences. It seems that it is due to lower temperature in the upper regions of prominences. Probably, the relaxation processes establishing ionization equilibrium play some role. Measurements of the knot intensities of the loop-prominence show strong variations of the intensity ratio D₃/H (more than one order of magnitude).     

On the influence of mass loss and convective overshooting on the evolution of massive stars

Evolution of massive stars losing mass with the rateM H L/V C is computed (for =1,2,7). It is shown that observed mass loss rates correspond to 0.3 and, therefore, mass loss by stellar wind cannot play any significant role in the evolution of normal massive stars. However, for several types of massive stars (WR, OH/IR, X-ray sources) enhanced mass loss explains their peculiar features. Computations of evolutionary sequences of massive stars with convective overshooting taken into account (as a formal increase of the convective core) show that a significant broadening of the hydrogen-burning band in the H-R diagram may be obtained.     

Спектр и поляризация источника синхротронного излучения при релятивистском разлете его компонент

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Hα and radio observations of LSI+61o303

Quasi simultaneous H and radio observations of LSI+61^o303 during August-September 1993 are presented. The radio data show that during the studied epoch the outburst has peaked at radio phase 0.6, at level100 mJy. No significant variations in the H profile at phases 0.5 to 0.65 have been detected. A remarkable increase of the EW and FWHM of the H blue peak is observed at radio phase 0.23. Possible reasons are considered.     

Fine structure of the Solar Chromosphere: Arch-Shaped Mottles

We analyze a time series of high resolution observations near the solar limb, obtained in H and the Mg b1 line. We identified arch-shaped dark mottles, which are thin, faint H structures observable under very good seeing conditions, best seen in H +0.75 Å. Their mean length is about 15, their mean height about 6 and indicative lifetimes is of the order of 5 min. They show negative (away from the observer) line-of-sight velocities. A possible interpretation is that material flows from the apex towards the feet of the arches.     

New Emission Phase of the Be/X-Ray Binary X Persei/4U0352+30: Nearly Simultaneous Spectroscopic and Near-Infrared Observations

We present a series of optical spectroscopic andnear-infrared photometric observations of the Be star X Persei, from thebeginning of the recent emission phase. Our data show that after the latestextended low state (ELS), both the equivalent width (EW) of theH emission line and the JHK luminosities gradually increased. Therecent maximum H EW and JHK magnitudes are more than butcomparable to the 1986–1989 maxima, which reflects a more extensiveand denser envelope in the new emission phase.The IR photometry and the H EW increase coincidently in theearly stage of the new emission phase. However, the variations in thefollowing years, especially in 1994 and 1995, are much different from theearly trend. An unusual variation that while the H EW in X Perincreases considerably, the JHK magnitudes decline rapidly is seen in ournearly simultaneous spectroscopic and near-infrared observations.An expanding ring model is put forward to interpret the observedunusual variation between the H EW and near-IR luminosity duringthe recent emission phase of X Persei. Our results indicate that althoughboth infrared excess and H emission line arise from the envelope,their main contributors, in some cases, are likely to originate in thedifferent part of the envelope.     

εлектроны космических лучей радиогало галактики

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On the size of the structure elements in the solar chromosphere

Photometric reductions of the spectrograms obtained during the third flight of the Soviet Stratopsheric Solar Station are discussed. A comparison of photometric scans in H and its far wings near to the continuum leads to the conclusion that chromospheric mottles are at least several times broader than photospheric granules. The optimum size of mottles is about 0.8–1.1. The H profiles of mottles are practically the same as those obtained from the ground observations. The broadening of mottles is considered as an effect of expansion of magnetic arcs growing up to chromospheric levels.     

Calculation of force-free magnetic field with non-constant α

A numerical method is developed for solving the force-free magnetic field equation, × B = B, with spatially-varying . The boundary conditions required are the distribution of B _n (viz. normal component of the field on the photosphere) as well as the value of in the region of positive (or negative) B _n . Examples of calculations are presented for a simple model of a solar bipolar magnetic region. It is found that the field configuration and the energy stored in the field depend crucially on the distribution of . The present method can be applied to a more complex configuration observed on the Sun by making use of actual magnetic field measurements.On leave of absence from Department of Astronomy, University of Tokyo.     

On the modeling of the three-fluid structure of the quiet solar wind

The reciprocal influence of the electrons and protons, on one side, and the -particles, on the other side in the quiet solar wind is investigated within the framework of a conductive three-fluid model (with frictional forces included). For this purpose two mathematical methods are used, namely: I. Simultaneous solution of the fluid equations for all three species; and II. Solution of two-fluid equations (for electrons and protons) followed by that of a modified one-fluid equation for the -particles (in which the two-fluid solutions are used for electrons and protons).The results of our investigation indicate the following: (a)The macroscopic -particle characteristics as obtained from the two methods of solution are almost identical. Thus, the differences between the three-fluid and two-fluid characteristics of the electrons and protons represent a second order (and negligible) effect on the -particle characteristics. In both approaches, the frictional interaction between -particles and protons raises the (lower) -particle streaming velocity to that of the protons and decreases the relative to proton density ratio to a value about 0.035, as observed at 1 AU, (b)The electron and proton characteristics obtained from three-fluid and two-fluid solutions are similar, except for the proton temperature. The two-fluid solution providesT _p-values which, though within the observational error, are larger than those obtained from the simultaneous three-fluid solution (at 1 AU, the difference amounts to about 30%). Thus, the -particles affect the temperature profile of the protons in the solar wind through heat exchange (mainly), dynamical friction, as well as through their contribution to the interplanetary electrostatic field.     

Имп␣льсное γ-излучение нейтронных, коллапсирующих qiх qi qsверхновых qzвезд

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The following three mechanisms of generation of gamma-ray bursts at advanced phases of stellar evolution are considered; (1) gamma-ray bursts as a result of absorption of neutrino propagating through the envelope of a collapsing star, (2) gamma-ray burst due to thermal radiation of external layers of a compact star (R=0.01–0.1R ) heated by powerful shock wave, and (3) gamma-ray burst as a consequence of possible ejection of matter from neutron star at some active phases of its evolution. In the case (1) the gamma-ray flux at the top of the Earth's atmosphere is about 10^–4 (0.1 MeV photons) cm^–2, if a collapsing star is at Galactic distance (10 kpc). It is considerably less than observed one. The observations of such gamma-bursts however would be an important supplement to the direct detection of neutrino radiation from collapsing stars. In the case (2) external layers of a star are heated up to 10⁸ K. As a result we have a short pulse of thermal radiation with total energy of the order of 10^42–43 erg. The main fraction of the radiation is in the X-ray ( 25 keV), about 10% of total energy being radiated in gamma-ray ( 0.1 MeV). The energy of such a burst is sufficient for explaining observed gamma-bursts provided the supernova outburst probably takes place in our Galaxy and as a result we have some trouble with explanation of observed frequency and spectra of gammabursts. In the case (3) ejection from neutron star of chemically nonequilibrium matter results in the intensive gamma-radiation in consequence of superheavy nuclei fission followed by beta-decays and radiative captures of free neutrons. The ejection of matter from neutron stars may be connected with observed jumps of pulsar's periods. The total ejected mass ( 10²¹ g) can be evaluated from increase of kinetic energy ( 2×10⁴¹ erg.) of Crab nebula filaments. The resulting theoretical energy of gammabursts is of the order of 10^38–39 erg. It is in accordance with observations provided the mean distance of gamma-ray sources is about 0.25 kpc. Contrary to the supernova-outburst mechanism in this case we have probably no troubles with frequency and spectra of gamma-bursts. Among the three mechanisms considered above ejection of matter from neutron stars seems to be a more suitable one for explanation of observations.

     

Some observational results on moustaches

The results of new observations of moustaches in H filtergrams and in H spectra are presented and their relations to photospheric and chromospheric phenomena are studied. The main findings and conclusions are: (1) previous results on basic data (size, brightness, lifetime, etc.) are essentially confirmed; (2) limb observations located the moustaches at the base of the structured H chromosphere, just above the level of the emission of H±1 Å. At the disk moustaches are, in general, covered by absorbing and slightly Doppler-shifted chromospheric elements which determine the H core in the moustache spectrum. However, absorption-free moustaches with an H emission core revealing a pure (true) moustache spectrum have also been found; (3) moustaches have been found to coincide with continuous facular granules; it is suggested that they are an extension of facular granules into the chromosphere rather than a low-level flare-like phenomenon.Mitteilung aus dem Fraunhofer Institut, No. 114.     

Holes in the Hα Eruptive Prominence Structure

The eruptive prominence observed on 27 May 1999 in H at Ondejov Observatory is analyzed using image-processing techniques. To understand the physical processes behind the prominence eruption, heated structures inside the cold H prominence material are sought. Two local minima of intensity (holes), the first above and the second below the erupting H prominence, have been found in the processed H images. A comparison of H images with the SOHO/EIT and Yohkoh/SXT images showed: (a) the cold H prominence is visible as a dark feature in the EIT images, (b) the upper local minimum of intensity in the H image corresponds to a hot structure seen in EIT, (c) the lower minimum corresponds to a hot loop observed by SXT. The physical significance of the H intensity minima and their relation to the hot structures observed by EIT and SXT is discussed. The time sequence of observed processes is in favor of the prominence eruption model with the destabilization of the loop spanning the prominence. For comparison with other events the velocities of selected parts of the eruptive prominence are determined.     

The ionization mechanism in low level emission galaxy nuclei: Shocks

We analyze the emission component of galaxy nuclei at very low intensity levels (W(H)2Å). This emission level is considerably lower than that of classical LINERS like NGC 1052. We have access to weaker emission lines by averaging spectra with similar line ratios for H [NII], and [SII]. From the resulting spectrum for very low level emission nuclei, the [SII] 6717, 6731/[SIII] 9069, 9532 line ratio criterion (Diazet al., 1985a) unambiguously shows that shock-wave heating is the mechanism responsible for the ionization in such objects.     

The roots of coronal structure in the Sun's surface

We have compared the structures seen on X-ray images obtained by a flight of the NIXT sounding rocket payload on July 11, 1991 with near-simultaneous photospheric and chromospheric structures and magnetic fields observed at Big Bear. The X-ray images reflect emission of both Mgx and Fexvi, formed at 1 × 10⁶ K and 3 × 10⁶ K, respectively. The brightest H sources correspond to a dying sub-flare and other active region components, all of which reveal coronal enhancements situated spatially well above the H emission. The largest set of X-ray arches connected plages of opposite polarity in a large bipolar active region. The arches appear to lie in a small range of angle in the meridian plane connecting their footpoints. Sunspots are dark on the surface and in the corona. For the first time we see an emerging flux region in X-rays and find the emission extends twice as high as the H arches. Many features which we believe to correspond to X-ray bright points (XBPs) were observed. Whether by resolution or spectral band, the number detected greatly exceeds that from previous work. All of the brighter XBPs correspond to bipolar H features, while unipolar H bright points are the base of more diffuse comet-like coronal arches, generally vertical. These diverge from individual features by less than 30°, and give a good measure of what the canopies must do. The H data shows that all the H features were present the entire day, so they are not clearly disappearing or reappearing. We find a new class of XBPs which we call satellite points, elements of opposite polarity linked to nearby umbrae by invisible field lines. The satellite points change rapidly in X-ray brightness during the flight. An M1.9 flare occurred four hours after the flight; examination of the pre-flare structures reveals nothing unusual.     

High dispersion spectroscopic study of quiescent prominences

The utility of very high dispersion spectra (5–11 mm/Å) for the study of line profile and velocity structure in quiescent prominences is demonstrated by observations, taken with the spectregraphic slit positioned normal to the limb in H 6563 Å, He D₃ 5876 Å, and Ca⁺K 3933 Å. The emission profiles of both H and the K line often show a central reversal (absorption). Emission structures in the K-line can be complex with details as narrow as 0.04 Å. Frequently this structure consists of two distinct components: a central, strong, rather narrow line, and an often displaced, weak feature of undefined profile appearing as fuzz. It is suggested that this fuzz indicates an exchange of matter between the prominence and the corona.Visiting Astronomer, Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, Oslo, Norway.Operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under contract with the National Science Foundation.