Implications of the Galilean satellites ice envelope explosions III. The origin of the Trojans and of some comets

Secondary explosions of the primary ice fragments ejected in the explosion of the electrolyzed massive ice envelopes of the Galilean satellites are capable of imparting velocities of up to ~5km s^–1 to the secondary fragments. As a result, the secondary fragments can enter the orbits of the irregular satellites (Agafonova and Drobyshevski, 1984b) and the Trojan libration orbits. In the latter case a perturbation velocity of V 0.3–2 km s^–1 is sufficient.The primary fragments ejected by the gravitational perturbations due to the Galilean satellites sunward from Jupiter's sphere of action move faster relative to the Sun than Jupiter does and therefore reach their first aphelion ahead of Jupiter in the neighborhood of L ₄. At the same time the fragments propelled from Jupiter's sphere of action beyond the planet's orbit approach it again in their perihelia behind Jupiter in the region of L ₅. The concentration of the fragments and, hence, the frequency of their collisions and explosions at L ₄ turn out to be much greater than those at L ₅. As a result, the number of the secondary fragments of diameter 15 km captured into libration orbits ahead of Jupiter can be as high as many hundreds and should exceed by more than a factor 3.5 that captured behind Jupiter.Since the icy mix of the fragments contains hydrocarbons and particulate material (silicates and the like), after ice sublimation from the surface layers the Trojans should reveal type C and RD spectra typical for Jupiter's irregular satellites, comet nuclei and other distant ice bodies of similar origin. Among the Trojans there cannot be rocky or metallic objects which are known to exist in the main asteroid belt.It is shown that a velocity perturbation of 150–200 m s^–1 resulting from a purely mechanical impact of two bodies may be sufficient to move collision fragments from the orbits of the Trojans to horseshoe-shaped trajectories with a subsequent transfer to the cometary orbits of Jupiter's family.     

Evolutionary models of nucleosynthesis in the galaxy

A model of the galaxy is constructed and evolved in which the integrated influence of stellar and supernova nucleosynthesis on the composition of the interstellar gas is traced numerically. Our detailed assumptions concerning the character of the matter released from evolving stars and supernovae are guided by the results of recent stellar evolutionary calculations and hydrodynamic studies of supernova events. Stars of main sequence mass in the range 4M8M are assumed to give rise to supernova events, leaving remnants we identify with neutron stars and pulsars and forming both the carbon-to-iron nuclei and ther-process heavy elements in the explosive ejection of the core material. For more massive stars, we assume the core implosion will result in the formation of a Schwarzschild singularity, that is, a black hole or collapsar. The straightforward assumptions (1) that the gas content of the galaxy decreases exponentially with time to its present level of 5% and (2) that the luminosity function characteristic of young clusters and the solar neighborhood is appropriate throughout galactic history, lead to the prediction that 20% of the unevolved stars of approximately one solar mass (M ) in the galaxy today should have metal compositionsZ0.1Z . As Schmidt has argued from similar reasoning, this is quite inconsistent with current observations; an early generation dominated by more massive stars—which would by now have evolved—is suggested by this difficulty. Many of these massive stars, according to our assumptions, will end their lives as collapsed black hole remnants. It is difficult to visualize an epoch of massive star formation in the collapsing gas cloud which formed our galaxy which would enrich the gas rapidly enough to account for the level of heavy element abundances in halo population stars; we have therefore proposed a stage of star formation which is entirely pregalactic in character. We suggest that the Jeans' length-sized initial condensations in the expanding universe discussed by Peebles and Dicke may provide the appropriate setting for this first generation of stars. Guided by these considerations, and by the need for a substantial quantity of unseen mass to bind our local group of galaxies, we have constructed a model of the galaxy in which this violent early phase of massive star formation produces both (1) approximately 25% of the level of heavy elements observed in the solar system and (2) an enormous unseen mass in the form of black holes. The implications of our model for other features of the galaxy, including supernova nucleosynthesis, the cosmic ray production of the light elements, and cosmochronology, are discussed in detail.     

Gamma-ray bursts from high velocity neutron stars

We investigate the viability of the Galactic corona model of -ray bursts by calculating the spatial distribution of neutron stars born with high velocities in the Galactic disk, and comparing the resulting brightness and angular distribution with the BATSE data. We find that the Galactic corona model can reproduce the BATSE peak flux and angular distribution data for neutron star kick velocities 800 km s^–1, source turn-on ages 10 Myrs, and sampling depths 100 kpc d _max 400 kpc.     

About the motion of a heavy flexible string attached to the satellite in the central field of attraction

The motion of a heavy inextensible flexible string attached to the satellite in the central gravitational field is discussed. It is supposed that the mass of the string is infinitesimally small compared to the mass of the satellite and hence it does not affect the latter's motion. Under the assumption that the satellite moves along the Keplerian elliptical orbit (in particular circular orbit), the relative motion of the string is investigated. It has been shown that the motion of the flexible string is unstable which is stable in the case of a solidified string.

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Orbits of new outer planetary satellites based on observations

More than 70 new distant satellites of major planets have been discovered over the past five years. Until recently, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in the USA was the only institution that modeled the motion of these satellites based on observational data and computed their ephemerides. New independent computations are needed to ensure the reliability and to assess the accuracy of satellite ephemerides. In this paper, the results of our determination of orbital parameters for 73 new distant satellites of major planets based on all available observations are reported and the adopted model of perturbing forces acting on a satellite is described. The satellite motions are computed via numerical integration. A special program—an ephemeris server—is used to compute the ephemerides of satellites, which are freely available to any user on the Internet at http://lnfm1.sai.msu.ru/neb/nss/index.htm. The server offers ample choice in terms of the form and composition of the ephemerides produced. The paper gives examples of deviations of the theory from observations and comparisons of our results with JPL ephemerides. Standard deviations of observational results from the theory are equal to 0.3–0.5 for most of the satellites. A comparison of our models of the motion of satellites with those developed at JPL shows that deviations in topocentric coordinates do not exceed 0.01 over a six-year interval.__________Translated from Astronomicheskii Vestnik, Vol. 39, No. 2, 2005, pp. 128–140.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Emelyanov, Kanter.     

Dimensional Analysis of the Flare Distribution Problem

Dimensional analysis is used to derive the distribution of solar flare energies,p() = A-^3/2, in accordance with recent observational and numerical results. Several other scalings, notably _fl ² , where _fl is the flare duration, are obtained as well.     

Jovian satellite Callisto: Possibility and consequences of its explosion

The numerous poorly understood differences between Ganymede and Callisto (the difference in the densities, in the degree of cratering and topography of the surface, the existence proper of craters and a difference of their distribution from that typical of bodies in the inner Solar System, etc.) find readily an explanation within the hypothesis of an explosion of Ganymede's icy envelope saturated by products of the volumetric electrolysis of ice. Similar explosions underwent earlier the ices on Io and Europa, and more recently, on Saturn's satellite Titan. One cannot exclude the possibility that the envelope of Callisto is also saturated by the electrolysis products and is only awaiting a strong impact which would trigger its explosion.The consequences of such an explosion would be devastating for the Earth's biosphere. About 10⁹ ice fragments 0.3 km would appear in the orbits of Jovian comet family. Every day, a body causing an explosion 1 Mt of TNT equivalent would fall on the Earth, once a year- 10³ Mt, and once in a man's life, 10⁵ Mt. Apart from purely impact effects (super-tsunami, heating of the atmosphere) and the poisoning of the air by such compounds as HCN, CO, etc., impacts in excess of 10⁵ Mt could produce a nuclear winter phenomenon resulting from the appearance of huge amounts of dust in the atmosphere.Such impact-related catastrophies led in the past to changes of geological epochs. An analysis is given of possible impact sources. The ~30Myr intervals between mass extinctions can be accounted for by purely random collisions, with only large impacts being capable of producing (1) a nuclear superwinter leading to a global catastrophe and (2) an ejection from the Earth of the Aten-type asteroids leading to subsequent secondary mass bombardment. A possibility is pointed out of the appearance of rare (once in about 10⁸ yr) short-period comet showers originating from the detonation of the ices still remaining in the large Trojans.The high priority of a mission to Callisto to determine the degree of saturation of its ices by the electrolysis products and to evaluate its potential hazard for mankind is validated.     

Implications of the Galilean satellites ice envelope explosions. I. The motion of fragments inside and beyond Jupiter's sphere of action

Explosions of the electrolyzed ice envelopes of the Galilean satellites resulted in the appearance of a large number of ice fragments deep inside Jupiter's sphere of action. Gravitational perturbations by the Galilean satellites transferred these fragments from satellite orbits into the periphery of the sphere of action and beyond it. The fragments move initially in the direction of a satellite's motion tangentially to its orbit.The fragments have a small angular momentum since they come from deep inside Jupiter's sphere of action. On reaching the periphery of the sphere, the fragments can acquire retrograde motion (even in the sidereal frame) because of the Sun's action.If ejected from the zone of the Galilean satellites with a sufficient velocity, the fragments can leave Jupiter's sphere of action going both inside and outside its orbit, which leads to a substantial difference in the pattern of their subsequent motion in the vicinity of Jupiter's orbit.The results obtained may be used to shed light on the origin of the irregular satellites (Paper 1) and Trojans (Paper 2).     

Unsteady free-convective flow and mass transfer in a rotating porous medium with Hall current,I

The Hall effect on the unsteady hydromagnetic free-convection resulting from the combined effects of thermal and mass diffusion of an electrical-conducting liquid through a porous medium past an infinite vertical porous plate in a rotating system have been analysed. The expressions for the mean velocity, mean skin friction, and mean rate of heat transfer on the plate are derived. The effects of magnetic parameterM, Hall parameterm, Ekman numberE, and permeability parameterK ^* on the flow field are discussed with the help of graphs and tables.Nomenclature C _p specific heat at constant pressure - C the species concentration inside the boundary layer - C _w the species concentration at porous plate - C the species concentration of the fluid at infinite - C dimensionless species concentration - D chemical molecular diffusivity - E Ekman number - Ec Eckert number - g acceleration due to gravity - Gr Grashof number - Gm modified Grashof number - H ₀ applied magnetic field - (J _x, J_y, J_z) components of current density - M magnetic parameter - m Hall parameter - P Prandtl number - q _m mean rate of heat transfer - Sc Schmidt number - t time - t dimensionless time - T temperature of fluid - T _w temperature of the plate - T temperature of fluid at infinite - T dimensionless temperature - (u, v, w) components of the velocityq - w ₀ suction velocity - (x, y, z) Cartesian coordinates - z dimensionless coordinate normal to the plate Greek symbols coefficient of volume expansion - * coefficient of thermal expansion with concentration - frequency - dimensionless frequency - k thermal conductivity - K ^* permeability parameter - dinematic viscosity - density of the fluid in the boundary layer - coefficient of viscosity - _e magnetic permeability - angular velocity - electrical conductivity of the fluid - _m mean skin friction - _mn mean skin friction in the direction ofx - _mv mean skin friction in the direction ofy     

Passage of the solar current disk and major geomagnetic storms

It is shown that major geomagnetic storms (¦Dst¦ > 100) tend to develop at about the time of the passage of the solar current sheet or disk at the location of the Earth, provided this passage is associated with (1) a large impulsive increase of the IMF magnitude B, (2) a negative value of the IMF angle (Theta), and (3) an increasing solar wind speed. The passage occurs in association with the 27-day rotation of the warped current disk or a temporal up-down movement of the latter. The period in which ¦Dst¦/t< 0 during major storms coincides approximately with the period when the solar windmagnetosphere energy coupling function becomes 10¹⁹ erg s^–1. These conclusions do not depend on the phase of the sunspot cycle.These results may be interpreted as follows: A high speed solar wind flow, originating either from flare regions or coronal holes, tends to push the solar current disk to move upward or downward for either a brief period (1 3 days) or an extended period (2 weeks). A relatively thin region of a large IMF B > 10 is often present near the moving current disk. Waves are also generated on the moving current disk, and some of them cause large changes of . A high value of is found in the region of a large IMF B near the wavy solar current disk, where has a large negative value.     

Charged dust in the outer planetary magnetospheres

We assume that typical interplanetary grains are fragile, aggregates of the Brownlee type, and discuss the physical and dynamical processes associated with their entry into the Jovian magnetosphere. Limiting ourselves to the equatorial plane of the planet, we show that grains traversing the outer edge of the co-rotating magnetodisc (r35R _J ) are rapidly charged up to large negative potentials on both the day and the night sides. A parent grain of radiusR _g 20 is electrostatically disrupted when it attains a potential of about –220 V. While the eventual potential achieved by the smallest fragments (R _g 0.1 ) are controlled by the rapid field emission of electrons, those of the larger fragments (R _g 1 ) are set by the plasma and photoemission currents.All the negatively charged fragments are strongly attracted towards the planet by the (radial) corotational electric field and some are stably trapped. We suggest that the sudden enhancement by about 2 orders of magnitude of the interplanetary dust flux measured by Pioneer 10, at about 30R _J from Jupiter result from the combination of these two effects.The different brightness asymmetries between the leading and the trailing sides of the outer and inner Galilean satellites appear to be a natural consequence of the way the trajectories of these charged dust grains intersect these satellite surfaces. Finally, the similarity in the brightness asymmetries between the Jovian and Saturnian satellites, and our belief that they have a similar cause, leads us to the expectation that Saturn's magnetic momentM and spin , are parallel as in the case of Jupiter, with the limit of plasma co-rotation lying between the satellites Rhea and Iapetus.     

Large-amplitude low-frequency electromagnetic waves in pulsar magnetospheres

Nonlinear propagation of strong low-frequency waves, as emitted by pulsars or compact galactic nuclei at their rotation frequencies, in a magnetized plasma is investigated. It is shown that even rather small amplitude waves can drive electrons to ultrarelativistic energies. In the limit when the electrons are ultrarelativistic but the ions are immobile, two types of circularly polarized waves (i.e., ^± modes) are excited. In the wave zone of the Crab pulsar, both the electric field ( 3 V m^–1) and the wavelength (10⁸ m) of the ^- mode are larger, by an order of magnitude, than those of the ⁺ wave mode. Both ^± modes can become modulationally unstable due to their nonlinear interaction with density fluctuations induced by the electrostatic waves.     

The Energy Lost by Differential Rotation in the Generation of the Solar Toroidal Magnetic Field

The integrals, I_i(t) = _GL u_i j × B _i dv over the volume GL are calculated in a dynamo model of the Babcock–Leighton type studied earlier. Here, GL is the generating layer for the solar toroidal magnetic field, located at the base of the solar convection zone (SCZ); i=r, , , stands for the radial, latitudinal, and azimuthal coordinates respectively; j = (4)^-1 × B, where B is the magnetic field; u_r,u are the components of the meridional motion, and u is the differential rotation. During a ten-year cycle the energy _cycle I(t)dt needs to be supplied to the azimuthal flow in the GL to compensate for the energy losses due to the Lorentz force. The calculations proceed as follows: for every time step, the maximum value of |B| in the GL is computed. If this value exceeds B_cr (a prescribed field) then there is eruption of a flux tube that rises radially, and reaches the surface at a latitude corresponding to the maximum of |B| (the time of rise is neglected). This flux tube generates a bipolar magnetic region, which is replaced by its equivalent axisymmetric configuration, a magnetic ring doublet. The erupted flux can be multiplied by a factor F_t, i.e., by the number of eruptions per time step. The model is marginally stable and the ensemble of eruptions acts as the source for the poloidal field. The arbitrary parameters B_cr and F_t are determined by matching the flux of a typical solar active region, and of the total erupted flux in a cycle, respectively. If E(B) is the energy, in the GL, of the toroidal magnetic field B = B sin cos , B (constant), then the numerical calculations show that the energy that needs to be supplied to the differential rotation during a ten-year cycle is of the order of E(B_cr), which is considerably smaller than the kinetic energy of differential rotation in the GL. Assuming that these results can be extrapolated to larger values of B_cr, magnetic fields 10⁴ G, could be generated in the upper section of the tachocline that lies below the SCZ (designated by UT). The energy required to generate these 10⁴ G fields during a cycle is of the order of the kinetic energy in the UT.     

Anisotropy: High energy cosmic rays and the thermal background radiation

The motion of a large (100 Mpc radius) volume of local matter with respect to the frame in which the thermal cosmic background radiation (CBR) appears isotropic is shown to produce a contribution to anisotropy in the arrival directions of the highest energy (>10¹⁹ eV) cosmic rays. The magnitude of the effect predicted is 1%, below that currently observed and below the sensitivity of present experiments.     

cD galaxies of apparent supergiant sizes due to the curvature of space

By combining two two-dimensional subspaces, closed into themselves due to curvature, it is possible to create a model of three-dimensional space of the same properties. If the Universe is a space of this type, its effect is that of a monstrous lens. Close objects are observed to diminish according to the normal law of perspective; however, the remote galaxies are seen to be very highly magnified.The apparent angular size² of a galaxy is more than the size¹ in flat space according to relation:² =¹ cosec , where is the angular distance from the observer to the galaxy. The diameter² d of a galaxy in curved space must be in the same relation to a diameter¹ d with no curvature of space:² d=¹ d cosec . The apparent angular size² and diameter² d are distorted shapes in consequence of an optical illusion caused by the spatial curvature.It is necessary to distribute the multitude of galaxies into two parts in accordance with their location on the close or reverse hemihypersphere of the Universe. The minimum of apparent angular size² of a galaxy of diameter¹ d is at the equatorial zone.The most likely candidates for location in the reverse hemi-hypersphere are cD's of apparent supergiant sizes due, probably, to the curvature of space. The existence of supergiant sizes of galaxies is the second indirect proof, besides superluminal velocities, that the Universe is closed into itself through curvature. The third indirect evidence, i.e., inductive confirmation of the same fact, is the superposition of galaxies which need not inevitably be a new alternative to the present theories of collisions, cannibalism, merger, etc.The fourth indirect proof of the positive curvature of the Universe is the occurrence of background radiation, because that must vanish in hyperbolic space irrespective of its origin. The gravitational lens effect acquires another theoretical form, as usual, in the case of remote galaxies, because it is impossible to distinguish between gravitator and lensing image.     

Study of the nonradial directional property of the rays of the streamer belt and chains in the solar corona

Based on analyzing corona images taken by the LASCO C1, C2, and C3 instruments, a study is made of the behavior of the streamer belt spanning one half of the 1996–2001 cycle of solar activity, from minimum to maximum activity, in the absence of coronal mass ejections. It is shown that: (1) The position of the streamer belt relative to the solar equator is generally characterized by two angles: _o and _E, where _o is the latitudinal position (near the solar surface) of the middle of the base of the helmet, the top of which gradually transforms to a ray of the streamer belt with a further distance from the Sun, and _E is the latitude of this ray for R>5–6 R from the Sun's center where the ray becomes radial. (2) Only rays lying at some of the selected latitudes _o retain their radial orientation (_oE) throughout their extent. Namely: _o0° (equator), _o±90° (north and south poles), and the angle _o lying in the range ±(65°–75°) in the N- and S-hemispheres. (3) A deviation of rays from their radial orientation in the direction normal to the surface of the streamer belt occurs: for latitudes _o<|65°–75°| toward the equator (>0°) reaching a maximum in the N and S hemispheres, respectively, when _OM40°, and _OM–42° for latitudes _o>|65°–75°| toward the pole (<0°). The regularities obtained here are a numerical test which can be used to assess of the validity of the theory for describing the behavior of the Sun's quasi-stationary corona over a cycle of solar activity.     

Evidence for electron excitation of type III radio burst emission

Type III radio bursts observed at kilometric wavelengths ( 0.35 MHz) by the OGO-5 spacecraft are compared with > 45 keV solar electron events observed near 1 AU by the IMP-5 and Explorer 35 spacecraft for the period March 1968–November 1969.Fifty-six distinct type III bursts extending to 0.35 MHz ( 50 R equivalent height above the photosphere) were observed above the threshold of the OGO-5 detector; all but two were associated with solar flares. Twenty-six of the bursts were followed 40 min later by > 45 keV solar electron events observed at 1 AU. All of these 26 bursts were identified with flares located west of W 09 solar longitude. Of the bursts not associated with electron events only three were identified with flares west of W 09, 18 were located east of W 09 and 7 occurred during times when electron events would be obscured by high background particle fluxes.Thus almost all type III bursts from the western half of the solar disk observed by OGO-5 above a detection flux density threshold of the order of 10^–13 Wm^–2 Hz^–1 at 0.35 MHz are followed by > 45 keV electrons at 1 AU with a maximum flux of 10 cm^–2 s^–1 ster^–1. If particle propagation effects are taken into account it is possible to account for lack of electron events with the type III bursts from flares east of the central meridian. We conclude that streams of 10–100 keV electrons are the exciting agent for type III bursts and that these same electrons escape into the interplanetary medium where they are observed at 1 AU. The total number of > 45 keV electrons emitted in association with a strong kilometer wavelength type III burst is estimated to be 5 × 10³².     

Spectrophotometry of bright Be stars

We present new measurements of the distribution of energy in the continuum for eight Be stars in the optical region (3200-7600 Å). The effective temperatures of these stars have been estimated from their observed fluxes. It is found that, in general, pole-on stars show near-infrared excess emission. It is interesting to note that the Balmer jumps for stars having an infrared excess are systematically smaller than for those lacking the infrared excess.Variability of ultraviolet and infrared excess emissions in these stars has been discussed. The stars 59 Cyg, 66 Cyg, 28 CMa, and 27 CMa show large variations in their continuum at ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) regions.     

Compton scattering of relativistic electrons in compact X-ray sources

The problem of single Compton scattering is considered and the resulting spectrum, angular distribution and polarization of scattered photons in a general case are obtained. The inverse Compton scattering (ICS) for arbitrary energies of electronsE and photons ₀ is investigated in detail. In the case of isotropically-distributed initial photons and relativistic electrons, a strong rise of the scattered spectrum near the upper edge takes place, starting from the values of the characteristic parameterb4E ₀10 (in units of mc²=1). The energy-loss rate of relativistic electrons due to ICS is calculated. It is shown that the relativistic electrons of the energiesE100 MeV, when scattering on the X-rays with ₀~10KeV, transmit the dominant part of their energy to the photons which fall after scattering into the energy range of the electrons (100 MeV).The radiation spectrum of ICS, as well as the energy-losses of relativistic electrons distributed by power-lawE ^–, are calculated. The radiation spectrum reveals the power-law behaviour with the different indices in two limits: the dependence ^–(1)/2 at ₀1 gradually changes to ^–(+1) ln (₀) law for ₀1.     

Thermal and electrical conductivities of crystals in neutron stars and degenerate dwarfs

Thermal and electrical conductivities due to electron scattering on phonons are calculated for degenerate cores of white dwarfs and envelopes of neutron stars for wide ranges of density, temperature and ion charge. In the stellar zones, in which T _pi(Z^1/3e²/_F) (_piis the ion plasma frequency and _F the Fermi velocity of electrons), the main contribution into scattering comes from the Umklapp processes. In the zones with lowerT, the Umklapp processes are frozen out, that results in a sharp growth of electrical and thermal conductivities. This, for instance, should make nuclear burning more stable in such zones.