Orbital evolution and orbital phase resolved spectroscopy of the HMXB pulsar 4U 1538-52 with RXTE-PCA and BeppoSAX

We report here results from detailed timing and spectral studies of the high mass X-ray binary pulsar 4U 1538-52 over several binary periods using observations made with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (RXTE) and BeppoSAX satellites. Pulse timing analysis with the 2003 RXTE data over two binary orbits confirms an eccentric orbit of the system. Combining the orbitial parameters determined from this observation with the earlier measurements we did not find any evidence of orbital decay in this X-ray binary. We have carried out orbital phase resolved spectroscopy to measure changes in the spectral parameters with orbital phase, particularly the absorption column density and the iron line flux. The RXTE-PCA spectra in the 3–20 keV energy range were fitted ∼6.4 keV, whereas the BeppoSAX spectra needed only a power law and Gaussian emission line at ∼6.4 keV in the restricted energy range of 0.3–10.0 keV. An absorption along the line of sight was included for both the RXTE and BeppoSAX data. The variation of the free spectral parameters over the binary orbit was investigated and we found that the variation of the column density of absorbing material in the line of sight with orbital phase is in reasonable agreement with a simple model of a spherically symmetric stellar wind from the companion star.     

Electromagnetic radiation from line sources interacting with a moving uniaxial dielectric or plasma half-space

The problem of electromagnetic radiation from electric and magnetic line sources interacting with a moving uniaxially anisotropic dielectric or plasma half-space is treated. The anisotropy of the plasma is due to an infinitely strong magnetizing field impressedparallel to the motion of plasma. The line source is oriented normal to the direction of medium motion. TheE and theH modes are excited independently in the medium by the magnetic and the electric line sources, respectively. Invoking the saddle-point method of integration, the far-zone radiation field and the radiation pattern are obtained for both line sources. It is found that the radiation from an electric line source is not affected by the anisotropy of the moving medium and that a magnetic line source invacuum has finite components of radiation in directions which are parallel and antiparallel to the direction of motion, for the case of a uniaxial plasma in contrast to the results for a uniaxial dielectric. Numerical results for the far-zone radiation pattern, referring to a magnetic line source, are presented for several values of parameters characterizing the non-dimensional velocity, the anisotropy of the medium, the electron-plasma density and the location of the line source.     

Hydrogeochemical processes controlling fluoride enrichment within alluvial and hard rock aquifers in a part of a semi-arid region of Northern India

Rock–water interaction along with mineral dissolution/ precipitation plays a profound role in the control of fluoride ion concentration within the alluvial groundwater in a part of semi-arid northern India. In the premonsoon season, the alluvial region experiences evaporative processes leading to increase in Na⁺ ions which through reverse ion exchange processes are adsorbed onto suitable sites within the aquifer matrix in exchange for Ca²⁺ ion in solution. Increase in Ca²⁺ ions in solution inhibits fluorite mineral dissolution, thereby controlling premonsoon fluoride ion concentration within alluvial groundwaters (1.40?±?0.5 mg/l). In the postmonsoon season, however, higher average fluoride ion concentration within the alluvial aquifer samples (2.33?±?0.80 mg/l) is observed mainly due to increase in silicate weathering of fluoride-bearing rocks and direct ion exchange processes enabling Ca²⁺ ion uptake from solution accompanied with the release of fluoride ions. Combined effect of these processes results in average fluoride ion concentration falling above the WHO drinking water permissible limit (1.5 mg/l). Alternatively, the hard rock aquifer samples within the study area have an average fluoride ion concentration falling below the permissible limit in both the seasons.     

Locating center of gravity in geological contexts

International Journal of Earth Sciences - This short article at first deduces center of gravity (C.G.) for horizontal single-layered and multi-layered rock bodies. Spatial variation of density is...     

Structurally-controlled melt accumulation: Himalayan migmatites and related deformation — Dhauli Ganga valley, Garhwal Himalaya

In the uppermost parts of the Higher Himalayan Crystallines (HHC) of the Great Himalaya, widespread in situ partial melting of sillimanite+K-feldspar gneiss resulted in the formation of migmatite and resultant melt accumulation near the South Tibetan Detachment System (STDS) during various deformation events along the Dhauli Ganga valley in Garhwal. The oldest migmatite phase, designated as the Me1, parallels the main foliation S_m as the stromatite layers and concordant leucogranite bands. Younger melt phases Me2, Me3 and Me5 are recorded along small-scale ductile thrusts, extensional fabric and structureless patches, respectively. It is only the Me4 melting phase that is evidenced by large-scale melt migration along cross-cutting irregular veins. These were possible conduits for migration and accumulation of melt into larger leucogranite bodies like the Malari granite (19.0± 0.5 Ma).     

Higher Himalaya in the Bhagirathi section (NW Himalaya, India): its structures, backthrusts and extrusion mechanism by both channel flow and critical taper mechanisms

The Higher Himalayan Crystalline (HHC) in the Bhagirathi river section (India) on fieldwork reveals two extensional ductile top-to-N/NE shear sub-zones—the ‘South Tibetan Detachment System’ and the ‘Basal Detachment’—besides a preceding top-to-S/SW ductile shear. A top-to-N/NE brittle shear was identified as backthrusts from the HHC (except its northern portion) that occur repeatedly adjacent to numerous top-to-S/SW brittle shears as fore-thrusts. The northern portion of the HHC—the Gangotri Granite—exhibits infrequent total six extensional and compressional brittle shear senses. The backthrusts could be due to a low friction between the lower boundary of the HHC (i.e. the Main Central Thrust-Zone) and the partially molten hot rock materials of the HHC. Subduction of the Eurasian plate towards S/SW below the Indian plate more extensively in the Garhwal sector could be the second possible reason. Presence of two ductile extensional shear sub-zones may indicate channel flow (or several exhumation mechanisms) of the HHC in a shifting mode (similar to Mukherjee et al. in Int J Earth Sci 101:253–272, 2012). The top-to-S/SW extensional brittle shear exclusively within the upper (northern portion) of the HHC and a top-to-S/SW brittle shear within the remainder of it is a possible indicator of critical taper deformation mechanism. Thus, this work provides the field evidences of possibly both channel flow and critical taper conditions from a Higher Himalayan section, besides that by Larson et al. (Geol Soc Am Bull 122:1116–1134, 2010).     

Comprehensive Analysis of Fish Assemblages in Relation to Seasonal Environmental Variables in an Estuarine River of Indian Sundarbans

Fish distribution in relation to environmental variables was investigated in the Matla River of Sundarban estuarine system. A total of 64 brackish water species belonging to 38 families showing tropical and subtropical affinities were obtained upon monthly sampling of 1 year. The most abundant species were Harpadon nehereus, Gudusia chapra, Coilia neglecta, Coilia ramcarati and Liza parsia. Fish assemblages showed significant seasonal variation as was revealed from MANOVA. MDS ordination plot based on similarity in the fish assemblages revealed that premonsoonal season was distinguishable from the monsoonal and postmonsoonal seasons. Notable differences were also evident between monsoon and postmonsoon. Canonical correspondence analysis indicated that salinity, acidity, inorganic phosphate concentration and dissolved oxygen were the most important environmental variables in determining the observed variation in fish assemblages. Seasonal succession of fish populations may be related to differences in life cycle and adaptation to prevalent ecological conditions. The study therefore suggests that environmental variations in terms of changing salinity and dissolved oxygen have significant influence in structuring estuarine piscine community in this region.     

Chemometric analysis to infer hydro-geochemical processes in a semi-arid region of India

Groundwater exploitation in Punjab has increased in last few decades due to rapid increase in industrialization, population, crop production, and erratic monsoon. In the present study, groundwater samples from 29 locations were collected and analyzed for almost all major anions, cations, and heavy metals. The analyzed parameters formed the attribute database for statistical analysis. The study approach included multivariate statistical analysis of hydro-chemical data to identify hydro-geochemical processes occurring in the study area and its relation to groundwater quality. The principal component analysis produced seven significant factors that explained nearly 77 % of the cumulative variance. Factor 1 explained nearly 22.05 % of dataset with variables loading indicating mineralization of geological component of soil. Trilinear plot and other graphical methods were also used to identify chemical facies of groundwater and geochemical processes occurring in study area. The water type in the study area is of Na/K–Mg–HCO₃ type. It was found that the general hydro-geochemistry of groundwater in the study area dominated is by the processes such as carbonate/silicate weathering, ion-exchange, and dissolution. Thus, statistical methods can prove to be an effective tool understanding hydro-geochemistry of a region along with conventional graphical methods.