The helium content of the peculiar Oosterhoff type I globular cluster ω Centauri

An investigation of the observational properties for RR Lyrae variables in the galactic globular cluster Centauri is reported. The results show that Centauri belongs to the Oosterhoff Group I, notwithstanding the large, Oo II-like value of the average of the periods of ab-type RR Lyrae. The helium content is derived for this cluster from the analysis of the variables in the (A-logT _e) plane. It is shown that the helium abundance is very close to the value Y=0.30, about 0.05 larger than the value derived for the normal Oo I globular cluster M3.     

Stability of the triangular libration points of the circular restricted problem in the presence of resonances

The stability of triangular libration points, when the bigger primary is a source of radiation and the smaller primary is an oblate spheroid. has been investigated in the resonance cases ₁ = 2₂ and ₁ = 3₂. The motion is unstable for all the values of parameters q and A when ₁ = 2₂ and the motion is unstable and stable depending upon the values of the parameters q and A when ₁ = 3₂. Here q is the radiation parameter and A is the oblateness parameter.     

High-frequency radiation from a particle falling into a Kerr black hole

The high-frequency electromagnetic and gravitational radiation from a relativistic particle falling into a Kerr and Schwarzschild black hole is considered. The spectral and angular distributions of the radiation power are calculated by the WKB technique to Teukolsky's equations. The spectra obtained have a characteristic exponential cut-off at the frequency = _char. which is proportional to the particle Lorentz factor =(1–v ²/c²)^–1/2. At the frequencies as low as those compared with _char. both electromagnetic and gravitational spectra are flat. The amount of the energy emitted in the low-frequency modes of the radiation depends strongly on the radiation spin. It is proportional to ln for the electromagnetic and to ³ for the gravitational radiation.     

Electrostatic Wave Instability and Plasma Radiation from Coronal Loops

Polarization properties of solar and stellar radio emission require, in some cases, emission below the third or fourth coronal electron gyro level, < 3,_c; 4, _c. In the context of plasma radiation, the source parameters should be such that the intermediate magnetic field condition 1 < _p ² / _c ² < 3 is satisfied. Supposing this condition, we investigate the generation of electrostatic waves in a warm background plasma with a high-energy component of magnetically trapped electrons. We invoke the conversion of upper-hybrid waves and Bernstein waves into electromagnetic radiation as being responsible for intense radio emission from a coronal magnetic loop. Moreover, odd-half harmonic emissions in the solar radio spectrum as well as the o-mode polarization at the second harmonic of the plasma frequency are natural consequence of this proposed model.     

Asymptotic properties of disk dynamo

The asymptotic properties of a turbulent disk dynamo at large dimensionless numbersR andR characterizing the helicity and the differential rotation are analysed. Three types of generations in the dependence of the relations betweenR andR are found: ²-dynamo and two types of -dynamo. For each of these types the rates of growth are obtained and the forms of solution are pointed out. Boundaries of the disk dynamo approximation are given.     

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.     

The 4∶1 resonance

We study the resonance ₁₂ = 41 and some near-resonance cases. The main peculiarity of this resonance is that for ₁₂ < 4 the characteristic of the central periodic orbits is broken into two and each part is joined with a resonant characteristic. This behaviour is described theoretically by means of the third integral. It seems that there are infinite families of simple periodic orbits near the escape region. Finally, a comparison is made with the cases near the ₁₂ = 21 resonance.     

Pulsar radio emission from expanding charge sheets

We semi-quantitatively calculate the distribution of energy in frequency and angle emitted from a sheet of charges that are moving out relativistically along dipolar magnetic field lines originating near the magnetic polar caps of a rotating neutron star. The angular distribution is conical with the angle of maximum intensity varying with frequency as ^–1/4 for _c 2 _c /(R _M ²), whereR_M is the initial angular radius of the charge sheet at the surface of the star of radiusR. At higher frequencies the width of the angular cone remains constant. The radiation is linearly polarized with the polarization vector in the plane of the line of sight and the magnetic axis. A sheet of uniform charge density and finite thickness has a frequency spectrum that varies from ^–3/2 to ^–4 for _c and _c , respectively. These features are in good general agreement with the observed characteristics of the intensity, pulse shape, and frequency spectrum of the radio pulses from pulsars.Operated by Associated Universities, Inc., under contract with the National Science Foundation.     

On the origin of type III fundamental

A two-component scheme for the generation of type III fundamental radiation is proposed. The first component of the fundamental arises at a plasma level _{L t} because of the Rayleigh scattering of the plasma waves into electromagnetic radiation. The other component arises at _{L t} /2 because of the decay of the first component into plasma waves and the subsequent rescattering of the plasma waves into electromagnetic radiation _t 2( _t /2). By its properties (location, directivity, polarization) the second component is essentially the same as the second harmonic radiation produced by a stream of fast electrons at _L ( _t /2). This scheme is used to solve the main problems (localization and directivity of the source, polarization of type III fundamental) of the harmonic theory of type III solar bursts.     

Analysis of the light curves of V78 in ω Centauri in the frequency domain by automatized fourier techniques

The aim of the present paper has been to analyse the light changes of the close eclipsing system V78 in Centauri in the frequency domain. In two of his recent papers, Kopal (1977b, c) has developed new methods for the analysis of light curves using Hankel transforms of zero order. He succeeded in expressing the momentsA _2m of light curves in a closed form. The expansions, in terms of which the momentsA _2m can be expressed, converge in all circumstances. Their analytical structure presents no difficulty for automatic computation. The light variations of the eclipsing system V78 in Centauri have been studied by use of the above method. New geometrical elements are also given.     

Effect of drift-resonance broadening on radial diffusion in the magnetosphere

In the quasilinear theory of magnetospheric radial diffusion caused by fluctuating electrostatic (E) or magnetic (B) fields, the diffusion coefficientD _LLis proportional to the spectral density of E or B at the particle drift frequency ₃/2. Since ₃ varies withL at fixedM andJ (adiabatic invariants), the drift resonance =₃ can be maintained only transiently, and therefore is not perfectly sharp. Its bandwidth ^* is approximately (16D _LL /L ²₃)^1/3₃. In magnetospheric radial diffusion caused mainly by electrostatic fluctuations, the value of ^*₃ typically exceeds 0.4 for particle energiesE40 keV. However, the numerical value ofD _LLis correctly given (within 1% in all cases) by quasilinear theory because the spectrum of E is rather flat at resonance frequencies for which the bandwidth is an appreciable fraction of ₃. (Numerical conclusions are based on a quasilinear model forD _LLused successfully by Cornwall in 1972.)     

Interpretation of distinct type IVmA- and IVμ-bursts on the basis of micro-instabilities and of resonant nonlinear interaction of waves

The generation of space charge waves by micro instabilities of the Harris type and their conversion into electromagnetic waves is discussed in the framework of the dispersion curves of the extraordinary wave mode in the warm plasma. Acceleration of electrons as also nonlinear interactions of waves are taken into account. A survey of the parameter regions of the Harris instabilities is given. Distinct values _p / _c and _p / _c result, enabling the instability as well as the conversion. The moving type IVmA bursts, and on the other side the impulsive cm-bursts and the first phase of type IV bursts are correlated to different values _p / _c and corresponding heights in the corona. The space charge waves can produce hydromagnetic waves by parametric excitation, too (type II bursts). The proposed mechanism is discussed with respect to the energy balance and to the magnetic configurations derived from observations with the Culgoora radioheliograph.     

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.     

Concerning isothermal self-similar blast waves

We investigate the one-dimensional self-similar flow behind a blast wave from a plane explosion in a medium whose density varies with distance asx _– with the assumption that the flow is isothermal. If <0 a continuous solution passing through the origin and the shock does not exist. If 1/3>>0 one critical point exists. To be physically acceptable the flow must by-pass this critical point. It is shown that a continuous solution passing through both the origin and through the shock and by-passing the critical point does exist. If 1>>1/3 the first critical point does not exist but a second one appears. To be physically acceptable the flow must again by-pass this new critical point. We show that a continuous solution passing through both the origin and the shock and by-passing the new critical point exists in this case. If >1 no physically acceptable solution exists since the mass behind the shock is infinite.The dependence of the solutions on the parameter is analytic for >0 so that interpolation between neighboring values of is permitted.We investigate the stability of these isothermal blast waves to one-dimensional but non-self-similar perturbations. If 0<<5/7, the solutions are shown to be linearly unstable against short wavelength perturbations near the origin. If the solution crosses the shock with a normalized velocityu>2 the solution is linearly unstable against short wavelength perturbations near the shock for 1>>0. If the solution crosses the shock with normalized velocity 2>u>1 (and it must cross the shock withu>1), the solution is certainly unstable against short wavelength perturbations near the shock for >11/19 and, depending on the crossing velocity, can be unstable there for all .Thus for 1>>0, the solution is always unstable somewhere. Since there is no characteristic time scale in the system all instabilities grow as a power law of time rather than exponentially. The existence of these instabilities implies that initial deviations do not decay and the system does not tend to a self-similar form.     

Quantum effects in cyclotron plasma absorption

It is shown that X-ray radiation of neutron stars with magnetic fieldsB=10¹¹–10¹³ G near cyclotron resonances=s _B (s=1,2,...) is deeply affected by such quantum effects as electron-positron vacuum polarization (significant at V=3×10²⁸ n _e ^–1 (B/B _C ⁴)1, whereB _C =4.4×10¹³G), the quantizing character of the magnetic field (significant atV=3 x 10²⁸ n _e ^–1 (B/B _c)⁴1 whereB _c =4.4 x 10¹³G), the non-harmonic character of the Landau levels, and the quantum recoil of electrons. The latter two factors shift the resonances by the frequency –s ² _B (B/2B _c )sin², being the angle between the direction of radiation propagation and the magnetic field. IfVV ₀ (for 1,V ₀^–1=(mc ²/2T)^1/2), the normal mode (NM) polarizations, as well as the absorption coefficientk ₁ of the extraordinary NM in the Doppler core of the first resonance (|–| _B cos ), is only slightly affected by varyingb and/orV, whereas for the ordinary NM (at 1)k ₂k ₁ ²[b + (3 + tan²–2V)²]k ₁. For sufficiently largeb and/orV the quantum effects amplify resonant absorption of the ordinary NM at _B , with spin-flip transitions playing a major role atb1+V ². IfVV ₀, the coefficientsk ₁ andk ₂ in the Doppler core of the resonance are of the same order and acquire some peculiar features (shifts, intersections, etc.), with the NM polarizations depending sharply on and being strongly non-orthogonal. AtVV ₀,k ₂=k ₁(cos² +B/2B _C ) and the polarizations are almost linear. Near high resonances (s2), as a rule,k _1,2(1 + b) ^{s–1 2s–3} i.e., absorption increases withb due to replacement of the thermal energy of the transverse motion of electron,T, by the magnetic energy _B . The above effects should be taken into account for an interpretation of observational data on X-ray pulsars (e.g., Her X-1) and other X-ray sources associated with neutron stars.     

Plasma Resonance Surfaces in the Magnetic Field Reconnection and Radio Fine Structures

Using a 2-D MHD model, the magnetic field reconnection in the current sheet and corresponding plasma resonance lines (surfaces in 3-D), where the upper-hybrid frequency equals one of harmonics of the electron gyrofrequency, _UH=(_pe ²+_Be ²)^1/2=s_Be (_UH, _pe, and _Be are the upper hybrid, electron plasma, and cyclotron frequencies, respectively, and s is the integer harmonic number) are computed. Then at selected times and positions in the magnetic reconnection the spatial and time spectra of upper hybrid frequencies along the resonance lines are calculated. These spectra are discussed from the point of view of radio fine structures as narrowband dm-spikes, zebras, and lace bursts. It is shown that not only turbulent plasma outflows, suggested in the paper by Bárta and Karlický (2001), but also perturbed zones near the reconnection slow-mode shocks can be locations of the narrowband dm-spikes (and/or continua). Sources of the lace bursts (i.e. bursts with irregular lines) can be located in the reconnection space, too. On the other hand, the zebras (bursts with regular separations of zebra lines) need to be generated out of strongly perturbed reconnection areas.     

On the stability of equilibria of Hamiltonian systems near the main resonances

The equilibrium point O of an autonomous Hamiltonian system of two degrees of freedom is considered for small-oscillation frequencies related as ₂=2₁+. If under the precise resonance (=0) the equilibrium is unstable, the inner diameter () of the domain of stability containing the point O is estimated. It is shown that for the normalized variables ()/b where b is the corresponding resonance coefficient. The estimates () for other main resonances are reported.     

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.     

On the numerical evaluation of theH-functions of transfer problems in multiplying media

Extensive tables of the values ofH-functionsH ⁰(z, ) andH ₁ ⁰ (z, ) appropriate for the problems of radiative transfer in multiplying media characterized by >1, have been constructed correctly to the sixth decimal place for values of in the range 1.05–10. This accuracy has been attained with the aid of a 32-point Gaussian quadrature.     

Lower hybrid wave model for aurora

In the framework of non-linear fluid theory we use a lower hybrid (LH) wave of the form as a pump which interacts with the small fluctuations with the low-frequency vibrations _i or =0, where _i , is the hydrogen ion-cyclotron (HIC) gyrofrequency. The ponderomotive force generated by the beating of the high-frequency pump wave ₀ and the sideband LH waves (±₀) produces a non-linear coupling between the high- and low-frequency motions of electrons and ions. Under certain conditions the HIC waves and the zero-frequency waves both become parametrically unstable and start to grow. These excited waves then heat the ions by stochastic acceleration in the transverse direction, thus explaining the formation of ion comics along the auroral field lines. Electrons would be heated in the parallel direction directly by the pump field as well as by low-frequency waves. Thus a single mechanism can explain the existence of ion-cyclotron waves, zero-frequency waves, ion conics, and energetic electrons along the auroral field lines.