Photoelectric measurement of the coronal emission line λ 5303 by an automatic coronal photometer

A 5303 Å-photometer was constructed for the 20 cm coronagraph of the Wendelstein solar observatory. Details of the photometer, the method of measurement and an example for measured isophotes are given. The Wendelstein photometer is compared with the 5303 Å-Sac Peak photometer.Mitteilungen der Sternwarte München Bd. 2 Nr. 5.     

A study of the He λ 10830 line emission from quiescent prominences

Observations of the He 10830 line emission in a number of quiescent prominences are presented. The line shapes are analyzed to obtain values for the Doppler widths and optical thicknesses, leading to a determination of the 2³ P – 2³ S excitation temperature of 4020 K. The results are compared with those of previous observational and theoretical research.     

λ 5303 Fe XIV density models of the inner solar corona

The Sacramento Peak Observatory's 40 cm coronagraph was used with an emission line photometer to observe the distribution of 5303 Fe XIV brightness as a function of position angle, height above the limb, and time. These data were used to construct models of the volume emissivity as a function of solar latitude and longitude. These models in turn yield estimates of the distribution of electron density in the lower solar corona as a function of latitude and longitude for several specific periods in 1973 and 1975. Three observational results are obtained. An upper limit for the inferred electron density in coronal hole regions is set at log N _e = 7.4 for an altitude of 1.15R . Density models from late 1973 demonstrate an evolutionary trend toward a rather regular four-lobed appearance of coronal material; models from 1975 suggest that this characterization persisted for at least 27 solar rotations. A decrease in the total integrated 5303 intensity of a factor of 2.9 is inferred to have taken place between 1973 and 1975.The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.     

Numerical simulations of the κ-mechanism with convection

A strong coupling between convection and pulsations is known to play a major role in the disappearance of unstable modes close to the red edge of the classical Cepheid instability strip. As mean-field models of time-dependent convection rely on weakly-constrained parameters (see, e.g., Baker in Physical Processes in Comets, Stars and Active Galaxies, p. 105, 1987), we tackle this problem by the means of 2-D Direct Numerical Simulations (DNS) of the κ-mechanism with convection. Using a linear stability analysis, we first determine the physical conditions favourable for the κ-mechanism to occur inside a purely-radiative layer. Both the instability strips and the nonlinear saturation of unstable modes are then confirmed by the corresponding DNS. We next present the new simulations with convection, where a convective zone and the driving region overlap. The coupling between the convective motions and acoustic modes is then addressed by using projections onto an acoustic subspace.     

The Fe xii 195.1 Å/1242 Å emission line ratio in the solar corona

Recent R-matrix calculations of electron impact excitation rates in Fe xii are used to derive the theoretical emission line ratio R ₁ = I(195.1 Å)/I(1242 Å), which is potentially a useful electron density diagnostic for the solar inner corona (r 1.05 61-01). These results are found to be significantly different from the earlier estimates of Withbroe and Raymond (1984), but are in good agreement with the observed values of R ₁, for the quiet Sun and an active region. Adoption of the R-matrix atomic data for the 1242 Å line in the coronal iron abundance determination removes an existing discrepancy between results derived from the EUV transition and other iron lines in the solar XUV spectrum. The R-matrix calculations confirm the prediction of Withbroe and Raymond that the earlier discrepancies in R ₁ and the iron abundance were due to the 1242 Å line excitation rates being underestimated by a factor of ~2. Withbroe and Raymond's paper is, therefore, an excellent example of how astronomical observations can be used to accurately predict atomic physics data.     

On the centre-to-limb variation and latitude dependence of the asymmetry and wavelength shift of the solar line λ 5576

Low noise photoelectric measurements of the line profile of the g = 0 Fe line gl 5576.097 combined with determinations of the wavelength shift of its centre calibrated by use of an I ₂ absorption tube are reported. Measurements taken at various limb distances (1.0 cos 0.2) and along 4 different diameters of the Sun are used to investigate the behaviour of the line asymmetry (C-shape) and wavelength shift of the line centre as functions of cos and of latitude and to search for possible pole-equator differences.An accuracy of approx. 0.8 mÅ r.m.s. is achieved for the determination of the centre of the solar line relative to the iodine lines and of 0.3 mÅ to 1 mÅ r.m.s. for the relative variations of the C-shape. The analysis shows a significant difference between the limb-effect curves along polar and equatorial diameters for cos 0.4 and changes of the C-shape for 0.9 cos 0.6 with a rather strong indication of a latitude dependence of the C-shape. This latitude dependence may account for the so-called ears observed by Howard et al. (1980) who used the well-known Doppler compensator method which integrates the line asymmetry from the line wings to the core.Mitteilungen aus dem Kiepenheuer-Institut Nr. 207.     

The equivalent width of the Hβ emission line and the evolution of the Hii regions

The synthetic equivalent width (W _H) of the line H in emission is obtained for Hii regions opaque to the Lyman photon flux, with embedded OB associations with different initial chemical compositions and initial mass functions. The variation ofW _H as a function of the evolution of the ionizing stars is analysed. The observations ofW _H for M33, M101, and M51 by Searle (1971) are discussed.     

The excitation mechanism and the line-to-continuum intensity ratio of the [Fexiv] 5303 Å line in various coronal regions

The excitation mechanism of the coronal green line in various coronal regions is studied. The line-to-continuum intensity ratio is calculated using the model electron density values given by Newkirk (1961) and is compared with the observed values. Reasonably good agreement is found between the model calculations and observed values. The model calculations show that collisional excitation is more important in the innermost regions while radiative contribution progressively increases towards outer regions. The individual contributions depend strongly on the activity of the particular coronal region. An increased contribution from collisional excitation is seen in coronal active regions owing to the large electron density. A contour map of the line-to-continuum intensity ratio as derived from the observations, is plotted. At 1.10R the value is about 80 in active regions, 30–40 in coronal streamers, while it is less than 10 in polar regions.     

NLTE formation of the resonance Ba II line λ 455.4 nm in the solar atmosphere

We consider the NLTE formation of the resonance Ba II line λ 455.4 nm in the solar spectrum for three one-dimensional and one three-dimensional hydrodynamic models of the quiet solar atmosphere. The sensitivity of the line to atomic parameters, microturbulent and macroturbulent velocities, as well as to oscillator strength and barium abundance uncertainties was examined. The wings of the barium line are shown to be most sensitive to the van der Waals broadening constant. Another important parameter is the barium abundance. Our NLTE estimate of the solar barium abundance (A _Ba = 2.16) derived with allowance made for the nonuniform solar atmosphere structure is in good agreement with earlier results. The influence of granular convective motions on the line profile shape was studied, and the profiles formed in granules and in intergranular lanes are shown to be asymmetric and differently shaped. We demonstrate that the theoretical profiles match well the observed ones when the NLTE effects and the granular structure are taken into account.     

Faint Hα emission in the solar corona: Morphological,situational and hydromagnetic analysis

Very faint H emission in the solar corona registered on over-exposed photographs made by a coronagraph and an H filter is studied. The over-exposed filtergrams have been processed by a Joyce Loebl automated microdensitometer and the two-dimensional scans have been analysed by the residual image method. A classification of the faint H emission objects, revealed on the isodensity maps, is proposed and the latitudinal distribution, the morphology, and the location with respect to the other active phenomena are analysed. Taking into account some possible plasma effects that could be caused by coronal magnetic field changes, a hydromagnetic interpretation of the faint H emission is proposed.     

Effect of small-scale magnetic fields on magnetically sensitive Fe I λ 525.02 and λ 1564.85 nm line profiles in the quiet solar photosphere

An integrated effect of small-scale magnetic fields on online absorption coefficient is analytically estimated. The formation of magnetically sensitive Fe I lines under the conditions of undisturbed solar photosphere in the presence of small-scale magnetic fields is studied. It is shown that these fields can broaden the wings of magnetically sensitive lines.     

Numerical simulations of photoionized plasmas: applications to astrophysical and laboratory environments

A wide variety of astrophysical objects, ranging from newly formed stars to accreting black holes, produce ionizing radiation. Nearby material will reprocess these photons into other forms of light. Depending on the geometry, we will observe such gas through either an emission or absorption line spectrum. Such clouds are detected across the electromagnetic spectrum and detailed analysis can reveal such vital parameters as the composition of the gas and the form of the ionizing radiation field. The gas is in a non-equilibrium state due to its low density and the presence of a wide range of non-thermal energy sources. The spectrum is typically analyzed with the help of large-scale numerical simulations. This paper describes recent developments of Cloudy, a code that performs such simulations, and outlines applications to star forming regions, active galactic nuclei, and laboratory plasmas.     

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.     

Upper limit on the steady emission of the 2.223 MeV neutron capture γ-ray line from the Sun

Data accumulated by the Solar Maximum Mission Gamma Ray Spectrometer (GRS) have been searched for evidence of the 2.223 MeV neutron capture line from the Sun, outside the times of -ray-emitting solar flares. Background-corrected spectra accumulated over 3-day intervals between 1980 and 1989 show no evidence of the line. Upper limits are reported separately for periods of high and low solar activity.A conservative 3 upper limit of 5.7 × 10^–5 (cm² s)^–1 is placed on the steady flux in the 2.223 MeV line during inactive periods, which is nearly two orders of magnitude lower than previously published results. After correction for limb darkening of the line emission from off-center positions, this upper limit becomes 7.1 × 10^–5 (cm²s)^–1. Our 3 upper limit on the steady flux in the line during periods of high solar activity is 6.9 × 10^–5 (cm² s)^–1, or 8.6 × 10^–5 (cm² s)^–1 after correction for limb darkening. Our results imply that the quiescent solar corona cannot be heated by ions accelerated above 1 MeV in microflares (or a continuous acceleration process), so long as the ion energy spectrum is similar to that measured in large flares. We also use our results to derive the rate of tritium production at the solar surface; our upper limit of 9 nuclei (cm² s)^–1 is about a factor of 9 below the upper limit from searches for ³H in the solar wind. We place upper limits of the order 10³³ on the number of energetic (> 30 MeV) protons which can be stored in active regions prior to being released in solar flares, which imply that the strongest observed flares cannot be produced by such a mechanism.     

Can the bump in the composite spectrum of GRB 910503 be an emission line feature of gamma-ray bursts？

Appearing in the composite spectral data of BATSE, EGRET and COMPTEL for GRB 910503, there is a bump at around 1600 keV. We perform a statistical analysis on the spectral data, trying to find out if the bump could be accounted for by a blue-shifted and significantly broadened rest frame line due to the Doppler effect of an expanding fireball surface. We made an F-test and adopted previously proposed criteria. The study reveals that the criteria are well satisfied and the feature can be interpreted as the blue shifted 6.4 keV line. Prom the fit with this line taken into account, we find the Lorentz factor of this source to be P = 116-9+9 (at the 68% confident level,△x2 = 1) and the rest frame spectral peak energy to be E0,p- 2.96-0.18+0.24 keV. Although the existence of the emission line feature requires other independent tests to confirm, the analysis suggests that it is feasible to detect emission line features in the high energy range of GRB spectra when taking into account the Doppler effect of fireball expansion.     

High-resolution observations of Hα emission line from R Aquarii

We have obtained H emission line profiles from R Aquarii, a Mira variable surrounded by a complex nebulosity, using a very high-resolution Fabry-Pérot spectrometer. A new feature that was seen in our observations is the fact that the line profile shows a splitting which we interpret as due to two expanding shells surrounding the star with velocities of 5 km s^–1 and 15 km s^–1. The expansion velocities show an acceleration outwards due perhaps to the radiation pressure caused momentum transfer. Possible periodic variation of radial velocity derived from observations is discussed.     

Detection of λ = 2 cm emission from minor planet 704 Interamnia

λ = 2 cm emission from 704 Interamnia was detected on June 28, 1984, using the VLA. At this time, 704 Interamnia was 2.0 AU distant from Earth. A flux density of 953±53 μJy was measured at 14.9 GHz (50-MHz bandwidth). If 338 km is adopted for the diameter, a disk temperature of 190±15°K results. This temperature is consistent with a rapidly rotating black sphere with 704 Interamnia's diameter. Using published 20-μm infrared data, we infer that a dust-like layer (depth ≥3 cm) covers 704 Interamnia. Most probably, the bulk composition of this layer is identical to that of the outermost shell of the asteroid. Comparison with observations of 15 Eunomia reported earlier suggest that smaller main belt asteroids are covered by a few centimeters of impact gardened material. The physical properties of this layer (especially its depth) make it impossible to infer the dielectric properties of the underlying surface with radio measurements at frequencies above 8 GHz.     

The effects of solar and ionospheric parameters on seasonal variation of 6300 Å line emission at Calcutta

The purpose of this paper is to find correlation between OI 6300 Å line intensity with solar and ionospheric parameters. A critical study have been made and the following important results are obtained: