The shape of the power spectrum of cosmic ray at ground level up to 7 × 10 Hz

The power spectral density of cosmic ray fluctuations observed at ground level during the years 1966–1968 has been calculated. In order to obtain the correct shape of the spectrum, the Fast Fourier Transform method with a triangular data window was used and corrections were made for uncorrelated errors and aliasing effects. When ignoring the Earth rotation peaks, the spectral index , for a sample of polar, middle latitude and equatorial stations, is − 1.96 in the frequency range 3 × 10⁻⁷–10⁻⁴ Hz. A possible break around 10⁻⁵ Hz, if existing, would be, on the whole, barely significant as a would change from − 1.96 to − 2.10. There are indications that beyond 10⁻⁴ Hz up to 7 × 10⁻³ Hz the spectrum continues with − 2.     

Measurements of radio noise at 0.700 mc and 2.200 mc from a high-altitude rocket probe

Radio noise observations at frequencies of 0·700 Mc and 2·200 Mc were made at altitudes between 3000 and 11,000 km from a Blue Scout Jr. high-altitude rocket probe on 30 July 1963. A steady background flux of (7·5₋₃⁺⁶) × 10⁻¹⁹ W m⁻²)(c/s)⁻¹ at 0·700 Mc and (1·8^+1.0_−0.5 × 10⁻¹⁹ W m⁻² (c/s)⁻¹ at 2·200 Mc was observed. Assuming a galactic origin of the observed fluxes at both frequencies, the averaged sky brightnesses are b(0·700 Mc) = (6₋₃⁺⁵) × 10⁻²⁰ W m⁻² (c/s)⁻¹ sr⁻¹b(2·200 Mc) = (1.4^+1.0_−0.5 × 10⁻²⁰ W m⁻² (c/s)⁻¹ sr⁻¹ The observed brightness at 2·200 Mc is in reasonable agreement with the results of other observers. The apparent brightness at 0·700 Mc is, however, greater than was expected from previous observations. An alternative source of the 0·700 Mc flux in the terrestrial exosphere, as well as characteristics of several noise bursts observed during the flight, is briefly discussed.     

The cosmic ray energy spectrum between 10 and 10 eV

The energy spectrum of cosmic rays with primary energies between 10¹⁴ eV and 10¹⁶ eV has been studied with the CASA-MIA air shower array. The measured differential energy spectrum is a power law (dj/dE ∝ E^−y) with spectral indices γ of 2.66±0.02 below approximately 10¹⁵ eV and 3.00±0.05 above. A new method is used for measuring primary energy derived from ground-based data in a compositionally insensitive way. In contrast with some previous reports, the “knee” of the energy spectrum does not appear sharp, but rather a smooth transition over energies from 10¹⁵ eV to 3.0 × 10¹⁵ eV.     

Observation and Study of the CO, CO, HCO and N2H Molecular Lines Towards IRAS 02232+6138

Using the 13.7 m millimeter-wave telescope at the Qinghai Station of Purple Mountain Observatory, we have made observations of ¹³CO, C¹⁸O, HCO⁺ and N₂H⁺ molecular lines towards IRAS 02232+6138. As the excitation density of the probe molecule increases from ¹³CO to HCO⁺, the size of the cloud core associated with IRAS 02232+6138 decreases from 2.40 pc to 0.54 pc, and the virial mass of the cloud core decreases from 2.2 × 10³M to 5.1 × 10²M. A bipolar molecular outflow is found towards IRAS 02232+6138. Using the power function n(r) ∝ r⁻ to fit the spatial density structure of the cloud core, we obtain the power-law index  = 2.3 − 1.2; and we find that, as the probed density increases, the power function becomes more flat. The abundance ratio of ¹³CO to C¹⁸O is 12.4 ± 6.9, comparable with the values 11.8 ± 5.9 for dark clouds and the values 9.0–15.6 for massive cores. The abundance of N₂H⁺ molecules is 3.5 ± 2.5 × 10⁻¹⁰, consistent with the value 1.0 − 5.0 × 10⁻¹⁰ for dark cloud cores and the value 1.2 − 12.8 × 10⁻¹⁰ for massive cores. The abundance of HCO⁺ molecules is 0.9 ± 0.5 × 10⁻⁹, close to the value 1.6 − 2.4 × 10⁻⁹ for massive cores. An increase of HCO⁺ abundance in the outflow region was not found. Combining with the IRAS data, the luminosity-mass ratio of the cloud core is obtained in the range 37–163(L/M). Based on the IRAS luminosity, it is estimated that a main-sequence O7.5 star is probably embedded in the IRAS 02232+6138 cloud core.     

OH masers in W 33A

This paper presents observations of OH maser lines of W 33A for the transitions ²Π_3/2, J = 3/2, F = 1 → 1 and F = 2 → 2. Two models, a thin tube and a sphere, were used for modelling the masing region and a molecular hydrogen density of about 10⁷ cm⁻³ was obtained. To give a maser photon emission of the order of 10⁴⁶ s⁻¹, both models require a pump rate of 1 OH cm⁻³s⁻¹, while the sphere model requires a higher pump efficiency.     

Deactivation of N2A Σumolecules in the aurora

Recent rocket observations of the N₂ V-K (Vegard-Kaplan) system in the aurora have been reinterpreted using an atmospheric model based on mass spectrometer measurements in an aurora of similar intensity at the same time of year. In contrast to the original interpretation, we find that population by cascade from the C³Π_u and B³Π_g states in the A³Σ_u⁺v=0,1 levels, as calculated using recently measured electron excitation cross sections, accurately accounts for the observed relative emission rates (IV-K/12PG_0.0). In addition there is no need to change the production rate of A ³ Σ _u⁺ molecules relative to that of C³Π_uv=0 as a function of altitude in order to fit the profile of the deactivation probability to the atmospheric model. Quenching of A ³ Σ _u⁺ molecules at high altitudes is dominated by atomic oxygen. The rate constants for the v=0 and v=1 levels are 8 × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ sec⁻¹ and 1.7 × 10⁻¹⁰ cm³ sec⁻¹ respectively, as determined using the model atmosphere mentioned above. Recent observations with a helium cooled mass spectrometer suggest that conventional mass spectrometer measurements tend to underestimate the atomic oxygen relative concentration. The rate coefficients may therefore be too large by as much as a factor of 3. Below 130 Km we find that it is possible to account for the deactivation in bright auroras by invoking large nitric oxide concentrations, similar to those recently observed mass spectrometrically and using a rate constant of 8 × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ sec⁻¹ for both the v=1 levels. This rate constant is very nearly the same as that measured in the laboratory (7 × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ sec⁻¹). Molecular oxygen appears not to play a significant role in deactivating the lower A ³ Σ _u⁺ levels.     

Estimation prospects of the source number density of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays

We discuss the possibility of accurately estimating the source number density of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) using small-scale anisotropy in their arrival distribution. The arrival distribution has information on their source and source distribution. We calculate the propagation of UHE protons in a structured extragalactic magnetic field (EGMF) and simulate their arrival distribution at the Earth using our previously developed method. The source number density that can best reproduce observational results by Akeno Giant Air Shower Array is estimated at about 10⁻⁵ Mpc⁻³ in a simple source model. Despite having large uncertainties of about one order of magnitude, due to small number of observed events in current status, we find that more detection of UHECRs in the Auger era can sufficiently decrease this so that the source number density can be more robustly estimated. Two hundred event observation above 4 × 10¹⁹ eV in a hemisphere can discriminate between 10⁻⁵ and 10⁻⁶ Mpc⁻³. Number of events to discriminate between 10⁻⁴ and 10⁻⁵ Mpc⁻³ is dependent on EGMF strength. We also discuss the same in another source model in this paper.     

Nightside ionosphere of Venus

Venera 9, 10 measurements of the nightside ionospheric profile and the night airglow were used for investigating ionosphere formation processes. The upper ionospheric layer may be formed by HeI 584 Å radiation; the lower layer by meteorite ionization. Upper limits on the electron energy flux, <4 × 10⁸eV cm⁻² s⁻¹, the helium ion flux <10⁷ cm⁻² s⁻¹, the nitric oxide mixing ratio, <1.5 × 10⁻⁴ and the atomic sulphur mixing ratio, <10⁻⁶, are deduced for ionospheric altitudes.     

A discussion on the mass loss formulae for OH/IR stars

It is found that the mass loss rate derived from S₂₅/S₁₂ is generally greater than that from the OH flux. This suggests an increasing loss rate with time. It is found that the gas-to-dust ratio decreases during the evolution Of OH/IR stars. An empirical relation between the gas-to-dust ratio and the dust mass loss rate is derived, leading to a formula for calculating the total mass loss rate directly from the IRAS 60 μm flux. OH/IR stars with silicate emission have a larger range of mass loss ratio, from 10⁻⁷ to 10⁻⁵ M/yr; those with silicate absorption, a smaller range between 10⁻⁵ and 10⁻⁴ M/yr. So a large increase in the mass loss rate takes place during the emission phase.     

Artificial electron clouds—VI Low altitude study, release of cesium at 69, 82 and 91 km

There is reported a series of three artificial electron clouds created at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico at 69, 82 and 91 km in May 1958 by the day-time thermo-chemical release of cesium. The electron cloud was created by both thermal and photo-ionization. A lower limit for the effective duration of electron clouds for this kind of release was found to be 70 km. The short duration at low altitudes is caused by both the rapid chemical consumption of the cesium atoms thereby preventing photo-ionization and the rapid electron attachment followed by mutual neutralization. The coefficient of mutual neutralization is estimated to be 10⁻⁷−10⁻⁸ cm³ sec⁻¹. The mathematical model employed appears to be reasonably valid.     

What do the orbital motions of the outer planets of the Solar System tell us about the Pioneer anomaly?

In this paper, we investigate the effects that an anomalous acceleration as that experienced by the Pioneer spacecraft after they passed the 20 AU threshold would induce on the orbital motions of the Solar System planets placed at heliocentric distances of 20 AU or larger as Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. It turns out that such an acceleration, with a magnitude of 8.74 × 10⁻¹⁰ m s⁻², would affect their orbits with secular and short-period signals large enough to be detected according to the latest published results by E.V. Pitjeva, even by considering errors up to 30 times larger than those released. The absence of such anomalous signatures in the latest data rules out the possibility that in the region 20–40 AU of the Solar System an anomalous force field inducing a constant and radial acceleration with those characteristics affects the motion of the major planets.     

Primary proton spectrum around the knee deduced from the emulsion-chamber data obtained at Mts. Fuji and Kanbala

We have done extensive Monte Carlo simulations using the new simulation codes of CORSIKA and COSMOS to compare with the gamma-family data obtained at Mts. Fuji (3750 m above sea level) and Kanbala (5500 m above sea level). Then, we estimated the primary proton and helium spectra around the knee energy region using a multiple-layered feed-forward neural network as a classifier of primary particle kind. The selection efficiency of proton-induced family events is estimated to be 82%. The flux value of protons at 2×10¹⁵ eV is (5.5±1.5)×10⁻¹⁴ (m⁻² s⁻¹ sr⁻¹ GeV⁻¹). The result suggests heavy-enriched primary composition around the knee region.     

Analysis of the variation in inclination of Intercosmos 13 Rocket, 1975-22B

The orbit of Intercosmos 13 rocket (1975-22B) has been determined at 103 epochs between 30 April 1975 and 10 April 1980 from almost 7000 observations. One hundred and three values of inclination have been determined and corrections incoporated for the effects due to zonal harmonic, lunisolar and tesseral harmonic perturbations, precession, and solid Earth tides. The modified data have been analysed to yield values of the atmospheric rotation rate, Λ rev day⁻¹, viz. Λ = 0.94 ± 0.10 at an average height of 322 ± 6 km and Λ = 1.27 ± 0.02 at 288 km. Analysis of the inclination near 14th-order resonance has indicated lumped harmonic values 10^{9 1.0}_1.4 = − 76.13 ± 12.47, 10^{9 1,0}₁₄ = − 29.89 ± 32.64, 10^{9 −1.2}₁₄ = − 63.11 ± 15.44 10^{9 −1.2}₁₄ = − 32.52 ± 26.96, for inclination 82.952°.     

Cyclotron amplification of geomagnetic micropulsations Pc1 in the magnetosphere

A numerical analysis of cyclotron instabilities is carried out by computing the dispersion relation for a three component cold plasma-beam system. Rates of growth and damping for various values of the stream density are calculated from the dispersion relation. The rates of growth and damping increase monotonically as the number density of the proton stream increases. It is found that the frequencies at the rates of maximum growth and the damping decrease slightly to lower frequencies and a sharp peak at these frequencies becomes blunt. The minimum e-folding times of an ion cyclotron wave for (a) σ_s = 10⁻⁴, σ_i = 10⁻² and (b) σ_s = 10⁻¹, σ_i = 10⁻² are about 3·84 and 0·16 sec respectively in the vicinity of the equatorial plane at 6 Re, where σ_s and σ_i are the ratios of the beam density N_s and the helium ion (H₆⁺) density N_i to the total positive ions in the plasma-beam system.     

Gamma-ray bursters as sources of cosmic rays

From the little we know of the physical conditions in γ-ray bursters, it seems that they are potentially effective in the acceleration of high-energy cosmic rays (CRs), especially if the bursters are at cosmological distances. We find that, with the observed statistics and fluxes of γ-ray bursts, cosmological bursters may be an important source of cosmic rays in two regions of the observed spectrum: (1) At the very-high-energy end (E > 10¹⁹ eV), where CRs must be of extragalactic origin. (2) Around and above the spectral feature that has been described as a bump and/or a knee, which occurs around 10¹⁵ eV. The occasional bursters that occur inside the Galaxy — about once in a few hundred thousand years if burst emission is isotropic; more often, if it is beamed — could maintain the density of galactic cosmic rays at the observed level in this range. These two energy ranges might correspond to two typical CR energy scales characteristic of bursters: one pertinent to CR acceleration due to interaction of a magnetized-fireball front with an ambient medium; the other to acceleration in the fireball itself (e.g. shock acceleration).     

Ionospheric electric field and current distribution associated with high altitude electric field inhomogeneities

A quantitative theoretical analysis of electric field and current distributions in the ionosphere is given assuming certain time variable convection field profiles at an altitude of 1250 km. A number of idealized assumptions regarding the ionospheric characteristics are defined and discussed. A qualitative discussion of a quasi-stationary configuration with an approximately curl free electric field is also given. Geomagnetically field aligned current densities i of the order 10⁻⁵−10⁻⁴A/m² are consistent with quite reasonable assumptions about the convection field E. Oscillations in E with periods of the order of 10 sec should readily be generated when σ is large. In the quasi-stationary case there may be a mechanism that strengthens and concentrates i locally under certain conditions. It is found that a number of recent high altitude observations of convection field reversals may be consistent with large potential drops along the magnetic field lines. The solutions obtained as well as some of the basic assumptions are compared with observations.     

Excitation of the Aπu state of N by electrons

Absolute values of the emission cross sections for five vibrational bands in the Meinel system of N₂⁺,A²π_u to X²Σ_g⁺, excited by electron impact are presented. From these, a value was obtained for the total excitation cross section of the A²π_u state at 100 eV of 26·5 × 10⁻¹⁸ cm². The results are compared with those of other workers and with theory. Collisional transfer of the excitation energy from the levels of the A²π_u state was also observed with a transfer cross section of approximately 10⁻¹⁴ cm².     

On the role of stochastic Fermi acceleration in setting the dissipation scale of turbulence in the interstellar medium

We consider the dissipation by Fermi acceleration of magnetosonic turbulence in the Reynolds layer of the interstellar medium. The scale in the cascade at which electron acceleration via stochastic Fermi acceleration (STFA) becomes comparable to further cascade of the turbulence defines the inner scale. For any magnetic turbulent spectra equal to or shallower than Goldreich–Sridhar this turns out to be ≥10¹² cm, which is much larger than the shortest length-scales observed in radio scintillation measurements. While STFA for such spectra then contradict models of scintillation which appeal directly to an extended, continuous turbulent cascade, such a separation of scales is consistent with the recent work of Boldyrev & Gwinn and Boldyrev & Konigl suggesting that interstellar scintillation may result from the passage of radio waves through the Galactic distribution of thin ionized boundary surfaces of H  ii regions, rather than density variations from cascading turbulence. The presence of STFA dissipation also provides a mechanism for the non-ionizing heat source observed in the Reynolds layer of the interstellar medium. STFA accommodates the proper heating power, and the input energy is rapidly thermalized within the low-density Reynolds layer plasma.     

Helioseismological constraint on solar axion emission

Helioseismological sound-speed profiles severely constrain possible deviations from standard solar models, allowing us to derive new limits on anomalous solar energy losses by the Primakoff emission of axions. For an axion-photon coupling g_ay 5 × 10⁻¹⁰ GeV⁻¹, the solar model is almost indistinguishable from the standard case, while g_ay 10 × 10⁻¹⁰ GeV⁻¹ is probably excluded, corresponding to an axion luminosity of about 0.20 L. This constraint on g_ay is much weaker than the well-known globular-cluster limit, but about a factor of 3 more restrictive than previous solar limits. Our result is primarily of interest to the large number of current or proposed search experiments for solar axions because our limit defines the maximum g_ay for which it is self-consistent to use a standard solar model to calculate the axion luminosity.