The Sub-surface Structure of a Large Sample of Active Regions

We employ ring-diagram analysis to study the sub-surface thermal structure of active regions. We present results using a large number of active regions over the course of Solar Cycle 23. We present both traditional inversions of ring-diagram frequency differences, with a total sample size of 264, and a statistical study using Principal Component Analysis. We confirm earlier results on smaller samples that sound speed and adiabatic index are changed below regions of strong magnetic field. We find that sound speed is decreased in the region between approximately r=0.99?R _⊙ and r=0.995?R _⊙ (depths of 3 Mm to 7 Mm) and increased in the region between r=0.97?R _⊙ and r=0.985?R _⊙ (depths of 11 Mm to 21 Mm). The adiabatic index [Γ₁] is enhanced in the same deeper layers where sound-speed enhancement is seen. A weak decrease in adiabatic index is seen in the shallower layers in many active regions. We find that the magnitudes of these perturbations depend on the strength of the surface magnetic field, but we find a great deal of scatter in this relation, implying that other factors may be relevant.     

The jet of the Quasar 3C 273

New observations of the jet in 3C 273 support and refine our earlier interpretation that (i) the mapped jet is 10^6±0.3 yr old and grows at 0.6 to 0.75 times the speed of light, at an average angle θ of (20 ± 10)? with respect to the line of sight; (ii) its twin is not seen yet because arriving signals were emitted when it was some 10^0.6±0.2 times younger; (iii) the fluid moving in the jet is an extremely relativistice ^±-pair plasma, of bulk Lorentz factor γ >10²; (iv) the beam has swung in projection through some 10?; and (v) the small excursions (wiggles) of the jet around its average propagation direction result from a self-stabilizing interaction with the nonstatic ambient plasma. All other interpretations of which we are aware depend heavily on the (‘beaming’) assumption that the jet material radiates isotropically in some (comoving) Lorentz frame, an assumption which we consider unrealistic.     

Stellar structures with constant local adiabatic index under extreme relativistic conditions

Stellar structures with a constant local adiabatic index Γ have been discussed under the extreme relativistic condition (dP/dρ=1, at the center of the configuration). The equation of state,Pαρ^Γ, where ρ _r is the rest-mass density leads to the relations, (i)ρ=AP ^1/Γ?P/(Γ?1) between energy density and pressure, and (ii)e=NP between internal energy density and pressure, where the constantN may be called local polytropic index. The local adiabatic index, Γ, is found to be related to the adiabatic index, γ, through a simple relation, Γ=γ(1+P/ρ). The maximum value of surface redshift comes out to be 0.614 when σ=(P/ρ)₀=0.6. The structure are bound for σ≤0.83 and the maximum value of the binding coefficient is 0.181 at σ=0.4. For bound structures the central redshift z₀≤8.24. The maximum mass of neutron star based upon such a model comes out to be 2.39M _⊙ (for σ=0.4) and the maximum size comes out to be 13.7 km (for σ=0.2).     

Adiabatic expansion, early X-ray data and the central engine in GRBs

The Swift satellite early X-ray data show a very steep decay in most of the gamma-ray bursts light curves. This decay is either produced by the rapidly declining continuation of the central engine activity or by some leftover radiation starting right after the central engine shuts off. The latter scenario consists of the emission from an 'ember' that cools via adiabatic expansion and, if the jet angle is larger than the inverse of the source Lorentz factor, the large angle emission. In this work, we calculate the temporal and spectral properties of the emission from such a cooling ember, providing a new treatment for the microphysics of the adiabatic expansion. We use the adiabatic invariance of   p ²_⊥/ B ( p _⊥  is the component of the electrons' momentum normal to the magnetic field, B ) to calculate the electrons' Lorentz factor during the adiabatic expansion; the electron momentum becomes more and more aligned with the local magnetic field as the expansion develops. We compare the theoretical expectations of the adiabatic expansion (and the large angle emission) with the current observations of the early X-ray data and find that only ∼20 per cent of our sample of 107 bursts are potentially consistent with this model. This leads us to believe that, for most bursts, the central engine does not turn off completely during the steep decay of the X-ray light curve; therefore, this phase is produced by the continued rapidly declining activity of the central engine.     

Spectrographic study of the eclipsing binary system SZ Camelopardalis

Thirteen high-dispersion spectrographs of the eclipsing binary star SZ Cam have been studied with a view of determining more accurate information on: (i) the spectral type and luminosity classifications, (ii) absolute parameters for the component stars, (iii) the stellar environment of SZ Cam. The main results in these categories are as follows: (i) O9.5 Vnk, (ii)m _g=19±2M _⊙,m _s=6.5±1M _⊙;r _g=9.7±3.6R _⊙,r _s=4.8±1.7R _⊙;T _e～30000 K,T _e～23000 K; (iii) there is a local concentration of absorbing material which may reach a density of 2M _⊙ pc^?3, and the distance of the star is found to be 600±150 pc. The determined overluminosity of the secondary star and the local concentration of absorbing material are two topics which provide the basis for a discussion section.     

The terminal bulk Lorentz factor of relativistic electron–positron jets

We present a numerical simulation of the bulk Lorentz factor of a relativistic electron–positron jet driven by the Compton rocket effect from accretion disc radiation. The plasma is assumed to have a power-law distribution n _e(γ) ∝ γ^{− s} with 1 < γ < γ_max and is continuously reheated to compensate for radiation losses. We include the full Klein–Nishina (hereafter KN) cross-section, and study the role of the energy upper cut-off γ_max, spectral index s and source compactness. We determine the terminal bulk Lorentz factor in the cases of supermassive black holes, relevant to AGN, and stellar black holes, relevant to galactic microquasars. In the latter case, Klein–Nishina cross-section effects are more important and induce a terminal bulk Lorentz factor smaller than in the former case. Our result are in good agreement with bulk Lorentz factors observed in Galactic (GRS 1915+105, GRO J1655−40) and extragalactic sources. Differences in scattered radiation and acceleration mechanism efficiency in the AGN environment can be responsible for the variety of relativistic motion in those objects. We also take into account the influence of the size of the accretion disc; if the external radius is small enough, the bulk Lorentz factor can be as high as 60.     

Linear size–extended radio luminosity (D–P E ) correlation in BL Lacertae objects: evidence for large scale beaming?

In this paper, we use the distributions of projected linear size (D), core- (P _C ) and extended- (P _E ) radio luminosities, to investigate a consequence of relativistic beaming and radio source orientation scenario for low-luminosity extragalactic radio sources. In this scenario, BL Lacertae objects (BL Lacs) are believed to be Fanaroff-Riley type I (FR I) radio galaxies, but with radio axes aligned close to the line of sight. At this orientation, the core emission is greatly enhanced by relativistic Doppler boosting and linear size foreshortened due to geometrical projection. A simple outcome of this scenario is that the extended luminosity is expected to be orientation invariant, but a D–P _C correlation is envisaged. Results show that both the relative core dominance (R) and linear size are strongly correlated with extended luminosity (r≥ 0.7). Using the R-distribution and R–P _E anti-correlation, we show that the difference in radio core-dominance between FR I radio galaxies and X-ray selected BL Lacs can be accounted for by a bulk Lorentz factor γ～5–13 and viewing angle ?～5–15^°, which can be understood in terms of the scenario, with relativistic beaming persisting at largest scales.     

On the relativistic beaming and orientation effects in core-dominated quasars

In this paper, we investigate the relativistic beaming effects in a well-defined sample of core-dominated quasars using the correlation between the relative prominence of the core with respect to the extended emission (defined as the ratio of core-to lobe-flux density measured in the rest frame of the source) and the projected linear size as an indicator of relativistic beaming and source orientation. Based on the orientation-dependent relativistic beaming and unification paradigm for high luminosity sources in which the Fanaroff-Riley class-II radio galaxies form the unbeamed parent population of both the lobe- and core-dominated quasars which are expected to lie at successively smaller angles to the line of sight, we find that the flows in the cores of these core-dominated quasars are highly relativistic, with optimum bulk Lorentz factor,γ _opt∼ 6–16, and also highly anisotropic, with an average viewing angle, ∼ 9°–16°. Furthermore, the largest boosting occurs within a critical cone angle of ≈ 4°–10°.     

A preliminary radial-velocity curve for the star <Emphasis Type="Italic">θ</Emphasis><Superscript>1</Superscript> Ori D

We measured the radial velocity of the star θ¹ Ori D from IUE spectra and used published observations. Based on these data, we determined the period of its radial-velocity variations, P=20.2675±0.0010 days, constructed the phase radial-velocity curve, and solved it by least squares. The spectroscopic orbital elements were found to be the following: the epoch of periastron passage E_p=JD 2430826.6±0.1, the system's center-of-mass velocity /Gg=32.4±1.0 km s^?1, K=14.3±1.5 km s^?1, Ω=3.3±0.1 rad, e=0.68±0.09, a₁ sin i = 3 × 10¹⁰ km, and f₁ = 0.0025M_⊙. Twice the period, P=40.528±0.002 days, is also consistent with the observations.     

Aperture synthesis observations of Saturn and its rings at 2.7-mm wavelength

We present 2.7-mm interferometric observations of Saturn made near opposition in June 1984 and June 1985, when the ring opening angle was 19° and 23°, respectively. By combining the data sets we produce brightness maps of Saturn and its rings with a resolution of 6″. The maps show flux from the ring ansae, and are the first direct evidence of ring flux in the 3-mm wavelength region. Modelfits to the visibility data yield a disk brightness temperature of 156 ± 5°K, a combined A, B, and C ring brightness temperature of 19 ± 3°K, and a combined a ring cusp (region of the rings which block the planet's disk) brightness temperature of 85 ± 5°K. These results imply a normal-to-the-ring optical depth for the combined ABC ringof 0.31 ± 0.04, which is nearly the same value found for wavelenghts from the UV to 6 cm. About 6°K of the ring flux is attributed to scattered planetary emission, leaving an intrinsic thermal component of ∼13°K. These results, together with the ring particle size distributions found by the Voyager radio occultation experiments, are consistent with the idea that the ring particles are composed chiefly of water ice.     

Mariner 10 observations of hydrogen Lyman alpha emission from the venus exosphere: Evidence of complex structure

The Ultraviolet Spectrometer Experiment on the MARINER 10 spacecraft measured the hydrogen Lyman α emmission resonantly scattered in the Venus exosphere at several viewing aspects during the encounter period. Venus encounter occurred at 17:01 GMT on 5 February 1974. Exospheric emissions above the planet's limb were measured and were analyzed with a spherically symmetric, single scattering, two-temperature model. On the sunlit hemisphere the emission profile was represented by an exospheric hydrogen atmosphere with T_c = 275±50 K and n_c = 1.5 × 10⁵ cm^?3 and a non-thermal contribution represented by T_H = 1250±100 K with n_H = 500±100 cm^?3. The observations of the dark limb showed that the spherically symmetric model used for the sunlit hemisphere was inappropriate for the analysis of the antisolar hemisphere. The density of the non-thermal component had increased at low altitudes, < 12,000 km, and decreased at high altitudes, > 20,000 km, by comparison. We conclude that the non-thermal source is on the sunward side of the planet. Analysis of the dark limb crossing suggests that the exospheric temperature on the dark side is <125 K if the exospheric density remains constant over the planet; upper limits are discussed. An additional source of Lyman α emission, 70 ± 15 R, was detected on the dark side of the planet and is believed to be a planetary albedo in contrast to multiple scattering from the sunlit side. Our analysis of the MARINER 10 data is consistent when applied to the MARINER 5 data.     

Oblateness,radius, and mean stratospheric temperature of Neptune from the 1985 August 20 occultation

The occultation of a bright (K∼6) infrared star by Neptune revealed a central flash at two stations and provided accurate measurements of the limb position at these and several additional stations. We have fitted this data ensemble with a general model of an oblate atmosphere to deduce the oblateness e and equatorial radius a₀ of Neptune at the 1-μbar pressure level, and the position angle p_n of the projected spin axis. The results are e=0.0209±0.0014, a₀=25269±10 km, p_n=20.1°±1°. Parameters derived from fitting to the limb data alone are in excellent agreement with parameters derived from fitting to central flash data alone (E. Lellouch, W.B. Hubbard, B. Sicardy, F. Vilas, and P. Bouchet, 1986, Nature 324, 227–231), and the principal remaining source of uncertainty appears to be the Neptune-centered declination of the Earth at the time of occultation. As an alternative to the methane absorption model proposed by Lellouch et al., we explain an observed reduction in the central flash intensity by a decrease in temperature from 150 to 135°K as the pressure rises from 1 to 400 μbar. Implications of the oblateness results for Neptune interior models are briefly discussed.     

CCD BVI Photometry of the Southern Open Clusters Pismis 23 and BH 222

CCD BVI Johnson–Cousins photometry of the open cluster candidates Pismis 23 and BH 222 is presented. Both the analysis of the colour-magnitude diagrams and star counts performed in the regions of these two objects support their physical reality. For Pismis 23 we derive E(B?V) = 2.0 ± 0.1, E(V?I) = 2.6 ± 0.1, a distance from the Sun d= (2.6 ± 0.6) kpc and an age of (300 ± 100) Myr, while for BH 222 we obtain E(V?I) = 2. 4 ± 0.2, d= (6.0 ± 2.7) kpc and (60 ± 30) Myr. Both objects, located beyond the Sagittarius arm, are among the most reddened and distant open clusters known in the direction towards the Galactic centre.     

The Compatibility of Flare Temperatures Observed with AIA,GOES, and RHESSI

We test the compatibility and biases of multi-thermal flare DEM (differential emission measure) peak temperatures determined with AIA with those determined by GOES and RHESSI using the isothermal assumption. In a set of 149 M- and X-class flares observed during the first two years of the SDO mission, AIA finds DEM peak temperatures at the time of the peak GOES 1?–?8 Å flux to have an average of T _p=12.0±2.9 MK and Gaussian DEM widths of log₁₀(σ _T )=0.50±0.13. From GOES observations of the same 149 events, a mean temperature of T _p=15.6±2.4 MK is inferred, which is systematically higher by a factor of T _GOES/T _AIA=1.4±0.4. We demonstrate that this discrepancy results from the isothermal assumption in the inversion of the GOES filter ratio. From isothermal fits to photon spectra at energies of ?≈6?–?12 keV of 61 of these events, RHESSI finds the temperature to be higher still by a factor of T _RHESSI/T _AIA=1.9±1.0. We find that this is partly a consequence of the isothermal assumption. However, RHESSI is not sensitive to the low-temperature range of the DEM peak, and thus RHESSI samples only the high-temperature tail of the DEM function. This can also contribute to the discrepancy between AIA and RHESSI temperatures. The higher flare temperatures found by GOES and RHESSI imply correspondingly lower emission measures. We conclude that self-consistent flare DEM temperatures and emission measures require simultaneous fitting of EUV (AIA) and soft X-ray (GOES and RHESSI) fluxes.     

Real-Time Flux Density Measurements of the 2011 Draconid Meteor Outburst

During the 2011 outburst of the Draconid meteor shower, members of the Video Meteor Network of the International Meteor Organization provided, for the first time, fully automated flux density measurements in the optical domain. The data set revealed a primary maximum at 20:09 UT ± 5 min on 8 October 2011 (195.036° solar longitude) with an equivalent meteoroid flux density of (118 ± 10) × 10^?3/km²/h at a meteor limiting magnitude of +6.5, which is thought to be caused by the 1900 dust trail. We also find that the outburst had a full width at half maximum of 80 min, a mean radiant position of α = 262.2°, δ = +56.2° (±1.3°) and geocentric velocity of v_geo = 17.4 km/s (±0.5 km/s). Finally, our data set appears to be consistent with a small sub-maximum at 19:34 UT ±7 min (195.036° solar longitude) which has earlier been reported by radio observations and may be attributed to the 1907 dust trail. We plan to implement automated real-time flux density measurements for all known meteor showers on a regular basis soon.     

X-ray spectral indices of the Fermi/LAT blazars

In this work, we analyze the X-ray spectral indices of the 245 Fermi-detected blazars. Relations between the γ-ray emission and the X-ray emission are our research focuses. Our analysis shows that: (1) the X-ray spectral indices of the Fermi/LAT-detected-blazars (α _X|Fermi ), have similar distributions with those of non-Fermi-detected blazars (α _X|non-Fermi ), and the averaged value \(\overline{\alpha_{X|Fermi}}\simeq\overline{\alpha_{X|non\mbox{-}Fermi}}\) ; (2) X-ray spectral indices are strong anti-correlated with the logarithmic Doppler factors, log(δ)=?(0.27±0.10)α _X +(1.09±0.14), with the correlative coefficient R=?0.33, the chance probability P=1.9 %; (3) X-ray spectral indices (α _X ) and γ-ray spectral indices (α _γ ) show strong anti-correlation, α _X =?(0.62±0.11)α _γ +(1.91±0.12), R=?0.35, P<0.001 %.     

Bulk motions of flat galaxies on 100-Mpc scales from new data

We use a new expanded and partially modified sample of 1501 thin edge-on spiral galaxies from the RFGC catalog to analyze the non-Hubble bulk motions of galaxies on the basis of a generalized multiparameter Tully-Fisher relation. The results obtained have confirmed and refined our previous conclusions (Parnovsky et al. 2001), in particular, the statistical significance of the quadrupole and octupole components of the galaxy bulk velocity field. The quadrupole component, which is probably produced by tidal forces from overdense regions, leads to a difference in the recession velocities of galaxies on scales of 8000–10000 km s^?1 up to 6% of their Hubble velocity. On Local Supercluster scales (3000 km s^?1), its contribution increases to about 20%. Including the octupole components in the model causes the dipole component to decrease to the 1σ level. In contrast, in the dipole model, the galaxy bulk velocity relative to the frame of reference of the cosmic microwave background is 310±75 km s^?1 toward the apex with l=311° and b=12°. We also consider a sample of 1493 galaxies that was drawn using a more stringent galaxy selection criterion. The difference between the results of our data analysis for this sample and for the sample of 1501 galaxies is primarily attributable to a decrease in the dipole velocity component (290±75 km s^?1 toward the apex with l=310° and b=12°) and a decrease in σ by about 2%.     

Silicon Abundance from RESIK Solar Flare Observations

The RESIK instrument on the CORONAS-F spacecraft obtained solar flare and active-region X-ray spectra in four channels covering the wavelength range 3.8?–?6.1 Å in its operational period between 2001 and 2003. Several highly ionized silicon lines were observed within the range of the long-wavelength channel (5.00?–?6.05 Å). The fluxes of the Si?xiv Ly-β line (5.217 Å) and the Si?xiii 1s ²?–?1s3p line (5.688 Å) during 21 flares with optimized pulse-height analyzer settings on RESIK have been analyzed to obtain the silicon abundance relative to hydrogen in flare plasmas. As in previous work, the emitting plasma for each spectrum is assumed to be characterized by a single temperature and emission measure given by the ratio of emission in the two channels of GOES. The silicon abundance is determined to be A(Si)=7.93±.21 (Si?xiv) and 7.89±.13 (Si?xiii) on a logarithmic scale with H=12. These values, which vary by only very small amounts from flare to flare and times within flares, are 2.6±1.3 and 2.4±0.7 times the photospheric abundance, and are about a factor of three higher than RESIK measurements during a period of very low activity. There is a suggestion that the Si/S abundance ratio increases from active regions to flares.     

Orbital elements and evolutionary nature of the long period RS CVn type eclipsing binary RZ eridani

Light curves of the long period RS CVn type eclipsing binary RZ Eri, obtained during the period 1976–1979 with the 1.2 m telescope of the Japal-Rangapur Observatory are analysed, using Wilson-Devinney method, by fixing the two parametersT _h (7400°K) andq(0.963), resulting in the following absolute elements:A = 72.5 ± 1.4R _⊙,R _h = 2.84 ± 0.12R _⊙,R _c = 6.94 ± 0.20R _⊙,M _bol,_h = 1.35 ± 0.28,M _bol ,_c= 1.41 ± 0.28,m _h = 1.69 ± 0.6m _⊙ andmc= 1.63 ± 0.13m _⊙. The presence of humps and dips of varying amplitudes at a few phases in the normal UBV light curves is explained as due to residual distortion wave. The derived (B-V) and (U-B) colours of both the components appear to have been reddened to an extent of 0 ^m .20 in (B-V) and 0 ^m .16 in (U-B) colours. This reddening is attributed to the presence of an envelope around the system, the material of which might have come from the loss of mass experienced by the evolving cooler component. Taking into consideration the dereddened colours and temperatures of the components, spectral types ofF0 IV for the primary and G 5–8 III–IV for the secondary component were derived. The fractional radii of 0.039 and 0.096 of the two components, when compared with the radii of their critical Roche lobes of 0.378 and 0.372 suggest that these components are well within their critical sizes. From the position of the components on the. isochrones and the evolutionary tracks of stars of Pop I composition computed by Maeder & Meynet, it is concluded that the evolution of the components of RZ Eri is abnormal. This system is found to be situated at a distance of 185 pc, with an age of about 2.5 × 10⁹ yrs.     

The mass,gravity field,and ephemeris of Mercury

This paper represents a final report on the gravity analysis of radio Doppler and range data generated by the Deep Space Network (DSN) with Mariner 10 during two of its encounters with Mercury in March 1974 and March 1975. A combined least-squares fit to Doppler data from both encounters has resulted in a determination of two second degree gravity harmonics, J₂ = (6.0 ± 2.0) × 10⁻⁵ and C₂₂ = (1.0 ± 0.5) × 10⁻⁵, referred to an equatorial radius of 2439 km, plus an indication of a gravity anomaly in the region of closest approach of Mariner 10 to Mercury in March 1975 amounting to a mass deficiency of about GM = −0.1 km³sec⁻². An analysis is included that defends the integrity of previously published values for the mass of Mercury (H. T. Howard et al. 1974, Science 185, 179–180; P. B. Esposito, J. D. Anderson, and A. T. Y. Ng 1978, COSPAR: Space Res. 17, 639–644). This is in response to a published suggestion by R. A. Lyttleton (1980, Q. J. R. Astron. Soc. 21, 400–413; 1981, Q. J. R. Astron. Soc. 22, 322–323) that the accepted values may be in error by more than 30%. We conclude that there is no basis for being suspicious of the earlier determinations and obtain a mass GM = 22,032.09 ± 0.91 km³sec⁻² or a Sun to Mercury mass ratio of 6,023,600 ± 250. The corresponding mean density of Mercury is 5.43 ± 0.01 g cm⁻³. The one-sigma error limits on the gravity results include an assessment of systematic error, including the possibility that harmonics other than J₂and C₂₂ are significantly different from zero. A discussion of the utility of the DSN radio range data obtained with Mariner 10 is included. These data are most applicable to the improvement of the ephemeris of Mercury, in particular the determination of the precession of the perihelion.