Simultaneous measurements of Ca+ K,Ca+ H,Hα, Hβ, and He D3 emission in prominences

Simultaneously measured line intensities of Ca⁺ K and H, H, H and He D₃ are presented and compared with recent model calculations by Heasley and Milkey (1978). The model calculations are compatible with the observations. There is indication that the observed branching of the relation E(Ca⁺ K and H) E(H) depends on the widths of the Ca⁺-lines.     

The empirical determination of line source functions, β L -values,and the microturbulent and convective velocity components as functions of depth in the photosphere-chromosphere transition region

An empirical method for determining line source functions, previously applied by us to the cores of infrared lines has now been extended to the whole line profile and was applied to centre-limb observations of sixteen lines of five infrared multiplets, mainly of high excitation potential (Table I). The present investigation was performed in two steps. In the first part of the paper approximate values are derived for the depth dependence of the four functions named in the title of this paper, where _L is the ratio between the actual and the LTE population of the lower level of the transitions involved. In the second part of the paper we use these empirically derived functions to compute the line profiles. From the remaining differences between observed and computed profiles, corrections are derived to the four functions. The main results are: (a) Convective velocities: see Table IV.(b)(Micro-)turbulent velocities: see Figure 8. Between ₅ = 10^-4 and 10^-1: 1.4 km s^-1, which is an upper limit since an unknown contribution of macroscopic motions could not be separated, (c) Line source functions: see Figures 9, 15 and 16. The source functions are close to the black-body function for ₅ 10^-3, slight deviations occur in higher levels. The interesting behaviour of the Caii source function near ₅ = 10^-5 should be noted. (d) Non LTE-functions: first approximations for the functions log _L ( ₅) were derived empirically in the first part, and are shown in Figure 10; the second approximation shows them to be too large and the real values seem to be closer to one-half or one-third of these functions.     

Rediscussion of balmer decrement of broad-line radio-galaxies

On the basis of the erenkov line emission theory in the optically thick case, a new interpretation of intensity ratios H/H and H/H in broad-line radio-galaxies (BLRGs) is reported. Calculation shows that if the theoretical ratio H/H is just taken to be the mean observed value 0.21, equivalently, the parameterX(H)=3.0, then the expected ratio H/H=6.70 is almost the same as the observations. By comparing these values with the previous investigations of QSOs (X(H)=20.9), we conclude that the number density of neutral hydrogen gas in BLRGs is almost one order-of-magnitude smaller than that in the QSOs.Preliminary verification of the erenkov line emission has been obtained by Xuet al. (1981) in the laboratory.     

Two-dimensional photometric analysis of emission lines in quiescent prominences

Emission lines from quiescent prominences were observed simultaneously through narrow-band interference filters, thus integrating the total line intensities without the use of a spectrograph. Simultaneous exposures (50 ms) on three electronically connected CCD cameras at the 70 cm VTT on Tenerife assured almost identical influence of the Earth's atmosphere and a spatial resolution of 1 arc sec. The resulting spatially high-resolution two-dimensional images in H, H, and Ca⁺8542, calibrated in units of the disk-center intensities, allow a two-dimensional mapping of emission ratios yielding relevant physical parameters. The emission relation between H and H, which depends on the total optical thickness, confirms earlier photometric results from spectra, however, with a large sample of data points from six prominences. It demonstrates the saturation effects towards brighter prominences or prominence locations. The relation between Ca⁺8542 and H, which depends on the gas pressure, is found to vary between different prominences but is nearly constant within one prominence. Its mean spatial variation of 30% within one prominence may be interpreted in terms of a magnetic field with variations of 5%. The brightness distribution in most prominences is not smooth but indicates preferred values, which are interpreted as superpositions of several fine structures.     

Solar chromospheric magnetic fields in active regions inferred by monochromatic images of the Stokes' parameterV of the Hβ line

A series of H chromospheric magnetograms was obtained at various wavelengths near the line center with the vector video magnetograph at Huairou Solar Observing Station as a diagnostic of chromospheric magnetic structures. The two-dimensional distribution of the circular polarization light of the H line with its blended lines at various wavelength in active regions was obtained, which consists of the analyses of Stokes' profileV of this line. Due to the disturbance of the photospheric blended line Fei 4860.98 for the measurement of the chromospheric magnetic field, a reversal in the chromospheric magnetograms relative to the photospheric ones occurs in the sunspot umbrae. But in the quiet, plage regions, even penumbrae, the influence of the photospheric blended Fei 4860.98 line is not obvious. As regards the observation of the H chromospheric magnetograms, we can select the working wavelength between -0.20 and -0.24 from the line core of H to avoid the wavelengths of the photospheric blended lines in the wing of H.After the spectral analysis of chromospheric magnetograms, we conclude that the distribution of the chromospheric magnetic field is similar to the photospheric field, especially in the umbrae of the sunspots. The chromospheric magnetic field is the result of the extension of the photospheric field.     

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.     

Recent spectral variations of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 5548

The nucleus of the Seyfert 1.5 galaxy NGC 5548 was very faint and the intensity of the broad emission component of H was unusually low in March–April and in July 1990. Similar stages was found only twice in this decade, in 1979 and 1981, prior to the present one. The very broad components of He I and He II were not detected in 1990.The blueward edge of the broad component of H was much steeper than the redward one in 1990, in contrast to the profiles with the opposite asymmetry in the years 1979–1981. This result suggests that a main part of the broad component blueshifted in the recent several years. An upper limit of the displacement of the broad component of H occurred during the years from 1984 to 1990 was estimated to be about - 2000 km s^–1. If this variation of the radial velocity was due to an orbital motion of the exciting source in a binary system, the total mass of the system is about 6 × 10⁶ M . The luminosity of the nucleus is the same order of the Eddington limit of this total mass.     

On the line intensity ratios E(Hα)/E(D3) and E(Hβ)/E(D3) in prominences

The intensity ratios E(H)/E(D3) and E(H)/E(D3) in prominences depend on the total optical thickness in H of the layer. The emission of the He D3 line appears relatively enhanced in thin layers and in outer parts of the prominences.     

Global photometric observations and physical properties ofHii regions in the small magellanic cloud

Integrated photoelectric measurements of the equivalent widthW _H, the [Oiii]/H ratio and the H emission line flux were obtained for 30Hii regions in the SMC. Physical properties of theHii regions and their ionizing stellar associations were derived. Some aspects of the recent star formation in the SMC and the evolution ofHii regions are discussed.     

Cerenkov line emission: The Lα/Hβ, Hα/Hβ, Pα/Hα intensity ratios of quasars

We use the Cerenkov line emission mechanism to give a new explanation of the observed intensity ratios, particularly the L/H ratio, of the emission lines of quasars. We give equations that restrict the choice of the parameter values. The parameters are the characteristic energy of the relativistic electrons, the number density of neutral hydrogen and its relative level populations. With reasonable choice of the parmaeters, we can obtain calculated L/H, H/H, P/H ratios in agreement with observed values. Our estimate for the gas density in the broad line region of quasars is 10¹⁵ cm^–3, very different from previous estimates. Unlike previous theories, such a high density causes no difficulties with the Cerenkov line emission.     

Spectral analysis of Hα, Hβ, and Hγ lines of a white-light flare (3B/X6.1) on October 27, 1991

We have analyzed time series of H, H, and H line profiles taken from a 3B/X6.1 flare which occurred on October 27, 1991 in active region NOAA 6891. Each set of the spectra was taken simultaneously for the first 10 min of the flare event with a low and non-uniform time resolution of 10–40 s. A total of 22 sets of H, H, and H were scanned by a PDS with absolute intensity calibration to derive the dynamics and energetics of material in the flare region. Our results are as follows: (1) The Balmer line emitting region is accelerated downward to about 50 km s^-1 for the first 50 s and then is decelerated to about 10 km s^-1 for the next 150 s. (2) The radial velocity peak precedes the Balmer line intensity peak by about 40 s. (3) The total energy radiated from these Balmer lines is estimated to be 4.9 × 10²⁹ erg.     

Echelle-mepsicron time-resolved spectroscopy of the dwarf nova SS Cygni

High dispersion time-resolved spectrograms of the dwarf nova SS Cygni, obtained with the Echelle-Mepsicron system, show double peaked emission lines with a complex profile. The intensity of the H line appears to be modulated by the orbital period. Radial velocity measurements of the wings of H and of the absorption line system of the late-type star yield semiamplitude values of K_em=101±6 km s^–1 and K_ab=151±7 km s^–1, respectively. Radial velocity measurements of the blue and red peaks and of the central absorption of H reveal a synchronous movement with the broad wings, although there is some evidence of a narrow component probably associated with a hot spot in the disk or a chromospheric emission line from the secondary star. The H modulation, the double profile and recently discovered UBV light variations support an inclination angle i 50°. The masses of the primary are M_p=0.60 M and M_s=0.40 M, respectively. A detailed analysis of the absorption lines reveals a spectral type of K2V.Paper presented at the IAU Colloquium No. 93 Cataclysmic Variables. Recent Multi-Frequency Observations and Theoretical Developments, held at Dr. Remeis-Sternwarte Bamberg, F.R.G., 16–19 June, 1986.     

On the spectrum of a gaseous nebula of pure hydrogen

The Balmer decrement was calculated for a homogeneous, spherical, pure hydrogen nebula, ionised and excited both by radiative and collisional processes. Reabsorption in the Balmer series from sublevels 2s and 2p was taken into account. Calculations were carried out for electron temperatures of 10⁴ K and 2×10⁴ K, electron densities from 10³ to 10⁶ cm^–3, and radii from 10¹⁵ to 10¹⁷ cm. The results define allowed and forbidden regions in the log(H/H) vs log(H/H) diagram different from those of previous results obtained assuming purely radiative or purely collisional ionisation and excitation. A brief comparison with observations is presented and discussed.     

On the relation between solar-flare gamma-ray emission and proton escape into interplanetary space

It is shown that escaping of solar flare energetic protons into interplanetary space as well as their relation to the flare gamma-ray emission depend on the parameter = 8p/B ₀ ² , where p is the pressure of hot plasma and energetic particles and B ₀ is the magnetic field in a flaring loop. If 1, the bulk of the energetic protons escape to the loss cone because of diffusion due to small-scale Alfvén-wave turbulence, and precipitate into the footpoints of the flaring loop. The flare then produces intense gamma-ray line emission and a weak flux of high energy protons in interplanetary space. If >_*0.3-1.0, then fast eruption of hot plasma and energetic particles out of the flaring loop occurs, this being due to the flute instability or magnetic-field-plasma nonequilibrium. The flare then produces a comparatively weak gamma-radiation and rather intense proton fluxes in interplanetary space. We predict a modulation of the solar flare gamma-ray line emission with a period 1 s during the impulsive phase that is due to the MHD-oscillations of the energy release volume. The time lag of the gamma-ray peaks with respect to the hard X-ray peaks during a simultaneous acceleration of electrons and protons can be understood in terms of strong diffusion.     

A study of the wavelength dependence of interstellar polarization using a scanning spectropolarimeter

A scanning spectropolarimeter has been constructed and used in a preliminary search for conspicuous features of the interstellar polarization curve between ^–1 = 1.58 ^–1 and 2.50 ^–1. The instrument was used at thef/4.5 prime focus of the 36 telescope of the Cambridge University Observatories. Scans were made on HD2905, HD21389, And and Tau with slitwidths of 50 Å and 100 Å.The commonly adopted method of correcting for instrumental polarisation by using observations of unpolarized stars has been applied. The normalized polarization curves corrected for instrumental polarization for HD2905 and HD21389 reveal a feature near ^–1 = 1.68 ^–1 which is most probably of insterstellar rather than instrumental origin.     

Connection between X-ray and optical variability in NGC 4151

We have used long light curves in the X-ray (ARIEL V, EXOSAT, Ginga and others), UV (IUE), and optical (data of intensive ground-based monitoring) ranges of NGC 4151 to investigate connections between variations in these spectral fields. Applying Fourier (CLEAN algorithm) and modern cross-correlation analysis, we revealed the different character of the variability and the cross-correlation between high and low states of the nucleus. In contrast to earlier results, we found that X-ray and optical fluxes correlate in the active state without any apparent delay.In the power spectrum of the optical and X-ray light curves in the high state we found the existence of the same period of about 65 days, which disappeared in the low state.We confirmed previous data that X-ray variations correlate more strongly with UV and optical continuum variability during the low state, but it is possible that the optical variations appear to lag behind those involving X-rays by several tens of days.Strong variations in H line profile and [Fe X]6374 line intensity variations correlate with the observed X-ray covering dip in 1990 (Yaqoobet al., 1993).We discuss briefly the implications of these results.     

Vertical Chromium Distribution in the Atmosphere of a Chemically Peculiar Star. I. Diagnostics

On the basis of CCD spectrograms obtained with high resolution at the Coudé focus of the 2.6-m telescope of the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory, Cr II lines lying in the wings of the H hydrogen line are investigated. Vertical chromium stratification in the atmospheres of two normal and eight chemically peculiar stars is diagnosed using the method of spectral synthesis. An increase in Cr abundance with depth is found for the cool Ap stars CrB, HR 7575, Equ, and 10 Aql. Some increase in Cr abundance in the upper layers of the atmosphere is presumed for all Am stars and for both Hg—Mn components of 46 Dra. The vertical chromium distribution in the atmospheres of the hot, spotted Ap stars 17 Com and ² CVn is evidently uniform.     

Differences in the emission line spectrum at maximum and minimum of the nuclear brightness of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 7469

We have compiled data on relative intensties, fluxes and profiles of emission lines of the NGC 7469 nuclear spectrum observed in the optical region by many authors during 1966–1986. The aim of our investigation is to reveal differences in the characteristics of the emission lines in maxima and minima of the nuclear brightness. The distinction was revealed for relative intensities, fluxes and profiles. During the extreme maxima profiles ofH ,H andH lines, colour indices of the nucleus and its high level of accretion rate resemble those of QSOs. On the other hand, during the deep minimum 1989 the nucleus had the properties of a Sy2 type. There is a relation between variable fluxes ofH and [OIII] 5007 Å lines which is different for the minima and maxima of the nuclear brightness. The fluxes of the [OIII] 5007 Å line during the minima of the nuclear brightness are systematically higher than those in maxima. The above mentioned peculiarities of the emission lines in the NGC 7469 nucleus can be understood in terms of the increase of electron temperature, electron density and velocities of the nuclear gas from minimum to maximum.     

Bidimensional spectroscopy of network bright points

We develop an automatic, computer controlled procedure to select and to analyze the Network Bright Points (NBPs) on solar images. These have been obtained at the Sac Peak Vacuum Tower Telescope by means of the Universal Birefringent Filter and Zeiss H filters, tuned, respectively, along the profiles of the H, Mg-b1, Na-D2, and H lines.A structure is identified as an NBP if at the wavelength H- 1.5 A its maximum intensity is greater than I + 3 and its area is greater than 1.5 arc sec² at I + 1.5, where I is the mean value and the standard deviation of the intensity distribution on the image. Each detected NBP is then searched and confirmed in all the remaining 31 images at different wavelengths.For each NBP several parameters are measured (position, area, mean and maximum contrast, Dopplergram velocity, compactness, and so on) and some identification constraints are applied.The statistical analysis of the various parameter distributions, for NBPs present within an active region and its surroundings, shows that two types of NBPs can be identified according to the value of their mean contrast C _min the H- 1.5 Å image (C _m 0.1 type I, C _m> 0.1 type II). The type I NBPs (all occurring on the boundaries of the supergranular network) appear to be much more frequent (180/26) than the type II ones.The size A of type I NBPs is less than 1.0 arc sec for H/H wings but of the order of 1.2 arc sec for Na-D2 and Mg-bl. The mean contrast C _m is around the value of 10% along the Na-D2 and Mg-bl profiles and of 20% along the H/H wings.The C _m - A scatter diagrams show, for the photospheric radiation (h < 100 km), a narrow range of variability for C _min correspondence with a wide range for A. For radiation orginated at higher levels (h > 200 km), the C _m- A scatter diagrams seem to indicate, even if with a large variance, that the highest C _m's tend to correspond to the highest A values.The mean Doppler shift is close to zero for Na-D2 and Mg-bl lines but negative (downward motion) for H and H lines.The type II NBPs tends to be preferentially located in the neighbourhood of small, compact sunspots and their detectability is almost constant through all the 4 studied line profiles. No conclusions can be derived on the mean size, contrast and Doppler shift values because their distributions are too dispersed. The only positive information is that its C _m- A scatter diagram, in H and H wings, indicates a wide range of variability for C _m in correspondence with very narrow range of variability for A.     

Convective instability of thin flux tubes

The stability of magnetic flux tubes embedded vertically in a convection zone is investigated. For thin tubes, the dominant instability is of the convective type, i.e. it is driven by buoyancy forces associated with displacements along the tube. The stability is determined by = 8P/B ²; if _c the tube is convectively stable, otherwise it is unstable, where the critical value _c depends on the stratification of the convection zone. For a solar convection zone model, _c = 1.83, corresponding to a magnetic field strength of 1350 G at the surface of the Sun. It is concluded that the flux tubes making up the small scale field of the Sun are probably hydrodynamically stable.In tubes with > _c, the instability is expected to transform the tube either into a state of vanishing surface field strength (in the case of an upward flow), or one with a field strength higher than the original value (if the instability sets in as a downward flow). Following Parker, we suggest that this effect is related to the concentrated nature of the observed solar fields.The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.