Collective resonant phenomena on small bodies in the solar system

For both asteroids and meteor streams, and also for comets, resonances play a major role for their orbital evolutions but on different time scales. For asteroids both mean motion resonances and secular resonances not only structure the phase space of regular orbits but are mainly at the origin for the inherent chaos of planet crosser objects.For comets and their chaotic routes temporary trapping into orbital resonances is a well known phenomenon. In addition for slow diffusion through the Kuiper belt resonances are the only candidates for originating a slow chaos.Like for asteroids, resonances with Jupiter play a major role for the orbital evolution of meteor streams. Crossing of separatrix like zones appears to be crucial for the formation of arcs and for the dissolution of streams. In particular the orbital inclination of a meteor stream appears to be a critical parameter for arc formation. Numerical results obtained in an other context show that the competition between the Poynting-Robertson drag and the gravitational interaction of grains near the 2/1 resonance might be very important in the long run for the structure of meteor streams.     

Effects of a deformation of a star on the gravitational lensing

We study analytically a gravitational lens due to a deformed star, which is modelled by using a monopole and a quadrupole moment. Positions of the images are discussed for a source on the principal axis. We present explicit expressions for the lens equation for this gravitational lens as a single real 10th-order algebraic equation. Furthermore, we compute an expression for the caustics as a discriminant for the polynomial. Another simple parametric representation of the caustics is also presented in a more tractable form. A simple expression for the critical curves is obtained to clarify a topological feature of the critical curves; the curves are simply connected if and only if the distortion is sufficiently large.     

Relative Equilibria for General Gravity Fields in the Sphere-Restricted Full 2-Body Problem

Equilibrium conditions for a mutually attracting general mass distribution and point mass are derived and their stability computed. The equilibrium conditions can be reduced to six equations in six unknowns, plus the existence of four integrals of motion consisting of the total angular momentum and energy of the system. The equilibrium conditions are further reduced to two independent equations, and their theoretical properties are studied. We derive three distinct conditions for a relative equilibrium which can be used to derive robust algorithms for solving these problems for non-symmetric gravity fields: a set of necessary conditions, a set of sufficient conditions, and a set of necessary and sufficient conditions. Each of these conditions is well suited for the computation of certain classes of equilibria. These equations are solved for non-symmetric gravity fields of interest, using a real asteroid shape model for the general gravity fields. Explicit conditions for the spectral and energetic stability of the resulting equilibria are also derived and computed for the shape of interest.     

Optimum observing strategies

The distribution of observations giving the smallest errors for specific purposes is found in the general case by a numerical procedure. Examples consider the minimum error ellipse for the recovery of a distant asteroid, a main belt object and the position in the target plane for a close approach to the Earth. The observations should be performed only on a few critical nights and inefficient times avoided. The methods are of interest for the optimum strategies for surveys and the determination of initial orbits.     

Contribution of tidal dissipation to lunar thermal history

The possible contributions of tidal heating to lunar thermal history are investigated. Analytic determinations of tidal dissipation in a homogeneous, incompressible Moon and in a two-layer Moon with a soft core and rigid mantle are given as a function of position in the Moon and as a function of Earth-Moon separation. The most recent information on the historical values of the lunar obliquity is employed, and we present results for the constant values of orbital eccentricity of e = 0.0 and e = 0.055. For a simplified orbital evolution and a dissipation factor Q = 100, the total increase in the mean lunar temperature for the homogeneous case does not exceed several tens of degrees. For the two-layer models the local dissipation may be enhanced over that of the homogeneous Moon by a factor of 5 for a core radius of 0.5 lunar radii and by a factor of 100 for a core radius of 0.95 lunar radii. The corresponding factors for the total dissipation are 3 and 15 for the two values of core radii, respectively. We conclude that tidal contributions to lunar thermal history are probably not important. But under special circumstances the enhanced dissipation in a two-layer Moon could have led to a spectacular thermal event.     

Gravitational instability of a composite system

The problem of instability arising in a composite system consisting of an infinitely conducting hydromagnetic fluid interacting through gravitational forces with one or more than one neutral gas, is investigated, allowing for a possible relative streaming between the component fluids. Instability criteria are derived for special cases of a two-component (static or relatively streaming) system and for a three-component system consisting of two gases contra-streaming in the presence of a stationary background gas. It is found that for a static system only one unstable mode exists for wave numbers less than a critical value given by the square root of the sum of the squares of the Jeans's wave numbers for individual gases. However, for a configuration, where components are endured with characteristic streaming speeds, there are present simultaneously more than one unstable modes.     

A new,earth-based radar technique for the measurement of lunar topography

Radio interferometry is a new technique for the measurement of the surface topography of the Moon. Elevation data may be obtained directly without regard for unambiguously-identified features, for any lunar surface element that yields a recognizable radar echo.A program has been undertaken at the Haystack Observatory for the topographic mapping of the major part of the lunar Earthside hemisphere. Some results are presented for the Alphonsus-Arzachel region, showing evidence for a late lava flow of a viscosity and, hence, presumably a chemical composition, differing from that of near-by mare surfaces.     

Quantum and thermal phenomena in the matter-gravity system

The matter-gravity system is examined in a path integral approach for the case of conformal matter coupled to a Friedman-Robertson-Walker space time. In particular the case of gravitational potentials of interest in cosmology for which the universe tunnels from a small radius is examined. It is observed that in the presence of such gravitational horizons the universe evolves in a complex time and it is shown how a classical time and temperature emerge. Correspondingly, one will have compensating quantum and thermal fluctuations for the matter and gravity system and it is noted that the unstable mode of gravity corresponding to the universe tunneling into existence will be compensated by an analogous mode for matter corresponding to its creation. This last point is examined in a simple De Sitter model with conformal matter and a relation is found between the cosmological constant, the number of matter fields and the self coupling of matter responsable for its instability.     

Effect of Cold Plasma Injection on Whistler Mode Instability Triggered by Perpendicular Ac Electric Field at Uranus

The effect of cold plasma injection on whistler mode instability has been studied separately for a bi-Maxwellian and a loss-cone hackground plasma with perpendicular AC electric field. The cold plasma is described by a simple Maxwellian distribution, whereas a generalized distribution function with index j that reduces to a bi-Maxwellian for j = 0 and to a loss-cone for j = 1 has been derived for a plasma in the presence of a perpendicular AC electric field, to form a hot/warm background. The dispersion relation is obtained using the method of characteristic solutions and kinetic approach. An expression for the growth rate of a system with added cold plasma injection has been calculated. Results of sample theoretical calculations for representative values of parameters suited to the magnetosphere of Uranus has been obtained. The salient features of the analysis and the results obtained in both cases have been compared and discussed. It is inferred that it is not the magnitude but the frequency of the AC field which influences the growth rate and a loss-cone background plasma has a triggering effect on the growth rate, increasing the value of the real frequency and maximum growth rate by an order of magnitude. These results may go a long way to enable one to get a better understanding of whistlers and diagnostics of plasma parameters in the Uranian magnetosphere.     

Ballistic capture into distant retrograde orbits around Phobos: an approach to entering orbit around Phobos without a critical maneuver near the moon

This paper discusses an approach for designing missions to Phobos that do not require a critical maneuver in proximity of the moon. A low-energy transfer is designed that utilizes the aspherical mass distribution of Phobos to capture a spacecraft into a distant retrograde orbit (DRO) for the mission duration. The process for generating stable DROs in the Mars–Phobos system is discussed along with the method for generating and surveying a set of ballistic capture trajectories (BCTs) for DROs with altitudes between 0.5 and 14 km above Phobos. Statistical analysis of the BCT set reveals options for designing a mission to the desired DRO. This approach can be used in any three-body system when a significant perturbation is present, such as Phobos’ aspherical co-rotating gravity field.     

Transport and containment of plasma,particles and energy within flares

Results from the analysis of flares observed by the Solar Maximum Mission (SMM) and a recent rocket experiment are discussed. We find evidence for primary energy release in the corona through the interaction of magnetic structures, particle and plasma transport into more than a single magnetic structure at the time of a flare and a complex and changing magnetic topology during the course of a flare. The rocket data are examined for constraints on flare cooling, within the context of simple loop models. These results form a basis for comments on the limitations of simple loop models for flares.     

Low-cost high performance distributed data storage for multi-channel observations

The New Vacuum Solar Telescope (NVST) is a 1-m solar telescope that aims to observe the fine structures in both the photosphere and the chromosphere of the Sun. The observational data acquired simultaneously from one channel for the chromosphere and two channels for the photosphere bring great challenges to the data storage of NVST. The multi-channel instruments of NVST, including scientific cameras and multi-band spectrometers, generate at least 3 terabytes data per day and require high access performance while storing massive short-exposure images. It is worth studying and implementing a storage system for NVST which would balance the data availability, access performance and the cost of development. In this paper, we build a distributed data storage system (DDSS) for NVST and then deeply evaluate the availability of real-time data storage on a distributed computing environment. The experimental results show that two factors, i.e., the number of concurrent read/write and the file size, are critically important for improving the performance of data access on a distributed environment. Referring to these two factors, three strategies for storing FITS files are presented and implemented to ensure the access performance of the DDSS under conditions of multi-host write and read simultaneously. The real applications of the DDSS proves that the system is capable of meeting the requirements of NVST real-time high performance observational data storage. Our study on the DDSS is the first attempt for modern astronomical telescope systems to store real-time observational data on a low-cost distributed system. The research results and corresponding techniques of the DDSS provide a new option for designing real-time massive astronomical data storage system and will be a reference for future astronomical data storage.     

Magnetohydrodynamic equilibrium and stability of pre-flare loops

The equilibrium and stability of a loop in which energy storage occurs prior to a solar flare is discussed. Working on the hypothesis, that the onset of the flare begins only after sufficient magnetic energy has been stored in the loop typical values of parameters which describe the equilibrium are found for a magnetic field with a constant twist. The stability of this configuration is examined next and it is shown that for the force-free case, the structure is always unstable to kinking for any degree of twist. However, a slight deviation from the force-free configuration, through the presence of a small positive transverse pressure gradient, can stabilize the loops for moderate degrees of twist. The range of wave-numbers for which instability occurs and the maximum growth rates are also presented. Lastly, it is shown that the pressure gradients required to stabilize a pre-flare loop do not lead to conflict with observations.     

Cryogenically cooled low-noise amplifier for radio-astronomical observations and centimeter-wave deep-space communications systems

We report a design solution for a highly reliable, low-noise and extremely efficient cryogenically cooled transmit/receive unit for a large antenna system meant for radio-astronomical observations and deep-space communications in the X band. We describe our design solution and the results of a series of laboratory and antenna tests carried out in order to investigate the properties of the cryogenically cooled low-noise amplifier developed. The transmit/receive unit designed for deep-space communications (Mars missions, radio observatories located at Lagrangian point L2, etc.) was used in practice for communication with live satellites including “Radioastron” observatory, which moves in a highly elliptical orbit.     

Gravitational collapse and equilibrium conditions of a toroidal vortex with thermal pressure

We found the equilibrium conditions for a self-gravitating toroidal vortex by taking thermal pressure into account. These conditions are shown to significantly differ from those for a disk or a sphere. The evolution of a thin vortex turns it into a compact vortex that loses mechanical stability for low masses at a polytropic index γ<4/3 but retains stability for sufficiently high masses and densities determined by the velocity circulation in the vortex.     

A new, efficient stellar evolution code for calculating complete evolutionary tracks

We present a new stellar evolution code and a set of results, demonstrating its capability at calculating full evolutionary tracks for a wide range of masses and metallicities. The code is fast and efficient, and is capable of following through all evolutionary phases, without interruption or human intervention. It is meant to be used also in the context of modelling the evolution of dense stellar systems, for performing live calculations for both normal star models and merger products.
The code is based on a fully implicit, adaptive-grid numerical scheme that solves simultaneously for structure, mesh and chemical composition. Full details are given for the treatment of convection, equation of state, opacity, nuclear reactions and mass loss.
Results of evolutionary calculations are shown for a solar model that matches the characteristics of the present sun to an accuracy of better than 1 per cent; a  1 M_⊙  model for a wide range of metallicities; a series of models of stellar Populations I and II, for the mass range 0.25 to  64 M_⊙  , followed from pre-main-sequence to a cool white dwarf or core collapse. An initial–final mass relationship is derived and compared with previous studies. Finally, we briefly address the evolution of non-canonical configurations, merger products of low-mass main-sequence parents.     

Theoretical study of onset conditions for solar eruptive processes

We apply the model of quasistatic equilibrium sequences to describe the time development of magnetic field structures in the plasma of the solar corona, and to determine onset points of a dynamical evolution. The representation of the magnetic field by Euler potentials provides a realistic modeling of the photospheric boundary conditions. We present a numerical method suited for the computation of magnetohydrodynamic equilibrium states and for analysing their stability against perturbations within ideal MHD. Pressure and magnetic footpoint displacement can be prescribed separately as boundary conditions. We consider magnetic arcade structures typical for large two-ribbon flares. Our results indicate that a finite pressure gradient seems to be essential for the existence of onset points. Furthermore, it is shown that magnetic shear destabilizes for intermediate values, but can have a stabilizing effect for a large amount of shear.     

The structure of the planets Jupiter and Saturn

Planetary models for Jupiter and Saturn are computed using a fourth-order theory and a new molecular equation of state. The equation of state for the molecular hydrogen and helium planetary envelopes is taken from the Monte Carlo calculations of Slattery and Hubbard [Icarus 29, 187–192 (1976)]. Models for Jupiter are found that have a small amount of heavy elements either mixed with hydrogen and helium throughout the interior of the planet or concentrated in a small dense core. Saturn is modeled with a solar-composition hydrogen and helium envelope and a small derse core. We conclude that the molecular equation of state linked with suitable interior equations of state can produce Jovian models which satisfy the observational data. The planetary models show that the enrichment of heavy elements (relative to solar composition) is approximately 3 times for Jupiter and 10 times for Saturn.