Properties of the infrared dark cloud G79.2+0.38

The MSX infrared dark cloud G79.2+0.38 has been observed over a 11′×′ region simultaneously in the J=1-0 rotational transition lines of the ¹²CO and its isotopic molecules ¹³CO and ¹⁸CO. The dense molecular cores defined by the C¹⁸O line are found to be associated with the two high-extinction patches shown in the MSX A-band image. The two dense cores have the column density N (H₂) (5 – 12) × 10²² cm⁻² and the mean number density n (3 ± 1) × 10⁴ cm⁻³. Their sizes are 1.7 and 1.2 pc in ¹³CO(1-0) line, 1.2 and 0.6 pc in C¹⁸O(1-0) line, respectively. The masses of these cloud cores are estimated to be in the range from 2 × 10² to 2 × 10³ M. The profile of radial mean density of the cloud core can be described by the exponential function ¯n(p) p^{−0.34±0.02}. Compared with the cases of typical optical dark clouds, the abundances of the CO isotopic molecules ¹³CO and C¹⁸O in this MSX infrared dark cloud appear to be depleted by a factor of 4–11, but at present there is no evidence for any obvious variation of the relative abundance ratio X_13/18 between ¹³CO and C¹⁸O with the column density.     

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.     

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.     

Cosmic and Galactic neutrino backgrounds from thermonuclear sources

We estimate energy spectra and fluxes at the Earth’s surface of the cosmic and Galactic neutrino backgrounds produced by thermonuclear reactions in stars. The extra-galactic component is obtained by combining the most recent estimates of the cosmic star formation history and the stellar initial mass function with accurate theoretical predictions of the neutrino yields all over the thermonuclear lifetime of stars of different masses. Models of the structure and evolution of the Milky Way are used to derive maps of the expected flux generated by Galactic sources as a function of sky direction. The predicted neutrino backgrounds depend only slightly on model parameters. In the relevant 50 keV–10 MeV window, the total flux of cosmic neutrinos ranges between 20 and 65 cm⁻² s⁻¹. Neutrinos reaching the Earth today have been typically emitted at redshift z2. Their energy spectrum peaks at E0.1–0.3 MeV. The energy and entropy densities of the cosmic background are negligible with respect to the thermal contribution of relic neutrinos originated in the early universe. In every sky direction, the cosmic background is outnumbered by the Galactic one, whose integrated flux amounts to 300–1000 cm⁻² s⁻¹. The emission from stars in the Galactic disk contributes more than 95% of the signal.     

Collapse and fragmentation of rotating magnetized clouds – I. Magnetic flux–spin relation

We discuss the evolution of the magnetic flux density and angular velocity in a molecular cloud core, on the basis of three-dimensional numerical simulations, in which a rotating magnetized cloud fragments and collapses to form a very dense optically thick core of  >5 × 10¹⁰ cm⁻³  . As the density increases towards the formation of the optically thick core, the magnetic flux density and angular velocity converge towards a single relationship between the two quantities. If the core is magnetically dominated its magnetic flux density approaches  1.5( n /5 × 10¹⁰ cm⁻³)^1/2 mG  , while if the core is rotationally dominated the angular velocity approaches  2.57 × 10⁻³ ( n /5 × 10¹⁰ cm⁻³)^1/2 yr⁻¹  , where n is the density of the gas. We also find that the ratio of the angular velocity to the magnetic flux density remains nearly constant until the density exceeds  5 × 10¹⁰ cm⁻³  . Fragmentation of the very dense core and emergence of outflows from fragments will be shown in the subsequent paper.     

Constraining cosmological models with cluster power spectra

Using extensive N-body simulations we estimate redshift space power spectra of clusters of galaxies for different cosmological models (SCDM, TCDM, CHDM, ΛCDM, OCDM, BSI, τCDM) and compare the results with observational data for Abell–ACO clusters. Our mock samples of galaxy clusters have the same geometry and selection functions as the observational sample which contains 417 clusters of galaxies in a double cone of galactic latitude |b|>30° up to a depth of 240 h⁻¹ Mpc. The power spectrum has been estimated for wave numbers k in the range 0.03k0.2 h Mpc⁻¹. For k>k_max0.05 h Mpc⁻¹ the power spectrum of the Abell–ACO clusters has a power-law shape, P(k)∝kⁿ, with n≈−1.9, while it changes sharply to a positive slope at k<k_max. By comparison with the mock catalogues SCDM, TCDM (n=0.9), and also OCDM with Ω₀=0.35 are rejected. Better agreement with observation can be found for the ΛCDM model with Ω₀=0.35 and h=0.7 and the CHDM model with two degenerate neutrinos and Ω_HDM=0.2 as well as for a CDM model with broken scale invariance (BSI) and the τCDM model. As for the peak in the Abell–ACO cluster power spectrum, we find that it does not represent a very unusual finding within the set of mock samples extracted from our simulations.     

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.     

Molecular line profiles as diagnostics of protostellar collapse: modelling the 'blue asymmetry' in inside-out infall

The evolution of star-forming core analogues undergoing inside-out collapse is studied with a multipoint chemodynamical model which self-consistently computes the abundance distribution of chemical species in the core. For several collapse periods the output chemistry of infalling tracer species such as HCO⁺, CS and N₂H⁺ is then coupled to an accelerated Λ-iteration radiative transfer code, which predicts the emerging molecular line profiles using two different input gas/dust temperature distributions. We investigate the sensitivity of the predicted spectral line profiles and line asymmetry ratios to the core temperature distribution, the time-dependent model chemistry, as well as to ad hoc abundance distributions. The line asymmetry is found to be strongly dependent on the adopted chemical abundance distribution. In general, models with a warm central region show higher values of blue asymmetry in optically thick HCO⁺ and CS lines than models with a starless core temperature profile. We find that in the formal context of Shu-type inside-out infall, and in the absence of rotation or outflows, the relative blue asymmetry of certain HCO⁺ and CS transitions is a function of time and, subject to the foregoing caveats, can act as a collapse chronometer. The sensitivity of simulated HCO⁺ line profiles to linear radial variations, subsonic or supersonic, of the internal turbulence field is investigated in the separate case of static cores.     

Modelling methanol and hydroxyl masers in star-forming regions

Class II methanol masers are found in close association with OH main-line masers in many star-forming regions, where both are believed to flag the early stages in the evolution of a massive star. We have studied the formation of masers in methanol and OH under identical model conditions for the first time. Infrared pumping by radiation from warm dust at temperatures >100 K can account for the known maser lines in both molecules, many of which develop simultaneously under a range of conditions. The masers form most readily in cooler gas (<100 K) of moderately high density  (10⁵–10⁸ cm^-3)  , although higher gas temperatures and/or lower densities are also compatible with maser action. The agreement between the current model (developed for methanol) and the established OH maser trends is very encouraging, and we anticipate that further tuning of the model will further improve such agreement.
We find the gas-phase molecular abundance to be the key determinant of observable maser activity for both molecules. Sources exhibiting both 6668-MHz methanol and 1665-MHz OH masers have a typical flux density ratio of 16; our model suggests that this may be a consequence of maser saturation. We find that the 1665-MHz maser approaches the saturated limit for OH abundances >10^−7.3, while the 6668-MHz maser requires a greater methanol abundance >10⁻⁶. OH-favoured sources are likely to be less abundant in methanol, while methanol-favoured sources may be less abundant in OH or experiencing warm (>125 K), dense (∼10⁷ cm⁻³) conditions. These abundance requirements offer the possibility of tying the appearance of masers to the age of the new-born star via models of gas-phase chemical evolution following the evaporation of icy grain mantles.     

Gamma ray spectrum of the crab nebula in the multi TeV region

The THEMISTOCLE array of 18 Cherenkov detectors which has a 3 TeV gamma energy threshold, has detected a signal from the Crab nebula at a 5.8 standard deviation level. Information on the energy spectrum is obtained in the range 3–15 TeV. The integrated flux can be fitted with the form, Φ (> E) = (3.7 ± 0.5) × 10^-12 (E/5)-^{−1.5 ± 0.20} cm⁻² s⁻¹ (E in TeV) compatible with the extrapolation of results at lower energies. The Crab signal is used to measure the angular resolution of the multi-telescope technique. The value obtained is 2.3 mr (0.15°) in agreement with the results of simulations, and confirms the interest of this new method for multi-TeV gamma-ray detection.     

Density profiles of dark matter halos with anisotropic velocity tensors

We present density profiles, that are solutions of the spherical Jeans equation, derived under the following two assumptions: (i) the coarse grained phase-density follows a power-law of radius, ρ/σ³ ∝ r⁻, and (ii) the velocity anisotropy parameter is given by the relation β_a(r)=β₁+2β₂ (r/r_*)/[1+(r/r_*)²] where β₁, β₂ are parameters and r_* equals twice the virial radius, r_vir, of the system. These assumptions are well motivated by the results of N-body simulations. Density profiles have increasing logarithmic slopes γ, defined by γ=−d ln ρ/d ln r. The values of γ at r=10^−2.5r_vir, a distance where the systems could be resolved by large N-body simulations, lie in the range 1.0–1.6. These inner values of γ increase for increasing β₁ and for increasing concentration of the system. On the other hand, slopes at r=r_vir lie in the range 2.42–3.82. A model density profile that fits well the results at radial distances between 10⁻³r_vir and r_vir and connects kinematic and structural characteristics of spherical systems is described.     

Thermal emission at radio frequencies from supernova remnants and a modified theoretical Σ–D relation

In this paper, we discuss known discrepancies between theoretically derived and empirically measured relations between the radio surface brightness Σ and the diameter D of supernova remnants (SNRs): these relations are commonly known as the Σ–D relations. We argue that these discrepancies may be at least partially explained by taking into account thermal emission at radio frequencies from SNRs at particular evolutionary stages and located in particular environments. The major contributions of this paper may be summarized as follows: (i) we consider thermal emission at radio frequencies from SNRs in the following scenarios: a relatively young SNR evolving in a dense molecular cloud environment (n  100–1000 cm⁻³) and an extremely evolved SNR expanding in a dense warm medium (n  1–10 cm⁻³). Both of these SNRs are assumed to be in the adiabatic phase of evolution. We develop models of the radio emission from both of these types of SNRs and each of these models demonstrate that through the thermal bremsstrahlung process significant thermal emission at radio frequencies is expected from both types of SNR. Based on a literature search, we claim that thermal absorption or emission at radio frequencies has been detected for one evolved Galactic SNR and four young Galactic SNRs with similar properties to our modelled evolved and young SNRs. (ii) We construct artificial radio spectra for both of these two types of SNRs: in particular, we discuss our simulated spectrum for the evolved Galactic SNR OA 184. By including thermal emission in our simulated spectra, we obtain different slopes in Σ–D relations: these new slopes are in closer agreement to empirically obtained relations than the theoretically derived relations which do not take thermal emission into account. (iii) Lastly, we present an additional modification to the theoretical Σ–D relation for SNRs in the adiabatic expansion phase. This modification is based on the convolution of the synchrotron emissivity with the emissivity derived in this paper for thermal bremsstrahlung emission from an ionized gas cloud (that is, a theoretical construct of an SNR).     

Small-scale auroral arc distortions

Small-scale spatially periodic distortions of auroral forms have been studied utilizing low-light level television observations made at various locations in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The most commonly observed features were folds and vortex-like curl formations. The curls, identified here with the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability due to fluid shear, invariably had a counterclockwise rotational shape and motion when viewed in a direction anti-parallel to the Earth's magnetic field. The typical measured wavelength (5 km) and measured growth rate (4.2 sec⁻¹) were used to evaluate the Kelvin-Helmholtz dispersion relation for the apparent shear ω_s = ∂ ν_x/ ∂y (28 sec⁻¹). The apparent horizontal velocities of both folds (0–5 km/sec) and curls (0–22 km/sec) were invariably observed to be counterclockwise with respect to the multiple arc centre when viewed antiparallel to B. Consistent agreement between rotational shape and rotational motion suggests that the apparent growth rate and the apparent horizontal velocities closely approximate the actual values. If the shear results from E×B drifts in a space charge field, the calculated value for ω_s, implies an unneutralized electron density 0–1 cm⁻³ and a ΔE across the arc element 500mV/m. The velocity measurements indicate that the ΔE values for individual elements can combine to produce transient electric fields at the edges of multiple arcs as high as 1000 mV/m.     

Recombination of small ions in the troposphere and lower stratosphere

The current practice of treating ionic recombination in the lower atmosphere is in error in two respects: firstly the Thomson formula for the ter-molecular recombination coefficient does not represent the behaviour as accurately as commonly assumed: secondly the ter-molecular recombination coefficient (expressed in binary form) and the rate coefficient for the binary recombination of an isolated ion-pair are not additive. Computer simulated experiments are performed which should give the total recombination coefficient in the region below 40 km with some precision. It is shown that the recombination rate is not appreciably affected by inhomogeneity in the cosmic ray ionization. The equilibrium small ion number density profile is calculated and found to be in good agreement with the observed profile. It is inferred that the mixing ratio of the trace gas x which reacts with proton hydrates to form non-proton hydrates has an approximately constant value of 5 × 10⁻¹³ from 20 to 42 km.     

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.     

An auroral F-region study using in situ measurements by the Atmosphere Explorer-C satellite

On 14 July 1974 the Atmosphere Explorer-C satellite flew through an aurora at F-region altitudes just after local midnight. The effects of the particle influx are clearly evident in the ion densities, the 6300 Å airglow, and the electron and ion temperatures. This event provided an opportunity to study the agreement between the observed ion densities and those calculated from photochemical theory using in situ measurements of such atmospheric parameters as the neutral densities and the differential electron energy spectra obtained along the satellite track. Good agreement is obtained for the ions O₂⁺, NO⁺ and N₂⁺ using photochemical theory and measured rate constants and electron impact cross sections. Atomic nitrogen densities are calculated from the observed [NO⁺]/[O₂⁺] ratio. In the region of most intense electron fluxes (20 erg cm⁻² sec⁻¹) at 280 km, the N density is found to be between 2 and 7 × 10⁷ cm⁻³. The resulting N densities are found to account for approx. 60% of the production of N⁺ through electron impact on N and the resonant charge exchange of O⁺(²P) with N(⁴S). This reaction also provides a significant source of O(¹S) in the aurora at F-region altitudes. In the region of intense fast electron influx, the reaction with atomic nitrogen is found to be the main loss of O⁺(²P).     

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.     

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.     

An Observational Study of the Physical Properties of Star-forming Molecular Cores

We used the 13.7 m millimeter-wave telescope of the Qinghai Station of Purple Mountain Observatory at Delingha to carry out simultaneous mapping observations in the ¹²CO(J = 1 − 0), ¹³CO(J = 1 − 0) and CO¹⁸ (J = 1 − 0) lines towards 11 isolated star-forming molecular cores selected from the sample of Spitzer's c2d program. For all three lines, these sources were all observed to the positions of half the peak intensity of the ¹³CO(J = 1 − 0) line. The volume density, local thermodynamic equilibrium mass M_LTE and virial mass M_VIR were derived for each of the molecular cores. The obtained ratio of M_VIR to M_LTE is 0.85 ± 0.40 for the ¹³CO(J = 1 − 0) cores and 0.77 ± 0.35 for the CO¹⁸ (J = 1 − 0) cores. The density profiles of the cloud cores were also calculated.     

Cyanopolyynes in hot cores: modelling G305.2+0.2

We present results from a time-dependent gas-phase chemical model of a hot core based on the physical conditions of G305.2+0.2. While the cyanopolyyne HC₃N has been observed in hot cores, the longer chained species, HC₅N, HC₇N and HC₉N, have not been considered as the typical hot-core species. We present results which show that these species can be formed under hot core conditions. We discuss the important chemical reactions in this process and, in particular, show that their abundances are linked to the parent species acetylene which is evaporated from icy grain mantles. The cyanopolyynes show promise as 'chemical clocks' which may aid future observations in determining the age of hot core sources. The abundance of the larger cyanopolyynes increases and decreases over relatively short time-scales,  ∼10^2.5 yr  . We present results from a non-local thermodynamic equilibrium statistical equilibrium excitation model as a series of density, temperature and column density dependent contour plots which show both the line intensities and several line ratios. These aid in the interpretation of spectral-line data, even when there is limited line information available. In particular, non-detections of HC₅N and HC₇N in Walsh et al. are analysed and discussed.