Dynamical and kinematical near homoaxial rotations suitable for representation of nonuniformly rotating stars with extended atmospheres

In this paper, a nontrivial velocity tensor is suitably defined to represent in the common frame the so-called classes of dynamical and kinematical near homoaxial rotations of a deformable finite material continuum. These classes have simple and interesting physical interpretation, especially for treating of nonuniform rotation and its applications to astrophysics. Some important subclasses and derived classes (in the sense of related superclasses) are also discussed.Two coordinate systems are further introduced, one of which rotates uniformly while the other rotates nonuniformly, the latter defined by means of a generalized orthogonal coordinate transformation. Suitable conditions are then given, asserting that the above systems are preferred in the sense of preserving the motion of the continuum in its inertial class.Finally, the required concepts of homotropy and distributivity are defined and the method, by which the established mathematical framework will be subsequently used in applications, is discussed.     

The third integral and the Hamiltonian

It is reiterated that any suggestion of the existence of a third integral is at variance with Poincaré's theorem on the non-existence of such integrals. Even in a purely numerical approach no form of a new integral can be constructed that is valid in every domain of the phase space; and it is devoid of meaning to use as a third integral different forms of functions in various cases.     

Grains accretion processes in a protoplanetary nebula: Effects of the presence of liquid drops

The temporal behaviour of the mass distribution function of iron solid and/or liquid grains is studied in the inner regions of the solar nebula during its gravitational collapse. At distances from the centre of the nebula equal to 0.2 AU, 0.5 AU and 0.7 AU a mass limit for the accretionary process equal, respectively, to 17.6 g, 5.2 g and 3×10^–3 g is obtained in a reasonable time interval. The importance of a drop phase during the growth of the particles and of the sedimentation of the grains during the disk phase is underlined.     

Mass and particle ‘loading’ in plasma-neutral gas interaction

Qualitative considerations of mass and particle loading in plasma-neutral gas interaction are made by the help of a one-dimensional steady model. In the case of particle loading the plasma flow behind a strong shock is accelerated as in the case of mass loading regarded by Biermannet al. (1967) whereas behind a weak shock the flow is decelerated. As an example, one-dimensional time-dependent flows with ionization of the neutral gas by Alfvén's critical velocity effect are calculated. Because of the acceleration of the subsonic flow by loading processes, the existence of a tangential discontinuity in the flow around comets seems questionable.     

Does Einstein's relationE=mc 2arise from the metric?

In this Letter we propose to consider the four-energy-space whose coordinates are composed as follows: (i) the coordinate ⁰ refers to the internal energy of the body (it is involved as an unknown function of the rest-energy and the kinetic energy of the body), and (ii) the coordinates ¹, ², ³ relate to the presence of gravitational, electromagnetic, and thermal energy at the location of the body respectively. We involve yet the proper energy interval d² by analogy to the four-interval ds ² in general relativity. From such metric field we calculate the Ricci tensor in the simplest case. In addition, we require its form to be the same one as that considered by Schwarzschild. Comparing both solutions we obtain Einstein's relationE=mc ².     

Alternating cycle durations in dwarf novae

The cycle durationC in some dwarf novae underwent abrupt significant changes, as was found by using our own photometric data and the published moments of maxima. For the analysis, the DMRT method (Dumontet al., 1978) as well as least-squares (LS) routine were used. The DMRT method is more appropriate for a search for mean period, if the cycle numeration is unknown. Such changes may be possibly explained by a solar-type activity of convective secondary stars in cataclysmic binaries. However, the abrupt character of the changes ofC (i.e., the time of switchings from one cycle to another is sufficiently small as compared with the lifetime of a given cycle) is an observational puzzle which is to be interpreted theoretically.Paper presented at the 11th European Regional Astronomical Meetings of the IAU on New Windows to the Universe, held 3–8 July, 1989, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.     

Drift Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities in space plasmas

We implement a complex-plane strategy and a multiple partition technique to the computation of polytropic models distorted by very strong and very rapid differential rotation. We also verify with our numerical results a heuristic relation between stability and virial theorem.     

Interplanetary dust particles and solar wind

An effect of the solar wind on the motion of interplanetary dust particles is investigated. An equation of motion is derived. It is pointed out that the Pseudo-Poynting-Robertson effect (and its special case — a corpuscular drag) and the corpuscular sputtering represent in reality one and the same effect within the framework of special relativity. In this context perturbation equations of celestial mechanics are also discussed.     

Calculations of proximity effects in close binary systems

The proximity effects in the light curves of close binary systems are investigated with the aid of facilities provided by a high-speed, digital computer. The treatment follows, to a large extent, that summarized by Kopal (1959) and makes extensive use of the alpha-functions and related integrals provided by that author. The ellipticity and reflection effects are studied individually and different expressions are checked and compared. Test data are drawn continually from the well known system SZ Cam for which a rectified (in a more realistic sense) light curve is ultimately produced.     

The development and production of new,non-standard methods of observations with the radio telescope RATAN-600

The recent modernization of the RATAN-600 radio telescope at the Special Astrophysical Observatory has provided an opportunity to develop new procedures, called relay and zoned relay, for utilizing the new cone-surface secondary reflector. The geometric area, the horizontal beamwidth spatial resolution, and the permissible radiometer bandwidth are discussed. We are also able to estimate the changes in the sensitivities of the radio telescope-radiometer systems. The new procedures, called relay and zoned relay, allow us to obtain two-dimensional images of radio objects and to track the development of rapidly varying sources in any azimuth.Presented at the CESRA-Workshop on Coronal Magnetic Energy Release at Caputh near Potsdam in May 1994.     

Some studies on Hα-flares and microwave bursts in relation to sunspot magnetic configurations

Sunspot associated H-flares and microwave bursts occurring during the period 1972 to 1974 have been examined in relation to the magnetic strength and configurations of the sunspots and sunspot groups (abbreviated as spots). Important results obtained are: (i) percentage occurrences of flares exceeds those of microwave bursts up to a magnetic field strength of 2000 G while the reverse is true for higher field strength of spots, (ii) flare productivity (average number of flares per spot) and also burst productivity are comparatively higher in the case of and types of spots than in the case of other types of spots, (iii) the above productivities are predominantly high when magnetic configuration of spots changes during their life time, and (iv) impulsive type of microwave bursts are more associated with spots having changing type of magnetic configuration.     

Ovoid structures in the solar system: The coronae of Venus and Miranda,and the domes on the Earth

A comparison of Venus and Miranda coronae, and the Earth ovoidal structures, suggests that Venusian coronae, thermal structures associated with important compressional stress fields, could be compared to Archaean gneiss domes. Among Miranda coronae, Inverness has some characteristics not explained by either the raiser or the sinker models, and which deserve further investigation.     

Planar orbits through second variations

The development and application of a predictor-corrector method for the computation of families of periodic motions as well as of singular periodic solutions from which branchings or change in the stability character occur, based on the use of second order variations is presented. Numerical results obtained by means of this method are also given. It is found that this algorithm consumes somewhat less computer time in determining orbits-members of a family of periodic orbits, while it represents a unique tool for the determination of branchings of various orders, as well as of the precise members of each family at which the orbits change from unstable to stable and viceversa.     

The loss-cone driven instability for Langmuir waves in an unmagnetized plasma

Analytic and numerical results are presented for the growth rate of Langmuir waves due to a loss-cone distribution of energetic electrons. The effect of the magnetic field on the wave-particle interaction is ignored, and the resonance condition is described in terms of a resonance hyperboloid in momentum space. The collisional evolution of a distribution of magnetically trapped electrons is followed numerically to show how a gap distribution develops. The growth is most favorable for an intermediate sized loss cone ( 45 °) and a gap distribution in which the mean energy of the suprathermal electrons is much larger than the thermal energy of the background electrons. It is plausible that loss-cone gap distributions do develop in the solar corona, and that they should lead to second harmonic plasma emission weakly polarized in the x-mode.     

‘Dead’ pulsars: Cosmic-ray sources

Dead pulsars outnumber live pulsars by a factor of 10⁴. It is estimated that there are 3×10⁹ of them in our Galaxy. The exospheres of the atmosphere of dead pulsars are characterised by cosmic-ray energies per particle, as the result of accretion of cold particles from interstellar space. Velocities of particles in the exosphere tend to be Maxwellianised by collisions there. The temperature of the exosphere from which particles escape is of the order of 10¹² K while the temperature of the photosphere closer to the surface of the pulsar is of the order of 10⁷ K. Collisions in the exosphere result in Jeans's type escape of cosmic rays with GeV energies at infinity. Two braod ranges of conditions for the exospheres are considered (a) with no magnetic fields involved, and (b) with magnetic fields. Similar conclusions are reached regarding the escape of cosmic rays. Conditions are delineated such that the exospheres of dead pulsars might be major sources of cosmic rays.Paper dedicated to Professor Hannes Alfvén on the occasion of his 80th birthday, 30 May 1988.     

The ‘naked’ singularity in the scalar-tensor gravitation theory

The complete analysis of possible types of non-relativistic and ultra-relativistic motions in the field of the naked singularity of the STGT is given. The problem of the infall of a monochromatic radiation emitter on the naked singularity is studied. In spite of the absence of a freezing effect in the STGT, the naked singularity is not observable, for the brightness of the falling emitter decreases much faster than in the GTR. Atrr _g , the trajectory of particles and light are quite similar to that of the GTR, and due to this fact the naked singularity is observationally indistinguishable from a black hole.     

The existence of a ‘gap’ in the evolutionary sequence of pulsars

A replot of period derivative against period is done for about 300 pulsars, and the main features of the plot are discussed. The significance of a gap in this plot is reexamined and the existence of pulsars with nulling and subpulse drifting behaviour below this gap is pointed out. The implications of this for pulsar evolution are also discussed.     

On phase and ray directions of magnetosonic waves

The behavior of phase speed for the slow and fast magnetosonic waves is well documented in the literature. Not so well documented is the behavior of the ray direction and its relation to the phase direction — indeed we have not found the ray behavior recorded in most of the standard plasma physics texts. We rectify this situation and point out some of the curiosities associated with the direction of the slow ray relative to the direction of the slow phase wave. These calculations have been performed as a necessary basis for discussion of phase and ray evolution of magnetosonic waves in differentially shearing plasmas, which subject is the topic of a later paper.     

Solar flare nomenclature

The evolution of solar flare nomenclature is reviewed in the context of the paradigm shift, in progress, from flares to coronal mass ejections (CMEs) in solar-terrestrial physics. Emphasis is placed on: the distinction between eruptive (Class II) flares and confined (Class I) flares; and the underlying similarity of eruptive flares inside (two-ribbon flares) and outside (flare-like brightenings accompanying disappearing filaments) of active regions. A list of research questions/problems raised, or brought into focus, by the new paradigm is suggested; in general, these questions bear on the interrelationships and associations of the two classes (or phases) of flares. Terms such as eruptive flare and eruption (defined to encompass both the CME and its associated eruptive flare) may be useful as nominal links between opposing viewpoints in the flares vs CMEs controversy.     

On the modeling of the three-fluid structure of the quiet solar wind

The reciprocal influence of the electrons and protons, on one side, and the -particles, on the other side in the quiet solar wind is investigated within the framework of a conductive three-fluid model (with frictional forces included). For this purpose two mathematical methods are used, namely: I. Simultaneous solution of the fluid equations for all three species; and II. Solution of two-fluid equations (for electrons and protons) followed by that of a modified one-fluid equation for the -particles (in which the two-fluid solutions are used for electrons and protons).The results of our investigation indicate the following: (a)The macroscopic -particle characteristics as obtained from the two methods of solution are almost identical. Thus, the differences between the three-fluid and two-fluid characteristics of the electrons and protons represent a second order (and negligible) effect on the -particle characteristics. In both approaches, the frictional interaction between -particles and protons raises the (lower) -particle streaming velocity to that of the protons and decreases the relative to proton density ratio to a value about 0.035, as observed at 1 AU, (b)The electron and proton characteristics obtained from three-fluid and two-fluid solutions are similar, except for the proton temperature. The two-fluid solution providesT _p-values which, though within the observational error, are larger than those obtained from the simultaneous three-fluid solution (at 1 AU, the difference amounts to about 30%). Thus, the -particles affect the temperature profile of the protons in the solar wind through heat exchange (mainly), dynamical friction, as well as through their contribution to the interplanetary electrostatic field.