Observations of the Ca <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">ii</Emphasis> IR Triplet in High Luminosity Quasars: Exploring the Sample

We present a new spectroscopic sample of 11 quasars at intermediate redshift observed with the Infrared Spectrometer and Array Camera (ISAAC) on the ESO Very Large Telescope (VLT), covering O i λ8446 and the Ca ii triplet 8498, 8542, 8662. The new observations – that supplement the sample presented by Martínez-Aldama et al. (2015) – allow us to confirm the constraints on physical conditions and location of the region emitting the low ionization lines, as well as the relation between Ca ii and Fe ii.     

<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">pacce</Emphasis>: Perl algorithm to compute continuum and equivalent widths

We present Perl Algorithm to Compute continuum and Equivalent Widths (pacce). We describe the methods used in the computations and the requirements for its usage. We compare the measurements made with pacce and “manual” ones made using iraf splot task. These tests show that for synthetic simple stellar population (SSP) models the equivalent widths strengths are very similar (differences ?0.2 Å) for both measurements. In real stellar spectra, the correlation between both values is still very good, but with differences of up to 0.5 Å. pacce is also able to determine mean continuum and continuum at line center values, which are helpful in stellar population studies. In addition, it is also able to compute the uncertainties in the equivalent widths using photon statistics. The code is made available for the community through the web at http://www.if.ufrgs.br/~riffel/software.html.     

A Long-Term Decrease of the Mid-Size Segmentation Lengths Observed in the He <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">ii</Emphasis> (30.4 nm) Solar EUV Emission

Power spectra of segmentation-cell length (a dominant length scale of EUV emission in the transition region) from full-disk He?ii extreme ultraviolet (EUV) images observed by the Extreme ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (EIT) onboard the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) and the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) onboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) during periods of quiet-Sun conditions for a time interval from 1996 to 2015 were analyzed. The spatial power as a function of the spatial frequency from about 0.04 to 0.27 (EIT) or up to 0.48 (AIA) Mm^?1 depends on the distribution of the observed segmentation-cell dimensions – a structure of the solar EUV network. The temporal variations of the spatial power reported by Didkovsky and Gurman (Solar Phys. 289, 153, 2014) were suggested as decreases at the mid-spatial frequencies for the compared spectra when the power curves at the highest spatial frequencies of 0.5 pix^?1 were adjusted to match each other. This approach has been extended in this work to compare spectral ratios at high spatial frequencies expressed in the solar spatial frequency units of Mm^?1. A model of EIT and AIA spatial responses allowed us to directly compare spatial spectral ratios at high spatial frequencies for five years of joint operation of EIT and AIA, from 2010 to 2015. Based on this approach, we represent these ratio changes as a long-term network transformation that may be interpreted as a continuous dissipation of mid-size network structures to the smaller-size structures in the transition region. In contrast to expected cycling of the segmentation-cell dimension structures and associated spatial power in the spectra with the solar cycle, the spectra demonstrate a significant and steady change of the EUV network. The temporal trend across these structural spectra is not critically sensitive to any long-term instrumental changes, e.g. degradation of sensitivity, but to the change of the segmentation-cell dimensions of the EUV network structure.     

Line-of-Sight Observables Algorithms for the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager</Emphasis> (HMI) Instrument Tested with <Emphasis Type="Italic">Interferometric Bidimensional Spectrometer</Emphasis> (IBIS) Observations

The Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager (HMI) instrument onboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory produces line-of-sight (LOS) observables (Doppler velocity, magnetic-field strength, Fe i line width, line depth, and continuum intensity) as well as vector magnetic-field maps at the solar surface. The accuracy of LOS observables is dependent on the algorithm used to translate a sequence of HMI filtergrams into the corresponding observables. Using one hour of high-cadence imaging spectropolarimetric observations of a sunspot in the Fe i line at 6173 Å through the Interferometric Bidimensional Spectrometer installed at the Dunn Solar Telescope, and the Milne–Eddington inversion of the corresponding Stokes vectors, we test the accuracy of the observables algorithm currently implemented in the HMI data-analysis pipeline: the MDI-like algorithm. In an attempt to improve the accuracy of HMI observables, we also compare this algorithm to others that may be implemented in the future: a least-squares fit with a Gaussian profile, a least-squares fit with a Voigt profile, and the use of second Fourier coefficients in the MDI-like algorithm.     

On the electron density diagnostics of silicon <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">viii</Emphasis> ion in solar transition region

The conditions for accurate electron density diagnostics in the solar transition region are discussed, and result shows that lines from Si?viii can provide an excellent tool for electron density diagnostics of the emitting plasma. For the Si?viii 1440.50 Å and 1445.75 Å lines, the principle of the electron density diagnostics is discussed for any intensity ratio. By the observed intensity ratio, the diagnostic results of the electron density for the quiet sun and the active region are calculated, and results indicate that in the quiet sun, the averaged electron density is \(\log (N_{e}) = 8.63\); while in the active region, the averaged density gets the maximum \(\log (N_{e}) = 8.86\) in the active region (B), and gets the minimum \(\log (N_{e}) = 8.38\) in the active region (E), where the electron density is in the unit of cm^?3. Finally, the relationship of intensity ratio and electron density is discussed, in the case of lower and higher electron density limits. This discussion is significant in the electron density diagnostics, which will be important for study on coronal heating and acceleration of solar wind.     

Broad-band spectral evolution and temporal variability of IGR J17091-3624 during its 2016 outburst: <Emphasis Type="Italic">SWIFT</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">NuSTAR</Emphasis> results

We report on the 2016 outburst of the transient Galactic Black Hole candidate IGR J17091-3624 based on the observation campaign carried out with SWIFT and NuSTAR. The outburst profile, as observed with SWIFT-XRT, shows a typical ‘q’-shape in the Hardness Intensity Diagram (HID). Based on the spectral and temporal evolution of the different parameters, we are able to identify all the spectral states in the q-profile of HID and the Hardness-RMS diagram (HRD). Both XRT and NuSTAR observations show an evolution of low frequency Quasi periodic oscillations (QPOs) during the low hard and hard intermediate states of the outburst rising phase. We also find mHz QPOs along-with distinct coherent class variabilities (heartbeat oscillations) with different timescales, similar to the \(\rho \)-class (observed in GRS 1915+105). Phenomenological modelling of the broad-band XRT and NuSTAR spectra also reveals the evolution of high energy cut-off and presence of reflection from ionized material during the rising phase of the outburst. Further, we conduct the modelling of X-ray spectra of SWIFT and NuSTAR in 0.5–79 keV to understand the accretion flow dynamics based on two component flow model. From this modelling, we constrain the mass of the source to be in the range of \(10.62\mbox{--}12.33~\mbox{M}_{\odot }\) with 90% confidence, which is consistent with earlier findings.     

Sensitivity of Selected Ba <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">ii</Emphasis>, Fe <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">i</Emphasis>, Fe <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">ii</Emphasis>, and Cr <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">i</Emphasis> Spectral Lines to Velocity in Quiet Solar Atmosphere

We examine the sensitivity of selected Ba?ii, Fe?i, Fe?ii, and Cr?i spectral lines to changes of the line-of-sight velocity by sharpness of their line profiles and response functions to line-of-sight velocity evaluated by the 1-D model of the quiet solar atmosphere in the LTE approximation. The set of selected lines includes the Ba?ii 4554 Å line, generally considered to be an excellent Doppler mapper. Our findings confirm earlier results showing that the sensitivity increases not only with wavelength, as anticipated from the Doppler relation, but mainly with the sharpness of line profiles given by the ratio of their depths and widths. The line Fe?i 5247 Å is the most sensitive in our set, whereas the Fe?i and Fe?ii infrared lines show very low sensitivity because of their large thermal widths. The line Ba?ii 4554 Å shows only moderate sensitivity due to its large width, given by a broad hyperfine structure and isotopic split. For the first time we identify a very promising and so far unknown Doppler mapper of the solar photosphere and low chromosphere, which is the line Ba?ii 6497 Å. Its sensitivity is comparable with the sensitivity of Fe?i 5247 Å and clearly surpasses the sensitivity of Ba?ii 4554 Å. The line Ba?ii 6497 Å offers many advantages, making it a highly recommendable choice for future studies of line-of-sight velocities in the photosphere and low chromosphere.     

An on Orbit Determination of Point Spread Functions for the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph</Emphasis>

Using the 2016 Mercury transit of the Sun, we characterize on orbit spatial point spread functions (PSFs) for the Near- (NUV) and Far- (FUV) Ultra-Violet spectrograph channels of NASA’s Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph (IRIS). A semi-blind Richardson–Lucy deconvolution method is used to estimate PSFs for each channel. Corresponding estimates of Modulation Transfer Functions (MTFs) indicate resolution of 2.47 cycles/arcsec in the NUV channel near 2796 Å and 2.55 cycles/arcsec near 2814 Å. In the short (\({\approx}\,1336~\mathring{\mathrm{A}}\)) and long (\({\approx}\,1394~\mathring{\mathrm{A}}\)) wavelength FUV channels, our MTFs show pixel-limited resolution (3.0 cycles/arcsec). The PSF estimates perform well under deconvolution, removing or significantly reducing instrument artifacts in the Mercury transit spectra. The usefulness of the PSFs is demonstrated in a case study of an isolated explosive event. PSF estimates and deconvolution routines are provided through a SolarSoft module.     

Oscillations in Solar Faculae. III. The Phase Relations Between Chromospheric and Photospheric Line-of-Sight Velocities

An analysis of line-of-sight velocity oscillation in nine solar faculae was undertaken with the aim of studying phase relations between chromospheric (He?i 10830?Å line) and photospheric (Si?i 10827 Å line) five-minute oscillations. We found that the time lag of the chromospheric signal relative to photospheric one varies from ?12 to 100 seconds and is about 50 seconds on average. We assume that the small observed lag can have three possible explanations: i) convergence of formation levels of He?i 10830?Å and Si?i 10827?Å in faculae; ii) significant increase of five-minute oscillation propagation velocity above faculae; iii) simultaneous presence of standing and travelling waves.     

Plane Symmetric Cosmological Model with Quark and Strange Quark Matter in <Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis>) Theory of Gravity

We studied plane symmetric cosmological model in the presence of quark and strange quark matter with the help of f(R, T) theory. To decipher solutions of plane symmetric space-time, we used power law relation between scale factor and deceleration parameter. We considered the special law of variation of Hubble’s parameter proposed by Berman (Nuovo Cimento B74, 182, 1983) which yields constant deceleration parameter. We also discussed the physical behavior of the solutions by using some physical parameters.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">GALEX</Emphasis> and star formation

Wide-field far-UV (FUV, 1344–1786 Å) and near-UV (NUV, 1771–2831 Å) imaging from GALEX provides a deep, comprehensive view of the young stellar populations in hundreds of nearby galaxies, shedding new light on the process of star formation (SF) in different environments, and on the interplay between dust and SF. GALEX’s FUV-NUV color is extremely sensitive to stellar populations of ages up to a few hundred Myrs, unambiguously probing their presence and enabling age-dating and stellar mass estimate, together with the characterization of interstellar dust extinction. The deep sensitivity, combined with the wide field-of-view, made possible in particular the discovery and characterization of star formation in extremely low-density, diffuse gas environments such as outer galaxy disks, tidal tails, low-surface-brightness galaxies (LSB) and dwarf Irregular galaxies, and of rejuvenation episodes in early-type galaxies. Such results provide several missing links for interpreting galaxy classes in an evolutionary context, extend our knowledge of the star-formation process to previously unexplored conditions, constrain models of galaxy disk formation, and clarify the mutual role of dust and star formation. We review a variety of star-forming environments studied by GALEX, and provide some model analysis tools useful for interpretation of GALEX measurements, and potentially as basic science planning tools for next-generation UV instruments.     

Dynamics of Large-Scale Solar-Wind Streams Obtained by the Double Superposed Epoch Analysis: 2. Comparisons of CIRs <Emphasis Type="Italic">vs</Emphasis>. Sheaths and MCs <Emphasis Type="Italic">vs</Emphasis>. Ejecta

This work is a continuation of our previous article (Yermolaev et al. in J. Geophys. Res. 120, 7094, 2015), which describes the average temporal profiles of interplanetary plasma and field parameters in large-scale solar-wind (SW) streams: corotating interaction regions (CIRs), interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs including both magnetic clouds (MCs) and ejecta), and sheaths as well as interplanetary shocks (ISs). As in the previous article, we use the data of the OMNI database, our catalog of large-scale solar-wind phenomena during 1976?–?2000 (Yermolaev et al. in Cosmic Res., 47, 2, 81, 2009) and the method of double superposed epoch analysis (Yermolaev et al. in Ann. Geophys., 28, 2177, 2010a). We rescale the duration of all types of structures in such a way that the beginnings and endings for all of them coincide. We present new detailed results comparing pair phenomena: 1) both types of compression regions (i.e. CIRs vs. sheaths) and 2) both types of ICMEs (MCs vs. ejecta). The obtained data allow us to suggest that the formation of the two types of compression regions responds to the same physical mechanism, regardless of the type of piston (high-speed stream (HSS) or ICME); the differences are connected to the geometry (i.e. the angle between the speed gradient in front of the piston and the satellite trajectory) and the jumps in speed at the edges of the compression regions. In our opinion, one of the possible reasons behind the observed differences in the parameters in MCs and ejecta is that when ejecta are observed, the satellite passes farther from the nose of the area of ICME than when MCs are observed.     

A New Solar Imaging System for Observing High-Speed Eruptions: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Solar Dynamics Doppler Imager</Emphasis> (SDDI)

A new solar imaging system was installed at Hida Observatory to observe the dynamics of flares and filament eruptions. The system (Solar Dynamics Doppler Imager; SDDI) takes full-disk solar images with a field of view of \(2520~\mbox{arcsec} \times 2520~\mbox{arcsec}\) at multiple wavelengths around the \(\mathrm{H}\alpha\) line at 6562 Å. Regular operation was started in May 2016, in which images at 73 wavelength positions spanning from \(\mathrm{H}\alpha -9~\mathring{\mathrm{A}}\) to \(\mathrm{H}\alpha +9~\mathring{\mathrm{A}}\) are obtained every 15 seconds. The large dynamic range of the line-of-sight velocity measurements (\({\pm}\,400~\mbox{km}\,\mbox{s}^{-1}\)) allows us to determine the real motions of erupting filaments in 3D space. It is expected that SDDI provides unprecedented datasets to study the relation between the kinematics of filament eruptions and coronal mass ejections (CME), and to contribute to the real-time prediction of the occurrence of CMEs that cause a significant impact on the space environment of the Earth.     

A revision of soft proton scattering at grazing incidence and its implementation in the <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">geant</Emphasis>4 toolkit

The scattering of soft protons inside the Wolter-type optics of X-ray observatories has been proven to concentrate these particles onto the focal plane instruments. The funneling of these protons increases the instrumental background and can also contribute to the degrading of the detectors. The instrumental background and degradation of the detector’s performance experienced by Chandra and XMM-Newton is significantly larger than what was expected on the basis of previous Monte Carlo simulations. For Chandra the main issue is the degradation of the energy resolution due to lattice displacements in the detectors. For XMM the contribution to the instrumental background is more significant. In between, new laboratory measurements as well as a revision of the theory are needed to correctly assess the impact of the environmental radiation for future missions. In this publication we present a Geant4 class that will allow future users to select between either theoretical models or measured data to simulate the scattering of soft protons at grazing angles. To develop this method, we revisit the theory of elastic scattering of protons on polished surfaces and implement these approaches into Geant4. We also implemented recently performed measurements using parts of eROSITA (extended ROentgen Survey with an Imaging Telescope Array) mirror shells as scattering targets as another scattering model to be used within the Geant4 toolkit.     

Plane Symmetric Dark Energy Models in the Form of Wet Dark Fluid in <Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">R</Emphasis>,<Emphasis Type="Italic">T</Emphasis>) Gravity

In this paper, we have investigated the plane symmetric space-time with wet dark fluid (WDF), which is a candidate for dark energy, in the framework of f (R,T) gravity Harko et al. 2011, Phys. Rev. D, 84, 024020), where R and T denote the Ricci scalar and the trace of the energy–momentum tensor respectively. We have used the equation of state in the form of WDF for the dark energy component of the Universe. It is modeled on the equation of state p = ω(ρ ? ρ ^?). The exact solutions to the corresponding field equations are obtained for power-law and exponential volumetric expansion. The geometrical and physical parameters for both the models are studied. Also, we have discussed the well-known astrophysical phenomena, namely the look-back time, proper distance, the luminosity distance and angular diameter distance with red shift.     

Relative Velocities and Linewidths in a Coronal Hole and Outside

Relative Doppler velocities and spectral linewidths in a coronal hole and in the quiet Sun region outside have been obtained from Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO)/Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer (CDS) observations. Five strong emission lines in the CDS wavelength range (namely, O? iii 599 Å, O?v 630 Å, Ne?vi 562.8 Å, He?ii 304 Å, and Mg?ix 368 Å), whose formation temperatures represent different heights in the solar atmosphere from the lower transition region to the inner corona, have been used in the study. As reported earlier, relative velocities in the coronal hole are generally blueshifted with respect to the quiet Sun, and the magnitude of the blueshifts increases with height. It has been found that the polar coronal hole has larger relative velocities than the equatorial extension in the inner corona. Several localized velocity contours have been found mainly on network brightenings and in the vicinity of the coronal hole boundary. The presence of velocity contours on the network may represent network outflows whereas the latter could be due to localized jets probably arising from magnetic reconnection at the boundary. All spectral lines have larger widths in the coronal hole than in the quiet Sun. In O?v 630 Å an extended low-linewidth region is seen in the coronal hole?–?quiet Sun boundary, which may indicate fresh mass transfer across the boundary. Also polar coronal holes have larger linewidths in comparison with the equatorial extension. Together with larger relative velocities, this suggests that the solar wind emanating from polar hole regions is faster than that from equatorial hole regions.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">GALEX</Emphasis> far-ultraviolet observations of metal-poor subdwarfs

Far-ultraviolet photometry derived from the GALEX satellite observatory has been compiled for a sample of metal-poor subdwarfs with \(\mathrm{[Fe/H]} < -1.0\). The FUV properties of these subdwarfs are compared with those of a set of Population I dwarfs that are known to have low levels of chromospheric activity. Comparisons are made via a number of photometric plots, including an absolute FUV magnitude versus \((V-K_{s})\) diagram, two-colour diagrams involving both \((m_{ \mathrm{FUV}}-B)\) and \((m_{\mathrm{FUV}}-V)\) versus \(B-V\), and a two-colour diagram composed of \((m_{\mathrm{FUV}}-V)\) versus \((V-K_{s})\). The warmest subdwarfs with \((V-K_{s}) \sim1.2\mbox{--}1.4\) show FUV excesses ranging from \(\sim2\mbox{--}3~\mbox{mag}\) relative to the Population I dwarfs, with the amount of FUV enhancement decreasing among subdwarfs of decreasing effective temperature. The coolest dwarfs that are compared have \((V-K_{s}) \sim1.8\), and among these stars the subdwarfs with \(-2.0 \leq{\mathrm{[Fe/H]}} \leq-1.0\) approach the locus of low activity Population I dwarfs in the \((m_{\mathrm{FUV}}-V, V-K_{s})\) diagram. In the \((m_{\mathrm{FUV}}-B, B-V)\) diagram the subdwarfs in this metallicity range overlap the Population I dwarf sequence for \((B-V) > 0.6\). The behaviour of the subdwarfs is consistent with their FUV fluxes being determined by a combination of a photospheric FUV spectrum, the strength of which diminishes towards cooler effective temperatures, and a spectrum of emission lines arising from a chromosphere and/or transition region which are of comparable strength between the coolest dwarfs and subdwarfs.     

Onboard Automated CME Detection Algorithm for the Visible Emission Line Coronagraph on <Emphasis Type="Italic">ADITYA-L1</Emphasis>

ADITYA-L1 is India’s first space mission to study the Sun from the Lagrange 1 position. The Visible Emission Line Coronagraph (VELC) is one of seven payloads on the ADITYA-L1 mission, which is scheduled to be launched around 2020. One of the primary objectives of the VELC is to study the dynamics of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) in the inner corona. This will be accomplished by taking high-resolution (\({\approx}\,2.51~\mbox{arcsec}\,\mbox{pixel}^{-1}\)) images of the corona from \(1.05~\mbox{R}_{\odot}\,\mbox{--}\,3~\mbox{R}_{\odot}\) at a high cadence of 1 s in the 10 Å passband centered at 5000 Å. Because telemetry at the Lagrangian 1 position is limited, we plan to implement an onboard automated CME detection algorithm. The detection algorithm is based on intensity thresholding followed by area thresholding in successive difference images that are spatially rebinned to improve the signal-to-noise ratio. We present the results of the application of this algorithm on the data from existing coronagraphs such as STEREO/SECCHI COR-1, which is a space-based coronagraph, and K-Cor, a ground-based coronagraph, because they have a field of view (FOV) that is most similar to that of VELC. Since no existing space-based coronagraph has a FOV similar to VELC, we have created synthetic coronal images for the VELC FOV after including photon noise and injected CMEs of different types. The performance of the CME detection algorithm was tested on these images. We found that for VELC images, the telemetry can be reduced by a factor of 85% or more while maintaining a CME detection rate of 70% or higher at the same time. Finally, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this algorithm. The application of such an onboard algorithm in future will enable us to take higher resolution images with an improved cadence from space and simultaneously reduce the load on limited telemetry. This will help understanding CMEs better by studying their characteristics with improved spatial and temporal resolution.     

Optical spectra of supernova remnant candidates in the Sculptor Group galaxy NGC 300

We present moderate-resolution (<5 Å) long-slit optical spectra of 51 nebular objects in the nearby Sculptor Group galaxy NGC 300 obtained with the 2.3 meter Advanced Technology Telescope at Siding Spring Observatory, Australia. Adopting the criterion of [S?ii]_Total:Hα≥0.4 to confirm supernova remnants (SNRs) from optical spectra, we find that of 28 objects previously proposed as SNRs from optical observations, 22 meet this criterion with six showing [S?ii]_Total:Hα of less than 0.4. Of 27 objects suggested as SNRs from radio data, four are associated with the 28 previously proposed SNRs. Of these four, three (included in the 22 above) meet the criterion. In all, 22 of the 51 nebular objects meet the [S ii]_Total:Hα criterion as SNRs while the nature of the remaining 29 objects remains undetermined by these observations.     

Discovery of GeV gamma-ray emission from the LMC B0443-6657 with the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fermi</Emphasis> Large Area Telescope

We report the discovery of gamma-ray detection from the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) B0443-6657 using the Large Area Telescope (LAT) on board the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope. LMC B0443-6657 is a flat-spectrum radio source, possibly associated with a supernova remnant in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC N4). Employing the LAT data of 8 years, our results show a significant excess (\(>9.4\sigma \)) of gamma rays in the range of 0.2–100 GeV above the gamma-ray background. A power-law function is found to adequately describe the 0.2–\(100\mbox{ GeV}\)\(\gamma \)-ray spectrum, which yields a photon flux of \(3.27\pm 0.53\ \text{photon}\,\mbox{cm}^{2}\,\mbox{s}^{-1}\) with a photon index of \(2.35\pm 0.11\), corresponding to an isotropic gamma-ray luminosity of \(5.3\times 10^{40}~\mbox{erg}\,\mbox{s}^{-1}\). The hadronic model predicts a low X-ray and TeV flux while the leptonic model predicts an observable flux in these two energy bands. The follow-up observations of the LMC B0443-6657 in X-ray or TeV band would distinguish the radiation models of gamma rays from this region.