The evolution of groups of very light stars in the galaxy

The evolution of the velocity distribution function of a group of zero mass bodies in the gravitational field of a stellar cluster or a galactic disk is considered. We use the model of a purely discontinuous random process.     

Optical observations of flare stars in the galaxy

Observations of flare stars in the galaxy are considered. UV Ceti type stars in the solar vicinity and flare stars is star clusters and associations have almost the same properties. The differences between them are connected with the age. Flare stars are one of the richest populations in the galaxy. The evolutionary path for all flare stars is the same.Published in Astrofizika, Vol. 38, No. 4, pp. 501–507, October–December, 1995.     

Velocity gradients perpendicular to the galactic plane in the solar vicinity

One of the most important topics in astrophysics concern to the study of how the stars are born. Observational facts show that nearly all stars were born in groups within large massive complexes of gas and dust. An idea almost universally accepted, comes from the fact that gas associated with star formation is very inhomogeneous over a large range of size scales. The stars need to be formed by the fragmentation of large gas complexes. Studies of the interstellar medium show the existence of a hierarchical structure covering at least four orders of magnitude in density and length scale.Recently various studies have been made in an attempt to understand the process, or processes, responsible for the decay of large scales to small ones. Several processes have been suggested, however, some of them seem to be responsible only for generating the hierarchical structure on small scales.A study of the velocity distribution of molecular clouds in the solar vicinity, shows the existence of large velocity gradients perpendicular to the galactic plane. As can be shown, these gradients may be one of the most important sources of the energy responsible for the production of the interstellar turbulence on the largest size scales.On leave from Observatorio Astronomico da Serra da Piedade, Depto. de Fisica, ICEx, UFMG, C.P. 702, 30.161, Belo Horizonte-MG, Brasil.     

Metal-rich carbon stars in the Sagittarius dwarf spheroidal galaxy

We present spectroscopic observations from the Spitzer Space Telescope of six carbon-rich asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars in the Sagittarius dwarf spheroidal galaxy (Sgr dSph) and two foreground Galactic carbon stars. The band strengths of the observed C₂H₂ and SiC features are very similar to those observed in Galactic AGB stars. The metallicities are estimated from an empirical relation between the acetylene optical depth and the strength of the SiC feature. The metallicities are higher than those of the Large Magellanic Cloud, and close to Galactic values. While the high metallicity could imply an age of around 1 Gyr, for the dusty AGB stars, the pulsation periods suggest ages in excess of 2 or 3 Gyr. We fit the spectra of the observed stars using the dusty radiative transfer model and determine their dust mass-loss rates to be in the range  1.0–3.3 × 10⁻⁸ M_⊙ yr⁻¹  . The two Galactic foreground carbon-rich AGB stars are located at the far side of the solar circle, beyond the Galactic Centre. One of these two stars shows the strongest SiC feature in our present Local Group sample.     

Asymptotic giant branch stars in the Phoenix dwarf galaxy

JHK _s near-infrared photometry of stars in the Phoenix dwarf galaxy is presented and discussed. Combining these data with the optical photometry of Massey et al. allows a rather clean separation of field stars from Phoenix members. The discovery of a Mira variable ( P = 425 d), which is almost certainly a carbon star, leads to an estimate of the distance modulus of 23.10 ± 0.18 that is consistent with other estimates and indicates the existence of a significant population of age ∼2 Gyr. The two carbon stars of Da Costa have   M _bol=−3.8  and are consistent with belonging to a population of similar age; some other possible members of such a population are identified. A Da Costa non-carbon star is  Δ K _s∼ 0.3  mag brighter than these two carbon stars. It may be an asymptotic giant branch star of the dominant old population. The nature of other stars lying close to it in the   K _s, ( J − K _s)  diagram needs studying.     

Velocity field in the galaxy Mark 8 with vigorous starburst centres

The velocity field in the galaxy Mark 8 is studied by means of observations with the 2.6-m telescope at the Byurakan Astrophysical Observatory using the VAGR spectrograph. In the optical range, the central portion of this galaxy consists of five bright condensations which are superassociations (SA). These studies were made in a wavelength range that encompasses images of the galaxy in the Hα and [NII] λλ6548 and 6583Å emission lines. The radial velocity field was obtained. The velocities of all the superassociations were measured and a rotation curve constructed for the galaxy. The relative intensities of the emission lines have been determined. Images are constructed in the Hα and [NII] lines and in the red continuum. It is concluded that the superassociations were formed together and are, as a whole, young. The shape of the rotation curve shows that Mark 8 is an isolated galaxy with a composite multicomponent nucleus. Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 51, No. 4, pp. 543–553 (November 2008).     

Evidence for a cosmic ray gradient perpendicular to the solar equatorial plane

A study has been made of the yearly variation of the cosmic ray intensity for the years 1961–67 inclusive using pressure corrected neutron monitor data from both hemispheres to minimize seasonal meteorological effects. An annual wave is found in the data with an amplitude which varied between 0.2 and 1.0 per cent during the period but which had a sensibly constant phase, the time of maximum being in March. These observations, which are shown to be consistent with the observed heliolatitude distribution of coronal 5303Å emission, indicate the existence of a southerly directed asymmetrical gradient of up to 8 per cent perpendicular to the solar equatorial plane. It is found that the cosmic ray intensity at the Earth is controlled by the solar activity in a narrow band of heliolatitudes ±10° or ±20° centred at the heliolatitude of the Earth. Also, the results indicate that there was a phase lag of 1 ± 1 month between solar activity and the resulting changes in the cosmic ray intensity at the Earth giving a radius for the modulating region of ? 10 A.U. during the period of low solar activity considered.     

Spatial distribution of high energy cosmic ray electrons perpendicular to the galactic plane

With the help of empirical data concerning the latitudinal distribution of galactic gamma rays the contribution of inverse Compton scattered gamma rays is calculated using various models concerning the distribution of high energy cosmic ray electrons perpendicular to the galactic plane. It is shown that gamma ray astronomy from regions with vanishing stellar and interstellar matter densities at energies greater than 100 MeV provides instructive information on the cosmic ray electron density. We find evidence for the existence of a broad galactic electron disk with a total thickness of at least 6.4 kpc. The uncertainties of the cosmic ray electron spectrum measurements above 100 GeV imply an additional uncertainty in the inverse Compton source function of at least a factor 6.     

On the orbits of globular clusters of stars in the galaxy

The study of the possible shapes of orbits of globular clusters of stars is closely connected with problems of studying the processes of formation and evolution of stars. The main difficulty in studying the orbits of these objects is the incompleteness of the information about the initial conditions of the motion, in particular the nearly complete absence of observational material on the proper motions of globular clusters. For that reason the study of the motion of these objects by direct dynamic methods has not yet succeeded. In such conditions it is necessary to resort to statistical methods developed by Edmondson and Von Hoerner, which make it possible to draw certain conclusions about the possible shapes of orbits of globular clusters on the basis of the Newtonian point-mass model.The purpose of this paper is to test the results of investigations of other authors against the latest observational data on globular clusters of stars and to develop the method itself further.Translated fromAstrofizika, Vol. 37, No. 4, 1994.     

On the wind momentum problem of O-type stars in the galaxy

We have examined the wind momentum problem of O-type stars in the Galaxy. It is shown that the discrepancy between theoretical and empirical mass loss rates and terminal velocities can be reversed by using recently updated values of force multiplier parameters. With these new values, the momentum problem found by former investigators is reversed so that there now appears to be more than enough radiation force in order to accelerate the stellar winds of a sample of Galactic O-type stars. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Gas motions in the plane of the spiral galaxy NGC 3631

The velocity field of the nearly face-on galaxy NGC 3631, derived from observations in the H α line and H  i radio line, is analysed to study perturbations related to the spiral structure of the galaxy. We confirm our previous conclusion that the line-of-sight velocity field gives evidence of the wave nature of the observed two-armed spiral structure. Fourier analysis of the observed velocity field is used to determine the location of corotation of the spiral structure of this galaxy, and the radius of corotation R _c is found to be about 42 arcsec, or 3.2 kpc. The vector velocity field of the gas in the plane of the disc is restored, and, taking into account that we previously investigated vertical motions, we now have a full three-dimensional gaseous velocity field of the galaxy. We show clear evidence of the existence of two anticyclonic and four cyclonic vortices near corotation in a frame of reference rotating with the spiral pattern. The centres of the anticyclones lie between the observed spiral arms. The cyclones lie close to the observed spirals, but their centres are shifted from the maxima in brightness.