A Unified Model for The 3.28 μ Emission and The 2200 Å Interstellar Extinction Feature

The 3.28 μm feature observed in the diffuse galactic emission and the 2200 Å interstellar extinction feature must have a common source. This requirement rules out graphitic-type PAH molecules such as coronone and tends to favour naturally occurring bi-cyclic ring structures typified by quinoline and its derivatives.     

Organic Molecules in Interstellar Dust: A Possible Spectral Signature at λ2200 Å?

The λ2200 Å interstellar absorption band, generally attributed to graphite grains, could equally well arise from π → π^*electronic transitions in conjugated double bonds of organic molecules. These molecules, which should comprise ～ 10% of the total interstellar dust mass, may be lodged within clumps of100 Å-sized refractory grains.     

Variability of the spectrum of β CrB in the region of the lithium line Li I λ6708Å

Some results of observations of the spectrum of the spectroscopic-binary Ap star CrB in the region of the lithium line Li I 6708Å are presented. The observations were made at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory over the period 1993–1995 with the coudé spectrograph equipped with a CCD camera on the 2.6-m telescope. Several factors which can affect the behavior of the lithium blend are examined: stellar rotation, magnetic field, isotopic shift, the binary system, and blending by unidentified elements. The principal result of this work is the detection of variability of the lithium blend Li I 6708Å over the period of rotation of the star. The variations of the radial velocity V_r, and the FWHM of the lithium blend are reported here for the first time. They indicate either a nonuniform distribution of lithium or a nonuniform distribution of conditions for excitation of the lithium resonance doublet in the complex structure of the strong surface magnetic field. Similar variations are also shown by the lines of the rare-earth elements Gd II 6702.10 Å, Gd II + Ce II 6704.3Å, and Ce II + Fe I 6706.0 Å.Translated fromAstrofizika, Vol. 39, No. 1, pp. 19–30, January–March, 1996.     

X-ray VS Heii λ1640 Å correlation of II Peg

The Heii 1640 Å emission feature on the IUE spectra of II Peg has been compared with the observed X-ray flux. The atmospheric activity level is determined by comparing the several diagnostic line intensities with the solar case.     

Limb brightening on Uranus: An interpretation of the λ7300 Å methane band

Measurements of limb brightening on the Uranus disk within the λ7300 Å CH₄ band are interpreted using an elementary inhomogeneous radiative transfer model to describe the atmosphere. A two layer model which consists of a finite, optically thin, region of conservatively scattering particles overlying a semi-infinite clear H₂CH₄ atmosphere satisfactorily explains the observations. The maximum optical thickness of the upper layer appears to lie in the range 0.1 to 0.2. The CH₄/H₂ mixing ratio in the lower layer is larger than the corresponding solar value by a factor on the order of three or greater. The results are discussed briefly in terms of current models of the Uranus atmosphere.     

Graphite grains,carbon depletion and the 2200 Å feature

In a recent paper Millar has shown that if one assumes that the carbon depleted from the gas phase is all tied up into small graphite grains the observational data raise serious doubts against the hypothesis that these particles are responsible for the 2200 Å extinction hump. In the present paper it is shown that this problem may be overcome if the presence in the interstellar space of graphite grains with sizes greater than 0.02 is taken into account. The derived ratios between the masses of large grains, which do not contribute to the ultraviolet extinction hump, and those of the small ones varies from region to region of the sky and are consistent with those evaluated in the circumstellar shells of carbon stars. Moreover, the largest sizes of the graphite particles we find are in agreement with those needed to fit the interstellar extinction curve over the wavelength range 0.11–<1 .     

Towards an Understanding of the λ4000Å Break Behaviour in Old Stellar Populations

We present new empirical fitting functions describing the behaviour of the discontinuity at λ4000 Å in terms of the stellar atmospheric parameters: effective temperature, metallicity and surface gravity. These calibrations can be easily incorporated into stellar population models, providing, for the first time, accurate predictions of the break amplitud for, relatively old, composite systems. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Identification of peculiar A-stars. I. Analysis of the equivalent width of the 2786–2810 Å spectral band and the MgII 4481 Å line for 137 A-stars

The dependence of the equivalent widths of the 2786–2810 Å spectral band and the MgII 4481 Å line on the basic parameters (T_eff, logg and [M/H]) for 137 bright A-stars shows that 60 of them are candidate peculiar stars. Given the similar behavior of W(2800) and W(4481), it can be assumed that 34 of the stars are chemically peculiar stars. The anomalous values of W(2800), W(4481), and [M/H] vary over wide limits for the rest of the stars, possibly because they are binary. Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 51, No. 4, pp. 577–593 (November 2008).     

Measurement of the relative intensities of Heζ-H8 lines λ3889Å in the spectrum of the chromospheric spicules at various heights above the limb

A series of 31 large scale spectra of the spicules near H8-He lines 3889 Å has been photographed at different heights (1500–5000 km) with 53-cm coronagraph. The solar image was 121 mm in diameter, dispersion and spatial resolution were respectively 0.647 Å mm^–1 and 1–2. Equivalent widths of both lines have been measured and ratio R = EW_He/EW_H8 was obtained. T _e(h) distribution in the averaged spicule deduced differs from that in the recent spicule model by Beckers (1972): the spicules are colder greatly than it was accepted hitherto (T _e 10000 K). The electron temperature in the quiescent prominence which occurred in the spectra was also estimated: T _e 6000 K at h = 4000 and 5000 km.     

Changes of the CaI λ6102.7 Å line profile and the magnetic field structure during the August 12, 1981 solar flare

We study the changes of the CaI λ6102.7 Å line profile and the magnetic field structure during the 1B/M2.2 while-light flare of August 12, 1981. The two brightest flare knots located in the penumbra of a sunspot with a δ configuration are investigated. The 1 ± V line profiles are analyzed. The reduction and analysis of our observations have yielded the following results. (1) The line profiles changed significantly during the flare, especially at the time of optical continuum emission observed near the flare maximum. In addition to the significant decrease in the depth, a narrow polarized emission whose Zeeman splitting corresponded to a longitudinal magnetic field strength of 3600 Gs was observed. This is much larger than the magnetic field strength in the underlying sunspot determined from the Zeeman splitting of absorption lines. (2) The largest changes of the CaI λ6102.7 Å line profile observed during the flare can lead to an underestimation of the longitudinal magnetic field strength measured with a video magnetograph by a factor of 4.5, but they cannot be responsible for the polarity reversal. (3) A sharp short-term displacement of the neutral line occurred at a time close to the flare maximum, which gave rise to a reversed-polarity magnetic field on a small area of the active region, i.e., a magnetic transient. This can be interpreted as a change in the inclination of the magnetic field lines to the line of sight during the flare. The short-term depolarization of the CaI λ6102.7 Å line emission observed at the other flare knot can also be the result of a change in the magnetic field structure. (4) These fast dynamic changes of the magnetic field lines occurred after the maximum of the impulsive flare phase and were close in time to the appearance of type II radio emission.     

Interstellar absorptions at λ=3.2 μm and 3.3 μm

Unidentified interstellar absorption bands at =3.2 m and 3.3 m might be due to amino-acids in bacterial grains.     

Helium 10830 Å measurements of the Sun

Measurements of the Sun in the near-infrared He i 10830 Å absorption line were performed using the echelle spectrograph with a dispersion of 6.71 mÅ per pixel at the Vacuum Tower Telescope (German Solar Telescopes, Teide Observatory, Izaña, Tenerife, Spain) on May 26, 1993. These measurements were compared with full-disc soft X-ray images of the Sun (Japanese solar satellite Yohkoh), full-disc solar images in H (Big Bear Solar Observatory), full-disc solar images in the He i 10830 Å line (National Solar Observatory, Kitt Peak) and with full-disc microwave solar maps at 37 GHz (Metsähovi Radio Research Station). In the He 10830 Å line the Sun displays a limb darkening similar to that in the visible part of the spectrum. Active regions and H filaments show a strong absorption in the He 10830 Å line, whereas the absorption is weak in coronal holes.     

A unified model for the 3.28 μ emission and the λ2200 å interstellar extinction feature

The 3.28 m feature observed in the diffuse galactic emission and the 2200 Å interstellar extinction feature must have a common source. This requirement rules out graphitic-type PAH molecules such as coronone and tends to favour naturally occurring bi-cyclic ring structures typified by quinoline and its derivatives.     

The 2200 Å extinction hump and porous graphite grains

We discuss in this paper the possibility of interpreting the 2200 Å band occurring in the interstellar extinction curves as being attributed to porous graphite. The results show that grains with radii smaller than 0.015 m and a porosity degree within the values 0.02f0.25 are able to fit satisfactorily the peak at 4.6 m^–1 and the band shape between 4 and 5.2 m^–1. Consideration of the expected density for such particles seems to confirm that interstellar grains may be porous but, at the same time, suggests that care must be taken when data concerning dust in the solar system are extrapolated to the interstellar space.     

Evening and morning twilight enhancement of λ5577 Å atomic oxygen line at Allahabad

A photometer for the observation of twilight airglow emissions has been fabricated. Intensity variation in morning and evening twilight of 5577 Å line of atomic oxygen has been recorded at Allahabad for one year duration from 23rd March, 1987 to 22nd March, 1988. The enhancement in the intensity of the line is found to be irregular. Out of 40 clear evenings and 25 clear mornings from 23rd March, 1987 to 15th June, 1987 enhancement is observed in 24 evenings and 15 mornings. However, no enhancement is observed during the period from 15th September, 1987 to 15th October, 1987. It is found that rise and fall of intensity is exponential during twilight period. Considering different mechanism for the excitation of atomic oxygen green line, it is concluded that none of them are able to explain enhancement. More work is needed to be carried out for the better understanding of the problem.     

Quiet Sun observations of the Ali autoionization lines λ1932 and λ1936

We present quiet Sun observations obtained during a rocket flight of the Al i autoionization lines 1932 and 1936 at solar pointings ranging from = 0.73 out to the visible limb. Absolute intensities are estimated to be accurate to approximately ±20%. These lines progressively weaken with decreasing but never go into emission before finally disappearing with the continuum just beyond the visible solar limb. The observations are compared with LTE line profiles computed through the quiet Sun atmosphere of Vernazza et al. (1976). We discuss several areas of disagreement between the synthetic and observed profiles.     

Optical spectrum of the post-AGB Star HD56126 in the wavelength interval 4010-8790 Å Å

The optical spectrum of the post-AGB star HD56126 identified with the infrared source IRAS07134+1005 is studied in detail using high spectral resolution observations (R = 25000 and 60000) performed with the echelle spectrographs of the 6-m telescope. A total of about one and a half thousand absorptions of neutral atoms and ions, absorption bands of C₂, CN, and CH molecules, and interstellar bands (DIBs) are identified in the 4012 to 8790 Å Å wavelength interval, and the depths and radial velocities of these spectral features are measured. Differences are revealed between the variations of the radial velocities measured from spectral features of different excitation. In addition to the well-known variability of the Hα profile, we found variations in the profiles of a number of FeII, YII, and BaII lines. We also produce an atlas of the spectrum of HD56126 and its comparison star α Per. The full version of the Atlas is available in electronic form from: http://www.sao.ru/hq/ssl/Atlas/Atlas.html.     

Line width observation of Heii 4686 Å and Hei 4713 Å in the chromosphere

Line profiles of He ii 4686 Å and He i 4713 Å from active regions in the chromosphere were observed during the total solar eclipse of February 16, 1980, with a grazing incidence objective grating spectrograph. The Doppler width of the He i triplet line of 4713 Å increases with height and the average width is compatible with width of metallic and hydrogen lines, suggesting that the kinetic temperature of He i triplet emitting region is T 8000 K. This can only be explained by recombination after photo-ionization due to coronal UV radiation. The Doppler width of the Paschen line of He ii 4686 is, without any correction for the separation of subcomponents of the line nor non-thermal velocity, 18.4 km s^-1. This line width also shows a tendency to increase with height. After comparison with Doppler widths of He i 4713 and the EUV lines, and a necessary subtraction of non-thermal velocity, it is shown that this line is emitted in a 2 × 10⁴ K temperature region, which again supports the view that this line is emitted through the recombination process after photoionization due to coronal XUV radiation below 228 Å.     

Intensity variation of Oi λ5577 Å line of atomic oxygen at allahabad during morning and evening twilight

Intensity variation of Oi green line observed at Allahabad (25°32 N, 81°53 E) by a laboratorymade photometer has been reported here for the period January 1988 to December 1988. During the summer period of observation, slight enhancement in the intensity of evening and morning twilight emission is observed for a short duration of 4 min. However, winter observations show less pronounced enhancement in the intensity of evening twilight, while it does not occur during morning twilight. These observations are closely in agreement with those of Schaffer (1975).     

Observations of the limb effect in potassium λ7699

Center-to-limb observations of the Ki 7699 line made on 30 days over a five-year period using the McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope at Kitt Peak are presented. Both a relative and absolute limb effect have been derived from the data. Our determination of the limb effect in Ki 7699 shows a linear increase to the limb amounting to about 40 m s^–1.Operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. (AURA) under cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation.