Interstellar Extinction and the Intrinsic Colors of Classical Cepheids in the Galaxy, the LMC, and the SMC

New methods are applied to samples of classical cepheids in the galaxy, the Large Magellanic Cloud, and the Small Magellanic Cloud to determine the interstellar extinction law for the classical cepheids, R _B:R _V:R _I:R _J:R _H:R _K= 4.190:3.190:1.884:0.851:0.501:0.303, the color excesses for classical cepheids in the galaxy, E(B-V)=-0.382-0.168logP+0.766(V-I), and the color excesses for classical cepheids in the LMC and SMC, E(B-V)=-0.374-0.166logP+0.766(V-I). The dependence of the intrinsic color (B-V)₀ on the metallicity of classical cepheids is discussed. The intrinsic color (V-I)₀ is found to be absolutely independent of the metallicity of classical cepheids. A high precision formula is obtained for calculating the intrinsic colors of classical cepheids in the galaxy: (<B>-<V>)₀=0.365(±0.011)+0.328(±0.012)logP.     

Some Bianchi type cosmological models in f(R) gravity

The modified theories of gravity, especially the f(R) gravity, have attracted much attention in the last decade. In this context, we study the exact vacuum solutions of Bianchi type I, III and Kantowski-Sachs spacetimes in the metric version of f(R) gravity. The field equations are solved by taking expansion scalar θ proportional to shear scalar σ which gives A=B ⁿ , where A and B are the metric coefficients. The physical behavior of the solutions has been discussed using some physical quantities. Also, the function of the Ricci scalar is evaluated in each case.     

Stability of motion in the Sitnikov 3-body problem

We study the stability of motion in the 3-body Sitnikov problem, with the two equal mass primaries (m ₁ = m ₂ = 0.5) rotating in the x, y plane and vary the mass of the third particle, 0 ≤ m ₃ < 10⁻³, placed initially on the z-axis. We begin by finding for the restricted problem (with m ₃ = 0) an apparently infinite sequence of stability intervals on the z-axis, whose width grows and tends to a fixed non-zero value, as we move away from z = 0. We then estimate the extent of “islands” of bounded motion in x, y, z space about these intervals and show that it also increases as |z| grows. Turning to the so-called extended Sitnikov problem, where the third particle moves only along the z-axis, we find that, as m ₃ increases, the domain of allowed motion grows significantly and chaotic regions in phase space appear through a series of saddle-node bifurcations. Finally, we concentrate on the general 3-body problem and demonstrate that, for very small masses, m ₃ ≈ 10⁻⁶, the “islands” of bounded motion about the z-axis stability intervals are larger than the ones for m ₃ = 0. Furthermore, as m ₃ increases, it is the regions of bounded motion closest to z = 0 that disappear first, while the ones further away “disperse” at larger m ₃ values, thus providing further evidence of an increasing stability of the motion away from the plane of the two primaries, as observed in the m ₃ = 0 case.     

A mass ratio limit for primordial black holes

We augment our scenario for the formation of astronomical objects from macroscopic superstrings by the assumption that the central matter keeps its identity in the fragmentation. From the condition that the angular momentum per mass squared of this matter should be less than the Kerr limit G/c, we obtain upper limits for the ratio of the mass of central black holes M(BH) to the mass M of the host object. This limit is M(BH)/M ≈ 0.001, and, expressed in observed quantities, approximately M(BH)/M ≈ σ²/(v · c) where σ is the r.m.s. velocity, v the rotational velocity and c the velocity of light. The valuesM(BH) agree with the observed behaviour both in order of magnitude and in the variation with velocity dispersion. (© 2003 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Existence and uniqueness of stellar equilibrium models

The stellar equilibrium equations for given surface pressureP _* and temperatureT _*, and in the absence of convection, are translated into a nonlinear integral equation, in which the radiusR of the star enters as an eigenvalue. We show that under broad mathematical assumptions on the constitutive equations (equation of state, opacity and energy generation) a global existence and uniqueness property can be formulated. If a valueP _M is selected, which restricts the allowed pressure and temperature range |P(r)–P _*|+E|T(r)–T _*P _M (E, arbitrary constant of dimensions of a pressure over temperature), thenat least one solutionP(r),T(r) exists in the pressure-temperature range chosen, for anyR<R _E . This solution isunique forR<R _c .R _E andR _c are expressed in terms of the constitutive equations, and of the pressure-temperature range adopted. A physical argument in favour of the stability of this solution is presented.     

Nonaxisymmetric instabilities of self-gravitating disks. I toroids

We perform an extensive linear investigation of the nonaxisymmetric disk modes referred to in the literature as P, I, and J modes in self-gravitating polytropic toroids with power law angular velocity distributions. For selected models, we also follow the development of instability from the linear regime through the quasi-linear regime to deep into the nonlinear regime. We consider modes with azimuthal dependence e ^imφ , where m is an integer and φ is the azimuthal angle. We find that instability sets in through m=2 barlike I modes at T/|W|∼0.16–0.18 depending upon the chosen angular velocity law where T is the rotational kinetic energy and W is the gravitational energy of the toroid. Instability in the barlike I mode peaks in strength around T/|W|=0.22–0.23 after which it weakens, eventually stabilizing around T/|W|∼0.25–0.26. One-armed modes (m=1 modes) become unstable just after instability in the m=2I modes sets in; instability in m=1 modes sets in at T/|W|∼0.19. They dominate the barlike I modes in toroids with T/|W|≳0.25. However, almost immediately after the m=1 mode overtakes the barlike I mode, higher-m J modes appear. J modes with m=2, 3, and 4 become unstable for T/|W|≳0.25–0.26, 0.23–0.25, and 0.25–0.26, respectively. m≥3J modes dominate the m=1 mode in toroids with T/|W|≳0.27. As T/|W| increases further, nonaxisymmetric instability sets in through higher and higher m modes. We find quantitative agreement between the early nonlinear behavior of the tested unstable toroids and our linear results. Quasi-linear modeling suggests that a gravitational self-interaction torque which arises early in the nonlinear regime saturates growth of the mode and leads to significant transport of mass and angular momentum. Neither I mode nor J mode instabilities produce prompt fission in toroids.     

Theoretical emission line ratios for Si XIII compared to solar observations

The electron collision excitation rates recently calculated for transitions in Si xiii by Keenan et al. (1987) are used to derive the electron temperature sensitive ratio G(=(f + i)/r and the density sensitive ratio R(=f/i), where i, f, and r are the intercombination (1s ^{2 1} S – 1s2p ³ P _{1, 2}) forbidden (1s ^{2 1} S – 1s2s ³ S), and resonance (1s ^{2 1} S – 1s2p ¹ P), transitions respectively. Also estimated are the values of R in the low-density limit (R ₀) as a function of electron temperature. The theoretical G ratio at the temperature of maximum emissivity for Si xiii, G(T _m) = 0.70, is in much better agreement with the observed G for the 1985, May 5 flare determined by McKenzie et al. (G = 0.60 ± 0.07) than is the earlier calculation of Pradhan, who derived G(T _m) = 0.85. The error in the observed R ₀ ratio is so large that both our result and Pradhan's fall within the acceptable limits of uncertainty and hence one cannot estimate which of the two is the more accurate.     

Spin-forbidden resonance multiplets in light elements

We present new laboratory data on the multiplets 2s ^{2 1} S -2s2p ³ P, 2s ²2p ² P - 2s2p ^{2 4} P, and 2s ²2p ^{2 3} P - 2s2p ^{3 5} S in nitrogen, oxygen and fluorine, and discuss theZ-dependence of their wave-numbers. These multiplets are very faint in laboratory light sources, but can become prominent in astrophysical sources of low density. Our results confirm the solar identifications of the nitrogen and oxygen multiplets made by Burtonet al. Predicted positions of the corresponding multiplets in neon are given.     

Density and temperature diagnostics of solar emission lines from NeV/MgV and SiVII/MgVII Ions

We present NeV/MgV and SiVII/MgVII theoretical line intensity ratios as a function of electron densityN _e and temperatureT _e . These are shown in the form of ratio-ratio diagrams, which should in principle allow bothN _e andT _e to be deduced for the emitting region of the solar plasma. We apply these diagnostics in the solar atmosphere, and discuss the available observations made from space. In most cases, however, we deduceN _e andT _e from the computed absolute line intensities in a spherically symmetric model atmosphere of the Sun. Possible future applications of this investigation to spectral data from the Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer (CDS) on the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) are briefly discussed.     

The Schwabe and Gleissberg Periods in the Wolf Sunspot Numbers and the Group Sunspot Numbers

Three wavelet functions: the Morlet wavelet, the Paul wavelet, and the DOG wavelet have been respectively performed on both the monthly Wolf sunspot numbers (R_z) from January 1749 to May 2004 and the monthly group sunspot numbers (R_g) from June 1795 to December 1995 to study the evolution of the Gleissberg and Schwabe periods of solar activity. The main results obtained are (1) the two most obvious periods in both the R_z and R_g are the Schwabe and Gleissberg periods. The Schwabe period oscillated during the second half of the eighteenth century and was steady from the 1850s onward. No obvious drifting trend of the Schwabe period exists. (2) The Gleissberg period obviously drifts to longer periods the whole consideration time, and the drifting speed of the Gleissberg period is larger for R_z than for R_g. (3) Although the Schwabe-period values for R_z and R_g are about 10.7 years, the value for R_z seems slightly larger than that for R_g. The Schwabe period of R_z is highly significant after the 1820s, and the Schwabe period of R_g is highly significant over almost the whole consideration time except for about 20 years around the 1800s. The evolution of the Schwabe period for both R_z and R_g in time is similar to each other. (4) The Gleissberg period in R_z and R_g is highly significant during the whole consideration time, but this result is unreliable at the two ends of each of the time series of the data. The evolution of the Gleissberg period in R_z is similar to that in R_g.     

On Three-Dimensional Magnetic Skeleton Elements Due to Discrete Flux Sources

The magnetic field in the solar corona plays an important role in coronal heating, flaring activity and many other phenomena studied on the Sun. Magnetic topology is frequently used to understand complicated coronal magnetic fields. By calculating the skeleton of a field, it is possible to build up a sophisticated representation of the key elements of a field’s configuration. This paper determines a simple relation between the numbers of separators (X), coronal null points (N_c), flux domains (D) and flux sources (S) in such a configuration: D=X+S−N_c−1. This equation is used to explain the behaviour of some of the bifurcations found in Magnetic Charge Topology, and to show that a one-to-one relationship exists between the number of circuits in the domain graph and the augmented null graph. Finally, it is shown that in quiet-Sun regions, the number of separators is approximately proportional to the number of flux sources.     

MGS electron density profiles: Analysis of the peak magnitudes

We analyze here the behavior of the magnitudes of the F₁ and E peaks of the electron density profiles measured by the Radio Science Subsystem of the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft, as a function of solar zenith angle χ and solar flux. For each of the 658 days of data in the six occultation seasons in the northern hemisphere, we choose one profile to analyze, which is that for which the F₁ peak is the median value. We assume that the variations of the measured peak densities can be represented as Aa(cosχ) and as Bb(F_10.7), where F_10.7 is the usual solar flux proxy, appropriately shifted to the orbital position of Mars. To minimize the effect of solar activity, we divide the data into 6 F_10.7 bins, fit the data in each bin, and derive the values of the exponent a and the coefficient AF10.7 for each bin. The median values that we derive for the exponent a is 0.46 for the F₁ peak, and 0.395 for the E peak. To minimize the effect of SZA, we divide the data into eight SZA bins, and derive the exponent b and the coefficient Bχ for each SZA bin. We argue that the last three SZA bins should be excluded because the fits were poor, due partly to the small number of data points in each of these bins. If we do so, the median values of b that we derive are 0.27 and 0.40 for the F₁ and E peaks, respectively. Finally we derive a 3-parameter fit to all the data, which expresses the variability of the peak densities as a function of a^′(cosχ) and b^′(F_10.7) simultaneously. The fitted values of the exponents a^′ and b^′ for the F₁ peak are 0.45 and 0.26, respectively; for the E peak, the values are 0.39 and 0.46, respectively. We compare our results to Chapman theory, and to those of other investigators.     

Cyclical cosmo-thermodynamics

In this work, which is a supplemental to previous one, we undertake to establish some cosmological thermodynamic equations in the context of the cyclical universe as the scenario in which the universe itself is considered like an adiabatic thermodynamical system enclosed in physical volume characterized by periodic reversible transitions. Our model is based on the combination of local and global cosmological time-dependent temperatures {T ₀(τ ₀),T(τ)} and volumes {V ₀(τ ₀),V(τ)} instead of the critical temperature T _c and volume V _c; and the infinitesimal relative variations {dT/T,dV/V}, which are mainly due to the cosmological chaotic fluctuations that are generally ignored in certain oscillating models. By taking into account all these factors, certain equations in the form of d ℓ/ℓ=±η d τ/τ _H have been established and from them we derive some others to provide a mechanism that is responsible for the thermodynamic evolution of the cyclical universe.     

ΛCDM, ΛDGP and extended phantom-like cosmologies

In this paper we compare outcomes of some extended phantom-like cosmologies with each other and also with ΛCDM and ΛDGP. We focus on the variation of the luminosity distances, the age of the universe and the deceleration parameter versus the redshift in these scenarios. In a dynamical system approach, we show that the accelerating phase of the universe in the f(R)-DGP scenario is stable if one consider the curvature fluid as a phantom scalar field in the equivalent scalar-tensor theory, otherwise it is a transient and unstable phenomenon. Up to the parameters values adopted in this paper, the extended F(R,ϕ)-DGP scenario is closer to the ΛCDM scenario than other proposed models. All of these scenarios explain the late-time cosmic speed-up in their normal DGP branches, but the redshift at which transition to the accelerating phase occurs are different: while the ΛDGP model transits to the accelerating phase much earlier, the F(R,ϕ)-DGP model transits to this phase much later than other scenarios. Also, within the parameter spaces adopted in this paper, the age of the universe in the f(R)-DGP model is larger than ΛCDM, but this age in F(G,ϕ)-DGP is smaller than ΛCDM.     

Structure of X-ray irradiated stellar wind

The effect of X-ray irradiation on the line-driven stellar wind in X-ray binary systems is studied. The product of the X-ray luminosityL _x and the densityn in the wind is a measure to distinguish between the optically thin and thick wind regimes. For an X-ray source of the radiation temperature of 10 keV, the critical value(L _x n) _c , is of the order of 10³⁷ erg s^–1 cm^–3; hence, most of wind-fed X-ray sources lie in the optically thick wind regime because ofL _x n>(L _x n) _c . Then the wind structure is determined not only by the parameter =(L _x /nR ²),R the distance from the X-ray source, but also by the optical thickness due to helium. The formation of fully ionized helium region depends onL _x andn in a way different from that of the Strömgren sphere. In such an optically thick wind, the region behind the He II ionization boundary is little affected by X-ray irradiation and the trace elements remain to be responsible for wind acceleration. Thus, its location is important for the structure of the wind and the interpretation of various phenomena in objects such as wind-fed X-ray pulsars.     

X-ray and optical variability of the seyfert galaxy NGC 7469

Based on our UBV RI observations and X-ray data from the RXTE satellite, we have investigated the variability of the galaxy NGC 7469 over the period 1995–2009. In 1995–2000, the optical brightness of the galactic nucleus changed almost by 1 ^m in the U band. In 2000–2009, the amplitude of the optical variations was considerably lower. Regular X-ray observations began only in 2003. The X-ray fractional variability amplitude is higher than the optical one. The optical variability amplitude decreases with increasing wavelength. The full width at half maximum of the X-ray and B-band autocorrelation functions is about 8 and 62 days, respectively. The structure functions (SF) in the X-ray range on time scales up to 7 days and in the optical range on time scales up to 100 days have the form of a power law SF(τ) ∼ τ ^b , where τ is the time shift. On time scales of more than a day, where both structure functions have been determined rather reliably, their slopes differ markedly: b = 1.34 ± 0.06 and b = 0.25 ± 0.05 for the optical and X-ray ranges, respectively. The X-ray and B-band structure functions begin to flatten, respectively, near 6–8 days and on time scales of about 90 days. The observed structure functions can be described by the model of a superposition of independent Gaussian flares whose number changes with duration ω as n(ω) ∼ ω ^α and whose amplitudes depend on duration as A(ω) ∼ ω ^β. The flux distribution and the flux-amplitude relation are consistent with the model of a light curve in the form of a superposition of random flares. Once the fast intensity variations have been filtered out on long time scales, the X-ray light curve correlates well with the optical one. No lag of the X-ray variations relative to those in the B band is detected. The light variations in the R and I bands lag behind those in the B band calculated from the centroid of the cross-correlation function by 2.6 and 3.5 days, respectively, at a 3σ confidence level.     

A comparison of theoretical O iii line strengths with XUV solar observations from the S082A instrument on board Skylab

Relative level populations in Oiii, determined using R-matrix calculations of electron impact excitation rates, are used to derive the theoretical emission line ratios R ₁ = I(525.80 Å)/I(599.62 Å), R ₂ = I(507.41 Å)/I(599.62 Å), R ₃ = I(507.71 Å)/I(599.62 Å), and R ₄ = I(508.18 Å)/I(599.62 Å). Electron temperatures deduced from the observed values of these ratios for several solar features obtained with the NRL S082A slitless spectrograph on board Skylab are in good agreement, and also compare favourably with that of maximum Oiii fractional abundance in ionisation equilibrium, logT _max = 4.96. These results provide experimental support for the accuracy of the atomic data adopted in the line ratio calculations.     

Cosmic behavior, statefinder diagnostic and w?w′ analysis for?interacting new agegraphic dark energy model in non-flat universe

We investigate the interacting NADE model in non-flat universe. The effects of spatial curvature Ω _k , interaction coefficient α and the main parameter of NADE, n, on EoS parameter w _d and deceleration parameter q are studied. We obtain a minimum value for n in both early and present time, in order to that our DE model crosses the phantom divide. Also in a closed universe, changing the sign of q is strongly dependent on α. It has been shown that the quantities w _d and q have a different treatment for various spatial curvature. At last, we calculate the statefinder diagnostic and w−w ^′ analysis in non flat universe. In non flat universe, the statefinder trajectories are discriminated by both n and α.     

Photometric Inference of the Corotation Radii of Ten Barred Galaxies

We have used photometric images of ten barred galaxies in the B and I bands to infer the geometrical and dynamical parameters of their bars: Their length, (R _bar), their strengths, (S _b), and their corotation radii, (R _CR).These parameters have been obtained studying azimuthal profiles from the B and I band images of the galaxies. We find that R _CR is in all cases slightly larger than R _bar, with mean values close to 1.2 R _bar. We have also found a dependence of the ratio R _CR/R _bar on S _bar. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Optical identification of IRAS point sources based on low-dispersion spectra from the First Byurakan Survey. V

Part five of optically identified point sources from the IRAS Point Source Catalog (PSC) contains data on 19 late-type stars. The identifications were based on the Digitized Sky Survey (DSS), the First Byurakan Survey (FBS), blue and red maps of the Palomar survey (POSS), and infrared fluxes at 12, 25, 60, and 100 mm in the region of +61° ≤ δ ≤ +65° and 05 ^h 30 ^m ≤ α ≤ 18 ^h 35 ^m with an area of 357 sq. deg. Of the 76 objects given in the IRAS PSC as unidentified sources of infrared radiation, 51 are associated with known stars in existing catalogs, 6 are objects from the FBS of late-type stars, and 19 sources remained unknown in the optical range. For the identified stars we determined the optical coordinates, their departures from the IR coordinates, the Vstellar magnitudes, the color indices CI,and the preliminary spectral subtypes. The objects have optical magnitudes in the range of 8 ^m −16 ^m .Gas-dust shells are assumed to exist around four of the sources. Finder charts from the DSS are given for 19 of the objects. Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 42, No. 1, pp. 53–59, January–March, 1999.