Analysis of the variation in inclination of Intercosmos 13 Rocket, 1975-22B

The orbit of Intercosmos 13 rocket (1975-22B) has been determined at 103 epochs between 30 April 1975 and 10 April 1980 from almost 7000 observations. One hundred and three values of inclination have been determined and corrections incoporated for the effects due to zonal harmonic, lunisolar and tesseral harmonic perturbations, precession, and solid Earth tides. The modified data have been analysed to yield values of the atmospheric rotation rate, Λ rev day⁻¹, viz. Λ = 0.94 ± 0.10 at an average height of 322 ± 6 km and Λ = 1.27 ± 0.02 at 288 km. Analysis of the inclination near 14th-order resonance has indicated lumped harmonic values 10^{9 1.0}_1.4 = − 76.13 ± 12.47, 10^{9 1,0}₁₄ = − 29.89 ± 32.64, 10^{9 −1.2}₁₄ = − 63.11 ± 15.44 10^{9 −1.2}₁₄ = − 32.52 ± 26.96, for inclination 82.952°.     

Rocket measurements of the 6300 Å and 3914 Å dayglow features

Rocket results are presented on the OI 6300 Å line and on the N₂⁺ 3914 Å band in the dayglow. An altitude range of 78–335 km is covered. Theoretical interpretations are given, using results of simultaneous measurements of electron density and electron temperature. The apparent brightness of the 6300 Å line at the base of the emitting region is found to be 13 kR, of which 5.5 kR are ascribed to excitation through the Schumann-Runge dissociation of O₂ by the solar UV radiations, 0.55 kR to the dissociative recombination of O₂⁺ and NO⁺ ions, and 0.03 kR to the excitation of O by thermal electrons. An additional source of excitation above 280 km is suggested. The deactivation of O(¹D) by O₂(X³Σ_g⁻) is found to be appreciable below 200 km, and its rate coefficient is estimated to be 2 × 10⁻¹⁰ cm³/sec. The apparent brightness of the 3914 Å band at the base of the emitting region is found to be 6.5 kR, decreasing to 3.2 kR at 330 km. Assuming that fluorescent scattering of solar radiation is the mechanism involved the distribution of N₂⁺ ions is calculated. The rate coefficients for the loss of these ions are hence calculated.     

The upper ionospheres of Jupiter and Saturn

We use a 1-D chemical diffusive model, in conjunction with the measured neutral atmospheric structure, to analyze the Voyager RSS electron density, n_e, profiles for the ionospheres of Jupiter and Saturn. As with previous studies we find serious difficulties in explaining the n_e measurements. The model calculates ionospheres for both Jupiter and Saturn with n_e peaks of 10 times the measured peaks at altitudes which are 900–1000 km lower than the altitude of peaks in the RSS electron densities. Based on our knowledge of neutral atmospheric structure, ionization sources, and known recombination mechanisms it seems that, vibrational excitation of H₂ must play some role in the conversion of slowly radiatively recombining H⁺ ions to the relatively more rapidly recombining H₂⁺ and H₃⁺ ions. In addition, vertical ion flow induced by horizontal neutral winds or electric fields probably also play some role in maintaining the plasma peaks observed both for Jupiter and Saturn to be at high altitudes. For the ionosphere of Saturn, the electron densities are affected by a putative influx of H₂O molecules, Φ_H2O, from the rings. To reproduce the RSS V2 exit n_e results model requires an influx of Φ_H2O 2 × 10⁷ molecules cm⁻² s⁻¹ without invoking H_2f vibrational excitation. To maintain the model n_e peak at the measured altitude vertical plasma drift maintained by meridional winds or vertical electric fields is required. The amounts of H₂O are consistent with earlier estimates of Connerney and Waite (1984) and do not violate any observational constraints.     

Negative ion composition and sulfuric acid vapour in the upper stratosphere

The nature of negative ions in the altitude region 42–45 km has been investigated by means of a balloon borne mass spectrometer. Apart from the NO₃⁻ and HSO₄⁻ clusters, ions with different cores, which can be identified as CO₃⁻, HCO₃⁻, Cl⁻ and ClO₃⁻ were observed. The spectra have been used to estimate the sulfuric acid number density at 45.2 and 42.3 km altitude.     

Charged boson stars and vacuum instabilities

We consider charged boson stars and study their effect on the structure of the vacuum. For very compact particle like “stars”, with constituent mass m_* close to the Planck mass m_Pl, i.e. m²_* = O(m²_Pl), we argue that there is electric charge Z_c, which, primarily, is due to the formation of a pion condensate (Z_c 0.5⁻¹e, where is the fine structure constant and e is the electric charge of the positron). If the charge of the “star” is larger than Z_c we find numerical evidence for a complete screening indicating a limiting charge for a very compact object. There is also a less efficient competing charge screening mechanism due to spontaneous electron-positron pair creation in which case Z_c ⁻¹e. Astrophysical and cosmological abundances of charged compact boson stars are briefly discussed in terms of dark matter.     

Upper stratosphere negative ion composition measurements and inferred trace gas abundances

In situ composition measurements of atmospheric negative ions were made at 40.8 km altitude using a balloon-borne mass spectrometer with large mass range and improved mass resolution. The data obtained show marked differences compared to previous data obtained mostly around or below 33 km.It appears that these differences are mostly due to a higher atmospheric temperature, a lower nitric acid vapour abundance and a larger HSO₃-vapour abundance prevailing at the higher altitude.A particularly striking feature is the relatively large fractional abundance of HSO₃-containing cluster ions.Another interesting result is that nitric acid vapour abundances can be inferred from the negative ion composition data with better accuracy than is possible for lower altitudes. The reason being that collisional ion dissociation occurring during ion sampling is less disturbing.The inferred nitric acid vapour abundance for 40.8 km altitude is consistent with current 2-dimensional model calculations.     

Electron excitation and auroral emission parameters

Auroral luminosities of the main emission lines in the aurora have been calculated for excitation by an isotopic primary electron flux with spectra of the form J(E) = AE exp (−E/E₁) + B(E₂)E exp (−E/E₁). The variation of emissions from O and N₂⁺ with height are shown, as are the variations of column integrated intensities and pertinent intensity ratios with the characteristic energy E₂, this leading to a method of estimating the electron spectrum from ground observation.     

Properties of the infrared dark cloud G79.2+0.38

The MSX infrared dark cloud G79.2+0.38 has been observed over a 11′×′ region simultaneously in the J=1-0 rotational transition lines of the ¹²CO and its isotopic molecules ¹³CO and ¹⁸CO. The dense molecular cores defined by the C¹⁸O line are found to be associated with the two high-extinction patches shown in the MSX A-band image. The two dense cores have the column density N (H₂) (5 – 12) × 10²² cm⁻² and the mean number density n (3 ± 1) × 10⁴ cm⁻³. Their sizes are 1.7 and 1.2 pc in ¹³CO(1-0) line, 1.2 and 0.6 pc in C¹⁸O(1-0) line, respectively. The masses of these cloud cores are estimated to be in the range from 2 × 10² to 2 × 10³ M. The profile of radial mean density of the cloud core can be described by the exponential function ¯n(p) p^{−0.34±0.02}. Compared with the cases of typical optical dark clouds, the abundances of the CO isotopic molecules ¹³CO and C¹⁸O in this MSX infrared dark cloud appear to be depleted by a factor of 4–11, but at present there is no evidence for any obvious variation of the relative abundance ratio X_13/18 between ¹³CO and C¹⁸O with the column density.     

Constraining the power spectrum using clusters

We analyze an extended redshift sample of Abell/ACO clusters and compare the results with those coming from numerical simulations of the cluster distribution, based on the truncated Zel'dovich approximation (TZA), for a list of eleven dark matter (DM) models. For each model we run several realizations, so that we generate a set of 48 independent mock Abell/ACO cluster samples per model, on which we estimate cosmic variance effects. Other than the standard CDM model, we consider (a) Ω₀ = 1 CDM models based on lowering the Hubble parameter and/or on tilting the primordial spectrum; (b) Ω₀ = 1 Cold + Hot DM models with 0.1 ≤Ω_ν ≤0.5; (c) low-density flat ΛCDM models with 0.3 ≤Ω₀ ≤0.5. We compare real and simulated cluster distributions by analysing correlation statistics, the probability density function, and supercluster properties from percolation analysis. We introduce a generalized definition of the spectrum shape parameter Γ in terms of σ₂₅/σ₈, where σ_ris the rms fluctuation amplitude within a sphere of radius r. As a general result, we find that the distribution of galaxy clusters provides a constraint only on the shape of the power spectrum, but not on its amplitude: a shape parameter 0.18 Γ 0.25 and an effective spectral index at the 20 h⁻¹ Mpc scale −1.1 n_eff −0.9 are required by the Abell/ACO data. In order to obtain complementary constraints on the spectrum amplitude, we consider the cluster abundance as estimated using the Press-Schechter approach, whose reliability is explicitly tested against N-body simulations. By combining results from the analysis of the distribution and the abundance of clusters we conclude that, of the cosmological models considered here, the only viable models are either Cold + Hot DM ones with 0.2 Ω_ν 0.3, better if shared between two massive ν species, and ΛCDM ones with 0.3 Ω₀0.5.     

Residual mass from ablation of meteoroid grains detached during atmospheric flight

Previous studies of the residual masses resulting from ablation of small meteoroid grains have been concerned with the ablation of particles which enter the atmosphere independently. There is widespread evidence that fragmentation is a common occurrence for meteors ranging from bright fireballs to the smallest meteors recorded with optical techniques. According to a widely accepted model, meteoroids can be considered to be a collection of tiny grains, with these grains being detached from the meteoroid during atmospheric flight. This investigation numerically solves the differential equations governing ablation of grains detached at different heights. Initial velocities from 12 to 70km s⁻¹, and initial masses from 10⁻⁵ to 10⁻¹³kg, are considered. The ablation equations allow for thermal heating prior to the onset of intensive evaporation, and thermal reradiation throughout. The atmospheric density profile used is one based on the U.S. Standard Atmosphere (1962, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington). Calculations were completed for grains detached at 120, 100, 95, 90, 85, 80 and 75km height. For the purposes of the ablation model it is assumed that grains are ejected with an initial temperature of 1300 K, and that intensive grain evaporation begins at 2100 K. These values are consistent with grains emitted according to the model of Hawkes and Jones (1975a, Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc. 173, 339; Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc. 185, 727). For comparison purposes, calculations were also completed for grains entering the atmosphere independently (initial height 140km and beginning temperature 280 K assumed).

It is found that particles ejected at heights of 100km and above behave essentially as independent particles incident from infinity. Hence the results of earlier studies (e.g. Nicol et al., 1985, Planet. Space Sci.33, 315) can be applied. For ejection at lower heights the resultant residual mass is somewhat less than that corresponding to grains of the same initial mass and velocity. The difference is greatest for high velocity, low mass meteors. For initial masses near 10⁻⁵kg, residual mass is almost independent of ejection height, at least down to an ejection height of 75km. The significant finding of Nicol et al. (1985, Planet. Space Sci.33, 315) that residual mass is almost independent of initial mass for a fairly wide range of initial masses is only loosely followed when in-flight ejection of particles at heights below about 95 km is considered.

Typical calculations are presented to show that in-flight fragmentation of dustballs can be an important source of macroscopic ablation product micrometeorites. The astronomical and atmospheric implications of this finding are briefly discussed.     

Density profiles of dark matter halos with anisotropic velocity tensors

We present density profiles, that are solutions of the spherical Jeans equation, derived under the following two assumptions: (i) the coarse grained phase-density follows a power-law of radius, ρ/σ³ ∝ r⁻, and (ii) the velocity anisotropy parameter is given by the relation β_a(r)=β₁+2β₂ (r/r_*)/[1+(r/r_*)²] where β₁, β₂ are parameters and r_* equals twice the virial radius, r_vir, of the system. These assumptions are well motivated by the results of N-body simulations. Density profiles have increasing logarithmic slopes γ, defined by γ=−d ln ρ/d ln r. The values of γ at r=10^−2.5r_vir, a distance where the systems could be resolved by large N-body simulations, lie in the range 1.0–1.6. These inner values of γ increase for increasing β₁ and for increasing concentration of the system. On the other hand, slopes at r=r_vir lie in the range 2.42–3.82. A model density profile that fits well the results at radial distances between 10⁻³r_vir and r_vir and connects kinematic and structural characteristics of spherical systems is described.     

Deactivation of N2A Σumolecules in the aurora

Recent rocket observations of the N₂ V-K (Vegard-Kaplan) system in the aurora have been reinterpreted using an atmospheric model based on mass spectrometer measurements in an aurora of similar intensity at the same time of year. In contrast to the original interpretation, we find that population by cascade from the C³Π_u and B³Π_g states in the A³Σ_u⁺v=0,1 levels, as calculated using recently measured electron excitation cross sections, accurately accounts for the observed relative emission rates (IV-K/12PG_0.0). In addition there is no need to change the production rate of A ³ Σ _u⁺ molecules relative to that of C³Π_uv=0 as a function of altitude in order to fit the profile of the deactivation probability to the atmospheric model. Quenching of A ³ Σ _u⁺ molecules at high altitudes is dominated by atomic oxygen. The rate constants for the v=0 and v=1 levels are 8 × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ sec⁻¹ and 1.7 × 10⁻¹⁰ cm³ sec⁻¹ respectively, as determined using the model atmosphere mentioned above. Recent observations with a helium cooled mass spectrometer suggest that conventional mass spectrometer measurements tend to underestimate the atomic oxygen relative concentration. The rate coefficients may therefore be too large by as much as a factor of 3. Below 130 Km we find that it is possible to account for the deactivation in bright auroras by invoking large nitric oxide concentrations, similar to those recently observed mass spectrometrically and using a rate constant of 8 × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ sec⁻¹ for both the v=1 levels. This rate constant is very nearly the same as that measured in the laboratory (7 × 10⁻¹¹ cm³ sec⁻¹). Molecular oxygen appears not to play a significant role in deactivating the lower A ³ Σ _u⁺ levels.     

Observation and Study of the CO, CO, HCO and N2H Molecular Lines Towards IRAS 02232+6138

Using the 13.7 m millimeter-wave telescope at the Qinghai Station of Purple Mountain Observatory, we have made observations of ¹³CO, C¹⁸O, HCO⁺ and N₂H⁺ molecular lines towards IRAS 02232+6138. As the excitation density of the probe molecule increases from ¹³CO to HCO⁺, the size of the cloud core associated with IRAS 02232+6138 decreases from 2.40 pc to 0.54 pc, and the virial mass of the cloud core decreases from 2.2 × 10³M to 5.1 × 10²M. A bipolar molecular outflow is found towards IRAS 02232+6138. Using the power function n(r) ∝ r⁻ to fit the spatial density structure of the cloud core, we obtain the power-law index  = 2.3 − 1.2; and we find that, as the probed density increases, the power function becomes more flat. The abundance ratio of ¹³CO to C¹⁸O is 12.4 ± 6.9, comparable with the values 11.8 ± 5.9 for dark clouds and the values 9.0–15.6 for massive cores. The abundance of N₂H⁺ molecules is 3.5 ± 2.5 × 10⁻¹⁰, consistent with the value 1.0 − 5.0 × 10⁻¹⁰ for dark cloud cores and the value 1.2 − 12.8 × 10⁻¹⁰ for massive cores. The abundance of HCO⁺ molecules is 0.9 ± 0.5 × 10⁻⁹, close to the value 1.6 − 2.4 × 10⁻⁹ for massive cores. An increase of HCO⁺ abundance in the outflow region was not found. Combining with the IRAS data, the luminosity-mass ratio of the cloud core is obtained in the range 37–163(L/M). Based on the IRAS luminosity, it is estimated that a main-sequence O7.5 star is probably embedded in the IRAS 02232+6138 cloud core.     

Small-scale auroral arc distortions

Small-scale spatially periodic distortions of auroral forms have been studied utilizing low-light level television observations made at various locations in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. The most commonly observed features were folds and vortex-like curl formations. The curls, identified here with the Kelvin-Helmholtz instability due to fluid shear, invariably had a counterclockwise rotational shape and motion when viewed in a direction anti-parallel to the Earth's magnetic field. The typical measured wavelength (5 km) and measured growth rate (4.2 sec⁻¹) were used to evaluate the Kelvin-Helmholtz dispersion relation for the apparent shear ω_s = ∂ ν_x/ ∂y (28 sec⁻¹). The apparent horizontal velocities of both folds (0–5 km/sec) and curls (0–22 km/sec) were invariably observed to be counterclockwise with respect to the multiple arc centre when viewed antiparallel to B. Consistent agreement between rotational shape and rotational motion suggests that the apparent growth rate and the apparent horizontal velocities closely approximate the actual values. If the shear results from E×B drifts in a space charge field, the calculated value for ω_s, implies an unneutralized electron density 0–1 cm⁻³ and a ΔE across the arc element 500mV/m. The velocity measurements indicate that the ΔE values for individual elements can combine to produce transient electric fields at the edges of multiple arcs as high as 1000 mV/m.     

Galactic kinematics derived from classical cepheids

On the basis of radial velocity and Hipparcos proper motion data, we have analyzed the galactic kinematics of classical Cepheids. Using the 3-D Ogorodnikov-Milne model we have determined the rotational velocity of the Galaxy to be V₀ = 240.5 ± 10.2 km/s, on assuming a glactocentric distance of the Sun of R₀ = 8.5 kpc. The results clearly indicate a contracting motion in the solar neighbourhood of (∂V_θ∂θ)/R = −2.60 ± 1.07 km s⁻¹ kpc⁻¹, along the direction of galactic rotation. Possible reason for this motion is discussed. The solar motion found here is S = 18.78 ± 0.86 km/s in the direction l = 54.4° ± 2.9° and b = +26.6° ± 2.6°.     

OH masers in W 33A

This paper presents observations of OH maser lines of W 33A for the transitions ²Π_3/2, J = 3/2, F = 1 → 1 and F = 2 → 2. Two models, a thin tube and a sphere, were used for modelling the masing region and a molecular hydrogen density of about 10⁷ cm⁻³ was obtained. To give a maser photon emission of the order of 10⁴⁶ s⁻¹, both models require a pump rate of 1 OH cm⁻³s⁻¹, while the sphere model requires a higher pump efficiency.     

Constraining cosmological models with cluster power spectra

Using extensive N-body simulations we estimate redshift space power spectra of clusters of galaxies for different cosmological models (SCDM, TCDM, CHDM, ΛCDM, OCDM, BSI, τCDM) and compare the results with observational data for Abell–ACO clusters. Our mock samples of galaxy clusters have the same geometry and selection functions as the observational sample which contains 417 clusters of galaxies in a double cone of galactic latitude |b|>30° up to a depth of 240 h⁻¹ Mpc. The power spectrum has been estimated for wave numbers k in the range 0.03k0.2 h Mpc⁻¹. For k>k_max0.05 h Mpc⁻¹ the power spectrum of the Abell–ACO clusters has a power-law shape, P(k)∝kⁿ, with n≈−1.9, while it changes sharply to a positive slope at k<k_max. By comparison with the mock catalogues SCDM, TCDM (n=0.9), and also OCDM with Ω₀=0.35 are rejected. Better agreement with observation can be found for the ΛCDM model with Ω₀=0.35 and h=0.7 and the CHDM model with two degenerate neutrinos and Ω_HDM=0.2 as well as for a CDM model with broken scale invariance (BSI) and the τCDM model. As for the peak in the Abell–ACO cluster power spectrum, we find that it does not represent a very unusual finding within the set of mock samples extracted from our simulations.     

Chemical models for the contracting W3 IRS4

We have studied the chemical evolution in the central core of a contracting cloud representing W3 IRS4. We modified the equation of temperature to satisfy the physical conditions of W3 IRS4. The chemical rate equations and the hydrodynamics are integrated simultaneously. The contraction is followed from a very low density of n = 10 cm⁻³ to high core density of n = 10⁶ cm⁻³. The chemical evolution is studied for various chemical conditions, including both the effects of varying cosmic ray ionization rate and the effect of ion–dipole molecule collisions.

The main results by using the more extensive chemical network with the most updating reaction rates show that the calculated fractional abundances are in agreement with observation at intermediate and enhanced cosmic ray ionization rate at high depletion of elemental atoms.     

Measurements of radio noise at 0.700 mc and 2.200 mc from a high-altitude rocket probe

Radio noise observations at frequencies of 0·700 Mc and 2·200 Mc were made at altitudes between 3000 and 11,000 km from a Blue Scout Jr. high-altitude rocket probe on 30 July 1963. A steady background flux of (7·5₋₃⁺⁶) × 10⁻¹⁹ W m⁻²)(c/s)⁻¹ at 0·700 Mc and (1·8^+1.0_−0.5 × 10⁻¹⁹ W m⁻² (c/s)⁻¹ at 2·200 Mc was observed. Assuming a galactic origin of the observed fluxes at both frequencies, the averaged sky brightnesses are b(0·700 Mc) = (6₋₃⁺⁵) × 10⁻²⁰ W m⁻² (c/s)⁻¹ sr⁻¹b(2·200 Mc) = (1.4^+1.0_−0.5 × 10⁻²⁰ W m⁻² (c/s)⁻¹ sr⁻¹ The observed brightness at 2·200 Mc is in reasonable agreement with the results of other observers. The apparent brightness at 0·700 Mc is, however, greater than was expected from previous observations. An alternative source of the 0·700 Mc flux in the terrestrial exosphere, as well as characteristics of several noise bursts observed during the flight, is briefly discussed.     

A kinematic study of the Galaxy

Using the proper motion and parallax data for 1011 O-B stars in the Hipparcos Catalogue we have derived the Oort constants, A = 17.60 ± 0.21 (km/s)/kpc, B = −14.62 ± 0.20 (km/s)/kpc, and a solar velocity V = 16.7 ± 0.10 km/s in the direction l = 45.3° ± 2.8°, b = 21.0° ± 2.3°. For a galactocentric distance of the sun of R₀ = 8.5 kpc, we then get a galactic rotational velocity of the solar neighbourhood of V_lsr = 273.9 km/s, obviously much higher than the IAU published value of 220 km/s. We have investigated the cause for this difference.