Thermal conduction and modeling of static stellar coronal loops

We have modeled stellar coronal loops in static conditions for a wide range of loop length, plasma pressure at the base of the loop and stellar surface gravity, so as to describe physical conditions that can occur in coronae of stars ranging from low mass dwarfs to giants as well as on a significant fraction of the Main-Sequence stars.Three alternative formulations of heat conduction have been used in the energy balance equation, depending on the ratio ₀/L _Tbetween electron mean free path and temperature scale height: Spitzer's formulation for ₀/L _Tless than 2 × 10^–3, the Luciani, Mora, and Virmont non-local formulation for ₀/L _Tbetween 2 × 10^–3 and 6.67 × 10^–3 and the limited free-streaming formulation for ₀/L _Tlarger than 6.67 × 10^–3.We report the characteristics of all loop models studied, and present examples to illustrate how the temperature and density stratification can be drastically altered by the different conductivity regimes. Significant differences are evident in the differential emission measure distribution vs temperature, an important observable quantity. We also show how physical conditions of coronal plasma, and in particular thermal conduction, change with stellar surface gravity.We have found that, for fixed loop length and stellar gravity, a minimum of loop-top plasma temperature occurs, corresponding to the highest value of base plasma pressure for which the limited free-streaming conduction occurs. This value of temperature satisfies the appropriate scalingT 10^–9 L g, in cgs units.     

Brightness distribution at λ = 3 and 21 cm near the solar north pole

The brightness distribution of the Sun near the north pole at = 3 and 21 cm is obtained using the results of the partial eclipse of February 25, 1971. The solution obtained by expanding B (r) in orthogonal polynomials does not show any brightening at either frequency, but a sensible darkening. If this result is explained by the presence of spicules, the coronal emission must be negligible with respect to the emission coming from the transition region. This is possible, at = 21 cm, only if we assume the presence of a coronal hole near the pole.     

The innermost corona observed at the 1973 June 30 eclipse

Slitless flash spectrograms in heights below 8000 km above the solar limb were obtained by the University of Kyoto Expedition at Atar, Mauritania. The integrated intensities of Fexiv 5303, Fex 6374, Fexi 7892, and the continuum are measured as a function of height above the solar limb at eleven points (P.A. = 284–300°) around the third contact point. It is found that a significant amount of the emission in Fex 6374 originates in chromospheric levels well below 8000 km. This implies that the interspicular region of the chromosphere is occupied by coronal material. The average values of the electron temperature and the electron density in the interspicular region are derived from the Fex 6374 and the Fexi 7892 intensities on the assumption of spherical symmetry: T _e = 0.9–1.1 × 10⁶ K and N _e = 9–10 × 10⁸ cm^–3. The intensity variations of the coronal lines and the continuum with position angle are also studied. Strong correlations between Fexiv 5303 and the continuum and between Fex 6374 and Fexi 7892 are found. From the Fex 6374 intensities it is inferred that there is a density fluctuation in the innermost corona by at least a factor of two.Contributions from the Kwasan and Hida Observatories, University of Kyoto, No. 271.     

Distribution of polarization and intensity of radiation across the stellar disk and numberical values of atmospheric characteristics governing this distribution

Computations of polarization and intensity of radiation from a unit stellar surface area are presented, as well as a study of the numerical characteristics of atmospheres — single-scattering albedo and the initial source function(), which define the polarization behaviour of atmospheres. The radiatively stable models of stellar atmospheres presented by Kuruczet al. (1974) and Kurucz (1979) have been used for calculations. Since the versus optical depth dependence is rather weak, it has been assumed that (=cost. With a fixed effective temperatureT _eff maximum values of are characteristic of stars featuring the lowest surface gravity accelerationg. Among stars with radiatively stable atmospheres, maximum values of (=5000 Å) 0.4–0.6 are exhibited by supergiants withT _eff=8000–20 000 K. The plot of () is characterized by discontinuities at the boundaries of spectral series for hydrogen and, sometimes, for helium. Maximum are attained in the Lyman region of =912–1200 Å, where can reach the value 0.7–0.9 for supergiants, this value being 0.3 for Main-Sequence stars. For stars withT _eff 35 000 K, high values of also are attained for <912 Å. Within the infrared region, is always small because of bremsstrahlung absorption.A rapid growth of the source functionB with < typical for ultraviolet range (within the Wien part of spectrum), together with high values of results in the strong polarization of emission from a unit stellar surface element, sometimes exceeding the values for the case of a pure electron scattering. For longer wavelengths, where the limb-darkening coefficient is smaller, the plane of polarization abruptly turns 90° in the central parts of the visible stellar disk.     

A comparison of solar EUV intensities and K-coronameter measurements

Characteristics of the emission observed above the solar limb in four EUV lines, Sixii 499, Mgx 625, Neviii 770, and Ovi 1032 are discussed. The mean temperature of the corona derived from the ratios of the intensities of Sixii 499 and Mgx 625 is 1.8 million K. There do not appear to be significant temperature differences in regions with low EUV intensities and those with high EUV intensities, suggesting that the EUV emission from the lithium-like ions depends primarily on the integral of n _e ² along the line of sight.The EUV data are compared with K-coronameter measurements in order to yield new estimates of the abundances of Si, Mg, Ne and O relative to hydrogen. Within the uncertainties of the analysis, these coronal abundances are in agreement with the corresponding photospheric values.     

The UV spectrum of the binary system SZ Psc

In this paper we study the far-UV as well as the UV spectrum of the spectroscopic binary system SZ Psc in the wavelength ranges 1235–1950 Å and 2710–3090 Å, respectively, from spectra obtained with the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE). The UV spectrum of SZ Psc is mainly an emission spectrum. The short wavelength region includes emission lines formed from the low chromosphere to the transition region (e.g., Siiv,Civ, andNv) and also a deep and broad absorption line of Feii.The Mgii[1] resonance doublet at about 2800 Å presents a P Cygni profile and a multiple structure with two emission and two absorption satellite components. We also present the emission measure diagram in the temperature region 4.4T _e <53.     

A new method for the analysis of equivalent widths and its application to solar photospheric oxygen

Six neutral atomic oxygen Fraunhofer multiplets were observed at nine disk positions at Sacramento Peak Observatory. I filtered the data, corrected them for the instrumental profile and obtained equivalent widths.The equation of transfer for a plane-parallel atmosphere is solved to yield an expression for the equivalent width of a line or multiplet as a function of disk position; line source function, S _L, and relative population of the lower energy level of the transition. Comparison with the observations gives the abundance, average levels of formation of the lines and S _L.The numerical results show that the weak lines are formed either in L.T.E. or pure scattering (i.e., S _L B _v (T _e) J _c), but for 7770 Å S _L/B (T _e) 0.6 ± 0.1 at _c = 0.1. An analysis of the central intensities of 7770 Å yields essentially the same results. The results for 8446 Å are not reliable due to a possible blend with an iron line. The abundance of oxygen in the photosphere may be slightly less than that found by previous investigators.The results are consistent with the assumption that all levels of photospheric oxygen are populated as in L.T.E. with the exception of 3⁵S, which is overpopulated by approximately 50% at _c = 0.1. The overpopulation may be due to the metastability of this level.Based on National Center for Atmospheric Research Cooperative Thesis No. 9.     

A coronal condensation observed at the total solar eclipse of June 11, 1983 and a related transient prominence

A coronal condensation was observed simultaneously with Fexiv 5303, Fex 6374, Fe xi 7892, and H filtergraphs. The size and shape of the condensation in 5303 are different from those in other filtergrams. H filtergrams taken around the eclipse time show that a small transient prominence exists in close proximity to the condensation core and behaves like a post-flare loop system, though the appearance is quite different and no flare-report exists. A small-scale energetic phenomenon seems to have occurred at the top of magnetic loops.Contributions from the Kwasan and Hida Observatories, University of Kyoto, No. 285.     

Scanner observations of comet P/Crommelin 18181

Spectral scans of the coma of comet P/Crommelin 1818. I have been obtained in the wavelength range 3200–6500 Å. Strong emission features of CN(3883 Å) and C₂ Swan bands (4695, 5165, and 5538 Å) have been identified. Some weak emission features of CH(3890 Å), C₃(4050 Å), CN(4200 »), and C₂ + CH(4358 ») were also detected. Sodium was found to be absent in this comet. An estimate of CN and C₂ abundances has been made and their production rate have been derived.     

Brightness of the Coronal Green Line and Prediction for Activity Cycles 23 and 24

Cyclic variations of the mean semi-annual intensities I of the coronal green line 530.3 nm are compared with the mean semi-annual variations of the Wolf numbers W during the period of 1943–1999 (activity cycles 18–23). The values of I in the equatorial zone proved to correlate much better with the Wolf numbers in a following cycle than in a given one (the correlation coefficient r is 0.86 and 0.755, respectively). Such increase of the correlation coefficient with a shift by one cycle differs in different phases of the cycle, being the largest at the ascending branch. The regularities revealed make it possible to predict the behaviour of W in the following cycle on the basis of intensities of the coronal green line in the preceding cycle. We predict the maximum semi-annual W in cycle 23 to be 110–122 and the epoch of minimum between cycles 23 and 24 to take place at 2006–2007. A slow increase of I in the current cycle 23 permits us to forecast a low-Wolf-number cycle 24 with the maximum W50 at 2010–2011. A scheme is proposed on the permanent transformation of the coronal magnetic fields of different scales explaining the found phenomenon.     

Late-time emission of the type II Supernovae powered by the radioactive decay56Ni−56Co−56Fe

A one-zone model for the late time SN II energized by the radioactive decay⁵⁶Ni–⁵⁶Co–⁵⁶Fe is presented. The model succeeds in reproducing for the late time evolution of H and [Oi] 6300 emission lines in SN1970g for the reasonable set of parameters: mass of ejecta 4M , boundary velocityv ₀=4000 km s^–1 and amount of⁵⁶NiM _Ni=0.02M . However, a one-zone model does not account for the late time continuum. In the case of SN1980k the radioactive model fits H and [Oi] 6300 emissions att250 day satisfactory but fails at very late time, e.g.,t=670 day when the predicted value of the ratioL(H)/L(6300) is two orders of magnitude smaller than the observed one. We suggest that the strong H emission in SN1980k on the 670th day is due to the interaction of the supernova envelope with the pre-SN wind. The radioactive model for the late time SN II predicts strong Mgii 2800 line and detectable Hei 10830 line in emission and absorption.     

A note on the limits of stability for the restricted problem of three bodies as applied to the Sun-Earth-Moon system

The Sun-Earth-Moon system is modeled by the restricted problem of three bodies, and the curves of zero velocity are used to define the limits of stability of the Moon's orbit about the Earth. By holding the relative distances fixed, and maintaining the circular velocities of the Earth and Moon while their masses are varied by a common factor (=m _E/m _E=m _M/m _M), it is found that the possibility of the Moon leaving Earth orbit and orbiting the Sun exists for the range of values 0.005<<0.4.     

The excitation of the forbidden coronal lines

The excitation of the 2s²2p² ground configuration of Caxv is calculated for coronal densities and temperatures. The calculations include electron and proton excitation of the forbidden transitions and electron excitation via the first excited (2s2p³) configuration. It is shown that measurements of the line intensity ratio I( 5694)/I( 5446) are in good agreement with the predictions. The line to continuum observations for limb flares and coronal condensations are discussed. It is suggested that the calcium abundance in condensations is enhanced owing to diffusion processes.Present address: Department of Astronomy, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, U.S.A.     

The observed limb effect in Fraunhofer lines,II

In this paper the absolute limb effect for a number of Fraunhofer lines observed at the McMath Solar Observatory is given. Results, uncorrected for scattered light, are given for the following lines: Fei 37334.9, 3735.3, 5123.7, 5250.2, 5434.5, 6678.0, and 8886.6. Additional lines observed are five lines of CN 3876.3–3880.0, two lines of Cai 6161.3 and 6162.2, one line of Nai, 6160.7, and one CN line (7957.0) of the red system.Operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. (AURA) under cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation.     

Coherence analysis of granular intensity

A high resolution spectrogram of the Mg b₂ line from the quiet Sun disc centre is subjected to a coherence analysis. We find that the coherence between intensity fluctuations in the continuum and the wings of the line breaks down at a distance = 0.35 Å from line centre. From this and the r.m.s. intensity contrast as a function of we are led to the following simple model of temperature fluctuation T in the solar photosphere: A lower part (below 50 km, or ₅₀₀₀ > 0.25) with strongly inward increasing T and an upper part (above 50 km) with constant T = 75 K. The two parts are supposed to fluctuate incoherently.Mitteilungen aus dem Kiepenheuer Institut Nr. 166.     

On the wavelength dependency of solar limb darkening (λλ303 to 1099 nm)

The limb-darkening data published by Neckel and Labs (1994) (5th-order polynomials P ₅(), = cos ) are used to represent the limb darkening by the functions L _n(), proposed first by Kourganoff (1949a). When plotted against wavelength, the coefficients of these functions show a rather low scatter and appear to be linear functions of either ^–1 or ^#x2212;5.     

Properties of the solar chromosphere Hα spicules as observed spectrally

Time succession of 25 H spicules has been studied. The spectra are obtained at a height of 6 arc sec during 21 min (38 pictures) with the 53 cm Lyot coronagraph. Total intensities W, widths and radial velocities V _r are determined (about 650 H line profiles). For 14 spicules the sign of V _r varies, for the rest the sign variation is absent or it is doubtful. Characterized period of V _r variation is 3–7 min with a mean amplitude of ± 4km s^–1. W and also vary with a similar period and mean amplitudes equal to 50% and 30% respectively. dependence of W (Figure 1) points to the existence of two spicules groups: group I (70%) characterized by relatively small W and (mean values are 0.08 Å and 1.3 Å respectively); group II comprising brighter (W 0.13 Å) spicules with wider profiles ( 1.6 Å). Group II may consist of the unresolved, superimposed group I spicules. We believe, that H spicules involve formations consisting of separate elements having the temperature of 6000 K and non-thermal velocities of 25 km s^–1.     

The densest prestellar condensations: H2CO Studies ofρ Oph B1

We present new images of the well-known molecular outflow and Herbig-Haro complex L 1551-IRS 5. Deep, high-resolution images of the central region of the flow in [SII] 6716,6731 and H (6565 Å) are complemented by a mosaic of much of the CO outflow in H₂ v=1-0 S(1). While the optical data trace the intermediate-to-high excitation shocks in the flow (v _shock > 30 – 50 km s^–1), the near-IR data reveal the lower-excitation, molecular shocks (v _shock 10–50 km s^–1). In particular, the H₂ data highlight the regions where the flow impacts and shocks ambient molecular gas.     

Observed oddities in the lines H,K, b and Hβ

We compare microphotometer intensity traces perpendicular to dispersion in simultaneous spectrograms of good spatial resolution traced at various 's in each of the lines. Cross correlations between the different traces show the following: (a) For each _K there is a corresponding _{b 1}at which the coefficient of correlation, r, is a maximum, usually > 0.8. (b) No such high correlations are found between H and H. (c) Comparison of traces in the continuum and at all observed 's in K, H, b₁, b₂ show a range of 's in each line over which r is very significantly negative, while H shows no such peculiarity.     

The polarization of coronal emission lines

By means of a photographic polarimeter, we attempted to measure both the amount and direction of linear polarization of all emission lines between 3400 and 9000 Å in the inner corona (1.034 r/r ₀ 1.085). Only the green and red coronal lines have been analyzed in detail. Neither of these lines shows polarization exceeding the probable error of 1.0% for 5303 and 1.8% for 6374. None of the other 17 coronal lines observed during the 7 March, 1970 solar eclipse show any obvious (>5%) polarization.Presently at the Sacramento Peak Observatory.