The nonthermal radio emission of WR 140 in a model with colliding two-phase winds

We present a model in which the nonthermal radio emission of binary systems containing Wolf-Rayet and O components is due to collisions between clouds belonging to dense phases of the wind of each star. The relativistic electrons are generated during the propagation of fast shock waves through the clouds and their subsequent de-excitation. The initial injection of superthermal particles is due to photoionization of the de-excited cold gas by hard radiation from the shock front. Therefore, the injection takes place in cloud regions fairly far from the front. Further, the superthermal electrons are accelerated by the betatron mechanism to relativistic energies during the isobaric compression of the cloud material, when most of the gas radiates its energy. Collisions between the clouds can occur far beyond the contact boundary between the rarefied wind components. Thus, the model avoids the problem of strong low-frequency absorption of the radiation.     

Radial pulsations of Wolf-Rayet stars and the problem of mass loss in them

In order to study the problem of mass loss by Wolf-Rayet stars, we carried out numerical simulations of non-linear pulsations of these objects. Although our computations do not show direct dynamical mass loss, qualitative estimates show that certain as yet unobserved pulsations could in principle, create conditions facilitating mass outflows from Wolf-Rayet stars.     

Modeling of protostellar clouds and their observational properties

A physical model and two-dimensional numerical method for computing the evolution and spectra of protostellar clouds are described. The physical model is based on a system of magneto-gas-dynamical equations, including ohmic and ambipolar diffusion, and a scheme for calculating the thermal and ionization structure of a cloud. The dust and gas temperatures are determined when calculating the thermal structure of the cloud. The results of computing the dynamical and thermal structure of the cloud are used to model the transfer of continuum and molecular-line radiation in the cloud. Results are presented for clouds in hydrostatic and thermal equilibrium. The evolution of a rotating magnetic protostellar cloud that is compressed starting from a quasi-static equilibrium state is also considered. Spectral maps for optically thick lines of linear molecules are analyzed. The influence of the magnetic field and rotation can lead to a redistribution of angular momentum in the cloud and the formation of a characteristic rotational-velocity structure. As a result, the distribution of the velocity centroid of the molecular lines can acquire an hourglass shape. It is planned in future to use the developed program package and a model for the chemical evolution of clouds to interpret and model in detail observed starless and protostellar cores.     

Identification of gamma-ray sources with Wolf-Rayet stars

An analysis of unidentified discrete sources of gamma-rays with energies E>100 MeV demonstrates that the spatial characteristics of this group of gamma-ray sources coincides with those of Wolf-Rayet stars. It is concluded that Wolf-Rayet stars are potential steady sources of high-energy gamma rays with mean luminosities L(>100 MeV)≈10³⁵ erg/s.     

A multicomponent model for computing the thermal structure of collapsing protostellar clouds

A model for simulating the thermal and dynamical evolution of protostellar clouds is presented. In the model, the dust and gas temperatures are treated separately, making it possible to more precisely describe the initial stages of the cloud’s gravitational contraction and collapse. The model is fast enough to be applied in hydrodynamical computations, and has a high enough accuracy for the results to be used to compute emission spectra and comparing them with observational data. Two problems are considered as test examples and simple applications: calculation of the structure of clouds in thermal and hydrostatic equilibrium, and modeling the evolution of a protostellar cloud in a spherically symmetric approximation, including the formation of the first hydrostatic core.     

Population synthesis for massive close WR20a-type binaries

We have used the “Scenario Machine” to carry out a population synthesis for close binary systems with the masses of both components and their orbital periods similar to those for the WR20a system. The possible qualitative composition of WR20a, the most massive known binary with non-degenerate components (commonly classified as Wolf-Rayet stars according to their observational parameters), has been studied. Meridional circulation may enrich the envelope of a rapidly rotating main-sequence star in CNO elements. In the most likely model, WR20a consists of a Wolf-Rayet star and a main-sequence star.     

Retrieval of cloud classification parameters using two-dimensional fast Fourier transform

A method is presented for the retrieval of classification parameters of clouds observed by satellite-borne imaging systems. It is based on a two-dimensional fast Fourier transform of cloud images and an analysis of their power spectra. The parameters retrieved provide quantitative information on mean brightness, size, shape and directional properties of clouds. The efficacy of the subdivision of the original cloud image into smaller regions and the determination of individual parameters is demonstrated by applying this procedure to some NOAA and INSAT cloud images.     

Long gamma-ray bursts and the morphology of their host galaxies

We present the results of population syntheses for binary stars carried out using the “Scenario Machine” code with the aim of analyzing events that may result in long gamma-ray bursts. We show that the observed distribution of morphological types of the host galaxies of long gamma-ray bursts can be explained in a model in which long gamma-ray bursts result from the core collapse of massive Wolf-Rayet stars in close binaries. The dependence of the burst rate on galaxy type is associated with an increase in the rate of stellar-wind mass-loss with increasing stellar metallicity. The separation of binary components at the end of their evolution increases with the stellar-wind rate, resulting in a reduction of the number of binaries that produce gamma-bursts.     

Dust formation in binaries with OB and WR components in a two-phase stellar-wind model

We describe the formation of carbon dust in binary systems with hot components as a result of the collisions of clouds in a two-phase stellar-wind model. Calculations are made for the well studied system WR 140. The collisions lead to the formation of composite clouds and shock waves, with the temperature at the shock front equal to about 3×10⁸ K along both sides of the interface boundary. During isobaric deexcitation to (0.5–0.7)×10⁴ K, the cloud density increases by a factor of several thousand; its thickness in the direction of the shock decreases by the same factor. After deexcitation, the hydrogen inside the composite cloud is in its atomic state, while the carbon remains ionized. The deexcitation is followed by expansion of the cloud, which moves away from both stars. During the first 10⁶ s, its thickness remains relatively small, so that the expansion is one-dimensional. The radiation field inside the cloud decays, resulting in the recombination of the carbon. Further expansion of the cloud leads to adiabatic cooling, and the formation of dust particles becomes possible. After the dimensions of the cloud have become roughly the same in all directions, its expansion is isotropic, so that it becomes transparent within approximately 10⁶ s, and the dust is heated to (1.0–1.4)×10³ K, observed as an IR “lare.” The time required for the cloud to move from the exciting star and heat the dust is comparable to the observed delay in the increased IR emission relative to the time of periastron.     

Dynamical evolution of gaseous clouds in the atmospheres of Wolf-Rayet stars

We have computed the dynamical evolution of homogeneous, spherical gaseous condensations in the atmosphere of a Wolf-Rayet star. The physical conditions in the condensations vary substantially in the course of their motion in the stellar wind, which should result in variations in the observed spectrum of the star. The condensations also move at velocities of up to 1000 km/s relative to the surrounding stellar wind. Variations of the physical conditions in these condensations should be taken into account in models of the stellar winds of Wolf-Rayet stars.     

Total column density variations of ozone (O<Subscript>3</Subscript>) in presence of different types of clouds

The zenith sky scattered light spectra were carried out using zenith sky UV-visible spectrometer in clear and cloudy sky conditions during May-November 2000 over the tropical station Pune (18°32′N, 73°51′E). These scattered spectra are obtained in the spectral range 462–498 nm between 75° and 92° solar zenith angles (SZAs). The slant column densities (SCDs) as well as total column densities (TCDs) of NO₂, O₃, H₂O and O₄ are derived with different SZAs in clear and cloudy sky conditions. The large enhancements and reductions in TCDs of the above gases are observed in thick cumulonimbus (Cb) clouds and thin high cirrus (Ci) clouds, respectively, compared to clear sky conditions. The enhancements in TCDs of O₃ appear to be due to photon diffusion, multiple Mie-scattering and multiple reflections between layered clouds or isolated patches of optically thick clouds. The reductions in TCDs due to optically thin clouds are noticed during the above period. The variations in TCDs of O₃ measured under cloudy sky are discussed with total cloud cover (octas) of different types of clouds such as low clouds (C _L ), medium clouds (C _M ) and high clouds (C _H ) during May-November 2000. The variations in TCDs of O₃ measured in cloudy sky conditions are found to be well matched with cloud sensitive parameter colour index (CI) and found to be in good correlation. The TCD_cloudy are derived using airmass factors (AMFs) computed without considering cloud cover and CI in radiative transfer (RT) model, whereas TCD_model are derived using AMFs computed with considering cloud cover, cloud height and CI in RT model. The TCD_model is the column density of illuminated cloudy effect. A good agreement is observed between TCD_model, TCD_Dob and TCD_GOME.     

Thermal instability in the envelopes of Wolf-Rayet stars

Astronomy Reports - We briefly consider thermal instabilities developing in the expanding envelopes of Wolf-Rayet stars and their possible implications. Due to the specific physical conditions in...     

The dynamics of the shock disruption of interstellar clouds

The effect of the structural irregularity of an interstellar cloud on the dynamics of its disruption by a shock from a supernova is studied. Irregular clouds are disrupted twice as fast as spherical clouds. However, fragments of irregular clouds preserve their enhanced density for long times without being mixed with the intercloud gas. The fraction of shock energy that is converted to the kinetic energy of the fragments is 50% higher than in the disruption of a spherical cloud. Shocks are not able to trigger the gravitational compression of clouds.     

The evolutionary status of ultraluminous X-ray sources

We analyze models for quasi-stationary, ultraluminous X-ray sources (ULXs) with luminosities 10³⁸–10⁴⁰ erg/s exceeding the Eddington limit for a ～1.4M_⊙ neutron star. With the exception of relatively rare stationary ULXs that are associated with supernova remnants or background quasars, most ULXs are close binary systems containing a massive stellar black hole (BH) that accretes matter donated by a stellar companion. To explain the observed luminosities of ～10⁴⁰ erg/s, the mass of the BH must be ～40M_⊙ if the accreted matter is helium and ～60M_⊙ if the accreted matter has the solar chemical composition. We consider donors in the form of main-sequence stars, red giants, red supergiants, degenerate helium dwarfs, heavy disks that are the remnants of disrupted degenerate dwarfs, helium nondegenerate stars, and Wolf-Rayet stars. The most common ULXs in galaxies with active star formation are BHs with Roche-lobe-filling main-sequence companions with masses ～7M_⊙ or close Wolf-Rayet companions, which support the required mass-exchange rate via their strong stellar winds. The most probable candidate ULXs in old galaxies are BHs surrounded by massive disks and close binaries containing a BH and degenerate helium-dwarf, red-giant, or red-supergiant donor.     

Massive close binary stars and gamma-ray bursts

We analyze the observed parameters of massive extremely close binaries containing Wolf-Rayet stars and black holes, and identify those systems whose supernova outbursts lead to the formation of rapidly rotating Kerr black holes. It is proposed that the formation of such a black hole is accompanied by a strong gamma-ray burst. Several types of observed systems satisfy the conditions necessary for the formation of a Kerr black hole: BH+WR, BH+OB, WR+O, and BH+K,M.     

Evolution of close binaries and gamma-ray bursts

We analyze the late stages of evolution of massive (M ₀ ? 8 M _⊙) close binaries, from the point of view of possible mechanisms for the generation of gamma-ray bursts. It is assumed that a gamma-ray burst requires the formation of a massive (～1 M _⊙), compact (R ? 10 km) accretion disk around a Kerr black hole or neutron star. Such Kerr black holes are produced by core collapses of Wolf-Rayet stars in very close binaries, as well as by mergers of neutron stars and black holes or two neutron stars in binaries. The required accretion disks can also form around neutron stars that were formed via the collapse of ONeMg white dwarfs. We estimate the Galactic rate of events resulting in the formation of rapidly rotating relativistic objects. The computations were carried out using the “Scenario Machine.”     

Analysis of Cloud Scale Error of Low Resolution Satellite Based on GF-4 and Its Influence on Downward Radiation Calculation

In order to study the scale error of low resolution meteorological satellite cloud detection and its impact on the calculation of downlink radiation, cloud detection using high resolution stationary satellite GF-4 data and error analysis were carried out. Firstly, the cloud detection of GF-4 data is carried out by using visible channel threshold method and time series method, and the error of cloud detection results of Himawari-8 and FY-2 (FY-2G, FY-2E) is analyzed based on the results of GF-4 cloud detection.In the study area, FY-2G, FY-2E and Himawari-8 cloud images could distinguish the clouds and clear sky. The main reason for the error was the scale effect produced by different spatial resolution satellites(the differences caused by cloud detection algorithms are not discussed here).Most of the errors occurred in the areas of thin clouds and broken clouds.High resolution data could detect broken clouds, while low resolution data lead to false and missed detection. On this basis, the error of remote sensing calculation of short wave radiation was analyzed,and it was found that the error of the actual cloud amount in the pixel would bring significant error to the estimation of the downward radiation.The relative error of the instantaneous downward radiation in the selected test area was -173.52%, and the maximum relative error of shortwave radiation was -20.20%.The results show that the high resolution stationary satellite data can significantly improve the estimation accuracy of the downlink shortwave radiation in the regions with more broken clouds.     

基于CloudSat卫星资料的新疆三大山区不同类型云高特征研究

作为空中水资源的重要组成部分,云在地球水循环过程和气候系统中扮演着重要角色,不同高度的云因其物理特性和动力过程的不同而对人工增水作业具有不同的指示意义. 采用2007年1月至2008年12月的美国宇航局（NASA）云卫星（CloudSat） 2B-CLDCLASS资料,从不同类型云的高度分布特征分析了新疆阿尔泰山、天山和昆仑山区的云水资源情况.结果表明：各个季节三大山区高层云所占比例均较大,在20%以上,其中,天山山区和昆仑山区雨层云所占比例也较大,在15%以上. 三大山区不同云的云顶和云底高度年变化趋势基本一致,昆仑山区各类型云的平均云顶和云底的高度最大,阿尔泰山区的最低.     

Gamma-ray bursts—tracers of the history of star formation in the Universe

The rate of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) in the Galaxy is estimated assuming that these events result from the formation of rapidly rotating Kerr black holes during the core collapse of massive, helium, Wolf-Rayet secondary components in very close binary systems. This process brings about rapid rotation of the cores of such Wolf-Rayet stars, inevitably resulting in the formation of Kerr black holes during type Ib,c supernovae. The current rate of formation of Kerr black holes (GRBs) in the Galaxy is about 3×10^?5/year. Collimation of the gamma-ray radiation into a small solid angle (about 0.1–0.01 sr) brings this rate into consistency with the observed rate of GRBs, estimated to be 10^?6–10^?7/year. Possible immediate progenitors of GRBs are massive X-ray binaries with X-ray luminosities of 10³⁸–10⁴⁰ erg/s. Due to the short lifetimes of the progenitors and the very high brightnesses of GRBs, the GRB rate can provide information about the history of star formation in the Universe on the Hubble time scale. A model in which the star-formation rate is determined by the conditions for ionization of the interstellar gas, whose density and volume are determined by supernovae, yields a Galactic star-formation history that can be viewed as representing the history of star formation in the Universe. The theoretical history of star formation is in satisfactory agreement with the history reconstructed from observations. The theoretical model for the history of star formation in the Galaxy can also be used to assess the influence of dust on optical observations of supernovae and GRBs in galaxies of various ages.     

Self-similar focusing of rarefaction waves in relativistic collapsing clouds

The development of an inhomogeneous collapse of an initially homogeneous cloud in pressure equilibrium with an external medium is considered in a general-relativistic treatment. It is shown that a rarefaction wave propagating from the outer boundary toward the center of the cloud forms in the initial stage of the collapse. The rarefaction front moves through the collapsing gas at the sound speed, and separates the cloud material into an inner, uniform core and an outer, inhomogeneous envelope. Our analysis distinguishes two possible collapse regimes, depending on the ratio of the focusing time for the rarefaction wave and the free-fall time for the cloud. In massive clouds, the focusing time for the rarefaction wave exceeds the free-fall time, and the collapse of such clouds inevitably leads to the formation of an event horizon and black hole. In low-mass clouds, the focusing time is less than the free-fall time. After the focusing, the collapse of such clouds is fully inhomogeneous, and can be appreciably slowed by the pressure gradient. The compression of a cloud in a transitional regime separating these two scenarios is studied. In this case, a self-similar collapse regime is realized in the central part of the cloud near the focusing time for the rarefaction wave. The constructed self-similar solution describes both early stages in the compression up to the focusing of the rarefaction wave and later stages with the accretion of gas onto the black hole that is formed. Asymptotic distributions of quantities in the inhomogeneous region at large distances from the rarefaction front and in the accreting envelope are found. The structure of space-time in the vicinity of the black hole that is formed at the center of the cloud as a result of the focusing of the rarefaction wave is discussed.