The electron capture of nuclides 55Co and 56Ni in the process of stellar core collapse

Using Shell-Model Monte Carlo (SMMC) method and Random Phase Approximation (RPA) theory, the electron capture (EC) and the electron capture cross section (ECCS) of nuclei ⁵⁵Co and ⁵⁶Ni are investigated. We also discuss the rates of the change of electron fraction (RCEF) and the error factor C, which is compared our results with those of AFUD, which calculated by the method of Aufderheide. The results show that the ECCS and the EC rates for ⁵⁵Co and ⁵⁶Ni increased about four orders of magnitude at relative high temperature (such as T ₉=5,7,9). On the other hand, the RCEF for two nuclides decreased greatly, and even exceed four orders of magnitude. The error factor shows ours is agreed reasonably well with AUFD under the higher density surroundings (e.g. ρ7=106, Y _e =0.43; ρ7=506, Y _e =0.42; ρ7=4010, Y _e =0.41). But under the lower density surroundings (e.g. ρ7=3.36, Y _e =0.48) the maximum error is ～14.5 % for ⁵⁵Co but is ～14.0 % for ⁵⁶Ni. The error is ～9.5 % and ～9.0 % for ⁵⁵Co, ⁵⁶Ni at ρ7=5.86, Y _e =0.47 respectively.     

Electron capture of nuclei in the region surrounding magnetar

Effects of ultra-strong magnetic field on electron capture rates for ⁵⁷Fe, ⁵⁸Co and ⁵⁹Ni have been analyzed in the nuclear shell model and under the Landau energy levels quantized approximation in the ultra-strong magnetic field, the result increase about 3 orders magnitude. The rate of change of electron abundance, $\dot{Y}_{e}$ , for every nuclide and total $\dot{Y}_{e}$ in the condition without magnetic field and B=4.414×10¹⁵ G have been calculated, and exceed about 6 orders of magnitude generally. These conclusions play an important role in future studying the evolution of magnetar.     

The effects of ultra-strong magnetic fields on electron capture rates for iron group nuclei in the outer crust of magnetars

Based on the work of Wang et al. (Chin. Phys. Lett. 29:049701, 2012), we re-investigated electron capture on iron group nuclei in the outer crust of magnetars and studied magnetar evolution. Effects of ultra-strong magnetic field on electron capture rates for ⁵⁷Co have been analyzed in the nuclear shell model and under the Landau-level-quantization approximation, and the electron capture rates and the neutrino energy loss rates on iron group nuclei in the outer crust of magnetar have been calculated. The results show that electron capture rates on ⁵⁷Co are increase greatly in the ultra-strong magnetic field, and above 3 orders of magnitude generally; and the neutrino energy loss rates by electron capture on iron group nuclei increase above 3 orders of magnitude in the range from B=4.414×10¹³ G to B=4.414×10¹⁵ G. These conclusions play an important role in future studying the evolution of magnetar. Furthermore, we modify the expressions of the electron chemical potential (Fermi energy) and phase space factor by introducing Dirac δ-function, and select appropriate parameters of temperature T, magnetic field B and matter density ρ in the our crust, thus our results will be reliable than those of Wang et al.     

Gamow-Teller strength distribution in proton-rich nucleus 57Zn and its implications in astrophysics

Gamow-Teller (GT) transitions play a preeminent role in the collapse of stellar core in the stages leading to a Type-II supernova. The microscopically calculated GT strength distributions from ground and excited states are used for the calculation of weak decay rates for the core-collapse supernova dynamics and for probing the concomitant nucleosynthesis problem. The B(GT) strength for ⁵⁷Zn is calculated in the domain of proton-neutron Quasiparticle Random Phase Approximation (pn-QRPA) theory. No experimental insertions were made (as usually made in other pn-QRPA calculations of B(GT) strength function) to check the performance of the model for proton-rich nuclei. The calculated B(GT) strength distribution is in good agreement with measurements and shows differences with the earlier reported shell model calculation. The pn-QRPA model reproduced the measured low-lying strength for ⁵⁷Zn better in comparison to the KB3G interaction used in the large-scale shell model calculation. The stellar weak rates are sensitive to the location and structure of these low-lying states in daughter ⁵⁷Cu. The structure of ⁵⁷Cu plays a sumptuous role in the nucleosynthesis of proton-rich nuclei. The primary mechanism for producing such nuclei is the rp-process and is believed to be important in the dynamics of the collapsing supermassive stars. Small changes in the binding and excitation energies can lead to significant modifications of the predictions for the synthesis of proton rich isotopes. The ?? ⁺-decay and electron capture (EC) rates on ⁵⁷Zn are compared to the seminal work of Fuller, Fowler and Newman (FFN). The pn-QRPA calculated ?? ⁺-decay rates are generally in good agreement with the FFN calculation. However at high stellar temperatures the calculated ?? ⁺-decay rates are almost half of FFN rates. On the other hand, for rp-process conditions, the calculated electron capture (?? ⁺-decay) rates are bigger than FFN rates by more than a factor 2 (1.5) and may have interesting astrophysical consequences.     

On the MOND external field effect in the solar system

In the framework of the MOdified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND), the internal dynamics of a gravitating system s embedded in a larger one S is affected by the external background field E of S even if it is constant and uniform, thus implying a violation of the Strong Equivalence Principle: it is the so-called External Field Effect (EFE). In the case of the solar system, E would be A _cen≈10^?10 m?s^?2 because of its motion through the Milky Way: it is orders of magnitude smaller than the main Newtonian monopole terms for the planets. We address here the following questions in a purely phenomenological manner: are the Sun’s planets affected by an EFE as large as 10^?10 m?s^?2? Can it be assumed that its effect is negligible for them because of its relatively small size? Does E induce vanishing net orbital effects because of its constancy over typical solar system’s planetary orbital periods? It turns out that a constant and uniform acceleration, treated perturbatively, does induce non-vanishing long-period orbital effects on the longitude of the pericenter ? of a test particle. In the case of the inner planets of the solar system and with E≈10^?10 m?s^?2, they are 4–6 orders of magnitude larger than the present-day upper bounds on the non-standard perihelion precessions \(\Delta\dot{\varpi}\) recently obtained with by E.V. Pitjeva with the EPM ephemerides in the Solar System Barycentric frame. The upper limits on the components of E are E _x ≤1×10^?15 m?s^?2, E _y ≤2×10^?16 m?s^?2, E _z ≤3×10^?14 m?s^?2. This result is in agreement with the violation of the Strong Equivalence Principle by MOND. Our analysis also holds for any other exotic modification of the current laws of gravity yielding a constant and uniform extra-acceleration. If and when other corrections \(\Delta\dot{\varpi}\) to the usual perihelion precessions will be independently estimated with different ephemerides it will be possible to repeat such a test.     

Advancing tests of relativistic gravity via laser ranging to Phobos

Phobos Laser Ranging (PLR) is a concept for a space mission designed to advance tests of relativistic gravity in the solar system. PLR’s primary objective is to measure the curvature of space around the Sun, represented by the Eddington parameter γ, with an accuracy of two parts in 10⁷, thereby improving today’s best result by two orders of magnitude. Other mission goals include measurements of the time-rate-of-change of the gravitational constant, G and of the gravitational inverse square law at 1.5-AU distances—with up to two orders-of-magnitude improvement for each. The science parameters will be estimated using laser ranging measurements of the distance between an Earth station and an active laser transponder on Phobos capable of reaching mm-level range resolution. A transponder on Phobos sending 0.25-mJ, 10-ps pulses at 1 kHz, and receiving asynchronous 1-kHz pulses from earth via a 12-cm aperture will permit links that even at maximum range will exceed a photon per second. A total measurement precision of 50 ps demands a few hundred photons to average to 1-mm (3.3 ps) range precision. Existing satellite laser ranging (SLR) facilities—with appropriate augmentation—may be able to participate in PLR. Since Phobos’ orbital period is about 8 h, each observatory is guaranteed visibility of the Phobos instrument every Earth day. Given the current technology readiness level, PLR could be started in 2011 for launch in 2016 for 3 yr of science operations. We discuss the PLR’s science objectives, instrument, and mission design. We also present the details of science simulations performed to support the mission’s primary objectives.     

Preliminary limits on a logarithmic correction to the Newtonian gravitational potential in the solar system

Using the supplementary advances of the perihelia provided by INPOP10a (IMCCE, France) and EPM2011 (IAA RAS, Russia) ephemerides, we obtain preliminary limits on a logarithmic correction to the Newtonian gravitational potential in the solar system. This kind of correction may originate from fundamental frameworks, like string theories or effective models of gravity due to quantum effects and the non-local gravity scheme. We estimate upper limit of Tohline-Kuhn-Kruglyak parameter λ and lower bound of Fabris-Campos parameter α, which parametrize the correction and connect each other by αλ=?1. In our estimation, we take the Lense-Thirring effect due to the Sun’s angular momentum and the uncertainty of the Sun’s quadrupole moment into account. These two factors were usually absent in previous works. We find that INPOP10a yields the upper limit as α=?(0.66±5.82)×10^?4 kpc^?1 [or the lower limit as λ=(0.15±8.76)×10⁵ kpc] while EPM2011 gives α=(0.52±1.74)×10^?4 kpc^?1 [or the lower limit as λ=?(0.19±3.29)×10⁵ kpc]. The limits of |λ| are greater than the result based on the rotation curves of spiral galaxies by about 3 orders of magnitude, indicating its effects might be screened in high density regions.     

X-rays from supernovae remants 3C 400.2 (≡ G53.7-2.2) and MSH 15-56

Detection of two new soft X-ray sources and their identification with the supernova remnants (RNRs) 3C400.2 and MSH 15-56, is reported. From the observed X-ray flux in the 0.7–2.0 keV energy range, the X-ray luminosity of 3C400.2 is derived to be in the range of (2.7–5.3)×10³⁵ ergs s^?1 and that of MSH 15-56 in the range of (0.9–1.6)×10³⁵ ergs s^?1. If we use the standard adiabatic shockwave model for the SNR's, an age of ～(1.4–3.2)×10⁴ yr is derived for 3C400.2 whereas MSH 15-56 is found to be younger of an age of (5–10)×10³ yr.     

Can molecular clouds live long?

It is generally accepted that the lifetime of molecular clouds does not exceed 3×10⁷ yr due to disruption by stellar feedback. We put together some arguments giving evidence that a substantial fraction of molecular clouds (primarily in the outer regions of a disc) may avoid destruction process for at least 10⁸ yr or even longer. A molecular cloud can live long if massive stars are rare or absent. Massive stars capable to destroy a cloud may not form for a long time if a cloud is low massive, or stellar initial mass function is top-light, or if there is a delay of the beginning of active star formation. A long duration of the inactive phase of clouds may be reconciled with the low amount of the observed starless giant molecular clouds if to propose that they were preceded by slowly contraction phase of the magnetized dark gas, non-detected in CO-lines.     

Photoelectric lightcurves of asteroids 42 Isis, 45 Eugenia, 56 Melete, 103 Hera, 532 Herculina,and 558 Carmen

Photoelectric observations of six asteroids are presented. The following synodic periods of rotation and amplitudes of variation are reported: 42 Isis, P = 13^h.59, Δm = 0.32; 45 Eugenia, P = 5^h.70, Δm = 0.30; 56 Melete, P = 13^h.7 or 19^h.0, Δm = 0.06; 532 Herculina, P = 9^h.408, Δm = 0.15; 558 Carmen, P ≈ 10^h, Δm ≈ 0.25. The asteroid 103 Hera exhibited no periodic variation in excess of about 0.03 magnitude. The period found for 532 Herculina is one half that previously reported by other observers.     

Electron capture strength on odd-A nucleus 59Co in explosive astrophysical environment

The Gamow-Teller (GT) transitions within massive stars play sumptuous role in the dynamics of core collapse supernovae. GT strength distributions and electron capture rates have been calculated for odd-A nucleus ⁵⁹Co within the proton-neutron quasiparticles random phase approximation (pn-QRPA) formalism. The pn-QRPA results are compared with other model calculations and (n,p) reaction experiment carried out at TRIUMF charge-exchange facility. The pn-QRPA calculated a total B(GT ₊) strength of 3.3 for ⁵⁹Co to be compared with the shell model value of 2.5 and the 1.9±0.1 in the (n,p) charge-exchange reaction. Aufderheide et al. (1993) extracted total strength equaling 2.4±0.3. The placement of GT centroid at 5.6 MeV by the pn-QRPA model is in reasonable agreement with the shell model centroid at 5.1 MeV whereas the measured GT centroid was placed at 4.4±0.3 MeV in the (n,p) experiment. Fuller, Fowler and Newman (FFN) (1980, 1982a, 1982b), placed the GT centroid at too low excitation energy of 2.0 MeV in the daughter nucleus ⁵⁹Fe, and this misplacement led to the enhancement of FFN rates. The suppressed pn-QRPA and shell model electron capture rates are in good agreement with each other. The rates are suggestive of higher value of Y _e (electron-to-baryon ratio) and may contribute to a more massive homologously collapsing core resulting in a more energetic shock. It might be interesting for the simulators to check the effect of these suppressed rates on the fine-tuning of the time rate of Y _e , the concomitant heavy element nucleosynthesis, and, on the energetics of the subsequent shock wave.     

Quiescent Reconnection Rate Between Emerging Active Regions and Preexisting Field,with Associated Heating: NOAA AR 11112

When magnetic flux emerges from beneath the photosphere, it displaces the preexisting field in the corona, and a current sheet generally forms at the boundary between the old and new magnetic domains. Reconnection in the current sheet relaxes this highly stressed configuration to a lower energy state. This scenario is most familiar and most often studied in flares, where the flux transfer is rapid. We present here a study of steady, quiescent flux transfer occurring at a rate three orders of magnitude lower than that in a large flare. In particular, we quantify the reconnection rate and the related energy release that occurred as the new polarity emerged to form NOAA Active Region 11112 (SOL16 October 2010T00:00:00L205C117) within a region of preexisting flux. A bright, low-lying kernel of coronal loops above the emerging polarity, observed with the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly onboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory and the X-ray Telescope onboard Hinode, originally showed magnetic connectivity only between regions of newly emerged flux when overlaid on magnetograms from the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager. Over the course of several days, this bright kernel advanced into the preexisting flux. The advancement of an easily visible boundary into the old flux regions allows measuring the rate of reconnection between old and new magnetic domains. We compare the reconnection rate with the inferred heating of the coronal plasma. To our knowledge, this is the first measurement of steady, quiescent heating related to reconnection. We determined that the newly emerged flux reconnects at a fairly steady rate of 0.38×10¹⁶ Mx?s^?1 over two days, while the radiated power varies between (2?–?8)×10²⁵ erg?s^?1 over the same time. We found that as much as 40 % of the total emerged flux at any given time may have reconnected. The total amounts of transferred flux (～?1×10²¹ Mx) and radiated energy (～?7.2×10³⁰ ergs) are comparable to that of a large M- or small X-class flare, but are stretched out over 45 hours.     

Astronomical spectroscopy in the last four decades: survival of the fittest

Spectroscopic astronomical instrumentation has much evolved in the last 40 years. Long-slit grating spectrographs with a photographic plate as the detector working in the 0.3–1 μm range were prevalent up to the early 1970s. The replacement of photographic plates by two-dimensional digital detectors provided gains in sensitivity of two orders of magnitude and much better photometric and radial velocity precision, and opened the 1 to 25 μm infrared domain. Another gain in speed by up to two orders of magnitude was then obtained through the development of various spectroscopic systems, each optimized for a subset of astronomical objects. This development was underpinned by a number of technological advances, in particular the development of automatic data reduction pipelines using sophisticated algorithms. With ever larger and more complex instrument systems for the present 8–10 m diameter telescopes—and soon even more for the next generation of Extremely Large Telescopes, the development of an instrument is now a big enterprise, ranging all the way from long-term enabling technology efforts to management of large teams for construction and deployment over typically 7–8 years.     

Observational Study of a Peculiar Solar Limb Event Occurred on 11 January 2002

On 11 January 2002, using the Multi-channel Infrared Solar Spectrograph (MISS) at the Purple Mountain Observatory (PMO), we obtained Hα, Ca ii 8542 Å and He i 10?830 Å spectra and slit-jaw Hα images of a peculiar solar limb event. A close resemblance of its intensity to that of a small flare and the GOES X-ray flux indicates that it was an active prominence. However, its morphological evolution and velocity variation were different from general typical active prominences, such as limb flares, post-flare loops, surges and sprays. It started with the ejection of material from the flare site. In the early phase, the ejecta was as bright as a limb flare and kept rising until reaching the height of (8????10)×10⁴ km at an almost constant velocity of 91.7 km? s ^?1 with its lower part always connected to the solar surface. EUV images in 195 Å show similar structure as in the Hα line, indicating the coexistence of plasmas with temperatures differing by more than two orders of magnitude. Later some material started to fall back to another bright area on the solar surface. The falling material did not show the collimated structure of surges or the arc structure of flaring arches. A red-shift velocity of more than 200 km? s ^?1 was detected in a bright point close to the outer edge of the closed loop system formed later, which dispersed in a few minutes and became a part of the newly formed large loop. The ejected material did not leave the sun, indicating that the magnetic reconnection was not sufficient to remove the overlying field lines during the process. The spectral line profiles showed large widths and variable velocities, and therefore the line-pair method is not applicable to this event for the estimation of physical parameters.     

Time evolution of the unstable two-fluid density fluctuations in Robertson-Walker Universes

We consider density fluctuations of a two-fluid model consisting of hydrogen plasma and radiation prior to the cosmic hydrogen recombination. As investigation method that of the dispersion relations is applied, which have been derived from the general-relativistic sound-wave equations taking into account the coupling between plasma and radiation carefully. We obtain growing unstable acoustic modes within the mass range 2 · 10⁶ M _⊙ < M < 6 · 10 ¹² M _⊙. In a second step the coupled differential equations for the amplitudes of the unstable modes are integrated numerically with respect to time where the integration extends from the initial time prior to the hydrogen recombination up to the present time. We find a significant increase of the amplitudes up to 4 orders of magnitude, if the Universe is described by a cosmological model with a positive cosmological constant (Λ ? 2,2 · 10^-56 cm^-2) and a positive curvature (Lemaître-Universe) without an essential amount of cold dark matter. We conclude that the existence of galaxies confirm these statements.     

Strongly screening corrections to antineutrino energy loss by $\beta ^{-}$-decay of nuclides 53Fe, 54Fe, 55Fe,and 56Fe in supernova

Based on the p-f shell-model, we discuss and calculate \(\beta^{-}\)-decay half-lives of neutron-rich nuclei, with a consideration of shell and pair effects, the decay energy, and the nucleon numbers. According to the linear response theory model, we study the effect of electron screening on the electron energy, beta-decay threshold energy, and the antineutrino energy loss rate by \(\beta^{-}\)-decay of some iron isotopes. We find that the electron screening antineutrino energy loss rates increase by about two orders of magnitude due to the shell effects and the pairing effect. Beta-decay rates with Q-value corrections due to strong electron screening are higher than those without the Q-value corrections by more than two orders of magnitude. Our conclusions may be helpful for the research on numerical simulations of the cooling of stars.     

The ion H 3 + in a strong magnetic field

A first detailed study of the low-lying electronic states of the H ₃ ⁺ molecular ion in linear configuration, parallel to a magnetic field, is carried out for B=0–4.414×10¹³ G in the Born-Oppenheimer approximation. The variational method is employed with a single, physically adequate trial function which includes, in particular, explicitly the electronic correlation term in the form exp?(γ r ₁₂), where γ is a variational parameter. The state of the lowest total energy (ground state) depends on the magnetic field strength. It evolves from spin-singlet ¹Σ _g for small magnetic fields B?5×10⁸ G to weakly-bound spin-triplet ³Σ _u for intermediate fields and eventually to spin-triplet ³Π _u state for B?5×10¹⁰ G.     

Weak solar fields and their connection to the solar cycle

We discuss the weak solar magnetic fields as studied with the BBSO videomagnetograph (VMG). By weak fields we mean those outside active and unipolar regions. These are found everywhere on the Sun, even where there never have been sunspots. These fields consist of the network and intranetwork (IN) elements. The former move slowly and live a day or more; the latter move rapidly (typically 300 m s^–1) and live only hours. To all levels of sensitivity the flux is concentrated in discrete elements, and the background field has not been detected. The smallest detectable elements at present are 10¹⁶ Mx. The IN elements emerge in bipolar form but appear to flow in a random pattern rather than to the network edges; however, any expanding network element is constrained by geometry to move toward the edges.Because of the great number and short lifetime of the IN elements the total flux emerging in that form exceeds that emerging in the ER by two orders of magnitude and the flux in sunspots, by a factor 10⁴. However, the flux separation is small and there is no contribution to the overall field. In contrast with our earlier results, merging of IN fields is more important than the ephemeral regions as a source of new network elements.The conjecture that all solar magnetic fields are intrinsically strong is discussed and evidence pro and con presented. For the IN fields the evidence suggests they cannot exceed 100 G. For the network fields there is evidence on either side.Reconnection and merging of magnetic fields takes place continually in the conditions studied.Because there is a steady state distribution, the amout of new elements created by merging or emergence must balance that destroyed by reconnection or fission and diffusion of the stronger elements.Solar Cycle Workshop Paper.     

Apparent magnitudes of high redshift Type 1a supernovae and intergalactic graphite whiskers

The concept of a Universe undergoing an acceleration in its expansion rate and predicating the existence of dark energy is based on observed deficits in brightness of Type 1a supernovae at high redshifts, amounting to Δ m～0.3–0.5. We show that the effect of intergalactic graphite whiskers of radii in the general range 0.03–0.07 μm and lengths in excess of ～5 μm will be to mimic the effects of dark energy in the redshift magnitude relation for Type 1a supernovae. The mean intergalactic density of whiskers required for such an effect is ～3×10^?34 g cm^?3, about 10^?5 of the critical closure density.     

Unusual Solar Radio Burst Observed at Decameter Wavelengths

An unusual solar burst was observed simultaneously by two decameter radio telescopes UTR-2 (Kharkov, Ukraine) and URAN-2 (Poltava, Ukraine) on 3 June 2011 in the frequency range of 16?–?28 MHz. The observed radio burst had some unusual properties, which are not typical for the other types of solar radio bursts. Its frequency drift rate was positive (about 500 kHz?s^?1) at frequencies higher than 22 MHz and negative (100 kHz?s^?1) at lower frequencies. The full duration of this event varied from 50 s up to 80 s, depending on the frequency. The maximum radio flux of the unusual burst reached ≈10³ s.f.u. and its polarization did not exceed 10 %. This burst had a fine frequency-time structure of unusual appearance. It consisted of stripes with the frequency bandwidth 300?–?400 kHz. We consider that several accompanied radio and optical events observed by SOHO and STEREO spacecraft were possibly associated with the reported radio burst. A model that may interpret the observed unusual solar radio burst is proposed.