Fluctuations in tidal (24-, 12-h) characteristics and oscillations (8-h-5-d) in the mesosphere and lower thermosphere (70–110 km): Saskatoon (52°N, 107°W), 1979–1981

An M.F. radar (2.2 MHz) operating at Saskatoon, Canada (52°N, 107°W) has been used to produce continuous wind data ( 80–110km) from September 1978–April 1981. The 24-, 12-h tidal oscillations reveal regular summer-winter transitions; in particular the semi-diurnal tide demonstrates strikingly regular and rapid equinoctial changes over the three years. The vernal and autumnal equinox changes are clearly different in morphology. Shorter term tidal fluctuations (2d τ 10d) are compared with mean winds and gravity wave amplitudes, as well as with satellite-derived stratospheric temperatures.

Spectral analysis of monthly data sets for 1980, from 90–105 km, reveal oscillations of the expected 8-, 12-, 24-h periods, but also of 10-, 16- and 2-, 5/6d. A modulation of the “2-d” wave by the 12-h wave is suggested as a possible cause of these surprisingly regular oscillations.     

Tianjin photographic zenith tube observations

In this paper we analyse the observational data obtained by the Chinese-made PZT in the two periods 1979 Feb – 1980 May and 1981 Dec – 1983 March. The internal accuracy of single star is found to be m_u = ±13.0 ms, m_φ = ±0. “144 for the first period, and m_u = ±14.6 ms, m_φ = ±0.” 152 for the second. Correction of star position is found by the chain method. The systematic error caused by the sealed window of the evacuated chamber and the temperature effect of the plate scale are investigated. Monthly means of time and latitude are given.     

Statistical analysis of correlation between the positions of quasars and the uppsala galaxies

The question of the association of quasars with galaxies is re-examined using 785 quasars at |b| 30, δ − 02°30′ in the new Hewitt and Burbidge Catalog (1980) and all galaxies in the “Uppsala General Catalogue of Galaxies” (Nilson, 1973). The results of the two-point cross-correlation function are presented and they show that there are on the average 0.153 ± 0.011 more galaxies within 10'.0 of a QSO than would be expected if the QSOs were distributed randomly. We find the marginal significance of the tendency for correlation between QSOs and galaxies to increase with increasing redshifts z or apparent magnitudes V. The nearest neighbor test has also been taken to analyse the same data as well as get further evidence for the apparent association between QSOs and galaxies.     

The cosmic ray primary composition in the “knee” region through the EAS electromagnetic and muon measurements at EAS-TOP

The evolution of the cosmic ray primary composition in the energy range 10⁶–10⁷ GeV (i.e. the “knee” region) is studied by means of the e.m. and muon data of the Extensive Air Shower EAS-TOP array (Campo Imperatore, National Gran Sasso Laboratories). The measurement is performed through: (a) the correlated muon number (N_μ) and shower size (N_e) spectra, and (b) the evolution of the average muon numbers and their distributions as a function of the shower size. From analysis (a) the dominance of helium primaries at the knee, and therefore the possibility that the knee itself is due to a break in their energy spectrum (at E_k^He=(3.5±0.3)×10⁶ GeV) are deduced. Concerning analysis (b), the measurement accuracies allow the classification in terms of three mass groups: light (p,He), intermediate (CNO), and heavy (Fe). At primary energies E₀≈10⁶ GeV the results are consistent with the extrapolations of the data from direct experiments. In the knee region the obtained evolution of the energy spectra leads to: (i) an average steep spectrum of the light mass group (γ_p,He>3.1), (ii) a spectrum of the intermediate mass group harder than the one of the light component (γ_CNO2.75, possibly bending at E_k^CNO≈(6–7)×10⁶ GeV), (iii) a constant slope for the spectrum of the heavy primaries (γ_Fe2.3–2.7) consistent with the direct measurements. In the investigated energy range, the average primary mass increases from lnA=1.6–1.9 at E₀1.5×10⁶ GeV to lnA=2.8–3.1 at E₀1.5×10⁷ GeV. The result supports the standard acceleration and propagation models of galactic cosmic rays that predict rigidity dependent cut-offs for the primary spectra of the different nuclei. The uncertainties connected to the hadronic interaction model (QGSJET in CORSIKA) used for the interpretation are discussed.     

Catastrophic fragmentation as a stochastic process: sizes and shapes of fragments

It is rather difficult to understand theoretically and to analyse the experimental data concerning the mass and shape distributions of fragments created by catastrophic collisions. The fragmentation process is discussed as being a purely stochastical phenomenon; the size and shape distributions obtained in this way are compared with the results of laboratory experiments. The results are presented of some computer simulations of random volume fragmentation processes; they are a 3-D generalization of the numerical experiments described in Grady and Kipp (J. Appl. Phys. 58(3), 1210–1222, 1985). The features of the size distribution are discussed, comparing it with the expectations of the Mott-Linfoot and Grady-Kipp theories. In the literature the shape of fragments is defined in terms of the ratios B/A and C/A, where A, B, C are defined as the sizes of a fragment along three orthogonal axes. The definition of the shape of a fragment cannot be considered unique, since it is not obvious in which order to define the three axes when the fragments are not ellipsoidal. A few possible methods are introduced explicity, and the resulting differences are discussed. In this light, the shape results (the mean values and the distribution of the axial ratios) obtained in recent laboratory experiments are rediscussed and critically reviewed. For what concerns the stochastical modelling, the results of various simulations, corresponding to different assumptions regarding fragmentation properties are presented. It is shown that the main features of the shape distributions from laboratory experiments cannot be satisfactorily reproduced. Comparison of the results with the outcomes of the semiempirical fragmentation model by Paolicchi et al. (Icarus 121, 126–157, 1996), as well as with some results coming out from hydrodynamical simulations, shows how only a “global” and physical model, not a purely statistical one (neither global nor “local”), can afford to reproduce the observed data.     

The cosmic ray energy spectrum between 10 and 10 eV

The energy spectrum of cosmic rays with primary energies between 10¹⁴ eV and 10¹⁶ eV has been studied with the CASA-MIA air shower array. The measured differential energy spectrum is a power law (dj/dE ∝ E^−y) with spectral indices γ of 2.66±0.02 below approximately 10¹⁵ eV and 3.00±0.05 above. A new method is used for measuring primary energy derived from ground-based data in a compositionally insensitive way. In contrast with some previous reports, the “knee” of the energy spectrum does not appear sharp, but rather a smooth transition over energies from 10¹⁵ eV to 3.0 × 10¹⁵ eV.     

Pre-perihelion CCD photometry of Comet 1995 01 (Hale-Bopp)

Systematic CCD photometry of Comet 1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp) began in early August 1995 shortly after its discovery (IAU Circular 6187) and continued until mid-November 1996. The light curve derived from a 34″ square centered on the nucleus shows clearly and objectively how the inner regions of the comet brightened during this 15 month period. Possible connections between sudden brightenings and reported outbursts are investigated. During the interval August–December 1995, the magnitude of the comet showed strong evidence of a periodicity of 20±5 days with a full amplitude of approximately 0.20 mag. It is noteworthy that this result spans both the period of 18 days suggested by Sekanina (1995, 1996) and the “superperiod” of 22±2 days reported by Jorda et al. (1997). However, in 1996 neither this periodicity nor any other could be detected with certainty in the photometric data.     

Relationship between pulse width and energy in GRB 060124: from X-ray to γ-ray bands

GRB 060124 is the first event that both prompt and afterglow emission were observed simultaneously by the three Swift instruments. Its main peak also triggered Konus-Wind and HETE-II. Therefore, investigation on both the temporal and spectral properties of the prompt emission can be extended to X-ray bands. We perform a detailed analysis on the two well identified pulses of this burst, and find that the pulses are narrower at higher energies, and both X-rays and γ-rays follow the same w–E relation for an individual pulse. However, there is no a universal power-law index of the w–E relation among pulses. We find also that the rise-to-decay ratio r/d seems not to evolve with E and the r/d values are well consistent with that observed in typical GRBs. The broadband spectral energy distribution also suggests that the X-rays are consistent with the spectral behavior of the γ-rays. These results indicate that the X-ray emission tracks the γ-ray emission and the emissions in the two energy bands are likely to be originated from the same physical mechanism.     

Space–time foam and cosmic-ray interactions

It has been proposed that propagation of cosmic-rays at extreme-energy may be sensitive to Lorentz-violating metric fluctuations (“foam”). We investigate the changes in interaction thresholds for cosmic-rays and gamma-rays interacting on the CMB and IR backgrounds, for a class of stochastic models of space–time foam. The strength of the foam is characterized by the factor (E/M_P)^a, where a is a phenomenological suppression parameter. We find that there exists a critical value of a (dependent on the particular reaction: a_crit3 for cosmic-rays, 1 for gamma-rays), below which the threshold energy can only be lowered, and above which the threshold energy may be raised, but at most by a factor of two. Thus, it does not appear possible in this class of models to extend cosmic-ray spectra significantly beyond their classical absorption energies. However, the lower thresholds resulting from foam may have signatures in the cosmic-ray spectrum. In the context of this foam model, we find that cosmic-ray energies cannot exceed the fundamental Planck scale, and so set a lower bound of 10⁸ TeV for the scale of gravity. We also find that suppression of p→pπ⁰ and γ→e⁻e⁺ “decays” favors values aa_crit. Finally, we comment on the apparent non-conservation of particle energy–momentum, and speculate on its re-emergence as dark energy in the foamy vacuum.     

Jupiter: An inhomogeneous atmospheric model analysis of spatial variations of the H2 4-0 S(1) line

An analysis of the structure of the Jovian atmosphere, primarily based on center-to-limb variations (CTLV) of the equivalent width of the hydrogen quadrupole 4-0 S(1) line, is presented. These data require that the atmosphere have regions of both long- and short- scattering mean free paths. Two alternative cloud structures which fit the data are developed. The first is a two-cloud model (TCM) consisting of a thin upper cloud and a lower semi-infinite cloud, with absorbing gas between the clouds and above the upper cloud. The second model is a reflecting-scattering model (RSM), in which a gas layer lies above a haze consisting of scattering particles and absorbing gas. The cloud-scattering phase function in both models must have a strong forward peak. The CTLV data require, however, the presence of a backscattering lobe on the phase function, with the backscattering intensity about 4% of the forward scattering. The decrease in reflectivity of all regions from the visible to the ultraviolet is explained by the presence of dust particles mixed with the gas. Most of the ultraviolet absorption in the atmosphere must occur above the upper cloud layer. Particles with a uniform distribution of radii from 0.0 to 0.1 μm with a complex index of refraction varying as λ^?2.5 are used. The contrast in reflectivity between belts and zones may be explained by the larger concentration of dust in the belts than in the zones. Spatially resolved ultraviolet limb-darkening curves will help to determine the dust distribution of the Jovian atmosphere. The visible methane bands at λλ 6190, 5430, and 4860 Å are analyzed in terms of these models. We derive a methane-to-hydrogen mixing ratio of 2.8 × 10^?3, which is about 4.5 times the value for solar composition.     

An atlas of Zeeman polarisation in the Stokes IQUV spectrum of β Coronae Borealis

We present an atlas of the Zeeman spectral line polarisation throughout the visible spectrum of the cool F0p star β CrB based on MuSiCoS spectropolarimetry. Stokes I, V, Q and U spectra covering the full 4500–6600 Å MuSiCoS intermediate bandpass are shown at sufficient display resolution so as to be suitable for the identification of individual spectral features. This is foreseen as being useful, for example, in the planning of very high resolution spectropolarimetric studies of Ap star Zeeman signatures using high-dispersion instruments likely to have significantly smaller spectral bandwidth.     

MHD oscillations in the solar spike radiation

In this paper the observed 1.4–1.6 s quasi-periodic oscillations in the spike radiation of the microwave outburst of 1981 May 16 are analysed in teras of MHD waves. We point out that the fast magnetoacoustic waves (“sausage” mode) propagating inside and outside a loop can modulate the magnetic field and the pitch angle distribution of the electron beams in the source region. The growth rate of electron-cyclotron-maser instability is then affected to give rise to the quasi-periodic oscillations. Quantitative estimates of relevant physical parameters are given.     

Response time of the high-latitude dayside ionosphere to sudden changes in the north-south component of the IMF

The time scale of the response of the high-latitude dayside ionospheric flow to changes in the North-South component of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) has been investigated by examining the time delays between corresponding sudden changes. Approximately 40 h of simultaneous IMF and ionospheric flow data have been examined, obtained by the AMPTE-UKS and -IRM spacecraft and the EISCAT “Polar” experiment, respectively, in which 20 corresponding sudden changes have been identified. Ten of these changes were associated with southward turnings of the IMF, and 10 with northward turnings. It has been found that the corresponding flow changes occurred simultaneously over the whole of the “Polar” field-of-view, extending more than 2° in invariant latitude, and that the ionospheric response delay following northward turnings is the same as that following southward turnings, though the form of the response is different in the two cases. The shortest response time, 5.5 ± 3.2 min, is found in the early- to mid-afternoon sector, increasing to 9.5 ± 3.0 min in the mid-morning sector, and to 9.5 ± 3.1 min near to dusk. These times represent the delays in the appearance of perturbed flows in the “Polar” field-of-view following the arrival of IMF changes at the subsolar magnetopause. Overall, the results agree very well with those derived by Etemadi et al. (1988, Planet. Space Sci. 36, 471) from a general cross-correlation analysis of the IMF B_z and “Polar” beam-swinging vector flow data.     

Telescopic investigation of relative spectral reflectivity of mare grounds of lunar surface

A study of the variation of the spectral relative ratios of reflectivity of selected mare lunar grounds between wavelengths 4000 and 8000 Å is given in comparison with lunar craters. The intensities at different wavelengths of each lunar region are corrected for the angles of illumination and viewing, and they are scaled to unity at =5538Å. Distinct variety in the spectral reflectivity values of mare grounds at short wavelengths are confirmed. The Mare Tranquillitatis type grounds (similar to Apollo-11 site), have relative ratio of reflectivity at short wavelength at =4035 Å; larger than or equal to 1.03 in addition to a bigger difference in reflectivity between the short and the long wavelength. The Mare Serenitatis type grounds (similar to Apollo-12) are characterized to give relative ratio of reflectivity less than 1.03 at =4035 Å, and smaller difference in reflectivity between short and long wavelengths. This is due to the variation in the colour of the Mare Tranquillitatis and Mare Serenitatis type ground due to compositional differences. The mare type grounds are generally different in shape than that of lunar craters grounds.Presented at the IAU-COSPAR Julian Schmidt Symposium on 100 Years of Lunar Mapping held at Lagonissi, Greece, 25–27 May, 1978.     

Velocity of finer fragments from impact

We describe the method and the result of a new experiment to obtain velocity distribution of fine ejecta fragments, from a few to a hundred microns in size, produced from basalt targets by impacts of nylon projectiles at a velocity of 3.7 km s⁻¹. The size distribution of holes perforated by the ejecta fragments on thin films and foils placed around the targets was investigated, and the size-velocity relation was determined with the aid of an empirical formula for threshold penetration (McDonnell and Sullivan, Hypervelocity Impacts in Space, Unit for Space Sciences, University of Kent, 1992). The velocity of the fastest fragments, at a given size, is from the extrapolation of the size-velocity relation for 1–100 mm fragments (Nakamura and Fujiwara, Icarus92, 132–146, 1991; Nakamura et al, Icarus100, 127–135, 1992). The laboratory results are also compared with those obtained from the study of secondary craters around large lunar craters (Vickery, Icarus67, 224–236, 1986, Geophys. Res. Lett. 14, 726–729, 1987). All these data provide a smooth size-velocity relationship in the normalized fragment size range of four orders of magnitude.     

The dangerous border of the 5:2 mean motion resonance

After discovering that asteroid (2953) Vysheslavia, a Koronis family member, has a typical dynamical lifetime of the order of 10 Myr only against “falling” into the 5:2 Kirkwood gap and ending up in a hyperbolic orbit (Milani and Farinella, 1995. Icarus 114, 209–212), we decided to repeat the same study for two other asteroids, 1991 UA₂ and 1993 FR₅₈, lying also very close to the outer edge of the same resonance. The orbital elements of these bodies were not yet accurate enough and we appealed to observers, both professional and amateur, to obtain more astrometric data. Eight groups in three different countries carried out observations, and as a result the Minor Planet Center could derive updated, accurate orbits for both objects. Here we report on the preliminary results of our study. Whereas the long-term behavior of 1991 UA₂ looks fairly regular and stable, 1993 FR₅₈ exhibits a typical “stable chaos” behavior; nevertheless, it does not end up in the resonance within a time span of 50 Myr. On the other hand, its fictitious clones, placed just 3–4 × 10⁻³ AU closer to the resonance, undergo large irregular semimajor axis changes, fall into the resonance and escape on a timescale <1 Myr.     

On the rotation of large-scale background fields in the 21st cycle of solar activity

We study some peculiarities of the time variation of dipole components in the longitudinal field distribution in individual low-latitude belts of the Sun. For analyzing the horizontal dipole rotation and variations of amplitudes we used magnetic and H data.From 1979 to 1981 the rotation of the dipoles of the northern and southern low-latitude belts (0°–30° N and 10°–40° S) occurs with periods of about 26.8 days (N) and 28.2 days (S), in agreement with the results reported by Antonucci, Hoeksema, and Scherrer (1990) and Hoeksema and Scherrer (1987). A uniform rotation of the low-latitude dipoles of these belts continued until the end of 1981. Following the next coincidence of the magnetic poles in longitude the dipoles change in their rotation character. During about 15–20 rotations the low-latitude dipoles co-rotate with a new period close to the Carrington period. This is followed by a rapid (in 3–5 rotations) transition of the poles to a new stable state, also with the Carrington rotation period. The change in rotation and dynamics of the low-latitude dipoles at the end of 1981-beginning of 1982 can be explained either by a mutual penetration of the fields of different hemispheres to the opposite hemisphere or by the onset of the formation of relatively shortlived (15–20 rotations) structures which cover the entire low-latitude belt.Unlike the trajectories of the poles, the dipole amplitudes of the low-latitude belts showed a significant variability. However, simultaneous increases of the amplitudes in both hemispheres correlated with times at which the dipole poles coincide in longitude, and the greatest increase corresponded to the moment of merging of the dipole poles early in 1982. This suggests that sources of large-scale structures of the background field in the low-latitude belts of the Sun or the related fields interacted when the dipole poles coincided.     

Geminid Meteor shower activity 2003–2005 as observed by Gadanki radar

The distribution of meteor signals reflected from a backscatter radar is considered according to their duration. This duration time (T) is used to classify the meteor echoes and to calculate the mass index (S) of different meteoroids of shower plus sporadic background. Observational data on particle size distribution of the Geminid meteor shower are very scarce, particularly at low latitudes. In this paper the observational data from Gadanki radar (13.46°N, 79.18°E) have been used to determine the particle size distribution and the number density of meteoroids inside the stream of the Geminid meteor shower. The mean variation of meteor number density across the stream has been determined for three echo duration classes, T<0.4, T=0.4–1 and T>1 s. We are more interested in the appearance of echoes of various durations and therefore meteors of various masses in order to understand more on the filamentary structure of the stream. It is observed that the faint particle flux peaks earlier than the larger particles. We found a decreasing trend in the mass index values from the day of peak activity to the next observation days. The mass index profile was found to be U-shaped with a minimum value near the time of peak activity. The observed minimum s values are 1.64±0.05 and 1.65±0.04 in the years 2003 and 2005, respectively. The activity of the shower indicates the mass segregation of meteoroids inside the stream. Our results are best comparable with the “scissors” structure model of the meteoroid stream formation of Ryabova [2007. Mathematical modeling of the Geminid meteoroid stream. Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 375, 1371–1380] by considering the asteroid 3200 Phaethon as an extinct comet.     

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.     

Some aspects of Sporadic-E at mid-latitudes

Evidence is presented to suggest that the ƒ₀E_s value tends to be high at positions in the E_s-layer where trough slope-lines and crest slope-lines of F2-layer irregularities meet the E_s-layer. These slope-lines are drawn through the troughs and crests, respectively, of the characteristic kinks in the F2-layer ionization contours, which are associated with F2-layer irregularities.

A rotating-loop direction-finding system has allowed an estimation of the distribution of ionization, which gives rise to Sporadic-E echoes. Analysis of Sporadic-E occurrence, on two occasions, suggests that the reflecting surfaces are frontal in nature, the fronts having a separation from each other of some tens of kilometres, and probably existing as closed curves, with diameters of the order of several hundreds of kilometres. A possible association between these structures and the occurrence of the green line of the airglow, is discussed.

A distribution of ionization, which will give contours showing “clouds” of ionization at some frequencies and a ripple structure at other frequencies, is proposed, in an endeavour to explain the apparent dual nature of Sporadic-E occurrence.

The evidence seems to indicate that the mechanism operating at the E_s-layer level, producing the phenomenon of Sporadic-E, is the same as that which produces the F2-layer irregularities which are responsible for “Spread-F”.