The role of loop footpoints rotation in single loop flares

We consider that single loop flares can be caused by the rotation of loop footpoints. Choosing a typical geometry for this case we find from MHD equations self-consistent expressions and a set equations governing behaviour of all physical quantities. Numerical simulations have revealed that under the determined conditions for the initial azimuthal velocity and current the pinch instability takes place. The most important parameters of the problem are the plasma and the ratio of the initial values of longitudinal and poloidal components of the magnetic field-B ₁. Thus, calculations show that the critical pinch time increases with the increase ofB ₁ and decreases with the increase of plasma . So the most effective flares are probable for the most high loops with strong currents. ForB ₁=10 and =0.01 the critical pinch time is 2.5 s. The critical twist angle for magnetic field depends on the initial one. For low intial twist which corresponds to bigB ₁ the critical one is more less. For exampleB ₁=30 gives 1.8 (when ratio of loop length and radius is 10). Geometrical analysis shows that the present model can explain (for high photospheric rotation) single loop flares taking place on different parts of the loop as on the top of it as closer to one of the footpoints. It depends on the relative rotation momentum of loop footpoints. Subject headings: MHD-Sun:flares.     

Evidence for electron excitation of type III radio burst emission

Type III radio bursts observed at kilometric wavelengths ( 0.35 MHz) by the OGO-5 spacecraft are compared with > 45 keV solar electron events observed near 1 AU by the IMP-5 and Explorer 35 spacecraft for the period March 1968–November 1969.Fifty-six distinct type III bursts extending to 0.35 MHz ( 50 R equivalent height above the photosphere) were observed above the threshold of the OGO-5 detector; all but two were associated with solar flares. Twenty-six of the bursts were followed 40 min later by > 45 keV solar electron events observed at 1 AU. All of these 26 bursts were identified with flares located west of W 09 solar longitude. Of the bursts not associated with electron events only three were identified with flares west of W 09, 18 were located east of W 09 and 7 occurred during times when electron events would be obscured by high background particle fluxes.Thus almost all type III bursts from the western half of the solar disk observed by OGO-5 above a detection flux density threshold of the order of 10^–13 Wm^–2 Hz^–1 at 0.35 MHz are followed by > 45 keV electrons at 1 AU with a maximum flux of 10 cm^–2 s^–1 ster^–1. If particle propagation effects are taken into account it is possible to account for lack of electron events with the type III bursts from flares east of the central meridian. We conclude that streams of 10–100 keV electrons are the exciting agent for type III bursts and that these same electrons escape into the interplanetary medium where they are observed at 1 AU. The total number of > 45 keV electrons emitted in association with a strong kilometer wavelength type III burst is estimated to be 5 × 10³².     

Permanent changes in filaments near solar flares

High resolution H images obtained before and after 57 importance 1N or larger flares have been examined for changes in the magnetic fields (B ) transverse to the line of sight. It was assumed that H chromospheric structures outline B . In 37% of the cases, there was a reconfiguration of segments of filaments or of chromospheric fibrils. Examination of data from 21 non-flare intervals shows such changes in 24% of cases. When changes of any kind, including total disappearance and length changes, are included, the proportions for flare and non-flare intervals increase to 58% and 52%, respectively. It is concluded that flares do not cause enduring magnetic field changes in the chromosphere.     

B,V surface photometry of the UV continuum galaxy NGC 838

Surface photometry of the UV continuum galaxy NGC 838 has been carried out in theB, V system using photographic plates obtained with the 74 Kottamia telescope, Egypt. Isophotes, luminosity profiles, integrated photographic magnitudes, effective diameters and other photometric parameters are derived.The photoelectrically calibrated total apparent magnitudes areB _T =13.57 with maximum diameters 1.57×1.34 (at threshold _m =27.7 mag.//) andV _T =12.91 with maximum diameters 1.54×1.32 (at threshold _m =27.7 mag./). The integrated colour index(B–V) _T =0.66 and the effective surface brightness _e (B=19.0 mag./) and _e (V=19.7 mag./. The major axis is at position angle =85°±1°.The nucleus of NGC 838 is quite blue (integrated colour(B–V)=0.41 forr ^*<0.1) compared to normal galaxies while the colour becomes redder from the nucleus outwards. The UV excess, H emission and radio continuum emission previously observed from this galaxy by other investigators may be attributed to a recent burst of star formation in the nucleus of the galaxy of duration slightly greater than 2×10⁷ yr.     

The distinctive feature of relativistic stellar systems

In this paper we adopt the method of relativistic fluid dynamics to examine the number density distribution of stars around a massive black hole in the core of stellar clusters. We obtain extensive results,n(r) r ^–a, 3/2a9/2, which include, respectively, then(r) r ^–7/4 power law obtained by Bahcall and Wolf and then(r) r ^–9/4 power law by Peebles. Sincen(r) is not an observable quantity for star clusters, we also consider general relativity effects, i.e., the consequence of the bending of light, in calculating the projected density of stars in such a system. As an example we employ a massive black hole 10³ M inlaid in the center of a globular cluster and calculate various projected densities of stars. The results show that cusp construction occurs in all cases unless the central black hole massM=0, and the polytropic index does not affect at all the position of the capture radiusr _a. The obvious differences in the surface density is only embodied in the interior of the capture radius. At the outer regions of the core, the surface density of stars declines rapidly with ar ^–5 power law in all cases. These results can be applied to cases of unequal-mass and non-steady state.     

Constraints on hot star X-ray source characteristics from combined analysis of X-ray and UV observations

Results from wind ionization calculations are presented which show how the P-Cygni profiles of superionized species such as O VI can provide information about the X-ray source characteristics of early-type stars. Using detailed radiative and atomic physics models, we find that a significant source of X-ray emission from Pup (O4 If) comes from a region in the wind located within roughly 1 to 2 stellar radii of the photosphere. Our results suggest that X-rays sources in which emission occurs exclusively at large radii (r a fewR _* ) are inconsistent with UV P-Cygni profiles for O VI. Instead, we find that X-ray emission from shocks distributed throughout the lower regions of the wind (r 1 – 2R _* ) is consistent with both X-ray and UV data, as well as mass loss rates deduced from radio andH observations.     

A search for steep low-frequency radio spectra among quasars and clusters of galaxies

Using published flux densitiesS at low frequenciesv, radio spectra were constructed for 3C, 4C, and 4CT radio sources in Abell clusters of galaxies, radio galaxies outside Abell clusters, and quasars with known redshifts. About half the sources in rich Abell clusters (richness classesR>-2) have steep spectra between 38 and 178 MHz with spectral indices ₃₈ ¹⁷⁸ > whereSv ^–. However, radio galaxies outside clusters have values of ₃₈ ¹⁷⁸ 1.2, and no steep spectra were found among 170 quasars. The radio sources in rich clusters are probably confined by intergalactic gas, and the steep spectra develop over a period of 10⁹ yr as relativistic electrons lose energy. The absence of steep spectra among quasars does not necessarily mean that quasars never occur in rich clusters of galaxies, since quasars are probably being observed only in their early high-luminosity phases. The possibility that some quasar events occur in the nuclei of the dominant cD galaxies in clusters is discussed, but quasar events may occur in more than one type of galaxy.     

An extended investigation of Helios 1 and 2 observations: The interplanetary magnetic field between 0.3 and 1 AU

Helios-1 and 2 spacecraft allowed a detailed investigation of the radial dependence of the interplanetary magnetic field components between 0.3 and 1 AU. The behaviour of the radial component B _ris in a very good agreement with Parker's model (B _r r ^-2) and the azimuthal component B also shows a radial dependence which is close to theoretical predictions (B r ^-1). Experimental results for the normal component B and for the field magnitude B are consistent with those from previous investigations. The relative amplitude of the directional fluctuations with periods less than 12 hr is essentially independent of heliocentric distance, while their power decreases approximately as r ^–3 without any appreciable difference between higher and lower velocity regimes.Also at Laboratorio Plasma nello Spazio, CNR, Frascati.     

Effects of mass transfer on the unsteady free convection flow past an accelerated vertical porous plate with variable suction

An exact analysis of the effects of mass transfer on the flow of a viscous incompressible fluid past an uniformly accelerated vertical porous and non-porous plate has been presented on taking into account the free convection currents. The results are discussed with the effects of the Grashof number Gr, the modified Grashof number Sc, the Schmidt number Sc, and the suction parametera for Pr (the Prandtl number)=0.71 representating air at 20°C.Nomenclature a suction parameter - C species concentration - C species concentration at the free stream - g acceleration due gravity - Gc modified Grashof number (vg^*(C –C )/U ₀ ³ ) - Pr Prandtl number (C _p/K) - T temperature of the fluid near the plate - T dimensionless temperature near the plate ((T-T )/(T -T )) - U(t) dimensionless velocity of the plate (U/U ₀) - v normal velocity component - v ₀ suction/injection velocity - x, y coordinate along and normal to the plate - v kinematic viscosity (/gr) - C _p specific heat at constant pressure - C _w species concentration at the plate - C non-dimensional species concentration ((C-C )/(C _w -C )) - Gr Grashof number (g(T _w -T )/U ₀ ³ ) - D chemical molecular diffusivity - K thermal conductivity - Sc Schmidt number (/D) - T _w temperature of the plate - T free stream temperature - t time variable - t dimensionless time (tU ₀ ² /) - U ₀ reference velocity - u velocity of the fluid near the plate - u non-dimensional velocity (u/U ₀) - v dimensionless velocity (v/U ₀) - v ₀ non-dimensionalv ₀ (v ₀ /U₀)=–at^–1/2 - y dimensionless ordinate (yU ₀/) - density of the fluid - coefficient of viscosity     

Implications of liouville's theorem on the apparent brightness temperatures of solar radio bursts

Liouville's theorem for radiation, of which the generalized étendue is a consequence, implies ² d² d² A = constant along the ray path, where is the refractive index and d² and d² A are the ranges, respectively, of solid angle and of area that define a ray (actually a bundle of rays). Implications of this concept on the propagation of radio waves from the actual to the apparent source in the solar corona (i.e., the scatter image of the true source) are discussed. The implications for sources of fundamental plasma radiation include: (1)The observed solid angle (defining the directivity) and apparent area A of the source are compatible with Liouville's theorem only if the apparent source (the scatter image of the true source) corresponds to the envelope of subsources with a small filling factor f. (2) The brightness temperature T _Bof the actual source is greater than that of the apparent source by f ^-1. (3) For sources of fundamental plasma radiation the factor f is very small ( 10^-2). (4) A long-standing discrepancy between the observed low value of T _B at meter/decameter wavelengths for the quiet Sun and the known coronal temperature may be resolved by noting that the implied coronal temperature is given by T _B f and that the factor f must be significantly less than unity.A brief discussion is included of the relation between Liouville's theorem, the generalized étendue, Milne's laws, occupation numbers, extension in phase, and suppression of emission by a medium with refractive index unequal to unity.     

Remote flare brightenings and type III reverse slope bursts

We present two large flares which were exceptional in that each produced an extensive chain of H emission patches in remote quiet regions more than 10⁵ km away from the main flare site. They were also unusual in that a large group of the rare type III reverse slope bursts accompanied each flare.The observations suggest that this is no coincidence, but that the two phenomena are directly connected. The onset of about half of the remote H emission patches were found to be nearly simultaneous with RS bursts. One of the flares (August 26, 1979) was also observed in hard X-rays; the RS bursts occurred during hard X-ray spikes. For the other flare (June 16, 1973), soft X-ray filtergrams show coronal loops connecting from the main flare site to the remote H brightenings. There were no other flares in progress during either flare; this, along with the X-ray observations, indicates that the RS burst electrons were generated in these flares and not elsewhere on the Sun. The remote H brightenings were apparently not produced by a blast wave from the main flare; no Moreton waves were observed, and the spatially disordered development of the remote H chains is further evidence against a blast wave. From geometry, time and energy considerations we propose: (1) That the remote H brightenings were initiated by direct heating of the chromosphere by RS burst electrons traveling in closed magnetic loops connecting the flare site to the remote patches; and (2) that after onset, the brightenings were heated by thermal conduction by slower thermal electrons (kT1 keV) which immediately follow the RS burst electrons along the same loops.     

Magnetic fields and flares in the region CMP 20 September 1963

The position of bright knots of 30 flares at their very beginning relative to the high-resolution isogauss maps of the longitudinal component (H ) and maps of the transverse component (H ) of magnetic field are considered for seven days during the passage of the active and large spot group in Sept. 1963 (see Table I and maps on Figures 1–8).The flare bright knots occur simultaneously in regions of opposite magnetic polarity, and the majority of these knots are adjacent to neutral line H = 0, although not coinciding precisely with this line (Figure 9). Lenticular form of flare knots and the motions of bright material of flares is restrained by transversal field H . Also flares are closely associated (83%) with so-called bifurcated regions, where specific crossing of transverse components takes place (Figures 4–5). There is well-expressed (80%) coincidence of flare knots with the strongest (positive or negative) electric currents as determined from the relation j = c/4 rot H. The relation of results obtained to some existing theories of flares is briefly discussed.U.S. Nat. Acad. of Science - U.S.S.R. Acad. Nauk. Exchange Scientist Program; now at CSIRO Division of Physics, Australia.     

Maximal red shifts of neutron stars

It has been recently established that there exists a maximal red shiftz _max for a homogeneous star of given massM. The relationshipz _max(M) is obtained for neutron stars in the mass range 0.71M/M 12.06.     

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.     

Spectral peculiarities of strong solar bursts

We have investigated spectral features of strong radio burst emission for the 21st cycle of solar activity. The maximum daily radio fluxes in 8 frequency ranges are analyzed. For every year, the classification of these daily spectra is obtained by the cluster analysis method.We have shown that strong bursts are characterized by the stable shape of the mean radio emission spectra. For these bursts the total level of radio emission does not depend on the phase of the solar 11-yr cycle and varies with the quasi-period of 4 yr.The basic features of burst spectra can be explained by the gyrosynchrotron radiation of nonthermal electrons and plasma radiation at the second harmonic of plasma frequency. We supposed that in the generation region of centimetric emission, if the strength of the magnetic field B 100 G, the number of microbursts can amount to (6–7) × 10³. In the generation region of decimetric emission, the energy of Langmuir waves changes as W _l n _e ^0.4.     

Vector magnetic field evolution,energy storage,and associated photospheric velocity shear within a flare-productive active region

The evolution of vector photospheric magnetic fields has been studied in concert with photospheric spot motions for a flare-productive active region. Over a three-day period (5–7 April, 1980), sheared photospheric velocity fields inferred from spot motions are compared both with changes in the orientation of transverse magnetic fields and with the flare history of the region. Rapid spot motions and high inferred velocity shear coincide with increased field alignment along the B _L= 0 line and with increased flare activity; a later decrease in velocity shear precedes a more relaxed magnetic configuration and decrease in flare activity. Crude energy estimates show that magnetic reconfiguration produced by the relative velocities of the spots could cause storage of 10³² erg day^–1, while the flares occurring during this time expended 10³¹ erg day^–1.Maps of vertical current density suggest that parallel (as contrasted with antiparallel) currents flow along the stressed magnetic loops. For the active region, a constant-, force-free magnetic field (J = B) at the photosphere is ruled out by the observations.Presently located at NASA/MSFC, Huntsville, Ala. 35812, U.S.A.     

Effects of Hall current on hydromagnetic free-convective flow through a porous medium

An analysis of the effects of Hall current on hydromagnetic free-convective flow through a porous medium bounded by a vertical plate is theoretically investigated when a strong magnetic field is imposed in a direction which is perpendicular to the free stream and makes an angle to the vertical direction. The influence of Hall currents on the flow is studied for various values of .Nomenclature c _p specific heat at constant pressure - e electrical charge - E Eckert number - E electrical field intensity - g acceleration due to gravity - G Grashof number - H ₀ applied magnetic field - H magnetic field intensity - (j _x , j _y , j _z ) components of current densityJ - J current density - K permeability of porous medium - M magnetic parameter - m Hall parameter - n _e electron number density - P Prandtl number - q velocity vector - (T, T _w , T ) temperature - t time - (u, v, w) components of the velocity vectorq - U ₀ uniform velocity - v ₀ suction velocity - (x, y, z) Cartesian coordinates Greek Symbols angle - coefficient of volume expansion - _e cyclotron frequency - frequency - dimensionless temperature - thermal conductivity - coefficient of viscosity - magnetic permeability - kinematic viscosity - mass density of fluid - _e charge density - electrical conductivity - _e electron collision time     

Studies of solar flares using optical,X-ray and radio data

I have studied a number of flares for which good X-ray and optical data were available. An average lag of 5.5 s between hard X-ray (HXR) start and H start, and HXR peak and Ha peak was found for 41 flares for which determination was possible. Allowing for time constants the time lag is zero. The peak H lasts until 5–6 keV soft X-ray (SXR) peak. The level of H intensity is determined by the SXR flux.Multiple spikes in HXR appear to correspond to different occurrences in the flare development. Flares with HXR always have a fast H rise. Several flares were observed in the 3835 band; such emission appears when the 5.1–6.6 keV flux exceeds 5 × 10⁴ ph cm^-2 s^-1 at the Earth. Smaller flares produce no 3835 emission; we conclude that coronal back conduction cannot produce the bright chromospheric network of that wavelength.The nearly simultaneous growth of H emission at distant points means an agent travelling faster than 5 × 10³ km s^-1 is responsible, presumably electrons.In all cases near the limb an elevated Ha source is seen with the same time duration as HXR flux; it is concluded that this H source is almost always an elevated cloud which is excited by the fast electrons. A rough calculation is given. Another calculation of H emission from compressed coronal material shows it to be inadequate.In several cases homologous flares occur within hours with the same X-ray properties.Radio models fit, more or less, with field strengths on the order of 100G. A number of flares are discussed in detail.     

Kelvin-Helmholtz instability of composite plasma in an oblique magnetic field with resistivity

Analytic structure of high-density steady isothermal spheres is discussed using the TOV equation of hydrostatic equilibrium which satisfies an equation of state of the kind:P = K _g , = _g c ².Approximate analytical solutions to the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff (TOV) equations of hydrostatic equilibrium in (, ), (,U) and (u, v) phase planes in concise and simple form useful for short computer programmes or on small calculator, have been given. In Figures 1, 2, and 3, respectively, we display the qualitative behaviours of the ratio of gas density _g to the central density _gc , _g / _gc ; pressureP to the _gc ,P/ _gc ; and the metric componente ^–, for three representative general relativistic (GR) isothermal configurations =0.1, 0.2, and 0.3. Figure 4 shows the solution curve (, ) for =0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 (=0 represents the classical (Newtonian) curve). Numerical values of physical quantitiesv (=4r ² P ^*(r)), in steps ofu (=M(r)/r)=0.03, and the mass functionU, in steps of =0.2 (dimensionless radial distance), are given, respectively, in Tables I and II. Other interesting features of the configurations, such as ratio of gravitational radius 2GM/c ² to the coordinate radiusR, mass distributionM(r)/M, pressure (or density) distributionP/P _c , binding energy (B.E.), etc., have also been incorporated in the text. It has further been shown that velocity of sound inside the configurations is always less than the velocity of light.Part of the work done at Azerbaijan State University, Baku, U.S.S.R., and Mosul University, Mosul, Iraq, 1985-1986     

Status of the Transient Gamma-Ray Spectrometer

The Transient Gamma-Ray Spectrometer (TGRS) was launched aboard the GGS/WIND spacecraft on November 1, 1994. After several deep space orbits (2 yrs) WIND will eventually be injected into a halo orbit around the Sun-EarthL ₁ point. TGRS consists of a 215 cm³ high purityn-type Ge crystal which is kept at cryogenic temperatures by a passive radiative cooler. The energy range covered by the instrument is 25–8000 keV with an energy resolution of 2–3 keV. The primary task of TGRS is to perform high resolution spectroscopy of gamma-ray bursts and solar flares. Additional objectives are the study of transient x-ray pulsars and, using an on-board passive occulter, the long-term monitoring of sources such as the Crab and the Galactic Center. Since launch, TGRS has been performing exceedingly well, and all the important experiment parameters such as background levels, gain, and resolution have proven to be very stable. To date, TGRS has detected 27 GRBs and three solar flares. Preliminary analysis of our data also indicates that TGRS is indeed sensitive to sources such as the Crab and the Galactic Center.