Thermal convection instability of a two-component fluid layer in hydromagnetics

The thermal convection instability of a two component fluid layer subjected to a temperature gradient has been studied in the presence of an applied magnetic field. The associated thermal diffusion separation has a predominant effect even when the separations are small. Solutions for the non-oscillatory marginal states have been obtained. It is shown that the concentration gradient has a stabiliting or destabilizing effect according as T<or>0. Approximate solutions for the oscillatory solutions have been obtained by the method of variational principle and the dispersion relation has been solved numerically.     

An implementation ofN-body chain regularization

The chain regularization method (Mikkola and Aarseth 1990) for high accuracy computation of particle motions in smallN-body systems has been reformulated. We discuss the transformation formulae, equations of motion and selection of a chain of interparticle vectors such that the critical interactions requiring regularization are included in the chain. The Kustaanheimo-Stiefel (KS) coordinate transformation and a time transformation is used to regularize the dominant terms of the equations of motion. The method has been implemented for an arbitrary number of bodies, with the option of external perturbations. This formulation has been succesfully tested in a generalN-body program for strongly interacting subsystems. An easy to use computer program, written inFortran, is available on request.     

Magnetic field and field-aligned current variations in the polar cusp controlled by interplanetary medium parameters

The distribution of large-scale field-aligned currents in the dayside sector of the auroral oval has been presented for different situations in the interplanetary space. The j_∥ distribution has been calculated on the basis of a model, each part of which is controlled by a corresponding parameter of the interplanetary space. It has been shown that the field-aligned current models, proposed by Iijima and Potemra and by McDiarmid et al. describe the planetary j_∥ distribution for only particular situations in the interplanetary space and represent some particular cases of a more general model.     

Photoelectric study of AW UMa

UBV photoelectric photometry of the eclipsing binary system AW UMa has been presented. A slightly improved period of 0 _. ^d 4387304 has been given. The colour of the system has been discussed. Eccentricity is present in the system. Light and colour curves show that intrinsic light variations may be present in the system. The presence of mass transfer is a possibility.     

A self-consistent world model

The field equations of the generalized field theory constructed by Mikhail and Wanas have been applied to a well-established geometrical structure given earlier by H. P. Robertson in connection with the cosmological problem. A unique solution, representing a specified expanding Universe (withq ₀=0, ₀=0.75,k=–1) has been obtained. The model obtained has been compared with cosmological observations and with FRW-models of relativistic cosmology. It has been shown that the suggested model is free of particle horizons. The existence of singularities has been discussed.The two cases, when the associated Riemannian-space has a definite or indefinite metric are considered. The case of indefinite metric with signature (+ – – –) is found to be characterized byk=–1, while the case of +ve definite metric is characterized byk=+1. Apart from that difference, the two cases give rise to the same cosmological parameters. It has been shown that energy conditions are satisfied by the material contents in both cases.     

Velocity variations of an equatorial plume throughout a Jovian year

Analysis of features in the Equatorial Zone of Jupiter has shown that the equatorial plume reported by Pioneer 10 has existed for an 11-yr interval. During this interval the plume has shown an acceleration which can be interpreted as a constant component of 3 × 10^?8 m/sec² and a sinusoidal component which anticorrelates with the planetocentric declination of the Sun, D_S, and has an amplitude of ?0.96 m/sec per degree change of D_S. The sinusoidal component has been interpreted in terms of solar heating. Throughout this interval of time the Equatorial Zone has appeared abnormally dark and has contained many dark projections along the northern edge. When the plume approaches to within 25 to 30° of these features they are deflected in the direction of motion of the plume and then dissipate or become obscured as the plume passes. After passage of the plume normal features are again observed.     

A new period and period changes of GG Cassiopeiae

The O–C diagram of the eclipsing binary GG Cassiopeiae has been presented for the first time, and the period changes present in the system have been analysed. In all three period changes are noted. The strongest period change has been found to occur in the time-interval 1942 to 1966. The total period change in different portions of the O–C diagram ranges from 7.1×10^–7 d to 2.0×10^–5 d. The stronger period changes appear to have occurred after 1942; prior to it, the system has shown a negligible period change. The overall picture of the O–C diagram suggests that the O–C values of the system GG Cas are negative after 1942. The presence of a third body does not appear probable. The period fluctuations are also appreciable. A new period (P=3 _. ^d 758733) has been presented.     

Solar plasma temperature diagnostics in flares and active regions from spectral lines in the range 280–330 Å in the SPIRIT/CORONAS-F experiment

Plasma temperature diagnostics in solar flares and active regions has been carried out using data from the SPIRIT spectroheliograph onboard the CORONAS-F satellite. The temperature distribution of the differential emission measure (DEM) has been determined from the relative intensities of spectral lines recorded in the spectral range 280–330 Å in the period from 2001 to 2005. Analysis of these distributions has led to the conclusion about the existence of active regions with various “characteristic” temperature compositions. The presence of a hot plasma with temperatures logT = 6.8?7.2 in active regions has been established for the first time from XUV spectroscopic data and monochromatic X-ray line images. The DEM distribution for intense long-decay flares has also been obtained for the first time and a similarity of the temperature compositions for flares of different classes at the decay phase has been found. The spectra have been modeled on the basis of the calculated DEMs. The systematic discrepancies between the calculated and measured line intensities are discussed.     

Parallel electric field-induced instability in the magnetospheric ion-electron plasma

A complete dispersion relation for a whistler mode wave propagation in an anisotropic warm ion-electron magnetoplasma in the presence of parallel electric field using the dispersion relation for a circularly polarized wave has been derived. The dispersion relation includes the effect of anisotropy for the ion and electron velocity distribution functions. The growth rate of electron-ion cyclotron waves for different plasma parameters observed atL = 6.6R _E has been computed and the results have been discussed in detail in the light of the observed features of VLF emissions and whistlers. The role of the combination of ion-cyclotron and whistler mode electromagnetic wave propagation along the magnetic field in an anisotropic Maxwellian weakly-ionized magnetoplasma has been studied.     

The technique of automatic quantitative stellar spectral classification using stepwise linear regression

A new technique of three-dimensional automatic quantitative stellar spectral classification using stepwise linear regression analysis has been developed. The technique has been based on objective prism spectra of F-G-K stars having a dispersion of 166 Å mm^–1 at H. The investigation has been undertaken in the interests of a stellar statistical study of the galactic structure in the direction of the main meridional cross-section of the Galaxy.     

Kinematics of the structure of the active region in Orion-KL

The kinematics of the superfine structure of the active star-forming region in the dense molecular cloud Orion-KL has been investigated in the Н₂О maser emission for the period 1998–2003. It has been established that the surrounding gas inflows onto the disk and is transferred in a spiral trajectory to the center. An excess angular momentum as it is accumulated is carried away by a bipolar outflow; a highvelocity central flow surrounded by low-velocity components is formed. The outer low-velocity component observed at the detection limit has a diameter Ø₃ ≈ 4.5 AU, further out, Ø₂ ≈ 0.5 AU and Ø₁ ≈ 0.24 AU. The gas transfer velocity increases exponentially as the center is approached. The maser emission from the central flow is decisive. A rise in the velocity leads to a flow discontinuity and a reduction in the amount of inflowingmaterial and, accordingly, the emission level. The emission in the period under consideration was reduced exponentially for ~6 months, whereupon its restoration began.     

Chemical evolution coefficients for the study of galactic evolution

A new evaluation of chemical evolution coefficients has been made using recent stellar evolution and nucleosynthesis data. The role of the low and intermediate mass stars in galactic nucleosynthesis has been emphasized. A significant amount of⁴He,¹²C and neutron-rich species is found to be contributed by these stars. Comparison with observed abundances suggests a primary origin of¹⁴N. The simple model of galactic evolution with the new coefficients has been used to derive the ratio of helium to heavy element enrichment in the Galaxy. The new stellar evolution data do not explain the large value of this ratio that has been determined observationally.     

Nonlinear Evolution of a 3D Inertial Alfvén Wave and Its Implication in Particle Acceleration

A simulation based on a pseudo-spectral method has been performed in order to study particle acceleration. A model for the acceleration of charged particles by field localization is developed for the low-\(\upbeta\) plasma. For this purpose, a fractional diffusion approach has been employed. The nonlinear interaction between a 3D inertial Alfvén wave and a slow magnetosonic wave has been examined, and the dynamical equations of these two waves in the presence of ponderomotive nonlinearity have been solved numerically. The nonlinear evolution of the inertial Alfvén wave in the presence of slow magnetosonic wave undergoes a filamentation instability and results in field intensity localization. The results obtained show the localization and power spectrum of inertial Alfvén wave due to nonlinear coupling. The scaling obtained after the first break point of the magnetic power spectrum has been used to calculate the formation of the thermal tail of energetic particles in the solar corona.     

Hard X-rays from solar flares — time characteristics in correlation with energy and angular distributions of electrons

Fine time variation of hard X-rays has been explained in terms of a spread in the angle of incidence of the source electrons in non-thermal thick-target model for bremsstrahlung generation. The electron energy and angular distributions have been calculated by combining small angle scatterings using analytical treatment with a large angle collision using Monte Carlo calculations as a function of column density. The incidence angles of electrons are taken as 0, 30, and 60°. Using the Bethe-Heitler cross section and the above calculated electron distributions, the bremsstrahlung flux for different photon energies as a function of column density has been studied. The computed X-ray pulse as a function of column density has been converted into time profile. It corresponds well with the observed fine time structure. The calculated spectra of X-rays at the peak and valley are also consistent with the observations. The variation of photon flux with time has also been computed for photon energies 20, 50, and 100 keV for 90 and 180° observation angles together with the changes in spectral shapes of photon energy spectrum at different times for 90 and 180° observation angles.     

Shock waves in a dusty plasma having q-nonextensive electron velocity distribution

The dust-acoustic shock waves have been theoretically investigated using reductive perturbation technique. An unmagnetized four-component dusty plasma system consisting of nonextensive q-distributed electrons, Boltzmann distributed ions, and negatively as well as positively charged dust particles has been considered. The solution of Burgers equation in planar geometry is numerically analyzed. It has been observed that the nonextensive q-distribution of electrons has a significant role in the formation of shock waves. The relevance of our results to astrophysics as well as laboratory plasmas are briefly discussed.     

North and south major flare periodicities during solar cycle 20

The periodicities of monthly values of major flare numbers and comprehensive major flare index (CFI) have been studied for the 20^th solar cycle. It has been proved that the periodicity 152 days exists also in the southern (S) solar hemisphere. This periodicity has been previously defined in the earlier cycles to be a northern (N) periodicity, but it has migrated to the southern hemisphere (S) during the cycles 19, 20, 21. For the whole solar disk data, it has been found that the periodicity at 78.43^d is much remarkable than its first harmonic at 156.86^d. We have also detected very strong periodicity at 548.96^d in N-hemisphere while a strong one has been found near 100^d in both solar hemispheres. The detected periodicities at 80±2^d and 101-⁺1^d seems to have a global origin . The 87.1^d periodicity is present and it is suggested that it is related to 88^d periodicity attributed to the tidal influence of the planet Mercury on sunspots. Both hemispheres present their periodicities independently.     

The Ooty synthesis radio telescope: First results

A 4-km synthesis radio telescope has recently been commissioned at Ootacamund, India for operation at 327 MHz. It consists of the Ooty Radio Telescope (530 m × 30 m) and 7 small antennas which are distributed over an area of about 4 km × 2 km. It has a coverage of about ± 40‡ in declination δ. The beam-width is about 40 arcsec × 90 arcsec at δ = 0‡ and about 40 arcsec × 50 arcsec at δ = 40‡. The sensitivity attained for a 5:1 signal-to-noise ratio is about 15 m Jy after a 10-hour integration. The observational programmes undertaken and some of the results obtained recently are summarized. The radio halo around the edge-on spiral NGC 4631 is found to have a larger scale-height at 327 MHz than is known at higher frequencies. Mapping of interesting radio galaxies at 327 MHz is being carried out; preliminary results for 0511-305 (∼2 Mpc) and 1333-337 (∼750 kpc) are summarized. The very-steep-spectrum radio source in the Abell cluster A85 is found to be resolved; since it has no obvious optical counterpart, it is conceivable that it is a remnant of past activity of a galaxy that has drifted away in about 10⁹ years.     

Behavior of Titan's atmosphere during a total eclipse

The edge-on presentation of Saturn's rings and satellites system has provided a rare opportunity to observe total eclipses of Titan. During its emersion from the Saturnian shadow (1980, June 28), Titan has been observed simultaneously in the visible and the infrared ranges (6000–9000 Å, 11.8 μm and 20 μm). No change has been recorded in these three spectral ranges. Our observations tend to support the thick-atmosphere model, which has been shown to be valid by Voyager a few months later.     

A lunar crustal gravity model across the Triesnecker-Hyginus area,Mare Tranquillitatis,and Mare Fecunditatis

LOS Bouguer gravity anomalies have been calculated from a low altitude LOS free air Doppler gravity profile across northern Mare Fecunditatis, southern Mare Tranquillitatis and the Aridaeus Rille. The Hyginus-Triesnecker area has been included in model calculations, though here only free air anomalies are present. A crustal density model has been fitted to the Bouguer anomalies and to the free air anomalies in the case of the Hyginus-Triesnecker area.On a regional scale northern Fecunditatis has Bouguer anomalies up to 80 mgal and lithostatic stresses of 29 bar and thus is nearly in isostatic equilibrium. Tranquillitatis can be divided into three regions of different crustal structure: (1) northern Tranquillitatis with only minor free air gravity anomalies is more or less in isostatic balance, (2) the southeastern region with Bouguer anomalies to –100 mgal and lithostatic stresses of –73 bar has a considerable mass deficit, (3) the southwestern basin is dominated by the local structure Lamont with a Bouguer maximum of 200 mgal and extremely high lithostatic stresses of 285 bar.The Bouguer minimum of –180 mgal of the Aridaeus area has been modelled by two alternative models: (i) a crustal thickening of 33 km and associated lithostatic stresses of –164 bar, and (ii) a crustal thickening of 20 km plus a low density intrusion. The free air maximum of the Hyginus-Triesnecker area has been fitted by a mantle plug connected with stresses of 116 bar.As the old irregular maria could not sustain large mascon stresses, it has been concluded that the local high stresses of Lamont, Aridaeus, and Hyginus-Triesnecker have been evolved after the impacts of the circular maria. Intrusional activities in these areas could have proceeded to fault zones generated by the large impacts.Contribution No. 211, Institut für Geophysik der Universität Kiel, F.R.G.     

Tetrad formulation of the basic equations of type II superconductors in curved space-time

The basic equations of type II superconductors have been obtained by adopting London’s phenomenological approach. The generation of the electromagnetic field in a superconductor at rest in a stationary universe has been investigated using the method of anholonomic frames. The Newtonian formulation of the problem has also been studied. __________ Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 51, No. 1, pp. 99–107 (February 2008).