Determinations of atomic lifetimes for the rare earth ions: Prii,Tmii, Luii,Ceiii

Radiative lifetimes have been determined by the beam-foil method for some excited states in the singly ionized rare earths Pr ii, Tm ii, and Lu ii, in order to test the reliability of the transition probabilities and oscillator strengths found by Corliss and Bozman and usually applied for solar abundance determinations. Correction factors of 4.5, 2.5, and 0.3 should be applied to Corliss and Bozman's values for Pr ii, Tm ii, and Lu ii, respectively. These corrections eliminate the discrepancies between the abundance in the solar photosphere and in meteorites for Pr and Tm. Radiative lifetimes for Ce iii are also reported.     

Direct detection of the secondary spectrum of the interacting eclipsing binary TX UMa

Eclipsing binary TX UMa was observed with the D.A.O. high-dispersion spectrographs in 1969–1970, with emphasis on the detailed coverage of the primary minimum. One spectrum was taken exclusively within totality, thus exhibiting an uncontaminated spectrum of the secondary component. This leads to spectral reclassification of the secondary (F6 IV). The narrowing of the line profile of the H-line in totality is interpreted in terms of synchronous rotation of the secondary (v sini80 km s^–1) while the primary rotates faster (v sini130 km s^–1) than synchronously (v sini50 km s^–1). Although the secondary does not fill in its Roche lobe fully, the system exhibits pronounced indications of rather strong physical interaction. This is now supported also by the profound changes of the line profiles of the H-line with phase.     

Detectiin of RS CVn-type systems by doublet 2800 Mgii

The problem of the detection or discovery of RS CVn-type close binary systems with the aid of the magnesium emission doublet 2800 Mgii is discussed. On the example of a star, HD 102077, the possibility of such an approach is shown. The determining factor is the magnitude of the measureless parameterR(Mgii), that is, the relative power of the magnesium doublet emission. For the normal Main-Sequence stars the magnesium emission has a purely chromospheric origin andR(Mgii) 1 (in units of 10^–5). However, in the case of close binary systems of RS CVn-typeR(Mgii) 100. Wit the help of IUE it is foundR(Mgii) 100 for the star HD 102077 and, therefore, it is identified with RS CVn-type objects in which the magnesium doublet emission is generated in the intercomponent medium by gaseous matter and is transferred from one component of the system to the other. The basic physical parameters of the intercomponent medium in the case of HD 102077 are obtained.     

Time delay between Hα and hard X-ray emissions during impulsive solar flares

This investigation shows that statistically there are significant time delays between H and hard X-ray (HXR) emissions during solar flares; most impulsive flares produce HXR emissions up to 1 min before and up to 2 min after the onset of H emission. HXR emissions are also found to be peaked up to 2 min before the H emissions.     

Generation of γ-bursts by old magnetic neutron stars

A model of -bursts is considered that treats the flares of neutron stars as a result of convectiveoscillation instability associated with the stars having strong internal magnetic fields ( 10¹³ to 10¹⁴ G). In the context of this model only sufficiently old (10⁴ to 10⁷ yr), drastically cooled-down neutron stars may be sources of -bursts. The paper shows that major characteristics of a -burster in the Supernova N 49 remnant (energy release during burst up to 10⁴⁴ erg, age 10⁴ yr, burst-to-burst interval (I to 3)×10⁶s; rotation period P=8 s) may be explained under the assumption that the mass of the neutron star is about 0.14M _· while its mean magnetic field strength is 1.5×10¹⁴ G abd 10¹³ G within the star and on its surface, respectively. The observational tests of the model discussed conclude the paper.     

A reexamination of the Gum nebula

A detailed analysis of interstellar measurements in the direction of the Gum nebula is carried out. The ionized region is shown to have an angular radius of 18° and appears to be bounded by a shell of neutral gas. The mean electron temperature deduced from radio-frequency absorption measurements is found to be 8500K. These parameters suggest that the nebula is the normal and possibly evolved Hii region of Pup and ² Vel, rather than the fossil Strömgren sphere of the Vela supernova as suggested by Brandtet al. (1971).     

Ionized helium in prominences and in the chromosphere

Quiescent prominences It is found that Heii 4686 is emitted in the same cold region of 10000 K as hydrogen, metal and neutral helium emission lines. This conclusion is based on the finding that the observed width of 4686 is the same as the calculated width of 4686. The calculated width is derived from the observed widths of hydrogen and metallic lines. The large intensity of Heii 4686 in 10000 K can be explained by the ionization of Heii due to the UV radiation below 228 Å that comes from the corona and the transition region.Loop prominences The very broad width (30 to 50 km s^–1) of 4686 for two post-flare loop prominences shows that the Heii line is emitted in hot regions different from regions of hydrogen and metal emission. From the widths of the Balmer lines and many metallic lines the kinetic temperature for one loop is found to be 16000 K in one part and 7600 K in another part. The electron densities are 10^12.0 cm^–3 and less than 10^11.0 cm^–3 respectively.Chromosphere The intensity of 4686 in the chromosphere can be interpreted in terms of a temperature of 10000 K with the ionization due to UV radiation. But, since observations of the width of 4686 are not available, a definitive conclusion for the chromosphere cannot be reached.     

High n emission and absorption lines of the Sun

The analysis of three Ca ii K-spectra with spatial resolution of 1 is described and its results presented. The comparison of the observed single peak line profiles with model computation leads to some conclusions regarding the non-uniform large-scale velocity fields in the chromosphere.Mitteilungen aus dem Fraunhofer Institut No. 128.     

Evidence for a low-density inflationary universe?

The inflationary unvierse model predicts the density parameter ₀ to be 1.0 with the cosmological constant ₀ usually taken to be zero, whereas observational estimates give ₀0.2 and ₀10^-57 cm^–2. It was found, however, that the observed variation of angular diameter with redshift for extragalactic radio sources could be interpreted in terms of a low density universe with linear size evolution of the sources for either an inflationary model with 0 or an open model with =0.     

Periodicity and distribution of the sudden disappearances of solar prominences in the chromosphere

This paper presents the results of the study on the periodicity and the distribution of the sudden disappearance of the solar prominences (SD) on the chromosphere. The spectral analysis of the SD, from 1039 to 1762 Carrington rotation number, shows a typical period at 138 (10.3 yr) solar rotations in the northern hemisphere and at 153 (11.4 yr) solar rotations in the southern hemisphere of the Sun. The power spectral analysis of the asymmetry index yields a primary peak at 155 (11.6 yr) solar rotations. By plotting the distribution of SD along the Carrington longitude, it can be seen that the distribution of the SD is nearly uniform.     

A magnetodynamic mechanism for loop flares

Loop flares are given a new magnetodynamic interpretation. In this model, the top of the magnetic loop is heated up by a collision of magnetic twist-wave packets (non-linear torsional Alfven wave) which are produced in the process of the loop emergence, and stored and released from the footpoints of the loop with some retardation. The appearance of the blueshifted component in CaXIX and FeXXV lines a minute or so before the impulsive phase, and the so-called instantaneous acceleration of ions deduced from the nearly simultaneous (with a delay of seconds) occurrence of -ray line emission with the impulsive hard X rays, are very naturally explained in the present model which originally aims at providing an explanation of the source of energy, a blackbox located at the top of the loop in the loop flare theories discussed thus far.     

High spatial resolution microwave observations of the Sun

Over the past decade two large arrays — the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope (WSRT) and the Very Large Array (VLA) built primarily for sidereal radio astronomy have been used for solar radio astronomical studies with spatial resolution of a few seconds of arc. In this review, we discuss some results obtained at Maryland using these instruments.The quiet Sun observations made with the WSRT have premitted us to produce synthesized maps of supergranulation network at 6 cm wavelength. The brightness temperatures of typical network elements and cells are respectively 2.5 × 10⁴ K and 1.5 × 10⁴ K; thus the contrast is 1.71 which compares with 1.31 for Ca ⁺ K and 20 for L networks. Limb profiles in both equatorial and polar directions have been obtained; limb brightening is observed at both west and south limbs, peak limb temperature being about 40% higher than disk temperature. We have produced synthesized maps of disk filaments which correspond well to H disk filaments and regions of reduced emission in He i 10 830 Å spectroheliograms. Using the WSRT synthesized maps at 6 cm, we have compared the structure of a sunspot associated source with model computations. Using a new method of analysis we have been able to map the vertical as well as the horizontal component of the sunspot magnetic field at specific locations in the low corona. Using the VLA, we have mapped coronal loops at 20 cm; the radio emission is attributed to bremsstrahlung near the loop footpoints whereas gyroresonance process dominates near the loop top. Using the VLA, we have carried out simultaneous observations of a microwave burst at 2 and 6 cm. The 6 cm burst source is apparently located near the top of a flaring loop, while the 2 cm emission originates from the loop footpoints. The 6 cm emission is attributed to gyrosynchrotron radiation of thermal electons in the bulk heated plasma at 4 × 10⁷ K, while the 2 cm emission is due to nonthermal particles released and accelerated during the flare process. A DC electric field flare model appears to explain the observed delay between the peaks at the two wavelengths. From the delay, the strength of the electric field in the flaring region is estimated.     

A power spectrum analysis of granular intensity fluctuations and velocities

An exceptionally highly resolved spectrogram (obtained by W. Livingston at Kitt Peak) has been used to derive rms values for both the intensity fluctuations in the continuum and the granular velocities in the Baii line 5853.69 by means of the power spectrum analysis. The main results are: (1) a corrected rms value for the intensity fluctuations of 3.8%; (2) a nearly constant power level in the one-dimensional power spectrum per unit wave number within the range 0.00018–0.01 km^-1 (34000 km-600km); (3) a corrected rms value for the granular velocities of 1 km/s.The behaviour of the asymmetry of the Ban line in individual bright and dark continuous streaks can be explained by a superposition of two shifted symmetric line profiles originating from pure granular and intergranular regions, respectively. The impurity of dark and bright streaks amounts to be less than 10%, the mean relative velocity of granular and intergranular regions being again 1 km/s. We find indications the microturbulence in the intergranular regions to be larger than in the granular ones.     

Physical conditions in NGC 6164-5

From spectroscopic observations of the emission lines H, 4959 and 5007[Oiii], H, 6584[Nii], 6717 and 6731[Sii] and some interferometric data in H and [Nii] it was established that NGC 6164 and NGC 6165 have characteristics of normal Hii regions for Ne and Te. They are embedded in a very tenuous medium nearly coincident with the Strömgren sphere of the central star HD 148937, corresponding to the outer peripheral structure described by Westerlund. Variations of the relative abundances of N, O, and S are discussed.     

Profiles of Hi (La), Mgii (h and k), Caii (H and K) Lines of an active filament at the limb,with the LPSP instrument aboard the OSO-8 Satellite

We scanned the H i L, Mg ii h and k, Ca ii K and H lines simultaneously with the LPSP instrument on OSO-8, to investigate the low and moderate temperature regions of an active region filament. The L line is not reversed except for the innermost position in the prominence. Intensity (k/h), (K/H) ratios are respectively 2 and 1.1, indicating that the Mg ii lines are optically thin, and that Ca ii K is saturated, although not clearly reversed. The results obtained during the second sequence of observations (K saturated before L for example) indicate that within the size of the slit (1 × 10) we are not observing the same emitting features in the different lines.We also observe an important line-of-sight velocity at the outer edge of the feature, increasing outwards from a few km s^–1 to 20 km s^–1 within 2. Less than half an hour later, this velocity is reduced to 15 km s^–1 while the intensities increase. Full width at half maximum intensities for this component indicate turbulence variations from 22 to 30 km s^–1. The observed high velocities at the top of the prominence can be compared with radial velocities that Mein (1977) observed in H at the edges of an active filament and interpreted as velocity loops slightly inclined on the axis of the filament.     

A Molecular Ring in the Liner Ngc 5218

High resolution OVRO CO 1–0 observations of the inner 30 in the LINER galaxy NGC 5218 reveal the presence of a double centrally peaked molecular concentration with extensions out to a radius of 12. The molecular mass detected is 2.4 × 10⁹ M and the gas surface density is high, 3000 M pc square in the inner 500 pc. The SFR is 2–3 M yr^–1 and the SFE is 13, which are low or moderate values for that gas surface density. We interpret the inner feature as a rotating molecular ring with a radius of 200 pc. We furthermore suggest that the LINER activity in NGC 5218 is not caused by an aging starburst, but by a buried AGN.     

In situ acceleration and gradients of charged particles in the outer solar system observed by the voyager spacecraft

The probable connection between cosmic rays and the electromagnetic state of the interplanetary medium was recognized by Hannes Alfvén as early as 1949 (Alfvén, 1949, 1950); he pointed out that the properties of cosmic rays necessitate a mechanism, external to Earth but within the solar system, capable of accelerating particles to extremely high energies. In advocating the view of local origin for part of the cosmic-ray spectrum, Alfvén and his colleagues developed a very general type of acceleration mechanism called magnetic pumping. The unique data set of the two Voyagers extends over an entire decade (1977–1987) and is most suitable to explore the problem of acceleration of charged particles in the heliosphere. The energy coverage of the Low Energy Charged Particle (LECP) experiment covers the range 30 keV to several hundred MeV for ions and 22 keV to several MeV for electrons. Selected observations of interplanetary acceleration events from 1 to 25 AU are presented and reviewed. These show frequent acceleration of ions to several tens of MeV in association with shocks; highest energies (220 MeV oxygen) were measured in the near-perpendicular ( _Bn 87.5°) shock of January 5, 1978 at 1.9 AU, where electron acceleration was also observed. Examples of ion acceleration in association with corotating interaction regions are presented and discussed. It is shown that shock structures have profound effects on high-energy (70 MeV) cosmic rays, especially during solar minimum, when a negative latitudinal gradient was observed after early 1985 at all energies from 70 MeV down to 30 keV. By early 1987, most shock acceleration activity in the outer heliosphere (25 to 30 AU) had ceased both in the ecliptic (Voyager-2) and at higher (30°) ecliptic latitudes (Voyager-1). The totality of observations demonstrate that local acceleration to a few hundred MeV, and as high as a few GeV is continually present throughout the heliosphere. It should be noted that in 1954 when Alfvén suggested local acceleration and containment of cosmic rays within the solar system, no one treated his suggestion seriously, at any energy. The observations reviewed in this paper illustrate once more Alfvén's remarkable prescience and demonstrate how unwise it is to dismiss his ideas.Paper dedicated to Professor Hannes Alfvén on the occasion of his 80th birthday, 30 May 1988.     

The solar O i λ 7773 triplet

The reduction of observations of the O i 7773 triplet obtained at high spatial resolution (0.5) at two disk positions is described. Two sets of triplet profile data are presented at each disk position. One set represents data taken from 0.5 regions centered on the brightest granules, while the other set represents data taken from 0.5 regions centered on the cooler infalling intergranular material.     

VLA observations of narrow-band decimetric burst emission

The Very Large Array was used to observe a multiply-impulsive solar radio burst at several wavelengths near 20 cm. The observations indicate that the impulsive emission was nearly 100% circularly polarized and originated in small regions of 10–20 in size. For one of the impulsive spikes, we find evidence of narrow-band emission that could be attributed to an electron-cyclotron maser. The radio data are also compared with soft X-ray data and interpreted in light of a model in which the coronal plasma is heated by maser burst emission.     

Soft X-ray observations of large-scale coronal active region brightenings

One-hundred fifty-six large-scale enhancements of X-ray emission from solar active regions were studied on full-disk filterheliograms to determine characteristic morphology and expansion rates for heated coronal plasma. The X-ray photographs were compared with H observations of flares, sudden filament disappearances, sprays and loop prominence systems (LPS). Eighty-one percent of the X-ray events were correlated with H filament activity, but only forty-four percent were correlated with reported H flares. The X-ray enhancements took the form of loops or arcades of loops ranging in length from 60 000 km to 520 000 km and averaging 15 000 km in width. Lifetimes ranged from 3 hr to >24 hr. Event frequency was 1.4 per day. X-ray loop arcades evolved from sharp-edged clouds in cavities vacated by rising H filaments. Expansion velocities of the loops were 50 km s^-1 immediately after excitation and 1–10 km s^-1 several hours later. These long-lived loop arcades are identified with LPS, and it is suggested that the loops outlined magnetic fields which were reconnecting after filament eruptions. Another class of X-ray enhanced loops stretched outside active regions and accompanied sprays or lateral filament ejections. H brightenings occurred where these loops intersected the chromosphere. Inferred excitation velocities along the loops ranged between 300 and 1200 km s^-1. It is suggested that these loops outlined closed magnetic fields guiding slow mode shocks from flares and filament eruptions.