A few observations of and remarks on V1500 Cygni

The development of the post-nova light curve of V1500 Cyg inUBV andHβ, for 15 nights in September and October 1975 are presented. We confirm previous reports that superimposed on the steady decline of the light curve are small amplitude cyclic variations. The times of maxima and minima are determined. These together with other published values yield the following ephemerides from JD 2 442 661 to JD 2 442 674: $$\begin{gathered} {\text{From}} 17 {\text{points:}} {\text{JD}}_{ \odot \min } = 2 442 661.4881 + 0_{^. }^{\text{d}} 140 91{\text{n}} \hfill \\ \pm 0.0027 \pm 0.000 05 \hfill \\ {\text{From}} 15 {\text{points:}} {\text{JD}}_{ \odot \max } = 2 442 661.5480 + 0_{^. }^{\text{d}} 140 89{\text{n}} \hfill \\ \pm 0.0046 \pm 0.0001 \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ with standard errors of the fits of ±0 _. ^d 0052 for the minima and ±0 _. ^d 0091 for the maxima. Assuming V1500 Cyg is similar to novae in M31, we foundr=750 pc and a pre-nova absolute photographic magnitude greater than 9.68.     

On pulsar-driven isothermal blast-wave models of supernova remanants

We investigate the ‘equilibrium’ and stability of spherically-symmetric self-similar isothermal blast waves with a continuous post-shock flow velocity expanding into medium whose density varies asr ^?ω ahead of the blast wave, and which are powered by a central source (a pulsar) whose power output varies with time ast ^ω?3. We show that:

1. for ω<0, no physically acceptable self-similar solution exists;
2. for ω>3, no solution exists since the mass swept up by the blast wave is infinite;
3. ? must exceed zero in order that the blast wave expand with time, but ?<2 in order that the central source injects a finite total energy into the blast wave;
4. for 3>ω_min(?)>ω>ω_max(?)>0, where $$\begin{gathered} \omega _{\min } (\varphi ){\text{ }} = {\text{ }}2[5{\text{ }} - {\text{ }}\varphi {\text{ }} + {\text{ }}(10{\text{ }} + {\text{ 4}}\varphi {\text{ }} - {\text{ 2}}\varphi ^2 )^{1/2} ]^2 [2{\text{ }} + {\text{ (10 }} + {\text{ 4}}\varphi {\text{ }} - {\text{ 2}}\varphi ^2 {\text{)}}^{{\text{1/2}}} ]^{ - 2} , \hfill \\ \omega _{\max } (\varphi ){\text{ }} = {\text{ }}2[5{\text{ }} - {\text{ }}\varphi {\text{ }} - {\text{ }}(10{\text{ }} + {\text{ 4}}\varphi {\text{ }} - {\text{ 2}}\varphi ^2 )^{1/2} ]^2 [2{\text{ }} - {\text{ (10 }} + {\text{ 4}}\varphi {\text{ }} - {\text{ 2}}\varphi ^2 {\text{)}}^{{\text{1/2}}} ]^{ - 2} , \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ two critical points exist in the flow velocity versus position plane. The physically acceptable solution must pass through the origin with zero flow speed and through the blast wave. It must also pass throughboth critical points if \(\varphi > \tfrac{5}{3}\) , while if \(\varphi< \tfrac{5}{3}\) it must by-pass both critical points. It is shown that such a solution exists but a proper connection at the lower critical point (for ?>5/3) (through whichall solutions pass with thesame slope) has not been established;
5. for 3>ω>ω_min(?) it is shown that the two critical points of (iv) disappear. However a new pair of critical points form. The physically acceptable solution passing with zero flow velocity through the origin and also passing through the blast wave mustby-pass both of the new critical points. It is shown that the solution does indeed do so;
6. for 3>ω_min(?)>ω_max(?)>ω it is shown that the dependence of the self-similar solution on either ω or ? is non-analytic and therefore, inferences drawn from any solutions obtained in ω>ω_max(?) (where the dependence of the solutionis analytic on ω and ?) are not valid when carried over into the domain 3>ω_min(?)>ω_max(?)>ω;
7. all of the physically acceptable self-similar solutions obtained in 3>ω>0 are unstable to short wavelength, small amplitude but nonself-similar radial velocity perturbations near the origin, with a growth which is a power law in time;
8. the physical self-similar solutions are globally unstable in a fully nonlinear sense to radial time-dependent flow patterns. In the limit of long times, the nonlinear growth is a power law in time for 5<ω+2?, logarithmic in time for 5>ω+2?, and the square of the logarithm in time for 5=ω+2?.

The results of (vii) and (viii) imply that the memory of the system to initial and boundary values does not decay as time progresses and so the system does not tend to a self-similar form. These results strongly suggest that the evolution of supernova remnants is not according to the self-similar form.     

Chemistry of the solar neutrino experiment

The possibility of chemical ‘trapping’ of the Ar⁺ ion in the reaction $$v{\text{ }} + {\text{ }}^{{\text{37}}} {\text{Cl}} \to {\text{ }}^{{\text{37}}} {\text{Ar}}^{\text{ + }} + {\text{ e}}^ - ,$$ when it takes place in tetrachloroethylene (C₂Cl₄) liquid, is examined in detail. It is concluded that if trapping does take place, the rate is much smaller than the charge neutralization rate. Therefore, this niechanism cannot explain the observed small rate of Ar production in the Brookhaven solar neutrino experiment. A detailed examination of a number of experiments which are sensitive to possible trapping lends strong support to this conclusion.     

Effect of oblateness on the non-linear stability of L 4 in the restricted three-body problem

Non-linear stability of the libration point L ₄ of the restricted three-body problem is studied when the more massive primary is an oblate spheroid with its equatorial plane coincident with the plane of motion, Moser's conditions are utilised in this study by employing the iterative scheme of Henrard for transforming the Hamiltonian to the Birkhoff's normal form with the help of double D'Alembert's series. It is found that L ₄ is stable for all mass ratios in the range of linear stability except for the three mass ratios: $$\begin{gathered} \mu _{c1} = 0.0242{\text{ }}...{\text{ }}{}^{{\text{\_\_}}}0.1790{\text{ }}...{\text{ }}A_1 , \hfill \\ \mu _{c2} = 0.0135{\text{ }}...{\text{ }}{}^{{\text{\_\_}}}0.0993{\text{ }}...{\text{ }}A_1 , \hfill \\ \mu _{c3} = 0.0109{\text{ }}...{\text{ }}{}^{{\text{\_\_}}}0.0294{\text{ }}...{\text{ }}A_1 . \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$      

A new look at the origin of the 6.67 hr period X-ray pulsar 1E 161348-5055

The point X-ray source 1E 161348-5055 is observed to display pulsations with the period 6.67?hr and $|\dot{P}| \leq1.6 \times10^{-9}\,{\rm s\,s^{-1}}$ . It is associated with the supernova remnant RCW?103 and is widely believed to be a ～2000?yr old neutron star. Observations give no evidence for the star to be a member of a binary system. Nevertheless, it resembles an accretion-powered pulsar with the magnetospheric radius ～3000?km and the mass-accretion rate $\sim 10^{14}\,{\rm g\,s^{-1}}$ . This situation could be described in terms of accretion from a (residual) fossil disk established from the material falling back towards the star after its birth. However, current fall-back accretion scenarios encounter major difficulties explaining an extremely long spin period of the young neutron star. We show that the problems can be avoided if the accreting material is magnetized. The star in this case is surrounded by a fossil magnetic slab in which the material is confined by the magnetic field of the accretion flow itself. We find that the surface magnetic field of the neutron star within this scenario is ～10¹²?G and that a presence of $\gtrsim10^{-7}\,{\rm M_{\odot}}$ magnetic slab would be sufficient to explain the origin and current state of the pulsar.     

Spectrum of the cosmic X- and gamma ray background in the energy range 1 keV-1 MeV

Available satellite, rocket and balloon observations on cosmic X- and gamma ray background are critically examined to understand the spectral characteristics of the radiation. Appropriate corrections have been applied to the balloon observations to account for the multiple Compton scattering of X-rays in the atmosphere. It is shown that within the experimental uncertainties, all the available observations of cosmic X- and gamma ray background in the energy range 1 keV-1 MeV are consistent with a single spectrum of type $${\text{d}}N/{\text{d}}E = 30 E^{ - 2.0 \pm 0.2} {\text{photons cm}}^{{\text{ - 2}}} {\text{s}}^{{\text{ - 1}}} {\text{sr}}^{{\text{ - 1}}} {\text{keV}}^{{\text{ - 1}}} $$ .     

The seasonal variation of the newtonian constant of gravitation and its relationship with the “classical tests” of general relativity

The ratio between the Earth's perihelion advance (Δθ) _E and the solar gravitational red shift (GRS) (Δø _s e)a ₀/c ² has been rewritten using the assumption that the Newtonian constant of gravitationG varies seasonally and is given by the relationship, first found by Gasanalizade (1992b) for an aphelion-perihelion difference of (ΔG)_a?p . It is concluded that $$\begin{gathered} (\Delta \theta )_E = \frac{{3\pi }}{e}\frac{{(\Delta \phi _{sE} )_{A_0 } }}{{c^2 }}\frac{{(\Delta G)_{a - p} }}{{G_0 }} = 0.038388 \sec {\text{onds}} {\text{of}} {\text{arc}} {\text{per}} {\text{revolution,}} \hfill \\ \frac{{(\Delta G)_{a - p} }}{{G_0 }} = \frac{e}{{3\pi }}\frac{{(\Delta \theta )_E }}{{(\Delta \phi _{sE} )_{A_0 } /c^2 }} = 1.56116 \times 10^{ - 4} . \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ The results obtained here can be readily understood by using the Parametrized Post-Newtonian (PPN) formalism, which predicts an anisotropy in the “locally measured” value ofG, and without conflicting with the general relativity.     

A note on theH-functions of transfer problems in multiplying media

Some useful results and remodelled representations ofH-functions corresponding to the dispersion function $$T\left( z \right) = 1 - 2z^2 \sum\limits_1^n {\int_0^{\lambda r} {Y_r } \left( x \right){\text{d}}x/\left( {z^2 - x^2 } \right)} $$ are derived, suitable to the case of a multiplying medium characterized by $$\gamma _0 = \sum\limits_1^n {\int_0^{\lambda r} {Y_r } \left( x \right){\text{d}}x > \tfrac{1}{2} \Rightarrow \xi = 1 - 2\gamma _0< 0} $$      

A model of solar flares and faculae

Theories of solar flares based on the storage of energy (usually as magnetic energy) in the solar atmosphere are shown to be incompatible with observational data.The sunspot energy deficit and the photospheric faculae both involve energy fluxes comparable with the flare requirement ( 3 × 10²⁹ erg s^–1). Both also require a subsurface system of waves or oscillations, perhaps those discussed by Danielson and Savage and by Wilson. The flare model proposed is based on a temporary diversion of this energy carried by Alfvén waves through spots and magnetic elements or micro-pores; the calculated plasma perturbation velocity in the umbra is about 6 km s^–1 for a major flare.In the atmosphere the wave energy divides into two parts to produce the cool, stationary optical flare and the particle flare. The first part is dissipated around flux tubes which are mainly horizontal in the chromosphere and which tend to concentrate along the magnetic neutral line (B = 0). Each tube vibrates individually as a taut wire in a viscous fluid, to excite the fluid just outside the tube. The second part of the energy emerges along tubes mainly vertical in the chromosphere and is converted to shock waves in the corona and then to particle energy for the radio and X-ray flare and the blast wave.The model includes white-light faculae, quasi-permanent X-ray and fast-particle emissions, sympathetic flares and surges. An unambiguous test would be provided by observations of plasma motions of a few kilometres per second in spots and micro-pores.     

Identification of Emissions in the Spectrum of Comet C/1989 VI (Skoritchenko–George) Obtained with the 6-m SAO RAS Reflector

The emission spectrum of comet Skoritchenko–George (C/1989 VI), unusual in its information content, was obtained on February 26.7 UT, 1990, with the use of a TV scanner installed on the 6-m BTA reflector of the Special Astronomical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences (SAO RAS) in Nizhni Arkhyz. Detailed identification of the emission lines of this comet was made. The observed spectrum contains 311 emission lines, including those of the molecules. Among others, the lines of the negative carbon C ₂ ^- ion and the lines corresponding to the electron transition in the neutral CO molecule are discovered. The presence of a large number of lines of the neutral CO molecule (the Asundi bands and the triplet bands) in the visible region is one of the uncommon features of the emission spectrum of this comet. The triplet lines : 15–3, 13–2, 11–2, 9–1, 8–1, 7–1, 7–0, 5–0, 4–0; : 7–0, 6–0, 5–0; and a" : 11–1 (K = 3, 4); 16–4 (K= 0, 1, 2, 4); 9-0 (K= 0, 1, 2); 8–0 (K= 0) were identified for the first time. Prior to this work, the lines of CO in the visible range were observed only in the spectrum of comet C/1979 VI (Bradfield) in 1989.     

On the number of isolating integrals in systems with three degrees of freedom

Dynamical systems with three degrees of freedom can be reduced to the study of a fourdimensional mapping. We consider here, as a model problem, the mapping given by the following equations: $$\left\{ \begin{gathered} x_1 = x_0 + a_1 {\text{ sin (}}x_0 {\text{ + }}y_0 {\text{)}} + b{\text{ sin (}}x_0 {\text{ + }}y_0 {\text{ + }}z_{\text{0}} {\text{ + }}t_{\text{0}} {\text{)}} \hfill \\ y_1 = x_0 {\text{ + }}y_0 \hfill \\ z_1 = z_0 + a_2 {\text{ sin (}}z_0 {\text{ + }}t_0 {\text{)}} + b{\text{ sin (}}x_0 {\text{ + }}y_0 {\text{ + }}z_{\text{0}} {\text{ + }}t_{\text{0}} {\text{) (mod 2}}\pi {\text{)}} \hfill \\ t_1 = z_0 {\text{ + }}t_0 \hfill \\ \end{gathered} \right.$$ We have found that as soon asb≠0, i.e. even for a very weak coupling, a dynamical system with three degrees of freedom has in general either two or zero isolating integrals (besides the usual energy integral).     

Dimensional approach to mass loss: O- and B-type stars

An attempt has been made to obtain an expression for the rate of stellar mass loss using dimensional analysis. The best expression for O and B stars is of the form: $$\dot M = A'{\text{ }}\left( {\frac{1}{{G^{1/2} c^4 }}} \right){\text{ }}L^{\text{2}} {\text{ (}}R/M)^{{\text{3/2}}} .$$ It is also found thatA′ increases as one goes from B→O stars and from O→O(f)→O(f)), but is not sensitive to luminosity.     

The cosmogonic shadow effect

We consider the Alfvén-Arrhenius fall-down mechanism and describe an approximate model for the infall, capture and distribution of dust particles on a given magnetic field line and their possible neutralization at the ‘2’/3 points, the points at which the field aligned compnents of the gravitational and centrifugal forces are equal and opposite. We find that a small fraction (<10%) of an incoming particle distribution will actually contribute to the above ‘2’/3 fall-down process. We also show that if at the 2/3 points, the ratio of dust to plasma density is $$\frac{{n_D \left( {\tfrac{2}{3}} \right)}}{{n_p \left( {\tfrac{2}{3}} \right)}} > \frac{{10^{ - 3} }}{{r_{g_\mu } T_{eV} }}$$ . (r _gμ=radius of a grain in microns,T=plasma temperature in eV), then the dust particles will lose their charge, decouple from the field line and follow Keplerian orbits in accordance with the Alfvén-Arrhenius mechanism. We then determine the limits on the plasma parameters in order that rotation of a quasi-neutral plasma in thermal equilibrium be possible in the gravitational and dipole field of a rotating central body. The constraints imposed by the above conditions are rather weak, and the plasma parameters can have a wide range of values. For a plasma corotating with an angular velocity Ω～10^?4s^?1, we show that the plasma temperature and density must satisfy $$10^{ - 1}<< T_{(eV)}<< 10^2 ,10T_{eV}^2<< n^p \left( {cm^3 } \right)<< 10^6 $$ .     

Nonlinear newtonian theory and the effect of time dilatation

The fact that the energy density ρ_g of a static spherically symmetric gravitational field acts as a source of gravity, gives us a harmonic function \(f\left( \varphi \right) = e^{\varphi /c^2 } \) , which is determined by the nonlinear differential equation $$\nabla ^2 \varphi = 4\pi k\rho _g = - \frac{1}{{c^2 }}\left( {\nabla \varphi } \right)^2 $$ Furthermore, we formulate the infinitesimal time-interval between a couple of events measured by two different inertial observers, one in a position with potential φ-i.e., dt _φ and the other in a position with potential φ=0-i.e., dt ₀, as $${\text{d}}t_\varphi = f{\text{d}}t_0 .$$ When the principle of equivalence is satisfied, we obtain the well-known effect of time dilatation.     

The hydrogen balmer lines and the structure of the quiet solar chromosphere

Spectra of Hα, Hβ and Hδ have been taken under good seeing conditions with the vacuum tower telescope of Sacramento Peak Observatory. Intensity curves are given at various wavelengths in these lines to permit further comparison with a theoretical model. Moreover, considering in each case the range of height in which the lines are almost optically thin and using a few approximations, the following results are derived: between 2000 and 6000 km above the limb the average thermal + turbulent velocity of the atoms is found to increase from 20 km s^?1 to 30 km s^?1 and the mean number of hydrogen atoms per cm³ in level 2 is given by $$\log n_2 {\text{ = }}4.5{\text{ }} - {\text{ 0}}{\text{.00056(}}z - 2000)$$ z being the altitude above the limb in km. For line profile computations a new interpolation formula is presented; it gives good profiles with a small number of scans, saving microphotometer time.     

On equivalent widths in a penumbral spectrum (a test of the Moe-Maltby model)

From new observational material we made a curve of growth analysis of the penumbra of a large, stable sunspot. The analysis was done relative to the undisturbed photosphere and gave the following results (⊙ denotes photosphere, * denotes penumbra): $$\begin{gathered} (\theta ^ * - \theta ^ \odot )_{exe} = 0.051 \pm 0.007 \hfill \\ {{\xi _t ^ * } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\xi _t ^ * } {\xi _t }}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {\xi _t }}^ \odot = 1.3 \pm 0.1 \hfill \\ {{P_e ^ * } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{P_e ^ * } {P_e ^ \odot = 0.6 \pm 0.1}}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {P_e ^ \odot = 0.6 \pm 0.1}} \hfill \\ {{P_g ^ * } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{P_g ^ * } {P_g }}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {P_g }}^ \odot = 1.0 \pm 0.2 \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ The results of the analysis are in satisfactory agreement with the penumbral model as published by Kjeldseth Moe and Maltby (1969). Additionally we tested this model by computing the equivalent widths of 28 well selected lines and comparing them with our observations.     

Ultra-high energy neutrino fluxes from supermassive AGN black holes

We compute the ultra-high energy (UHE) neutrino fluxes from plausible accreting supermassive black holes closely linking to the 377 active galactic nuclei (AGNs). They have well-determined black hole masses collected from the literature. The neutrinos are produced via simple or modified URCA processes, even after the neutrino trapping, in superdense proto-matter medium. The resulting fluxes are ranging from: (1) (quark reactions)— $J^{q}_{\nu\varepsilon}/(\varepsilon_{d}\ \mathrm{erg}\,\mathrm{cm}^{-2}\,\mathrm{s}^{-1}\,\mathrm{sr}^{-1})\simeq8.29\times 10^{-16}$ to 3.18×10^?4, with the average $\overline{J}^{q}_{\nu\varepsilon}\simeq5.53\times 10^{-10}\varepsilon_{d}\ \mathrm{erg}\,\mathrm{cm}^{-2}\,\mathrm{s}^{-1}\,\mathrm{sr}^{-1}$ , where ε _d ～10^?12 is the opening parameter; (2) (pionic reactions)— $J^{\pi}_{\nu\varepsilon} \simeq0.112J^{q}_{\nu\varepsilon}$ , with the average $J^{\pi}_{\nu\varepsilon} \simeq3.66\times 10^{-11}\varepsilon_{d}\ \mathrm{erg}\,\mathrm{cm}^{-2}\,\mathrm{s}^{-1}\,\mathrm{sr}^{-1}$ ; and (3) (modified URCA processes)— $J^{URCA}_{\nu\varepsilon}\simeq7.39\times10^{-11} J^{q}_{\nu\varepsilon}$ , with the average $\overline{J}^{URCA}_{\nu\varepsilon} \simeq2.41\times10^{-20} \varepsilon_{d}\ \mathrm{erg}\,\mathrm{cm}^{-2}\,\mathrm{s}^{-1}\,\mathrm{sr}^{-1}$ . We conclude that the AGNs are favored as promising pure neutrino sources, because the computed neutrino fluxes are highly beamed along the plane of accretion disk, peaked at high energies and collimated in smaller opening angle θ～ε _d .     

Meridional flow in thick accretion disks

We have studied the effect of the flow in the accretion disk. The specific angular momentum of the disk is assumed to be constant and the polytropic relation is used. We have solved the structure of the disk and the flow patterns of the irrotational perfect fluid.As far as the obtained results are concerned, the flow does not affect the shape of the configuration in the bulk of the disk, although the flow velocity reaches even a half of the sound velocity at the inner edge of the disk. Therefore, in order to study accretion disk models with the moderate mass accretion rate—i.e.,

Etude variationnelle des decalages spectraux

In a static gravitational field the paths of light are curved, as noticed by H. Weyl. This property can bea priori stated for aV ₃ Riemannian manifold: through any two points ofV ₃ it is possible to draw two families of curves, the straight lines of Euclidean geometry and the photon trajectoriesz. We can perform a fibration of the Galilean space-time in an original way, by taking thez-trajectories of the photons as the base, the isochronic surfaces as fibres, and ‘the equal length time on az trajectory to reach a given point’ as the equivalence relation. The straight lines of Euclidean geometry can then carry the classical mechanics timet, and thez trajectories can carry the optics time t. These times are related by dt=F(x,t) dt. If we class the Universe as a pseudo-Riemannian manifold of normal hyperbolic typeC ^∞, the time t determined above can be taken as the time coordinate inV ₄. Under these conditions we have \(d\overline s ^2 \) =F ² \(d\overline s ^2 \) , where \(d\overline s ^2 \) is the metric of the Riemannian manifold, conforming to the metric ds ² and allowing t as the cosmic time. We can then use the results previously achieved by the author (Peton, 1979) and write: 1 +Z _G =F(A _s,t _s,)/F(Ao_s,t _o) wherez _G denotes the shift of the spectral lines due to the metric. In the case of relative motion betweenO andS, we have $${\text{1 + z' = (1 + }}z_{\text{G}} {\text{)(1 + }}\beta _{\text{r}} {\text{)(1 }} - {\text{ }}\beta ^2 {\text{)}}^{ - 1/2} $$ The Doppler-Fizeau effect therefore appears as a result of the application of the Fermat principle.