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.,

Simulations of cosmic-ray particle diffusion

The diffusion of charged particles in a stochastic magnetic field (strengthB) which is superimposed on a uniform magnetic fieldB ₀ k is studied. A slab model of the stochastic magnetic field is used. Many particles were released into different realizations of the magnetic field and their subsequent displacements z in the direction of the uniform magnetic field numerically computed. The particle trajectories were calculated over periods of many particle scattering times. The ensemble average was then used to find the parallel diffusion coefficient . The simulations were performed for several types of stochastic magnetic fields and for a wide range of particle gyro-radius and the parameterB/B ₀. The calculations have shown that the theory of charged particle diffusion is a good approximation even when the stochastic magnetic field is of the same strength as the uniform magnetic field.     

Possible semi-annual variation of the Newtonian constant of gravitation

A possible semi-annual variation of the Newtonian constant of gravitationG is established. For the aphelion and perihelion points of the Earth's orbit we find, respectively,

Earth’s precession–nutation motion: the error analysis of the theories IAU 2000 and IAU 2006 applying the VLBI data of the years 1984–2006

The long-term systematic errors of the analytical theories IAU 2000 and IAU 2006 of the Earth’s precession–nutational motion are studied making use of the VLBI data of 1984–2007. Several independent methods give indubitable evidence of the significant quadratic error in the IAU 2000 residuals of the precessional angle while the adopted value of the secular decrease /cy of the Earth’s ellipticity e (derived from Satellite Laser Ranging data) should manifest itself in the residuals of as the negative quadratic trend . The problem with the precession of the IAU 2006 theory adopted as a new international standard and based on the precession model P03 (Capitaine et al., Astron Astrophys 432:355–367, 2005) appears to be even more serious because the above mentioned quadratic term has already been incorporated into the P03 precession. Our analysis of the VLBI data demonstrates that the quadratic trend of the IAU 2006 residuals does amount to the expected value (30.0 ± 3) mas/cy². It means, first, that the theoretical precession rate of IAU 2006 should be augmented by the large secular correction and, second, that the available VLBI data have potentiality of estimating the rate . And indeed, processing these data by the numerical theory ERA of the Earth’s rotation (Krasinsky, Celest Mech Dyn Astron 96:169–217, 2006, Krasinsky and Vasilyev, Celest Mech Dyn Astron 96:219–237, 2006) yields the estimate /cy statistically in accordance with the satellite-based . On the other hand, applying IAU 2000/2006 models, the positive value /cy is found which is incompatible with the SLR estimate and, evidently, has no physical meaning. The large and steadily increasing error of the precession motion of the IAU 2006 theory makes the task of replacing IAU 2006 by a more accurate model be most pressing.     

Apsidal motion in the close binary IT cassiopeiae

In 1982 and 1993, we carried out highly accurate photoelectric WBVR measurements for the close binary IT Cas. Based on these measurements and on the observations of other authors, we determined the apsidal motion $\left[ {\dot \omega _{obs} = {{(11\mathop .\limits^ \circ 0 \pm 2\mathop .\limits^ \circ 5)} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{(11\mathop .\limits^ \circ 0 \pm 2\mathop .\limits^ \circ 5)} {100 years}}} \right. \kern-0em} {100 years}}} \right]$ . This value is in agreement with the theoretically calculated apsidal motion for these stars $\left[ {\dot \omega _{th} = {{(14^\circ \pm 3^\circ )} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{(14^\circ \pm 3^\circ )} {100 years}}} \right. \kern-0em} {100 years}}} \right]$ .     

The spherically-symmetrical trajectories of spin particles in the Schwarzschild field

The motion of spin particles in the Schwarzschild field is examined in this paper. It is shown that Mathisson-Papapetrou equations under additional conditions , where is the Lie derivative of the Killing vector _j , permit only radial motion, motion in the equatorial plane and in the equilibrium points. All these types of motion are considered more in detail.     

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: $$\begin{gathered} \mu _{c1} = 0.0242{\text{ }}...{\text{ }}{}^{{\text{\_\_}}}0.1790{\text{ }}...{\text{ }}A_1 , \hfill \\ \mu _{c2} = 0.0135{\text{ }}...{\text{ }}{}^{{\text{\_\_}}}0.0993{\text{ }}...{\text{ }}A_1 , \hfill \\ \mu _{c3} = 0.0109{\text{ }}...{\text{ }}{}^{{\text{\_\_}}}0.0294{\text{ }}...{\text{ }}A_1 . \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$      

Stability of motion of the restricted circular and charged three-body problem

Stabiliity is applied to characterize type of motion in which the moving body is confined to certain limited regions and in this sense we may say that the motion of the body in question is stable. This method has been used in the past chiefly in connection with the classical restricted problem of three bodies.In this paper we consider a dynamical system defined by the Lagrangian

K emission-line widths and the solar chromosphere

Closely spaced microphotometer tracings parallel to the dispersion of one excellent frame of a K-line time sequence have been utilized for a study of the nature of the K_2v , K_2R intensities in the case of the solar chromosphere. The frequency of occurrence of the categories of intensity ratio are as follows: per cent; per cent; per cent; per cent; per cent. Two types of absorbing components are postulated to explain the pattern of observed K_2v , k_2R intensity ratios. One component with minor Doppler displacements acting on the normal K₂₃₂ profile, where K_2V >K_2R , produces the cases K_2v K_2R , K_2v = K_2R , K_2v <K_2R . The other component arises from dark condensations which are of size 3500 kms as seen in K_2R . They have principally large down flowing velocities in the range 5–8 km/sec and are seen on K₃ spectroheliograms with sizes of about 5000 kms, within the coarse network of emission. These dark condensations give rise to the situation K_2R = 0.K₂-line widths are measured for all tracings where K_2v , K_2R are measurable simultaneously. The distribution curve of these widths is extremely sharp. The K₂ emission source is identified with the bright fine mottles visible on the surface. Evidence for this interpretation comes from the study of auto-correlation functions of K₂ intensity variations and the spacing between the bright fine mottles from both spectrograms and spectroheliograms. The life time of the fine mottling is 200 sec.The supergranular boundaries which constitute the coarse network come in two intensity classes. A low intensity network has the fine mottles as its principal contributor to the K emission. When the network is bright, the enhancement is caused by increased K emission due to the accumulation of magnetic fields at the supergranule boundary. The K₂ widths of the low intensity supergranular boundary agree with the value found for the bright mottles. Those for the brighter network are lower than this value, similar to the K₂ widths as seen in the active regions.It is concluded that bright fine mottling is responsible for the relation, found by Wilson and Bappu, between K emission line widths and absolute magnitudes of the stars.The paper discusses the solar cycle equivalents that stellar chromospheres can demonstrate and indicates a possible line of approach for successful detection of cyclic activity in stellar chromospheres.     

Models of galactic mass distribution

Three groups of galactic mass models, each consisting of nine inhomogeneous spheroids of two kinds are described, according to three adopted values of the total density near the Sun: 0.10, 0.15 and 0.20 M pc^–3. Approximately 20% of the total mass of each model is in the halo, constructed to adequately fit recent RR Lyrae star observations. It is shown that the maxima found in the RR Lyrae star densities towards the galactic axis (Plaut, 1970) should not be interpreted as being associated with the galactic nucleus, but as the result of the greater decrease in density with increasingz over the increase in density as the galactic axis is approached. Even at the low galactic latitude of 5° (l=0°), this effect causes a 0.5 kpc correction to the distance to the galactic centre. A basic model for kpc, km s^–1, M pc^–3 is first constructed, mainly to satisfy structural conditions near the sun and in the halo. An attempt to optimize the basic model is made by scaling it so as to retain constant density and angular velocity near the sun, and to best fit kinematic data, including the recent re-examination of the 21-cm data of Simonson and Mader (1972). No unknown matter is required in the models, in accordance with the results of Weistrop (1972b), and, as pointed out earlier (Innanen, 1966b) the faintM-stars must be in a highly flattened spheroid. The optimizing indicates that an adequate fit to kinematics can be achieved for km s^–1. More detailed results are tabulated for a representative model for which . Two new galactic density functions are discussed in the Appendix.     

Tidal effects in the earth–moon system and the earth's rotation

Analytical expressions for tidal torques induced by a tide‐arising planet which perturbs rotation of a nonrigid body are derived. Corresponding expressions both for secular and periodic perturbations of the Euler's angles are given for the case of the earth's rotation. Centennial secular rates of the nutation angle θ and of the earth's angular velocity ω, as well as the centennial logarithmic decrement ν of the Chandler wobble are evaluated:  mas, . In the Universal Time (UT) a large out‐of‐phase (sine) dissipative term with the period 18.6 years and the amplitude 2.3 ms is found. Corrections to nutation coefficients, which presumably have not been taken into account in IAU theory, are given. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

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.     

The dependence of the frequency spectra of the interplanetary magnetic-field fluctuations on the direction of the mean field

The frequency spectra of the interplanetary magnetic field fluctuations are the projection of their wavenumber spectra onto one dimension. Only the frequency spectra can be measured by spacecrafts. It is studied how their measured size depends on the direction of the mean fieldB ₀, which structures the symmetry of the fluctuations relative to the solar wind system. It is specialized for the slab model, Alfvén waves, magneto-acoustic waves and the isotropic case. For the slab model the frequency spectra are proportional to , whereq is the spectral index and the angle betweenB ₀ and the radial direction. For the diffusion coefficientK _TT the relation holds.     

Methods of Calculation of Turbulent Diffusivities

Different techniques of calculation and estimation of turbulentdiffusivities D of passive fields in infinite incompressiblemedia showing isotropic, homogeneous and stationary turbulence areconsidered. The numerical comparison of the methods is made mostlyfor two representative limiting models of turbulence – withpeak-like spectrum and for vast Kolmogorov's type spectrum. The timedependence of two-point velocity correlators is assumed to beexponential. The backbone of the comparison is steady-state turbulentdiffusivities calculated in nonlinear DIA-approach with thecorrections due to contribution of four-order velocity correlators.As a result of this comparison the most satisfactory approximatemethods are proposed both for steady-state and time-dependentturbulent diffusivities. The results may be used for the most correctchoice of -dependence in various astrophysical problems.     

The ratio of optical to near-infrared emission line strengths inSii as electron density diagnostics for planetary nebulae

EinsteinA-coefficients for transitions inSii, calculated with the atomic structure package CIV3, are used to derive the electron density sensitive emission line ratio

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.     

Dust color temperature distribution of two FIR cavities at IRIS and AKARI maps

By systematically searching the region of far infrared loops, we found a number of huge cavity-like dust structures at \(60\,\mu \hbox {m}\) and \(100\,\mu \hbox {m}\) IRIS maps. By checking these with AKARI maps (\(90\,\mu \hbox {m}\) and \(140\,\mu \hbox {m}\)), two new cavity-like structures (sizes \(\sim \) \( 2.7\,\hbox {pc} \times 0.8\,\hbox {pc}\) and \(\sim \) \( 1.8\,\hbox {pc} \times 1\,\hbox {pc}\)) located at R.A. (\(\hbox {J}2000)=14^{h}41^{m}23^{s}\) and Dec. \((\hbox {J}2000)=-64^{\circ }04^{\prime }17^{{\prime }{\prime }}\) and R.A. \((\hbox {J}2000)=05^{h}05^{m}35^{s}\) and Dec. \((\hbox {J}2000)=-\,69^{\circ }35^{\prime } 25^{{\prime }{\prime }}\) were selected for the study. The difference in the average dust color temperatures calculated using IRIS and AKARI maps of the cavity candidates were found to be \(3.2\pm 0.9\,\hbox {K}\) and \(4.1\pm 1.2\,\hbox {K}\), respectively. Interestingly, the longer wavelength AKARI map gives larger values of dust color temperature than that of the shorter wavelength IRIS maps. Possible explanation of the results will be presented.     

On the stability of hierarchical four-body systems

Generalized Jacobian coordinates can be used to decompose anN-body dynamical system intoN-1 2-body systems coupled by perturbations. Hierarchical stability is defined as the property of preserving the hierarchical arrangement of these 2-body subsystems in such a way that orbit crossing is avoided. ForN=3 hierarchical stability can be ensured for an arbitrary span of time depending on the integralz=c ² h (angular momentum squared times energy): if it is smaller than a critical value, defined by theL ₂ collinear equilibrium configuration, then the three possible hierarchical arrangements correspond to three disconnected subsets of the invariant manifold in the phase space (and in the configuration space as well; see Milani and Nobili, 1983a). The same definitions can be extended, with the Jacobian formalism, to an arbitrary hierarchical arrangement ofN≥4 bodies, and the main confinement condition, the Easton inequality, can also be extended but it no longer provides separate regions of trapped motion, whatever is the value ofz for the wholeN-body system,N≥4. However, thez criterion of hierarchical stability applies to every 3-body subsystem, whosez ‘integral’ will of course vary in time because of the perturbations from the other bodies. In theN=4 case we decompose the system into two 3-body subsystems whosec ² h ‘integrals’,z ₂₃ andz ₃₄, att=0 are assumed to be smaller than the corresponding critical values \(\tilde z_{23} \) and \(\tilde z_{34} \) , so that both the subsystems are initially hierarchically stable. Then the hierarchical arrangement of the 4 bodies cannot be broken until eitherz ₂₃ orz ₃₄ is changed by an amount \(\tilde z_{ij} - z_{ij} \left( 0 \right)\) ; that is the whole system is hierarchically stable for a time spain not shorter than the minimum between \(\Delta t_{23} = {{\left( {\tilde z_{23} - z_{23} \left( 0 \right)} \right)} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\left( {\tilde z_{23} - z_{23} \left( 0 \right)} \right)} {\dot z_{23} }}} \right. \kern-0em} {\dot z_{23} }}\) and \(\Delta t_{34} = {{\left( {\tilde z_{34} - z_{34} \left( 0 \right)} \right)} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{\left( {\tilde z_{34} - z_{34} \left( 0 \right)} \right)} {\dot z_{34} }}} \right. \kern-0em} {\dot z_{34} }}\) . To estimate how long is this stability time, two main steps are required. First the perturbing potentials have to be developed in series; the relevant small parameters are some combinations of mass ratios and length ratios, the? _ij of Roy and Walker. When an appropriate perturbation theory is based on the? _ij , the asymptotic expansions are much more rapidly decreasing than the usual expansions in powers of the mass ratios (as in the classical Lagrange perturbation theory) and can be extended also to cases such as lunar theory or double binaries. The second step is the computation of the time derivatives \(\dot z_{ij} \) (we limit ourselves to the planar case). To assess the long term behaviour of the system, we can neglect the short-periodic perturbations and discuss only the long-periodic and the secular perturbations. By using a Poisson bracket formalism, a generalization of Lagrange theorem for semimajor axes and a generalization of the classical first order theories for eccentricities and pericenters, we prove that thez _ij do not undergo any secular perturbation, because of the interaction with the other subsystem, at the first order in the? _ik . After the long-periodic perturbations have been accounted for, and apart from the small divisors problems that could arise both from ordinary and secular resonances, only the second order terms have to be considered in the computation of Δt ₂₃, Δt ₃₄. A full second order perturbative theory is beyond the scope of this paper; however an order-of-magnitude lower estimate of the Δt _ij can be obtained with the very pessimistic assumption that essentially all the second order terms affect in a secular way thez _ij . The same method could be applied also toN≥5 body systems. Since almost everyN-body system existing in nature is strongly hierarchical, the product of two? _ij is very small for almost all the real astronomical problems. As an example, the hierarchical stability of the 4-body system Sun, Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter is investigated; this system turns out to be stable for at least 110 million years. Although this hierarchical stability time is ～10 times less than the real age of the Solar System, taking into account that many pessimistic assumptions have been done we can conclude that the stability of the Solar System is no more a forbidden problem for Celestial Mechanics.     

The motion of the line of apsides of ζ phoenicis

An estimate of the period of the rotation of the line of apsides of the double-star system Phe is obtained by representing the density function as a product of a normal Gaussian distribution and an associated Legendre polynomial .The asymptotic behaviour of this function coincides with the results obtained by Zeldovichet al. (1981).The period of motion of the line of apsides of Phe (about 63 years) obtained in this way comes close to the period determined by an empirical formula for of Batten (1973).     

The critical and the saturation content of magnetic monopoles in rotating relativistic objects

Both the critical content _c ( N _m /N _B , whereN _m ,N _B are the total numbers of monopoles and nucleons, respectively, contained in the object), and the saturation content _s of monopoles in a rotating relativistic object are found in this paper. The results are: