Non-gravitational force modeling of Comet 81P/Wild 2: II. Rotational evolution

In this paper, we have studied both the dynamical and the rotational evolution of an 81P/Wild 2-like comet under the effects of the outgassing-induced force and torque. The main aim is to study if it is possible to reproduce the non-gravitational orbital changes observed in this comet, and to establish the likely evolution of both orbital and rotational parameters. To perform this study, a simple thermophysical model has been used to estimate the torque acting on the nucleus. Once the torque is calculated, Euler equations are solved numerically considering a nucleus mass directly estimated from the changes in the orbital elements (as determined from astrometry). According to these simulations, when the water production rate and changes in orbital parameters for 1997, as well as observational rotational parameters for 2004 are imposed as constraints, the change in the orbital period of 81P/Wild 2, , will decrease so that to , which is similar to the actual tendency observed from 1988 up to 1997. This nearly constant decreasing can be explained as due to a slight drift of the spin axis orientation towards larger ecliptic longitudes. After studying the possible spin axis orientations proposed for 1997, simulations suggest that the spin obliquity and argument (I,Φ)=(56°,167°) is the most likely. As for rotational evolution, changes per orbit smaller than 10% of the actual spin velocity are probable, while the most likely value corresponds to a change between 2 and 7% of the spin velocity. Equally, net changes in the spin axis orientation of 4°-8° per orbit are highly expected.     

The 160 minutes oscillations

We describe basic observational data regarding the 160-min oscillations of the Sun as well as the implications for helioseismology. The most acceptable theoretical interpretation seems to be a resonant interaction of gravity g-mode oscillations of the solar model with a slight modification to the equilibrium structure (with low heavy element abundance).It is noted also that there is significant 160-min commensurability over the solar system; e.g., spin rates of main and minor planets prefer, statistically, to be integer multiples of the 160-min period. The same period appears to be the most characteristic period (in the range studied from about 110 to 830 min) for the distribution of orbital periods of close binary stars. Allowing for these facts various non-classical suggestions as to possible nature of the 160-min period are briefly reviewed.     

The arrangement in mean elements space of the periodic orbits close to that of the Moon

In a simplified model of the Earth-Moon-Sun system based on the restricted circular 3-dimensional 3-body problem, it is possible to find numerically a set of 8 periodic orbits whose time evolutions closely resemble that of the Moon's orbit. These orbits have a period of 223 synodic months (i.e. the period of the Saros cycle known for more than two millennia as a means of predicting eclipses), and are characterized by a secular rotation of the argument of perigee . Periodic orbits of longer durations exhibiting this last feature are very abundant in Earth-Moon-Sun dynamical models. Their arrangement in the space of the mean orbital elements- for various values of the lunar mean motion is presented.     

Observations and analysis of the Southern binary R Arae

This paper investigates the nature of the relatively bright ( 7th magnitude) eclipsing variable R Arae (HD 149730A), which has an orbital period of 4^d.42509, from the analysis of photometricUBV observations. The main objective behind such an analysis is to determine whether the system qualifies for a classical Algol of semi-detached status.An analysis has been performed twice on each of theUBV curves as well as the light curve due to Gaposchkin, utilising a light curve optimisation procedure. In the first analysis the presence of the visual companion (HD 1497330B) to R Arae (angular separation = 3'.6), whose light was present in all observations, was not accounted for. The second analysis attempts to account for this third light source.All the analyses indicate the relative radius of the secondary star, is of the order of 0.20. This value is well below the limit which would classify the system as a semi-detached binary.These results do, however, seem to be somewhat discordant with the spectroscopic and general photometric nature of the system, all of which suggest mass transfer processes to be occuring (therefore a possible semi-detached status). This is seen in several features, especially a marked increase in the system's mean orbital period, which tends to corroborate mass transfer from the secondary star.     

One example of mass exchange in case AB in system 5m ⊙+4m ⊙

Evolution of a binary system with masses of 5m and 4m , respectively, and with orbital period of 1.41 days is studied by means of non-stationary model calculations under assumptions of conservation of total mass and total orbital angular momentum of the system. As a result of mass exchange between the components we obtain a binary with masses of 8.46 and 0.54m . Physical parameters of the final product indicate possible connection with shell stars.It is also pointed out that the new secondary component can become rotationally unstable soon after the end of mass exchange.     

A search for the Hα emission in spectroscopic binaries of the spectral types B0–B9

The H emission is searched for 67 spectroscopic binaries of the spectral types B0–B9 and of the orbital period 1–1000 days. Among them the H emission is detected in 13 stars with various intensity. The results of this inspection are presented. When combined with the previous data, our results show that the Be-star frequency in spectroscopic binaries along the orbital periods exhibits a sharp maximum in the period range 100–300 days, and that the stars of strong H emission concentrate in the same period range.     

An Investigation of the Physical Mechanisms of Orbital Period Variations of the Semidetached Binary UW Vir

The orbital period variations of the Algol-type semidetached binary UW Vir are analyzed. It is shown that in addition to a long-term rapid increase (dP/dt = + 1.37 × 10⁻⁶ day/year), its orbit period has a variation with the period of 62.3 years. Based on the basic physical parameters given by Brancewicz and Dworak in 1980, the physical mechanisms causing the orbital period variations are investigated. The analysis indicates that the periodical variation of orbital period can be interpreted by the light-travel time effect due to the presence of a third body with the mass of M₃ ≥ 0.94 M. As no observational information has been reported for this tertiary component, it might be a compact object (e.g., a white dwarf). The long-term increase of orbital period can be explained in terms of the mass transfer from the secondary to the primary component (dM₂/dt = 1.43 × 10⁻⁷ M/year). This is in agreement with the semidetached configuration of the system with a lobe-filling secondary component. But according to the evolution theory of binaries, the Algol-type semidetached binary UW Vir should be at the evolutionary stage of slow mass transfer on the nuclear-reaction timescale of the secondary component. However, the analysis shows that the timescale for the periodical variation of orbital period is much shorter than the nuclear-reaction timescale of the secondary component, but close to the thermodynamic timescale of the secondary. This reveals that: (1) This binary system is at the evolutionary stage of rapid mass transfer on the thermodynamic timescale of the secondary component; or (2) The circumstellar matter of the system makes a contribution to the rapid increase of orbital period via the angular momentum transfer.     

The change in satellite orbital inclination caused by a rotating atmosphere with day-to-night density variation

The theory specifying the change i in a satellite's orbital inclination due to atmospheric rotation, in terms of the decrease in orbital period T, has been extended to an atmosphere with sinusoidal variation of density between day and night. It is found that with certain special sets of values for the orbital parameters, the day-to-night variation in the Earth's atmosphere can alter the equation for i/T by as much as 25% though only for a few days. Appreciable changes in i/T persisting for several months can only occur for certain resonant orbits: the maximum change is then about 8%. Near-resonance is very unlikely, but the resonance conditions are derived so that orbits can be recognised and avoided.     

Light-time effect in RT Persei

The minimum time residuals (O–C) of RT Persei, obtained by using all the times of minima is interpreted in terms of light-time effect, caused by the presence of two more distant components. This system possesses a third body of a mass of about 0.74M with 41.86 yr orbital period moving in an orbit of eccentricity equal to 0.3, while the hypothetical fourth body of an approximate mass of 0.59M moving with an orbital period of 100 years has an eccentricity equal to 0.6. The need to study this system astrometrically should be emphasized.     

Optical and UV observations of the intermediate polar 3A0729+103. Modulation with the orbital period

3A0729+103 (=BG CMi) is an intermediate polar discovered through its X-ray emission (McHardy et al. 1981, 1984). The orbital period is 3.235 hours and the rotation period is 15.2 minutes. For ephemeris and references on the source we refer to McHardy et al. (1984). We report here on optical (4025 to 5090 A) and ultraviolet (1200 to 3200 A) spectroscopy obtained, respectively, on Dec 1, 1984 and April 21, 1985. Our data show clear modulation of spectral features with the orbital period.Paper presented at the IAU Colloquium No. 93 on Cataclysmic Variables. Recent Multi-Frequency Observations and Theoretical Developments, held at Dr. Remeis-Sternwarte Bamberg, F.R.G., 16–19 June, 1986.     

Dynamical study of the Hilda asteroids

Schubart's model of a planar, elliptic restricted three-body problem is used to study the orbital motion of the Hilda asteroids from thePalomar-Leiden Survey. The 3:2 resonant coupling to Jupiter of some of these small asteroids are found to be stable. However, some of the small asteroids with absolute magnitudeg>15 have large amplitude of variation in their orbital elements in one libration period. Since the lifetime scales against catastrophic collision of the Hilda asteroids are estimated to be several times larger than those of the main belt objects, a significant portion of these resonant asteroids could be the original members of the Hilda group. From this point of view, it is suggested that such size-dependence of resonant orbital motions might be the result of the cosmogonic effects ofjet stream accretion.     

Deep eclipses in the cataclysmic variable 1RXS J020929.0+283243

Our observations with the 1.5-m Russian-Turkish Telescope (RTT150) in October 2005 as part of the program for identifying ROSAT X-ray sources revealed deep eclipses in the cataclysmic variable 1RXS J020929.0+283243 in Triangulum. We determined the orbital period of the binary (96.26 min) and the range of its magnitude variations . Due to the favorable geometry (the orbital inclination is close to 90°), the light curve exhibits eclipses of the white dwarf by the secondary component and eclipses of the hot spot by the white dwarf itself.     

Comparative analysis of photometric variability of TT ARI in the years 1994–1995 and 2001, 2004

We present the results of photometric observations of a bright cataclysmic variable TT Ari with an orbital period of 0.13755 days. CCD observations were carried out with the Russian-Turkish RTT 150 telescope in 2001 and 2004 (13 nights). Multi-color photoelectric observations of the system were obtained with the Zeiss 600 telescope of SAO RAS in 1994–1995 (6 nights). In 1994–1995, the photometric period of the system was smaller than the orbital one (0 _. ^d 132 and 0 _. ^d 134), whereas it exceeded the latter (0 _. ^d 150 and 0 _. ^d 148) in 2001, 2004. An additional period exceeding the orbital one (0 _. ^d 144) is detected in 1995 modulations. We interpret it as indicating the elliptic disc precession in the direction of the orbital motion. In 1994, the variability in colors shows periods close to the orbital one (0 _. ^d 136, b-v), as well as to the period indicating the elliptic disk precession (0 _. ^d 146, w-b). We confirm that during the epochs characterized by photometric periods shorter than the orbital one, the quasi-periodic variability of TT Ari at time scales about 20 min is stronger than during epochs with long photometric periods. In general, the variability of the system can be described as a “red” noise with increased amplitudes of modulations at characteristic time scales of 10–40 min.     

The SU Ursae Majoris Star TU Crateris

We have established that the cataclysmic variable TU Crateris is an SU UMa star. Superhumps were observed after 3 days of the 1998 March-April supermaximum, repeating with a mean period of P_s = 0d.08535(5). Timings of superhump maxima revealed a period decrease of P = 7.2 × 10^-5. Based on an empirical relationship, we estimated an orbital period of 0d.0810(25), just in the lower limit of the reported quiescence photometric period. H emission lines during quiescence vary with the orbital period with radial velocity half amplitude of 70 ± 19 km s^-1, evidencing a hotspot located in front of the standard position.     

Secular period decreasing of detached chromospherically active binaries

The long-term orbital period changes of a large sample of detached chromospherically active binaries (CABs) were studied. Eleven such systems were found to be undergoing secular period decreases with the rates of ?6.3×10^?9 to ?1.1×10^?6 days per year. The period decreasing rates are found to vary depending on the orbital period. The longer the orbital period is, the more rapidly the period decreases. Following Stepien (Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 274:1019, 1995), the period decreasing rate predicted by angular momentum loss (AML) caused by magnetic wind is computed for each system. A comparison between the observed and calculated period decreasing rates shows that the former values are obviously larger than the latter by 1–3 orders of magnitude. It suggests that the magnetic wind is not likely the determinant mechanism driving the AML in these systems. Finally, the orbital angular momentum (AM) and the rate of AML, $\dot{J}$ , are computed for each system. It shows that the AM have a similar change with the orbital period like dP/dt does, but $\log\dot{J}/J$ presents no strict changing with the kinematical ages.     

The orbit, mass, and albedo of transneptunian binary (66652) 1999 RZ253

We have observed (66652) 1999 RZ₂₅₃ with the Hubble Space Telescope at seven separate epochs and have fit an orbit to the observed relative positions of this binary. Two orbital solutions have been identified that differ primarily in the inclination of the orbit plane. The best fit corresponds to an orbital period, days, semimajor axis a=4660±170 km and orbital eccentricity e=0.460±0.013 corresponding to a system mass m=3.7±0.4×¹⁰¹⁸ kg. For a density of the albedo at 477 nm is p₄₇₇=0.12±0.01, significantly higher than has been commonly assumed for objects in the Kuiper belt. Multicolor, multiepoch photometry shows this pair to have colors typical for the Kuiper belt with a spectral gradient of 0.35 per 100 nm in the range between 475 and 775 nm. Photometric variations at the four epochs we observed were as large as 12±3% but the sampling is insufficient to confirm the existence of a lightcurve.     

On the detection of mutual perturbations as proof of planets around PSR1257+12

Unambiguous detection of the consequences of mutual perturbations of the hypothesized planets about the pulsar PSR1257+12 would be unassailable proof of their existence. Nearly all of the residuals in the times of arrival (TOA) of the pulses after subtraction of the TOA predicted from the best fit constant period model are accounted for by including the effects of two orbiting planets with constant orbital parameters. The nature and magnitude of additional residuals in the TOA due to the gravitational interactions between the planets are determined by numerically calculating the TOA residuals for the orbital motion including the perturbations and subtracting the TOA residuals from analytic expressions of the orbital motion with orbital parameters fixed at averaged values. The TOA residual differences so obtained oscillate with periods comparable to the orbital periods with the oscillations varying in amplitude as a function of epoch within any given observational period. The signature of the perturbations is thus a quasiperiodic modulation of the residual differences obtained after removal of the effects of the orbital motion with best fit, constant orbital parameters. The amplitudes of this modulation reach about 10sec for observational periods exceeding 1000 days for the minimum planetary masses with sini = 1, and they increase as 1 / sini for 1 / sini < 5, wherei is the inclination of the orbit plane to that of the sky. Greater accumulated phase differences between the effects of perturbed and unperturbed orbital motions are available in the times of zero values in the observed and predicted TOA residuals and these comprise a second signature of the perturbations. The perturbation signatures should become detectable as the observation interval approaches 1000 days.Paper presented at the Conference onPlanetary Systems: Formation, Evolution, and Detection held 7–10 December, 1992 at CalTech, Pasadena, California, U.S.A.     

Synchronization features of the magnetic nova V1500 Cyg

An analysis of an eleven-year photometric study of the first magnetic nova V1500 Cyg from observations made at the Crimean Observatory is presented. The data indicate the existence of a beat period caused by rotational-orbital asynchronization as well as its increase with time. The current rotational period of the primary component — a magnetic white dwarf — was calculated for each year by using the current values of the beat period and a constant value for the orbital period. It is shown that rapid synchronization of the components has not occurred uniformly with time: the rate of increase of the rotational period of the white dwarf was during 1977–1979 and over the next ten years. This would lead to synchronization of the rotational and orbital periods over about 230 year if remains constant at 2.7 · 10^–8.Translated fromAstrofizika, Vol. 39, No. 2, pp. 193–199, April–June, 1996.     

Spectrographic observations of omicron andromedae from 1967 to 1976

The results of qualitative analysis and radial velocity (RV) determinations from 1967 to 1976 are given. These analyses show sometimes the presence of a thin variable shell also in the years 1967–1974, before the appearance of the envelope. Intensity variations of the metallic lines seem to indicate that in the same period changes of temperature and/or electron pressure may occur in the photospheric layers. In the period 1975–76, the considerable range ofRV and the variability of the shell features show that the shell is rather active. Some conspicuousRV variations seem to be correlated to brightness changes. TheRV do not confirm the periods suggested by the photometric observations. A periodogram analysis givesRV curves with a poor evidence of periodicity. However, the periodP=1^d.5845 obtained from this analysis, close to that of Schmidt, seems to confirm Schmidt's hypothesis of a contact binary system. The periodogram analysis of theRV during the years 1900–1976 and some physical arguments, suggest a probable photospheric activity or an invisible companion with the observed shell period of 30 yr. The duplicity, suggested by Kí and Harmanec (1975) for all the Be stars, could be yet questioned foro And.Thesis for the degree of Applied Physics.