The URCA process at high temperatures and densities

The URCA neutrino loss rate from a hot stellar environment is investigated. The results indicate that the loss rates for URCA type processes from even mass number nuclei are comparable to the rates from odd mass number nuclei at temperatures above about 10⁹ K. Rates are calculated for some typical odd mass isobar pairs and for the even mass isobar fifty-six for temperatures between 5×10⁸ K to 5×10¹⁰ K.Supported in part by National Science Foundation Grant GP13959.     

Profiles of dark matter haloes at high redshift

I study the evolution of halo density profiles as a function of time in the SCDM and ΛCDM cosmologies. Following Del Popolo, I calculate the concentration parameter c = r _v / a and study its time evolution. For a given halo mass, I find that c ( z ) ∝ 1/(1+ z ) in both the ΛCDM and SCDM cosmology, in agreement with the analytic model of Bullock et al. and N -body simulations. In both models, a ( z ) is roughly constant. The present model predicts a stronger evolution of c ( z ) with respect to the Navarro, Frenk & White model. Finally I show some consequences of the results on galaxy modelling.     

Evidence for fractional condensation and reprocessing at high temperatures in CH chondrites

Abstract— We performed a detailed study of silica‐rich components (SRC) in the paired CH chondrites Acfer 182 and 207. These SRCs appear either as chondrules or fragments, and they contribute <0.1 vol% to the bulk meteorite. They usually contain a silica and a silicate portion. Both portions are, in most cases, cryptocrystalline and have bulk SiO₂‐concentrations between 65 and 85 wt%. The silicate generally has a pyroxene normative composition. The silica often appears as blebs within the silicate matrix or vice versa. If there are no blebs, silica and silicate still form rounded interfaces. The SRCs are depleted in refractory elements like Ca, Al, and Ti relative to CI. A few SRC‐like objects are extremely rich in Mn and show no depletion in refractory elements. We conducted micro‐Raman studies on the silica portions of the SRCs to determine their structure, and we identified several silica phases: α‐quartz, cristobalite, glass, and a yet unidentified polymorph. The silicate portion is glass when the silica is glass and crystalline when the silica is crystalline. The low contents of Al and Ca make an igneous origin of the SRCs very unlikely, and the absence of metal excludes the formation by reduction of pyroxene. We suggest, instead, a fractional condensation origin of the SRCs from a Si‐enriched gas after removal of gaseous Mg by forsterite condensation. Additional evidence for fractional condensation is provided by a unique layered object with olivine in the core, pyroxene and metal at the rim, and silica at the outermost border; these layers record the condensation sequence. Two chondrules were found with several percent of Mn and high Cr, Na, and K contents, providing further evidence for condensation from a fractionated gas. The texture of the SRCs and the occurrence of cristobalite and silica glass, however, require formation by liquid immiscibility at high temperatures, above 1968 K, and subsequent fast cooling. Therefore, we propose a 2‐stage model for the formation of SRCs in CH chondrites: 1) fractional condensation of forsterite, enstatite, and SiO₂‐rich phases; and 2) reheating of SiO₂‐rich components to temperatures above 1968 K followed by rapid cooling. All other phases identified in CH chondrites can be understood within the framework of this model. Thus, the extremely unequilibrated CH chondrites provide a wealth of evidence for fractional condensation processes in the early solar nebula, in metals (Meibom et al. 1999), and in silicates.     

Composition and temperatures of the topside ionosphere over Arecibo

Results of analysis of about 150 autocorrelation functions are presented for the period from about 2300 hr on 5 October to about 1200 hr on 7 October 1967. A large percentage concentration of helium ions are observed. It reaches a value as high as 50 per cent with a maximum at around 800 km. Downward heat fluxes deduced from the temperature variations yield a value of about 2–2.5 × 10⁹ eV cm^?2 sec^?1 during the period 1200–1600 hr and a value of about 1.5 × 10⁸ eV cm^?2 sec^?1 during the period 0100–0400 hr at night. These agree well with other measurements. The O⁺ ions are found not to be in diffusive equilibrium, and from the O⁺ fluxes and the electron density profiles, the O⁺ drift velocity has been estimated. It is found that the speed can be as high as 1–5 × 10³ cm sec^?1 even at altitudes as high as 700 km.     

A generalization of the concept of adiabatic index for non-adiabatic systems

The concept of adiabatic index, measuring the stiffness of the equation of state for adiabatic systems, and which plays a fundamental role in the study of gravitational collapse, is extended to systems emitting and/or absorbing energy. In the light of the new definition, the collapse of two models of radiating, general relativistic spheres is analyzed in detail, at different regimes of radiation transport. The conspicuous role played by the new variable is clearly exhibited.     

Enhancement of the sterile neutrino yield at high density and increasing neutronization of matter

The relative yields of active and sterile neutrinos in matter with a high density and different degrees of neutronization have been calculated. A significant increase in the proportion of sterile neutrinos produced in superdense matter when the degree of neutronization approaches two has been found. The results obtained can be used to calculate the neutrino fluxes for matter with a high density and different degrees of neutronization in astrophysical processes, for example, the formation of a protoneutron supernova core.     

Stellar structures with constant local adiabatic index under extreme relativistic conditions

Stellar structures with a constant local adiabatic index Γ have been discussed under the extreme relativistic condition (dP/dρ=1, at the center of the configuration). The equation of state,Pαρ^Γ, where ρ _r is the rest-mass density leads to the relations, (i)ρ=AP ^1/Γ?P/(Γ?1) between energy density and pressure, and (ii)e=NP between internal energy density and pressure, where the constantN may be called local polytropic index. The local adiabatic index, Γ, is found to be related to the adiabatic index, γ, through a simple relation, Γ=γ(1+P/ρ). The maximum value of surface redshift comes out to be 0.614 when σ=(P/ρ)₀=0.6. The structure are bound for σ≤0.83 and the maximum value of the binding coefficient is 0.181 at σ=0.4. For bound structures the central redshift z₀≤8.24. The maximum mass of neutron star based upon such a model comes out to be 2.39M _⊙ (for σ=0.4) and the maximum size comes out to be 13.7 km (for σ=0.2).     

Numerical study of the adiabatic index effect for the Vishniac instability in supernova remnants

The Vishniac instability is supposed to explain the fragmentation of the thin shell of shocked matter in the radiative phase of supernova remnants. However its implication and its consequence on the morphological evolution of stellar systems is not fully demonstrated. The present paper tackles this subject by numerical simulations and focus on the role of the adiabatic index in the instability growth. The HYDRO-MUSCL 2D hydrodynamics code has been used to simulate the evolution of a supernova remnant thin shell and the triggering of the Vishniac instability in this thin shell. We have studied the temporal behavior of the perturbation. The first result of the numerical study is the existence of the Vishniac instability in the simulations. This result is proved by the overstability process observed in the simulations as predicted by the theoretical analysis. The second important result is the damping of the perturbation at late evolution and for all the set of parameters. Indeed the accretion of matter onto the shock damps the instability when theoretical analysis predicts its occurrence.     

Properties of optical fibres at cryogenic temperatures

A perhaps surprising property of optical fibres is that they remain flexible at cryogenic temperatures. This implies that they may be used for multiple-object and integral field spectroscopy in the thermal infrared in cryogenic instrumentation. In this paper the results of performance tests of optical fibres (silica and zirconium fluoride) at cryogenic temperatures are presented. By mounting the fibres in glass tubes with the appropriate adhesive, it was found that only negligible focal ratio degradation occurs when the fibre is cooled to 77 K.     

Spectrum of the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect for high electron temperatures

We analyse in detail the spectral shape of the Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect in the cosmic background radiation, taking into account the relativistic corrections for a hot electron gas. We calculate the displacement of the zero-signal frequency, which is especially informative in a new method for measuring the millimetric temperature of the background radiation; we also present a simple analytical expression, to be used to fit the experimental data in spectral measurements of the effect in very hot cluster gases.     

Spectroscopy from laser-produced plasmas at flare temperatures

A discussion of laboratory spectra similar in temperatures and ion abundances to solar flare spectra is given. The laboratory spectra were obtained from high temperature plasmas produced by high power lasers and low inductance vacuum sparks. The current state of knowledge regarding line identifications in laboratory spectra is reviewed, and some of the results are used to identify lines in the high temperature solar flare spectrum in the 100 Å region and in the 1000 Å region. In addition, the physical dimensions and temperatures of the hot regions in the plasmas produced by the low inductance spark were recently measured, and a short summary of the results is given.A review paper given at the IAU Colloquium No. 27 on Ultraviolet and X-Ray Spectroscopy of Astrophysical and Laboratory Plasmas, held at Harvard University, 9–11 September, 1974.On leave from Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel.     

Measurements of thermospheric temperatures at a mid-latitude station

Fabry-Perot interferometer measurements of the nightglow 630.0 nm line have been made at Beveridge(37°28′S, 145°6′E) from December 1980 to September 1981.Thermospheric temperatures have been derived from these measurements and compared to the MSIS model. Good agreement is found except during summer when the experimental temperatures are consistently higher (～ 100 K) than the model values. The experimental values are well described by a function similar to that used by Hernandez (1982b) to describe 7 years of data obtained at Fritz Peak which is at a similar mid-latitude to Beveridge. The fit to the Beveridge data indicates larger seasonal and magnetic variations in the temperature than given by the MSIS model.     

The brightness temperatures of Saturn and its rings at 39 microns

We have resolved the relative rings-to-disk brightness (specific intensity) of Saturn at 39 μm (δλ ? 8 μm) using the 224-cm telecscope at Mauna Kea Oservatory, and have also measured the total flux of Saturn relative to Jupiter in the same bandpass from the NASA Learjet Observatory. These two measurements, which were made in early 1975 with Saturn's rings near maximum inclination (b′ ? 25°), determine the disk and average ring (A and B) brightness in terms of an absolute flux calibration of Jupiter in the same bandpass. While present uncertainties in Jupiter's absolute calibration make it possible to compare existing measurementsunambiguously, it is nevertheless possible to conclude the following: (1) observations between 20 and 40 μm are all compatible (within 2σ) of a disk brightness temperature of 94°K, and do not agree with the radiative equilibrium models of Trafton; (2) the rings at large tilt contribute a flux component comparable to that of the planet itself for λ ? 40 μm and (3) there is a decrease of ～22% in the relative ring: disk brightness between effective wavelengths of 33.5 and 39 μm.