Fine structure in the inner corona observed at the 1970 eclipse

On the slit spectrogram obtained at the 1970 eclipse in Mexico, the intensities of four coronal lines (Nixiii 5116, Fexiv 5303, Fex 6374, and Nixv 6702) and the continuum were measured as a function of distance along the slit. It is found that there exist a lot of fine fluctuations both in the lines and in the continuum intensities superposed on a large scale formation. The correspondence of such fluctuations between the continuum and the lines is good, with the exception of the line 6374 which shows a peculiar fluctuation. It is shown that the intensities of the three lines 5116, 5303, and 6702 seem to be proportional to the square of the continuum intensity while the 6374 line intensity may be proportional to the fourth power or more.     

EUV arcades: Signatures of filament instability

We have examined seven active regions of the Skylab period in the EUV (Harvard College Observatory), and in H and K₃ (Observatoire de Meudon, spectroheliograms and patrols) in order to elucidate the magnetic geometry in the coronal environment of filaments. We have also looked for signatures of magnetic reconfigurations associated with instabilities (i.e. velocities or disappearances) of filaments. Out of sixteen H filaments observed, six were stable (lifetime 48^h). All the filaments lay within coronal cavities as seen in lines formed above 1.5 × 10⁶ K (Mgx 625, Sixii 521, Fexvi 417, Fexv 361). None of the stable filaments had arcades or arches spanning the cavities except (sometimes) at the ends of the filaments. On the other hand, most (8/10) of the unstable filaments (having concurrent Doppler shifts or a subsequent DB within 24^h) had arcades or single arches spanning their cavities. The arches were observed in EUV lines with formation temperatures as low as 2–4 × 10⁵ K (Oiv 554, Ovi 1032, Ne vii 465), as well as in hotter lines. A statistical test shows that the arcade/instability vs non-arcade/stability association is significant at the 99% confidence level. We suggest 2 types of scenario relating arcades to instabilities. The more preferable scenario is closely related to the Kuperus/Van Tend model of filament disruptions.     

Late-time emission of the type II Supernovae powered by the radioactive decay56Ni−56Co−56Fe

A one-zone model for the late time SN II energized by the radioactive decay⁵⁶Ni–⁵⁶Co–⁵⁶Fe is presented. The model succeeds in reproducing for the late time evolution of H and [Oi] 6300 emission lines in SN1970g for the reasonable set of parameters: mass of ejecta 4M , boundary velocityv ₀=4000 km s^–1 and amount of⁵⁶NiM _Ni=0.02M . However, a one-zone model does not account for the late time continuum. In the case of SN1980k the radioactive model fits H and [Oi] 6300 emissions att250 day satisfactory but fails at very late time, e.g.,t=670 day when the predicted value of the ratioL(H)/L(6300) is two orders of magnitude smaller than the observed one. We suggest that the strong H emission in SN1980k on the 670th day is due to the interaction of the supernova envelope with the pre-SN wind. The radioactive model for the late time SN II predicts strong Mgii 2800 line and detectable Hei 10830 line in emission and absorption.     

The high-dispersion continuous ultraviolet solar spectrum and the Balmer-jump

Among the intensities, determined at about 200 wavelengths between 3000 and 4100 Å in the spectrum of the centre of the sun's disk (Houtgast, 1965), the 32 highest ones (windows) were plotted and compared with absolute intensities given by other authors.The intensities in between the Fraunhofer lines from 3600 to 4000 Å, as determined here for the first time with high dispersion, reveal a detailed picture of several absorption features, one of which can be attributed to a Balmer jump of 0.03, a value in accordance with that found for stars and in agreement with the strengths of the high Balmer lines.The much higher value of the Balmer jump for the sun, as quoted in literature, in reality refers to the total intensity jump between 4000 and 3600 Å, which is mainly due to the crowding of Fraunhofer lines.     

Theoretical intensity ratios for some Fe XIII coronal lines

Theoretical values for the relative intensities of the Fe XIII lines 110747, 110798, and 3388 are presented as functions of electron density using recent values of the cross-section for collisionl excitation by protons. Our results are compared with those of Chevalier and Lambert.     

High order symplectic integrators for perturbed Hamiltonian systems

A family of symplectic integrators adapted for the integration of perturbed Hamiltonian systems of the form H=A+B was given in (McLachlan, 1995). We give here a constructive proof that for all integer p, such integrator exists, with only positive steps, and with a remainder of order O(^p + ²²), where is the stepsize of the integrator. Moreover, we compute the analytical expressions of the leading terms of the remainders at all orders. We show also that for a large class of systems, a corrector step can be performed such that the remainder becomes O(^p +⁴²). The performances of these integrators are compared for the simple pendulum and the planetary three-body problem of Sun–Jupiter–Saturn.     

O VI (λ = 1032 Å) profiles in and above an active region prominence,compared to quiet Sun center and limb profiles

O vi ( = 1032 Å) profiles have been measured in and above a filament at the limb, previously analyzed in H i, Mg ii, Ca ii resonance lines (Vial et al., 1979). They are compared to profiles measured at the quiet Sun center and at the quiet Sun limb.Absolute intensities are found to be about 1.55 times larger than above the quiet limb at the same height (3); at the top of the prominence (15 above the limb) one finds a maximum blue shift and a minimum line width. The inferred non-thermal velocity (29 km s^–1) is about the same as in cooler lines while the approaching line-of-sight velocity (8 km s^–1) is lower than in Ca ii lines.The O vi profile recorded 30 above the limb outside the filament is wider (FWHM = 0.33 Å). It can be interpreted as a coronal emission of O vi ions with a temperature of about 10⁶ K, and a non-thermal velocity (NTV) of 49 km s^–1. This NTV is twice the NTV of quiet Sun center O vi profiles. Lower NTV require higher temperatures and densities (as suggested by K-coronameter measurements). Computed emission measures for this high temperature regime agree with determinations from disk intensities of euv lines.     

The center-to-limb behavior of Ca i λ6573 and [Ca ii] λ7324

Center-to-limb measurements of the Ca i 6573 intercombination line and the Ca ii 7324 forbidden line are compared with synthetic profiles based on a simple representation of the non-LTE Ca-Ca⁺ ionization equilibrium. The effects of photoionizations from low lying excited states of neutral calcium are found to reduce the sensitivity of the 6573 center-to-limb behavior as a thermal structure diagnostic. The synthetic center-to-limb behavior is also sensitive to uncertainties in the nonthermal broadening. Nevertheless, the measured center-to-limb behavior of 6573 favors a cool photospheric model similar to the Vernazza, Avrett, and Loeser model M over hotter models based on the Ca ii K wings. The non-LTE calcium abundance obtained from the disk center equivalent widths of 6573 and 7324 using the best fit model is A _Ca2.1±0.2 × 10^-6 (by number relative to hydrogen). Applications of these lines as diagnostics of the Ca-Ca⁺ ionization equilibrium in other stars are briefly discussed.Visiting Astronomer, Kitt Peak National Observatory.Operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. under contract with the National Science Foundation.     

Simultaneous H and K Ca ii,h and k Mg ii,Lα and Lβ H i profiles of the April 15, 1978 solar flare observed with the OSO-8/L.P.S.P. experiment

Solar flare observations have been performed with the multichannel L.P.S.P. experiment on board OSO-8 NASA Satellite. Simultaneous H and K Caii, h and k Mgii, L and L Hi profiles have been recorded on the plage just before the flare, during the flare onset and relaxation phases. The different behaviour of line profiles and intensities during the flare is evidenced and indicates a downward propagation with relaxation times increasing from the upper part to the lower part of the chromosphere related to line formation processes. Using the H observed profile, an upper limit of 8 × 10¹³ cm^-3 is derived for the electron density.     

Coronal environment of quiescent prominences

With thespectro-coronagraph and themultichannel subtractive double pass spectrograph (MSDP) at the Pic du Midi Observatory two quiescent prominences were observed simultaneously. From the spectro-coronagraph observations 2D maps of Hei 10830 , Fexiii 10798 and 10747 line intensities were obtained. In addition, we obtained 2D maps of the ratioR of the two iron lines. This ratio is used as a diagnostic for determining the density of the hot coronal plasma surrounding prominences. We found that the electron density is higher at the location of the prominences than in the corona, whereas small regions (40) of lower electron density are unevenly distributed around the prominences indicating that the surrounding corona is highly inhomogeneous. The density of the cavity is reduced by a factor 1.5 compared to the density of the prominence environment (5 × 10⁸ cm^–3). We discuss the existence of cavities around these prominences according to the orientation of their axes relative to the line of sight and according to the velocity field inside the prominences. Constraints on models for prominence formation are derived.     

The observed limb effect in Fraunhofer lines,I

The absolute limb effect is presented for Fei lines 3767 and 3969; for five Tii lines of multiplet 42 near 4535 and one Tiii line at 4534; two lines of Mgi, 4571 and 5172; two lines of Baii at 5854 and 6497. The scattered light of the McMath solar telescope is illustrated by several figures but not applied to the limb-effect observations. It is suggested that the supergravity shift at the limb is the result of scattering of the atoms in anisotropic velocity field.Operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. (AURA) under cooperative agreement with the National Science Foundation.     

Interpretation of infrared oxygen spectroheliograms

Spectroheliograms have been obtained in the line cores of two infrared multiplets of neutral oxygen. Those made in the lines of the 7770 Å multiplet show a very smooth intensity distribution, with faculae and sunspot penumbrae at a very low contrast with respect to the undisturbed photosphere. Spectroheliograms made in the core of 8446.37 Å show evidence of coupling with chromospheric features and of blending with a line of neutral iron.An analysis of a 7772 Å spectroheliogram indicates that a magnetic field of approximately 1500 G is required to produce the disappearing penumbra phenomenon. This value is consistent with the recent observations of Beckers and Schröter (1969).     

Photoionization models of QSO's intervening absorption clouds

A new sufficiently compact code LINESPEC is described which is designed to determine the kinetic (collisional+photo) ionization equilibrium in a slab of a hot (T10⁴K) rarefied gas, and to simulate synthetic absorption-line spectra formed due to passing continuous radiation (from a quasar) through the slab. Eighty-six resonant absorption lines of ions and atoms of H, He, C, N, O, Ne, Mg, Al, Si, S, Ca, Fe are included with wavelengths in the range 9125000 Å. the behaviour and observability of various lines are analysed as a function of intensity of the ionizing radiation and kinetic plasma temperature (for a power-law spectrum of ionizing photons,N _ph (E) E ^– with =1.5;E is photon energy). For the purely collisional ionization (N _ph =0), the spectrum contains various combinations of absorption lines of hydrogen and/or of atoms and ions of other elements, the relative intensities of the lines being strongly temperaturedependent. If the ionizing radiation is intense enough, the L line dominates. In a wide parameter range L may be the only line visible in the UV spectral range.     

Radial velocity and profile variations of the ultraviolet circumstellar lines in ζ tauri

The radial velocity and profile variations of UV lines of the shell star Tau have been examined in the IUE spectra obtained in 1978–1982. The neutral atoms, and once or twice-ionized ions (exceptCii, Aliii, Siiii resonance lines) follow the same velocity variations as in the visual spectra, while the Siiv andCiv resonance lines show a constant negative velocity (–50 km s^–1 at the core). The Aliii,Cii resonance lines and probably Feiii (mult. No. 34) are formed in both regions, i.e., in lowly-ionized and highly-ionized regions and the Siiii resonance line is formed in a highly-ionized region.Paper presented at the Lembang-Bamberg IAU Colloquium No. 80 on Double Stars: Physical Properties and Generic Relations, held at Bandung, Indonesia, 3–7 June, 1983.     

The solar abundance of thorium and lead

Two new Th ii lines have been identified in the spectrum of the solar photosphere. The abundance derived from these lines together with the previously known Th ii line at 4019 Å, is log _Th = 0.85 ± 0.20 in the log _H = 12.00 scale. Analysis of three Pb i lines in the photospheric spectrum resulted in an abundance of log _pb = 1.90 ± 0.10. The solar Th/Pb ratio is: _Th/ _Pb = 0.09 _-0.005 ^0.09 .     

Lα, Lβ (of Hi), k and h (of Mgii), K and H (of Ca ii) observations in a quiescent prominence with the OSO-8 LPSP instrument

A sequence of images taken at different positions in the resonance lines of Ca ii, Mg ii, and H i was obtained over a quiescent prominence with the LPSP instrument on OSO-8. Ca ii K (and H) profiles are reconstructed at different locations in the prominence with a (10 × 5) arc sec² resolution. Significant variations of FWHM and line shifts are found: FWHM range from 0.14 Å to 0.5 Å; blue shifts reach about 14 km s^-1. The ratio of K to H absolute intensities shows a large spread around the average value of 1.2. The same ratio for the Mg ii lines in the whole prominence is higher (1.7), a fact already noticed at the edge of an active prominence (Vial et al., 1979). The ionization degree, as measured by the L/Ca K ratio, shows noticeable variations within the prominence. The L intensity is about 0.3 times the intensity measured in the quiet Sun, and the L/L ratio is less than one half the disk value. These results indicate important variations of the thermal conditions inside the prominence.DASOP, Observatoire de Paris, 92190 Meudon, France.     

Search for the matter clumps in scalesZ ~ 1

The diagramV - log(1 +z _e ) as function of (, ) is considered for the quasars. HereV is the apparent visual magnitude,z _e is the emission line redshift, and are the equatorial coordinates. Two opposite extreme spots NE and SE are observed on the sky, where the inclination of the straight line fitting the dependenceV - log(1 +z _e ) is maximum and minimum. The coordinates of the centres of these extreme spots are ( _NE, _NE) = (282°, +42°) and ( _SE, _SE) = (70°, -38°) with errors 5°. A hypothesis of the Superattractor (SA) is proposed to explain such an effect. Two independent tests of this hypothesis are realized. First, the dependence or the frequency a of the absorbers in QSO spectra on (, ) is investigated. A region of the larger a is found. The coordinates of its centre are (, ) = (82°, - 10°) with error 5°. Second, the cases ofz _a >z _e are plotted in the Mercatorial projection (, ). The most of the casesz -z _e > 0.02 are concentrated within the circle with radiusR = 34° and centre (, ) = (50°, - 15°). The both anomalous regions overlap the Southern extreme spot around SE. The SA direction is (, ) = (67°, -21°) with errors about 12°. The redshift of SA isz _SA = 1.7 ± 0.3 that corresponds to the distancer _SA = (3100 ± 300)h ^–1 Mpc for the Hubble constantH ₀ = 75h kms^–1 Mpc^–1. The SA mass isM _SA ~ 10¹⁸-10²⁰ M . The orientation of the normal to the quasiperiodical large-scale sheet structure on the sky occurs near SA.     

General-relativistic hierarchical cosmology: An exact model

An exact solution of Einstein's equation is stated in which the density (), pressure (p), scale factorS and metric coefficients are functions of only one dimensionless self-similar variable,ct/R, wheret is cosmic time andR is a co-moving radial coordinate. The solution represents a cosmology that begins as a static sphere having R ^–2 and evolves into an expanding model which is pressure-free and has a hierarchical type of density law ( R ^–, approximately, with =a number, 02). It is suggested that this model should supersede the previous models of Wesson and other workers, since it appears to be the simplest cosmology for a hierarchy.     

Activity in the quiet Sun

Macrospicules have been observed in H and He i D₃, on the disk and above the limb. In 1975, a rate of 1400 (A day)^–1 is inferred, and the ratio of equatorial to polar rates 2. D₃ intensities are a few × 10^–3 of the disk center, and do not decrease in coronal holes. The ratio of H to D₃ intensities is 10. The integral number of macrospicules with D₃ intensity I ₀ is proportional to I ₀ ^–1.     

Statistical survey of planetary nebulae: Distances,masses, and distribution in the galaxy

On the basis of empirical (D)-dependency at the frequency of 5 GHz constructed using 15 planetary nebulae with the independently measured distances (10^–171×10^–20 W m^–2 Hz^–1 ster^–1), we evaluated distances of 335 objects. Independent evidence of the correctness of the accepted scale are given. Then(D)-dependency is constructed and it is shown that atD<0.08 pc the mean electron density is higher than the one determined by the Seaton method. We showed that the filling factor diminishes with the increase of the PN diameter (1 atD0.08 pc and 0.2 atD0.4 pc). the ionized mass of 33 PNs is determined. With the diameter increase the ionized mass grows and atD0.4 pc reaches the valueM0.07M . We used the new distance scale when investigating the space distribution of PNs. The mean scale height =130±15 pc and the mean gradient of the change of surface densitym=0.37, which allowed us to estimate the total number of nebulae in the GalaxyN4×10⁴. We divided the PNs according to their velocities (withV _LSR>35 km s^–1 andV _LSR<35 km s^–1) and permitted us to confirm that the PN belong to different sub-systems of the Galaxy. The estimated local formation rate of PNs [=(4.6±2.2)×10^–12 pc^–3 yr^–1] is a little higher than the one of the white dwarfs. That can be explained by a large number of PNs having binary cores, which used in our sample. The statistical estimation of PN expansion velocity showed thatV _ex increases from 5–7 km s^–1 (atD0.03 pc) to 40–50 km s^–1 (atD0.8 pc).