Contribution of fission to heavy-element nucleosynthesis in an astrophysical <Emphasis Type="Italic">r</Emphasis>-process

During the formation of heavy elements in the neutron star merger (NSM) scenario with a fairly long duration of the r-process, most of the seed nuclei rapidly burn out at the initial stage. The nucleosynthesis wave rapidly reaches the region of actinoids, where beta-delayed, neutron-induced, and spontaneous fission are the main reaction channels. The fission products of transuranium elements are again drawn into the r-process as new seed nuclei to form the yields of elements with mass numbers A > 100. The contribution from the various types of fission to the formation of heavy and superheavy nuclei is investigated. The proposed r-process model applied to the NSM scenario describes well the observed abundances of chemical elements, which confirms the formation of the main r-process component in the NSM scenario. Simple extrapolations of the spontaneous fission half-lives are shown to be inapplicable for the region of nuclei with N ∼ 184, because the formulas do not reflect the increase in half-life when the shell structure changes as the number of neutrons approaches 184. The formation of superheavy elements in the r-process is possible, but their survival depends to a large extent on how reliable the predictions of nuclear parameters, including the half-lives of the forming nuclei from the island of long-lived isotopes, are. The contributions from various types of fission—neutron-induced, beta-delayed, and spontaneous one—to the formation of heavy elements in the main r-process have been determined.     

A general catalogue of ephemerides and apparent orbits for visual binaries

Summary Informations on 736 pairs of visual binaries are given in the form of the Tables. The General Catalogue gives ephemerides (t,θ°,ρ″) in 20 years (1984–2003) for each pair with the figures of its apparent elliptical orbit where the positions of secondary component relative to the primary one at different epochs are indicated.The General Catalogue contains four parts: Part one — Source and Grading of Orbit; Part two — Ephemérides and Atlas of Apparent Orbits; Part three — Classifications of Visual Binary Stars; Part four — Indexes of Visual Binary Stars. The principle of calculation and the statistical data are presented in this paper. There are seven statistical tables, giving the elements distribution of true and apparent orbits, grading distribution of orbits, number distribution with different physical property of component of binary star. The number of binary stars in anyone constellation, the number of binary stars brighter than 6^m.5. The number of binary stars nearer than 25 parsec.     

A general relativistic effect in quasi-spherical objects as the possible origin of relativistic jets

Based on recently reported results, we present arguments indicating that sign changes in proper acceleration of test particles on the symmetry axis and close to the r=2M surface of quasi-spherical objects—related to the quadrupole moment of the source—might be at the origin of relativistic jets of quasars and micro-quasars.     

Galaxy Evolution from Deep Field Galaxy Counts

We present deep galaxy number counts and colours of K—band selected galaxy surveys. We argue that primeval galaxies are present within the survey data, but have remained unidentified. There are few objects with the colours of an L ^* elliptical galaxy at a redshift of z ≈ 1, in contradiction to standard luminosity evolution models. We present K—band photometry of the objects in a spectroscopic redshift survey selected at 21 < B < 22.5. The absolute K magnitudes of the galaxies are consistent with the no-evolution or pure luminosity evolution models. The excess faint blue galaxies seen in the B—band number counts at intermediate magnitudes are a result of a low normalization, and do not dominate the population until B ≈ 25. Extreme merging or excess dwarf models are not needed at z < 1. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A comparison of the use of genetic and hill-climbing algorithms to fit low-l solar p-mode spectra

We present a comparative study of low-l solar p-mode parameters extracted by genetic-algorithm and ‘standard’ hill-climbing minimisation routines. To effect this we make use of observations made in integrated sunlight by the Birmingham Solar-Oscillations Network (BiSON) and the GOLF instrument on board the ESA/NASA SOHO satellite, in addition to artificial data. We find that over the central part of the p-mode range the two fitting routines return similar results. However, at low frequencies — where the S/N in the modes is low and their resonant peaks narrow — we find that the genetic routine appears to offer more robust estimates of the underlying parameters.     

Pulsations and long-term photometric variability of three candidates for protoplanetary nebulae

We present new photometric data and analyze long-term UBV observations of three candidates for protoplanetary nebulae—F supergiants with infrared excesses at high Galactic latitudes—IRAS 18095+2704, IRAS 19386+0155, and IRAS 19500-1709. All these stars exhibit quasi-periodic low-amplitude variations caused by pulsations against the background of long-term brightness trends. For IRAS 18095+2704=V887 Her, we have found a pulsation period of 109 days and revealed a linear brightness trend—the star brightens at constant (within the limits of the measurement errors) yearly mean color indices. The light curve of IRAS 19386+0155=V1648 Aql in 2000–2008 is represented by a wave with a fundamental period of 102 days whose modulation with a close period of 98 days leads to variations with a variable amplitude. V1648 Aql also shows a systematic rise in V brightness along with a reddening. IRAS 19500–1709=V5112 Sgr exhibits irregular pulsations with periods of 39 and 47 days. The long-term variability component of V5112 Sgr may indicate that the star is binary.     

Variable synchrotron emission from BL Lacertae objects. I. Shock-in-jet scenario

This paper presents a modeling of the variable synchrotron emission in the BL Lacertae sources (BLLs). Flux variability is assumed to be a result of the interaction between a relativistic shock wave with a magnetized jet material. Long-term flares (of months to years durations) are modeled via the propagation of a plane relativistic shock wave though the emission zone of a cylindrical form with the radius R and length H. As for short-term bursts (lasting from days to weeks), they may result from shock passage through the jet inhomogeneities such as a shell of enhanced density downstream to a Mach disc, originated due to pressure imbalance between the jet and its ambient medium. Emitting particles (electrons) gain the energies, sufficient to produce synchrotron photons at optical—X-ray frequencies, via the first-order Fermi mechanism. Observation’s frequency is the main parameter determining a rate of the increase/ decay of the emission via the characteristic decay time of emitting electrons. The magnetic field, assumed to be turbulent with an average field constant throughout the entire emission zone, is another key parameter determining the slope of a lightcurve corresponding to the flare—the higher strength the magnetic field has, the steeper the lightcurve is. The rest input parameters (shock speed, jet viewing angle, maximum/minimum energies of the electrons, particles’ density etc.), as well the strength of average magnetic field, influence the energy output from a flare.     

Interactions between brown-dwarf binaries and Sun-like stars

Several mechanisms have been proposed for the formation of brown dwarfs, but there is as yet no consensus as to which—if any—are operative in nature. Any theory of brown dwarf formation must explain the observed statistics of brown dwarfs. These statistics are limited by selection effects, but they are becoming increasingly discriminating. In particular, it appears (a) that brown dwarfs that are secondaries to Sun-like stars tend to be on wide orbits, a≳100 AU (the Brown Dwarf Desert), and (b) that these brown dwarfs have a significantly higher chance of being in a close (a≲10 AU) binary system with another brown dwarf than do brown dwarfs in the field. This then raises the issue of whether these brown dwarfs have formed in situ, i.e. by fragmentation of a circumstellar disc; or have formed elsewhere and subsequently been captured. We present numerical simulations of the purely gravitational interaction between a close brown-dwarf binary and a Sun-like star. These simulations demonstrate that such interactions have a negligible chance (<0.001) of leading to the close brown-dwarf binary being captured by the Sun-like star. Making the interactions dissipative by invoking the hydrodynamic effects of attendant discs might alter this conclusion. However, in order to explain the above statistics, this dissipation would have to favour the capture of brown-dwarf binaries over single brown-dwarfs, and we present arguments why this is unlikely. The simplest inference is that most brown-dwarf binaries—and therefore possibly also most single brown dwarfs—form by fragmentation of circumstellar discs around Sun-like protostars, with some of them subsequently being ejected into the field.     

Photometric variability of five candidates for protoplanetary nebulae

We analyze long-term UBV observations and ASAS-3 photometry for five candidates for protoplanetary nebulae—F and G supergiants with infrared excesses at highG alactic latitudes—V340 Ser, IRAS 05113+1347, V552 Pup, V448 Lac, and RV Col. These stars exhibit quasi-periodic multifrequency light variations caused by pulsations with characteristic time scales from 83 to 139 days, depending on the stellar temperature. Cooler stars undergo variations with larger amplitudes and periods. The variations at close frequencies with a period ratio of 1.03–1.09 are responsible for the amplitude modulation revealed for most program stars.     

Chemistry in luminous AGN and starburst galaxies

Molecular line emission is a useful tool for probing the highly obscured inner kpc of starburst galaxies and buried AGNs. Molecular line ratios serve as diagnostic tools of the physical conditions of the gas—but also of its chemical properties. Both provide important clues to the type and evolutionary stage of the nuclear activity. While CO emission remains the main tracer for molecular distribution and dynamics, molecules such as HCN, HNC, HCO⁺, CN and HC₃N are useful for probing the properties of the denser (n≳10⁴ cm⁻³), star-forming gas. Here I discuss current views on how line emission from these species can be interpreted in luminous galaxies. HNC, HCO⁺ and CN are all species that can be associated both with photon dominated regions (PDRs) in starbursts—as well as X-ray dominated regions (XDRs) associated with AGN activity. HC₃N line emission may identify galaxies where the starburst is in the early stage of its evolution.     

Cosmic vibration of the sun and quasar 3C 273

The hypothesis that some extragalactic objects pulsate with a period of P ₀ = 9600.606(12) s, which was first discovered in the Sun, is tested with data on quasar 3C 273. Observations of its rapid photometric variability were made by different observers in 1968–2005 within several spectral bands. At the 4σ confidence level, these data show that there is a period of 9600.624(18) s, which is consistent, within the error limits, with P ₀ (mean harmonic amplitude 0.006 B magnitude). Its independence from the redshift z is a sign of a cosmological origin of the P ₀ pulsation, which is sometimes understood as the “rhythm” of cosmos’ absolute time. This phenomenon is also shown to be deeply connected—via the Sanchez formula—to the fundamental constants of physics and cosmology. This refutes the standard Big Bang hypothesis and confirms the Steady State, c-free model of the Universe (c is the speed of light).     

The North—South Asymmetry of Soft X-Ray Flare Index During Solar Cycles 21, 22 and 23

In this paper the N—S asymmetry of the soft X-ray flare index (FI _SXR) during solar cycles 21, 22 and 23 has been analyzed. The results show the existence of a real N—S asymmetry which is strengthened during solar minimum. The slope of regression lines fitted to the daily values of asymmetry time series is negative in all three cycles. The yearly asymmetry curve can be fitted by a sinusoidal function with a period of eleven years. The power spectral analysis of daily asymmetry time series reveals significant periods of around 28.26 days, 550.73 days and 3.72 years.     

Cluster lenses

Clusters of galaxies are the most recently assembled, massive, bound structures in the Universe. As predicted by General Relativity, given their masses, clusters strongly deform space-time in their vicinity. Clusters act as some of the most powerful gravitational lenses in the Universe. Light rays traversing through clusters from distant sources are hence deflected, and the resulting images of these distant objects therefore appear distorted and magnified. Lensing by clusters occurs in two regimes, each with unique observational signatures. The strong lensing regime is characterized by effects readily seen by eye, namely, the production of giant arcs, multiple images, and arclets. The weak lensing regime is characterized by small deformations in the shapes of background galaxies only detectable statistically. Cluster lenses have been exploited successfully to address several important current questions in cosmology: (i) the study of the lens(es)—understanding cluster mass distributions and issues pertaining to cluster formation and evolution, as well as constraining the nature of dark matter; (ii) the study of the lensed objects—probing the properties of the background lensed galaxy population—which is statistically at higher redshifts and of lower intrinsic luminosity thus enabling the probing of galaxy formation at the earliest times right up to the Dark Ages; and (iii) the study of the geometry of the Universe—as the strength of lensing depends on the ratios of angular diameter distances between the lens, source and observer, lens deflections are sensitive to the value of cosmological parameters and offer a powerful geometric tool to probe Dark Energy. In this review, we present the basics of cluster lensing and provide a current status report of the field.     

Non-thermal emission processes in massive binaries

In this paper, I present a general discussion of several astrophysical processes likely to play a role in the production of non-thermal emission in massive stars, with emphasis on massive binaries. Even though the discussion will start in the radio domain where the non-thermal emission was first detected, the census of physical processes involved in the non-thermal emission from massive stars shows that many spectral domains are concerned, from the radio to the very high energies. First, the theoretical aspects of the non-thermal emission from early-type stars will be addressed. The main topics that will be discussed are respectively the physics of individual stellar winds and their interaction in binary systems, the acceleration of relativistic electrons, the magnetic field of massive stars, and finally the non-thermal emission processes relevant to the case of massive stars. Second, this general qualitative discussion will be followed by a more quantitative one, devoted to the most probable scenario where non-thermal radio emitters are massive binaries. I will show how several stellar, wind and orbital parameters can be combined in order to make some semi-quantitative predictions on the high-energy counterpart to the non-thermal emission detected in the radio domain. These theoretical considerations will be followed by a census of results obtained so far, and related to this topic. These results concern the radio, the visible, the X-ray and the γ-ray domains. Prospects for the very high energy γ-ray emission from massive stars will also be addressed. Two particularly interesting examples—one O-type and one Wolf-Rayet binary—will be considered in details. Finally, strategies for future developments in this field will be discussed.     

Allan Sandage and the cosmic expansion

This is an account of Allan Sandage’s work on (1) The character of the expansion field. For many years he has been the strongest defender of an expanding Universe. He later explained the CMB dipole by a local velocity of 220±50 km s⁻¹ toward the Virgo cluster and by a bulk motion of the Local supercluster (extending out to ∼3500 km s⁻¹) of 450–500 km s⁻¹ toward an apex at l=275, b=12. Allowing for these streaming velocities he found linear expansion to hold down to local scales (∼300 km s⁻¹). (2) The calibration of the Hubble constant. Probing different methods he finally adopted—from Cepheid-calibrated SNe Ia and from independent RR Lyr-calibrated TRGBs—H ₀=62.3±1.3±5.0 km s⁻¹ Mpc⁻¹.     

Photometric study of the FUor star V 1735 Cyg (Elias 1-12)

Results from optical photometric observations of the PMS star V 1735 Cyg are reported. The star is located in the IC 5146 dark cloud complex—a region of active star formation. On the basis of observed outburst and spectral properties, V 1735 Cyg was classified as a FUor object. We present data from BVRI CCD photometric observations of the star, collected from March 2003 to January 2009. Plates from the Rozhen Schmidt telescope archive were scanned for a brightness estimation of the star. A sequence of sixteen comparison stars in the field of V 1735 Cyg was calibrated in BVRI bands. The data from photographic observations made from 1986 to 1992 show a strong light variability (ΔV=1_⋅^m2). In contrast, the recent photometric data obtained from 2003 to 2009 show only small amplitude variations (ΔI=0_⋅^m3). The analysis of existing photometric data shows a very slow decrease in star brightness—1_⋅^m8 (R) for a 44 year period. The possibilities for future photometric investigations of V 1735 Cyg using the photographical plate archives is discussed briefly.     

Orbit determination from a short arc through the coefficients of power series in time

Summary Attention is called to the method(s) of orbit determination as mentioned in the heading, deriving the values of the coefficients to be applied, by adjustment by least squares, of the power series in either rectangular coordinate, to the values observed, of this, -as initiated in the past by several authors, among others by Silva and De Caro in the 30's and 40's, and critically studied by the present author in the 50ies, with merely a short note published (Lund Ann. 12, C1–C7 (1953)). The avail of modern computers for overcoming the numerical trouble by taking into account the terms of higher order, than those until the fourth necessary for the orbit computation — an account unevitable for a seccessful accomplishment, as shown by the author — may justify a resumed interest in those methods, as the only ones allowing to extract just the information contained in the observations of such a short arc — without any hypothesis in advance.     

Specificities of magnetic field structures in chemically peculiar stars

We continue our program of the study of large-scale structures of magnetic fields in chemically peculiar stars. In this paper we analyze eight stars, out of which three stars have the structure of a central dipole, three—the structure of a dipole shifted along the axis, and two—of a dipole shifted across the axis. High-precision measurements (with σ = 50 and 80 G) are available for two stars (HD62140 and HD71866, respectively). The model phase dependences agree with the measurements within the errors. This result shows that the hypothesis about the dipole structure of the magnetic fields of CP stars is well founded.     

Studying the first galaxies with ALMA

We discuss observations of the first galaxies, within cosmic reionization, at centimeter and millimeter wavelengths. We present a summary of current observations of the host galaxies of the most distant QSOs (z∼6). These observations reveal the gas, dust, and star formation in the host galaxies on kpc-scales. These data imply an enriched ISM in the QSO host galaxies within 1 Gyr of the big bang, and are consistent with models of coeval supermassive black hole and spheroidal galaxy formation in major mergers at high redshift. Current instruments are limited to studying truly pathologic objects at these redshifts, meaning hyper-luminous infrared galaxies (L _FIR ∼10¹³ L _⊙). ALMA will provide the one to two orders of magnitude improvement in millimeter astronomy required to study normal star forming galaxies (i.e. Ly-α emitters) at z∼6. ALMA will reveal, at sub-kpc spatial resolution, the thermal gas and dust—the fundamental fuel for star formation—in galaxies into cosmic reionization.     

On the cause of the discrepancy between groundbased and spaceborne lightcurves of Ganymede and Callisto in the <Emphasis Type="Italic">V</Emphasis> band

Properties of the surfaces of Jupiter’s satellites—Ganymede and Callisto—are shortly described. Their images acquired in space missions are shown. Causes of the discrepancy between orbital lightcurves of the satellites obtained from the earth and spaceborne maps of the satellites are considered. The groundbased observations were carried out under phase angles of solar illumination ranging from 0° to 12°, and the maps were built from images acquired from spacecraft in a wide interval of solar phase angles. We suggest that the main cause of the discrepancies between the lightcurves is the coherent backscattering effect observed only at small phase angles of the sun.