SY Cnc, a case for unstable mass transfer?

Intermediate-resolution (0.5–1 Å) optical spectroscopy of the cataclysmic variable (CV) SY Cnc reveals the spectrum of the donor star. Our data enable us to resolve the orbital motion of the donor and provide a new orbital solution, binary mass ratio and spectral classification. We find that the donor star has spectral-type G8 ± 2 V and orbits the white dwarf with   P = 0.382 3753 ± 0.000 0003  d,   K ₂= 88.0 ± 2.9  km s⁻¹ and   V sin  i = 75.5 ± 6.5  km s⁻¹. Our values are significantly different from previous works and lead to   q = M ₂/ M ₁= 1.18 ± 0.14  . This is one of the highest mass ratios known in a CV and is very robust, because it is based on resolving the rotational broadening over a large number of metallic absorption lines. The donor could be a slightly evolved main sequence or descendant from a massive star which underwent an episode of thermal time-scale mass transfer.     

Modelling, design and diagnostics for a photoionised plasma experiment

Photoionised plasmas are common in astrophysical environments and new high resolution spectra from such sources have been recorded in recent years by the Chandra and XMM-Newton satellites. These provide a wealth of spectroscopic information and have motivated recent efforts aimed at obtaining a detailed understanding of the atomic-kinetic and radiative characteristics of photoionised plasmas. The Z-pinch facility at the Sandia National Laboratories is the most powerful terrestrial source of X-rays and provides an opportunity to produce photoionised plasmas in a well characterised radiation environment. We present modelling work and experimental design considerations for a forthcoming experiment at Sandia in which X-rays from a collapsing Z-pinch will be used to photoionise low density neon contained in a gas cell. View factor calculations were used to evaluate the radiation environment at the gas cell; the hydrodynamic characteristics of the gas cell were examined using the Helios-CR code, in particular looking at the heating, temperature and ionisation of the neon and the absorption of radiation. Emission and absorption spectra were also computed, giving estimates of spectra likely to be observed experimentally.     

RAPID: A fast,high resolution,flux-conservative algorithm designed for planet–disk interactions

We describe a newly developed hydrodynamic code for studying accretion disk processes. The numerical method uses a finite volume, non-linear, Total Variation Diminishing (TVD) scheme to capture shocks and control spurious oscillations. It is second-order accurate in time and space and makes use of a FARGO-type algorithm to alleviate Courant–Friedrichs–Lewy time step restrictions imposed by the rapidly rotating inner disk region. OpenMP directives are implemented enabling faster computations on shared-memory, multi-processor machines. The resulting code is simple, fast and memory efficient. We discuss the relevant details of the numerical method and provide results of the code’s performance on standard test problems. We also include a detailed examination of the code’s performance on planetary disk–planet interactions. We show that the results produced on the standard problem setup are consistent with a wide variety of other codes.     

Search for low energyν e,μ,τ andv e,μ,τ in coincidence with BATSE gamma ray bursts

A search for low energy neutrinos of all flavours in correlation with 553 ray bursts detected by BATSE aboard the Compton Observatory has been performed by the LSD (Liquid Scintillator Detector) neutrino telescope. No excess ofe,, orv _e,, candidate has been detected by LSD during the time interval in which BATSE detected the 90% of the photon flux for any of the GRBs analyzed. Upper limits on the neutrino fluxes are given in the paper.     

Design of jet-driven, radiative-blast-wave experiments for 10 kJ class lasers

We discuss the design of jet-driven, radiative-blast-wave experiments for a 10 kJ class pulsed laser facility. The astrophysical motivation is the fact that jets from Young Stellar Objects are typically radiative and that the resulting radiative bow shocks produce complex structure that is difficult to predict. To drive a radiative bow shock, the jet velocity must exceed the threshold for strong radiative effects. Using a 10 kJ class laser, it is possible to produce such a jet that can drive a radiative bow shock in gas that is dense enough to permit diagnosis by x-ray radiography. We describe the design and simulations of such experiments. The basic approach is to shock the jet material and then accelerate it through a collimating hole and into a Xe ambient medium. We identify issues that must be addressed through experimentation or further simulations in order to field successful experiments.     

Hα flare of 14 March, 1984 - evidence for reconnection?

Kodaikanal H monochromatic and white-light observations are used to study the circular flare of 14 March, 1984. We report here the dynamic activity of the H filament, which attained a severe twist before erupting as a 4B flare. We feel that the relative motion between the emerging spot field and its neighbouring field is responsible for the field line reconnection, which triggered the flare.     

Molecular dynamics estimates for the thermodynamic properties of the Fe–S liquid cores of the Moon,Io, Europa,and Ganymede

A molecular dynamics (MD) simulation is performed for the physical and chemical properties of solid and liquid Fe–S solutions using the embedded atom model (EAM) potential as applied to the internal structure of the Moon, Io, Europa, and Ganymede under the assumption that the satellites' cores can be described by a two-component iron–sulfur system. Calculated results are presented for the thermodynamic parameters including the caloric, thermal, and elastic properties (specific heat, thermal expansion, Grüneisen parameter, density, compression module, velocity of sound, and adiabatic gradient) of the Fe–S solutions at sulfur concentrations of 0–18 at %, temperatures of up to 2500 K, and pressures of up to 14 GPa. The velocity of sound, which increases as pressure rises, is weakly dependent on sulfur concentration and temperature. For the Moon’s outer Fe–S core (~5 GPa/2000 K), which contains 6–16 at % (3.5–10 wt %) sulfur, the density and the velocity of sound are estimated at 6.3–7.0 g/cm³ and 4000 ± 50 m/s, respectively. The MD calculations are compared with the interpretation of the Apollo observations (Weber et al., 2011) to show a good consistency of the velocity of P-waves in the Moon’s liquid core whereas the thermodynamic density of the Fe–S core is not consistent with the seismic models with ρ = 5.1–5.2 g/cm³ (Garcia et al., 2011; Weber et al., 2011). The revision the density values for the core leads to the revision of its size and mass. At sulfur concentrations of 3.5–10 wt %, the density of the Fe–S melt is 20–30% higher that the seismic density of the core. Therefore, the most likely radius of the Moon’s outer core must be less than 330 km (Weber et al., 2011) because, provided that the constraint on the Moon’s mass and moment of inertia is satisfied, an increase in the density of the core must lead to a reduction of its radius. For Jupiter’s Galilean moons Io, Europa, and Ganymede, constraints are obtained on the size, density, and sound velocity of the Fe–S liquid cores. The geophysical and geochemical characteristics of the internal structure of the Moon and Jupiter’s moons are compared. The calculations of the adiabatic gradient at the P–T conditions for the Fe–S cores of the Moon, Io, Europa, and Ganymede suggest the top-down crystallization of the core (Fe-snow scenario).     

Instructions for authors

<正>Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics publishes original research papers and reviews on all branches of astronomy and astrophysics.Reviews are by invitation only.Important new results that require rapid publication can be submitted as a Letter(Letters must be restricted in length to 6 printed pages).Authors who submit a paper are expected to be able to certify that the paper is original work,has not been published before and is not being considered for publication elsewhere.By submitting     

Instructions for authors

Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics publishes original research papers and reviews on all branches of astronomy and astrophysics.Reviews are by invitation only.Important new results that require rapid publication can be submitted as a Letter(Letters must be restricted in length to 6 printed pages).     

Instructions for authors

Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics publishes original research papers and reviews on all branches of astronomy and astrophysics. Reviews are by invitation only. Important new results that require rapid publication can be submitted as a Letter (Letters must be restricted in length to 6 printed pages).     

Target star catalogue for Darwin Nearby Stellar sample for a search for terrestrial planets

In order to evaluate and develop mission concepts for a search for Terrestrial Exoplanets, we have prepared a list of potential target systems. In this paper we present and discuss the criteria for selecting potential target stars, suitable for the search for Earth-like planets, with a special emphasis on the aspects of the habitable zone for these stellar systems. Planets found within these zones would be potentially able to host complex life forms. We derive a final target star sample of potential target stars, the Darwin All Sky Star Catalogue (DASSC). The DASSC contains a sample of 2303 identified objects of which 284 are F-, 464 G-, 883 K- and 615 M-type stars and 57 stars without B-V index. Of these objects 949 objects are flagged in the DASSC as multiple systems, resulting in 1229 single main sequence stars of which 107 are F, 235 are G, 536 are K, and 351 are M type. We derive configuration dependent sub-catalogues from the DASSC for two technical designs, the initial baseline design and the advanced Emma design as well as a catalogue using an inner working angle cutoff. We discuss the selection criteria, derived parameters and completeness of sample for different classes of stars.     

CRPropa 2.0 – A public framework for propagating high energy nuclei,secondary gamma rays and neutrinos

Version 2.0 of CRPropa [CRPropa is published under the 3rd version of the GNU General Public License (GPLv3). It is available, together with a detailed documentation of the code, at https://crpropa.desy.de.] is public software to model the extra-galactic propagation of ultra-high energy nuclei of atomic number $Z⩽26$ through structured magnetic fields and ambient photon backgrounds taking into account all relevant particle interactions. CRPropa covers the energy range $7\times {10}^{16}<E/\text{eV}<A\times {10}^{22}$ where A is the nuclear mass number. CRPropa can also be used to track secondary γ-rays and neutrinos which allows the study of their link with the charged primary nuclei – the so called multi-messenger connection. After a general introduction we present several sample applications of current interest concerning the physics of extragalactic ultra-high energy radiation.     

Population Synthesis for Mira Variables

By means of a population synthesis code, we investigate the Mira variables. Their birth rate (over 0.65 yr-1) and their number (-130000) in the Galaxy are estimated. For all possible Mira variables, ranges of their initial masses, pulsating periods, mass losses and lifetimes are given. We check our model with the observed Mira variables near the Sun and our results prove to be valid.     

Principles for Editing the Journal

Astronomy is making rapid headway. New discoveries in astronomy are constantlymade and new theories are being put forward. The permeations between each branchof astronomy and physics, mathematics, space science, geoscience as well as otherbranches of learning are deepening with the result that some frontier sciences have     

Principles for Editing the Journal

Astronomy is making rapid headway. New discoveries in astronomy are constantlymade and new theories are being put forward. The permeations between each branchof astronomy and physics, mathematics, space science, geoscience as well as otherbranches of learning are deepening with the result that some frontier sciences have     

X-ray plateaus followed by sharp drops in GRBs 060413, 060522, 060607A and 080330： Further evidences for central engine afterglow from gamma-ray bursts

The X-ray afterglows of GRBs 060413, 060522, 060607A and 080330 are characterized by a plateau followed by a very sharp drop. The plateau could be explained within the framework of the external forward shock model but the sharp drop can not.We interpret the plateau as the afterglows of magnetized central engines, plausibly magnetars. In this model, the X-ray afterglows are powered by the internal magnetic energy dissipation and the sudden drop is caused by the collapse of the magnetar. Accordingly,the X-ray plateau photons should have a high linear polarization, which can be tested by future X-ray polarimetry.     

Evidence for a 17-year cycle in the IMF directions at 1 AU, in solar coronal hole variations, and in planetary magnetospheric modulations

A dominant 16–17 yr cycle was observed in the net exposure times of the Earth to Toward and Away field directions of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF). A cycle of the same frequency and phase was observed in the polarity of the long-term hemispheric differences in coronal hole distributions. This was determined from north/south differences in average Fexiv green line quiet regions at high- and mid-latitudes. It is argued that the 17-yr cycle is a fundamental oscillation of coronal hole topology, which is transferred to Earth via variations in the neutral sheet. A comparison of the 17-yr cycle to the 22-yr Hale cycle indicated that they are not identical, but rather, can mix to form a 75-yr cycle plus a 9-yr cycle. Evidence for the 75-yr cycle existed in the Earth's net exposure times to fields from the solar North and South, and in the long-term imbalance of solar quiet regions between the northern and southern hemispheres. The 9-yr cycle was manifested in the mid- to low- latitude Fexiv modulations and in solar wind velocity variations in the ecliptic. At Earth, evidence for a similar 17-yr cycle was observed in the horizontal magnetic field observations in a multitude of surface magnetic recording stations. In addition, the detection of a 17-yr cycle in the Huancayo neutron monitor cosmic ray series suggests that the effects of this cycle extend to the heliospheric boundaries. It is concluded that sufficient preliminary evidence exists to consider the hypothesis that the Sun contains a magnetic moment with an oscillatory cycle of 17 years.     

Observed Lα profiles for two solar flares: 14∶12 UT 15 June, 1973 and 23∶16 UT 21 January, 1974

Photographic observations of the time development of the profile of the L line of hydrogen during flares were obtained with the NRL spectrograph on ATM. The profiles for the 15 June, 1973 and 21 January, 1974 flares reported here cover both core and wings of the line. The time sequences begin before flare maximum, and continue well into the decay phase. Careful attention has been given to photometry and absolute calibration. In the case of the 15 June, 1973 flare, data are presented both first-order corrected and uncorrected for incomplete filling of the spectrograph slit by flaring material. Correction of the 21 January, 1974 flare was not possible. We discuss core symmetry and shift, and show that our observations imply integrated flare L/H intensity ratios within a factor of two of unity for these two flares.