Dissipation of modified entropic gravitational energy through gravitational waves

The phenomenological nature of a new gravitational type interaction between two different bodies derived from Verlinde’s entropic approach to gravitation in combination with Sorkin’s definition of Universe’s quantum information content, is investigated. Assuming that the energy stored in this entropic gravitational field is dissipated under the form of gravitational waves and that the Heisenberg principle holds for this system, one calculates a possible value for an absolute minimum time scale in nature t = \frac1516 \fracL^1/2(^h/_2p) Gc⁴ ~ 9.27×10^-105\tau=\frac{15}{16} \frac{\Lambda^{1/2}\hbar G}{c^{4}}\sim9.27\times10^{-105} seconds, which is much smaller than the Planck time t _P =(ħG/c ⁵)^1/2∼5.38×10⁻⁴⁴ seconds. This appears together with an absolute possible maximum value for Newtonian gravitational forces generated by matter F_g=\frac3230\fracc⁷L (^h/_2p) G² ~ 3.84×10¹⁶⁵F_{g}=\frac{32}{30}\frac{c^{7}}{\Lambda \hbar G^{2}}\sim 3.84\times 10^{165} Newtons, which is much higher than the gravitational field between two Planck masses separated by the Planck length F _gP =c ⁴/G∼1.21×10⁴⁴ Newtons.     

Constraining the gravitational redshift of a neutron star from the Σ-meson well depth

The effect of the Σ-meson well depth on the gravitational redshift is examined within the framework of relativistic mean field theory for the baryon octet system. It is found that, for a stable neutron star, the gravitational redshift increases with the central energy density increase or with the mass increase but decreases as the radius increases. Considering a change of U_S^(N)U_{\Sigma}^{(N)} from −30 MeV to 30 MeV, for a stable neutron star the gravitational redshift near to the maximum mass increases. In addition, it is also found that the growth of the U_S^(N)U_{\Sigma}^{(N)} makes the gravitational redshift as a function of M _max/R increase, the higher the U_S^(N)U_{\Sigma}^{(N)} the less the change in the gravitational redshift.     

The Potential Well-Depth ${U_{\Sigma}^{(N)}}$ Constraints on the Surface Gravitational Red-shift of a Proto Neutron Star

The influence of the potential well depth U_S^(N)U_{\Sigma}^{(N)} of Σ in nuclear matter on the surface gravitational red-shift of a proto neutron star is examined within the framework of the relativistic mean field theory for the baryon octet system. It is found that as U_S^(N)U_{\Sigma}^{(N)} increases from −35 MeV to +35 MeV, the surface gravitational red-shift increases and the influence of the negative U_S^(N)U_{\Sigma}^{(N)} on the surface gravitational red-shift is larger than that of the positive ones. Furthermore, the M _max/R and the surface gravitational red-shift corresponding to the maximum mass all increase as the U_S^(N)U_{\Sigma}^{(N)} increases, M _max and R being the maximum mass of the proto neutron star and the corresponding radius respectively.     

Upper limits on neutrino fluxes from point-like sources with AMANDA-II

The AMANDA-II telescope, operated by the IceCube collaboration, is currently the world’s most sensitive telescope to fluxes of neutrinos from individual sources. A data sample of 4282 neutrino induced events collected in 1001 days of detector livetime during the years 2000–2004 have now been analyzed looking for a neutrino signal from point-like sources. A sensitivity to fluxes of of d Φ/dE=1.0×10⁻¹⁰(E/TeV)⁻² TeV⁻¹ cm⁻²s⁻¹ was reached in the energy range between 1.7 TeV and 2.4 PeV. So far no statistically significant localized excess of events over the background of atmospheric neutrinos has been found, which would be ascribed to a neutrino source. However, the flux upper limits derived from the non-observation of a signal are comparable to observed fluxes of high energy gamma rays from blazars and within the range of current models for neutrino emission from selected sources. Possible constraints on these models are discussed.      

On the theory of the oblateness of the Sun

In this paper we first emphasize why it is important to know the successive zonal harmonics of the Sun's figure with high accuracy: mainly fundamental astrometry, helioseismology, planetary motions and relativistic effects. Then we briefly comment why the Sun appears oblate, going back to primitive definitions in order to underline some discrepancies in theories and to emphasize again the relevant hypotheses. We propose a new theoretical approach entirely based on an expansion in terms of Legendre's functions, including the differential rotation of the Sun at the surface. This permits linking the two first spherical harmonic coefficients (J ₂ and J ₄) with the geometric parameters that can be measured on the Sun (equatorial and polar radii). We emphasize the difficulties in inferring gravitational oblateness from visual measurements of the geometric oblateness, and more generally a dynamical flattening. Results are given for different observed rotational laws. It is shown that the surface oblateness is surely upper bounded by 11 milliarcsecond. As a consequence of the observed surface and sub-surface differential rotation laws, we deduce a measure of the two first gravitational harmonics, the quadrupole and the octopole moment of the Sun: J ₂=−(6.13±2.52)×10⁻⁷ if all observed data are taken into account, and respectively, J ₂=−(6.84±3.75)×10⁻⁷ if only sunspot data are considered, and J ₂=−(3.49±1.86)×10⁻⁷ in the case of helioseismic data alone. The value deduced from all available data for the octopole is: J ₄=(2.8±2.1)×10⁻¹². These values are compared to some others found in the literature. Supplementary material to this paper is available in electronic form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1005238718479     

Recent glitches detected in the Crab pulsar

From 2000 to 2010, monitoring of radio emission from the Crab pulsar at Xinjiang Observatory detected a total of nine glitches. The occurrence of glitches appears to be a random process as described by previous researches. A persistent change in pulse frequency and pulse frequency derivative after each glitch was found. There is no obvious correlation between glitch sizes and the time since last glitch. For these glitches Δν _p and D[(n)\dot]_p\Delta\dot{\nu}_{p} span two orders of magnitude. The pulsar suffered the largest frequency jump ever seen on MJD 53067.1. The size of the glitch is ∼6.8×10⁻⁶ Hz, ∼3.5 times that of the glitch occurred in 1989 glitch, with a very large permanent changes in frequency and pulse frequency derivative and followed by a decay with time constant ∼21 days. The braking index presents significant changes. We attribute this variation to a varying particle wind strength which may be caused by glitch activities. We discuss the properties of detected glitches in Crab pulsar and compare them with glitches in the Vela pulsar.     

Changes in the Sun’s mass and gravitational constant estimated using modern observations of planets and spacecraft

More than 635 thousand positional observations of planets and spacecraft of various types (mostly radiotechnical ones, 1961–2010) were used to estimate possible changes in the gravitational constant, Sun’s mass, and semi-major axes of planetary orbits, as well as the associated value of the astronomical unit. The observations were analyzed based on the EPM2010 ephemerides constructed at the Institute of Applied Astronomy (Russian Academy of Sciences) in a post-Newtonian approximation as a result of simultanious numerical integration of the equations of motion of nine major planets, the Sun, the Moon, asteroids, and trans-Neptunian objects. The heliocentric gravitational constant GM _⊙ was found to vary with a rate of (GṀ _⊙/GM _⊙ = (−5.0 ± 4.1)) × 10⁻¹⁴ per year (at the 3σ level). The positive secular changes in the semimajor axes ȧ _i /a _i were found for Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn provided by high-precision observations. These changes also correspond to the decrease in the heliocentric gravitational constant. The changing of GM _⊙, itself is probably caused by the loss of the mass M _⊙ of the Sun due to its radiation and solar wind; these effects are partly compensated by the material falling onto the Sun. Allowing for the maximum bounds on the possible change in the Sun’s mass M _⊙, it has been found from the change obtained in GM _⊙ that the annual change Ġ/G of the gravitational constant G falls within the interval −4.2 × 10⁻¹⁴ < ȧ/G < +7.5 × 10⁻¹⁴ with a 95% probability. The astronomical unit (AU) is connected by its definition only with the heliocentric gravitational constant. The decrease of GM _⊙ obtained in this paper should correspond to a secular decrease in the AU. It is shown, however, that the modern level of accuracy does not allow us to determine a change in the AU. The attained posibility of determining changes in GM _⊙ using high-accuracy observations encourages us to have a relation between GM _⊙ and the AU fixed for a certain moment in time, since it is inconvenient to have a time-dependent length for the AU.     

Absolute dimensions of the close binary systems V453 Monocerotis and V523 Cassiopeiae

We present multi-colour CCD observations of the low-temperature contact binaries, V453 Mon and V523 Cas. Their light curves are modelled to determine a new set of stellar and orbital parameters. Analysis of mid-eclipse times yields a new linear ephemeris for both systems. A period decrease (dP/dt=2.3×10⁻⁷ days/yr) in V453 Mon is discovered. V523 Cas, however, is detected to show a period increase (dP/dt=9.8×10⁻⁸ days/yr) because of the mass transfer of a rate of 1.1×10⁻⁷ M_⊙ yr⁻¹, from a less massive donor. Using these findings we can determine the physical parameters of the components of V523 Cas to be M ₁=0.76 (3)M _⊙, M ₂=0.39 (2)M _⊙, R ₁=0.74 (2)R _⊙, R ₂=0.55 (2)R _⊙, L ₁=0.19 (3)L _⊙, L ₂=0.14 (3)L _⊙, and the distance of system as 46(9) pc.     

The evolution of BD+60°2522: with mass loss and overshooting

The ionizing star BD+60°2522 is known as the central star of Bubble Nebulae NGC 7635—wind-blown bubble created by the interaction of the stellar wind of BD+60°2522 (O6.5 IIIef, V=8.7 mag, mass loss rate 10^−5.76 M _⊙/year) with the ambient interstellar medium. From the evolutionary calculations for the star with mass loss and overshooting, we find that the initial mass of the star is 60M _⊙, its present age is 2.5×10⁶ years, and the present mass is 45M _⊙.     

Types I and II supernovae and the neutrino mechanism of thermonuclear explosion of degenerate carbon-oxygen stellar cores

The present work studies the hydrodynamic process of thermonuclear explosion of hydrostatic equilibrium, degenerate carbon-oxygen cores withM _C=1.40M _⊙ with different values of central densityϱ _c within the interval 2 × 10⁹ <ϱ _c < 3 × 10¹⁰ g cm⁻³. The initial temperature distribution has been determined by the preceding thermal stage of explosion. The calculations successively include the kinetics of thermonuclear burning, the kinetics of β-processes, and neutrino energy losses. By considering the neutrino mechanism of heating and carbon ignition we obtained in our numerical hydrodynamic calculations two characteristic versions of the development of an explosion: (a) at 2 × 10⁹ <ϱ _c < 9 × 10⁹ g cm⁻³ there is disruption of the whole star with either complete or partial burning of the carbon and a 10⁵⁰–10⁵¹ erg kinetic energy; and (b) at 9 × 10⁹ <ϱ _c < 3 × 10¹⁰ g cm⁻³ the stellar core collapses into a neutron star with partial outburst of the outer envelope with a smaller kinetic energy of 10⁴⁹–10⁵⁰ erg. The paper proposes and details a hypothesis (the scenario of supernovae and the formation of neutron stars) on the first version of explosion, corresponding to SNII, and on the second, supplemented by some mechanism of slow energy release into the envelope expelled from the newly formed neutron star, corresponding to SNI. On the basis of the proposed hypothesis a satisfactory agreement with the observed masses and energies of the supernovae envelope, their light curves and spectra, as well as with the data on their chemical composition has been obtained. For this agreement we must assume that type I pre-supernovae are almost bare compact carbon-oxygen stellar cores, and that type II presupernovae are red supergiants. It is most probable that the evolution of type I pre-supernovae occurs in close binaries while the evolution of type II pre-supernovae seems to be very similar to the evolution of a single star.     

Galactic rotation curve from the space velocities of selected masers

Based on currently available observations of 28 maser sources in 25 star-forming regions with measured trigonometric parallaxes, proper motions, and radial velocities, we have constructed the rotation curve of the Galaxy. Taking different distances to the Galactic center R ₀, we have estimated the peculiar velocity of the Sun, the angular velocity of Galactic rotation, and its three derivatives. For R ₀ = 8 kpc, we have found the circular velocity of the Sun to be V ₀ = 243 ± 16 km s⁻¹, which corresponds to a revolution period of 202 ± 10 Myr. We have obtained the Oort constants A = 16.9 ± 1.2 km s⁻¹ kpc⁻¹ and B = −13.5 ± 1.4 km s⁻¹ kpc⁻¹. Our simulation of the influence of a spiral density wave has shown that the peculiar velocity of the Sun with respect to the local standard of rest and the component (V _⊙)_LSR depend significantly on the Sun’s phase in the spiral wave.     

A family of physically realizable perfect fluid spheres representing a quark–stars in general relativity

In the present article, a family of static spherical symmetric well behaved interior solutions is derived by considering the metric potential g ₄₄=B(1−Cr ²)⁻ⁿ for the various values of n, such that (1+n)/(1−n) is positive integer. The solutions so obtained are utilised to construct the heavenly bodies’ like quasi-black holes such as white dwarfs, neutron stars, quarks etc., by taking the surface density 2×10¹⁴ gm/cm³. The red shifts at the centre and on the surface are also computed for the different star models. Moreover the adiabatic index is calculated in each case. In this process the authors come across the quarks star only. Least and maximum mass are fond to be 3.4348M _Θ and 4.410454M _Θ along with the radii 21.0932 km and 23.7245 km respectively.     

A closed-form solution to the minimum $${\Delta V_{\rm tot}^2}$$ Lambert’s problem

A closed form solution to the minimum DV_tot²{\Delta V_{\rm tot}^2} Lambert problem between two assigned positions in two distinct orbits is presented. Motivation comes from the need of computing optimal orbit transfer matrices to solve re-configuration problems of satellite constellations and the complexity associated in facing these problems with the minimization of DV_tot{\Delta V_{\rm tot}}. Extensive numerical tests show that the difference in fuel consumption between the solutions obtained by minimizing DV_tot²{\Delta V_{\rm tot}^2} and DV_tot{\Delta V_{\rm tot}} does not exceed 17%. The DV_tot²{\Delta V_{\rm tot}^2} solution can be adopted as starting point to find the minimum DV_tot{\Delta V_{\rm tot}}. The solving equation for minimum DV_tot²{\Delta V_{\rm tot}^2} Lambert problem is a quartic polynomial in term of the angular momentum modulus of the optimal transfer orbit. The root selection is discussed and the singular case, occurring when the initial and final radii are parallel, is analytically solved. A numerical example for the general case (orbit transfer “pork-chop” between two non-coplanar elliptical orbits) and two examples for the singular case (Hohmann and GTO transfers) are provided.     

Photometric modelling of close binary star CN And

The results of two color photometry of active close binary CN And are presented and analyzed. The light curves of the system are obviously asymmetric, with the primary maximum brighter than the secondary maximum, which is known as the O’Conell effect. The most plausible explanation of the asymmetry is expected to be due to spot activity of the primary component. For the determination of physical and geometrical parameters, the most new version of W-D code was used, but the presence of asymmetry prevented the convergence of the method when the whole light curves were used. The solutions were obtained by applying mode 3 of W-D code to the first half of the light curves, assuming synchronous rotation and zero eccentricity. Absolute parameters of the system were obtained from combining the photometric solution with spectroscopic data obtained from radial velocity curve analysis. The results indicate the poor thermal contact of the components and transit primary minimum. Finally the O-C diagram was analyzed. It was found that the orbital period of the system is changing with a rate ofd P/dt = − 2.2(6) × 10⁻¹⁰ which corresponds to mass transfer from more massive component to less massive with the rate ofd M/dt ∼4.82 × 10⁻⁸ M _sun/year.     

STEREO SECCHI COR1-A/B Intercalibration at 180° Separation

The twin Solar Terrestrial Relations Observatory (STEREO) spacecraft reached a separation angle of 180° on 6 February 2011. This provided a unique opportunity to test the intercalibration between the Sun–Earth Connection Coronal and Heliospheric Investigation (SECCHI) telescopes on both spacecraft for areas above the limb. So long as the corona is optically thin, at 180° separation each spacecraft sees the same corona from opposite directions. Thus, the data should appear as mirror images of each other. We report here on the results of the comparison of the images taken by the inner coronagraph (COR1) on the STEREO-Ahead and -Behind spacecraft in the hours when the separation was close to 180°. We find that the intensity values seen by the two telescopes agree with each other to a high degree of accuracy. This validates both the radiometric intercalibration between the COR1 telescopes, and the method used to remove instrumental background from the images. The relative error between COR1-A and COR1-B is found to be less than 10⁻⁹ B/B _⊙ over most of the field-of-view, growing to a few ×10⁻⁹ B/B _⊙ for the brighter pixels near the edge of the occulter. The primary source of error is the background determination. We also report on the analysis of star observations which show that the absolute radiometric calibration of either COR1 telescope has not changed significantly since launch.     

Effect of fluctuations in Doppler width on the center of strong absorption lines

Stochastic temperatures and turbulence are characterized by average velocities u _th and < u _turb  > ≡ u ₀ and fluctuations u￠_th {u'_{th}} and u′ (<u′ > = 0). Thus, the Doppler width of a line also has a fluctuating component Dl￠_D \Delta {\lambda '_D} . Observed spectra correspond to the radiative flux averaged over time and over a star’s surface, <H_λ>. Usually, only the average velocities u _th and u ₀ are taken into account in photospheric models and these yield the Doppler width Dl_D⁽⁰⁾ \Delta \lambda_D^{(0)} of a line in the customary way. The fluctuations Dl￠_D \Delta {\lambda '_D} mean that near a line center the average absorption coefficient < α_λ > is larger than the usual α_λ, which depends only on the average velocities u _th and u ₀. This enhances the absorption line near the center and is not explained by the photospheric models. This new statistical effect depends on the wavelength of the line. A comparison of observed lines with model profiles yields an estimate for the average level of fluctuations in the Doppler width, h = á | Dl￠_D | ñ

Small-Scale Flux Emergence Observed Using <Emphasis Type="Italic">Hinode</Emphasis>/SOT

The aim of this paper is to determine the flux emergence rate due to small-scale magnetic features in the quiet Sun using high-resolution Hinode SOT NFI data. Small-scale magnetic features are identified in the data using two different feature identification methods (clumping and downhill); then three methods are applied to detect flux emergence events. The distribution of the intranetwork peak emerged fluxes is determined. When combined with previous emergence results, from ephemeral regions to sunspots, the distribution of all fluxes are found to follow a power-law distribution which spans nearly seven orders of magnitude in flux (10¹⁶ – 10²³ Mx) and 18 orders of magnitude in frequency. The power-law fit to all these data is of the form

Investigation of the Neupert Effect in the Various Intervals of Solar Flares

The Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI) gives us a chance to investigate the theoretical Neupert effect using the correlation between the thermal-energy derivative and the nonthermal energy, or the thermal energy and the integral nonthermal energy. Based on this concept, we analyze four M-class RHESSI flares on 13 November 2003, 4 November 2004, 3 and 25 August 2005. According to the evolution of the temperature [T], emission measure [EM], and thermal energy [E _th], each event is divided into three phases during the nonthermal-energy input [ \frac dE_nthdt\frac {\mathrm{d}E_{\mathrm{nth}}}{\mathrm{d}t} in the units of erg s⁻¹]. Phase 1 is identified as the interval before the temperature maximum, while after the thermal-energy maximum is phase 3, between them is phase 2. We find that these four flares show the Neupert effect in phase 1, but not in phase 3. The Neupert effect still works well in the second phase, although the cooling becomes slightly important. We define the parameter μ in the relation of \fracdE_thdt=m\fracdE_nth(t)dt\frac{\mathrm {d}E_{\mathrm{th}}}{\mathrm{d}t}=\mu\frac{\mathrm{d}E_{\mathrm {nth}}(t)}{\mathrm{d}t} or E_th(t₀)=mò₀^t₀\fracdE_nth(t)dt dtE_{\mathrm{th}}(t_{0})=\mu\int_{0}^{t_{0}}\frac{\mathrm{d}E_{\mathrm{nth}}(t)}{\mathrm{d}t}\,\mathrm{d}t when the cooling is ignored in phase 1. Considering the uncertainties in estimating the energy from the observations, it is not possible to precisely determine the fraction of the known energy in the nonthermal electrons transformed into the thermal energy of the hottest plasma observed by RHESSI. After a rough estimate of the flare volume and the assumption of the filling factor, we investigate the parameter μ in these four events. Its value ranges from 0.02 to 0.20, indicating that a small fraction (2% – 20%) of the nonthermal energy can be efficiently transformed into thermal energy, which is traced by the soft X-ray emission, and the bulk of the energy is lost possibly due to cooling.     

Orbital period analysis of eclipsing dwarf novae: U Geminorum

A new orbital period analysis for U Geminorum is made by means of the standard O–C technique based on 187 times of light minima including the three newest CCD data from our observation. Although there are large scatter near 70,000 cycles in its O–C diagram, there is strong evidence (>99.9% confidence level) to show the secular increase of orbital period with a rate  s⁻¹. Using the physical parameters recently derived by Echevarría et al. (Astron. J. 134:262, 2007), the range of mass transfer rate for U Geminorum is estimated as from −3.5(5)×10⁻⁹ M _⊙ yr⁻¹ to −1.30(6)×10⁻⁸ M _⊙ yr⁻¹. Moreover, the data before 60,000 cycles shows the obvious quasi-period variations. The least square estimation of a ∼17.4 yr quasi-periodic variation superimposed on secular orbital period increase is derived. Considering the possibility that solar-type magnetic activity cycles in the secondary star of U Geminorum may produce the quasi-period variations of the orbital period, Applegate’s mechanism is discussed and the results indicate such mechanism has difficulty explaining the quasi-period variation for U Geminorum. Hence, we attempted to apply the light-travel time effect to interpret the quasi-period variation and found the perturbation of ∼17.4 yr quasi-period may result from a brown dwarf. If the orbital inclination is assumed as i∼15°, corresponding to the upper limit of mass of a brown dwarf, then its orbital radii is ∼7.7 AU.     

WR 140 (=V1687 Cyg): Infrared photometry, 2001–2010

We present the results of our infrared observations of WR 140 (=V1687 Cyg) in 2001–2010. Analysis of the observations has shown that the J brightness at maximum increased near the periastron by about 0 ^m .3; the M brightness increased by ∼2 ^m in less than 50 days. The minimum J brightness and the minimum L and M brightnesses were observed 550–600 and 1300–1400 days after the maximum, respectively. The JHKLM brightness minimum was observed in the range of orbital phases 0.7–0.9. The parameters of the primary O5 component of the binary have been estimated to be the following: R(O5) ≈ 24.7R _⊙, L(O5) ≈ 8 × 10⁵ L _⊙, and M _bol(O5) ≈ −10 ^m . At the infrared brightness minimum, T _g ∼ 820–880 K, R _g ≈ 2.6 × 10⁵ R _⊙, the optical depth of the shell at 3.5 μm is ∼5.3 × 10⁻⁶, and its mass is ≈1.4 × 10⁻⁸ M _⊙. At the maximum, the corresponding parameters are ∼1300 K, 8.6 × 10⁴ R _⊙, ∼2 × 10⁻⁴, and ∼6 × 10⁻⁸ M _⊙; the mean rate of dust inflow (condensation) into the dust structure is ∼3.3 × 10⁻⁸ M _⊙ yr⁻¹. The mean escape velocity of the shell from the heating source is ∼10³ km s⁻¹ and the mean dispersal rate of the shell is ∼1.1 × 10⁻⁸ M _⊙ yr⁻¹.