Redetermination of galactic spiral density wave parameters based on spectral analysis of masers radial velocities

To redetermine the Galactic spiral density wave parameters, we have performed a spectral (Fourier) analysis of the radial velocities for 44 masers with known trigonometric parallaxes, proper motions, and line-of-sight velocities. The masers are distributed in awide range of Galactocentric distances (3.5 kpc < R < 13.2 kpc) and are characterized by a wide scatter of position angles ?? in the Galactic XY plane. This has required an accurate allowance for the dependence of the perturbation phase both on the logarithm of the Galactocentric distances and on the position angles of the objects. To increase the significance of the extraction of periodicities from data series with large gaps, we have proposed and implemented a spectrum reconstruction method based on a generalized maximum entropy method. As a result, we have extracted a periodicity describing a spiral density wave with the following parameters from the maser radial velocities: the perturbation amplitude f _R = 7.7 _?1.5 ^+1.7 km s^?1, the perturbation wavelength ?? = 2.2 _?0.1 ^+0.4 kpc, the pitch angle of the spiral density wave i = ?5 _?0.9° ^+0.2° , and the phase of the Sun in the spiral density wave ?? _?? = ?147 _?17° ^+3° .     

Fourier analysis of light curves of eclipsing variable stars

The photometric perturbationsB _h ^(l) arising from both tidal and rotational distortion of a close eclipsing binary have been given in two previous papers (Livaniou, 1977; Rovithis-Livaniou, 1977). The aim of the present paper will be to find the eclipse perturbationsB _2m =B _{2m, tid} +B _{2m, rot} of a close binary exhibiting partial eclipses. This will be done giving the suitable combinations of theB _h ^(l) 's and will make easier the application to real stars. After a very brief introduction, Section 2 gives both theB _{2m, tid} andB _{2m, rot} for uniformly bright discs; while in Sections 3 and 4 they are given for linear and quadratic limb-darkening, respectively. Finally, Section 5 gives a brief discussion of the results.     

Fourier analysis of the light curves of eclipsing variables,XXIII

The method of evaluating the photometric perturbationsB _2m of eclipsing variables in the frequency domain, developed by Kopal (1959, 1975e, 1978) for an interpretation of mutual eclipses in systems whose components are distorted by axial rotation and mutual tidal action. The aim of the present paper has been to establish explicit expressions for the photometric perturbationB _2m in such systems, regardless of the kind of eclipses and non-integral values ofm. Recently, Kopal (1978) introduced two different kinds of integrals with respect to associated α-functions andI-integrals which have been expressed in terms of certain general types of series that can be easily programmed for automatic computation within seconds of real time on highspeed computers. Following a brief introduction (Section 1) in which the need of this new approach will be expounded, in Section 3 we shall deduce the integral $$\int_0^{\theta \prime } {\tfrac{{\alpha _n^\prime }}{\delta }} d(sin^{2m} \theta )$$ in terms of a certain general type of series and also β-function, which should enable us to evaluate explicit expressions forf _* ^(h) ,f ₁ ^(h) ,f ₂ ^(h) as well asB _2m .     

Investigation of properties of galaxy clusters in the Hercules supercluster region

We investigated the properties of galaxy clusters in the region of the Hercules supercluster using observational data from the SDSS and 2MASS catalogs and the NED. We have selected 13 galaxy clusters with a total dynamical mass of 4.82 × 10¹⁵ M _⊙ in a 100 × 45 Mpc supercluster region in the plane of the sky (0.030 < z < 0.041). In addition, our sample includes eight clusters from the immediate neighborhoods of the superclusters and ten field clusters at the same z. The derived properties of the rich Hercules supercluster are shown in comparison with the data for the poor Leo supercluster. The main parameters of the virialized galaxy cluster regions in the near infrared (K _s ) for the Hercules supercluster differ from those for the Leo supercluster: the number of galaxies and the total luminosity (to a limiting magnitude of ?21 _· ^m 5) increase with cluster mass (L _K,200 ∝ M ₂₀₀ ^0.91±0.07 and N ₂₀₀ ∝ M ₂₀₀ ^0.94±0.07 ), but the dependences are steeper by 0.28 and 0.22. In the virialized cluster regions, the fraction of early-type galaxies selected by the bulge contribution, concentration index, and u t= r color is, on average, 66% (60% in Leo, 70% in the field) among the galaxies brighter than ?23 _· ^m 3 and 54% (51% in Leo, 61% in the field) among the galaxies brighter than ?22 _· ^m 3. The fraction of early-type galaxies in the superclusters does not change with galaxy cluster mass and luminosity. The composite luminosity function of the rich Hercules supercluster is described by a Schechter function and does not differ from the luminosity function of the poor Leo supercluster for the luminosity interval [?26 ^m , ?21 _· ^m 5] but differs from the field luminosity function at the same z determined from ten galaxy clusters.     

New activity cycle of the classical symbiotic star V1413 Aql

We present the results of our photometric UBV JHKLM observations in 2008?C2011 for the classical symbiotic star V1413 Aql. At the end of 2008, the hot component of V1413 Aql experienced the next strong outburst (??V > 2 _· ^m 5). According to the photometric criterion (B-V ?? 0 _· ^m 9 ± 0 _· ^m 2), the star was in an active state even in the period preceding the strong 2008 outburst. Two eclipsing minima of the same amplitude were observed for V1413 Aql in 2010 and 2011. Our analysis of the 2011 eclipse has allowed us to estimate the sizes of the components with respect to the orbital semimajor axis if the system is seen edge-on: the radius of the cool component is R _g/a = 0.28 and the radius of the hot component is R _h/a = 0.17. However, judging by the B-V color index, the eclipse may be noncentral.     

Kinematics of stars in the northern and southern galactic hemispheres

We use vector spherical harmonics for a kinematic analysis of the proper motions of stars from the Hipparcos, Tycho-2, and UCAC3 catalogues in the northern and southern Galactic hemispheres. We have found that the statistically reliable values of the Ogorodnikov-Milne model parameters M ₃₂ ⁺ and M ₃₂ ^? have different signs in different hemispheres. This is a consequence of the Galaxy??s rotational retardation with distance from the principal Galactic plane. Based on various samples of stars from the above catalogues, we have obtained the following estimate for the magnitude of the vertical gradient of Galactic rotation velocity in the solar neighborhoods: (20.1 ± 2.9) < |?V_??/?z| < (49.2 ± 0.8) km s^?1 kpc^?1. Another result that is revealed by our analysis of the parameters M ₁₃ ^? and M ₁₃ ⁺ in different Galactic hemispheres is that the vertical gradient of expansion velocity for the stellar system ?V _R /? _z is positive in the northern hemisphere and negative in the southern one. This suggests that the expansion velocity V _R increases with distance fromthe Galactic plane. We show that both these gradients give rise to an apparent acceleration of the solar motion along the x and y axes of the rectangular Galactic coordinate system. Our analysis of the parameters M ₂₁ ^? and M ₁₂ ⁺ shows no significant differences in both hemispheres and has allowed us to determine the Oort parameters, to estimate the Galactic rotation velocity and period in the solar neighborhood, and to calculate the ratio of the epicyclic frequency to the angular velocity of Galactic rotation in the solar neighborhood. The derived diagonal elements of the velocity field deformation tensor suggest that the orientation of the rectangular Galactic coordinate system in space must be determined by taking into account not only the geometrical factors but also the dynamical ones. All these results agree well with these quantities estimated over the entire sphere by various authors.     

Comparative analysis of photometric variability of TT ARI in the years 1994–1995 and 2001, 2004

We present the results of photometric observations of a bright cataclysmic variable TT Ari with an orbital period of 0.13755 days. CCD observations were carried out with the Russian-Turkish RTT 150 telescope in 2001 and 2004 (13 nights). Multi-color photoelectric observations of the system were obtained with the Zeiss 600 telescope of SAO RAS in 1994–1995 (6 nights). In 1994–1995, the photometric period of the system was smaller than the orbital one (0 _. ^d 132 and 0 _. ^d 134), whereas it exceeded the latter (0 _. ^d 150 and 0 _. ^d 148) in 2001, 2004. An additional period exceeding the orbital one (0 _. ^d 144) is detected in 1995 modulations. We interpret it as indicating the elliptic disc precession in the direction of the orbital motion. In 1994, the variability in colors shows periods close to the orbital one (0 _. ^d 136, b-v), as well as to the period indicating the elliptic disk precession (0 _. ^d 146, w-b). We confirm that during the epochs characterized by photometric periods shorter than the orbital one, the quasi-periodic variability of TT Ari at time scales about 20 min is stronger than during epochs with long photometric periods. In general, the variability of the system can be described as a “red” noise with increased amplitudes of modulations at characteristic time scales of 10–40 min.     

Photometric elements and apsidal motion of the eclipsing binary NSV 18773

The photometric elements of the eclipsing binary NSV 18773 (HD 99898) have been determined for the first time by analyzing its V-and I-band light curves from the ASAS-2 and ASAS-3 catalogs. Based on these elements and using other published spectroscopic and photometric data, we constructed a consistent system of geometrical and physical parameters for the system that consists of two stars (M ₁ = 20M _⊙, Sp₁=B0V, R ₁ = 5.0R _⊙ and M ₂ = 14M _⊙, Sp₂ = B1V, R ₂ = 6.5R _⊙) in elliptical orbits (P = 5 _. ^d 049, e = 0.365, a = 40.1R _⊙). The distance to the system is d = 3.3 kpc, the interstellar extinction is A _V = 2 _. ^m 0, and the age is t = 2.8 × 10⁶ yr. NSV 18773 is a visual binary with components V _A = 9 _. ^m 9 and V _B = 10 _. ^m 3 separated by 0 _. ^" 8. The third light (L ₃ = 0.61) that we found by analyzing the light curves shows that the eclipsing binary is the system’s fainter component B. We confirmed the rapid apsidal motion of the star detected by Otero and Wils (2006) and refined its observed period: U _obs = 150 ± 6 yr. Our photometric elements and physical parameters allowed the apsidal parameter $\bar k_2^{obs} = 0.0135(14)$ , which reflects the density distribution along the radii of the component stars, to be determined. Within the error limits, the derived parameter agrees with its theoretically expected value, $\bar k_2^{th} = 0.0119(8)$ , from current evolutionary models of stars of the corresponding masses and ages.     

On the structure of Saturn's rings and the ‘real’ rotational period for the planet

An analysis of the Lowell Observatory photographic plates of Saturn gave the following results: (1) ring A and B show peculiar brightness distributions around the planet, from which we conclude that both are composed of particles in synchronous rotation. (2) The leading side of the particles in ring A is brighter than the trailing side by about 4%, which may indicate an interaction between such particles and the interplanetary medium. (3) Scans of the rings across the major axis show a small (～0.3″) region of enhanced brightness, from which we derive a value ofT _s =10^h13 _. ^m 8±5 _. ^m 4 for the actual planetary rotational period of Saturn. (4) In order to explain the synchronous rotation, the particles in ring A have to be at least 42 m in diameter.     

Physical properties of X-ray gas in galaxy cluster CL0024+17

We analyzed the X-ray data obtained by the Chandra telescope for the galaxy cluster CL0024+17 (z = 0.39). The mean temperature of the cluster is estimated (kT = 4.35 _?0.44 ^+0.51 keV) and the surface brightness profile is derived. We generated the mass and density profiles for dark matter and gas using numerical simulations and the Navarro-Frenk-White dark matter density profile (Navarro et al., 1995) for a spherically symmetric cluster in which gas is in hydrostatic equilibrium with the cluster field. The total mass of the cluster is estimated to be M ₂₀₀ = 3.51 _?0.47 ^+0.38 × 10 _Sun ¹⁴ within a radius of R ₂₀₀ = 1.24 _?0.17 ^+0.12 Mpc of the cluster center. The contribution of dark matter to the total mass of the cluster is estimated as ${{M_{200_{DM} } } \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{M_{200_{DM} } } {M_{tot} }}} \right. \kern-0em} {M_{tot} }} = 0.89$ .     

Ultraviolet solar identifications based on extended absorption series observed in the laboratory spectrum of Sii

The absorption spectrum of Sii in the wavelength region 1500–1900 Å has been photographed at high resolution. The silicon vapour was produced in a 122 cm long King furnace at 1800–2300°C. Forty-two Rydberg series have been observed from the ground state terms 3p ^{2 3} P and¹ D to terms associated with the 3pns and 3pnd configurations. All of the series from these configurations withJ<4 have been extended with the 3pnd ³ D ₃ ^o levels reachingn=56. Numerous perturbations have been observed. This laboratory work has provided the basis for extending the identification of silicon lines in the solar spectrum. Nearly all lines found in the laboratory spectrum are also found in rocket spectrograms of the solar chromosphere. More than 300 lines have been attributed to Sii. The excellent correlation between laboratory and solar Sii lines will be illustrated.     

The wilson effect and the transparency of sunspot models

Hydrostatic models of sunspot penumbra and umbra are evaluated using Bode's tables of monochromatic absorption coefficients andT-τ-relations given by Makita and Morimoto (1960) and by Zwaan (1965). These models are placed side by side to simulate a complete sunspot corresponding to an area of 480×10^?6 of a hemisphere. Intensity profiles are evaluated for aspect angles up to 85° and compared to observations. The primary aim was to study the influence of spot transparency, which is closely related to the gas-pressure, on the Wilson-effect and on other changes in the intensity profile that appear close to the solar limb. The gas-pressures at the zero-level in the geometrical depth (z=0) corresponding to optical depth, τ=10^?3, both in the umbra,P ₀ ^u , and in the penumbra,P ₀ ^p , appear as adjustable parameters. When curvature is taken into account, the Wilson-effect cannot be reproduced without depressing the zero-point in the geometrical scale in the umbra relative to the same layer in the photosphere. A depression of 400 km will give a reasonably good fit for the Wilson-effect providedP ₀ ^u <P ₀ ^P <P ₀ ^Ph . The model we found to give the best fit is based on Makita and Morimoto'sT-τ-relations withP ₀ ^P =3200 andP ₀ ^u =800. We have here chosen an umbra pressure that gives a small limb-side intensity peak at the penumbra border, assuming that the bright points described by Bray and Loughhead (1964) may be interpreted in terms of a transparency effect. Other parameters measured by Wilson and Cannon (1968) are evaluated, and for some a good agreement was obtained, while for others only a qualitative effect in the same direction could be found. Surfaces along which the optical path is constant (isodiaphanous surfaces) are functions of aspect angle and well suited for visualizing the transparency in spots. It is shown how for a wide range of models the isodiaphanous surfaces get asymmetric close to the limb. This has consequences for the interpretation of the Evershed-effect. In fact, under certain conditions, a ‘masking’ effect may take place because the greater transparency in the penumbra will allow observations of a deep laying flow, which will not be visible through the more opaque photosphere. Due to the asymmetry this effect is different on the limb side and the center side. We also found the spot to show an apparent displacement away from the limb, which at a heliocentric distance of 85° amounts to about one second of arc. Intensity profiles in the near infrared at 8206 Å and at 16482 Å are evaluated, and the importance of observations in these spectral regions is emphasized.     

A statistical analysis of NaI D1 profile fluctuations at the center of the solar disk

Three radial-velocity fluctuation arrays V(Δλ, Y) and line-formation fluctuation arrays L(Δλ, Y),where Δλ is wavelength displacement from the center of Nai D₁ and Y is displacement on the Sun's surface along the spectrograph slit, were obtained from Sacramento Peak Observatory spectrograms. The variations of these line profile fluctuations are qualitatively described. The RMS_υ's, coherences, and power spectra shapes for V(Δλ, Y) fluctuations are examined at different Δλ with the corresponding effective heights of formation calculated with Mein weighting functions. Results include: (a) possible anticorrelation between continuum fluctuations and those near line center; (b) RMS _υ ^(cr) 's, which are root-mean-square values of the radial velocity corrected for instrumental and atmospheric blurring, are large (1.5 to 4.0 km s^?1) primarily due to large corrections for atmospheric blurring; (c) RMS _υ ^(cr) minima at effective heights of formation above 350 km suggest penetration of granulation velocities into the upper photosphere; (d) very rough determinations of RMS _υ ^(cr) 's, which are additionally corrected for line-of-sight averaging, range from around 5 km s^?1 in the low chromosphere to a sharp minimum ≤ 0.5 km s^?1 located in the upper photosphere; (e) power spectra shapes reflect decreasing average fluctuation scales above the temperature minimum (possibly high-frequency oscillations) and in the low and middle photosphere (possibly penetration of granulation); and (f) RMS _υ ^(cr) 's and average fluctuation scales suggest changes in the resolvable velocity field occurring near the temperature minimum.     

A review of recent observations of dust in Hii regions

The upper limit for the absorption cross section σ _H ^ext , of dust in Hii regions in the wave-length range 912–504 Å derived by Mezgeret al. (1974), is compatible with that expected for large dust grains, and a gas-to-dust ratio equal to that in the general interstellar medium. The albedo of the small grains must be high for λ>504 Å. This restriction is lifted if the visual extinction cross section of the grains in Hii regions is less than that for grains in the general interstellar medium. New observations of the Orion Nebula indicate that the visual extinction cross section is within a factor 2 of the value in the general interstellar medium.     

Variability and possible rapid evolution of the hot post-AGB stars Hen 3-1347, Hen 3-1428, and LSS 4634

We present the results of spectroscopic and photometric observations for three hot southern-hemisphere post-AGB objects, Hen 3-1347 = IRAS 17074-1845, Hen 3-1428 = IRAS 17311-4924, and LSS 4634 = IRAS 18023-3409. In the spectrograms taken with the 1.9-m telescope of the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) in 2012, we have measured the equivalent widths of the most prominent spectral lines. Comparison of the new data with those published previously points to a change in the spectra of Hen 3-1428 and LSS 4634 in the last 20 years. Based on ASAS data, we have detected rapid photometric variability in all three stars with an amplitude up to 0 _· ^m 3-0 _· ^m 4 in the V band. A similarity between the patterns of variability for the sample stars and other hot protoplanetary nebulae is pointed out. We present the results of UBV observations for Hen 3-1347, according to which the star undergoes rapid irregular brightness variations with maximum amplitudes ΔV = 0 _· ^m 25, ΔB = 0 _· ^m 25, and ΔU = 0 _· ^m 30 and shows color-magnitude correlations. Based on archival data, we have traced the photometric history of the stars over more than 100 years. Hen 3-1347 and LSS 4634 have exhibited a significant fading on a long time scale. The revealed brightness and spectrum variations in the stars, along with evidence for their enhanced mass, may be indicative of their rapid post-AGB evolution.     

A class of well-behaved generalized charged analogues of Vaidya-Tikekar type fluid sphere in general relativity

In this paper first ever we have developed a class of well behaved charged fluid spheres expressed by a space time with its hypersurfaces $t = \operatorname {const}$ . as spheroid for the case 0<K<1 with surface density 2×10¹⁴ gm/cm³. The same utilized to construct a superdense star and seen that star satisfies all well behaved condition for 0<K≤0.038. The maximum mass occupied and the corresponding radius are found to be 4.830982M _Θ and 20.7612 km respectively. The redshift at the center and on the surface is given z ₀=0.425367 and z _a =0.240901.     

Exotic ion H 3 ++ in strong magnetic fields

1. The exotic system H ₃ ⁺⁺ (which does not exist without magnetic field) exists in strong magnetic fields:
   1. In triangular configuration for B≈10⁸–10¹¹?G (under specific external conditions)
   2. In linear configuration for B>10¹⁰?G
2. In the linear configuration the positive z-parity states 1σ _g , 1π _u , 1δ _g are bound states
3. In the linear configuration the negative z-parity states 1σ _u , 1π _g , 1δ _u are repulsive states
4. The H ₃ ⁺⁺ molecular ion is the most bound one-electron system made from protons at B>3×10¹³?G

Possible application: The H ₃ ⁺⁺ molecular ion may appear as a component of a neutron star atmosphere under a strong surface magnetic field B=10¹²–10¹³?G.     

Kinematics of Tycho-2 red giant clump stars

Based on the Ogorodnikov-Milne model, we analyze the proper motions of 95 633 red giant clump (RGC) stars from the Tycho-2 Catalogue. The following Oort constants have been found: A = 15.9 ± 0.2 km s^?1 kpc^?1 and B = ?12.0±0.2 km s^?1 kpc^?1. Using 3632 RGC stars with known proper motions, radial velocities, and photometric distances, we show that, apart from the star centroid velocity components relative to the Sun, only the model parameters that describe the stellar motions in the XY plane differ significantly from zero. We have studied the contraction (a negative K effect) of the system of RGC stars as a function of their heliocentric distance and elevation above the Galactic plane. For a sample of distant (500–1000 pc) RGC stars located near the Galactic plane (|z| < 200 pc) with an average distance of d = 0.7 kpc, the contraction velocity is shown to be Kd = ?3.5 ±0.9 km s^?1; a noticeable vertex deviation, l _xy = 9 _· ^o 1 ± 0 _· ^o 5, is also observed for them. For stars located well above the Galactic plane (|z| ≥200 pc), these effects are less pronounced, Kd = ?1.7 ± 0.5 km s^?1 and l _xy = 4 _· ^o 9 ± 0 _· ^o 6. Using RGC stars, we have found a rotation around the Galactic X axis directed toward the Galactic center with an angular velocity of ?2.5 ± 0.3 km s^?1 kpc^?1, which we associate with the warp of the Galactic stellar-gaseous disk.     

A few observations of and remarks on V1500 Cygni

The development of the post-nova light curve of V1500 Cyg inUBV andHβ, for 15 nights in September and October 1975 are presented. We confirm previous reports that superimposed on the steady decline of the light curve are small amplitude cyclic variations. The times of maxima and minima are determined. These together with other published values yield the following ephemerides from JD 2 442 661 to JD 2 442 674: $$\begin{gathered} {\text{From}} 17 {\text{points:}} {\text{JD}}_{ \odot \min } = 2 442 661.4881 + 0_{^. }^{\text{d}} 140 91{\text{n}} \hfill \\ \pm 0.0027 \pm 0.000 05 \hfill \\ {\text{From}} 15 {\text{points:}} {\text{JD}}_{ \odot \max } = 2 442 661.5480 + 0_{^. }^{\text{d}} 140 89{\text{n}} \hfill \\ \pm 0.0046 \pm 0.0001 \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ with standard errors of the fits of ±0 _. ^d 0052 for the minima and ±0 _. ^d 0091 for the maxima. Assuming V1500 Cyg is similar to novae in M31, we foundr=750 pc and a pre-nova absolute photographic magnitude greater than 9.68.     

Spectroscopic studies of the small-amplitude Cepheid SU Cas

A new set of 16 high-resolution spectra for the small-amplitude Cepheid SU Cas obtained in 2007–2009 has allowed us to determine its atmospheric parameters (T _eff = 6345 ± 30 K, log g = 2.40, V _t = 3.25 km s^?1) and to measure its radial velocities. The latter were added to the general list of radial velocities (375 estimates) obtained in the last 90 years. Using a frequency analysis, we have refined the pulsation and orbital periods of the Cepheid. Apart from the well-known fundamental pulsation period , we have detected a possible secondary period of . Their ratio of 0.96 suggests the existence of nonradial pulsations in the Cepheid’s atmosphere. Based on photoelectric photometry in the last 60 years, we have shown that the effective temperature undergoes cyclic secular changes of ±200 K with an unknown period. The mean effective temperature T _eff = 6395 ± 52 K estimated from photometric data agrees well with our estimate from spectroscopic data. The variations of the mean color index, effective temperature, and γ-velocity (in 90 years of observations) point to a possible orbital motion of the well-known hot companion with the most probable periods of , , and . The elemental abundances in the atmosphere of SU Cas confirm the conclusion that this Cepheid is a typical yellow supergiant after the first dredge-up. Our T _eff estimate gives a radius of 32R _⊙ and a distance of 455 pc for it, which is inconsistent with its membership in the open cluster Alessi 95. The question about the pulsation mode of SU Cas still remains open.