A hydrodynamic model for asymmetric weak explosion of collapsing supernovae with rapid initial rotation

We further investigate the two-dimensional hydrodynamic explosion model for rapidly rotating and collapsing supernovae (Aksenov et al. 1997), in which the initial energy release inside a fragmenting low-mass neutron star of critical mass ≈0.1M _⊙ moving in a circular orbit at a velocity of ≈18000 km s^?1 is reduced considerably. This velocity closely corresponds to a pulsar escape velocity of ≈1000 km s^?1 (at a total mass of ≈1.9M _⊙ for the binary of neutron stars). Compared to our previous study (Zabrodina and Imshennik 1999), this energy release was reduced by more than a half. Otherwise, the model in question does not differ from the explosion model with a self-consistent chemical composition of nuclides investigated in the above paper. In particular, the initial energy release was carefully reconciled with a chemical composition. Our numerical solution shows that the reduction in energy release due to the time scales of β processes and neutrino energy losses being finite does not alter the qualitative results of our previous studies (Aksenov et al. 1997; Imshennik and Zabrodina 1999). An intense undamped diverging shock wave (with a total post-shock energy ? 10⁵¹ erg at a front radius of ≈10 000 km) is formed; a large asymmetry of explosion with a narrow cone (with a solid angle of ≈π/4) around the leading direction, which coincides with the velocity direction of the low-mass neutron star at the instant of its explosive fragmentation in the two-dimensional model, emerges. A jet of synthesized radioactive nickel, whose mass is estimated by using simple threshold criteria to be M _Ni≈(0.02?0.03)M _⊙ is concentrated inside this cone. This appears to be the integrated parameter that is most sensitive to the specified reduction in initial energy release; it is also reduced by almost a half compared to our previous estimate (Imshennik and Zabrodina 1999). The time of propagation of the shock wave inferred in our model to the presupernova surface was estimated for SN 1987A to be 0.5–1.0 h, in agreement with observations.     

Infrared photometry of Nova Delphini 2013 (=V339 Del) in the first sixty days after its outburst

The results of JHKLM photometry for Nova Delphini 2013 obtained in the first sixty days after its outburst are analyzed. Analysis of the energy distribution in a wide spectral range (0.36–5 µm) has shown that the source mimics the emission of normal supergiants of spectral types B5 and A0 for two dates near its optical brightness maximum, August 15.94 UT and August 16.86 UT, respectively. The distance to the nova has been estimated to be D ≈ 3 kpc. For these dates, the following parameters have been estimated: the source’s bolometric fluxes ～9 × 10^?7 and ～7.2 × 10^?7 erg s^?1 cm^?2, luminosities L ≈ 2.5 × 10⁵ L _⊙ and ≈2 × 10⁵ L _⊙, and radii R ≈ 6.3 × 10¹² and ≈1.2 × 10¹³ cm. The nova’s expansion velocity near its optical brightness maximum was ～700 km s^?1. An infrared (IR) excess associated with the formation of a dust shell is shown to have appeared in the energy distribution one month after the optical brightness maximum. The parameters of the dust component have been estimated for two dates of observations, JD2456557.28 (September 21, 2013) and JD2456577.18 (October 11, 2013). For these dates, the dust shell parameters have been estimated: the color temperatures ≈1500 and ≈1200 K, radii ≈6.5 × 10¹³ and 1.7 × 10¹⁴ cm, luminosities ～4 × 10³ L _⊙ and ～1.1 × 10⁴ L _⊙, and the dust mass ～1.6 × 10²⁴ and ～10²⁵ g. The total mass of the material ejected in twenty days (gas + dust) could reach ～1.1 × 10^?6 M _⊙. The rate of dust supply to the nova shell was ～8 × 10^?8 M _⊙ yr^?1. The expansion velocity of the dust shell was about 600 km s^?1.     

Orbital parameters and variability of the emission spectrum for the massive binary system 103 Tau

Based on high-resolution spectra taken near the He I 6678 Å line for the massive binary system 103 Tau, we have detected a weak absorption component belonging to the binary’s secondary component. We have measured the radial velocities of both components, improved the previously known orbital parameters, and determined the new ones. The binary has an orbital period P _orb = 58.305^d, an orbital eccentricity e = 0.277, a radial velocity semi-amplitude of the bright component K _A = 44.8 km s^?1, and a component mass ratio M _A /M _B = 1.77. The absence of photometric variability and the estimates of physical parameters for the primary component suggest that the binary most likely has a considerable inclination of the orbital plane to the observer, i ≈ 50°?60°. In this case, the secondary component is probably a normal dwarf of spectral type B5–B8. Based on the spectra taken near the H _α line, we have studied the variability of the emission profile. It is shown to be formed in the Roche lobe of the secondary component, but no traces of active mass exchange in the binary have been detected.     

Galactic kinematics from a sample of young massive stars

Based on published sources, we have created a kinematic database on 220 massive (> 10 M _⊙) young Galactic star systems located within ≤3 kpc of the Sun. Out of them, ≈100 objects are spectroscopic binary and multiple star systems whose components are massive OB stars; the remaining objects are massive Hipparcos B stars with parallax errors of no more than 10%. Based on the entire sample, we have constructed the Galactic rotation curve, determined the circular rotation velocity of the solar neighborhood around the Galactic center at R ₀ = 8kpc, V ₀ = 259±16 km s^?1, and obtained the following spiral density wave parameters: the amplitudes of the radial and azimuthal velocity perturbations f _R = ?10.8 ± 1.2 km s^?1 and f _θ = 7.9 ± 1.3 km s^?1, respectively; the pitch angle for a two-armed spiral pattern i = ?6.0° ± 0.4°, with the wavelength of the spiral density wave near the Sun being λ = 2.6 ± 0.2 kpc; and the radial phase of the Sun in χ _⊙ = ?120° ± 4°. We show that such peculiarities of the Gould Belt as the local expansion of the system, the velocity ellipsoid vertex deviation, and the significant additional rotation can be explained in terms of the density wave theory. All these effects decrease noticeably once the influence of the spiral density wave on the velocities of nearby stars has been taken into account. The influence of Gould Belt stars on the Galactic parameter estimates has also been revealed. Eliminating them from the kinematic equations has led to the following new values of the spiral density wave parameters: f _θ = 2.9 ± 2.1 km s^?1 and χ _⊙ = ?104° ± 6°.     

Interaction of the supernova remnant HB3 with the ambient interstellar gas

The well-known shell supernova remnant (SNR) HB3 is part of a feature-rich star-forming region together with the nebulae W3, W4, and W5. We study the HI structure around this SNR using five RATAN-600 drift curves obtained at a wavelength of 21 cm with an angular resolution of 2′ in one coordinate over the radial-velocity range ?183 to +60 km s^?1 in a wider region of the sky and with a higher sensitivity than in previous works by other authors. The spatial-kinematic distribution of HI features around the SNR clearly shows two concentric expanding shells of gas that surround the SNR and coincide with it in all three coordinates (α, δ, and V). The outer shell has a radius of 133 pc, a thickness of 24 pc, and an expansion velocity of 48 km s^?1. The mass of the gas in it is ≈2.3 × 10⁵M_⊙. For the inner shell, these parameters are 78 pc, 36 pc, 24 km s^{? 1}, and 0.9 × 10⁵M_⊙, respectively. The inner shell is immediately adjacent to the SNR. Assuming that the outer shell was produced by the stellar wind and the inner shell arose from the shock wave of the SNR proper, we estimated the age of the outer shell, ≈1.7 × 10⁶ yr, and the mechanical luminosity of the stellar wind, 1.5 × 10³⁸ erg s^?1. The inner shell has an age of ≈10⁶ yr and corresponds to a total supernova explosion energy of ≈10⁵² erg.     

Unsteady mass outflow from Wolf-Rayet stars

We show that hydrostatically equilibrium models for the thin photospheres of helium stars based on new opacities κ_R (OPAL and OP) can be constructed only for masses M<5M _⊙. The parameter Г=κL/4πGMc, defined as the ratio of light pressure to gravity, exceeds a critical value of 1.0 for larger masses, which must result in mass outflow under light pressure. This mass limit matches the observed lower limit for the masses of Wolf-Rayet stars (M _WR>5M _⊙)), which is an additional argument that the Wolf-Rayet stellar cores are actually helium stars. By solving the equation of radiative transfer in extended atmospheres, we construct a semiempirical model for a WN5 star (M _WN5=10M _⊙)) with a helium core and an expanding envelope, whose physical and geometric parameters are known mainly from light-curve solution for the eclipsing binary V444 Cyg (WN5+06): outflow rate $\dot M \approx 1.0 \times 10^{ - 5} M_ \odot yr^{ - 1} $ , terminal velocity V _∞≈2000 km s^?1, and expanding-envelope optical depth τ_env≈25. The temperature at the outer boundary of the photosphere of a helium star surrounded by such an envelope is approximately 130 kK higher than that in the absence of an envelope, being T _ph≈240 kK. Because of the high temperatures, the absorption coefficients at the corresponding photospheric levels are smaller than those in models with no envelope; therefore, the photosphere turns out to be in hydrostatic equilibrium and stable against light pressure (Г_max≈0.9). As a way out of this conflicting situation (an expanding envelope together with a hydrostatically equilibrium photosphere), we propose a model of discrete mass outflow, which is also supported by the observed cloudy structure of the envelopes in this type of stars. To quantitatively estimate parameters of the nonuniform outflow model requires detailed gas-dynamical calculations.     

Kinematics of the Gould Belt based on open clusters

We have redetermined the kinematic parameters of the Gould Belt using currently available data on the motion of nearby young (log t < 7.91) open clusters, OB associations, and moving stellar groups. Our modeling shows that the residual velocities reach their maximum values of ?4 km s^?1 for rotation (in the direction of Galactic rotation) and +4 km s^?1 for expansion at a distance from the kinematic center of ≈300 pc. We have taken the following parameters of the Gould Belt center: R ₀ = 150 pc and l ₀ = 128°. The whole structure is shown to move relative to the local standard of rest at a velocity of 10.7 ± 0.7 km s^?1 in the direction l = 274° ± 4° and b = ?1° ± 3°. Using the derived rotation velocity, we have estimated the virial mass of the Gould Belt to be 1.5 × 10⁶ M _⊙.     

Electromagnetic lower hybrid instability driven by solar wind heat flux

Under a fully electromagnetic treatment, the threshold for excitation of the lower hybrid instability driven by solar wind electron heat flux is found to be much higher than that predicted by electrostatic approximation. For average solar wind conditions at 1 AU, the fully electromagnetic lower hybrid instability is excited when the core electron drift speed is about 8V _A, whereV _A is the Alfvén speed. The region between the Sun and 1 AU is expected to be more favourable than 1 AU for this instability.     

Evolution and Period Change in RR Lyr Variables of the Globular Cluster M 3

The grid of evolutionary tracks of population II stars with initial masses 0.81 M_⊙ ≤ M_ZAMS ≤ 0.85 M_⊙ and chemical composition of the globular cluster M3 is computed. Selected models of horizontal branch stars were used as initial conditions for solution of the equations of radiation hydrodynamics and time–dependent convection describing radial stellar oscillations. The boundaries of the instability strip on the Herztsprung–Russel diagram were determined using ≈100 hydrodynamic models of RR Lyr pulsating variables. For each evolutionary track crossing the instability strip the pulsation period was determined as a function of evolutinary time. The rate of period change of most variables is shown to range within ?0.02 ≤ \(\dot{\Pi}\) ≤ 0.05 day/10⁶ yr. Theoretical estimate of the mean period change rate obtained by the population synthesis method is 〈\(\dot{\Pi}\)〉 = 6.0 × 10^?3 day/10⁶ yr and agrees well with observations of RR Lyr variables of the globular cluster M3.     

The most metal-poor quadruple system of subdwarfs G89-14

The system of subdwarfs G89-14 is one of the most metal-poor multiple stars with an atmospheric metal abundance [m/H] = ?1.9. Speckle interferometry at the 6-m BTA telescope has revealed that G89-14 consists of four components. Measurements of the magnitude difference between the components and published data have allowed their masses to be estimated: M _A ≈ 0.67 M _⊙, M _B ≈ 0.24M _⊙,M _C ≈ 0.33M _⊙, andM _D ≈ 0.22M _⊙. The ratio of the orbital periods of the subsystems has been obtained, 0.52 yr: 3000 yr: 650 000 yr (1: 5769: 1 250 000), indicative of a high degree of hierarchy o fG89-14 and its internal dynamical stability. The calculated Galactic orbital elements and the low metallicity of the quadruple system suggest that it belongs to the Galactic halo.     

New class of regular and well behaved exact solutions in general relativity

We present a new class of spherically symmetric regular and well behaved solutions of the general relativistic field equations in isotropic coordinates. These solutions describe perfect fluid balls with positively finite central pressure and positively finite central density; their ratio is less than one and causality condition is obeyed at the centre. The solutions of this class, the outmarch of pressure, density pressure-density ratio and the ratio of sound speed to light is monotonically decreasing. Keeping in view of well behaved nature in terms of central red shift and surface red shift and by assuming the surface density ρ _b =2×10¹⁴ g/cm³, we constructed a Neutral star model for k=2, resulting into maximum mass ≈6.36M _Θ, linear dimension ≈48.08 km, surface red shift ≈1.132 and central red shift ≈17.1314.     

New spectrophotometry for SZ cam (the problem of a third component)

We present the results of our spectroscopic observations of the eclipsing binary SZ Cam performed with the 1-m (Zeiss-1000) and 6-m (BTA) telescopes at the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences in 2000 and 2003. Based on our results and published data, we have calculated new values for the component mass ratio, q = 0.72 ± 0.02, the radial velocity of SZ Cam relative to the Solar system barycenter, V ₀ =?10.6 ± 2.0 km s^?1, and the semi-amplitudes of the radial velocity curves for both components, K ₁ = 192.0 ± 2.6 and K ₂ = 266.4 ± 2.5 km s^?1. The orbital semimajor axes and masses of the components have been determined: α₁ = 10.4R _⊙, α₂ = 14.5R _⊙, M ₁ = 16.7M _⊙, M ₂ = 12.0M _⊙. New light elements and parameters of the radial velocity curve for the third body have been obtained. The mass of the secondary component of the third body M ₂ ^3b is discussed. Its lower limit is estimated to be M ₂ ^3b = 1.4M _⊙.     

Investigation of the Coronal Magnetic Field Using a Type II Solar Radio Burst

The type II solar radio burst recorded on 13 June 2010 by the Hiraiso Solar Observatory Radio Spectrograph was employed to estimate the magnetic-field strength in the solar corona. The burst was characterized by a well-pronounced band splitting, which we used to estimate the density jump at the shock and Alfvén Mach number using the Rankine–Hugoniot relation. We convert the plasma frequency of the type II burst into height [R] in solar radii using an appropriate density model, and then we estimated the shock speed [V _s], coronal Alfvén velocity [V _A], and the magnetic-field strength at different heights. The relative bandwidth of the band splitting was found to be in the range 0.2?–?0.25, corresponding to a density jump of X=1.44?–?1.56, and an Alfvén Mach number of M _A=1.35?–?1.45. The inferred mean shock speed was on the order of V≈667 km?s^?1. From the dependencies V(R) and M _A(R) we found that the Alfvén speed slightly decreases at R≈1.3?–?1.5 R_⊙. The magnetic-field strength decreases from a value between 2.7 and 1.7 G at R≈1.3?–?1.5 R_⊙, depending on the coronal-density model employed. Our results are in good agreement with the empirical scaling by Dulk and McLean (Solar Phys. 57, 279, 1978) and Gopalswamy et al. (Astrophys. J. 744, 72, 2012). Our results show that the type II band-splitting method is an important tool for inferring the coronal magnetic field, especially when independent measurements are made from white-light observations.     

Instability of radial modes at the Wolf-Rayet evolutionary stage

The evolution of a Population-I star with an initial mass M _ZAMS = 60 M _⊙ has been calculated. At the stage when a red giant turns into an early-type helium star, the vast bulk of the stellar mass is concentrated in a compact core surrounded by an extended envelope that is unstable with respect to radial oscillations. The range of effective temperatures within which the instability arises extends to T _eff ? 10⁵ K. For the models corresponding to the Wolf-Rayet evolutionary stage (5 × 10⁴ K ≤ T _eff ≤ 1.05 × 10⁵ K), hydrodynamic calculations of self-exciting radial stellar pulsations have been performed. The pulsational instability develops in a time interval comparable to the dynamic timescale. Once the amplitude has ceased to grow, the pulsational motions are nonlinear traveling waves propagating from the core boundary to the stellar surface. The velocity amplitude of the outer layers is 500 km s^?1 < ΔU < 10³ km s^?1, depending on the effective temperature. During the evolution of a helium star, the mean ratio of the maximum expansion velocity of the outer layers to the local escape velocity decreases and lies within the range 0.25 < U _max/v _esc < 0.6 for the models considered. The nonlinearity of the stellar pulsations is responsible for the increase in the mean radius \(\bar r\) of the Lagrangian layers compared to the equilibrium radius r _eq. The effect of the increase in mean radius decreases with rising effective temperature from\(\bar r\)/r ～ 10 at T _eff = 7 × 10⁴ K to \(\bar r\)/r ≈ 2 at T _eff = 10⁵ K. The radial pulsation periods for the models considered lie within the range 0.1 day ≤ Π ≤ 1.6 day and the amplitude of the bolometric magnitude variations does not exceed 0 _. ^m 2.     

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.     

On the origin of the solar system and the exceptional position of the Sun in the Galaxy

The solar system's position in the Galaxy is an exclusive one, since the Sun is close to the corotation circle, which is the place where the angular velocity of the galactic differential rotation is equal to that of density waves displaying as spiral arms. Each galaxy contains only one corotation circle; therefore, it is an exceptional place. In the Galaxy, the deviation of the Sun from the corotation is very small — it is equal to ΔR/R _⊙≈0.03, where ΔR=R _c ?R _⊙,R _c is the corotation distance from the galactic center andR _⊙ is the Sun's distance from the galactic center. The special conditions of the Sun's position in the Galaxy explain the origin of the fundamental cosmogony timescalesT ₁≈4.6×10⁹ yr,T ₂?10⁸ yr,T ₃?10⁶ yr detected by the radioactive decay of various nuclides. The timescaleT ₁ (the solar system's ‘lifetime’) is the protosolar cloud lifetime in a space between the galactic spiral arms. The timescaleT ₂ is the presolar cloud lifetime in a spiral arm.T ₃ is a timescale of hydrodynamical processes of a cloud-wave interaction. The possibility of the natural explanation of the cosmogony timescales by the unified process (on condition that the Sun is near the state of corotation) can become an argument in favour of the fact that the nearness to the corotation is necessary for the formation of systems similar to the Solar system. If the special position of the Sun is not incidental, then the corotation circles of our Galaxy, as well as those of other galaxies, are just regions where situations similar to ours are likely to be found.     

Shear-induced instability and arch filament eruption: A magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) numerical simulation

We investigate, via a two-dimensional (nonplanar) MHD simulation, a situation wherein a bipolar magnetic field embedded in a stratified solar atmosphere (i.e., arch-filament-like structure) undergoes symmetrical shear motion at the footpoints. It was found that the vertical plasma flow velocities grow exponentially leading to a new type of global MHD-instability that could be characterized as a Dynamic Shearing Instability, with a growth rate of about 8{ovV} _A a, where {ovV} _A is the average Alfvén speed and a ^–1 is the characteristic length scale. The growth rate grows almost linearly until it reaches the same order of magnitude as the Alfvén speed. Then a nonlinear MHD instability occurs beyond this point. This simulation indicates the following physical consequences: the central loops are pinched by opposing Lorentz forces, and the outer closed loops stretch upward with the vertically-rising mass flow. This instability may apply to arch filament eruptions (AFE) and coronal mass ejections (CMEs).To illustrate the nonlinear dynamical shearing instability, a numerical example is given for three different values of the plasma beta that span several orders of magnitude. The numerical results were analyzed using a linearized asymptotic approach in which an analytical approximate solution for velocity growth is presented. Finally, this theoretical model is applied to describe the arch filament eruption as well as CMEs.