Latitudinal Distribution of Polar Faculae

The distribution of polar faculae with respect to latitude is investigated, using data obtained at the Ussuriysk Observatory during the years 1963–1994. To correct the data for the effect of visibility, a visibility function of polar faculae is derived. Corrected surface density of polar faculae is calculated as a function of latitude and time. During most part of each solar cycle, polar faculae exhibit pronounced concentrations at high latitudes with maxima of the surface density located near the poles. Such concentrations of polar faculae (below referred to as `polar condensations') are formed after a lapse of 1–2 years from the polar magnetic field reversals, and then they persist for 7–9 years, until the high-latitude magnetic fields again start to reverse. During several years after the sunspot minima, the polar condensations co-exist with the new latitudinal belts of polar faculae which appear at middle latitudes and then migrate toward the poles. To describe the evolution of the polar condensations quantitatively, the polar faculae density n at latitudes above 60° has been approximated by means of the power law nn ₀ cos^m where is polar angle. The parameters n ₀ and m both are found to vary during the course of the solar cycle, reaching maximum values near or shortly after the minimum of sunspot activity. At the minimum phase of the solar cycle, on average, the surface density of polar faculae varies as cos¹⁴. In addition to the 11-yr variation, the latitude–time distribution of polar faculae exhibits short-term variations occurring on the time scale of 2–3 years.     

Some applications of Jacobi dynamics to the stellar evolution

The stars in the Main Sequence are seen as a hierarchy of objects with different massesM and effective dynamical radiiR _eff=R/ given by the stellar radii and the coefficients for the inner structure of the stars.As seen in a previous work (Paper I), during the lifetime in the Main SequenceR _eff(t) remains a near invariant when compared to the variation in the time ofR(t) and (t).With such an effectiveR _eff one obtains the amounts of actionA _c(M), the effective densities _eff(M)=(M)³(M), the densities of action and of energy (or mean presures in the stellar interior)a _c(M),e _c(M), and the potential energiesE _p(M).The amounts of action areA _cM ^k withk1.87 for the M stars,k5/3 for the KGF stars, andk1.83 for the A and earlier stars, representing very simples conditions for the other dynamical parameters. For instancek5/3 means a near invariant effective density _eff for the KGF stars, while for such stars the mean densities and coefficients present the strongest variations with masses (M)M ^–1.81, (M)M^0.6.The cases for the M stars (e _c(M)M ^–1) and for the A and earlier stars (betweena _c(M)=constant and _eff(M)M ^–1) and also discussed. These conditions for the earlier stars also represent reasonable mean values for the whole stellar hierarchy in the range of masses 0.2M M25M .With all this, one can build dynamical HR diagrams withA _c(M), E_p(M), _eff M ^–p , etc., whose characteristics are analogous to these in the photometrical HR diagram. A comparison is made betweenA _c(M) from the models here and the HR diagram with the best known stars of luminosity classes IV, V, and white dwarfs.The comparison of the potential energiesE _p(M)M ^–p according to the stellar models used here and the observed frequency function (MM _–q (number of stars in a given interval of masses) from different authors suggests the possibility that the productE _p(M)(M) is a constant, but this must be confirmed with further studies of the function (M) and its fine structure.There are analogies between the formulation used here for the stellar hierarchy and other physical processes, for instance, in modified forms of the Kolmogorov law of turbulence and in the formulation used for the hierarchy of molecular clouds in gravitational equilibrium. Besides, the function of actionA _c(M) for the stars has analogous properties to the relations of angular momenta and massesJ(M) for different types of objects. The cosmological implications of all this are discussed.     

On the relationship between polar faculae and large-scale magnetic field

We investigate a latitude–time distribution of polar faculae observed at Ussuriysk Observatory in years 1966–1986. The distribution is compared with the longitude-averaged (zonal) magnetic field of the Sun calculated from the data obtained at Mount Wilson Observatory in the years 1966–1976, and at Kitt Peak National Observatory during the period from 1976 to 1985. We found that slow, poleward-directed migration of the polar faculae zones occurring during the course of the solar cycle is not a continuous process, but it contains several episodes of appearance and fast poleward drift of new zones of polar faculae. At the rising phase of the solar cycle, new zones of polar faculae appear at latitudes as low as 40°, but the ones observed during the declining phase of the solar cycle originate at higher latitudes of 50–55°. Such episodes of appearance and fast migration of the polar faculae zones are associated with the poleward-directed streams of magnetic field originated at low latitudes. Moreover, we found some evidence for existence of an additional component of the polar faculae activity that reveals an equatorward migration during the course of the solar cycle. We also investigated a relationship between the number of polar faculae, n, and absolute magnetic flux _z of the zonal mode of the solar magnetic field. We found that within the polar zones of the Sun, substantial correlation between temporal variations of n and _z takes place both on the time scale of the solar cycle and on a shorter time scale of 2–4 years. The relationship between the number of polar faculae and magnetic flux may be approximated by a linear dependence n=0.12_z (where _z is expressed in 10²¹ Mx), except for time interval 1977 through 1980 for which the factor of proportionality is found to have a systematically larger value of 0.20.     

Bidimensional spectroscopy of network bright points

We develop an automatic, computer controlled procedure to select and to analyze the Network Bright Points (NBPs) on solar images. These have been obtained at the Sac Peak Vacuum Tower Telescope by means of the Universal Birefringent Filter and Zeiss H filters, tuned, respectively, along the profiles of the H, Mg-b1, Na-D2, and H lines.A structure is identified as an NBP if at the wavelength H- 1.5 A its maximum intensity is greater than I + 3 and its area is greater than 1.5 arc sec² at I + 1.5, where I is the mean value and the standard deviation of the intensity distribution on the image. Each detected NBP is then searched and confirmed in all the remaining 31 images at different wavelengths.For each NBP several parameters are measured (position, area, mean and maximum contrast, Dopplergram velocity, compactness, and so on) and some identification constraints are applied.The statistical analysis of the various parameter distributions, for NBPs present within an active region and its surroundings, shows that two types of NBPs can be identified according to the value of their mean contrast C _min the H- 1.5 Å image (C _m 0.1 type I, C _m> 0.1 type II). The type I NBPs (all occurring on the boundaries of the supergranular network) appear to be much more frequent (180/26) than the type II ones.The size A of type I NBPs is less than 1.0 arc sec for H/H wings but of the order of 1.2 arc sec for Na-D2 and Mg-bl. The mean contrast C _m is around the value of 10% along the Na-D2 and Mg-bl profiles and of 20% along the H/H wings.The C _m - A scatter diagrams show, for the photospheric radiation (h < 100 km), a narrow range of variability for C _min correspondence with a wide range for A. For radiation orginated at higher levels (h > 200 km), the C _m- A scatter diagrams seem to indicate, even if with a large variance, that the highest C _m's tend to correspond to the highest A values.The mean Doppler shift is close to zero for Na-D2 and Mg-bl lines but negative (downward motion) for H and H lines.The type II NBPs tends to be preferentially located in the neighbourhood of small, compact sunspots and their detectability is almost constant through all the 4 studied line profiles. No conclusions can be derived on the mean size, contrast and Doppler shift values because their distributions are too dispersed. The only positive information is that its C _m- A scatter diagram, in H and H wings, indicates a wide range of variability for C _m in correspondence with very narrow range of variability for A.     

On the relative roles of unipolar and mixed-polarity fields

Away from plages, solar magnetic fields may be classified as unipolar or as of mixed polarity, though the distinction is strictly arbitrary. The dividing line used here is 0.4 ¦B _minor/B _major¦ 1, where average fields of major and minor polarities are measured over large areas. Some of their statistical properties and cyclical variations are detailed. In unipolar regions, 3 B _major 50 G, B _minor 0.1 B _major, and ¦B¦ 1.1 B _major. In regions of mixed polarity, 3.5 ¦B¦ 10 G.Below latitudes of ± 60°, mixed polarities predominate for about 5 yr around sunspot minimum. For several years around sunspot maximum, unipolar fields fill the 20°–40° zone completely, and occupy about 75% of the 0°–20° and 40°–60° zones.The polar unipolar fields are weak on the whole (Bmajor 4 G for 6 typical days in 1976–79), with small regions having stronger fields at times, probably not exceeding B _major = 10 G. Again B _minor 0.1 B _major. There is no direct way at present of measuring properties of polar mixed fields, such as may occur around sunspot maximum, but by inference ¦B¦ 2 to 5 G.Operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under contract with the National Science Foundation.     

B,V surface photometry of the UV continuum galaxy NGC 838

Surface photometry of the UV continuum galaxy NGC 838 has been carried out in theB, V system using photographic plates obtained with the 74 Kottamia telescope, Egypt. Isophotes, luminosity profiles, integrated photographic magnitudes, effective diameters and other photometric parameters are derived.The photoelectrically calibrated total apparent magnitudes areB _T =13.57 with maximum diameters 1.57×1.34 (at threshold _m =27.7 mag.//) andV _T =12.91 with maximum diameters 1.54×1.32 (at threshold _m =27.7 mag./). The integrated colour index(B–V) _T =0.66 and the effective surface brightness _e (B=19.0 mag./) and _e (V=19.7 mag./. The major axis is at position angle =85°±1°.The nucleus of NGC 838 is quite blue (integrated colour(B–V)=0.41 forr ^*<0.1) compared to normal galaxies while the colour becomes redder from the nucleus outwards. The UV excess, H emission and radio continuum emission previously observed from this galaxy by other investigators may be attributed to a recent burst of star formation in the nucleus of the galaxy of duration slightly greater than 2×10⁷ yr.     

Solar irradiance variations from photometry of active regions

The Extreme Limb Photometer (ELP) has been used to measure the irradiance fluctuation of the Sun due to selected active regions. Forty-five active regions that were completely scanned at various disk positions are included in the analysis. The contribution of these active regions to a global solar irradiance fluctuation has been correlated with photometric sunspot and facular indices (PSI and PFI) using published values of sunspot and calcium plage areas. The measured ELP fluctuations are converted to a global brightness fluctuation, B/B. The sunspot component of B/B correlates with PSI with r = 0.95. The facular component of B/B correlates with PFI with r - 0.72. The expression for PFI is important to the question of energy balance between sunspots and faculae and the results presented here are not incompatible with energy balance between the two phenomena; that is the energy deficit of sunspots may be balanced by the energy excess of faculae.     

A photometric study of faculae and sunspots between 1.2 and 1.6 μm

We investigate further the interpretation of dark magnetic faculae observed in previous imaging of the solar photosphere at 1.63 m. We show that their contrast at 1.63 m increases with magnetic flux beyond a threshold value of 2 × 10¹⁸ Mx and blends smoothly with the contrast vs flux relation measured at this wavelength for larger structures of sunspot size. Not all facular structures that are bright in Ca K are dark at 1.63 m, apparently because their magnetic flux is not large enough. After correction for blurring, the contrast of the dark faculae observed near the disc center at 1.63 m is approximately 4%. But our observations at 1.23 m, which probe slightly higher photospheric levels, do not show these dark faculae. These results indicate that magnetic flux tubes of diameter as small as 500 km significantly inhibit convective heat flow to the photosphere, much as do sunspot flux tubes of much larger diameter. They also suggest that, in even smaller flux tubes, the inhibition becomes rapidly less significant. Finally, we show that the sunspot-size dependence of umbral infrared contrast versus wavelength that we observe can probably be explained in terms of instrumental blurring. Observations with lower scattered light will be required to determine whether a real decrease of contrast with diameter also plays a role.     

Theory of the Trojan asteroids,IV

In a previous publication (1977) the author has constructed a family () of long-periodic orbits in the Trojan case of the restricted problems of three bodies. Here he constructs the domain of the analytical solution of the problem of the motion, excluding the vicinity of thecritical divisor which vanishes at the exact commensurability of the natural frequencies ₁ and ₂. In terms of thecritical masses m_j(₂), or the associatedcritical energies _j ² (m), is the intersection of the intervals ofshallow resonance, of the form. Inasmuch as the intervals |₂– _j ² |<_j ofdeep resonance aredisjoint, it follows that (1) the disjointed family () embraces the tadpole branch, 0²1, lying in: and (2) despite the clustering of _j ² (m) atj=, the family () includes, for ²=1, an asymptoticseparatrix that terminates the branch in the vicinity of the Lagrangian pointL ₃.In a similar manner, the family () can be extended to the horseshoe branch 1<_{2 2} ² .     

The evolution of the polar coronal holes

He i 10830 Å synoptic maps, obtained at the Kitt Peak National Observatory during 1974–1979, show that the Sun's polar coronal holes have contracted significantly during 1977–1978. Prior to the accelerated increase of sunspot activity in mid-1977, the area of each polar cap was on the order of 8% of the Sun's total surface area (4R ²), whereas toward the end of 1978 these areas fell below 2% of 4R ². Synoptic polar plots show that the vestigual holes had irregular shapes and were often well removed from the poles themselves. These results are consistent with the changes that one would expect when the polar magnetic fields are weakening just prior to sunspot maximum.     

General integral transform of the exponential integrals

General integral transform of the exponential integralsE _n is considered and will be denoted asB _(k) ⁿ (). Different expressions and the equations satisfied byB _(k) ⁿ are developed. Two-term recurrence formula forB _(k) ⁿ (0) and three-term recurrence formula forB _(k) ⁿ (); 0 will be established for a givenk1 andn=2,3, ...,N. The computational algorithms based on these formulae are also constructed for the casesk=1,2,3, andn2. Finally the numerical results fork=2,3 andn=2(1)25 are presented to 15-digit accuracy     

Facular models and the sunspot energy deficit

The problem of the energy deficit in a sunspot is shown to be critically related to the depth of a given sunspot model. Recent facular models are discussed and a new model is derived from recent data using a two-dimensional radiative transfer analysis. The excess non-radiative energy required by this and other models is evaluated and it is shown that in some models this may account for a considerable fraction of the sunspot energy deficit. For these models the Alfvén energy travelling along the closed flux loops from the sunspot is insufficient to supply the requirements of the faculae and it is suggested that excess energy flux from below the faculae is also required. These results provide further support for deep as opposed to shallow sunspot models.     

On the gamma system of nitric oxide in sunspots

With the aim of investigating the resonance system of NO, equivalent width calculations have been made for the 213.575 nm, Q ₁(31.5) line of the 1–0 band of -system of NO for the photospheric HSRA model, and for the line 214.012 nm, Q ₁(25.5) line of the same band system for Zwaan's (1974) sunspot model.Calculations show that -band system would not show up in the photospheric spectrum whereas a sunspot model yields an equivalent width of 72 mÅ suggesting that sunspots may provide relatively more favourable conditions for the detections of the resonance systems of some abundant molecules in the inaccessible ultraviolet region.     

Simultaneous measurements of Ca+ K,Ca+ H,Hα, Hβ, and He D3 emission in prominences

Simultaneously measured line intensities of Ca⁺ K and H, H, H and He D₃ are presented and compared with recent model calculations by Heasley and Milkey (1978). The model calculations are compatible with the observations. There is indication that the observed branching of the relation E(Ca⁺ K and H) E(H) depends on the widths of the Ca⁺-lines.     

High accuracy precession measurement with an autometric gyro

A simple reticle with parallel equally spaced lines to transmit light in an autometric gyro is shown to give a signal which can be used for very accurate angular precession measurements. Frequency analysis of the signal is chosen over time domain analysis and/or over a specially designed reticle.Gyro precession will induce a change in the interference structure of the spectrum in addition to dilating the overall frequency distribution. The expected output spectrum has been analytically determined, exhibiting the dependence on spot and reticle line cross sections and line spacing so that they can be precisely determined from the output data.The spectrum structure is extremely sensitive to precession. Computer simulations indicate that accuracy will be limited by reticle line spacing variations to ±4×10^–9 rad. This would allow a Lense-Thirring precession measurement accurate to ±20% in 30 days (accuracy being limited by physical effects common to all such experiments) or a ±1% de Sitter precession measurement in four days.Nomenclature a _n() Fourier coefficients ofI() - a _n ^r () rapidly varying part ofa _n() - a _m ^x ,b _m ^x Fourier coefficients ofI(x) - a (),b () Fourier sine and cosine transforms of _x(x) - angle between star and gyro spin axis - ₀ initial alignment angle - f focal length of optical system - I transmitted light intensity, signal function - l reticle line width - r distance from light spot center - R light-circle radius - = reduced light-circle radius - ₀ reduced reticle center-spin center offset - s reticle line space - T(x) reticle transmission function - angle of gyro rotation - w _g gyro angular velocity This work was supported by the M.I.T. Center for Space Research under NASA Grant NGL-22-009-019.     

Polar Plumes and Inter-plume regions as observed by SUMER on SOHO

We present observations of Ovi 1032 Å line profiles obtained with the SUMER instrument on SOHO extending from the solar disk to 1.5 R above the limb in the north polar coronal hole. Variations of the intensity and linewidth in the polar plume and inter-plume regions are investigated. We find an anti-correlation between the intensity and the linewidth in the plume and inter-plume regions with detailed plume structures been seen out to 1.5 R . Possible implications regarding the magnetic topologies of these two regions and related heating mechanisms are discussed. The Ovi linewidth measurements are combined with UVCS output to provide an overview of its variations with height extending up to 3.5 R . We find a linear increase of the linewidth from 1 to 1.2 R , then a plateau followed by a sharp increase around 1.5 R .     

The effect of metallicity on the empirical relations for RR Lyrae stars

It has empirically been shown that, for a given value of the effective temperature, the correction in (B-V) due to line blanketing varies linearly with the metallicity parameter S. Next, on the basis of considerations different from those used to obtain a similar result by Sturch (1966), a relation between reciprocal effective temperature _e (=5040/T _e ) and intrinsic line-free colour index(B-V) _o,c has been obtained based on the _e and (B-V) values for five RR Lyr variables. Relations between _e and intrinsic colour(B-V) _o for different groups of stars having a S parameter in the range 0S11 have also been obtained.     

Unsteady free-convective flow and mass transfer in a rotating porous medium with Hall current,I

The Hall effect on the unsteady hydromagnetic free-convection resulting from the combined effects of thermal and mass diffusion of an electrical-conducting liquid through a porous medium past an infinite vertical porous plate in a rotating system have been analysed. The expressions for the mean velocity, mean skin friction, and mean rate of heat transfer on the plate are derived. The effects of magnetic parameterM, Hall parameterm, Ekman numberE, and permeability parameterK ^* on the flow field are discussed with the help of graphs and tables.Nomenclature C _p specific heat at constant pressure - C the species concentration inside the boundary layer - C _w the species concentration at porous plate - C the species concentration of the fluid at infinite - C dimensionless species concentration - D chemical molecular diffusivity - E Ekman number - Ec Eckert number - g acceleration due to gravity - Gr Grashof number - Gm modified Grashof number - H ₀ applied magnetic field - (J _x, J_y, J_z) components of current density - M magnetic parameter - m Hall parameter - P Prandtl number - q _m mean rate of heat transfer - Sc Schmidt number - t time - t dimensionless time - T temperature of fluid - T _w temperature of the plate - T temperature of fluid at infinite - T dimensionless temperature - (u, v, w) components of the velocityq - w ₀ suction velocity - (x, y, z) Cartesian coordinates - z dimensionless coordinate normal to the plate Greek symbols coefficient of volume expansion - * coefficient of thermal expansion with concentration - frequency - dimensionless frequency - k thermal conductivity - K ^* permeability parameter - dinematic viscosity - density of the fluid in the boundary layer - coefficient of viscosity - _e magnetic permeability - angular velocity - electrical conductivity of the fluid - _m mean skin friction - _mn mean skin friction in the direction ofx - _mv mean skin friction in the direction ofy     

The nature of the sunspot phenomenon

Heat transport in the Sun is describable by a Fokker-Planck, or diffusion, transfer equation. A study of the general character of the solutions of the transfer equation shows that the inhibition of convective transport beneath the photosphere produces a photospheric dark ring surrounded by a bright ring, or at best, a dark area surrounded by a bright ring. The mean temperature beneath the sunspot is unavoidably above normal, so that the enhanced gas pressure would disperse, rather than concentrate, the magnetic field. Hence we conclude that the inhibition of convection cannot be the cause of a sunspot.We suggest, instead, that a sunspot is a region of enhanced, rather than inhibited, energy transport and emissivity. The magnetic field of the sunspot causes a dynamical overstability in the outer thousand km of the convective zone, generating copious fluxes of hydromagnetic waves, which propagate rapidly out of the region along the magnetic field. We suggest that this heat engine is so efficient as to convert at least three fourths of the heat flux into waves. Solutions of the heat transport equation in the presence of a heat sink automatically resemble the observed sunspot, including a dark interior, a sharp transition at the edge of the umbra, and an extended grey area around the outside, the penumbra. The mean temperature is reduced, causing the observed concentration of the magnetic field.The enhanced radiation is in the form of hydromagnetic waves, which do not appear in ordinary photographs, but which light up the sky over the sunspot in a manner conspicuous in any UV or X-ray picture. In this respect, then, a sunspot is effectively a hole in the Sun, extending down to temperatures of 2 × 10⁴ K or more.This work was supported in part by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under Grant NGL 14-001-001.     

The influence of faculae on sunspot heat blocking

We study the influence of faculae on sunspot heat blockage using a thermal model based on eddy heat diffusion through the convection zone. The facula is represented as a localized area of excess emission surrounding the sunspot, which is represented as a thermal plug. Our computations using a range of reasonable combinations of spot and facular depths show no significant influence of the facula on the long storage times of heat blocked by sunspots. However, the local cooling of surface layers produced by excess facular emission in this model propagates globally within the convection zone in a similar way to the heating produced by a spot. The net effect of spots and faculae on L over time scales longer than an active region lifetime should thus be determined by the global sum of sunspot flux deficits and facular excesses.