The June 15, 1991 and June 26, 1999 white-light flares

Observational properties of two white-light flares (WLFs), on June 15, 1991, and June 26, 1999, are presented and compared. This is of particular interest, because the former was one of the most intense flares of X-ray class X12, while the latter was a compact flare of class M2.3. Significant differences between some flare parameters (GOES class, H_α classification, the number of WLF kernels and their location in the sunspot group, the size and duration of the WLF emission, and the peak flux density of the microwave emission) have been found. However, both these events had approximately the same powers of the emission per unit area in continuum near 658.0 nm: E = 1.5 × 10⁷ and 1.1. × 10⁷ erg cm^?2 s^?1 nm^?1. There is generally a good temporal coincidence between the microwave and hard X-ray emissions and the WLF emission during the impulsive phase, but the light curve of the WLF emission on June 26, 1999, shows a stronger correlation with the X-ray emission in the energy range 14–23 keV. Both flares can be classified by their spectral characteristics as type I white-light flares.     

Propagation of interplanetary shock waves by observations of type II solar radio bursts on IMP-6

A new interpretation of the low frequency type II solar radio bursts of 30 June 1971, and 7–8 August 1972 observed with IMP-6 satellite (Malitson et al., 1973a,b) is suggested. The analysis is carried out for two models of the electron density distribution in the interplanetary medium taking into account that N ~ 3.5 cm^?3 at a distance of 1 a.u. It is assumed that the frequency of the radio emission corresponds to the average electron density behind the shock front which exceeds the undisturbed electron density by the factor of 3. The radio data indicate essential deceleration of the shock waves during propagation from the Sun up to 1 a.u. The characteristics of the shock waves obtained from the type II bursts agree with the results of the in situ observations.     

Devasthal Fast Optical Telescope Observations of Wolf–Rayet Dwarf Galaxy Mrk 996

The Devasthal Fast Optical Telescope (DFOT) is a 1.3 meter aperture optical telescope, recently installed at Devasthal, Nainital. We present here the first results using an Hα filter with this telescope on a Wolf–Rayet dwarf galaxy Mrk 996. The instrumental response and the Hα sensitivity obtained with the telescope are (3.3 ± 0.3) × 10^???15 erg s^?1 cm^?2/counts s^?1 and 7.5 × 10^???17 erg s^?1 cm^?2 arcsec^?2 respectively. The Hα flux and the equivalent width for Mrk 996 are estimated as (132 ± 37) × 10^?14 erg s^?1 cm^?2 and ～96 Å respectively. The star formation rate is estimated as 0.4 ± 0.1M _⊙ yr^?1. Mrk 996 deviates from the radio-FIR correlation known for normal star forming galaxies with a deficiency in its radio continuum. The ionized gas as traced by Hα emission is found in a disk shape which is misaligned with respect to the old stellar disk. This misalignment is indicative of a recent tidal interaction in the galaxy. We believe that galaxy–galaxy tidal interaction is the main cause of the WR phase in Mrk 996.     

Gamma radiation and photospheric white-light flare continuum

Recent gamma-ray observations of solar flares have provided a better means for estimating the heating of the solar atmosphere by energetic protons. Such heating has been suggested as the explanation of the continuum emission of the white-light flare. We have analyzed the effects on the photosphere of high-energy particles capable of producing the intense gamma-ray emission observed in the 1978 July 11 flare. Using a simple energy-balance argument and taking into account hydrogen ionization, we have obtained the following conclusions:

1. Heating near τ₅₀₀₀ = 1 in the input HSRA model atmosphere is negligible, even for very high fluxes of energetic particles.
2. Energy deposition increases with height for the inferred proton spectra, and does not depend strongly upon the assumed angle of incidence. The computed energy inputs fall in the range 10–100 ergs (cm³ s)^?1 at the top of the photosphere.
3. H^? continuum dominates for column densities as small as 10²² cm^?3, but at greater heights hydrogen ionizes sufficiently for the higher continua to dominate the energy balance.
4. The total energy deposited in the ‘photospheric’ region of H^? dominance could be within a factor of 3 of the necessary energy deposition, by comparison with the white-light flare of 1972 August 7, but the emergent spectrum is quite red so that the intensity excess in the visible band is insufficient to explain the observations.

In summary, it remains energetically possible, within observational limits, that high-energy protons could cause sufficient heating of the upper photosphere to produce detectable excess continuum, but emission from the vicinity of τ = 1 is not significant.     

Analysis of HST and IUE ultraviolet spectra for T Tauri stars: DF Tau

We analyze ultraviolet spectra of DF Tau, a binary system whose primary component is a classical T Tauri star. The spectra were obtained from the Hubble Space Telescope and the IUE satellite. The stellar emission in the wavelength range covered is shown to originate in an accretion shock wave. The gas infall velocity is ～250 km s^?1. The accreted-gas density is typically N ₀≤10¹¹ cm^?3, but it can occasionally be higher by one and a half orders of magnitude. The continuum intensity near λ=1900 Å was found to be virtually constant for such a significant change in N ₀. The star’s photometric variability is probably attributable to variations in accreted-gas density and velocity, as well as to variations in the area of a hot spot on the stellar surface and in its orientation relative to the observer. The mean accretion rate is $\dot M \sim 3 \times 10^{ - 9} M_ \odot yr^{ - 1}$ . The interstellar extinction for DF Tau is $A_V \simeq 0\mathop .\limits^m 5$ , the stellar radius is ≤2R _⊙, and the luminosity of the primary component is most likely no higher than 0.3 L _⊙. We argue that the distance to DF Tau is about 70 pc. Upper limits are placed on the primary’s coronal emission measure: EM(T=10⁷ K)<3×10⁵⁴ cm^?3 and EM(T=1.3×10⁶ K)<3×10⁵⁵ cm^?3. Absorption lines originating in the stellar wind were detected in the star’s spectrum. Molecular hydrogen lines have essentially the same radial velocity as the star, but their full width at half maximum is FWHM ?50 km s^?1. We failed to explain why the intensity ratio of the C IV λ1550 doublet components exceeds 2.     

Rosat and EUVE observations of B stars

Recent observations of the X-ray and EUV emission of non-supergiant B stars are summarized. As compared with O stars, the X-rays of most of the near-main-sequence B stars are soft, and the stars show a departure from theL _x = 10^?7 L _bol relation. Using line driven wind models to provide an estimate of the density distribution, it is concluded that a major fraction of the wind emission measure is hot, whereas in shocked wind theory less than 10 percent of the wind emission measure should be hot. The X-ray observations suggest that all of the B stars are X-ray emitters with a basal X-ray luminosity of about 10^?8.5 L _bol . A hard component dominates the X-ray emission of τ Sco, and possible causes are discussed. For the Be stars, the X-ray emission is that which is expected from a normal B-star wind coming from the poles, as in the Wind Compressed Disk (WCD) model of Be stars. None of the stars, including theβ Cep stars, show noticeable variability in their X-rays.EUVE observations of∈ CMa B2 II, find it to be the brightest object in the EUV sky at 500 to 700 Å. It shows a Lyman continuum flux that is a factor of 30 higher than line blanketed model atmospheres. The continuum is seen on both sides of the He I 504 Å edge, and the discrepancy with model atmospheres is even greater shortward of 504 Å. TheEUVE spectra show emission lines both from high stages of ionization ( Feix to Fexvi) and from low stages (Heii and Oiii). The Heii Lymanα results from recombination following X-ray photoionization in the wind, and the Oiii resonance line is found to be present because of the Bowen fluorescence mechanism. Thus, there is and interesting coupling between the wind production by the EUV photospheric emission, the production of X-ray and line EUV emission by winds, and the production of fluorescence by recombination in the wind; all of these processes are now observable in B stars.     

A search for photometric and spectroscopic evolutionary changes in the young planetary nebula Vy 2-2

The results of long-term photometric and spectroscopic observations of the young compact planetary nebula Vy 2-2 (PNG 045.4-02.7) are presented. The UBV photometry in 1990–2016 has revealed a slight brightness trend in the yearly averaged data, most pronounced in the V band. We have measured the relative fluxes of optical emission lines on the spectrograms taken with the 1.25-m telescope at the Southern Station of the SAI MSU in 1999–2016, estimated the absolute flux in the Hβ line to be F(Hβ) = (2.1 ± 0.4) × 10^?12 erg cm^?2 s^?1, and determined the interstellar extinction constant c(Hβ) = 1.8. The electron temperature and density in the nebula have been estimated from diagnostic line ratios: T_e = (10?12) × 10³ K and Ne ≥ 10⁵ cm^?3. To detect any possible evolutionary changes, we have compared the new observations with the archival data obtained over the entire history of spectroscopic observations of Vy 2-2. No significant changes in the relative intensities of the strongest emission lines and the integrated flux in the Hβ line exceeding the observational errors have been found. We have revealed a tendency for the intensity ratio F(λ4363)/F(λ4959) to decrease with time, which may be related to a decrease in the electron density in the nebula. Based on our photometric and spectroscopic data, we have estimated the luminosity of the central star of Vy 2-2, which corresponds to the evolutionary tracks for the most massive post-AGB stars of the O-rich sequence.     

Towards a theory for type III solar radio bursts

The mechanisms for the transformation of plasma waves into radiation near the fundamental and second harmonic of the plasma frequency are reviewed and equations are given for both the emission and absorption coefficients for these mechanisms. Near the fundamental the process is the scattering of plasma waves on the polarization clouds of ions and the absorption coefficient can be negative, i.e. the radiation can be amplified. Near the second harmonic the process is the combination of two excited plasma waves for which the absorption coefficient can only be positive. These results are applied to construct models of the radiation source for type III solar radio bursts both at high frequencies where the fundamental is dominant and at low frequencies where the second harmonic is dominant using two model plasma wave spectra, one being one-dimensional, the other isotropic. At high frequencies second harmonic radiation is used to determine the source area for a given energy density in plasma waves W _p . The source size and W _p are detrmined uniquely for a given plasma wave spectrum by tracing rays in a model source taking into account amplification of the fundamental. The results for a strong source at the 80 MHz plasma level with a ratio of emissivities of the fundamental to second harmonic P(ω _p )/P(2ω _p ) ≈ 10 are that the source with a one-dimensional plasma wave spectrum is about 14000 km in diameter and W _p = 10^?6.52 erg cm^?3, and the source with an isotropic distribution of plasma waves is about 200 km in diameter and W _p = 10^?6.3 erg cm^?3. It is shown that at low frequencies, where amplification of the fundamental is no longer possible, second harmonic radiation must be dominant and thus very little information about the source can obtained from the radiation.     

Spectral analysis of the optical continuum in the 24 April 1981 flare

Spectrograph and multiple-band polarimeter observations of the 24 April 1981 white-light flare indicate the presence of an optical continuum with intensity increasing strongly below 4000 Å. The flare emission (lines and continuum combined) is unpolarized and, at 3600 Å, exceeds the brightness of the background solar surface by 360%. Analysis of the spectrum between 3600 and 8200 Å, at a location three arc sec from the brightest point in the kernel, yields a probable temperature of 6700 K for the continuum emitting layer. The wavelength dependence of the continuum indicates emission by both negative hydrogen (H^?) and Balmer continuum, with the H^? probably originating in the upper photosphere at a height (above τ_{5000 Å} = 1) in the range 200–300 km. Analysis of the Balmer lines and continuum yields an electron density 5.3 × 10¹³ cm^?3 and a second-level hydrogen column density 1.1 × 10¹⁶ cm^?2. The peak radiative output integrated over wavelength is 6.1 × 10²⁷ erg s^?1. The observed continuum intensity, if originating at a height of 300 km, implies an energy loss rate of 10³ erg s^?1 cm^?3.     

On the detection and utilization of gravity waves in airglow studies

We develop here theoretical relations between fluctuations of airglow brightness, fluctuations of temperature as revealed by airglow, and the atmospheric gravity waves that are believed to cause these fluctuations. We note and account for differences between our relations and those obtained by Krassovsky (1972, Ann. Geophys. 28, 739) and Weinstock (1978, J. geophys. Res. 83, 5175), correcting both of the latter in the process. We explicitly repudiate the need for a nonlinear treatment of O₂(¹Σ_g) emissions as it was asserted by Weinstock, one aspect of the nonlinear treatment he gave, and the conclusions he drew from that treatment, including, inter alia, the conclusion that temperature fluctuations carry more meaning as a diagnostic than do brightness fluctuations. Instead, we note the dependence of both types of fluctuation on variable gravity-wave parameters, which dependence can be applied to the study of gravity waves via airglow or of airglow via gravity waves. As a first step, we note the ability of the present analysis to account for certain observations of OH and O₂(¹Σ_g) emissions that have been, until now, inadequately or incorrectly explained, and we stress the importance of the proper measurement of parameters such as wave frequency and propagation speed if our own tentative explanations are to be put to the test and further progress is to be made.     

On the structure of Mars' atmosphere at 120–220 km

Altitude dependences of [CO₂] and [CO₂⁺] are deduced from Mariner 6 and 7 CO₂⁺ airglow measurements. CO₂ densities are also obtained from n_e radio occultation measurements. Both [CO₂] profiles are similar and correspond to the model atmosphere of Barth et al. (1972) at 120 km, but at higher altitudes they diverge and at 200–220 km the obtained [CO₂] values are three times less the model. Both the airglow and radio occultation observations show that a correction factor of 2.5 should be included into the values for solar ionization flux given by Hinteregger (1970). The ratio of [CO₂⁺]/n_e is 0.15–0.2 and, hence, [O]/[CO₂] is ～3% at 135 km. An atmospheric and ionospheric model is developed for 120–220 km. The calculated temperature profile is characterized by a value of T ≈ 370°K at h ? 220 km, a steep gradient (～2°/km) at 200-160 km, a bend in the profile at 160 km, a small gradient (～0.7°/km) below and a value of T ≈ 250°K at 120 km. The upper point agrees well with the results of the Lyman-α measurements; the steep gradient may be explained by molecular viscosity dissipation of gravity and acoustical waves (the corresponding energy flux is 4 × 10^?2 erg cm^?2sec^?1 at 180 km). The bend at 160 km may be caused by a sharp decrease of the eddy diffusion coefficient and defines K ≈ 2 × 10⁸cm²sec^?1; and the low gradient gives an estimate of the efficiency of the atmosphere heating by the solar radiation as ? ≈ 0.1.     

The hydrogen emission spectrum in three white-light flares

We present spectral data for three white-light flares (WLFs) showing Balmer continuum at wavelengths 3700 Å. These flares also have a weaker continuum extending toward longer wavelengths, from which, in one flare where this continuum is sufficiently bright, we are able to identify a Paschen jump near 8500 Å. The presence of the latter suggests that the Paschen continuum may be a substantial contributor to the WLF continuum at visible wavelengths. We note the possibility, therefore, that the entire continuum of this particular flare may be dominated by H _fb emission.In all three flares the head of the Balmer continuum, as well as the head of the Paschen continuum in the flare where it was identified, is advanced toward longer wavelengths as a result of the blending of the hydrogen emission lines of the respective series. The principal quantum number of the last resolvable line of the Balmer or Paschen series is approximately 16. The electron density, as measured from the halfwidths of the high Balmer lines in two of the flares, is approximately 5 × 10¹³ cm^–3. Due to possible misplacements of the spectrograph slit, however, the electron density in the brightest kernels of the WLFs may not have been obtained.Operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc. under contract AST 78-17292 with the National Science Foundation.     

Upper limits on O VI emission fromVoyager observations

We have examined 426Voyager fields distributed across the sky for O VI (γγ 1032/1038 å) emission from the Galactic diffuse interstellar medium. No such emission was detected in any of our observed fields. Our most constraining limit was a 90% confidence upper limit of 2600 photons cm^?2 sr^?1 s^?1 on the doublet emission in the direction (l, b) = (117.3, 50.6). Combining this with an absorption line measurement in nearly the same direction allows us to place an upper limit of 0.01 cm^?3 on the electron density of the hot gas in this direction. We have placed 90% confidence upper limits of less than or equal to 10,000 photons cm^?2 sr^?1 s^?1 on the O VI emission in 16 of our 426 observations.     

The effects of density gradients on the convective amplification of upper hybrid waves in the magnetosphere

Intense (? 10 mVm^?1) electrostatic plasma waves near the upper hybrid frequency have been observed between ± 50° magnetic latitude during spacecraft plasmapause crossings. We present wave growth rate and three-dimensional convective amplification calculations which suggest how intense upper hybrid (IUH) events can occur over such a wide range of latitudes. The effects of wave refraction are shown to be crucial to the proper calculation of convective amplification.We first calculate upper hybrid wave growth for an IUH event at 10° MLAT during which a complete electron distribution function with a loss cone feature was measured simultaneously with the waves. We show that a parallel density gradient may be necessary to account for the observed amplification. Without such a density gradient, the dipole magnetic field gradient would quickly refract the wave vector component parallel to the local field lines out of the unstable region in wave vector space. Upon mapping the distribution function observed at 10° MLAT to other latitudes by conserving the electrons' magnetic moments, we then find that the mapped distribution could produce large amplification at higher latitudes only if there is an appropriate parallel density gradient. At the equator, the long magnetic field gradient scale length enables large amplitudes to be attained without a density gradient.The results of our UH ray tracing analysis are related to theories and observations of magnetospheric continuum radiation.     

Statistical Analysis of Large-Scale EUV Waves Observed by STEREO/EUVI

We statistically analyzed the kinematical evolution and wave pulse characteristics of 60 strong large-scale EUV wave events that occurred during January 2007 to February 2011 with the STEREO twin spacecraft. For the start velocity, the arithmetic mean is 312±115 km?s^?1 (within a range of 100?–?630 km?s^?1). For the mean (linear) velocity, the arithmetic mean is 254±76 km?s^?1 (within a range of 130?–?470 km?s^?1). 52 % of all waves under study show a distinct deceleration during their propagation (a≤?50 m?s^?2), the other 48 % are consistent with a constant speed within the uncertainties (?50≤a≤50 m?s^?2). The start velocity and the acceleration are strongly anticorrelated with c≈?0.8, i.e. initially faster events undergo stronger deceleration than slower events. The (smooth) transition between constant propagation for slow events and deceleration in faster events occurs at an EUV wave start-velocity of v≈230 km?s^?1, which corresponds well to the fast-mode speed in the quiet corona. These findings provide strong evidence that the EUV waves under study are indeed large-amplitude fast-mode MHD waves. This interpretation is also supported by the correlations obtained between the peak velocity and the peak amplitude, impulsiveness, and build-up time of the disturbance. We obtained the following association rates of EUV wave events with other solar phenomena: 95 % are associated with a coronal mass ejection (CME), 74 % to a solar flare, 15 % to interplanetary type II bursts, and 22 % to coronal type II bursts. These findings are consistent with the interpretation that the associated CMEs are the driving agents of the EUV waves.     

Replenishment of electrons lost in the south atlantic anomaly by gyroresonant pitch-angle diffusion

Experimental data describing the effect of the South Atlantic anomaly on E? 280 keV electron flux at L = 2 and high B values, are compared to the numerical solution of a pitch-angle diffusion equation with a varying loss cone. The diffusion coefficient needed to explain replenishment of the electrons lost over the anomaly is found to be 3.2 × 10^?2 sec^?1 Calculation of the diffusion coefficient due to cyclotron resonant interaction with VLF electro-magnetic waves leads to the conclusion that the observed wave spectral density can yield the needed diffusion coefficient.     

Pressure-induced absorption by H2 in the atmosphere of Jupiter and Saturn

The S(1) line of the pressure-induced fundamental band of H₂ was identified and measured in the spectra of Saturn and Jupiter. This broad line at 4750 cm^?1 lies in a region free from telluric and planetary absorptions. It is about 99% absorbing in the core; the high-frequency wing extends to at least 5100 cm^?1. We compare the obseved line shape to the predictions of both a reflecting-layer model (RLM) and a homogeneous scattering model (HSM). The RLM provides a good fit to the Saturn line profile for temperatures near 150K; the derived base-level density is 0.52 (+0.26, ?0.17) amagat and the H₂ abundance is 25 (+10, ?9) km-amagat, assuming a scale height of 48 km. The Jupiter line profile is fit by both the RLM and HSM, but for widely differing temperatures, neither of which seems probable. The precise fitting of the observed S(1) line profile to computed models depends critically on the determination of the true continuum level; difficulties encountered in finding the continuum, especially for Jupiter, are discussed. Derived RLM densities and abundances for both planets are substantially lower than those derived from RLM analyses of the H₂ quadrupole lines, the 3ν₃ band of CH₄, and from other sources.     

Analysis of the HST ultraviolet spectra for T Tauri stars: RY Tau and HD 115043

The ultraviolet spectra of the stars RY Tau and HD 115043 from the Hubble Space Telescope are analyzed. RY Tau belongs to the classical T Tauri stars, while HD 115043 is a young (t~3×10⁸ years), chromospherically active star. The most intense emission lines were identified, and their fluxes were measured. Low-resolution spectra of RY Tau and HD 115043 in the wavelength range 1160–1760 Å exhibit almost the same set of emission lines. However, first, the luminosity of RY Tau in these lines is approximately a factor of 300 higher than that of HD 115043, and, second, the relative line intensities differ greatly. The intensity ratio of the C IV λ1550, Si IV λ1400, and NV λ1240 doublet components is close to 1: 2 in the spectra of both stars. Judging by the continuum energy distribution, the spectral type of RY Tau is later than that of HD 115043. Synchronous flux variability in the C IV λ1550 and He II λ1640 lines in a time of ~20 min was detected in RY Tau. The flux rise in these lines was accompanied by a redshift of the intensity peak in the profiles by~50 km s^?1. Intermediate-resolution spectra are used to study line profiles in the spectrum of RY Tau. In particular, the profiles of (optically thin) Si III]λ1892 and C III]λ1909 lines were found to be asymmetric and about 300 km s^?1 in width. The (optically thick) C IV λ1550 doublet lines have similar profiles. The Mg II λ2800 doublet lines are also asymmetric, but their shape is different: they consist of a broad (?750 km s^?1 at the base) emission component on which an interstellar absorption line shifted from the line symmetry center by about 20 km s^?1 is superimposed. The intensity ratio of the Mg II λ2800 doublet components is?1.4. Whether there are molecular hydrogen lines in the spectrum of RY Tau is still an open question. It is shown that the emission lines in the ultraviolet spectrum of RY Tau cannot originate in a hydrostatically equilibrium chromosphere. It is argued that quasi-steady accretion of circumstellar matter is responsible for the emission.     

Oxygen airglow emission on Venus and Mars as seen by VIRTIS/VEX and OMEGA/MEX imaging spectrometers

Imaging spectrometers are highly effective instruments for investigation of planetary atmospheres. They present the advantage of coupling the compositional information to the spatial distribution, allowing simultaneous study of chemistry and dynamics in the atmospheres of Venus and Mars. In this work, we summarize recent results about the O₂(a¹Δ_g) night and day glows, respectively obtained by VIRTIS/Venus Express and OMEGA/Mars Express, the imaging spectrometers currently in orbit around Venus and Mars. The case of the O₂(a¹Δ_g - X³Σ_g⁻) IR emission at 1.27 μm on the night side of Venus and the day side of Mars is analyzed, pointing out dynamical aspects of these planets, like the detection of gravity waves in their atmospheres. The monitoring of seasonal and daily airglow variations provides hints about the photochemistry on these planets.     

A VLA search for 2-cm continuum radiation from Comet Halley

We used the VLA² to search for continuum emission from icy grains in a halo around Comet Halley in mid November 1985. We found the 3σ upper limit to the 2-cm flux density from the comet to be 1 × 10⁻⁴ Jy, which is consistent with the detections at 1.3 and 3.5 mm by W.J. Altenhoff et al. (1986, Astron. Astrophys., in press) only if the emission comes from particles which do not radiate efficiently at centimeter wavelengths. These particles could be slightly dirty submillimeter-sized icy grains or small refractory grains.