Slowly varying component spectrum of the solar radio emission at millimetre wavelengths

This paper deals with the observed data on the solar S-component sources at millimetre wavelengths. The observations were made in 1968 and 1969 using the 22-m radio telescope of the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory at six wavelengths: 2, 4, 6, 8, 13 and 17 mm. The enhanced intensity of the solar active region in comparison with the quiet Sun level varies proportionally to ^–2 if the wavelength is within the range of 2 ÷ 6 mm. In the wavelength band of 6 ÷ 17 mm almost flat spectra of the solar S-component sources is observed. Assuming the bremsstrahlung mechanism of the radio emission for the quiet Sun and the solar active regions an attempt has been made to treat the above presented data. It appears that the most probable explanation of the 2 ÷ 6 mm spectrum is that the S-component sources are opaque. In the 6 ÷ 17 mm wavelength band there are two possibilities: the active region may be either transparent or opaque. But in the last case the source brightness temperature must be proportional to ². Some differences in the spectra of the sources, identified with flocculi and with bipolar sunspot groups, were mentioned. The cold regions (as compared with the quiet Sun) were observed up to = 2 mm and identified with the filaments. However, its visibility falls when the wavelength decreases.     

The radio radius of the Sun at millimeter and centimeter wavelengths

The radio radius of the Sun is determined from an analysis of the radio contact times of the 7 March, 1970 and 10 July, 1972 solar eclipses from = 3 mm to = 31 cm. Agreement with other eclipse measurements is good. A best fit curve through the several points gives the radio radius to within approximately ±0.01 of the photosheric radius below -5 cm.     

Radio observation of the solar eclipse of May 20, 1966

The eclipse of May 20, 1966 was observed at the wavelengths of 3.2 and 9.1 cm by three Arcetri expeditions. The curves obtained by deriving the occultation curves have been filtered by digital techniques to cut off high frequency noise; by them, many characteristics of three sources of the S-component present on the disk have been studied: temperature, dimensions, emitted flux and brightness distribution. Isophotes of the latter are compared with isophotes of the corresponding H plages for two sources: a close similarity results for one of them. Moreover it is shown that: (a) the height above the photosphere of the sources at = 9.1 cm is greater than that of the sources at = 3.2 cm; (b) the maximum of the radio emission is not always placed exactly above a sunspot or above the sunspot group barycentre.Fitting the observed brightness temperatures, as frequency functions, by a power law and using a temperature model of an active region, the electron density distribution can be deduced. The obtained electron density distributions are compared with various models of active regions.     

The mid-IR radio correlation at high angular resolution: NGC253

We present high angular resolution (1.2), narrow band (/=0.1) images of the nucleus of NGC253 at three wavelengths in the mid-IR (8.5, 10.0, and 12.5 m). We find that most of the mid-IR flux in the nucleus of NGC253 derives from a very small region 120 pc in diameter. Within this small region there are three spatially and spectrally distinct IR components: two bright compact sources, and a surrounding envelope of low level, diffuse emission. The mid-IR and 6cm radio are loosely correlated in position but not in brightness. The implication is that the mid-IR - radio correlation may begin to break down on small spatial scales relevant to individual star forming regions and large individual sources. These variations in the mid-IR spectra and in the radio-IR correlation imply that the nuclear emission is excited by more than one mechanism and source type.     

Optical Observations of the Nearby Isolated Pulsar PSR 0656+14 at the SAO 6-meter Telescope.

BVR data for the middle-aged radio pulsar PSR 0656+14 obtained on January 20-21, 1996 at the 6-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory are presented. The brightness of a star-like object coincident with the position of the VLA radio source in the Cousins B filter is B 25.1, with eff = 4448Å, adjacent to the HST F130LP long-pass filter. The relatively large V and R fluxes (3 or > 10-30 ergs cm-2 s-2 Hz-1) provide evidence that the optical emission of this pulsar is non-thermal up to 6600 Å. Most probably, in the UV-optical (BVR) spectral range, a power-law spectrum is super-imposed on the thermal-like emission of the neutron star surface, which could be related to the mechanism of the pulsar activity itself.     

Solar active regions at millimeter wavelengths

Some properties of solar active regions at 9, 3.5 and 1.2 mm wavelengths are discussed. The regions have excess brightness temperatures of up to 1000, 700 and 150 K at 9, 3.5 and 1.2 mm wavelengths. The background radiation at 3.5 mm is often seen to be absorbed in regions closely coincident with H dark filaments on the disk. Interpretation of this absorption as due to the large optical thickness of the overlying filamentary material leads to an estimate of electron density in the filaments. The 9 and 3.5 mm- regions show almost one-to-one correspondence with the Ca-plage regions as well as with the regions on magnetograms. The latter relationship suggests the possibility of measuring chromospheric magnetic fields from the measurement of polarization at millimeter wavelengths.     

The high-dispersion continuous ultraviolet solar spectrum and the Balmer-jump

Among the intensities, determined at about 200 wavelengths between 3000 and 4100 Å in the spectrum of the centre of the sun's disk (Houtgast, 1965), the 32 highest ones (windows) were plotted and compared with absolute intensities given by other authors.The intensities in between the Fraunhofer lines from 3600 to 4000 Å, as determined here for the first time with high dispersion, reveal a detailed picture of several absorption features, one of which can be attributed to a Balmer jump of 0.03, a value in accordance with that found for stars and in agreement with the strengths of the high Balmer lines.The much higher value of the Balmer jump for the sun, as quoted in literature, in reality refers to the total intensity jump between 4000 and 3600 Å, which is mainly due to the crowding of Fraunhofer lines.     

Optical observations of line profile variability in the WN5 star HD 50896

The WN5 star HD 50896 is a well known variable star but the cause of the variations is uncertain. As part of an extensive observing campaign on HD 50896, 68 spectra were obtained with the AAT and UCL echelle spectrograph over three nights in January 1991. The variations seen in the emission line profiles of He II 4686, He II 4860, N V 4945 and N V 4603, 4620, sampling different regions of the wind, are described. Gross night-to-night changes are seen in the tops of all the emission lines, with the pattern of variability being different for each line, as a consequence of the different line formation regions. The edges of the emission line profiles are seen to shift but not in a systematic way, as expected for binary motion. In terms of hourly variations which monitor the propagation of instabilities in the wind, distinct blobs are seen moving outwards through the emission line profiles of the He II lines but are absent in NV 4945. This appears to indicate that, at least for the epoch of these observations, the instabilities develop farther out in the wind than the N V formation region and may well rule out photospheric-induced wind instabilities.     

A search for unique objects in nearby galaxies

A list of 171 stars in the galaxy M33 is presented. The stars could be considered as candidates for unique objects, such as SS 433, S Dor, P Cyg stars and possibly new kinds of peculiar objects. All these stars have been selected on the basis of the similarity to SS 433, free from interstellar absorption: OB star with strongH emission or with HeII 4686 and CIII, NIII 4630 - 4660 emission lines; a hot star inside a supernovae remnant or radio nebula. The variability of these stars has been used as an additional criterion of the selection. It is important to carry out spectral observations of the presented stars, which will allow us to select stars with intrinsicH emission.     

The UV spectrum of the binary system SZ Psc

In this paper we study the far-UV as well as the UV spectrum of the spectroscopic binary system SZ Psc in the wavelength ranges 1235–1950 Å and 2710–3090 Å, respectively, from spectra obtained with the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE). The UV spectrum of SZ Psc is mainly an emission spectrum. The short wavelength region includes emission lines formed from the low chromosphere to the transition region (e.g., Siiv,Civ, andNv) and also a deep and broad absorption line of Feii.The Mgii[1] resonance doublet at about 2800 Å presents a P Cygni profile and a multiple structure with two emission and two absorption satellite components. We also present the emission measure diagram in the temperature region 4.4T _e <53.     

Interferometer observations of the solar brightness distribution at 8.6 mm wavelength

The brightness distribution of the quiet Sun at 8.6 mm wavelength is synthesized from off-meridian observations using an eight element east-west interferometer with a maximum base line of 16.38 m (1913). The observed brightness distribution is practically flat from the disk center to the optical limb. The effective radius of the nearly uniform component is 1.01 R . If the limb brightening is present, the brightening located between 0.95 R and 1.01 R , and the total flux density of the limb brightening is less than 1% of the total flux density of the Sun. In addition to the nearly uniform component there exists a coronal component just outside the optical limb.     

Spectroscopic Data for the 6it s6it p 3 P1 level of Lu+ for the Determination of the Solar Lutetium Abundance

We report spectroscopic measurements on the 6s6p ³P₁ level of Lu⁺ at 28503.16 cm^-1. The radiative lifetime of this level was measured to be 37.4 ± 1.9 ns using time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence of a slow ion beam. Branching fractions were determined from Lu spectra recorded using the 1.0 m Fourier transform spectrometer at the National Solar Observatory. Thelog(gf) values determined by combining the radiative lifetime and branching fractions for the 3507.39, 5983.90, and 6221.87 (air wavelengths) lines are - 1.16 ± 0.03, - 1.16 ± 0.06, and -0.76 ± 0.04, respectively. The 6221.87 line has been identified by Bord, Cowley, and Mirijanian (1997) as the best candidate for the determination of the solar lutetium abundance because it is only slightly blended in the solar spectrum. The present 6221.87 transition probability measurement brings their solar lutetium abundance into good agreement with the CI chondrite abundance.     

Scanner observations of the Be starsν Gem,κ Ori,β Mon andω CMa

The photoelectric spectrophotometric scans of the Be stars Gem, Ori, Mon and CMa have been analyzed to find out few stellar parameters. The absolute energy distributions of these stars in the wavelength range 350–750 nm have been given. Their effective temperatures and gravities have been estimated from comparisons with non-LTE model atmospheres. The stars Gem and Mon have been found to have Balmer discontinuities in emission. The excess emission in the region 620–750 nm has been observed for Mon and CMa. The evolutionary aspects of these stars are discussed and their masses have been estimated.     

The ionization mechanism in low level emission galaxy nuclei: Shocks

We analyze the emission component of galaxy nuclei at very low intensity levels (W(H)2Å). This emission level is considerably lower than that of classical LINERS like NGC 1052. We have access to weaker emission lines by averaging spectra with similar line ratios for H [NII], and [SII]. From the resulting spectrum for very low level emission nuclei, the [SII] 6717, 6731/[SIII] 9069, 9532 line ratio criterion (Diazet al., 1985a) unambiguously shows that shock-wave heating is the mechanism responsible for the ionization in such objects.     

Quiet Sun observations of the Ali autoionization lines λ1932 and λ1936

We present quiet Sun observations obtained during a rocket flight of the Al i autoionization lines 1932 and 1936 at solar pointings ranging from = 0.73 out to the visible limb. Absolute intensities are estimated to be accurate to approximately ±20%. These lines progressively weaken with decreasing but never go into emission before finally disappearing with the continuum just beyond the visible solar limb. The observations are compared with LTE line profiles computed through the quiet Sun atmosphere of Vernazza et al. (1976). We discuss several areas of disagreement between the synthetic and observed profiles.     

Ultraviolet observations of interstellar molecules and grains fromSpacelab

Observational results obtained to date on interstellar grains and molecules are briefly reviewed, and several promising areas for further research withSpacelab are suggested. Regarding grains, useful data can be expected on the shape of the ultraviolet extinction curve for new interstellar regions; the nature of UV extinction at short wavelengths, down to the Lyman limit; the presence or absence of structure in the UV extinction curve comparable to the visible-wavelength diffuse bands; the scattering properties of grains in new kinds of clouds and nebulae; and the polarization properties of grains in UV wavelengths. The principal advances which may be expected in observations of molecules will include the ability to probe more heavily-obscured regions, where molecular species are more abundant than in the diffuse clouds observed to date; coverage of wavelength regions (such as 1400–3200) not well-studied with previous instruments such asCopernicus; and the capability of observing in optical absorption species detected in the same line of sight in radio emission, which provides unique information on cloud geometry and physical conditions.     

Mean free paths and diffusion coefficients for energetic protons at small heliodistances calculated using Helios 1 and 2 data

Pitch angle scattering of energetic particles (100 MeV) in the interplanetary medium are studied using Helios 1 and 2 magnetometer and plasma data during 1976 near the minimum of solar activity. An IMF configuration was used in the computer experiments which allowed the pitch angle diffusion coefficient, D and hence the parallel mean free path, to be determined. The radial mean free path was found to vary as _r r ^-0.9 between 0.4 and 1 AU, but between 0.3 and 0.4 AU it decreases significantly. To reconcile our value of _r at 1 AU, lying between 0.01 and 0.02 AU, with the average prompt solar proton event profile, an increasing value of _r at lower radial distances would be required.     

Measuring electron density in coronal active regions

In order to study the electron density at the scale of the most encountered structures in coronal active regions a new multichannel coronagraph associated with a photoelectric spectrograph is now used at the Pic-du-Midi Observatory. In its quasi-routine mode this instrument, which is described in this paper, works with a 30 field aperture in a parallel manner with aK-polarimeter. On each observed region it obtains maps of intensities of the 3388, 10747, and 10798 Å emission lines due to Fexiii ion. Each measurement point is associated with a quasi-simultaneous image of the emission corona structures viewed in the light of the5303 Å line of Fexiv. Three examples of observations are given and the capabilities are discussed.Measuring electron density in coronal active regions. II A multichannel photoelectric coronagraph with a photo-electric spectrograph and a reflex monitor at5303 Å.LA du CNRS No. 040285.     

Scanner observations of comet P/Crommelin 18181

Spectral scans of the coma of comet P/Crommelin 1818. I have been obtained in the wavelength range 3200–6500 Å. Strong emission features of CN(3883 Å) and C₂ Swan bands (4695, 5165, and 5538 Å) have been identified. Some weak emission features of CH(3890 Å), C₃(4050 Å), CN(4200 »), and C₂ + CH(4358 ») were also detected. Sodium was found to be absent in this comet. An estimate of CN and C₂ abundances has been made and their production rate have been derived.     

Interferometer observations of a radio burst at 8.6 mm associated with a polarized hard X-ray event

Observations of a radio burst at 8.6 mm wavelength on 1970 November 5, are described with the particular interest on the correspondence between radio and polarized X-ray events. The radio observations were carried out using an interferometer with a half power width of 2.9 at the Dept. of Physics, Nagoya University, and indicated that the location of the radio burst coincided with preceding sunspots and the size of the burst source must be very small, less than about 1. Mechanisms of radio and X-ray emissions are discussed briefly.