Impacts on Cosmic-Ray Intensity Observed During Geomagnetic Disturbances

Geomagnetic disturbances are the results of interplanetary causes such as high-speed streamers (HSSs), interplanetary coronal mass ejections (ICMEs), corotating interaction regions (CIRs), and magnetic clouds. During different forms of geomagnetic disturbances, we observed changes in the count rate at neutron monitors that are kept at various locations. We studied the count rates measured by neutron monitors at four stations at various latitudes during different categories of geomagnetic events and compared them. We analysed five events: a geomagnetically quiet event, a non-storm high-intensity long-duration continuous AE activity (HILDCAA) event, a storm-preceded HILDCAA event, a geomagnetic substorm event, and a geomagnetic moderate storm event. We based our analysis on geomagnetic indices, solar wind parameters, and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) parameters. We found that the strength of the modulation was least during the quiet event and highest during the storm-preceded HILDCAA. By analysing the cause of these geomagnetic disturbances, we related each decrease in the neutron monitor data with the corresponding solar cause. For the ICME-driven storm, we observed a decrease in neutron monitor data ranging from 6% to 12% in all stations. On the other hand, we observed a decrease ranging from 2% to 5% for the HSS-driven storm. For the non-storm HILDCAA, we observed a decrease in neutron monitor data of about 1% to 1.5%. For the quiet event, the neutron monitor data fluctuated such that there was no overall decrease in all stations.     

[Ti ii] and [Ni ii] emission from the strontium filament of η Carinae

We study the nature of the [Ti  ii ] and [Ni  ii ] emission from the so-called strontium filament found in the ejecta of η Carinae. To this purpose, we employ multilevel models of the Ti  ii and Ni  ii systems, which are used to investigate the physical condition of the filament and the excitation mechanisms of the observed lines. For the Ti  ii ion, for which no atomic data were previously available, we carry out ab initio calculations of radiative transition rates and electron impact excitation rate coefficients. It is found that the observed spectrum is consistent with the lines being excited in a mostly neutral region with an electron density of the order of 10⁷ cm⁻³ and a temperature around 6000 K. In analysing three observations with different slit orientations recorded between 2000 March and 2001 November, we find line ratios that change among various observations, in a way consistent with changes of up to an order of magnitude in the strength of the continuum radiation field. These changes result from different samplings of the extended filament due to the different slit orientations used for each observation, and yield clues on the spatial extent and optical depth of the filament. The observed emission indicates a large Ti/Ni abundance ratio relative to solar abundances. It is suggested that the observed high Ti/Ni ratio in gas is caused by dust–gas fractionation processes and does not reflect the absolute Ti/Ni ratio in the ejecta of η Carinae. We study the condensation chemistry of Ti, Ni and Fe within the filament and suggest that the observed gas phase overabundance of Ti is likely the result of selective photoevaporation of Ti-bearing grains. Some mechanisms for such a scenario are proposed.     

Type-II Bursts in Meter and Deca – Hectometer Wavelengths and Their Relation to Flares and CMEs: II

Solar coronal holes (CHs) are large regions of the corona magnetically open to interplanetary space. The nearly rigid north?–?south CH boundaries (CHBs) of equatorward extensions of polar CHs are maintained while the underlying photospheric fields rotate differentially, so interchange magnetic reconnection is presumed to be occurring continually at the CHBs. The time and size scales of the required reconnection events at CHBs have not been established from previous observations with soft X-ray images. We use TRACE 195 Å observations on 9 December 2000 of a long-lived equatorial extension of the negative-polarity north polar CH to look for changes of ??5 arcsec to >?20 arcsec at the western CHB. Brightenings and dimmings are observed on both short (≈?5 minutes) and long (≈?7 hours) time scales, but the CHB maintains its quasi-rigid location. The transient CHB changes do not appear associated with either magnetic field enhancements or the changes in those field enhancements observed in magnetograms from the Michelson Doppler Imager (MDI) on SOHO. In seven hours of TRACE observations we find no examples of the energetic jets similar to those observed to occur in magnetic reconnection in polar plumes. The lack of dramatic changes in the diffuse CHB implies that gradual magnetic reconnection occurs high in the corona with large (??10°) loops and/or weak coronal fields. We compare our results with recent observations of active regions at CHBs. We also discuss how the magnetic polarity symmetry surrounding quasi-rigid CHs implies an asymmetry in the interchange reconnection process and a possible asymmetry in the solar wind composition from the eastern and western CHB source regions.     

Changes in measured vector magnetic fields when transformed into heliographic coordinates

In this paper we investigate the changes that occur in measured magnetic fields when they are transformed into a heliographic coordinate system. To carry out this investigation we took measurements of the vector magnetic field of an active region that was observed at 1/3 the solar radius from disk center and transformed the observed field into heliographic coordinates. We also examined differences in the calculated potential field that occur when the heliographic normal component of the field is used as the boundary condition rather than the observed line-of-sight component. The results of this analysis show (1) that the observed fields of sunspots more closely resemble the generally accepted picture of the distribution of umbral fields if they are displayed in heliographic coordinates, (2) that the differences in the potential calculations are less than 200 G in field strength and 20° in field azimuth outside sunspots, and (3) that differences in the two potential calculations in the sunspot areas are no more than 400 G in field strength but range from 60 to 80° in field azimuth in localized umbral areas.     

Magnetic Connectivity Between Active Regions 10987, 10988, and 10989 by Means of Nonlinear Force-Free Field Extrapolation

Extrapolation codes for modelling the magnetic field in the corona in Cartesian geometry do not take the curvature of the Sun’s surface into account and can only be applied to relatively small areas, e.g., a single active region. We apply a method for nonlinear force-free coronal magnetic field modelling of photospheric vector magnetograms in spherical geometry which allows us to study the connectivity between multi-active regions. We use Vector Spectromagnetograph (VSM) data from the Synoptic Optical Long-term Investigations of the Sun (SOLIS) survey to model the coronal magnetic field, where we study three neighbouring magnetically connected active regions (ARs 10987, 10988, 10989) observed on 28, 29, and 30 March 2008, respectively. We compare the magnetic field topologies and the magnetic energy densities and study the connectivities between the active regions. We have studied the time evolution of the magnetic field over the period of three days and found no major changes in topologies, as there was no major eruption event. From this study we have concluded that active regions are much more connected magnetically than the electric current.     

The Evolution of Black Hole States

We discuss the evolution of black hole transients on the basis of a few systems that were intensively observed with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer (rxte). We focus on the global evolution and the observed state transitions. Rather than giving a numerical recipe for classifying observations, we try to identify times during outbursts at which clear changes occur in the X-ray variability, X-ray spectral, or multi-wavelength properties.     

Magnetic Activity Associated With Radio Noise Storms

As it crossed the solar disk in May and June 1998, AR 8227 was tracked by TRACE, Yohkoh, SOHO, and many ground-based observatories. We have studied how the evolution of the magnetic field resulted in changes in activity in the corona. In particular, we examine how the evolving field may have led to the acceleration of electrons which emit noise storms observed by the Nançay Radio Heliograph between 30 May and 1 June 1998, in the absence of any flare. The magnetic changes were related to moving magnetic features (MMFs) in the vicinity of the leading spot and are related to the decay of this spot. Within the limits of the instrumental capabilities, the location in time and space of the radio emissions followed the changes observed in the photospheric magnetograms. We have extrapolated the photospheric magnetic field with a linear force-free approximation and find that the active region magnetic field was very close to being potential. These computations show a complex magnetic topology associated to the MMFs. The observed photospheric evolution is expected to drive magnetic reconnection in such complex magnetic topology. We therefore propose that the MMFs are at the origin of the observed metric noise-storms.     

Chromaticity of gravitational microlensing events

In this paper, we investigate the colour changes of gravitational microlensing events caused by the two different mechanisms of differential amplification for a limb-darkened extended source and blending. From this investigation, we find that the colour changes of limb-darkened extended source events (colour curves) have dramatically different characteristics depending on whether the lens transits the source star or not. We show that for a source transit event, the lens proper motion can be determined by simply measuring the turning time of the colour curve instead of fitting the overall colour or light curves. We also find that even for a very small fraction of blended light, the colour changes induced by blending are equivalent to those induced by limb darkening, causing serious distortion in the observed colour curve. Therefore, to obtain useful information about the lens and source star from the colour curve of an event, it will be essential to correct for blending. We discuss various methods of blending correction .     

Transient surface liquid in Titan’s polar regions from Cassini

Cassini RADAR images of Titan’s south polar region acquired during southern summer contain lake features which disappear between observations. These features show a tenfold increases in backscatter cross-section between images acquired one year apart, which is inconsistent with common scattering models without invoking temporal variability. The morphologic boundaries are transient, further supporting changes in lake level. These observations are consistent with the exposure of diffusely scattering lakebeds that were previously hidden by an attenuating liquid medium. We use a two-layer model to explain backscatter variations and estimate a drop in liquid depth of approximately 1-m-per-year. On larger scales, we observe shoreline recession between ISS and RADAR images of Ontario Lacus, the largest lake in Titan’s south polar region. The recession, occurring between June 2005 and July 2009, is inversely proportional to slopes estimated from altimetric profiles and the exponential decay of near-shore backscatter, consistent with a uniform reduction of 4 ± 1.3 m in lake depth.Of the potential explanations for observed surface changes, we favor evaporation and infiltration. The disappearance of dark features and the recession of Ontario’s shoreline represents volatile transport in an active methane-based hydrologic cycle. Observed loss rates are compared and shown to be consistent with available global circulation models. To date, no unambiguous changes in lake level have been observed between repeat images in the north polar region, although further investigation is warranted. These observations constrain volatile flux rates in Titan’s hydrologic system and demonstrate that the surface plays an active role in its evolution. Constraining these seasonal changes represents the first step toward our understanding of longer climate cycles that may determine liquid distribution on Titan over orbital time periods.     

Video image selection studies of granules,pores, and penumbral flows near a large sunspot

An excellent high-resolution movie in the green continuum was produced by shift-and-add treatment of two 60-min videotapes obtained at the Big Bear Solar Observatory. We have studied the digitized images by direct measurement, cross-correlation techniques, and correlation tracking. The seeing-limited resolution was about 0.3 arc sec.While the cross-correlation lifetime for granules is about five minutes, we find that actually tracking the growth and decay of a granule gives lifetimes from 10 to 22 minutes, the longest lifetimes pertaining to the largest granules. The longer lifetime comes from tracking the granule while it undergoes large changes in size and shape, while the cross-correlation lifetime is just the time in which it grows by a factor two. All the granules followed began as small elements, grew to some size, and either faded (88%), exploded (2%) or were hit by an exploding granule (10%). The major variation in granule structure appears to be due to substantial variations in the dark lanes, which often double in width.The granulation shows the typical exploding granule behavior; we find the probability that any granule will be affected by an exploding granule during its lifetime to be 10%. We also observed a larger scale explosion covering about 10 granules. This explosion was marked by rapid (1 km s^–1) outward flux of the granules.We tracked the development of six small pores, one of which could be followed for two hours. The latter showed four maxima of absorption separated by about 30 min each, virtually disappearing in between. Another was observed to form in about 20 min, but no changes occur in less than granule lifetime.We confirm the inflow in penumbral fibrils observed by Muller. The inflow velocity is about 0.5 km s^–1, and all bright spots disappear into the umbra. The inflow which affects bright and dark features in the penumbral fibrils, is also observed in the smaller spots. We surmise that the Evershed flow is limited to the areas between the bright fibrils. We confirm granular outflow outside the penumbra.     

The edge of the Kuiper belt: the Planet X scenario

Our goal is to determine whether or not the observed sudden termination of the Edgeworth-Kuiper belt can be the result of perturbations from a hypothetical planet. We investigate the effects that such an object would produce on the primordial orbital distribution if the trans-neptunian objects, for a range of masses and orbital parameters of the hypothetical planet. In this numerical investigation, the motion of the hypothetical planet was influenced by the existing planets but not by its interaction with the disk. We find that no set of parameters produce results that match the observed data. Dynamical interaction with the disk is likely to be important so that the orbit of the hypothetical planet changes significantly during the integration interval. This is also discussed. The overall conclusion is that none of the models for the hypothetical planet that were investigated can reproduce the observed features of the Edgeworth-Kuiper belt starting from any probable primordial distribution.     

Observational evidence for global oscillations in be star disks

From a long-term spectroscopic observing campaign of Be stars we have found that their emission line profiles separate into two classes, the second of which is very asymmetric. The sign of asymmetry changes on a timescale of a few years. We show that these line profiles and the well-known enigmaticV/R variations observed in some Be stars are two aspects of the same phenomenon, one-armed global oscillations in a Keplerian disk. We present model profiles and a line fit to support this hypothesis and find good overall agreement.     

Saturn's rings—A survey

In this review paper we first discuss the dimensions of major ring features and of the disk of the planet. We then summarize the observed photometric parameters, and because frozen H₂O appears to be a major ring constituent, we compare the appropriate photometric properties of various forms of snow with those of the ring. We examine several ring models, noting certain characteristics that any model should supply. In our view, a physical means of accounting for the observed ring thickness of ～2 km is a prime requirement. There appears to be one model that presents no clear observational or theoretical inconsistency. Finally, we list certain problems whose solutions should broaden our knowledge of the ring system.     

On the frequency and amplitude variations of the δ Scuti star CD−24 7599 (=XX Pyx)

We present 132 h of new time-series photometric observations of the δ Scuti star CD−24 7599 acquired during 86 nights from 1993 to 1996 to study its frequency and amplitude variations. By using all published observations we demonstrate that the three dominating pulsation modes of the star can change their photometric amplitudes within one month at certain times, while the amplitudes can remain constant within the measurement errors at other times. CD−24 7599 also exhibits frequency variations, which do not show any correspondence between the different modes.   The typical time-scale for the amplitude variations is found to be several hundred days, which is of the same order of magnitude as the inverse linear growth rates of a selected model. We find no evidence for periodic amplitude modulation of two of the investigated modes ( f ₂ and f ₃), but f ₁ may exhibit periodic modulation. The latter result could be spurious and requires confirmation. The observed frequency variations may either be continuous or reflect sudden frequency jumps. No evidence for cyclical period changes is obtained.   We exclude precession of the pulsation axis and oblique pulsation for the amplitude variations. Beating of closely spaced frequencies cannot explain the amplitude modulations of two of the modes, while it is possible for the third. Evolutionary effects, binarity, magnetic field changes or avoided crossings cannot be made responsible for the observed period changes. Only resonance between different modes may be able to explain the observations. However, at this stage a quantitative comparison is not possible. More observations, especially data leading to a definite mode identification and further measurements of the temporal behaviour of the amplitudes and frequencies of CD−24 7599, are required.     

Do changes in coronal emission structure imply magnetic reconnection?

We examine three major possible interpretations of observed reconfigurations of coronal X-ray and XUV emitting structures on a scale comparable to the size of the structures themselves. One possibility is that little change in the large-scale magnetic field configuration is associated with the change in emission. The other two possibilities are processes by which the magnetic field structure can change.We demonstrate that large changes in visibility in X-rays or XUV lines can be associated with relatively minor changes in the coronal magnetic field by showing the behavior of magnetic interconnections between individual active regions in a complex of activity observed by the S-054 X-ray spectrographic telescope on Skylab. While the large-scale interconnections are continuously present for at least several days, individual loops in these structures are visible for only relatively short times (1 day).The two theoretical possibilities which we discuss are frozen-in motion of the fields, and field line reconnection. We emphasize that reconnection occurs in regions much smaller than telescopic resolution. Because there are no measurements of the magnetic field in the corona in projection against the disk, existing observations are generally not sufficient to show in detail howmuch reconnection has occurred.The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.     

Modèle d'éjection de matière des novae

We have found that the gas of the premaximum, diffuse-enhanced and orion systems is produced by the nova itself and is ejected by shock waves in the form of discrete layers. The principal envelope originates in the gas responsible for the premaximum system, as a result of considerable, sudden increase of the radiation pressure of Lα, a certain time after the beginning of the nova explosion. The radiation pressure accelerates a part of the premaximum envelope and it is this accelerated part of the premaximum envelope that forms the principal envelope of nova. This acceleration is then transferred to the outer regions of the envelope. The mass of the principal envelope therefore increases continuously. We have rejected all the previous theories that have been proposed for the formation of the principal envelope, because the authors of the theories have supposed that the principal envelope is formed at the moment of the luminosity maximum, while in the case of Nova Delphini 1967, we have found that the principal envelope was formed about 125 days before the luminosity maximum. By accepting that the premaximum, diffuse-enhanced and orion layers are ejected by shock waves and that the principal system is produced by radiation pressure, we can interpret the luminosity curve and the variation of the radial velocity of each system as a function of time and the observed sporadic changes of luminosity or radial velocity. We have found that the luminosity comes from the gas associated with the principal envelope and that its mass is about 80% of the mass of the all matters ejected by a nova, during its activity. We have discussed the cause of the nova explosion and have concluded that there is no satisfactory theory of novae.     

Simultaneous photometric and spectral analysis of a new outburst of V1686 Cyg

We present an analysis of the optical observations of Herbig Ae/Be(HAeBe) star V1686 Cyg,which is associated with a small isolated star-forming region around HAeBe star BD+40?4124. We observed this star as a part of our project investigating young eruptive stars. Observations were conducted on the 2.6-m telescope of Byurakan Observatory from 2015 to 2017. In this period, we obtained direct images of V1686 Cyg and 14 medium-and low-resolution spectra. In the course of observations, we noticed that this star underwent an atypical brightness outburst. After data reduction, we found that the full rise and decline in the brightness of V1686 Cyg had an amplitude of almost 3 magnitudes and lasted about 3 months.We were also able to track changes in the stellar spectrum during the outburst, which are correlated with the photometric variations.     

Nonlinear interaction between Alfvén and acoustic-gravity waves in the solar atmosphere

Based on a plane-parallel isothermal model solar atmosphere permeated by a uniform magnetic field directed against the action of gravity, we considered the nonlinear interaction between vertically propagating Alfvén and acoustic-gravity waves. We established that Alfvén waves are efficiently generated at the difference and sum frequencies. We ascertained that no acoustic-gravity waves are formed at the corresponding combination frequencies. A horizontal magnetohydrodynamic wind whose direction changes with height was found to be formed in the solar atmosphere at zero difference frequency.     

Rapid changes in the sodium exosphere of Mercury

We imaged Mercury in sodium D₁ and D₂ emission for 6 days during the period 13–20 November 1997 using a 10×10-arc s aperture image slicer coupled to a high-resolution spectrograph. We corrected the sodium images for smearing by the terrestrial atmosphere by computing the actual seeing function from surface reflection images, and used this function to correct the sodium images. During the period of observation, large daily changes took place in both the total amount of sodium and its distribution over the planet. Total sodium increased by a factor of about 3 during this period. The sodium emission was brightest at longitudes near the subsolar longitude in the range 130–150°, with excess sodium at northern latitudes on some days, and excess sodium at southern latitudes on other days. There are no obviously outstanding geologic features at this longitude. The rapid changes observed during this period suggest a connection with solar activity, since the planet itself is apparently geologically inactive. The F10.7 cm solar flux during this period varied only slightly, with an increase of about 15%, probably insufficient to account for the observed changes. However, there were a number of coronal mass ejection (CME) events, some of which were directed towards the general area of Mercury. We suggest that the changes in the visible neutral sodium atmosphere might be a result of the effect of CMEs on Mercury.     

Observational tests for sulfur allotropes on Io

One of the intrinsic properties of particulate sulfur allotropes is a change in UV-visible reflectivity with temperature change of the material. The surface of Io experiences temperature changes during eclipse which are sufficient to cause a detectable change in the spectral reflectivity of sulfur; thus, if the surface of Io is composed primarily of sulfur allotropes, a change in reflectivity at certain wavelengths should be observable shortly after eclipse reappearance. We observed four eclipse reappearances during July and August of 1983 and saw no posteclipse brightening effects in filter bands selected for sensitivity to color changes in sulfur. Our model of the brightness change for S₈ (“yellow” sulfur) implies that this material covers less than 50% of Io's surface. Negative posteclipse brightening observations were also obtained with a filter chosen for the high contrast between SO₂ frost and the average albedo of the surface of Io at that wavelength. We conclude that no significant condensation of optically thick SO₂ occurred on the surface of Io during these eclipses.