Spectral and photometric observations of TT Ari. III.

The nova-like cataclysmic variable (CV) TT Ari was detected in its second deep minimum in November 2009. Study of its evolutionary phase is very important for research on the nature of CVs in the VY Scl group. During this phase the spectral energy distribution of the star changed rapidly. The emission lines of elements with high excitation, such as HeII λ4686 and NIII/CIII, as well as broad absorption in the hydrogen Balmer series, originating in the photosphere of the white dwarf or in the lower layers of an accretion disk, vanished. The average ratio of the intensities of the Balmer series emission lines in the normal state and in the deep low state can be explained in terms of a simple photoionization-recombination model. At the same time, the intensity ratios of the triplet-singlet levels of neutral helium, HeIλ5876/ HeIλ6678, differ greatly in the normal state of the star and in its deep minimum. In the deep minimum, the star’s spectrum contains only a very faint trace of the G band at a wavelength λ4300?, together with flarelike events with amplitudes up to Δm ≈ 2^m.0 or greater. These and some other observed characteristics indicate that during the deep minimum it is mainly emission from the secondary companion of the binary system, which is probably a T Tau star of an early K spectral class, that is observed.     

Analysis of the chromospheric hydrogen spectrum at the 1962 eclipse

Slitless spectrograms of the chromosphere obtained during the eclipse of 4–5 February 1962 have been analyzed to obtain the decrements of the level populations of hydrogen, the self-absorption in the Balmer lines, and parameters useful in construction of models of the low chromosphere.The decrement of the high energy levels of hydrogen inferred under the optically thin assumption does not vary significantly with height, and it appears to be unnecessary to seek large deviations from local thermodynamic equilibrium in the high levels. The observed Balmer-to-Paschen line intensity ratios have been used to infer self-absorption and opacities in the Balmer lines. The resulting population of the second energy level is about an order of magnitude smaller than that found by Athay and Thomas from the 1952 data.The chromospheric continuum was generally underexposed; the absence of observed continuum in the visible region of the spectrum made it impossible to derive a unique model from the 1962 data alone. However, the high Balmer line data and new theoretical solutions of the statistical equilibrium equations for hydrogen combined with corrected 1952 observations at 4700 A are compatible with a model having approximately the same temperature and neutral hydrogen structure as the 1952 model by Pottasch and Thomas but half the electron density: T _e = 6200K, N ₁ = 7.4 × 10¹³ cm^-3, N _e = 2.3 × 10¹¹ cm^-3 at 500 km and T _e = 7200K, N ₁ = 2.6 × 10¹² cm^-3, N _e = 1.7 × 10¹¹ cm^-3 at 1000 km.Based in part on a Ph.D. thesis submitted to the Department of Astro-Geophysics, University of Colorado.Now at the Department of Astronomy, Indiana University.     

Dense gas in normal and active galaxies

Dense molecular medium plays essential roles in galaxies. As demonstrated by the tight and linear correlation between HCN(1–0) and FIR luminosities among star-forming galaxies, from very nearby to high-z ones, the observation of a dense molecular component is indispensable to understand the star formation laws in galaxies. In order to obtain a general picture of the global distributions of dense molecular medium in normal star-forming galaxies, we have conducted an extragalactic CO(3–2) imaging survey of nearby spiral galaxies using the Atacama Submillimeter Telescope Experiment (ASTE). From the survey (ADIoS; ASTE Dense gas Imaging of Star-forming galaxies), CO(3–2) images of M 83 and NGC 986 are presented. Emphasis is placed on the correlation between the CO(3–2)/CO(1–0) ratio and the star formation efficiency in galaxies. In the central regions of some active galaxies, on the other hand, we often find enhanced or overluminous HCN(1–0) emission. The HCN(1–0)/CO(1–0) and HCN(1–0)/HCO⁺(1–0) intensities are often enhanced up to ∼0.2–0.3 and ∼2–3, respectively. Such elevated ratios have never been observed in the nuclear starburst regions. One possible explanation for these high HCN(1–0)/CO(1–0) and HCN(1–0)/HCO⁺(1–0) ratios is X-ray induced chemistry in X-ray dominated regions (XDRs), i.e., the overabundance of the HCN molecule in the X-ray irradiated dense molecular tori. If this view is true, the known tight correlation between HCN(1–0) and the star-formation rate breaks in the vicinity of active nuclei. Although the interpretation of these ratios is still an open question, these ratios have a great potential for a new diagnostic tool for the energy sources of dusty galaxies in the ALMA era because these molecular lines are free from dust extinction.     

The middle Balmer decrement in quiescent prominences

We present measurements of the middle Balmer decrement (n = 10–22) in a number of quiescent prominences. The average decrement continues smoothly the trend of the decrement determined in our previous work on the earlier Balmer lines. The range of T _ex is found to be 3450–11 000 K, consistent with the generally accepted range of values for T _e. In addition, some values for the hydrogen-to-metal (Fe, Ti⁺) integrated line intensities are given.     

Using X‐shooter to measure the extinction in long GRB host galaxies from emission lines

The spectra of the host galaxies of gamma‐ray bursts at low redshift generally show strong hydrogen lines of the Balmer, Paschen and Brackett series, in addition to strong nebular metal lines. In special cases the hosts can be resolved in separate star forming regions, and spatially resolved spectroscopy can be obtained. Generally, the three strongest Balmer lines are used to derive the reddening experienced by the emission lines of the host gas, assuming a Milky Way extinction curve, case B recombination and a fixed electron temperature. We demonstrate how the wide wavelength range of X‐shooter, in combination with a rigorous calibration strategy, can be used to fit explicitly for R_V, T_e, and A_V simultaneously using a large number of H and He I recombination lines, explicitly corrected for stellar atmosphere absorption. This increases our understanding of extinction and absorption in starforming regions in GRB hosts. We use two GRB hosts as examples of the methods, outlining the advantages of using X‐shooter over other instruments (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Simulation of photosphere and chromosphere of two powerful solar flares (October 28, 2003 and September 1, 1990)

The spectra of two powerful flares with approximately the same intensities in the optical region but with different spectral features and power in other regions are studied. One of them is the unique flare which occurred on October 28, 2003, importance X17.2/4B, ranking third in magnitude among the recorded flares. Another occurred on September 1, 1990, 3B importance. The flares vary in the Balmer decrement. The flare of October 28, 2003, has a ratio of I(H_β)/I(H_α) = 1.47. This is the largest value for solar flares ever observed. The flares also differ in magnitude of the D Na I lines emission: the emission of the flare of October 28, 2003, is substantially larger than that of the other flare. The chromosphere models of the flares are computed using the observed profiles of Balmer lines and D Na I lines. The satisfactory agreement of the calculated and observed profiles is obtained for the two-component models in which a hot component occupies 6% of the area. The hot component of the chromosphere model is characterized with the dense condensation available in the upper layers. For the flare of October 28, 2003, this condensation is located deeper and its substance concentration is greater than that for another flare. The H_α line intensity for the model hot component alone is approximately 30 and the continuous spectrum intensity is approximately 3% of the undisturbed level. The photosphere model is computed using the observed profiles of photosphere lines for the flare of October 28, 2003. It is found that very broad profiles of individual sigma-components of the Fe I λ 525.0 nm line may be only explained by the presence of magnetic fields having different directions. A great difference is detected between values of the magnetic field strength obtained in the splitting of sigma-components and those provided by simulation.     

Studies of magnetic fields in the solar photosphere using the line-ratio method

The longitudinal magnetic field measured using the Fe I λ 525 and Fe I λ 524.7 nm lines and global magnetic field of the sun differ depending on the observatory. To study the cause of these discrepancies, we calculate the H _‖(525)/H _‖(524.7) ratios for various combinations of magnetic elements and compare them with the corresponding observed values. We use the standard quiet model of the solar photosphere suggesting that there are magnetic fields of different polarities in the range between zero and several kilogauss. The magnetic element distribution is found as a function of magnetic field strength and the parameters of this distribution are determined for which the calculated H _‖(525)/H _‖(524.7) ratio agrees with the observed one. The sigma-components are found to be shifted differently for various points of the Fe I λ 525 nm profile calculated for the inhomogeneous magnetic field. The farther the point is from the line center, the larger the sigma-components shift. Such a peculiarity of the profiles may be responsible for the discrepancies in the measured values of the global magnetic field obtained at different observatories. The increase in modulus of the global magnetic field during the maxima of solar activity can be due to a larger fraction of magnetic elements with kilogauss magnetic fields.     

Changes in the spectrum of the recombining planetary nebula He 1–5

In 2008, we observed the spectrum of the planetary nebula He 1–5, which has had no ionization source for more than 50 years. Comparison with the observations performed in 1972–1976 and 1988 shows that the line intensity ratio I(λ5007[O III])/I(Hβ) decreased by a factor of 2.5, the intensity ratio of the red [N II] doublet to Hα was almost constant, and the [S II]-to-Hα intensity ratio may have slightly increased. The observed changes in the spectrum agree, within the limits of the observational errors, with the calculations of gas recombination in a medium-excitation nebula performed by Tylenda in 1980, but the nitrogen line intensities are higher than the calculated ones by 10–15%. This is most likely related to the slightly reduced nitrogen abundance adopted in the model. The onset of nebular recombination dates from the end of the 19th century and is consistent with its estimate from the photometric history of the central star.     

Two new LBV candidates in the M 33 galaxy

We present two new luminous blue variable (LBV) candidate stars discovered in the M33 galaxy. We identified these stars as massive star candidates at the final stages of evolution, presumably with a notable interstellar extinction. The candidates were selected from the Massey et al. catalog based on the following criteria: emission in H _α , V<18^./m 5 and 0_.^m 35 < (B - V) < 1_.^m 2. The spectra of both stars reveal a broad and strong H _α emission with extended wings (770 and 1000 kms⁻¹). Based on the spectra we estimated the main parameters of the stars. Object N45901 has a bolometric luminosity log(L/L_⊙) = 6.0–6.2 with the value of interstellar extinction A _V = 2.3 ± 0.1. The temperature of the star’s photosphere is estimated as T⋆ ∼ 13000–15000 K, its probable mass on the Zero Age Main Sequence is M∼ 60–80 M_⊙. The infrared excess in N 45901 corresponds to the emission of warm dust with the temperature Twarm ∼ 1000 K, and amounts to 0.1%of the bolometric luminosity. A comparison of stellar magnitude estimates from different catalogs points to the probable variability of the object N45901. Bolometric luminosity of the second object, N125093, is log(L/L_⊙) = 6.3 − 6.6, the value of interstellar extinction is A _V = 2.75 ± 0.15. We estimate its photosphere’s temperature as T⋆∼ 13000–16000K, the initial mass as M ∼ 90–120 M_⊙. The infrared excess in N125093 amounts to 5–6% of the bolometric luminosity. Its spectral energy distribution reveals two thermal components with the temperatures T_warm ∼ 1000K and T_cold ∼ 480 K. The [Ca II] λλ7291, 7323 lines, observed in LBV-like stars Var A and N93351 in M33 are also present in the spectrum of N 125093. These lines indicate relatively recent gas eruptions and dust activity linked with them. High bolometric luminosity of these stars and broad H α emissions allow classifying the studied objects as LBV candidates.     

Radio synthesis imaging of anisotropic angular broadening in the solar wind

We present Very Large Array observations at wavelengths of 2, 3.5, 6, and 20 cm, of angular broadening of radio sources due to the solar wind in the region 2–16 solar radii. Angular broadening is anisotropic with axial ratios in the range 2–16. Larger axial ratios are observed preferentially at smaller solar distances. Assuming that anisotropy is due to scattering blobs elongated along magnetic field lines, the distribution of position angles of the elliptically broadened images indicates that the field lines are non-radial even at the largest heliocentric distances observed here. At 5R⊙, the major axis scattering angle is ∼ 0.7" atλ= 6 cm and it varies with heliocentric distance asR ^-1.6. The level of turbulence, characterized by the wave structure function at a scale of 10 km along the major axis, normalized toλ = 20 cm, has a value 20 ± 7 at 5R⊙and varies with heliocentric distance asR ^-3. Comparison with earlier resu lts suggest that the level of turbulence is higher during solar maximum. Assuming a power-law spectrum of electron density fluctuations, the fitted spectral exponents have values in the range 2.8–3.4 for scale sizes between 2–35 km. The data suggests temporal fluctuations (of up to 10%) in the spectral exponent on a time scale of a few tens of minutes. The observed structure functions at different solar distances do not show any evidence for an inner scale; the upper limits are l k m at 2R⊙ and 4 km at 13R⊙. These upper limits are in conflict with earlier determinations and may suggest a reduced inner scale during solar maximum.     

A spectroscopic study of the envelope of the recurrent Nova CI Aquilae

Spectroscopic observations of the recurrent Nova CI Aql in the wavelength range 4000–11000 Å are presented. Its evolution is traced from maximum light to the disappearance of nebular lines. 〈E _B-V 〉 = 0.91 ± 0.11, as inferred from the Balmer decrement. The mean expansion velocity of the envelope measured near maximum light is 2800 km s^?1. The helium abundance in the Nova envelope has been found to be enhanced, ?He/H?=0.22. CI Aql is similar in spectral evolution, in change of the envelope expansion velocity, and in helium abundance to other recurrent novae.     

Lithium abundances in atmospheres of carbon stars estimated with the help of modern lists of spectral lines

We determine lithium abundances in atmospheres of three carbon stars from synthetic spectrum fitting in the λλ 668–674 nm range using the Li I λ 670.8 nm resonance doublet. To produce synthetic spectra, we use a modified list of atomic lines from the VALD database and three alternative line lists of CN and C₂ molecules which are modifications of line lists from the Jorgensen’s website () and from the Kurucz database (1993, CD-ROM nos. 1–23). The spectral lines from these lists were tested by matching synthetic spectra to observed spectra of the sun, Arcturus, and early R star HD 100764. We perform analysis of the blends involving the Li I λ 670.8 nm doublet in spectra of N stars AW Cyg and UX Dra. The lithium abundances in HD 100764, AW Cyg, and UX Dra are estimated to be lgN(Li) ≈ 2, −1.4, and −0.9, respectively. Discrepancies of lithium abundances lgN(Li) obtained with the help of molecular line lists do not seem to exceed 0.2 dex.     

Presence of LaO, ScO and VO Molecular Lines in Sunspot Umbral Spectra

High-resolution Fourier Transform Spectrometer sunspot umbral spectra of the National Solar Observatory/National Optical Astronomy Observatory at Kitt Peak were used to detect rotational lines from 19 electronic transition bands of the molecules LaO, ScO and VO, in the wavenumber range of 11 775 to 20 600 cm⁻¹. The presence of lines from the following transitions is confirmed: A ² Π _r1/2 – X ² Σ ⁺(0, 0; 0, 1), A ² Π _r3/2 – X ² Σ ⁺(1, 0), B ² Σ ⁺ – X ² Σ ⁺(0, 0; 0, 1; 1, 0) and C ² Π _r1/2 – A′²Δ _r3/2(0, 0; 1, 1) of LaO; A ² Π _r3/2 – X ² Σ ⁺(0, 0), A ² Π _r1/2 – X ² Σ ⁺(0, 0) and B ² Σ ⁺ – X ² Σ ⁺(0, 0) of ScO; and C ⁴ Σ ⁻ – X ⁴ Σ ⁻(0, 1; 1, 0; 0, 2) and (2, 0) of VO. However, the presence of A ² Π _r3/2 – X ² Σ ⁺(0, 0) and C ² Π _r3/2 – A′²Δ _r5/2(0, 0; 1, 1) of LaO and C ⁴ Σ ⁻ – X ⁴ Σ ⁻(0, 0) of VO are found to be doubtful because the lines are very weak, and detections are difficult owing to heavy blending by strong rotational lines of other molecules. Equivalent widths are measured for well-resolved lines and, thereby, the effective rotational temperatures are estimated for the systems for which the presence is confirmed.     

Ultraviolet observations of the hydrogen-deficient variable star MV sagittarii

IUE observations of the hydrogen-deficient irregular variable star MV Sgr obtained in 1980 June-October and also in 1979 November are discussed. These observations show a prominent λ 2200 absorption feature. A value ofE(B — V) = 0.55 is deduced from the strength of λ 2200 band assuming that this absorption is caused by interstellar medium. The dereddened continuum obtained at different times can be fitted to a theoretical energy distribution of a helium star model with T_eff = 18000 K and log g = 2.5, similar to that of BD + 10^‡ 2179. This theoretical energy distribution, after applying interstellar extinction, givesV = 12.7 mag, agreeing with the observed visual magnitude of ≃ 13 in 1979 November and 1980 June-October. Even though there was no change in the continuum flux, the ultraviolet line-spectrum shows variations. The IUE spectra of 1980 October show enhanced (circumstellar) absorption lines of Fe II, Si II, O I, C I and others along with the absorption lines of a B star. In view of the similarity of the spectroscopic phenomena of MV Sgr with that of α Sco system, a model is proposed in which a cool companion star, surrounded by dust, occasionally blows gas towards the hotter hydrogen-poor B star. This model explains the irregular light variations and the spectroscopic phenomena. Based on observations obtained with IUE satellite at the Villafranca Satellite Tracking Station of the European Space Agency.     

The morphological and spectral investigation of the galaxies Kaz 5, Kaz 92, and Kaz 390

The results of morphological and spectral study of the galaxies Kaz 5, Kaz 92, and Kaz 390 are presented. The observations were made on the 2.6-m telescope at the Byurakan Observatory with the VAGR microlenses spectrograph. Isophotes of the images of the galaxies are constructed in the Hα, [NII] λλ6584 , 6548, and [SII] λλ6731, 6717 emission lines and in the continuum. The masses of Kaz 5 and Kaz 92 are determined to be 8.6 × 10⁸ M_⊙ and 6.1 × 10⁹ M_⊙ , respectively. The mass of the gaseous component in the centers of regions I and IV of Kaz 390, which encompass a 1 pixel area, are also determined. The morphological structure of the central region of Kaz 5 in the observed spectral range, λλ6400–6800?, differs completely from the structure of the same part of the galaxy observed with the 6-m and 2.5-m telescopes. It is shown that these differences in the structure in images of Kaz 5 are mostly explained by the comparatively low resolution of the telescope in combination with the VAGR spectrograph. Absorbing matter also contributes to this effect. It is also shown that a “deficit” of nitrogen has been observed in the region of Kaz 390 studied here (a circle of diameter 40″). Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 52, No. 1, pp. 63–74 (February 2009).     

Minimal Energy and Gravitation

Quantum theory in Robertson – Walker spacetime suggests the existence of a minimal energy ε of the order of 10⁻⁴⁵ erg. Reasonable forms for ε give the expansion factor R=R(t)(t= the cosmic time) with no need of gravitational field equations.Einstein's theory should be modified in gravitational fields of strength less than ε c/ħ ∼ 10⁻⁸ cm/s² where c is the speed of light and ħ is the reduced Planck constant. The cosmological term λ is expected to decrease as the universe expands.In the Appendix, ε is derived from a big bang – big crunch Newtonian cosmology.     

Spectroscopy and photometry of the protoplanetary nebula candidate stHα62 = IRAS 07171+1823

We present the results of spectroscopic and photometric observations for the B star StHα62 with an IR excess, a post-AGB candidate identified with the IR source IRAS 07171+1823. High-resolution spectroscopy has allowed the λ4330–7340 Å spectrum of the star to be identified: it contains absorption lines of an early B star and emission lines of a gaseous shell. The residual line intensities have been measured. The heliocentric radial velocities measured from absorption lines of the star and emission lines of the shell are 〈V _r 〉 = +45 ± 1 and +52 ± 1 km s^?1, respectively. The line-of-sight velocities of gas-dust clouds determined from the interstellar Na I lines are 12 and 33 km s^?1. The He I λ5876 Å line exhibits a P Cyg profile, which is indicative of an ongoing mass loss by the star. The expansion velocity of the outer shell estimated from forbidden lines is 12–13 km s^?1. Quantitative classification gives the spectral type B0.51 for the star. The parameters of the gaseous shell have been determined: N _e = 3.1 × 10³ cm^?3 and T _e ～ 21 000 K. Over 4 years of its observations, the star showed rapid irregular light variations with the amplitudes ΔV = We present the results of spectroscopic and photometric observations for the B star StHα62 with an IR excess, a post-AGB candidate identified with the IR source IRAS 07171+1823. High-resolution spectroscopy has allowed the λ4330–7340 ? spectrum of the star to be identified: it contains absorption lines of an early B star and emission lines of a gaseous shell. The residual line intensities have been measured. The heliocentric radial velocities measured from absorption lines of the star and emission lines of the shell are 〈V _r 〉 = +45 ± 1 and +52 ± 1 km s⁻¹, respectively. The line-of-sight velocities of gas-dust clouds determined from the interstellar Na I lines are 12 and 33 km s⁻¹. The He I λ5876 ? line exhibits a P Cyg profile, which is indicative of an ongoing mass loss by the star. The expansion velocity of the outer shell estimated from forbidden lines is 12–13 km s⁻¹. Quantitative classification gives the spectral type B0.51 for the star. The parameters of the gaseous shell have been determined: N _e = 3.1 × 10³ cm⁻³ and T _e ∼ 21 000 K. Over 4 years of its observations, the star showed rapid irregular light variations with the amplitudes ΔV = , ΔB = , and ΔU = and no color-magnitude correlation. We estimate the total extinction for the star from our photometric observations as A _v = . Near-IR observations have revealed dust radiation with a temperature of ∼1300 K. We estimate the distance to StHα62 to be r = 5.2 ± 1.2 kpc by assuming that the star is a low-mass (M = 0.55 ± 0.05 M _⊙) protoplanetary nebula. Original Russian Text ? V.P. Arkhipova, V.G. Klochkova, E.L. Chentsov, V.F. Esipov, N.P. Ikonnikova, G.V. Komissarova, 2006, published in Pis’ma v Astronomicheskiĭ Zhurnal, 2006, Vol. 32, No. 10, pp. 737–747.     

Energy-Dependent Timing of Thermal Emission in Solar Flares

We report solar flare plasma to be multi-thermal in nature based on the theoretical model and study of the energy-dependent timing of thermal emission in ten M-class flares. We employ high-resolution X-ray spectra observed by the Si detector of the “Solar X-ray Spectrometer” (SOXS). The SOXS onboard the Indian GSAT-2 spacecraft was launched by the GSLV-D2 rocket on 8 May 2003. Firstly we model the spectral evolution of the X-ray line and continuum emission flux F(ε) from the flare by integrating a series of isothermal plasma flux. We find that the multi-temperature integrated flux F(ε) is a power-law function of ε with a spectral index (γ)≈−4.65. Next, based on spectral-temporal evolution of the flares we find that the emission in the energy range E=4 – 15 keV is dominated by temperatures of T=12 – 50 MK, while the multi-thermal power-law DEM index (δ) varies in the range of −4.4 and −5.7. The temporal evolution of the X-ray flux F(ε,t) assuming a multi-temperature plasma governed by thermal conduction cooling reveals that the temperature-dependent cooling time varies between 296 and 4640 s and the electron density (n _e) varies in the range of n _e=(1.77 – 29.3)×10¹⁰ cm⁻³. Employing temporal evolution technique in the current study as an alternative method for separating thermal from nonthermal components in the energy spectra, we measure the break-energy point, ranging between 14 and 21±1.0 keV.