Estimates of the γ-ray flux from Sagittarius A

Analysis of the anisotropy of the -ray background observed by Clarket al. (1968) has lead to the suggestion that part of the anisotropy be due to a source at the Galactic Centre. The complex structure of radio and infrared emission of the region of Sgr A is considered. The -ray flux arising from Compton scattering and ₀ decay is calculated. For a value of the magnetic field H10^–4 Gauss, corresponding to equipartition, the -ray flux above 100 MeV at Earth from the Sgr A source is expected to lie between 10^–6 and 10^–5 gamma/cm² sec. Such a source should be detectable in the near future.     

Viscous Fluid Cosmological Models in a Bianchi Type I Universe

Exact solutions of the gravitational field equations for a Bianchi type I anisotropic space-time, filled with a viscous cosmological fluid obeying an equation of state of the form p = , 0 1, are obtained. We investigate both the viscous Zeldovich ( = 1) and < 1 fluid cases, with constant and time varying (proportional to the mean Hubble factor) shear and bulk viscosity coefficients. It is shown that independently of the matter content, the equation of state and the time dependence of the shear and bulk viscosity coefficients, a viscous Bianchi type I universe experiences a transition to an inflationary era. Due to dissipative processes, the mean anisotropy and the shear of the Bianchi type I universe tend very rapidly to zero.     

Time variation of the spectrum of Gyro-synchrotron emission from the Sun

The emission spectra and their time variations of gyro-synchrotron emission from an ensemble of energetic electrons are computed for some initial power-law distributions of the electron energies N()d= ^– with =2 or 4. The spectra and decay curves of the emission are compared with solar microwave bursts in order to separately estimate the magnetic field H and . From a limited number of observations, we have 3 and H 10³ gauss for the microwave impulsive bursts, and 2 and H (500–1000) gauss for the microwave type-IV bursts.     

Ultraviolet observations of β Persei, μ1 Scorpii and γ2 Velorum with the TD-1A satellite

This paper reports on the results of a study of S59 ultraviolet spectral scans of the spectroscopic binaries Persei, ¹ Scorpii and ₂ Velorum. In the case of ¹ Sco it was found that the Mgii doublet at 2800 Å undergoes intensity variations that may be indicative of variable emission in the photographic spectrum. The continuum in the 2490–2590 Å range deviates from the continuum of the comparison stars. In ₂ Vel, flux variations in the 2770–2870 Å region have been detected.Member of the Carrera del Investigador Cientifico, CONICET, Argentina. Guest Investigator of the S59 experiment on board the TD-1A satellite.     

On the formation of energy spectra in synchrotron sources

The observed energy spectra in synchrotron sources are power laws,N (E)=KE ^–, with the distribution in peaked around 2.5. These are consistent with initially injected spectra with between 1 and 2, subsequently steepened by synchrotron losses. Contrary to the results of Kardashev (1962), it is shown that statistical acceleration when coupled with synchrotron losses lead naturally to the formation of flat stationary spectra with 1. These stationary spectra have bends near the energy at which synchrotron losses balance the energy gains by acceleration. Above this bend the spectrum tends to =2. The time evolution of an initial spectrum towards the stationary spectrum is investigated. It is suggested that the initially flat spectra with 1 to 1.5 observed in some variable sources result from an incomplete approach to the stationary spectrum, and that in sources with constant acceleration spectra with 2 are to be expected.     

Plasma acceleration by radiation in X-ray pulsars

Charged particle acceleration is considered by a radiation flux from a star or hot spot in X-ray pulsars. It is shown that for any distance from the star there exists the upper velocity limit up to which a particle can be accelerated by radiation. This critical velocity does not depend on the luminosity of the spot. Near the hot spot surface the critical velocityv0.65c. These results are applied to plasma acceleration inX-ray pulsars. The mechanism is advanced, of -ray generation in the course of plasma accretion, onto a neutron star. It is shown that in the presence of a large magnetic field and high luminosity of the spot the relativistic electron-position avalanche may appear. The optical depth of the electron-positron cloud achieves the value of order one. The X-ray quanta emitted by the spot are scattered by relativistic (2.6) electron-positron pairs and are transformed into -radiation. Hard quanta with energy 1 MeV leave the generation region in the narrow cone 0.25.     

Observation of MKN 501 at gamma-ray energies

During a balloon flight in September 1979 of the MISO low-energy -ray telescope, the BL Lac-object MkN 501 was studied in the hard X-ray range above 30 keV and in the low energy -ray range up to 19 MeV. No statistically significant X- and -ray fluxes were detected. The implications of the upper limits obtained are discussed in the light of the relativistic jet theories recently proposed.     

A search for discrete gamma-ray sources of energy greater than 2×1012 eV

The results of the observations to search gamma-ray sources with the energy greater than 2×10¹² eV, which were made in Crimean Astrophysical Observatory during the years 1969–73 are presented. A technique of the detection of the EAS Cerenkov flashes was used.The quality of the data obtained is analysed. The criteria for the selection of the data free from meteorological variations are considered.It was shown that two objects, namely, Cyg X-3 and Cas -1, may be the sources of high-energy gamma quanta. It is probable that the object with the coordinates =05^h15^m, =+1° is the source of gamma-rays as well. An unidentified object Cas -1 is variable: gamma-ray flux was observed twice — in Sepember–October 1971 and in December 1972. It is possible that the flux from Cyg X-3 has a period of 4.8 hr.

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I I , I I , - >2.10¹² . I . I , I I, I ., - -1 Cyg -3- -I . , =0515 ·=+1° -.I -1 I: I J I- - 1971 1972 . Cyg -3, , - T=4.8 .

     

The empirical determination of damping constants in the solar photosphere

We determine empirical damping constants for 73 selected Fe i lines following the method of Gurtovenko and Kondrashova (1980), employing high-quality observations and the accurate list of Fe i oscillator strengths by Gurtovenko and Kostik (1980).The results show: (i) No increase of the enhancement factor to van der Waals broadening with excitation potential, as predicted by Edmunds (1975), and with the frequency of the transition (Figure 1); (ii) a substantial part of the commonly-used enhancement factor for weaker lines is not due to collisional damping (Figure 2), but to a misrepresentation of the inhomogeneous structure of the deep photosphere. This false damping effect is not seen in the stronger lines which yield an average damping constant : 1.3₆ 1.5 ₆.     

Космическое черенковское излучение

, . N/E, E _r, (E _r)=1. , (, ) . .     

Estimates of proton energies in extragalactic radio sources

It is shown that inelastic proton collisions in extragalactic radio sources can account for their radio and -ray emissions. The proton Lorentz-factor _p responsible for -ray emission is estimated to lie between 1.4 and 86. But for the radio emission (with _e ~ 10³-10⁴) the estimated _p values lie between 7 to 300. The estimates of total particle and magnetic energy for a typical radio source is in agreement with equipartition theory.     

Present Observational Status of the Intermediate Mass Stars: δ Sct Stars, γ Dor Stars and roAp Stars

The present observational status of the Sct stars, Dor stars and roAp stars is discussed. The Sct stars are the most intensively observed of the three groups, but it has become clear that there are severe problems in extracting asteroseismic information from them. Dozens of frequencies are observed, but hundreds of frequencies are predicted from the models; unique matches of observation and theory still elude us. The Sct stars are observationally complex – some recent `best case' campaigns are discussed. It is possible that substantial observational advances for Sct stars may need to await upcoming satellite missions. New Dor stars are beingdiscovered frequently, and new behaviour is being found for them. They constitutean observationally young field. Their pulsational frequency range is being expanded, their position in the HR diagram is becoming better known (but is yet to be fully constrained), and the possibility exists of hybrid Dor – Sct stars that have greatasteroseismic promise, although it is clear such stars are rare, if they do exist. It has been observationally challenging to extract more than a fewfrequencies for any Dor star so far. Exciting spectroscopic discoveries of new behaviour in roAp stars promise unprecedented information about the structure of the peculiar atmospheres ofthose stars – pulsation amplitude and phase in 3D, magnetic field structurein 3D, abundance stratification in 3D, realistic T- for the most peculiarstars – as well as entirely new information about the interaction of pulsation,rotation and magnetic fields. Recent theoretical work has led to new understandingof the previously inexplicable frequency spacing of HR 1217 with new Whole Earth Telescope observations supporting this theory. An `improved oblique pulsator model' has been developed in which the pulsationaxis is not the magnetic axis; this model has passed several observationaltests and new ones are being devised to examine it further.     

On the Power in the Legendre Modes of the Solar Radial Magnetic Field

The power in the different modes of an expansion of the solar radial magnetic field at the surface in terms of Legendre polynomials,P , is calculated with the help of a solar dynamo model studied earlier. The model is of the Babcock–Leighton type, i.e., the surface eruptions of the toroidal magnetic field – through the tilt angle, , formed by the magnetic axis of a bipolar magnetic region with the east-west line – are the sources for the poloidal field. In this paper it is assumed that the tilt angle is subject to fluctuations of the form, = ()+ <> where <> is the average value and () is a random normal fluctuation with standard deviation which is taken from Howard's observations of the distribution of tilt angles. For numerical considerations, negative values of were not allowed. If this occurred, was recalculated. The numerical integrations were started with a toroidal magnetic field antisymmetric across the equator, large enough to generate eruptions, and a negligible poloidal field. The fluctuations in the tilt angle destroy the antisymmetry as time increases. The power of the antisymmetric modes across the equator (i.e., odd values of ) is concentrated in frequencies, _p, corresponding to the cycle period. The maximum power lies in the =3 mode with considerable power in the =5 mode, in broad agreement with Stenflo's results who finds a maximum power at =5. For the symmetric modes, there is considerable power in frequencies larger than _p, again in broad agreement with Stenflo's power spectrum.     

Equilibrium spectra of secondary cosmic-ray positrons in the galaxy and the spectrum of cosmic gamma-rays resulting from their annihilation

A general formula is derived for calculating the -ray spectrum resulting from the annihilation of cosmic-ray positrons. This formula is used to calculate annihilation--ray spectra from various equilibrium spectra of secondary galactic positrons. These spectra are then compared with the -ray spectra produced by other astrophysical processes.Particular attention is paid to the form of the -ray spectrum resulting from the annihilation of positrons having kinetic energies below 5 keV. It is found that for mean leakage times out of the galaxy of less than 400 million years, most of the positrons annihilating near rest come from the -decay of unstable nuclei produced in cosmic-ray p-C¹², p-N¹⁴, and p-O¹⁶ interactions, rather than from pi-meson decay. It is further found that the large majority of these positrons will annihilate from an S state of positronium and that 3/4 of these will produce a three-photon annihilation continuum rather than the two-photon line spectrum at 0.51 MeV. The results of numerical calculations of the -ray fluxes from these processes are given. It is concluded that annihilation -rays from the galactic halo may remain forever masked by a metagalactic continuum. However, an 0.51 MeV line from the disk may well be detectable. It is most reasonable to assume that this line is formed predominantly by the annihilation of the CNO -decay positrons. Under this assumption, the intensity of the line becomes a sensitive measure of the galactic cosmic-ray flux below 1000 MeV/nucleon.     

Magnetic Dips in Prominences

Magnetic dips are generally assumed to be basic equilibrium configurations in quiescent solar prominences. Here we discuss two types of the magnetic dips which were considered in the literature: (1) dips resulting from a force-free magnetic equilibrium in the corona, and (2) magnetic dips which are formed in situations where the Lorentz force balances the weight of the prominence plasma. An important parameter which decides between these two cases is the plasma . For 1, the effect of the prominence material on the equilibrium structure is quite negligible and the case (1) holds. If, however, is larger, say between 0.1 and 1 or even higher, magnetic dips of the second kind are formed and they can be characterized by the angle 1 between the vertical and the direction of the field lines at the surface of the prominence structure. A simple and illustratory formula is derived to relate this angle to the plasma at the prominence center, namely ccot21. c=1 thus corresponds to 1=45°. Finally, we discuss the range of values of both c and 1 as deduced from various observations and conclude that the dips of the second kind are important for the prominence equilibria. We also suggest a new method for determination of the field-line inclination.     

Generation of γ-bursts by old magnetic neutron stars

A model of -bursts is considered that treats the flares of neutron stars as a result of convectiveoscillation instability associated with the stars having strong internal magnetic fields ( 10¹³ to 10¹⁴ G). In the context of this model only sufficiently old (10⁴ to 10⁷ yr), drastically cooled-down neutron stars may be sources of -bursts. The paper shows that major characteristics of a -burster in the Supernova N 49 remnant (energy release during burst up to 10⁴⁴ erg, age 10⁴ yr, burst-to-burst interval (I to 3)×10⁶s; rotation period P=8 s) may be explained under the assumption that the mass of the neutron star is about 0.14M _· while its mean magnetic field strength is 1.5×10¹⁴ G abd 10¹³ G within the star and on its surface, respectively. The observational tests of the model discussed conclude the paper.     

Early cosmological models in Lyra's geometry

A spatially homogeneous and isotropic Robertson-Walker model withzero-curvature of the universe is studied within the frame-work of Lyra'smanifold. The gauge-function in Lyra's manifold is taken to betime-dependent. Exact solutions of Einstein equations are obtained for twodifferent early phases of the universe viz. Inflationary phase andradiation-dominated phase by using `gamma-law' equation of statep = ( - 1) . The -index, describing the material content,varies continuously with cosmic time so that in the course of itsevolution, the universe goes through a transition from an inflationaryphase to a radiation-dominated phase. The physical properties of themodels are also discussed.     

Immediate reports of GRBs in progress from HETE

The High Energy Transient Experiment (HETE) will be able to perform multiwavelength observations of-ray and X-ray bursts. HETE will potentially be able to localize-ray bursts to a precision of 20 arc-minutes if significant X-ray flux is detected from the burst; a precision of 20 arc-seconds is possible if there is also significant UV radiation from the burst. HETE will broadcast information about bursts detected within seconds of their detection. This VHF-band broadcast will be received at a number of secondary ground stations (SGS) dedicated to HETE, and forwarded to a central distribution site at MIT, from which it is sent to interested observers via Internet.     

Optical characteristics of the whipple observatory TeV gamma-ray imaging telescope

In TeV -ray astronomy, large mirrors are used to collect erenkov light from electromagnetic cascades in the atmosphere in order to obtain low energy thresholds. The flux sensitivity of TeV -ray detectors is limited by background due to erenkov light bursts from isotropic, cosmic-ray showers which are much more numerous than -ray showers. It has recently been established that most of this background can be eliminated on the basis of the shapes of erenkov light images on the focal plane of a telescope. In order for this technique to work, the light collector must have adequate resolution over a relatively wide field of view. In this paper, the optical characteristics of the 10 m reflector used in the imaging detection of the Crab Nebula are examined and contrasted with those of a standard parabolic design. This 10 m reflector has a unique (Davies-Cotton) design with small spherical facet mirrors placed on spherical support structure with radius equal to exactly 1/2 the curvature radius of the facet mirrors. The off-axis focusing properties of this type of telescope have not been examined previously.     

The search and investigation of faint blue star-like objects in the small GRB error boxes

A central part of the GRB 790613 field is investigated, which contains about 1/3 of the area of 99% confidence of the GRB localization. Up to V 25 no blue optical counterparts were found. This can be interpreted as the absence in the field of single compact objects of the neutron star type as a possible potential source of -burst, up to a distance of 30 pc.