Measurements for the Performance of the Digital Autocorrelation Spectrometer

Injecting phase calibration (PCAL) signals to the feed horn of the observation sys- tem and analyzing the output response signals of the spectrometer, we measured the working performance of a 4096-channel digital autocalibration spectrometer. The results demonstrate that the spectrometer has a fine working performance: (1) the channels are distributed uni- formly in the spectrometer; (2) line drift produces little effect on the observation results; (3) spectral resolution shows little changes with observation time. The distribution of the fre- quency resolution in an 80 MHz bandwidth was measured. A trial observation on the two molecular spectral lines of H2CO and H110α taken with this spectrometer is described.     

Are gamma-ray bursts the sources of ultra-high energy cosmic rays?

We reconsider the possibility that gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are the sources of the ultra-high energy cosmic rays (UHECRs) within the internal shock model, assuming a pure proton composition of the UHECRs. For the first time, we combine the information from gamma-rays, cosmic rays, prompt neutrinos, and cosmogenic neutrinos quantitatively in a joint cosmic ray production and propagation model, and we show that the information on the cosmic energy budget can be obtained as a consequence. In addition to the neutron model, we consider alternative scenarios for the cosmic ray escape from the GRBs, i.e., that cosmic rays can leak from the sources. We find that the dip model, which describes the ankle in UHECR observations by the pair production dip, is strongly disfavored in combination with the internal shock model because (a) unrealistically high baryonic loadings (energy in protons versus energy in electrons/gamma-rays) are needed for the individual GRBs and (b) the prompt neutrino flux easily overshoots the corresponding neutrino bound. On the other hand, GRBs may account for the UHECRs in the ankle transition model if cosmic rays leak out from the source at the highest energies. In that case, we demonstrate that future neutrino observations can efficiently test most of the parameter space – unless the baryonic loading is much larger than previously anticipated.     

The saturation of the cosmic diffuse γ-ray background by the Seyfert galaxy component

The nature of the diffuse cosmic background in the low -ray energy range has been widely discussed but not definitively solved. Unresolved active galaxies have become good candidates for its origin ever since they have been identified as -ray emitting objects. In particular, the summed contribution of Seyfert galaxies is expected to be dominant to such an extent that a straight forward calculation, based on their volume emissivity, predicts a considerable excess above the observed level of the isotropic background flux. In this letter we explore different ways to reconcile the observational data on these active galactic nuclei with the measured intensity of the cosmic diffuse -radiation.     

On the radiative and thermodynamic properties of the cosmic radiations using COBE FIRAS instrument data: Ⅲ. Galactic far-infrared radiation

Using the three-component spectral model describing the FIRAS average continuum spectra, the exact analytical expressions for thermodynamic and radiative functions of Galactic far-infrared radiation are obtained. The COBE FIRAS instrument data in the 0.15–2.88 THz frequency interval at the mean temperatures of T1= 17.72 K, T2= 14 K and T3= 6.73 K are used for calculating the radiative and thermodynamic functions, such as the total radiation power per unit area, total energy density, total emissivity, number density of photons, Helmholtz free energy density, entropy density, heat capacity at constant volume and pressure for the warm,intermediate-temperature and very cold components of the Galactic continuum spectra. The generalized Stefan-Boltzmann law for warm, intermediate-temperature and very cold components is constructed. The temperature dependence of each component is determined by the formula IS-B(T) = σ′ T6. This result is important when we construct the cosmological models of radiative transfer that can be applied inside the Galaxy. Within the framework of the three-component spectral model, the total number of photons in our Galaxy and the total radiation power(total luminosity) emitted from a surface of the Galaxy are calculated. Their values are N6Gtotal= 1.3780 × 108 and I3Gtotal(T) = 1.0482 × 106 W. Other radiative and thermodynamic properties of the Galactic far-infrared radiation(photon gas) of the Galaxy are calculated. The expressions for astrophysical parameters, such as the entropy density/Boltzmann constant and number density of the Galactic far-infrared photons are obtained. We assume that the obtained analytical expressions for thermodynamic and radiative functions may be useful for describing the continuum spectra of the far-infrared radiation for other galaxies.     

An Interpretation of the Coronal Holes’ Visibility in the Millimeter Wavelength Range

Various observations indicate that coronal holes generally appear as low brightness temperature regions (LTRs) in the centimeter and millimeter wavelength ranges. However, within their borders local enhancements of radiation, that is, high brightness temperature regions (HTRs), often occur. The theory behind the described behavior is not fully understood and therefore we analyze full-disk solar images obtained at a wavelength of 8 mm at Metsähovi Radio Observatory and compare them with data simultaneously taken in other wavelength ranges. The observational finding that the average brightness temperature of coronal holes is not much different from the quiet-Sun level (with localized deviations toward higher and lower intensities on the order of a few percent) is compared with theoretical models of the thermal bremsstrahlung radiation originating in the solar chromosphere, transition region, and corona. Special attention is devoted to the interpretation of the localized enhancements of radiation observed inside coronal holes at millimeter wavelengths. The main conclusion is that the most important contribution to the brightness temperature comes from an increased density in the transition region and low corona (i.e., at the heights where the temperature is below 10⁶ K). This can explain both the LTRs and HTRs associated with coronal holes.     

Search of ultra high energy cosmic rays’ sources. FRI-radiogalaxy Centaurus A

The propagation of ultra high energy cosmic rays in Galactic and extragalactic magnetic fields is investigated in the present paper. The motion of charged particles of different energies and chemical composition is simulated using different Galactic magnetic field models. Positions for the real sources of events registered at the Auger observatory are calculated taking into account the influence of both Galactic and extragalactic turbulent fields. The possibility of their correlation with the Centaurus A radio galaxy is analyzed.     

Gamma-ray emitting supernova remnants as the origin of Galactic cosmic rays?

The origin of cosmic rays is one of the long-standing mysteries in physics and astrophysics. Simple arguments suggest that a scenario of supernova remnants (SNRs) in the Milky Way as the dominant sources for the cosmic ray population below the knee could work: a generic calculation indicates that these objects can provide the energy budget necessary to explain the observed flux of cosmic rays. However, this argument is based on the assumption that all sources behave in the same way, i.e. they all have the same energy budget, spectral behavior and maximum energy. In this paper, we investigate if a realistic population of SNRs is capable of producing the cosmic ray flux as it is observed below the knee. We use 21 SNRs that are well-studied from radio wavelengths up to gamma-ray energies and derive cosmic ray spectra under the assumption of hadronic emission. The cosmic ray spectra show a large variety in their energy budget, spectral behavior and maximum energy. These sources are assumed to be representative for the total class of SNRs, where we assume that about 100–200 cosmic ray emitting SNRs should be present today. Finally, we use these source spectra to simulate the cosmic ray transport from individual SNRs in the Galaxy with the GALPROP code for cosmic ray propagation. We find that the cosmic ray budget can be matched well for these sources. We conclude that gamma-ray emitting SNRs can be a representative sample of cosmic ray emitting sources. In the future, experiments like CTA and HAWC will help to distinguish hadronic from leptonic sources and to further constrain the maximum energy of the sources and contribute to producing a fully representative sample in order to further investigate the possibility of SNRs being the dominant sources of cosmic rays up to the knee.     

On the spectrum of ultrahigh energy cosmic rays and the γ-ray burst origin hypothesis

It has been suggested that cosmological γ-ray bursts (GRBs) can produce the observed flux of cosmic rays at the highest energies. However, recent studies of GRBs indicate that their redshift distribution likely follows the average star formation rate of the universe and that GRBs were more numerous at high redshifts. As a consequence, we show that photomeson production energy losses suffered by ultrahigh energy cosmic rays coming from GRBs would produce too sharp a spectral energy cutoff to be consistent with the air shower data. Futhermore, we show that cosmolgical GRBs fail to supply the energy input required to account for the cosmic ray flux above 10¹⁹ eV by a factor of 100–1000.     

Solar Observation with the Fourier Transform Spectrometer. II. Preliminary Results of Solar Spectrum near the CO 4.66 μm and Mg I 12.32 μm

An infrared solar spectrum observed by ground-based telescopes is seriously affected by the background radiation both from the telescope and sky, relative to the visible wavelengths. Its accuracy is also influenced by the spectral resolution of the Fourier transform spectrometer. In the paper, we developed a CO₂ gas cell and installed it in the sample compartment to calibrate the spectral resolution of the Bruker IFS-125HR at infrared wavelengths. The measured spectral resolution is 0...     

Short-term variations of the galactic cosmic ray intensity: 1964–1967

Variations of the ground-level nucleonic intensity and of indices of solar photospheric, chromospheric, and coronal activity at time scales of less than forty days show strong 27-day recurrent structure. Correlation functions for these time series suggest an origin for short-term modulation in impulsive solar activity. Flare-associated shocks originating in long-lived active zones fixed in solar longitude produce recurrent cosmic ray variations during 1964–1967, and corotating solar wind disturbances are of secondary importance to short-term modulation.     

On the large-scale diffuse magnetic field of the Sun – II. The Contribution of Active Regions

Dikpati and Choudhuri (1994, 1995) developed a model for the poleward migration of the weak diffuse magnetic field on the Sun's surface. This field was identified with the poloidal component produced by the solar dynamo operating at the base of the convection zone, and its evolution was studied by considering the effects of meridional circulation and turbulent diffusion. The earlier model is extended in this paper by incorporating the flux from, the decay of tilted active regions near the solar surface as an additional source of the poloidal field. This extended model can now explain various low-latitude features in the time-latitude diagram of the weak diffuse fields. These low-latitude features could not be accounted for in the earlier model, which was very successful in modeling the behavior at high latitudes. The time-latitude diagrams show that regions of a particular polarity often have tongues of opposite polarity. Such tongues can be produced in the theoretical model by incorporating fluctuations in the source term arising out of the decaying active regions.     

Kinematics and Evolution of Local Features of the Large-Scale Magnetic Field – I. Kinematical Characteristics

Kinematics of local magnetic features (LMFs) have been investigated by analyzing a 22-year series of synoptic maps of the radial magnetic field of the Sun (the term ‘local’ refers hereinafter to magnetic features with an effective size of the order of an arc min). We applied the cross-correlation technique to analyse separately each of the harmonics obtained by using a one-dimensional Fourier transform of the magnetic field in longitude. Such an approach allowed us to trace the motion of the LMFs for a time interval as long as 12 Carrington rotations. The analysis also has shown that the effective size of the magnetic tracers grows significantly with increasing age, which indicates that the local-scale magnetic features undergo diffusion-like expansion and weakening, in agreement with Leighton's model of magnetic field evolution. The LMFs emerging at latitudes between 10° and 55° reveal a poleward directed motion with a maximum velocity of about 14 m s^-1 near the latitude of 37°. The profile of the meridional velocity agrees approximately with that derived by Komm, Howard, and Harvey (1993) for small-scale, short-lived magnetic features. We have found that the LMFs rotate differentially at latitudes of up to 55°, and do not exhibit the ‘quasi-rigid’ rotation that is assumed to be characteristic of long-lived magnetic features. This disagrees with the results obtained by Stenflo (1989) and by Latushko (1994), who applied direct cross-correlation analysis of the synoptic maps. Such a discrepancy may be treated as being a consequence of inhomogeneity of the large-scale solar magnetic field that consists of several components with different kinematic characteristics.     

Spectroscopic Studies of the Solar Corona – V. Physical Properties of Coronal Structures

Spectra around the 6374 Å [Fex] and 7892 Å [Fexi] emission lines were obtained simultaneously with the 25-cm coronagraph at Norikura Observatory covering an area of 200 ×500 of the solar corona. The line width, peak intensity and line-of-sight velocity for both the lines were computed using Gaussian fits to the observed line profiles at each location (4 ×4 ) of the observed coronal region. The line-width measurements show that in steady coronal structures the FWHM of the 6374 Å emission line increases with height above the limb with an average value of 1.02 mÅ arc sec^–1. The FWHM of the 7892 Å line also increases with height but at a smaller average value of 0.55 mÅ arc sec^–1. These observations agree well with our earlier results obtained from observations of the red, green, and infrared emission lines that variation of the FWHM of the coronal emission lines with height in steady coronal structures depends on plasma temperatures they represent. The FWHM gradient is negative for high-temperature emission lines, positive for relatively low-temperature lines and smaller for emission lines in the intermediate temperature range. Such a behaviour in the variation of the FWHM of coronal emission lines with height above the limb suggests that it may not always be possible to interpret an increase in the FWHM of emission line with height as an increase in the nonthermal velocity, and hence rules out the existence of waves in steady coronal structures.     

Spectrophotometry of Jupiter in the Wavelength Range 320–1100 nm: Long-Term Observations of Variations over the Disk

Based on long-term spectrophotometric observations of Jupiter in the wavelength range 320–1100 nm, we investigate the variations of aerosol extinction (at 320–600 nm) and methane–ammonia absorption (at 600–1100 nm) over Jupiter's disk. We give estimates of the optical parameters for the upper cloud layer of the planet, the overlying stratospheric haze, and a Rayleigh atmosphere.     

Dynamics of the solar granulation – On the Time Variation of the Granular Flow

The emergence and evolution of large granules shows thegranular dynamics particularly well. We therefore investigate the time dependence of the convective flows within a regular and an exploding granule. The observational material for this study was taken at the center of the solar disk with the German VTT in Izaña (Tenerife, Spain) during an observing campaign in the year 1994. It consists of series of spectrograms of high spatial resolution, which were digitized and processed with wavelet techniques. Among other features, our data show the dynamical portrait of a regular and an exploding granule. We can follow their temporal evolution over more than 12 min. Using absorption lines of different strength we are able to see the dynamical change of both granules at several heights within the first 200 km above ₅₀₀₀=1. The observations reveal significant changes of the convective flow of both granules over time as well as over height, which are discussed in detail.     

High Resolution Spectroscopy of Halo Stars in the Near UV and Blue Region I. Spectra in the Wavelength Region 3550-5000 A

An atlas of high resolution (R = 60 000) CCD-spectra in the wavelength range 3500-5000A is presented for four objects in metallicity range -3.0 < [Fe/H] < -0.6, temperature range 4750 < Teff < 5900 K, and surface gravity range 1.6 < lgg < 5.0. We describe the calibration of the stellar atmospheric parameters using Alonso's formula based on the method of infrared flux and outline the determination of the abundances of a total number of 25 chemical elements. An analysis of the abundance determination errors for different chemical elements is carried out, and a method is provided for the observations and reduction of spectral material. Properties of the method of producing an atlas of spectra and line identifications are described.     

The spotless flare of 16 March 1981 – I. Pre-Flare Activations of the Chromospheric Fine Structure

This paper is based on observations in the H line with the aim to carry out a detailed study of the spotless flare of importance 1N that was observed at the Baikal Astrophysical Observatory on 16 March 1981. The study focuses on the evolution of the region of interest from the time of its appearance from behind the limb, and on the pre-flare activation of chromospheric features four hours before the flare. The disturbances that preceded the flare spanned an area of about 120 square degrees. The bulk of activations occurred along and near the path of the polarity inversion line (PIL) of the longitudinal component of the magnetic field. The flare was preceded by an eruptive filament, a disturbance of the fine structure of supergranulation cells, and by the formation of dark vortex structures in regions where flare ribbons form; dark mottles in these regions signaled the operation of an oscillatory process with a period of about 3–4 min, and the region where one of the flare ribbons formed showed a `tunnel' of a system of small-scale dark loops. A close association of the chromospheric activations and flare mottles, with the boundaries of the chromospheric and magnetic networks, is established.     

Evolution effects in the distribution of distant galaxies?

The amplitudes of the two-point correlation function for galaxies are compared for galaxy catalogues extending to different depths. Strong evolution effects in the pattern of galaxy distribution seem to be present suggesting a secular increase of the clustering amplitude. Other explanations would involve large errors in the identification of faint objects as galaxies or a considerable contamination of the counts by very young highly redshifted galaxies as recently proposed by TINSLEY .     

Kinematics and evolution of local features of the large-scale magnetic field – II. Relation to Active Regions

Relationships have been studied between the background magnetic field and the distribution of active regions over the solar surface and time. A series of magnetic-field synoptic maps covering a 20-year period has been cross-correlated with spatio-temporal distributions of three types of active formations (sunspots, calcium plages, and solar flares) used as indicators of the active regions. To make the data analysis more effective, we expanded both the magnetic-field and the active-region distributions in terms of Fourier series in longitude, and then cross-correlated the latitude-dependent Fourier harmonics. Cross-correlation functions calculated from the lower-order Fourier harmonics exhibit prolonged maxima of the amplitude. For the first-order harmonic, the maxima can be tracked throughout a long time interval of at least 13 Carrington rotations, but the time of cross-correlation decreases down to 2 rotations, as the harmonic order increases up to 8. The maxima of the cross-correlation functions indicate moreover a poleward directed drift of the magnetic features that occurred with a velocity of 10–15 m s^–1. The cross-correlation functions calculated separately by using the three types of active formations as indicators of the active regions are similar to each other, although they differ in some details of minor significance. The results of the data analysis make it possible to conclude that the cross-correlation between the magnetic-field and the active-region distributions displays long-term evolution of the magnetic features emerged in the photosphere in the form of the active regions, and that the evolution occurs in accordance with Leighton's (1964) concept known at present as the flux transport model. In order to verify this conclusion, we applied the cross-correlation technique to analyze a magnetic field distribution simulated by means of the flux transport equation by using an ensemble of local-scale magnetic bipoles as a source of magnetic flux. Results of the simulated magnetic field analysis exhibit a substantial qualitative agreement with those obtained by examining the observational data.     

The Violet Opacity in the Red Peculiar Stars – III. Spectral analysis of the SC star GP Ori

Medium-resolution (1.5-2.5 Å) spectrum has been obtained for SC star GP Ori in a wide range of wavelengths from 3730 to 6250 Å. It is characterised mainly by strong atomic lines, as well as moderately strong bands of the CN violet system and CH (0,0) and (0,1) bands at 4315 and 4890 Å. Weak bands of C₂, C₃, and ZrO molecules are observed, however, no evidence is found for the presence of either SiC₂ (Merrill-Sanford bands) or YO. The most prominent atomic lines along with the NaID12 are those of CaII (K,H), CaI at 4227 Å, SrI at 4607 Å, SrII at 4077 and 4215 Å, and BaII at 4554 Å. H seems to be in emission.