Velocity and Temperature Response Functions of 77 Near-Infrared (800 – 1400 nm) Photospheric Lines – I

We present a new list of solar photospheric lines in the near-infrared (NIR) region obtained by synthesis under local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) approximation. We give novel velocity and temperature response functions (RFs) for 77 lines over the spectral range 800 – 1400 nm. Using these RFs, we are able to obtain for each line the core formation height and the range of atmospheric layers where thermodynamic perturbations are dominant. Moreover, by using the depth-integrated RFs, we give an indication of the dependence on the wavelength of the RFs and quantify their sensitivity to thermodynamic variations. The NIR region represents a significant source of interest for spectroscopic and polarimetric studies. Indeed, at these wavelengths we explore the deeper photospheric layers, and the Zeeman splitting is larger than in the visible range.     

The Velocity Field and Kinematics of the Galaxy NGC 784 in the Hα Line

In this paper we present the H map, the 2D velocity field and the rotation curve of the galaxy NGC 784 obtained with the ByuFOSC2 scanning Fabry-Perot interferometer, attached at the prime focus of the 2.6-m telescope of Byurakan Observatory. The H image shows several HII condensations along the major axis of the galaxy. The galaxy has an asymmetric distribution of the H emission. The rotation curve is quite symmetric with a low gradient in the central part of the galaxy.     

Detection of Solar Rotational Variability in the Large Yield RAdiometer (LYRA) 190 – 222 nm Spectral Band

We analyze the variability of the spectral solar irradiance during the period from 7 January 2010 until 20 January 2010 as measured by the Herzberg channel (190?–?222 nm) of the Large Yield RAdiometer (LYRA) onboard PROBA2. In this period of time, observations by the LYRA nominal unit experienced degradation and the signal produced by the Herzberg channel frequently jumped from one level to another. Both factors significantly complicate the analysis. We present the algorithm that allowed us to extract the solar variability from the LYRA data and compare the results with SORCE/SOLSTICE measurements and with modeling based on the Code for the Solar Irradiance (COSI).     

Black holes in the Einstein–Gauss–Bonnet theory and the geometry of their thermodynamics—II

In the present work we study (i) the charged black hole in Einstein–Gauss–Bonnet (EGB) theory, known as the Einstein–Maxwell–Gauss–Bonnet (EMGB) black hole and (ii) the black hole in EGB gravity with a Yang–Mills field. The thermodynamic geometry of these two black hole solutions has been investigated, using the modified entropy in Gauss–Bonnet theory.     

Nova Cygni 1975 (V1500 Cyg) in 2000–2009 and the nature of its synodic period

Multicolor photometric data are presented for the asynchronous polar V1500 Cyg during 2000–2009, i.e., 23–35 years after its outburst. Some examples of individual light curves of the system are shown. An analysis of these reveals large variations in its brightness and color with the phase of the orbital period owing to a “reflection effect” caused by reradiation from the side of the red dwarf facing the hot white dwarf and heated by its hard ultraviolet radiation. The variations in the O-C residuals and in the maximum intensity with the phase of the synodic period are illustrated. It is found that the amplitude A of the orbital fluctuations increases in proportion to the intensity I at a rate dA/dI=0.64. This behavior of V1500 Cyg is most likely caused by periodic shading of the illuminated part of the red dwarf, where the degree of shading depends on the phase of the synodic cycle.     

Doppler Shifts of the Hα Line and the Ca ii 854.2 nm Line in a Quiet Region of the Sun Observed with the FISS/NST

The characteristics of Doppler shifts in a quiet region of the Sun are compared between the Hα line and the Ca?ii infrared line at 854.2 nm. A small area of 16″×40″ was observed for about half an hour with the Fast Imaging Solar Spectrograph (FISS) of the 1.6 meter New Solar Telescope (NST) at Big Bear Solar Observatory. The observed area contains a network region and an internetwork region, and identified in the network region are fibrils and bright points. We infer Doppler velocity v _m from each line profile at each individual point with the lambdameter method as a function of half wavelength separation Δλ. It is confirmed that the bisector of the spatially averaged Ca?ii line profile has an inverse C-shape with a significant peak redshift of +?1.8 km?s^?1. In contrast, the bisector of the spatially averaged Hα line profile has a C-shape with a small peak blueshift of ??0.5 km?s^?1. In both lines, the bisectors of bright network points are significantly redshifted not only at the line centers, but also at the wings. The Ca?ii Doppler shifts are found to be correlated with the Hα ones with the strongest correlation occurring in the internetwork region. Moreover, we find that here the Doppler shifts in the two lines are essentially in phase. We discuss the physical implications of our results in view of the formation of the Hα line and Ca?ii 854.2 nm line in the quiet region chromosphere.     

Type II–IV radio bursts and compact and diffuse white-light clouds in the outer corona of December 14, 1971

The radio observations of type II–IV bursts on December 14, 1971 are analyzed. These radio events were associated with a H-spray or eruptive prominence, and later followed by several compact moving clouds observed with the NRL white-light coronagraph aboard OSO-7. There was also observed a diffuse expanding cloud behind the compact moving clouds.From the comparison of the interferometer observation of the bursts with the optical observation, it is strongly suggested that the compact moving clouds were likely to be the optical counterparts of the sources of moving type IV radio emission. This fact suggests that the magnetic bubbles were really produced in the flare process. The frequency-drift of the first group of type II bursts was so rapid, that we could neither identify the type II shock with the leading edge of the diffuse expanding cloud nor interpret it as the piston-driven shock of the latter. Because of the uncertainty of the velocities of the compact clouds due to the projection effect, the possibility that the type II shock was the piston-driven shock of the compact clouds cannot be excluded. Nevertheless we suggest that the type II shock was a blast type MHD shock and had no direct physical relation to the flare-associated mass-ejection processes. The relation between the type II–IV bursts and the interplanetary shock is also discussed.     

The ratios I(K1)/I(H1) and I(K3)/I(H3) of ca II as diagnostics of the chromosphere above sunspots

The ratios I(K ₁)/I(H ₁) and I(K ₃)/I(H ₃) were calculated from four semi-empirical models of sunspot umbra. We determined the dependencies of both ratios of such parameters as temperature gradient and atmospheric opacity. A certain influence on the expected ratios I(K ₁)/I(H ₁) and I(K ₃)/I(H ₃) can also come from the FIP effect provided it exists in the chromosphere above sunspot umbra. Theoretical and observed values of I(K ₁)/I(H ₁) and I(K ₃)/I(H ₃) are compared. It is shown that for one of the sunspots we observed, the values obtained for the ratio I(K ₁)/I(H ₁) cannot be explained in terms of existing umbra models.     

A model of the terrestrial ionosphere in the altitude interval 50–4000 km II. Molecular ions (N2 +, NO+, O2 +) and electron density

Empirical models of molecular ion densities (N₂ ⁺, NO⁺, O₂ ⁺) and the electron density (N _e ) are presented in the altitude interval 50–4000 km as functions of time (diurnal, annual), space (position, altitude) and solar flux (F _10.7). Using observations of 6 satellites (AE-C, AE-D, AE-E, ALOUETTE-2, ISIS-1, ISIS-2), 4 incoherent scatter stations (Arecibo, Jicamarca, Millstone Hill, St Santin) and more than 700 D-region profiles, this model describes the global gross features of the ionosphere for quiet geophysical conditions (K _p 3).The molecular ion densities and the electron density increase with increasing altitude up to a maximum (or several maxima) - and decrease from thereon with increasing height. Between ~80 and 200 km, the main ionic constituents are NO⁺ and O₂ ⁺; below ~80 km cluster ions are predominating. During local summer conditions the molecular ions and N _e increase around polar latitudes and decrease correspondingly during local winter. The diurnal variations are intrinsically coupled to the individual plasma layers; in general, the molecular ion and electron densities are enhanced during daytime and depleted during nighttime (for details and exceptions, see text).     

Identification of absorption lines of rare-earth elements in the region of the spectrum λλ 610.25–610.57 nm roAp stars,HD 101065, HD 134214, HD 137949, and HD 24712

In the spectral region λλ = 610.25−610.57 nm of the roAp star HD 101065, we performed the identification of the rare-earth element absorption lines absent from the atomic spectral line databases VALD and DREAM. The identified lines were used for calculating the synthetic spectra of the roAp stars HD 137949, HD 134214, and HD 24712. The upper limit of the identified line estimates was determined. The rotation/pulsation parameter νsini and magnetic field modulus were determined using the lines Nd III 669.083 nm and Ca I 616.217 nm. The element abundance in the roAp stars HD 134214 and HD 24712 was determined for the first time using Nd III lines. Calculations were carried out with the help of the code SynthM developed by S.A. Khan.     

Morphology of the Light Curves for the X-ray Novae H 1743-322 and GX 339-4 during Their Outbursts in 2005–2019

Astronomy Letters - Based on long-term SWIFT, RXTE, and MAXI observations of the X-ray novae H 1743-322 (IGR J17464-3213) and GX 339-4, we have investigated the morphology and classified the light...     

Lα, Lβ (of Hi), k and h (of Mgii), K and H (of Ca ii) observations in a quiescent prominence with the OSO-8 LPSP instrument

A sequence of images taken at different positions in the resonance lines of Ca ii, Mg ii, and H i was obtained over a quiescent prominence with the LPSP instrument on OSO-8. Ca ii K (and H) profiles are reconstructed at different locations in the prominence with a (10 × 5) arc sec² resolution. Significant variations of FWHM and line shifts are found: FWHM range from 0.14 Å to 0.5 Å; blue shifts reach about 14 km s^-1. The ratio of K to H absolute intensities shows a large spread around the average value of 1.2. The same ratio for the Mg ii lines in the whole prominence is higher (1.7), a fact already noticed at the edge of an active prominence (Vial et al., 1979). The ionization degree, as measured by the L/Ca K ratio, shows noticeable variations within the prominence. The L intensity is about 0.3 times the intensity measured in the quiet Sun, and the L/L ratio is less than one half the disk value. These results indicate important variations of the thermal conditions inside the prominence.DASOP, Observatoire de Paris, 92190 Meudon, France.     

A model of the terrestrial ionosphere in the altitude interval 50–4000 km I. Atomic ions (H+, He+, N+, O+)

An empirical model of atomic ion densities (H⁺, He⁺, N⁺, O⁺) is presented up to 4000 km altitude as a function of time (diurnal, annual), space (position, altitude) and solar flux (F10.7) — using observations of satellites (AE-B, AE-C, AE-D, AE-E, ISIS-2, OGO-6) and rockets during quiet geophysical conditions (K _p 3). The numerical treatment is based upon harmonic functions for the horizontal pattern and cubic splines for the vertical structure.The ion densities increase with increasing height up to a maximum (depending roughly on the ion mass) and decrease beyond that with increasing altitude. Above 200 km, O⁺ is the main ionic constituent being replaced at approximately 800 km (depending on latitude, local time, etc.) by H⁺. Around polar regions the light ions, H⁺ and He⁺, are depleted (polar wind) and the heavier ones enhanced. During local summer conditions the ion densities increase around polar latitudes and correspondingly decrease during local winter, except He⁺ which reflects the opposite pattern. Diurnal variations are intrinsically coupled to the individual plasma layers: N⁺ and O⁺ peak, in general, during daytime, while the amplitudes and phases of H⁺ and He⁺ change strongly with altitude and latitude. Earth, Moon and Planets Review article.     

How precise is the orbit of asteroid (99942) Apophis and how probable is its collision with the Earth in 2036–2037?

The nearest in time close approach of potentially hazardous asteroid (99942) Apophis with the Earth will take place on April 13, 2029, when the minimum distance of the asteroid from the Earth’s center will be as small as 38 000 km. Such a close approach will result in substantial transformation of the asteroid’s orbit. The value of the perturbations depends on the minimum distance between the bodies during the approach. Among possible transformations of the orbit are those which result in new dangerous approaches and even in probable Apophis collisions with the Earth starting from 2036. At present, at least four solutions are known for the Apophis orbit which were obtained using all radar and most of available optical observations. The procedures of assigning weights to conditional equations and the models of the asteroid’s motion have differed to some extent when finding these solutions. Of considerable interest is the comparison of the found orbital parameters with the estimates of their accuracy, since small distinctions in their values result in considerable distinctions in the forecast of Apophis’ motion after 2029 and beyond. It is shown in the paper that the estimates of the probability of an Apophis collision with the Earth in 2036 differ by some orders of magnitude, according to various solutions. The influence of factors which were disregarded in the models of motion even more increases the uncertainty in forecasting the motion after 2029. More accurate forecasting can be achieved as a result of additional optical and, to a greater extent, a series of radar observations in 2013 and then in 2020–2021, and/or as a result of processing radio signals of the transmitter delivered to the Apophis surface or to the orbit of its artificial satellite, as it was proposed in a number of papers.     

Measurements of visual double stars with PISCO2 at the Nice 76-cm refractor in 2013–2014 (new data) and in 2015

We present relative astrometric and photometric measurements of visual double stars made in 2013–2015, with PISCO2 installed at the 76-cm refractor of Côte d'Azur Observatory in Nice (France). Our observing list contains orbital couples as well as double stars whose motion is still uncertain. Most of the observations were done in 2015, but some other observations of wide couples were done in 2013–2014 (0.3% of the total of the observations). Three different techniques were used for obtaining measurements: lucky imaging, speckle interferometry and the direct vector autocorrelation method. From our observations of 2837 multiple stars, we obtained 5182 new measurements with angular separations in the range of 0 ${}^{″}$.1–32 ${}^{″}$ and an average accuracy of $0^{″}.018$. The mean error on the position angles is 0°.8. Most of the position angles were determined without the usual 180° ambiguity with the application of the direct vector autocorrelation technique and/or by inspection of the Lucky images or the long integration files. We managed to routinely monitor faint systems ( $m_V\approx 9-11$) with large magnitude difference (up to $\mathrm{\Delta }{m}_V\approx 4.5$). We have thus been able to measure 21 systems containing red dwarf stars that had been poorly monitored since their discovery, from which we estimated the stellar masses thanks to Gaia measurements. We also measured the magnitude difference of the two components of 1079 double stars with an estimated error of 0.2 mag. Except for a few objects that are discussed, our measurements are in good agreement with the ephemerides computed with published orbital elements, even for the double stars whose separation is smaller than the diffraction limit. Thanks to good seeing images and with the use of high-contrast numerical filters, we have also been able to obtain 196 measurements with an angular separation smaller than the diffraction limit of our instrumentation, and consistent with those obtained with larger telescopes. We also report measurements of the 164 new double stars that we found in the files obtained during the observations. Finally, from a study of the DR3 Gaia release, it is shown that all the objects of the Tycho Double Star Catalog that we did not resolve in 2015 are probably false detections by Tycho.     

On the Absence of Core Luminosity–Core-Dominance Parameter (P C − R) Correlation in Radio Galaxies and BL Lacs

We have presented an alternative interpretation for the absence of correlation in the relationship between the core radio power (P _C) and core-dominance parameter (R) for a sample of BL Lacs and radio galaxies found in Fan & Zhang (Astron. Astrophys. 407, 899 (2003)). This is contrary to the predictions of the relativistic beaming and radio source orientation models in which the core luminosity is expected to be Doppler-boosted relative to the extended luminosity which is generally assumed to be isotropic. Our analysis of the P _C???R data indicates a strong luminosity selection effect (reminiscent of bright source samples due to Malmquist bias) in the sample. In particular, we showed that a strong P _C???R correlation exists above some redshift cut-off which may correspond to the flux limit of the sample used.