Meridional drift of large-scale solar magnetic fields

It is shown that the meridional drift of large-scale fields starts in the equatorial zone and continues over 15–16 yrs (16–17 according to another estimate), i.e., during three fourths of the 22-year cycle. There is an abrupt retardation of the drift at latitudes of 30°–50°, and a stagnation region where the drift rate does not exceed several meters per second arises. The drift becomes rapid again at higher latitudes. The stagnation region coincides with the area in which the radial gradient of the rotational velocity is close to zero in the convective zone. This drift is compared with helio-seismological data on the rotation in the convective zone. A model taking into account some elements of dynamo theory is proposed.     

Spots and activity of solar-type stars from Kepler observations

The spot coverages S for 2846 solar-type stars with effective temperatures from 5700 K to 5800 K and gravities from 4.4 to 4.5 have been measured. An analysis based on the MAST catalog, which presents photometric measurements obtained with the Kepler Space Telescope during Q9 is presented. The existence of two groups of solar-type stars, with S values between 0.001 and 0.007 and with S > 0.007, is inferred. The second group (active stars) contains 279 stars (about 10% of the total number of stars analyzed). The mean S parameter for the entire sample is 0.004, comparable to the mean spot coverage of the Sun. In general, the dependence of S on the rotation period for solar-type stars has characteristics similar to those found earlier for stars with exoplanets. For the vast majority of the stars in the sample, the activity is constant, and independent of age. The activity of the small number of active stars with S > 0.007 decreases with age. The age variations of the chromospheric activity index R′_HK are compared to variations of the spot coverage S. The relations analyzed have common characteristic features. It is likely that both the spot activity level and the chromospheric activity level abruptly decrease for stars older than 4 billion yrs.     

Non-LTE analysis of the formation of EuII lines in the atmospheres of solar-type stars

A method to analyze the statistical equilibrium of the EuII ion based on a 36-level model atom has been developed. The formation of EuII lines without assuming local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) is considered for T _eff=5500–7000 K, logg=4.0, and metallicities [A] from 0 to ?1.5. Non-LTE effects in the level populations are primarily due to radiative pumping of excited states from the ground and low-lying levels, which leads to over-population of upper relative to lower levels. As a result, the studied λ4129 and λ6645 Å lines are weaker than in the LTE case. However, due to the small energy differences between even low-lying EuII levels, collisional coupling is strong, and deviations from LTE in EuII lines are modest: for the Sun, non-LTE corrections to the abundance are only 0.04 dex. The non-LTE effects grow with an increase in the effective temperature and with a decrease in the metallicity, so that non-LTE abundance corrections can reach 0.12 dex for T _eff=5500K, logg=4.0, [A]=?1.5 and 0.1 dex for T _eff=7000K, logg=4.0, [A]=0. The effect of inaccuracy in the atomic parameters for EuII on the non-LTE calculations is examined. Analysis of the profiles of the solar EuII λ4129 and λ6645 Å lines is used to empirically refine estimates of the efficiency of collisional processes in forbidden transitions in establishing the distribution of EuII ions over excited states.     

A new approach to modeling the surface magnetic fields of chemically peculiar stars

A reconstruction of the line-of-sight component and modulus of the surface-magnetic-field vector is proposed, using a model with artificial point sources of the magnetic field with “virtual” magnetic charges in the body of a star. This approach for the direct calculation of the field from the superposition of the potentials of individual magnetic charges enables the reconstruction of most possible configurations of the surface magnetic field of a star. Proper choice of the axis orientations for the three coordinate systems used makes it possible to obtain a simple representation for the vector components of the surface magnetic field. In a dipole approximation, the expression for the line-of-sight component of the magnetic field averaged over the visible disk of the star reduces to the form obtained in other studies.     

Disk wind in the radiation of young intermediate-mass stars

We consider the role of the disk wind in the formation of hydrogen emission spectra of young intermediate-mass Herbig Ae stars. The assumed parameters for the kinematic characteristics of the wind region are typical of the theory of magnetocentrifugal disk winds. Our computations of the excitation and ionization states for atoms in the emitting region are based on the Sobolev approximation for a medium with a large velocity gradient. The calculations show that hydrogen-line emission profiles can have a complex structure that depends on the disk-wind parameters, as well as on the system’s orientation relative to the line of sight. The model proposed is able to explain most types of Hα profiles observed for Herbig Ae stars.     

Meridional circulation in young massive stars with laminar rotation

We study the rotation of a chemically homogeneous star with a mass of 16M_⊙, assuming that the angular-momentum distribution in its radiative envelope is determined by hydrodynamical processes—flows and turbulent diffusion. Meridional circulation and horizontal shear turbulence are the main hydrodynamical processes forming the radial distribution of the angular momentum in young massive stars in the absence of magnetic fields. The rotation of such stars is close to steady-state. The angular velocity of rotation of the convective core can be ～5–20% higher than the surface value. Under these conditions, the characteristic time for the radial transport of angular momentum by meridional flows and shear turbulence is comparable to the nuclear time scale.     

Disk wind in young binaries and its impact on the infrared excesses of young stars

We consider the effect of binarity of young stars on the spectral energy distribution of the IR radiation from circumstellar dust. The formation of a common dust envelope in a binary system with a low-mass secondary component is strongly affected by the disk wind from the secondary. The small velocities in peripheral areas of the wind are such that it can be partially or entirely captured by the primary, even when the distance between the components is up to several astronomical units. As a result, an envelope with a rather complex spatial and kinematic structure is formed. Its mass is many orders of magnitude smaller than that of the accretion disk around the binary. However, the thermal radiation emitted by dust particles of the envelope can be comparable to the total radiation of the accretion disk. This result is discussed in the context of the deficit at near-IR wavelengths (2–10µm) in current models for accretion disks around young stars.     

Generation of multivariate cross-correlated geotechnical random fields

A geotechnical problem that involves several spatially correlated parameters can be best described using multivariate cross-correlated random fields. The joint distribution of these random variables cannot be uniquely defined using their marginal distributions and correlation coefficients alone. This paper presents a generic methodology for generating multivariate cross-correlated random fields. The joint distribution is rigorously established using a copula function that describes the dependence structure among the individual variables. The cross-correlated random fields are generated through Cholesky decomposition and conditional sampling based on the joint distribution. The random fields are verified regarding the anisotropic scales of fluctuation and copula parameters.     

Shocks at the bases of non-relativistic jets from young stars

A cylindrical magneto-hydrodynamical model for the transverse structures of the nonrelativisitic jets observed from young stars is proposed. The importance of the temperature terms in the equations describing one-dimensional cylindrical flows is discussed. It is shown that taking into account heating at an oblique shock at the base of the jet makes it possible to obtain physical parameters of the jet that are in good agreement with observations. In particular, the jet can be confined by an external magnetic field of the order of 10⁻⁶ G at a distance of 100 AU from the rotational axis.     

Horizontal magnetic fields in the solar photosphere

Two-dimensional simulations of time-dependent solar magnetogranulation are used to analyze the horizontal magnetic fields and the response of the synthesized Stokes profiles of the IR FeI λ1564.85 nm line to the magnetic fields. The 1.5-h series of MHD models used for the analyses reproduces a region of the magnetic network in the photosphere with an unsigned magnetic flux density of 192 G at the solar surface. According to the magnetic-field distribution obtained, the most probable absolute strength of the horizontal magnetic field at an optical depth of τ ₅ = 1(τ ₅ denotes τ at λ = 500 nm) is 50 G, while the mean value is 244 G. On average, the horizontal magnetic fields are stronger than the vertical fields to heights of about 400 km in the photosphere due to their higher density and the larger area they occupy. The maximum factor by which the horizontal fields are greater is 1.5. Strong horizontal magnetic flux tubes emerge at the surface as spots with field strengths of more than 500 G. These are smaller than granules in size, and have lifetimes of 3–6 min. They form in the photosphere due to the expulsion of magnetic fields by convective flows coming from deep subphotospheric layers. The data obtained qualitatively agree with observations with the Hinode space observatory.     

Effect of magnetic fields on leveling

Normally, the establishment of national leveling networks was for the purpose of supporting national mapping programs of engineering projects. They are also used as a base on which to establish national gravity networks. During recent years, much study and investigation have been done concerning the characteristics and capabilities of these networks to provide data for determining height velocity changes due to crustal movements.

In the early 1960's the use of automatic (compensator) leveling instruments became common for establishing precise geodetic leveling networks. In 1981, at FIG, Montreux, Professor W.E. Rumpt and Mr. H. Meurisch reported the influence of DC-AC magnetic fields on the line of sight of compensator instruments. As a result, several manufacturers modified their automatic leveling instruments to minimize the AC-DC magnetic effect. Wild Heerbrugg, whose unmodified NA-2 level was least affected by magnetic fields, further reduced the effect by shielding it's compensator.

At the very least, the impact of this discovery will cause national geodetic agencies to modify their existing automatic leveling equipment and possibly embark on a releveling or reanalysis of their existing network. When studying micro/macro earth crustal movements, the geodesist must take this new factor into account in analysing data.     

Investigation of magnetic fields in solar active regions

The magnetic-field structure in solar active regions outside spots is studied. The line-of-sight fields were measured using the new Crimean digital magnetograph in three spectral lines—Fe I 5253 Å, Fe II 5234 Å, and Ti I 5193 Å. Observations in the Fe II 5234 Å line indicate systematically higher field strengths than those in the Fe I 5253 Å line. The magnetic fluxes in 2″ elements are ～4.3×10¹⁸ Mx, ～4.6×10¹⁸ Mx, and ～6.2×10¹⁸ Mx according to the Fe I 5253 Å, Ti I 5193 Å, and FeII 5234 Å observations, respectively. Elements 2″–8″ in size make the largest contribution to the magnetic fluxes of active regions outside spots.     

Twist of magnetic fields in solar active regions

We study the twist properties of photospheric magnetic fields in solar active regions using magnetographic data on 422 active regions obtained at the Huairou Solar Observing Station in 1988–1997. We calculate the mean twist (force-free field α_f) of the active regions and compare it with the mean current-helicity density of these same active regions, h _c =B _∥·(?×B)_∥. The latitude and longitude distributions and time dependence of these quantities is analyzed. These parameters represent two different tracers of the α effect in dynamo theory, so we might expect them to possess similar properties. However, apart from differences in their definitions, they also display differences associated with the technique used to recalculate the magnetographic data and with their different physical meanings. The distributions of the mean α_f and h _c both show hemispherical asymmetry—negative (positive) values in the northern (southern) hemisphere—although this tendency is stronger for h _c. One reason for these differences may be the averaging procedure, when twists of opposite sign in regions with weak fields make a small contribution to the mean current-helicity density. Such transequatorial regularity is in agreement with the expectations of dynamo theory. In some active regions, the average α_f and h _c do not obey this transequatorial rule. As a whole, the mean twist of the magnetic fields α_f of active regions does not vary significantly with the solar cycle. Active regions that do not follow the general behavior for α_f do not show any appreciable tendency to cluster at certain longitudes, in contrast to results for h _c noted in previous studies. We analyze similarities and differences in the distributions of these two quantities. We conclude that using only one of these tracers, such as α_f, to search for signatures of the α effect can have disadvantages, which should be taken into account in future studies.     

The electric fields of radio pulsars with asymmetric nondipolar magnetic fields

The effect of the curvature of open magnetic field lines on the generation of electric fields in radio pulsars is considered in the framework of a Goldreich-Julian model, for both a regime with a free outflow of electrons from the neutron-star surface and the case of a small thermoemission current. An expression for the electron thermoemission current in a strong magnetic field is derived. The electric field associated with the curvature of the magnetic flux tubes is comparable to the field generated by the relativistic dragging of the inertial frames.     

Localization of magnetic reconnection from the differential characteristics of magnetic fields

Magnetic reconnection for arbitrary magnetic fields without null points is analyzed in the absence of plasma. A potential model field for four sources is considered. A method for the localization of probable reconnection regions using computable differential characteristics of magnetic fields is proposed. Some separator properties are examined, and separator regions are found for the best-known reconnection conditions.     

Electric and magnetic fields in the astrophysics of wormholes

We consider the properties of electric and magnetic fields in vacuum in the neighborhood of static, spherically symmetric wormholes. Although certain aspects of this problem have been considered before, some important features remained undiscovered. We study in detail the properties of electric and magnetic fields in the case of quasi-adiabatic motion of field sources near an Ellis-Bronnikov wormhole and the passage of such sources through the wormhole. An exact solution is found in closed form for a wormhole immersed in a magnetic field that is homogeneous at infinity, as well as an exact solution for a dipolar field without sources. The properties of electromagnetic fields are important for possible observational manifestations of wormholes in astrophysics.     

Rheology of aqueous magnetite suspensions in uniform magnetic fields

Non-magnetized suspensions of magnetite particles with concentrations in excess of 30% by mass and particle size less than 75 μm exhibit Bingham plastic behaviour. When exposed to external magnetic fields of strengths in excess of 41 × 10⁻⁴ T, the rheological behaviour of the suspensions departs from the Bingham model and can be described by a Herschel–Bulkley model of the form τ = τ₀ + kγⁿ. The value of the index n was found to range from 0.38 to 0.9, depending on the magnetic field strength, solids concentration and particle size and correlations are proposed for the apparent viscosity of magnetized suspensions as a function of magnetic field strength and solids concentration.     

Coherent structures in the dynamics of the large-scale solar magnetic field

Variations in the mean solar magnetic field (MSMF) are studied in both the frequency-time and longitude-time domains. A wavelet analysis of the MSMF clearly demonstrates that variations in the mean field are not stationary. Combined with longitude-time diagrams for the background solar magnetic field (BSMF), the analysis reveals the emergence of the background field, which occurs discretely at intervals of 1.5–2 years. Based on an analysis of the fine structure in MSMF variations, we develop a numerical technique to study timedependent heliographic-longitude distribution of the large-scale magnetic field. A detailed picture of the rotation of the large-scale magnetic field is derived for activity cycles 20–23. Coherent structures are detected in longitude-time diagrams obtained by deconvolving the MSMF series. These structures are related to discrete rigid-rotation modes of the large-scale magnetic fields. Various rotational modes coexist and replace one another. During the phase of activity growth, modes with periods of 27.8–28.5 days dominate, whereas a mode with a rotational period of about 27 days dominates during the decline phase. Occasionally, modes with periods of 29–30 days appear. Most structures in the longitude-time MSMF distribution correspond to similar structures in the BSMF distribution for the northern or southern hemisphere. Chronologically, the emergence of the BSMF has frequently been accompanied by changes in the solar rotational regime and has been correlated with variations in the polarity asymmetry in the course of the 11-year activity cycle.