The determination of physical parameters for circumstellar clouds

The possibility of the detection of circumstellar clouds around hot stars have been shown based on the analysis of observed equivalent widths of resonance line 2852 Mgi of interstellar origin. An attempt has been made to combine two methods, earlier suggested — Method of Doublet 2800 Mgii and Method of Depression — for the determination of the parameters of circumstellar clouds. The sequence of the determination of these parameters is illustrated on the application of this combined method for circumstellar clouds around five hot stars. The value of the mean absorption coefficientk ₀ for the system of resonance lines in the region of depression 2400 Å, is obtained. An application of the conception of spectral classification of circumstellar clouds has been realized.     

A phenomenological interpretation of stellar chromospheres

An attempt is made to develop a phenomenological interpretation of stellar chromospheres. The following problems are examined: observed emission powers of magnesium chromospheres on stars based on the ultraviolet doublet, 2800 Mgii, observations; dependence of chromosphere emission on spectral and luminosity classes; stellar chromospheres as an accidental event; chromospheres of stars-components of binary systems; stars with the chromospheres of solar type (S) and nonsolar (NS) type; distribution of stars by means of the type of their chromosphere on luminosity class; stars with superpower magnesium emission; emission measures for both the magnesium and calcium chromospheres; interrelation between chromosphere, transition zone and corona; chromospheric activity and rotation of stars; possibility of the existence of chromospheres on hot stars; phenomenological picture of stellar chromospheres; stars without the line 2800 Mgii, in emission or in absorption; syndrome of red giant HD 4174. At the end, the problem of heating of stellar chromospheres is discussed.     

WR stars with the Ovi λλ3811, 3834 emission doublet

The catalog of the classical WR stars which have the emission doublet Ovi 3811, 3834 in their optical spectra (the catalog of the WR-Ovi stars) and the results of the spectroscopic investigations of the WR-Ovi stars HD 16523, HD 17638, and HD 192103 are presented. Rapid spectral variability of the emission doublet Ovi 3811, 3834 in the spectra of WR-Ovi stars HD 16523, HD 17638, and of the emission band 3680-3780 Å in the spectra of the WR-Ovi star HD 16523 is observed. It is shown that spectral sub-types of the stars HD 16523 and HD 17638 as estimated from different criteria are uncertain. We argue that the WR-Ovi stars HD 16523 and HD 17638, the optical spectra of which display emission doublet Ovi 3811, 3834, may be considered as WO5 stars. The sub-type WO5 is proposed for the first time. Classification criteria of the WO5 sub-type are represented. The possible contribution of the ions Heii to the emission at 3811 Å and 3834 Å is investigated. Thez-distributions of WR-Ovi stars and WR stars with the probable relativistic companions are found to be similar.     

An integrated 2.5–12.5 μm emission spectrum of naturally-occurring aromatic molecules

The expected emission features from an ensemble of naturally-occurring aromatic molecules is shown to be in satisfactory agreement with the emission properties of PAH molecules associated with planetary nebulae.     

Search for relativistic companions in ‘non-X-ray’ binary systems

Consideration is given to a search for relativistic objects in massive close binary systems without strong X-ray emission (L _x <10³⁴ erg s^–1). It is pointed out that, according to the present-day theory on the evolution of massive close binaries, the number of neutron stars and black holes in non-X-ray binary systems must be 100 times the number of the known X-ray binaries comprising OB supergiant stars; that is why, in studying non-X-ray binary systems, the chances are to detect about a hundred of black holes in the Galaxy.Criteria are formulated for the relativistic nature of companions in the binary systems, such as high spatial velocity values and height Z over the galactic plane for OB stars (runaway stars) and for Wolf-Rayet stars. As reported by Tutukov and Yungelson (1973), as well as by van den Heuvel (1976), the presence of ring-type nebulae can serve as another indication of a relativistic nature of companions in the case of Wolf-Rayet stars.Data are collected on Wolf-Rayet stars with low-mass companions (Table I), which can be relativistic objects accreting within a strong stellar wind from Wolf-Rayet stars. Presented are new findings in respect of spectral examination of the runaway OB-stars (Table II), bringing together data on eight OB stars which can represent binary systems with relativistic companions (Table III).A list of 28 OB-stars (Table IV) which offer a good chance for finding relativistic companions is given.     

Containment of an adiabatic plasma on magnetic lines of force by a self-generated electrostatic field

One component of a three-fluid adiabatic plasma is under certain conditions contained in a restricted region of space by a large-scale electrostatic field generated within the plasma. The containment is discussed here for plasma consisting of ions and two populations of electrons characterized by different pitch angle distribution functions.The bouncing motion of electrons along open fieldlines between a magnetic mirror and an electrostatic mirror produces a velocity distribution function similar to that generated by bouncing particles on closed fieldlines.     

Spectrophotometry of bright Be stars

We present new measurements of the distribution of energy in the continuum for eight Be stars in the optical region (3200-7600 Å). The effective temperatures of these stars have been estimated from their observed fluxes. It is found that, in general, pole-on stars show near-infrared excess emission. It is interesting to note that the Balmer jumps for stars having an infrared excess are systematically smaller than for those lacking the infrared excess.Variability of ultraviolet and infrared excess emissions in these stars has been discussed. The stars 59 Cyg, 66 Cyg, 28 CMa, and 27 CMa show large variations in their continuum at ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) regions.     

The behaviour of the infrared lines of neutral oxygen and the balmer lines of hydrogen in the spectra of early-type stars with emission lines

The equivalent widths of the oxygen lines at 7774 and 8446 and of H (and some H) have been measured for 22 early-type, emission-line stars. A strong correlation between H and 8446 intensities has been found, although there is no such correlation between H and 7774. This confirms the probability that Bowen's mechanism is operative (the neutral oxygen 3³ D state is overpopulated because the excitation energy of Ly- nearly coincides with that of theOi 1025 line). The possibility of using 8446 and H equivalent widths for a comparison of oxygen to hydrogen abundances in these stars is discussed.     

Rapid changes in the fine structure of a coronal ‘bright point’ and a small coronal ‘active region’

A coronal bright point is resolved into a pattern of emission which, at any given time, consists of 2 or 3 miniature loops (each 2500 km in diameter and 12 000 km long). During the half-day lifetime of the bright point individual loops evolved on a time scale 6 min. A small ctive region seemed to evolve in this way, but the occasional blurring together of several loops made it difficult to follow individual changes.     

An apparent ‘even-odd’ cycle distribution in Mt. Wilson ‘numbers of spots’ data

Mt. Wilson numbers of spots data (as defined in Howard et al., 1984) appear to be distributed according to even-odd cycle numbering. Linear fits of annual numbers of spots versus annual sunspot number for even- and odd-numbered cycles have slopes which are statistically different at the 5% level of significance. The existence of an even-odd split in Mt. Wilson numbers of spots data may be due either to a real difference in even- and odd-numbered cycles on the Sun or to a difference in weather at Mt. Wilson (perhaps, related to the 22-yr rhythm of drought in the western United States) during even- and odd-numbered cycles, or both. For cycle 22, an even-numbered cycle, the peak numbers of spots is estimated to be near 2600.     

The abelian higgs sunspot endowed with a local conformal symmetry

We show that the requirement of alocal conformal symmetry of the Abelian Higgs sunspot leads, at least formally, to a complex-valued electromagnetic potential, whose imaginary part is a conformal compensating potential. It is shown that there exists a fundamental difference between conformal and ordinary electromagnetic fields; whereas the ordinary total magnetic flux of a spot is quantized its conformal analogue has to vanish if the Higgs field is to be single-valued. We further stress that such a complex-valued Abelian Higgs field configuration mimics quite well, under certain conditions (all the salient features of) the classical Abelian Higgs sunspot.     

Solar radio spectra between 160 and 320 MHz

Dynamic spectra of incremental solar radio emission reveal that (mostly faint) pulsating and morphologically similar structures, including patterns of bright spots, dominate between ca. 250 and 320 MHz. As individual bursts these bright spots are similar to Type I bursts but they appear in an entirely different environment. This kind of activity is indicative of Type IV emission and seems to favour the generation of Type III bursts. Often its boundary with storm activity at the lower side of the band is rather sharp.     

The Ideal Resonance Problem: A comparison of the solutions expressed in terms of mean elements and in terms of initial conditions

In an earlier publication (Jupp, 1972), a solution of the Ideal Resonance Problem is exhibited explicitly in terms of the mean elements; to second order in the small parameter in the case of libration, and to first order in the case of deep circulation. Both representations possess a singularity when the mean modulus of the Jacobi elliptic functions is unity; this corresponds to the separatrix of the phase plane of the dynamical system.It is shown here that, provided particular coefficients associated with the problem satisfy specific relations, the singularity is removed, and the resulting solution is applicable throughout the deep resonance region.The solution is then expressed in terms of general initial conditions. Again, in general, the solution has a singularity associated closely with the limiting motion, and the circulation part of the solution is restricted to deep circulation. It is shown that when the previously-mentioned coefficients satisfy particular constraints, the singularity is removed. In addition, with the same constraints, the deep-circulation solution is applicable throughout the circulation region. It is of interest that these constraints are quite different from those associated with the mean, element formulation.     

The distribution of quasar absorption line systems — Selection effects

The reported correlation between the absorption-line of emission-line redshifts of quasars is shown to be due to selection effects and thus to favour neither the intrinsic nor intervening hypotheses for the origin of quasar absorption lines.     

Global astrometry by space techniques

The European Space Agency project of an astrometric satellite-HIPPARCOS-is shortly described. It will measure the angles between stars situated in fields separated by about 70°. The precision of the elementary measurements is expected to be of the order of 0.005. A similar accuracy is found to apply to the basic reduction giving the abcissae of stars referred to great circles on the sky. The final overall reduction should yield accuracies better than 0.002 in position and parallaxes and 0.002 per year in proper motions.The main features of the final catalogue are described and some possible consequences for fundamental astronomy are given.Presented at the Symposium Star Catalogues, Positional Astronomy and Celestial Mechanics, held in honor of Paul Herget at the U.S. Naval Observatory, Washington, November 30, 1978.     

Galactic4He and heavy elements enrichment by stellar nucleosynthesis

The contribution to the galactic abundance of He and heavy elements by stellar nucleosynthesis is calculated as a function of time, keeping account of present knowledge about stellar and galactic evolution. A model is used which distinguishes the phase of the contracting halo from the subsequent history of the disc. Various uncertainties involved both in stellar and in galactic evolutionary theory are discussed. The amount of⁴He produced by stars of different masses and ejected in interstellar medium is fairly well known from stellar theory, while we have assumed its primordial abundance as a free parameter, ranging from 0 up to 0.4. We find that stellar activity provides a significant contribution to the cosmic⁴He, though not sufficient to explain the observed abundance. The best agreement with observational data (Y 0.26 andY _now0.28) is obtained starting with a primordial abundanceY =(0.20–0.23), which is consisten with the Big-Bang theory predictions and with recent observational estimates. The contribution to the abundance of heavy elements depends on the last stellar stages and on the final explosion mechanism, which are only now beginning to be understood. Nevertheless, in the framework of present theories, we individuate a stellar evolutionary scheme reproducing the observedZ abundances for Populationi and Populationii stars, with the correctly estimated Y/Z value. In this scheme, only stars belonging to two narrow mass ranges (10m/m 15 andm/m 80) are allowed to eject metal-enriched matter, possibly with the solar (C+O)/(Si+Fe) ratio.     

Dynamical and kinematical near homoaxial rotations suitable for representation of nonuniformly rotating stars with extended atmospheres

In this paper, a nontrivial velocity tensor is suitably defined to represent in the common frame the so-called classes of dynamical and kinematical near homoaxial rotations of a deformable finite material continuum. These classes have simple and interesting physical interpretation, especially for treating of nonuniform rotation and its applications to astrophysics. Some important subclasses and derived classes (in the sense of related superclasses) are also discussed.Two coordinate systems are further introduced, one of which rotates uniformly while the other rotates nonuniformly, the latter defined by means of a generalized orthogonal coordinate transformation. Suitable conditions are then given, asserting that the above systems are preferred in the sense of preserving the motion of the continuum in its inertial class.Finally, the required concepts of homotropy and distributivity are defined and the method, by which the established mathematical framework will be subsequently used in applications, is discussed.     

The spectra of extended radio sources with a nonuniform magnetic field and hard injection of particles

On the basis of an analytical solution of the diffusion-type kinetic equation for electrons, electron distributions and radiation spectra have been found which result from a hard injection of particles in sources of the core halo type, characterized by spatially nonuniform magnetic fields and diffusion parameters. Such radio sources are shown to possess nonlinear radiation spectra containing universal (=0.5) and diffusion-controlled power-law sections shaped by synchrotron losses, spatial diffusion and radiation conditions of the electrons. The diffusion-controlled sections can be described by spectral indices 0.5<1, if the magnetic field decreases towards the source edge, and by <0.5 where the magnetic field increases.     

Nature of the fine structure of the middle chromosphere

Fine dark H filaments fibrils form at the limb, apparently in most of the middle chromosphere corresponding to an altitude between 1500–2000 km and 4000 km. The space in between filaments is corona and the transition layer. The cool gas in fibrils is protected by the magnetic field against the conductive flux out of the hot corona. Therefore the fibrils stretch up to 4000 km where their temperature is about 18 000 K and the density about 5 × 10⁹ cm^–3. The gas in the fibrils is ionized by electronic collisions and by the external ultraviolet radiation. The second level of the hydrogen atoms in fibrils is populated by recombinations, electronic collisions and by Ly- quanta. The calculated optical thickness of the fibrils in H is about 1, it explains the absorption features on the spectroheliograms. The gas pressure in fibrils is lower than the coronal pressure, and the pressure equilibrium is achieved by a magnetic field of about 1.5–2 G. In the active regions the photospheric fields are stronger, therefore the fibrils in active regions are wider and show more contrast. The emission of the fibrils at the limb is explained by the scattering of the solar radiation. The temperature in arches reaching as high as 5000–6000 km, is stabilized near the top by the HeII emission. Thus the middle chromosphere is essentially a collection of magnetic arches.     

The galactic diffuse component of soft X-rays and its source function

A new model for the source distribution of galactic soft X-ray (B and C band) emission is presented. From the mean dependence of count rates on galactic latitudeb (i.e., the brightness distribution), we derive the soft X-ray source functionQ as function of the optical depth by solving the equation of radiative transfer with the aid of a Laplace transform. Contrary to older Heaviside step models,Q is found to increase strongly, but not abruptly, in the range 1.5<<2.5, indicating a noticeable emission of X-rays from beyond theHi scale height. Using standard X-ray absorption cross-sections for the interstellar medium, we find that the B band X-ray emission coefficient is non-zero within theHi disk and has a maximum at az-value slightly above the Hi scale height. In the C band, the emission coefficient slightly decreases with increasingz, at least up to theHi scale height. A non-zero source function near the galactic plane implies that the interstellar medium (ISM) within theHi scale height is not only an absorbing layer but is mixed with X-ray emitting regions. The so-called local hot bubble is adopted as one of these regions. The maximum of the B band emission coefficient, together with the sharp increase ofQ, is strong evidence for the existence of a galactic soft X-ray halo, and, moreover, give rise to the assumption of a general intergalactic X-ray background. The effective absorption cross-sections given in the literature, based on an (pure) exponential dependence in the negative correlation between count rates andHi column densities, were biased to be too small, in particular in the B band. In replacing the Heaviside step (in the ISM) by a smoothed transition region, these inconsistencies become spurious.