Formation of higher harmonics of the galactic cosmic-ray distribution function

We derive equations for the multipole moments of the distribution function of Galactic cosmic rays with energies 1–20 TeV that experience random scattering by turbulence with a power-law spectrum. We take into account the irregularity of the local interstellar medium (LISM) in the neighborhood of the solar system due to the presence of interstellar clouds, the interstellar wind flow around the heliomagnetosphere, and preceding supernova explosions in the local superbubble. The amplitudes of the second and third harmonics of the cosmic-ray distribution function are expressed in terms of the amplitude of the first harmonic without assuming them to be small compared to the first harmonic. Reconciling their values in magnitude and phase with the observed values requires a significant LISM irregularity, which is consistent with other observational data on the LISM structure. Our model is consistent with the assumption that supernova remnants in the Galactic disk located at distances from the Solar system much larger than the particle transport mean free path are the sources of the particles under consideration.     

Charge composition of medium energy cosmic-ray nuclei from neon to iron

Charge composition of cosmic-ray nuclei from neon to iron has been studied in a stack of cellulose nitrate plastic detectors exposed in a balloon flight over Fort Churchill. 401 cosmic-ray nuclei of 10Z26 stopping in the detector system have been analysed. Fluxes of individual nuclei have been extrapolated to the top of the atmosphere. Relative abundances, obtained from these fluxes, have been compared with those obtained by other investigators.     

Solution of the equation of transfer for interlocked multiplets with planck function as a nonlinear function of optical depth

The equation of transfer for interlocked multiplets has been solved exactly by the method used by Busbridge and Stibbs (1954) for exponential form of the Planck functionB _v (T)=b ₀+b ₁ e ^–.     

A simplified model for deriving planetary surface temperatures as a function of atmospheric chemical composition

The surface temperature of a planet with an atmosphere depends, amongst other factors, on the atmospheric chemical composition and surface pressure. However, the detailed calculation of surface temperature variations as a function of atmospheric composition is extremely complex. We therefore present in this paper a simplified model which can be used to follow surface temperature changes over periods up to the lifetime of the solar system. We apply this model to a number of chemical constituents of interest in studying the evolution of planetary atmospheres (with special reference to the Earth).     

Determining temperature amplitude as a function of depth in the atmospheres of rapidly oscillating Ap stars

We present numerical models based on realistic treatment of the intensity spectrum (from model atmospheres), and demonstrate that they are consistent with Kurtz and Medupe's recent formula in showing that limb darkening is too small an effect to explain the observed sharp decline of pulsation light amplitude with wavelength in rapidly oscillating Ap stars. Kurtz and Medupe's formula is shown to be a special form of Watson's earlier general formula for non-radial light variations of a star pulsating in any mode ( l m ). Using a technique suggested by Kurtz and Medupe we derive temperature semi-amplitude as a function of depth in the atmospheres of α Cir and HR 3831, assuming that we can neglect non-adiabatic effects.     

North-south asymmetry of the heliosphere from cosmic-ray observations

The evidence that the heliosphere retains a pronounced north-south asymmetry during a long period (five solar cycles) is discussed. A modification of the standard model for the interplanetary magnetic field that provides the observed asymmetry is considered.     

Application of the three-dimensional telegraph equation to cosmic-ray transport

An analytical solution to the three-dimensional telegraph equation is presented.This equation has recently received some attention but so far the treatment has been one-dimensional.By using the structural similarity to the Klein-Gordon equation,the telegraph equation can be solved in closed form.Illustrative examples are used to discuss the qualitative differences from the diffusion solution.A comparison with a numerical test-particle simulation reveals that some features of an intensity profile can be better explained using the telegraph approach.     

The Mauna Loa sulfur flow as an analog to secondary sulfur flows (?) on Io

Independent evidence suggests that both sulfur and silicate materials exist on the surface of Io. Spectral data indicate the presence of sulfur compounds, some of which are suggested to be of fumarolic origin. Morphological evidence and inferences of the physical properties of some landforms suggest that silicate volcanism has occurred, which would involve temperatures ≥650°C. Because the liquidus of sulfur is only ～115°C, it is likely that sulfur in close proximity to “hot spots” or to active silicate volcanic areas on Io would be melted and mobilized as flows. The Mauna Loa sulfur flow may serve as an analog for such flows, as it consists of fumarolic sulfur that was melted as a consequence of a basaltic eruption and produced a small flow superimposed on silicate lavas.     

On reproduction of long-term cosmic-ray modulation as seen by neutron monitor stations

The dependence of cosmic-ray intensity on 21st solar cycle phenomena has been studied using monthly cosmic-ray values from nine world wide Neutron Monitoring Stations.For this purpose the long-term cosmic-ray modulation is modelled by treating the most appropriate source functions among various solar, interplanetary and terrestrial activity indices as the input and the cosmic-ray intensity as the output of a linear system taking into account the corresponding time-lag. In this way the modulated galactic cosmic-ray intensity has been reproduced to a certain degree as the cosmic-ray variations follow the observations with a standard deviation of ~ 10%. Still remaining short-term variations in all stations with periods of 2.7 and 3.7 months can possibly be related to the galactic origin of cosmic-rays.The Simpson solar wind model improved by the spherically symmetric diffusion-convection theory can describe our proposed method.     

Abundance Gradients as a tool for understanding the Formation of the Milky Way

According to the two-infall model for the chemical evolution of the Galaxy the halo and bulge formed on a relatively short timescale (0.8–1.0 Gyr) out of the first infall episode, whereas the disk accumulated much more slowly and ‘inside-out’ during a second independent infall episode. We explored the effects of a threshold in the star formation process, during both the halo and disk phases. In the comparison between model predictions and available data, we have focused our attention on abundance gradients as well as gas, stellar and star formation rate distributions along the disk. We suggest that the mechanism for the formation of the halo leaves detectable imprints on the chemical properties of the outer regions of the disk, whereas the evolution of the halo and the inner disk are almost completely disentangled. This is due to the fact that the halo and disk densities are comparable at large Galactocentric distances and therefore the gas lost from the halo can substantially contribute to building up the outer disk. We predict that the abundance gradients along the Galactic disk have increased in time during the first billion years of the disk evolution and remained almost constant in the last ~5Gyrs. This revised version was published online in September 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Solution of the equation of transfer for interlocked multiplets by the method of discrete ordinates with the planck function as a nonlinear function of optical depth

The equation of transfer for interlocked multiplets has been solved by the method of discrete ordinates, originally due to Chandrasekhar, considering nonlinear form of the Planck function to be

Abundance of palladium group elements in the atmospheres of evolved stars. III. Rhodium

Main Astronomical Observatory, Ukrainian Academy of Sciences. Translated fromAstrofizika, Vol. 35, No. 1, pp. 163–165, August, 1991.     

Mean optical depth and contribution function of spectral lines in a turbulent atmosphere

In this paper we present a new definition and its analytic expressions for the mean optical depth and the mean contribution function of spectral lines in a turbulent atmosphere. These mean values are based on the radiative transfer equation and thus satisfy the general properties of the radiation field. They can be used to study the line formation process in turbulent atmospheres.     

Solution of the equation of transfer for interlocked multiplets by the method of Laplace transform and Winer-Hopf technique with planck function as a nonlinear function of optical depth

The equation of transfer for interlocked multiplets has been solved by Laplace transformation and the Wiener-Hopf technique developed by Dasgupta (1978) considering two nonlinear forms of Planck function: i.e., (a) $$B{\text{ }}_{\text{v}} (T) = B(t) = b_0 + b_1 {\text{ }}e^{ - \alpha t} ,$$ (b) $$B{\text{ }}_{\text{v}} (T) = B(t) = b_0 + b_1 t + b_2 E_2 (t).$$ Solutions obtained by Dasgupta (1978) or by Chandrasekhar (1960) may be obtained from our solutions by dropping the nonlinear terms.     

Composition of low energy cosmic radiation from silicon to nickel

The charge composition of the cosmic radiation for the elements withZ14 has been studied in a stack of nuclear emulsions exposed at Fort Churchill in July 1967. Particles stopping in the stack have been measured with a nuclear track photometer to determine the charge. Relative abundances are given for the elements silicon to nickel and comparison is made with other investigations.     

Measurement of the atmospheric muon depth intensity relation with the NEMO Phase-2 tower

The results of the analysis of the data collected with the NEMO Phase-2 tower, deployed at 3500 m depth about 80 km off-shore Capo Passero (Italy), are presented. Čerenkov photons detected with the photomultipliers tubes were used to reconstruct the tracks of atmospheric muons. Their zenith-angle distribution was measured and the results compared with Monte Carlo simulations. An evaluation of the systematic effects due to uncertainties on environmental and detector parameters is also included. The associated depth intensity relation was evaluated and compared with previous measurements and theoretical predictions. With the present analysis, the muon depth intensity relation has been measured up to 13 km of water equivalent.     

Methane clathrate hydrates as a potential source for martian atmospheric methane

Small amounts of methane have been detected in the atmosphere of Mars, though the actual sources of the gas remain unknown. Thermodynamic conditions on Mars suggest that gas clathrate hydrate deposits might exist at the polar caps and in some areas of the planetary subsurface. We review the literature available on the detection of methane in the martian atmosphere and the presence of gas clathrate hydrates on Mars. The possibility of martian methane clathrate deposits is established, and initial sources for the sequestered methane are discussed. Based on correlated data and information from disparate sources, we conclude that subsurface methane clathrate deposits are a possible immediate source for the observed atmospheric methane on Mars.     

The extension of the concept of the cosmic-ray path-length distribution to nonrelativistic energies

The concept of the cosmic-ray path-length distribution is examined. The corresponding cosmic-ray propagation calculational procedure has been justified theoretically at relativistic energies (Ginzburg and Syrovatskii, 1964) where the effects of ionization energy loss are negligible. The present paper extends the use of the path-length distribution concept in cosmic-ray propagation calculations to nonrelativistic energies. Sufficient constraints to effect this extension are presented. The solution of the cosmic-ray propagation equations in terms of a Green's function approach is also investigated and is used to provide a formulation of the path-length distribution at non-relativistic as well as relativistic energies in terms of the cosmic-ray source distribution and the propagation characteristics of the interstellar medium. The leaky-box model of cosmic-ray propagation is also examined.