Hydrogen and helium spectra in large magnetic fields

The energy levels and wave functions of hydrogen and helium atoms in the presence of large (10⁷G) magnetic fields are found by assuming that the eigenvalues and eigenvectors may be approximated by those of a truncated Hamiltonian matrix. In these atoms, fields of this size produce, in addition to the usual Paschen-Back effect, a quadratic Zeeman effect. This contributes an upward shift to the energy of all levels, which at sufficiently high fields dominates the Paschen-Back splitting.The behavior of a number of eigenvalues and wave functions as a function of magnetic field is presented. The effects of the field on the wavelengths and strengths of the components of H and the helium lines 4471, 4026 and 4120 as well as the forbidden 4025 are examined. In hydrogen the lines are split into components attributed to the now nondegenerate transitionsnlm _lnlm_l. In helium forbidden lines are excited, which may develop strengths larger than those of the allowed lines.     

Alfvén instabilities in streaming plasmas with anisotropic pressures and their relevance for the solar wind

Low frequency or Alfvén waves in streaming plasmas can become unstable when the square of the Alfvén velocity is smaller than the mean square of the bulk motion in a co-moving reference frame, (u –u )², whereu stands for the bulk velocity of each species and u is the average bulk velocity of the plasma as a whole. For these new Alfvén instabilities the streaming effects can be enhanced by a suitable pressure anisotropy. Perpendicular pressure effects are stabilizing, parallel pressure effects are destabilizing, as in the usual firehose instability. The observed velocity differences between helium and the main (hydrogen) flow in the solar wind plasma are such that the Alfvén waves are getting close to marginal instability. These new Alfvén instabilities limit the velocity differences between helium and hydrogen and thus provide a possible mechanism for accelerating the helium particles up to the order of the main flow velocity.     

Motion of Spinning Particles in Gravitational Fields

A non-LTE study of the Type IIb supernova 1993J in the galaxy M81 taking into account nonthermal ionization and line blocking effects is carried out. Hydrodynamical models and theoretical spectra clearly show that nonthermal ionization and excitation dominate after the second maximum, at day 30, and play a decisive role in reproducing both the smooth tail of the light curve and the emergence of helium lines in the spectrum, similar to those observed. Based on our model of supernova 1993J, we predict that the light curves of Type Ib supernovae should be subject to nonthermal ionization and excitation at earlier times than even those for supernova 1993J. In our model, the outburst of supernova 1993J is interpreted as the explosion of a 4 M red supergiant, which underwent core collapse and left a neutron star in a binary system. The progenitor is supposed to have a helium core mass of 3 M, corresponding to a 13 M main-sequence star. Supernova 1993J adds evidence to the scenario that Type Ib supernovae originate from moderately massive stars on the main sequence that have lost their hydrogen envelopes in interacting binary systems.     

Correlations between statistical population indices and spectral characteristics of carbon stars

The coefficients of correlation between spectroscopic data published by Yamashita (1967) and others for carbon stars and the statistical population indices calculated for these stars at the Toru Observatory are calculated (Table II). The intensity estimates of Cai 4227 Å, Nai D lines, the C¹³/C¹² ratio, then=n(Li/Ca) index, as well as CN and probably C₂ bands are higher in population I carbon stars. The CH(G) band and probably hydrogen (H, H, H) lines as well as Baii 4554 and 4934 Å lines are stronger in population II carbon stars. The photoelectric colour indices, corrected for interstellar reddening do not show significant population effects. They can be used as spectral type equivalents. For a population criterion the CH/CN intensity ratio is proposed.     

Preliminary results from the spectra of V471 tauri

The findings about this unusual eclipsing variable which possesses a white-dwarf component are reported. It was found that the H and K absorption lines of Caii are strongly pressure-broadened, and exhibit two double-reversal emission components. The radial velocities derived from the central strong emission components of Caii (H and K) are in agreement with the mean radial velocity curve obtained from the metallic absorption lines of the existing elements, whereas H (4340.47 Å) does not conform with the mean radial velocity curve. In certain orbital phases the H (6562.82 Å) line occurs in emission.     

EUV Full-Sun Imaged Spectral Atlas Using the SOHO Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer

The Coronal Diagnostic Spectrometer (CDS) aboard the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) carries out a regular program of measuring the full-disk irradiance using the Normal Incidence Spectrograph (NIS). The full-disk solar spectrum is returned in the wavelength bands 308–379 Å and 513–633 Å, with a spectral resolution between 0.3 and 0.6 Å. A recent modification to the CDS on-board software allows simultaneous moderate resolution monochromatic images to be made of the stronger lines in these wavelength ranges. We report on observations made 23 April 1998, 21 May 1998, and 22 June 1998. A total of 69 monochromatic full-Sun images are extracted from the spectral line data. For the first time, spectrally resolved images of the full Sun in Heii 303.8 Å and Sixi 303.3 Å are presented and compared. Velocity maps of the Sun in singly ionized helium are presented. Correlations of intensity to velocity over a wide range of transition region and coronal temperatures are shown. Lines from Hei to Fexiv show statistical red shifts of 1–7 km s^–1 between active regions and quiet Sun areas. Velocity maps of Mgix andx are presented, showing strong upflow and downflow regions associated with active regions, but not correlated with the brightest emission. Changes in line width are also presented in Hei, with discussion of similar features in other lines of comparable temperature. Corrections which need to be applied to CDS/NIS data to extract meaningful velocities and line widths are presented and discussed. The identifications of the lines in the CDS spectrum are examined. The spatial and spectral variation of the background component of the CDS spectrum is examined.     

Free-convection flow of water at 4°C past an infinite vertical porous plate with constant heat flux

An analysis of the two-dimensional flow of water at 4°C past an infinite porous plate is presented, when the plate is subjected to a normal suction velocity and the heat flux at the plate is constant. Approximate solutions are derived for the velocity and temperature fields and the skin-friction. The effects ofG (Grashof number) andE (Eckert number) on the velocity and temperature fields are discussed.Nomenclature u, v velocity components of the fluid inx, y direction - g acceleration due to gravity - coefficient of thermal expansion of water at 4°C - v kinematic viscosity - density - T temperature inside thermal boundary layer - T free-stream temperature - k thermal conductivity - C _p specific heat at constant pressure     

Stability of the stellar structure and nonequilibrium dynamical characteristics of (g — T) effects in nuclear reactions in stellar cores

The nonequilibrium dynamical theory of thermonuclear reaction in the stars is used to analyse the stabilities of P-PI reactions in the solar core and 3 reactions of helium burning in the core of red giant stars. The constant stability of stars on the main sequence and the helium flash instability have been explained from a new point of view. Calculations show that the (g - T) term in the dynamical equation has a damaging effect on the stability of the thermonuclear reaction, but its intensity in the core of red giant stars is ~ 10⁷ times that in the solar core. It may be intimately related to some instability of the stellar structure. The effect on the flash instability is especially analysed.     

Solar Wind Velocity and Anisotropic Coronal Kinetic Temperature Measured with the O Vi Doublet Ratio

Doppler dimming of the Ovi resonance lines (1032 Å, 1037 Å) in an expanding corona is calculated including the pumping effect on the Ovi 1037.61 Å of both Cii lines at 1036.34 Å and 1037.02 Å, and the effect of the width of the absorption profiles of the coronal oxygen ions along the incident radiation. The pumping effect of the Cii line at 1036.34 Å allows us to extend to approximately 450 km s–1 the measurement of solar wind velocities with the Ovi line ratio technique. Since the emissivity ratio of the Ovi doublet depends on the width of the oxygen coronal absorbing profiles, this ratio can provide an accurate measurement of the solar wind velocity in the case that the width of the absorbing profile along the direction of the incident radiation is independently determined. However, if on the one hand the ratio of the emissivities of the Ovi doublet has limitations in probing the wind velocity, on the other hand it can be used as a diagnostics for inferring the velocity distribution of the coronal Ovi ions along the radial, and detecting possible velocity anisotropies. This diagnostics, applied to recent observational results, allows us to infer that the velocity distribution of the oxygen ions is much broader in the direction perpendicular to the magnetic field direction, and that the acceleration of the fast solar wind in the first 2 solar radii is high.     

Temperature et microturbulence dans les regions externes des protuberances

A spectroscopic investigation of a quiescent prominence has been performed: the line profiles of the H and K lines have been carefully determined in all regions of the prominence where these emissions are likely to originate in optically thin layers. Therefore we have been able to study the electron temperature T _e and the microturbulent velocity in the outer parts of the prominence. We find that on the average, T _e = 5700 K (Figure 1) and = 6.7 km s^-1 (Figure 2) which are in very good agreement with classical data. Figure 3 represents the radial velocity measurements and Figure 4 the ratio of the total intensity of H to K lines. Thus the prominence we have observed does not show for T _e and the regular increase outward which has been described by Hirayama (1971). On the other hand increases towards the Equator, in the dynamically active part of the prominence, which could indicate that represents the effect of macroturbulence rather than microturbulence (Kawaguchi, 1966). In this part of the prominence only the K line is in emission and the average value of the microturbulence is 9.4 km s^-1, the radial velocity is also generally increasing. At last, according to the absolute intensities of the H and K lines, the electron density in the outer layers of the prominence is no more than 1 × 10¹⁰ cm^-3.     

Echelle-mepsicron time-resolved spectroscopy of the dwarf nova SS Cygni

High dispersion time-resolved spectrograms of the dwarf nova SS Cygni, obtained with the Echelle-Mepsicron system, show double peaked emission lines with a complex profile. The intensity of the H line appears to be modulated by the orbital period. Radial velocity measurements of the wings of H and of the absorption line system of the late-type star yield semiamplitude values of K_em=101±6 km s^–1 and K_ab=151±7 km s^–1, respectively. Radial velocity measurements of the blue and red peaks and of the central absorption of H reveal a synchronous movement with the broad wings, although there is some evidence of a narrow component probably associated with a hot spot in the disk or a chromospheric emission line from the secondary star. The H modulation, the double profile and recently discovered UBV light variations support an inclination angle i 50°. The masses of the primary are M_p=0.60 M and M_s=0.40 M, respectively. A detailed analysis of the absorption lines reveals a spectral type of K2V.Paper presented at the IAU Colloquium No. 93 Cataclysmic Variables. Recent Multi-Frequency Observations and Theoretical Developments, held at Dr. Remeis-Sternwarte Bamberg, F.R.G., 16–19 June, 1986.     

Dynamical Processes in the Neighborhood of the Herbig Ae Star MWC 480 Based on Spectral Monitoring Data

Spectral observations of the Herbig Ae star MWC 480 are reported. Observations were made on the 2.6 m telescope at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory and the 6 m telescope at the Special Astrophysical Observatory in the neighborhoods of the sodium resonance doublet, the He I 5876 line, the oxygen O I 7774 line, the H line, and some others. The H line has a P Cyg-type profile which is typical of anisotropic decelerated material outflows. The parameters of the line profile vary on a time scale on the order of days or longer. The blue wing of the line profile, in which noticeable changes are detectable over times of a few hours, is subject to the greatest variation. An unusual line shape is observed in the sodium lines. Their profiles resemble type P Cyg profiles with discrete absorption components can be seen in the blue wing. The number, shape, and radial velocities of the components change with time. The maximum radial velocity is -330 km/s and the minimum, about -50 km/s. The high velocity components are subject to the greatest variability. An analysis of the spectral variability yields the following conclusions: (1) the inner layers of the accretion disk of MWC 480 reach right to the star. The maximum rotation velocity of the circumstellar gas derived from the oxygen OI 7774 line shape is close to 400-500 km/s, which corresponds roughly to the radius of the last Keplerian orbit. (2) A highly nonuniform, high velocity component of the disk wind, which contains dense fragments (microjets), develops in this region. They appear to form as a result of the unstable structure of the magnetic field in the layers of the accretion disk closest to the star. (3) The maximum velocities of the microjets are only slightly higher than the escape velocity at the star's surface. Thus, the bulk of the momentum which they acquire is expended in overcoming the star's gravity and this causes a deceleration in the radial motion of the gas. This kind of structure for the radiating region is consistent with magneto-centrifugal models of the disk wind in which the intrinsic magnetic field of the accretion disk plays a dominant role in the acceleration of the gas.     

Dependence of the correlation of small scale photospheric structures upon resolution

Correlations between continuum intensity, velocity, and equivalent widths of two Mn i lines as observed with two different entrance apertures tend to deteriorate with improvement in spatial resolution. The KPNO multichannel magnetograph was used to make area scans at the center of the disk with entrance apertures 3.5×2.5 arc and 1×1 arc. A coherence analysis shows that this effect is caused by marked differences of fluctuations in temperature and temperature gradients as well as in the velocity structure of photospheric elements of various sizes.     

Stellar atmospheric velocity fields: The Beta Cephei variables γ Peg and β Cep

The shape parameters of a number of selected ultraviolet lines in BUSS-spectra of the Beta Cephei stars Peg and Cep have been analyzed to determine the principal parameters of the atmospheric velocity field. We find for both stars a fairly high value (5 km s^–1) for the microturbulent line-of-sight velocity component, which confirms an earlier result based on lower resolution UV spectra. Macroturbulent and rotational velocities are virtually zero in the atmosphere of Peg; for Cep we findv _rotsini=40 km s^–1.On leave from Akita University, Akita, Japan.     

Temperature variations in the solar photosphere

From the variations in equivalent width of a selected set of Fraunhofer lines, we derived the variation of effective temperature and microturbulence velocity between the equator and the regions at heliographic latitude of - 72°. The reliability of the results (T/T = 0 ± 0.6%, / = 6% ± 13%) needs further investigations, but from the analysis of our data we can state that temperature variations, if any, are very small. Some suggestions for more fruitful measurements are also given.     

Effects of the Sector Structure of the Interplanetary Magnetic Field on Galactic Cosmic Ray Anisotropy

We study the effects of the sector structure of the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) on the Galactic cosmic ray (GCR) anisotropy at solar minimum by using Global Network neutron monitor data. The hourly neutron monitor data for 1976 were averaged for the positive (+) and negative (–) IMF sectors (+ and – correspond to the antisolar and solar directions of magnetic field lines, respectively) and then processed by the global survey method. We found that the magnitude of the GCR anisotropy vector is larger in the positive IMF sector and that the phase shifts toward early hours. The derived GCR components A _r, A , and A for the different + and – sectors are then used to calculate the angle ( 46°) between the IMF lines and the Sun–Earth line, the solar wind velocity U ( 420 km/s), the ratio of the perpendicular (K ) and parallel (K _||) diffusion coefficients K /K _|| = ( 0.33), and other parameters that characterize the GCR modulation in interplanetary space.     

Comparative Analysis of “Exact” and “Approximate” Methods for Estimating the Absolute and Relative Elements of Detached Close Binary Systems

In this paper the star characteristics (luminosities, spectra, masses, absolute and relative radii of the components, mass ratio, major semiaxis, and orbital inclination) of close binary systems (CBS) with detached components are compared element-by-element. Svechnikov and Perevozkina's Catalog of the orbital elements, masses, and luminosities of pre-main sequence-type eclipsing variable stars with known photometric and spectroscopic elements and Svechnikov and Kuznetsova's Catalog of approximate photometric and absolute elements of eclipsing variable stars are used as initial data. The orbital elements contained in the first catalog are determined from solutions of the known photometric light curves and the known radial velocity curves, while the orbital elements for the second catalog were estimated using data from the General Catalog of Variable Stars (GCVS) IV employing approximate statistical relationships such as mass-radius, mass-luminosity, and mass-spectrum, along with the dependence of the orbital inclination on the depth of the principal minimum and others. Possible reasons for discrepancies among the compared quantities are discussed.     

Universal birefringent filter with a new double passband mode

This article describes the universal birefringent filter (UBF) which will be mounted at Taiwan. The UBF permits observations of solar images, vector magnetic fields and/or line-of-sight velocity fields in any Fraunhofer line in the wavelength region from 4000 to 7000 with half width from 0.05 to 0.14 . We have tested it at ten Fraunhofer lines under a spectral telescope in Huairou Station of Beijing Astronomical Observatory and obtained the passband profiles. The principles of magnetic field and velocity field measurement with the UBF are also described.     

High velocity neutron stars and γ-ray bursts

The observations of the BATSE instrument on the Compton Gamma-Ray Observatory show that the spatial distribution of -ray burst sources is isotropic but radially non-uniform. As is well known, the spectral features, the time histories and the X-ray tails present in some -ray bursts suggest that they may arise from galactic neutron stars. But, low velocity neutron stars born in the Galactic disk would concentrate toward the galactic plane and center, and could not fit the BATSE results. However, the high velocity neutron stars with velocity 1000 km s^–1 may escape from the Galactic gravitational field and form a nearly isotropic distribution. Here we calculate the three statistical values of V/V _max, sin² b and cos as functions of the intensitiesC _max/C _min and find that they could be fitted by the distribution of high velocity neutron stars under the assumption that the high velocity neutron stars should turn on as -ray burst sources only after some time (perhaps after they have ceased to be radio pulsars). Our calculation shows that the statistical value of cos is more sensitive than sin² b to the angular distribution of high velocity neutron stars, i.e. the deviation of cos from 0 is more readily detected than the deviation of sin² b from 1/3, so we expect that with the increasing sensitivity of instrument and the more exact value of cos , it is possible to determine whether this high velocity neutron star model is correct. Some results are discussed in the text.