Shocks and shells in hot star winds

Radiation-driven winds of hot, massive stars showvariability in UV and optical line profiles on time scales of hours to days.Shock heating of wind material is indicated by the observed X-ray emission. We present time-dependent hydrodynamical models of these winds, where flowstructures originate from a strong instability of the radiative driving. Recent calculations (Owocki 1992) of the unstable growth of perturbations were restricted by the assumptions of 1-D spherical symmetry and isothermality of the wind. We drop the latter assumption and include the energy transfer in the wind. This leads to a severe numerical shortcoming, whereby all radiative cooling zones collapse and the shocks become isothermal again. We propose a method to hinder this collapse. Calculations for dense supergiant winds then show: (1) The wind consists of a sequence of narrow and dense shells, which are enclosed by strong reverse shocks (with temperatures of 10⁶ to 10⁷ K) on their starward facing side. (2) Collisions of shells are frequent up to 6 to 7 stellar radii. (3) Radiative cooling is efficient only up to 4 to 6R _*. Beyond these radii, cooling zones behind shocks become broad and alter the wind structure drastically: all reverse shocks disappear, leaving regions ofpreviously heated gas.     

Towards an understanding of the Of?p star HD 191612: optical spectroscopy

We present extensive optical spectroscopy of the early-type magnetic star HD 191612 (O6.5f?pe–O8fp). The Balmer and He  i lines show strongly variable emission which is highly reproducible on a well-determined 538-d period. He  ii absorptions and metal lines (including many selective emission lines but excluding He  ii λ4686 Å emission) are essentially constant in line strength, but are variable in velocity, establishing a double-lined binary orbit with   P _orb= 1542 d, e = 0.45  . We conduct a model-atmosphere analysis of the spectrum, and find that the system is consistent with a ∼O8 giant with a ∼B1 main-sequence secondary. Since the periodic 538-d changes are unrelated to orbital motion, rotational modulation of a magnetically constrained plasma is strongly favoured as the most likely underlying 'clock'. An upper limit on the equatorial rotation is consistent with this hypothesis, but is too weak to provide a strong constraint.     

Long-term performance of permeable reactive barriers using zero-valent iron: geochemical and microbiological effects

Geochemical and microbiological factors that control long-term performance of subsurface permeable reactive barriers were evaluated at the Elizabeth City, North Carolina, and the Denver Federal Center, Colorado, sites. These ground water treatment systems use zero-valent iron filings (Peerless Metal Powders Inc.) to intercept and remediate chlorinated hydrocarbon compounds at the Denver Federal Center (funnel-and-gate system) and overlapping plumes of hexavalent chromium and chlorinated hydrocarbons at Elizabeth City (continuous wall system). Zero-valent iron at both sites is a long-term sink for carbon, sulfur, calcium, silicon, nitrogen, and magnesium. After about four years of operation, the average rates of inorganic carbon (IC) and sulfur (S) accumulation are 0.09 and 0.02 kg/m2/year, respectively, at Elizabeth City where upgradient waters contain <400 mg/L of total dissolved solids (TDS). At the Denver Federal Center site, upgradient ground water contains 1000 to 1200 mg/L TDS and rates of IC and S accumulation are as high as 2.16 and 0.80 kg/m2/year, respectively. At both sites, consistent patterns of spatially variable mineral precipitation and microbial activity are observed. Mineral precipitates and microbial biomass accumulate the fastest near the upgradient aquifer-Fe0 interface. Maximum net reductions in porosity due to the accumulation of sulfur and inorganic carbon precipitates range from 0.032 at Elizabeth City to 0.062 at the Denver Federal Center (gate 2) after about four years. Although pore space has been lost due the accumulation of authigenic components, neither site shows evidence of pervasive pore clogging after four years of operation.     

Low-Flow Purging and Sampling of Ground Water Monitoring Wells with Dedicated Systems

A field study was conducted to assess purging requirements for dedicated sampling systems in conventional monitoring wells and for pumps encased in short screens and buried within a shallow sandy aquifer. Low-flow purging methods were used, and wells were purged until water quality indicator parameters (dissolved oxygen, specific conductance, turbidity) and contaminant concentrations (chromate, trichloroethylene, dichloroethylene) reached equilibrium. Eight wells, varying in depth from 4.6 to 15.2 m below ground surface, were studied. The data show that purge volumes were independent of well depth or casing volumes. Contaminant concentrations equilibrated with less than 7.5 I. of purge volume in all wells. Initial contaminant concentration values were generally within 20 percent of final values. Water quality parameters equilibrated in less than 10 L in all wells and were conservative measures for indicating the presence of adjacent formation water. Water quality parameters equilibrated faster in dedicated sampling systems than in portable systems and initial turbidity levels were lower.     

Characterization of Chromium- Contaminated Soils Using Field-Portable X-Ray Fluorescence

A detailed characterization of the underlying and adjacent soils near a chrome plating shop utilized field-portable X- ray fluorescence (XRF) as a screening tool. XRF permitted real-time acquisition of estimates for total metal content of soils. A trailer-mounted soil coring unit was used to recover soil samples for XRF analyses. This approach minimized the number of samples required for adequate characterization of the chromium distribution in the soils at the site and permitted immediate delineation of source'hot spots.'The nondestructive nature of the XRF analyses permitted correlation analysis using inductively coupled plasma (ICP) techniques. Correlation between XRF and ICP was very good (r²= 0.95) but the XRF analyses underestimated the total chromium concentrations, probably because of inappropriate calibration samples.     

Adsorption, desorption and oxidation of arsenic affected by clay minerals and aging process

 Adsorption/desorption and oxidation/reduction of arsenic at clay surfaces are very important to the natural attenuation of arsenic in the subsurface environment. Although numerous studies have concluded that iron oxides have high affinities for the adsorption of As(V), very little experimental work has addressed the arsenic attenuation capacities of different clay minerals and aging process affecting the transformation of arsenic. The abundance of clay minerals in a variety of geochemical environments and their influence on adsorption of contaminants suggests a need for more experimental work to characterize the adsorption desorption, and oxidation of arsenic on clay minerals. In this investigation three types of clay mineral were studied: the 1 : 1 layer clays [halloysite (IN), sedimentary M-kaolinite, and weathered EPK-kaolinite]; the 2 : 1 layer clays [illite (MT) and illite/montmorillonite (MT)]; the 2 :>: 1 layer clay [chlorite (CA)]. The halloysite and the chlorite had much greater As(V) adsorption (25–35 folds) than the other clay minerals. The clay minerals had lower As(III) adsorption than As(V) adsorption, and the adsorption was affected by pH. Desorption of arsenic from the clay minerals was significantly influenced by the aging process. The quantities of extractable As(III) and As(V) decreased with increasing aging time. The results demonstrated that oxidation of As(III) to As(V) occurred on the clay surfaces, whereas reduction of As(V) to As(III) was not found in any of the clay minerals studied. The oxidation of As(III) was affected by the types of clay and aging time. Received: 22 March 1999 · Accepted: 15 April 1999