Drift in toroidal configurations

It is found that charged particles of positive energiesE, when constrained on axisymmetric isoflux surfaces , execute sinusoidal motions with typical frequencies =(2E/m)^1/2). In general, it was found that under equilibrium condition p=J ^B/cthe particles develop a non-ambipolar drift velocityv _d =(cµ/eb)[1+q ² +2(q/)²]p.     

Examples of predominantly two-body orbits in the Sun-Jupiter asteroid system

Accurate numerical continuation of families of plane symmetric direct periodic orbits around the large primary in the Sun-Jupiter case of the restricted problem of three bodies allows the determination of the vertical branching points where families of three-dimensional symmetric periodic orbits bifurcate from the planar ones. Three families of plane periodic orbits, and the initial segments of ten bifurcating families of three-dimensional ones are determined. The stability of these families is examined and examples of their orbits are illustrated.     

On the perturbation of the anomalistic period of a highly eccentric orbit satellite due to the zonal harmonics

In this note a simple formula is given for the perturbation of the anomalistic period of a highly eccentric orbit due to the zonal harmonics. This perturbation depends essentially only on the semi-major axisa, the eccentricitye (or pericentre radius r =a(1-e)) and the latitude of the pericentre.     

Regular precessions of a gyrostatic satellite in a circular orbit

In the present paper, the regular precessions about the mass center are studied, for a Volterra-type gyrostatic satellite in a circular orbit under a Newtonian force field. All the possible regular precessions are determined.     

TheF N method for solving radiative-transfer problems in plane geometry

TheF _N method of solving problems in radiative transfer for plane-parallel media with anisotropic scattering is established. The method utilizes properties of the exact solution and leads to final equations that are particularly concise and easy to use.     

A new model for X-ray emission from NGC 4151

We present an analysis of the reported spectral features of NGC 4151 in X-rays. It is shown that the origin of X-rays from the source is inconsistent with a single production mechanism. We suggest a new two-component model in which soft X-rays arise from the black-body emission of a tiny hot nucleus withT2×10⁷ K and the hard X-ray photons are generated in an extended region by inverse Compton scattering of electrons with the infrared photons.     

The evolution of massive close binaries

The results of evolutionary computations for massive binary systems (initial masses of the primary 10M ) with mass ratios between 0.3 and 0.8 are summarized and compared with observations in order to verify how far one can go with the conservative assumption of mass exchange. It is found that conservative mass exchange leads to acceptable first-order models of W-R and massive X-ray binaries. However, the comparison between this theory and observation reveals that for the observed systems (W-R and X-ray binaries) a preference exists for low intial mass ratios; moreover, the X-ray luminosities of the theoretical models are systematically too low, though this may be due to the adopted wind model. In addition, the influences of several parameters (distance between the components, chemical composition, primary mass, mass ratio and atmosphere) are examined. These parameters influence the remnant mass and any further evolution only marginally. Attention is also given to the effect on the system parameters of a supernova explosion of the remnant of the mass-losing component. For a large range of systems a disruption probability smaller than 25% is found.     

On the dissociation of nitrogen by electron impact and by E.U.V. photo-absorption

The dissociation of N₂ by electron impact and by e.u.v. photo-absorption is studied, and it is shown that the forbidden predissociation of the numerous ¹Π_u and ¹Σ_u⁺ valence and Rydberg states of N₂ in the 11–24eV energy range is the dominant mechanism for N atom production. By measuring the absolute emission cross sections for the e.u.v. singlet bands of N₂ and by using the generalized oscillator strength data of Lassettre (1974), it has been possible to construct a detailed model of the total N₂ dissociation cross section which is in good agreement with the measurements of Winters (1966) and Niehaus (1967) and provides some insights into the maximum possible $\text{N(}{}^2\text{D)}$ yield from dissociative excitation. The total cross section for exciting N₂ e.u.v. radiation in the 800Å–1100Å wavelength range has been measured and found to have a value of 3.4 ×10^?17 cm² at 100 eV under optically thin conditions. Although this result implies that large fluxes of e.u.v. photons should be excited in auroral substorms and in the airglow, they are not observed, and we show that this development is a consequence of radiation entrapment and predissociation. The total cross section for dissociating N₂ by electron impact is given for optically thin and thick media. And some questions concerning the energy budget of a magnetospheric storm which are raised by these results, are discussed.     

Dynamics of coronal hole regions

The hydrodynamic properties of a steadily expanding corona are explored for situations in which departures from spherically symmetric outflow are large, in the sense that the geometrical cross section of a given flow tube increases outward from the Sun faster than r ² in some regions. Assuming polytropic flow, it is shown that in certain cases the flow may contain more than one critical point. We derive the criterion for determining which of these critical points is actually crossed by the transonic solution which begins at the Sun and extends continuously outward. Next, we apply the theory to geometries which exhibit rapid spreading of the flow tubes in the inner corona, followed by more-or-less radial divergence at large distances. This is believed to be the type of geometry found in coronal hole regions. The results show that, if this initial divergence is sufficiently large, the outflow becomes supersonic at a critical point encountered low in the corona in the region of high divergence, and it remains supersonic at all greater heights in the corona. This feature strongly suggests that coronal hole regions differ from other open-field regions of the corona in that they are in a fast, low density expansion state over much of their extent. Such a dynamical configuration makes it possible to reconcile the low values of electron density observed in coronal holes with the large particle fluxes in the associated high speed streams seen in the solar wind.The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.     

Reversals of the geomagnetic field,magnetostratigraphy, and relative magnitude of paleosecular variation in the phanerozoic

The percentage of normal and reversed magnetization in land-based paleomagnetic studies of Phanerozoic rocks (0 to ? 570 m.y.) have been compiled in order to determine the long-term variation in polarity bias of the geomagnetic field. Where possible the results are compared with the record from marine magnetic anomalies. Only rarely is there an even balance between normal and reversed polarity. During the past 350 m.y. two quiet intervals can be recognized when few reversals occurred, the Cretaceous (KN about ? 81 to ? 110 m.y.) and Permo-Carboniferous (PCR about ? 227 to ? 313 m.y.). Less firmly established are two other quiet intervals, one in the Jurassic (JN about ? 145 to ? 165 m.y.), and one in the Triassic (TRN about ? 205 to ? 220 m.y.). Between these quiet intervals there are disturbed intervals when reversals were comparatively frequent. From ? 680 to ? 350 m.y. the paleomagnetic record is inadequate to delineate a succession of quiet and disturbed intervals although one is probably present. Maximum entropy spectral analysis reveals three periodicities, a dominant one at about 300 m.y. and others, less well-defined, at 113 and 57 m.y. The variations in polarity bias are compared with the paleosecular variation, and it is shown that the magnitude of the paleosecular variation is greater in disturbed than in quiet intervals. This indicates that the magnitude of paleosecular variation and polarity bias are governed by variations in the balance between non-dipole and dipole components of the field, and that these variations probably had their origin in processes near the core—mantle interface. The correspondence between the dominant periods of 300 m.y. and plate tectonics is noted and a causal relationship suggested.