Motions in the solar atmosphere associated with the white light flare of 11 July 1978

Series of white light heliograms and oft- and on-band H filtergrams have been obtained, with an average spatial resolution of 1, to study the flare active McMath region 15403 on 11 July, 1978. A great number of accurate heliographic positions were determined for the umbrae, the white light flare patches and several bright H flare knots, as well as along the principal zero filament and an arch prominence. Using the measured heliographic coordinates of these objects their motions could be analyzed in some detail. The velocities of several different objects could be deduced from the coordinates. Since the heliocentric angle of the region was about 45°, the variation in apparent heliographic coordinates also enabled some variations in heights to be determined.It is pointed out that the flare when fully developed, consisted almost entirely of loops. The zero filament which was activated prior to the flare ran between two umbrae of common penumbra and opposite polarity, one belonging to an old, the other to a new spot group. The white light flare developed on both sides of the filament where it passed between these two umbrae; it was also the place where the flare started. Observational evidence appears to indicate that the erupted filament re-formed from below.An indication has been found that there was a link between the motion of some umbrae and the major flare occurrence.     

The main problem of lunar theory solved by the method of Brown

Brown's method for solving the main problem of lunar theory has been adapted for the computation by machine with the help of an algebraic processor. Brown's results are first recovered and refined. The solution is then expanded to include most terms of order nine. The terms in the series for the longitude and latitude are listed with an accuracy of 0.000 01 and of 0.000 001 for the parallax.This research was supported in parts by the National Science Foundation grant MCS 78-01425.     

Tridiurnal variations in cosmic-ray intensity

The tridiurnal wave in cosmic-ray intensity expected from a free space anisotropy is theoretically calculated for different cosmic-ray stations which are characterized by different shapes of asymptotic cones of acceptance. The amplitude A and the time of maximum Tmax are given for latitude dependence of the form cosⁿ λ and rigidity dependence of the form $\text{R}{}^{\mathrm{\beta }}\text{exp (?(R?}\text{1}\text{R}{}_0\text{))}$, where λ and R are the latitude and rigidity respectively and n, β, R₀ are constants. The values of A and Tmax, are calculated for different values of n, β and R₀ for each station. The dependence of A and Tmax on the anisotropy parameters is studied for the proper selection of cosmic-ray stations whose data may be used in determining these parameters.Available experimental data were used to find the observed amplitudes of the tridiurnal variations at five stations using power spectrum analysis with hanning applied on the averaged trains. Minimum variance analysis of the theoretical and experimental amplitudes showed that β has a value between 1 and 2, R₀ greater than 100 GV and n smaller than 3.     

A model for thinning of the plasma sheet

A one-dimensional model for thinning of the plasma sheet is developed on the basis of launching a fast mode MHD rarefaction wave propagating in the tailward direction along the plasma sheet. Behind the rarefaction wave the pressure is reduced, leading to thinning of the plasma sheet and also to an Earthward plasma flow with a speed on the order of the sound speed a₀. The plasma sheet thickness is reduced by a factor of 2 if an Earthward plasma flow speed of 0.8a₀ is induced. The predictions of the model are in reasonable agreement with observations.     

Unsteady MHD flow past a porous plate with step function change in suction at slip flow regime

Unsteady two-dimensional hydromagnetic flow of an electrically conducting viscous incompressible fluid past a semi-infinite porous flat plate with step function change in suction velocity is studied allowing a first order velocity slip at the boundary condition. The solution of the problem is obtained in closed form and the results are discussed with the aid of graphs for various parameters entering in the problem.Notations B intensity of magnetic field - H magnetic field parameter,H=(M+1/4)^1/2–1/2 - h rarefaction parameter - L ₁ slip coefficient; ;I, mean free path of gas molecules;f, Maxwell's reflection coefficient - M magnetic field parameter - r suction parameter - t time - t dimensionless time - u velocity of the fluid - u dimensionless velocity of the fluid - U velocity of the fluid at infinity - v suction velocity - v ₁ suction velocity att<=0 - v ₂ suction velocity att>0 - x distance parallel to the plate - y distance normal to the plate - y nondimensional distance normal to the plate - v kinematic viscosity - electric conductivity of the fluid - density of the fluid - shear stress at the wall - nondimensional shear stress at the wall - erf error function - erfc complementary error function     

Is there Aβ/L relation for any type of qso absorption line system?

The possible correlation noted between the intrinsic quasar luminosity and the absorption line expulsion velocity is re-examined using homogeneous data sets for metal and L only line systems. The method of analysis is chosen to enable any reasonable form of correlation to be found. No correlation is detected at a confidence level >10%.     

About the foreshortening effect on sunspot umbral dots

Using high-resolution pictures of the core of a unipolar sunspot observed with several cos values, we studied the center limb effect on the form of the bright umbral dots. The ratio of the apparent sizes in radial and tangential direction do not show the foreshortening effect typically observed in granular structures.On leave from University of Tabriz, Iran.Observational part of this work was done during a stay of S.K. at Sacramento Peak Observatory, U.S.A., as NRC Resident Research Associate.     

Cosmic ray intensity variations and two types of high speed solar streams

This study deals with the short-term variations of cosmic ray intensity during the interval 1973–78. Daily means of high latitude neutron and meson monitors from the same station and those of a low latitude neutron monitor have been analysed using the Chree method of superposed epochs. The zero epoch for the Chree analyses corresponds to the day of a substantial increase (V 200 km s^–1) in the solar wind speed to values of 550 km s^–1 and which persists at such high values for an interval of at least three days. The investigation reveals the existence of two types of cosmic ray intensity variations with distinctly different spectral characteristics. During the interval 1973–76, relative changes in the neutron and meson monitor rates are nearly equal indicating an almost flat rigidity spectrum of variation. During 1977–78, however, the spectrum acquires a negative spectral character similar to that observed for Forbush decreases. We suggest that events of the interval 1973–76 are essentially due to high speed streams associated with solar coronal holes and that events of the interval 1977–78 are due to fast streams from solar active regions with flare activity.