Hawking radiation of Kerr-Newman black hole in different tortoise coordinate transformations

Hawking radiation effect of Maxwell’s electromagnetic fields in the Kerr-Newman black hole space-time is investigated using two different tortoise coordinate transformations. It has been shown that the new tortoise coordinate transformation produces constant term ξ in the expression of surface gravity and Hawking temperature. If ξ is set to zero, the surface gravity and Hawking temperature will be equal to those obtained from the old tortoise coordinate transformation. This indicates that new transformation is more reliable and accurate. The black body radiant spectrum of photon displays a new spin-rotation coupling effect.     

Application of binary pulsars to axisymmetric bodies in the Elliptic R3BP

Binary systems hosting astrophysical compact objects such as white dwarfs and/or neutron stars provide excellent test beds for studying the impact of the oblateness of the main bodies in the restricted three-body problem (R3BP). The case is investigated when the primary bodies are non-luminous, non-spherical (oblate) bodies and the third body of infinitesimal mass is also an oblate spheroid. The existence of extra solar planets orbiting these systems constitutes a three-body problem which makes them excellent models for this axisymmetric ER3BP. The positions of the equilibrium points are affected by the oblateness parameters of the three-bodies; this is shown for double neutron star binaries. The triangular points are stable for 0<μ<μ _c ; where μ is the mass ratio (μ≤1/2) and μ _c is the critical mass value influenced by the eccentricity, semi major axis and oblateness factors. The size of the region of stability increases with decreasing values of the oblateness. The oblateness of the system’s bodies does not affect the nature of the stability of the collinear points since they remain unstable. Due to the almost equal masses of the primaries, our study shows that even the triangular points of these systems are unstable.     

Pointing of HAGAR telescope mirrors

An array of seven atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes was commissioned at a high altitude site in Hanle in the Ladakh region of the Himalayas. The array called HAGAR has been designed to observe celestial γ-rays of energy >100 GeV. Each telescope is altitude-azimuth mounted and carries seven parabolic mirrors whose optic axes are co-aligned with the telescope axis. The telescopes point and track a celestial source using a PC-based drive control system. Two important issues in positioning of each HAGAR telescope are pointing accuracy of telescope axis and co-alignment of mirrors’ optic axes with the telescope axis. We have adopted a three pronged strategy to address these issues, namely use of pointing models to improve pointing accuracy of the telescopes, RA-DEC scan technique to measure the pointing offsets of the mirrors and mechanical fine-tuning of off-axis mirrors by sighting a distant stationary light source. This paper discusses our efforts in this regard as well as the current status of pointing and monitoring of HAGAR telescopes.     

Interaction of the WAT Source in A3395 with the Intracluster Medium

Using X-ray observations from Chandra and XMM-Newton and radio observations from the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA), we have examined the merging environment of the bimodal cluster Abell 3395. From X-ray data we have produced thermodynamic maps of the cluster. The Wide Angle Tail (WAT) galaxy seen in the radio is slightly offset from the X-ray emission peak of the southern part of the cluster. The unsharp masked Chandra image of the cluster does not show any deficit in the X-ray flux near the location of the source possibly because the thermal plasma has leaked into the cavities.     

LRS Bianchi type-II massive string cosmological model in General Relativity

The present study deals with locally rotationally symmetric (LRS) Bianchi type II cosmological model representing massive string. The energy-momentum tensor for such string as formulated by Letelier (Phys. Rev. D 28:2414, 1983) is used to construct massive string cosmological model for which we assume that the expansion (θ) in the model is proportional to the shear (σ). This condition leads to A=B ^m , where A and B are the metric coefficients and m is proportionality constant. For suitable choice of constant m, it is observed that in early stage of the evolution of the universe string dominates over the particle whereas the universe is dominated by massive string at the late time. Our model is in accelerating phase which is consistent to the recent observations of type Is supernovae. Some physical and geometric behavior of the model is also discussed.     

Issues with external occultation of a coronagraph

This paper addresses some of the issues related to externally occulted solar coronagraph; vignetting and achievable resolution due to an external occulter. The analytical expression by Evans (J Opt Soc Am 38:1083–1085, 1948) is used to perform the initial calculations. An expression for the vignetting for a given external occulter and field angle is derived. The values obtained with the derived expression are verified with those obtained by ZEMAX an Optical design software. The degradation in angular resolution of the system due to vignetting is also presented and an empirical relation to calculate the normalized resolution for a given amount of vignetting is obtained.     

Bianchi type V viscous fluid cosmological models in presence of decaying vacuum energy

Bianchi type V viscous fluid cosmological model for barotropic fluid distribution with varying cosmological term Λ is investigated. We have examined a cosmological scenario proposing a variation law for Hubble parameter H in the background of homogeneous, anisotropic Bianchi type V space-time. The model isotropizes asymptotically and the presence of shear viscosity accelerates the isotropization. The model describes a unified expansion history of the universe indicating initial decelerating expansion and late time accelerating phase. Cosmological consequences of the model are also discussed.     

Bulk viscous LRS Bianchi-I Universe with variable G and decaying Λ

The present study deals with spatially homogeneous and totally anisotropic locally rotationally symmetric (LRS) Bianchi type I cosmological model with variable G and Λ in presence of imperfect fluid. To get the deterministic model of Universe, we assume that the expansion (θ) in the model is proportional to shear (σ). This condition leads to A=ℓB ⁿ , where A, B are metric potential. The cosmological constant Λ is found to be decreasing function of time and it approaches a small positive value at late time which is supported by recent Supernovae Ia (SN Ia) observations. Also it is evident that the distance modulus curve of derived model matches with observations perfectly.     

Assessment of salt affected soils in India using GIS

Salt affected soils are characterized by variable distribution and dynamic nature. Based on Landsat data from 1986/1987 supported by ground truth, salt affected soil maps were prepared at 1:250,000 scale for 14 states and a union territory (UT). A map legend was evolved that described the nature, degree and extent of salt affected soils suitable for varied physiographic and agroclimatic regions of the country. Fifteen categories of salt affected soil were identified for the entire country. These were merged to two categories – saline and sodic – for management purposes. Digitized maps were developed in a geographical information system (GIS) depicting salt affected areas of the country. An area of 6.73 million ha of salt affected soils was estimated for the entire country. State-wise estimates showed that this extensive area is distributed over the Gangetic plain of Uttar Pradesh; the arid and semiarid regions of Gujarat and the peninsular plains of Maharashtra state. A significant area is also located in the coastal region covering seven states. The salt affected soils are primarily saline in deltaic (C), coastal (D) and mud flats/mangrove swamps (G) and sodic in alluvial (A), aeofluvial/aeolian/arid (B) and peninsular (F) plains. The distribution of salt affected soils in agroclimatic zones (ACZs) showed occurrence in Gujarat plain, East Coast plains, Upper-Gangetic plain, Trans-Gangetic plain, Central Plateau, Lower-Gangetic plain and Southern Plateau of the country.     

Characterization of forests and deforestation in Cambodia using ALOS/PALSAR observation

In this study, we have demonstrated the capability of full polarimetric ALOS/Phased Array L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar data for the characterization of the forests and deforestation in Cambodia, to support climate change mitigation policies of Reducing Emission from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD). We have observed mean backscattering coefficient (σ°), entropy (H), alpha angle (α), anisotropy (A), pedestal height (PH), Radar Vegetation Index (RVI) and Freeman–Durden three-component decomposition parameters. The observations show that the forest types and deforested area are showing variable polarimetric and backscattering properties because of the structural difference. Evergreen forest is characterized by a high value of σ° HV (?12.96 dB) as compared with the deforested area (σ° HV=?22.2 dB). The value of polarimetric parameters such as entropy (0.93), RVI (0.91), PH (0.41) and Freeman–Durden volume scattering (0.43) is high for evergreen forest, whereas deforested area is characterized by the low values of entropy (0.36) and RVI (0.17). Based on these parameters, it is found that σ° HV, entropy, RVI and PH provide best results among other parameters.