Core-envelope models for massive fluid spheres

The solution of equation of state corresponding to equality =₃ gives non-terminating solutions for isothermal neutron star cores. Hence, for this equality, core-envelope models have been developed by taking another equation of state, corresponding to the condition ₃, in the envelope. Various static, pulsational, and rotational parameters pertaining to neutron star models are calculated. These models are gravitationally bound and stable for radial perturbations and slow rotations.     

The U.S. National 8 m telescope project

The National Optical Astronomy Observatories (NOAO) are planning to buld two 8 m telescopes, one for Mauna Kea, Hawaii, the other for a site in Chile. Optical configurations, primary mirror systems, and the telescope mounting are discussed. A new optical testing method is outlined. The system imaging goal is 0.25 FWHM. Construction could begin in the early 1990's.Paper presented at the Symposium on the JNLT and Related Engineering Developments, Tokyo, November 29–December 2, 1988.Operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy Inc., under contract with the National Science Foundation.     

Shock chemistry in the molecular clouds associated with SNR IC 443

Several interstellar molecules have been detected toward the highly perturbed B and G clouds associated with the supernova remnant IC 443 via their 3 mm transitions, including N2H+, SiO, SO, CN, HNC, and H13CO+. The (J, K) = (1, 1) and (2, 2) inversion lines of metastable ammonia have also been observed, as well as the J = 3-2 transition of HCO+ at 1.2 mm. Analysis of the (1, 1) and (2, 2) inversion lines of NH3 indicates minimum gas kinetic temperatures of TK = 70 K toward cloud B, and TK = 33 K in cloud G. Modeling of the J = 1-0 and J = 3-2 transitions of HCO+ implies densities greater than 10(5) cm-3 toward both positions. These data clearly show that hot and dense material is present in IC 443, and they suggest the presence of shocks in both regions. A careful analysis of the HCO+ lines indicates that the HCO+ abundance is at most enhanced by factors of a few over that found in cold, quiescent gas. This conclusion contradicts past claims of HCO+ abundance enhancements of several orders of magnitude in the perturbed regions. The N2H+ abundance was also found to be similar to that in cold gas, suggesting that there is no increase in ionization in the clouds. The abundances of SO and CS, as well as CN and NH3, do not appear to differ significantly from those found in cold dark clouds, although chemistry models predict sulfur-containing species to undergo high-temperature enhancements. SiO, however, is found to have an abundance in the perturbed gas 100 times larger than the upper limits observed in the dark cloud TMC 1, a result in agreement with high temperature chemistry models. In addition, the HNC/HCN ratio in both IC 443 B and G was found to be approximately 0.1--far from the ratio of 1 predicted by low-temperature ion-molecule chemistry, but similar to the values observed in clouds where elevated temperatures are present.     

Radiometry of near-earth asteroids

We report 10 micrometers infrared photometry for 22 Aten, Apollo, and Amor asteroids. Thermal models are used to derive the corresponding radiometric albedos and diameters. Several of these asteroids appear to have surfaces of relatively high thermal inertia due to the exposure of bare rock or a coarse regolith. The Apollo asteroid 3103, 1982 BB, is recognized as class E. The Jupiter-crossing Amor asteroid 3552, 1983 SA, is confirmed as class D, but low albedos remain rare for near-Earth asteroids.     

The center-to-limb variations of four Ca i lines in the photospheric spectrum at λ6500

We study the center-limb (CL) variation of the average profiles of four Ca i lines near 6500 and compare these observations with synthetic data obtained from several line formation models having different thermal structures, line parameters, LTE and non-LTE conditions, and micro and macroturbulence values, to assess the formation characteristics of our Ca i lines in the solar photosphere.Comparison of numerical results with observations indicates that non-LTE is indispensable to fit the CL variation of the central residual intensity for the line 6493, and anisotropic microturbulence is indispensable to improve the CL behavior of the equivalent widths for all lines. The Ca i line analysis favors a cool photospheric model, but this cannot be disentangled clearly from the effects of non-LTE and small-scale velocity fields on the grounds of the present line formation models.     

Origin of short period comets

Reasons for interest in the origin of short-period comets and the difficulties of computing their long-term dynamcal evolution are reviewed. The relative advantages of a source region in an extended inner core of the Oort cloud or a compact comet belt just beyond the planetary system are finely balanced, and it is premature to consider the problem solved. A complication is that some comets belonging to the Jupiter family may be part of a time-dependent system, possibly the remains of a giant comet such as Chiron which could have been part of the system 104 yr ago. The origin of short-period comets plays a pivotal role in many areas of solar system science: planet formation, the source of water (possibly life) on the terrestrial planets, the cratering record on the terrestrial planets and satellites of the outer planets, and the environmental impact posed by massive bodies and their decay products in the Earth's near-space environment.     

On the inclination and the axial velocity of spicules

This paper studies two properties of chromospheric spicules: their angular distribution and the plasma velocity along their axes. To investigate the first property, we measured the apparent tilt of spicules at the limb, and then computed their actual distribution in space. This was achieved by solving first kind Fredholm or Volterra integral equations by various methods. The distribution of the axial velocity of the spicule plasma was studied on the basis of two types of observations: (1) the height variation of the spicules as a function of time and (2) the Doppler shift of the spectral lines. The resulting velocity distributions, using the experimental data of these two sets of observations, are quite different. The average velocity based on the Doppler shift measurements ( 40 km s^–1) is greater than that based on height variation of spicules ( 20 km s^–1). This is due to the ionization of the material as it penetrates the corona.     

Unusually low coronal radio emission at the solar minimum

We present two-dimensional observations of the quiet Sun at 73.8, 50.0, and 38.5 MHz obtained with the Clark Lake Radioheliograph during the sunspot minimum period of September 1986. The observed peak brightness temperatures during the entire period of sunspot minimum are found to be extremely low, lying in the range (0.6 × 10⁵ K – 2.5 × 10⁵ K). It is shown that these low values cannot be explained by the generally adopted models for N _e and T _e in a homogeneous corona. The effect of scattering by random density fluctuations is introduced in order to decrease the values of predicted T _b . The value of peak T _b is computed as a function of relative r.m.s. density fluctuations = <N _e >/N _e ; and it is found that should be in the range from 0.07 to 0.19, 0.1 to 0.25, and 0.15 to 0.35, respectively, at 38.5, 50.0, and 73.8 MHz, respectively, to explain the observed low brightness temperatures.On leave from Indian Institute of Astrophysics, Bangalore, India.     

Labour circulation and the village economy in Fiji

The author examines circular labor migration in Fiji. "This paper is organized into five sections. The first section provides a brief discussion of two major perspectives of labour circulation in developing countries. The second section presents the state of the Fijian village in the context of the current pattern of uneven development in Fiji. The practice of labour circulation by Fijian villagers is dealt with in the third section. In the last two sections, issues concerning the maintenance of the polarized pattern and the preservation of the village mode of production are discussed."