Search for variability in hydrogen-poor stars

The evolutionary status of hydrogen-poor stars is analyzed.Photoelectric observations of six objects are reported as a first step of a long-term project devoted to search for variability of a large sample of hydrogen-poor stars.The observed stars show phenomena of microvariability with an amplitude of the order of 0^m. 1 or less.Two extreme helium stars have been examined: a period in the range of 0^d.162-0^d.164 has been found for BD+ 10⁰2179, andP=0^d.1079962 for BD+13⁰3324.The mass-losing O subdwarf (sdO) BD+37⁰ 443 presents short-term fluctuations with a time-scale of several minutes and long-term variations on a scale of months. The standard sdO BD+75⁰325 is probably non-variable, although light variations of very small amplitude (m0.03) with a time-scale of about 1 hr might be present. The high gravity sdO BD+25⁰4655, which is very close to the white dwarf stage, also presents variability on a time-scale of about 13 minutes, and might be an analog of the recently discovered pulsating sdO, or hot white dwarf, PG 1159-035.The variability of the intermediate helium star HD 37776 is finally confirmed.     

Particle masses in the baryon decuplet

The masses of particles in the baryon decuplet have been obtained using the theory developed in two earlier papers (Hoyle, 1990, Paper A, 1991, Paper B). Without any disposable constants being used here, the results are:

Zeeman-doppler imaging: A new option for magnetic field study of Ap and solar-type stars

In the task of studying stellar magnetic fields, polarimetric methods have been intensively used in Ap stars. But the observational material classically used to reconstruct stellar magnetic structures (average longitudinal magnetic field as a function of rotational phase) is not rich enough in spatial information to derive geometries more complex than centered or decentered dipoles.In solar-type stars, all evidences of activity recently detected on their surfaces (starspots, flares, ...) indicate they are most likely magnetic stars. But polarimetric methods have always failed in these stars, probably due to the complex magnetic topologies encountered which even prevented until now a simple detection (Borra, Edwards, and Mayor, 1984). With the Zeeman broadening measurement technique proposed by Robinson (1980), no reliable results can be derived for rapid rotators, which are otherwise presumed to be the best candidates for magnetic detections. Once more, if temperature inhomogeneity charts are already available for solar-type stars (Vogt, 1987), spatial information on their magnetic distributions has conversely not yet been obtained.The new option, recently proposed by Semel (1989) and qualified by Donati, Semel, and Praderie (1989), is based on the rotational modulation study of a rapid rotator Stokes parameter V(), obtained with both high spectral resolution R, and high signal-to-noise ratio S/N. Since the magnetic information used refers to localized strips on the stellar disc (as a consequence of the star rotation), multipolar structures can thus be resolved.A new instrumentation and observing procedure have been defined for ZDI, in order to obtain very high S/N data. The method has been successfully tested on two bright magnetic Ap stars: a magnetic detection was obtained on UMa and a 15-point phase coverage of ² CVn is available for the reconstruction of complete 2D abundance and magnetic mappings of its photosphere.Concerning solar-type stars, a numerical simulation was carried out in order to determine the observational constraints required for the detection of typical magnetic field similar to those reported in slow rotators with the Robinson method (Saar, 1988). The specifications needed are S/N 400 per 40 mÅ pixel and R - 6 × 10⁴.     

Strömgren photometry of a-stars: A test of physical parameter determination

By use of known published values forT _eff, logg, andM _v, a check on our procedure for determining the physical parameters of A v-type stars from Strömgren photometry has been performed. External errors for our calculated physical parameters have been obtained.Paper presented at the 11th European Regional Astronomical Meetings of the IAU on New Windows to the Universe, held 3–8 July, 1989, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.     

Diffuse extragalactic gamma-radiation above ‘black-body cutoff’

The possible contribution of gamma-rays predicted within the universal cosmic-ray (CR) hypothesis to the energy range of CR spectrum above black-body cutoff is calculated. These gamma-rays arise from the relativistic electromagnetic cascade generated in the field of microwave background radiation (MBR). The ultra-high energy photons and electrons that initiate the cascade are produced at the decay of -mesons created in interactions of photons with the MBR. Simple analytic expression for cascade gamma-ray spectrum is obtained from the solution of kinetic equations for electrons and photons as well as for protons propagating in the MBR field. It is shown that at certain values of magnetic field and radio-wave density in the intergalactic space te flux of cascade gamma-rays may at least partly mask the black-body cutoff in the CR spectrum.Deceased, August 13, 1989.     

The bipolar jets associated with the planetary nebulae NGC 2392 and NGC 6543

TheUBV-photometry of a well-known X-ray binary Her X-1/HZ Her over 16 years is presented. The mean light curves of this system were constructed, using our and published data. Based on our observations in primary minimum the colour behaviour of Her X-1/HZ Her was investigated. An additional radiation during total eclipse of accretion disk is found at the ascending branch of the light curve.Paper presented at the 11th European Regional Astronomical Meetings of the IAU on New Windows to the Universe, held 3–8 July, 1989, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.     

Hypersensitization of Kodak infrared plates: Results of some chemical methods and pre-exposure

Tests have been carried out on Kodak Spectroscopic Plates Type I-N, in order to find a treatment which could be easily applied to the infrared plates to be used with the Loiano 152 cm,f/8, Ritchey-Chrétien telescope. Different techniques have been tested, not only with the aim of achieving the higher speed gain, but also to obtain the better uniformity and reproducibility. Our results suggest that the advantages of preexposure techniques are underestimated in this respect. Furthermore, we find that blue and infrared preexposures (at 0.8 s) give different results, suggesting a different degree of dispersity in the latent image produced by pre-exposure in the two cases.Baths including both ammonia and Ag-compounds provide the higher speed gains, but the increment of the fog is often non-uniform and/or very high. The best results have been obtained with baths including AgNO₃ and AgCl. The rejuvenation process found by Sanduleak and the results obtained by Jenkins and Farnell on the reversibility of the gains due to silver-nitrate baths have been confirmed.     

Diffusion-deposition patterns in Martian streaks

The spreading angle of a number of light and dark Martian streaks is determined from selected Mariner 9 images. The resulting frequency distributions of spreading half-angles have maxima at ～5° for light, and ～7° for dark streaks; however the dark streaks have a secondary maximum spreading angle at ～14°. The smaller values, which include most streaks, are interpreted as crater-wake spreading phenomena. The larger value, found in only a few dark streaks or “tails,” may result from atmospheric diffusion and subsequent deposition of material from isolated sources such as vents or blowouts. An atmospheric diffusion-deposition analysis is presented, assuming this streak origin, from which it is possible to deduce the eddy diffusivity, K, in Mars' boudary layer. Calculated K values are found to agree with various theoretical estimates. They lie in the range 10⁷ and 10⁹ cm² sec^?1 and exhibit the proper scale dependence. Thus it appears that, in addition to streak-derived wind direction patterns and speed information, it is possible in a few cases to derive information on Mars' boundary-layer turbulence from streak-spreading measurements.     

Reflectance spectra for sodium and potassium doped ammonia frosts: Implications for Io's surface

This paper reports measurements of the reflection spectra of sodium and potassium doped ammonia frosts as a function of alkali metal concentration which cover the wavelength range 0.35–2.5 μm. The purpose of the measurements was to determine whether or not the reflection spectra for such a solid was compatible with the spectral albedo of Io. The data show that with a sufficiently large alkali metal concentration, the reflection spectra of the doped ammonia frost do not display the characteristic ammonia features at 2.0 and 2.25 μm. The high reflectance of the more concentrated samples and the character of the observed reflection spectrum make it difficult to rule out sodium doped ammonia frost as a surface constituent on Io on the basis of existing data.     

Microcraters formed in hot glass by hypervelocity projectiles

Microcraters were formed in heated soda-lime glass by the normal incidence of spheres of plastic or fused silica with diameters between 0.8 and 4.5m and velocities between 2.5 and 10 km s^–1. The morphology of the craters in targets at temperatures up to 800°C is little different from those formed in unheated glass. Spallation still occurs to the same extent and above the same velocity threshold, but the spalls sag and sharp edges become dull in a few seconds at temperatures above the softening point. There is a small increase in the flow of glass from the central pit into a narrow lip at the higher temperatures, but this lip is often removed by spallation, especially at the higher velocities of impact. There is no evidence of a splashed lip with strings of melt overlying the spalled area. The results in conjunction with other evidence suggest that most lunar craters of micrometer size with a smooth central pit, splashed lip, and a spallation zone are the result of primary impacts.