Cygnus A: stars, dust and cones

We present new Hubble Space Telescope ( HST  ) continuum and spectral line images of the radio galaxy Cygnus A. The images show much complex structure in the central kpc². Continuum images show the central dust lane in detail, allowing detailed maps of E ( B  −  V ) to be constructed; the dust appears to follow a roughly Galactic extinction law. The emission-line components are resolved in the line images and investigated in detail. A clear 'opening cone' morphology is found, especially in the lines of Hα and [O  i ]. Blue condensations are seen in the south-eastern emission component and surrounding the central region. These are almost certainly due to star formation, which began <1 Gyr ago as deduced from the colour of the regions. More extended blue continuum is also seen and corresponds to the blue polarized component detected by other recent spectropolarimetric observations.     

High-velocity stars from decay of small stellar systems

In this paper we present numerical results on the decay of small stellar systems under different initial conditions (multiplicity 3 ≤  N  ≤ 10, and various mass spectra, initial velocities and initial configurations). The numerical treatment uses the CHAIN1 code (Mikkola &38; Aarseth). Particular attention is paid to the distribution of high-velocity escapers: we define these as stars with velocity above 30 km s⁻¹. These numerical experiments confirm that small N -body systems are dynamically unstable and produce cascades of escapers in the process of their decay. It is shown that the fraction of stars that escape from small dense stellar systems with an escape velocity greater than 30 km s⁻¹ is ∼1 per cent for all systems treated here. This relatively small fraction must be considered in relation to the rate of star formation in the Galaxy in small groups: this could explain some moderately high-velocity stars observed in the Galactic disc and possibly some young stars with relatively high metallicity in the thick disc.     

Intercomparisons of land-surface parameterizations coupled to a limited area forecast model

The goal of the Project for Intercomparison of Land-surface Parameterization Schemes (PILPS) is to improve the understanding of the interactions between the atmosphere and the continental surface in climate and weather forecast models. In PILPS Phase 4(b), selected schemes are coupled to the Limited Area Prediction System (LAPS) developed by the Australian Bureau of Meteorology. To facilitate the comparison of PILPS schemes' behavior within LAPS, a single mode of coupling is selected: explicit coupling. This type of coupling is more flexible and avoids most of the problems raised when interchanging the surface schemes. Exploratory tests are conducted. Initially, experiments are run in which the land-surface schemes use the same parameters as in their original host models. Then, in other runs, the most important surface parameters are set constant in an attempt to reduce the scatter amongst the schemes' results. In order to understand the impact of initialisation of soil moisture on the schemes' results some extreme cases (wet and dry) are performed. The partitioning between surface fluxes is studied as well as the soil moisture budget. Both regional and local results are analysed. Sensitivity between LSS is found in the precipitation field with rainfall over the Australian continent altering by about 20%, but no significant change is found in the net radiation. The scatter in the surface energy fluxes amongst the schemes is large (up to 300 W m⁻² locally, during the daytime peak) but is seldom affected by the choice of surface parameters. The dynamical range of flux partitioning between extremely dry and wet initialisation varies strongly amongst the schemes. Some major shortcoming with the BUCKET approach are seen in the re-evaporation of convective precipitation over dry land, in the very large evaporation from wet surfaces and the diurnal cycle of surface temperature.     

An exact solution of two-dimensional steady MGD flows

Steady-plane flow of an inviscid, electrically-conducting, compressible fluid with infinite electrical conductivity is considered and a single partial differential equation is obtained which involves two functions. Appropriate specialization of these functions generate new exact solutions of the orginal equations.     

Eruptive instability of magnetic arcades

Eruptive prominences trace disruptions of magnetic arcades in which they are embedded. The stability of an arcade containing an electric current filament at its axis is discussed. The model provides criteria for the onset of the eruptive instability in terms of prominence twist and overall geometry, i.e., the parameters which could be measured directly. The evolution of the eruption is analyzed, and the dependence of the acceleration and the pitch of field-lines on the height is established. The model is compared with the observations of one eruptive prominence where the development of helical structure was followed.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.     

The resolution of the compact core of quasars and active galaxies with the gravitational lens effect

The central energy source of quasars and active galactic nuclei cannot be resolved by observation. When such a compact source is affected by gravitational micro-lensing (lensing of stars in a distant galaxy), brightness changes of the order of magnitudes may occur. Since it is an eclipse-like effect, it gives the possibility of calculating the one-dimensional source profile from the lightcurve. We present the method and the results of its application on simulated lightcurves. It should be possible to obtain information on the structure of the source on a scale smaller than 10^–3 pc. The micro gravitational lens effect gives, therefore, the only known possibility of observing directly the central energy source of quasars and active galactic nuclei.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.     

Magnetohydrodynamic effects on radiation-driven shock waves

A similarity solution for the flow variables behind a radiation-driven magnetohydrodynamic shock wave has been obtained. Owing to absorption of radiation incident on the shock layer, it is assumed that the total energy contained behind the shock surface is increasing. The ambient medium in which shock wave moves is non-uniform and it is optically thin so that there is no interaction with the incident radiation. A comparison has been made between the results with and without the magnetic field when the density and azimuthal magnetic field distributions are variable.While this paper was in press, Professor Verma passed away on 4 April 1985, without being able to read its proofs.     

Properties of r-modes in the Sun

Global oscillations of the Sun (r-modes) with very long periods 1 month are reviewed and studied. Such modes would be trapped in an acoustic cavity formed either by most of the convective envelope or by most of the radiative interior. A turning point frequency giving cavity boundaries is defined and the run of eigenvalues for angular harmonics l 3 are plotted for a conventional solar convection zone. The r-modes show equipartition of oscillatory energy among shells which each contain one antinode in the radial dimension. Toroidal motion is dominant to at least the 14^th radial harmonic mode. Viscosity from convective turbulence is strong and would damp any mode in just a few solar rotations if it were the only significant nonadiabatic effect. Radial fine splitting which lifts the degeneracy in n is very small (20 nHz or less) for all n 14 trapped in the envelope. But, if splitting could be detected, we would have a valuable new constraint on solar convection theories.     

The formation of spicules in the course of the chromospheric network magnetic field reconnection

We investigate the physical processes occurring in the supergranule boundary cylinder layer (SBCL). Taking into account the Coriolis force, we obtain an expression for the component of the magnetic field and velocity in the SBCL. Within the framework of linear MHD, we consider the formation and coalescence of magnetic tubes, i.e. spicules, in the course of the reconnection of the SBCL magnetic field. The estimated number of spicules appearing on each supergranule cell is in agreement with observations. This number depends on the solar latitude : (1) if the normal component of the magnetic fieldB _z is assumed to be independent of , then the maximum number of spicules should be at = 71°; (2) ifB _z is assumed to be the component of the dipolar fieldB _z sin , then the maximum number should be at the pole: = 90°. The timescale of the formation and the coalescence of the magnetic tubes is 10–20 min, which is of the order of the observed lifetime of the spicules.