High-Resolution Time Profiles of Fiber Bursts at 1420 and 2695 MHz

To obtain constraints for models of fiber bursts, high-resolution time (0.01 s) profiles of the fiber bursts recorded at 1420 and 2695 MHz by the Trieste radiometers are studied in detail. The fiber bursts were identified using Ond?ejov radio spectra. During the years 2000?–?2005, 18 intervals with fiber bursts were selected; 26 groups were defined and about 700 fibers were analyzed in detail. More than 300 pulsations, present almost simultaneously with the fibers, were also selected and studied in order to find similarities or differences between these two types of fine structures. It was found that the polarization of the associated continuum, both for fiber bursts and pulsations, is practically the same. Evaluating the ratio between absorption over emission of many single fibers we found that this parameter is very different even for nearby bursts; however, we realized that this ratio shows a tendency to decrease with time. Finally, the time profile of one selected fiber burst was fitted using a recent model based on the modulation of the broadband radio emission by fast magnetoacoustic waves. The results are discussed.     

Polarization of the white-light corona and its large-scale structure in the period of solar cycle maximum

Distributions of brightness and polarization,p, were obtained for the February 16, 1980 solar corona. Isophotes have a circular shape, typical for the period of the solar cycle maximum. A variety of structural features are distinctly seen in the distribution ofp. The polarization reaches 55%, and thep values are comparatively high, not only in the well-defined streamers, but in the overlapping faint rays and small streamers, as well. A theoretical interpretation of the observed high degrees of polarization, taking into account the data on coronal brightness, is very difficult. This cannot be done within the scope of spherically symmetric models of the corona; the assumption of a high concentration of coronal matter into the plane of the sky is needed. With the most extreme densities in coronal structures, it is not, however, possible to exceed the observed valuep = 55%. Taking into account the accuracy of the polarization measurements, there are no reasons to reject the Thomson scattering as a basic mechanism to explain the origin of the white-light corona.     

The analysis of four cosmic dust particles

A set of four stratospheric particles was reanalysed. These particles registered in the NASA Cosmic Dust Catalogs (CDCs) were classified in the Houston Johnson Space Center (JSC) as the particles of cosmic origin (C). Present energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectra confirmed previous classification and revealed additional features in the chemical composition of the cosmic dust particles.The particles are extremely fine-grained aggregates with bulk chondritic composition. Somewhat higher content of oxygen may indicate a presence of hydroxide containing minerals in their phase composition.     

Formaldehyde polymers in comets

The possibility that crystalline formaldehyde polymers are present in cometary dust is discussed. In common with most other parent molecules proposed for comets, (H₂CO) _n is difficult to detect, even if it is present in relatively high concentrations. The optical properties of these polymers in the visual and infrared regions are similar to those of silicate grains, and crystalline formaldehyde polymers provide no emission at 6 cm wavelength. The lifetime of gaseous H₂CO in the solar radiation field is too short, and the expected transitions in the microwave region would be too weak to be detected. However, the available data concerning the physical properties of comets indicate that polymerized formaldehyde cannot be ruled out as a major constituent of cometary material.     

Öpik-type collision probability for high-inclination orbits

The classical Öpik theory provides an estimate of the collision probability between two bodies on bound, heliocentric or planetocentric orbits under restrictive assumptions of: (i) constant eccentricity and inclination, and (ii) uniform circulation of the longitude of node and argument of pericenter. These assumptions are violated whenever either of the orbits has a large inclination with respect to the local Laplace plane or large eccentricity, and their motion is perturbed by an exterior (tidal) gravitational field of a planet or the Sun. In this situation, known as the Lidov–Kozai regime, the eccentricity and inclination values exhibit large and correlated oscillations. At the same time, the longitude of node and the argument of pericenter may have strongly nonlinear time evolution, with the latter being even bound to a small interval of values. Here we develop a new Öpik-type collision probability theory which is valid even for highly inclined and/or eccentric orbits of the projectile. We assume that the orbit of the target is circular and in the local Laplace plane. Such a generalized setting is necessary, as an example, to correctly estimate the terrestrial impact fluxes of sporadic micrometeoroids on high-inclination orbits (notably those from the toroidal source and the associated helion and anti-helion arcs).     

Analysis of the time profile of type III bursts at meter wavelengths

The time profile of two sets of isolated type III bursts, observed in the meter wavelength range at the Trieste Astronomical Observatory, was analyzed using a Fourier transform technique in order to accurately determine the decay constant of the exponential phase and to derive the exciter time profile. The decay constant () was found to be correlated with the exciter duration (D _e ), suggesting that the damping of plasma waves is not of collisional origin and confirming results obtained by previous authors at lower frequencies. In particular, two distributions can be identified in the ( – D _e ) plane and fitted by two nearly parallel lines, which could be the signature of different decay processes. Moreover, the damping constant observed at higher frequencies (327 and 408 MHz) has the same dependence on exciter duration as that at the lower frequency (237 MHz), also in disagreement with the collisional hypothesis.