A Photometric Investigation of the Eclipsing System OO Aql

The paper is concerning with the light curve analysis of an active binary system of OO Aql. Basic orbital and physical parameters of this system were estimated by analysing photometric observations by Lafta and Grainger (1985) and Essam et al. (1992). Both groups of observations gave quite different light curves with a conspicuous asymmetry arising from unequal height of successive maxima. A slightly changed programme by Djuraevi (1992a) was applied. The programme was based on the Roche model and it included an option of overcontact configuration and active (bright or dark) spotted regions on the system's components. An inverse-problem method by Djuraevi (1992b) was used to estimate the parameters of the system and active regions. The light-curve analysis suggested a significant change in the system. For Lafta and Grainger's light curves our analysis showed the presence of a dark spotted area near the polar region of the primary component. This dark area covered about 22% of the primary's hemisphere. Essam et al.'s light curves had very complex shape. In this case the mechanism of the mass transfer and the exchange of the thermal energy between the components could produce a bright-spot (bs) area on the secondary, near the Lagrange equilibrium point L₁ around the neck region between the stars. To explain a sharp increase of the system's brightness in the B filter immediately after the secondary minimum, we had to introduce also a hot-spot (hs) area of a high temperature contrast on the secondary. With the increase of the brightness in the V-filter being of much lower intensity, this hot spot region could be taken as a local eruption. The behaviour of the B–V colour index with the orbital phase is in favour of this hypothesis also. The obtained results show that the light-curve changes are due to development and moving of active spot regions on the components.     

Gamma-ray bursts from stellar remnants: probing the Universe at high redshift

A gamma-ray burst (GRB) releases an amount of energy similar to that of a supernova explosion, which combined with its rapid variability suggests an origin related to neutron stars or black holes. Since these compact stellar remnants form from the most massive stars not long after their birth, GRBs should trace the star formation rate in the Universe; we show that the GRB flux distribution is consistent with this. Because of the strong evolution of the star formation rate with redshift, it follows that the dimmest known bursts have z  ∼ 6, much above the value usually quoted and beyond the most distant quasars. This explains the absence of bright galaxies in well-studied GRB error boxes. The increased distances imply a peak luminosity of 8.3 × 10⁵¹ erg s⁻¹ and a rate density of 0.025 per million years per galaxy. These values are 20 times higher and 150 times lower, respectively, than are implied by fits with non-evolving GRB rates. This means either that GRBs are caused by a much rarer phenomenon than mergers of binary neutron stars, or that their gamma-ray emission is often invisible to us due to beaming. Precise burst locations from optical transients will discriminate between the various models for GRBs from stellar deaths, because the distance between progenitor birth place and burst varies greatly among them. The dimmest GRBs are then the most distant known objects, and may probe the Universe at an age when the first stars were forming.     

A comment on determining the induced magnetic field in bodies of arbitrary shape

Summary The authors prove that the solution of Laplace's equation under Neumann's boundary conditions can be transformed to an advantage into determining the field which is generated by charges, induced by the external field at surfaces of discontinuity.     

The effect of the irregularities of the shape of the Earth's core-mantle boundary on the observed acceleration of gravity

Summary The disturbing gravitational effect of the irregularities of the shape of the coremantle boundary are studied at a point on the Earth's surface. The effect is computed for models of local and zonal distribution of the disturbing masses under the assumption that the total mass of the Earth remains constant. Formulae giving the disturbing gravitational effect as a function of the distribution of the disturbing masses and of the position of the point of observation on the Earth's surface are derived for the individual models. Numerical values of the disturbances have been calculate in all cases.     

Relation between the extreme angular and areal distortion in cartographic representation

Summary The paper presents the method of deriving representations, optimal from the point of view of global characteristics, for areal and extreme angular distortion (3), (7), if one is optional and the other characteristic is minimized at the same time. If a special minimization method (Section 5) is used for computer processing, the problem can be solved in the region of representation equations in the form of polynomials of the 3rd or 5th degree, while assuming symmetry relative to the equator and the central meridian. Thus, the method enables both the fundamental global characteristics to be regulated freely. Their dependence is illustrated in graphs (Figs 2 and 6) depending on the selected examples of representations of the whole globe. The latter shows that method is a contribution for cartographic practice as well.     

Changes of anisotropy of the magnetic susceptibility of rocks induced by a magnetic field

Summary The changes of the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility of igneous rocks, induced by a magnetic field, are studied. It is proved that changes in the degree of anisotropy of susceptibility and of the orientation of the susceptibility ellispoid of specimens occur due to the configuration of the domain structure under the effect of the magnetic field. The influence of this effect on the total anisotropy of rocks depends on the degree of anisotropy due to the shape factor and on the stability of the domain structure. A model concept is presented, explaining the qualitatively different pattern of the changes of the anisotropy of susceptibility under the effect of the magnetic field in various directions of the specimens.     

An algorithm for the minimum-length least-squares solution of a set of observation equations

Summary A new computer-oriented algorithm GSO is presented for solving overdetermined systems of linear observation equations according to the principle of the least-squares method. The matrix of the system of observation equations may be of deficient rank. In this case the algorithm leads to the vector of unknowns with a minimum Euclidean norm. Alternatively, it is possible to minimize the norm of a subvector formed by a selected group of unknowns. The weight coefficient matrix, corresponding to the vector (subvector) of unknows, has the least possible trace. The algorithm GSO is based on the Gram-Schmidt Orthogonalization of suitably defined augmented matrices. The establishing and solving of normal equations is not necessary. Apart from the unknowns and residuals, GSO also determines the factorized weight coefficient matrices of the adjusted values.Presented at the I.A.G. International Symposium on Optimization of Design and Computation of Control Networks, Sopron, Hungary 1977.     

On characteristic frequencies of a five-component model of magnetospheric plasma

Summary The author gives more general relations derived for characteristic frequencies of a more complex plasma model. One may assume that expressions derived herein, represent a more appropriate approximation of reality, especially in regions of ionospheric and magnetospheric plasma with a higher concentration of heavy ions.     

Magnitude scale structure from filtered broadbandP-wave records

A series of Hokkaido events, recorded by the FBV Broadband Seismograph System at the KHC Seismic Station, is used to study the structure of the earthquake magnitude scale on the basis of maximum velocity amplitudesA _vmax of teleseismicPwaves in different period bands. Amplitude-periodband (APB) diagrams are constructed for each event. According to the shape of the APB diagrams the events investigated can be divided into three types: (a) events with largestA _vmax values in the intermediate period range (periods ofA _vmax from 2.2 to 23 sec), (b) events with largestA _vmax values in the short-period range (periods ofA _vmax from 1 to 2 sec), (c) events exhibiting anomalous APB diagrams. Type (a) events seem to represent the process of wave generation that prevails for shallow earthquakes. Type (b) events approach to explosive-like generation of seismic waves. The nature of the exceptionally occurring type (c) events must be clarified in further investigations. The influence of the type of earthquake on the magnitude values estimated on the basis of standard class A and B (short-period and intermediate-band) seismograms is demonstrated. It appears that for estimating correct values of earthquake magnitudes complementary information on the process of seismic wave generation in the focus is necessary. At teleseismic distances this information can be obtained from either APB diagrams or amplitude spectra ofP waves recorded, e.g., by broadband velocity sensing instruments.     

Electrical conductivity of rocks in the heating and cooling cycle

Summary The values of the electrical conductivity, recorded during the heating and cooling cycle, of eclogites and basalts are compared. The observed difference in the values is explained by reversible and irreversible changes which take place in the samples.