Electric Discharges in the Protoplanetary Nebula as a Source of Impulse Magnetic Fields to Promote Dust Aggregation

Lightning discharge generated in the protoplanetary nebula is viewed as a temporally isolated surge in the flow of electrically charged particles, similar to that of terrestrial lightning. If the current is intense enough, a powerful circular impulse magnetic field is generated around the instantaneous virtual electric conductor. Such magnetic field is capable of magnetizing dust grains containing ferromagnetic components present in its vicinity to their saturation levels. As a result, dust grains attract one another, forming the aggregates. This magnetically driven attraction suggests an important process possibly operational at an early stage of the planetary accretion. Based on both a classical model for electric conductor, and the theory of Lienard–Wiechert electromagnetic potentials, our calculations show that the magnetic impulse due to a discharge channel of a few cm in diameter transferring a charge of about 10⁴ electrons reaches as high as 10 T. At these magnetic fields, the ferromagnetic dust grains, and possibly the already-formed larger aggregates as well, are easily magnetized to the saturation levels, producing compact clusters exhibiting permanent magnetic moments.     

Two-Parametric Families of Orbits and Multiseparability of Planar Potentials

Combining the results of the inverse problem of dynamics with the theory of multiseparability of planar potentials, we find biparametric families of orbits, whose existence guarantees the multiseparability of the potential. We also study the allowed regions of the plane, where these orbits are traced.     

RXTE observations of the transient sources IGR J17091-3624 and IGR J18539+0727

We present the results of our analysis of the RXTE observations for two transient sources, IGR J17091-3624 and IGR J18539+0727, in April 2003. The derived energy spectra of the sources and the power-density spectra of their light curves make it possible to classify them as low/hard-state X-ray binaries. The parameters of the power spectrum for IGR J18539+0727 lead us to tentatively conclude that the compact object in this binary is a black hole.     

A Solution of Einstein's Field Equations fora Tachyonic Gas: Possible Astrophysical Applications

In this paper we show that a change in the signs of some of the metric components of the solution of the field equations for the classical cosmic string results in a solution which we interpret as a time-dependent wall composed of tachyons. We show that the walls have the property of focusing the paths of particles which pass through them. As an illustration of this focusing, we demonstrate the results of a simple simulation of the interaction between one such tachyon wall and a rotating disk of point masses. This interaction leads to the temporary formation of spiral structures. These spiral structures exist for a time on the order of one galactic rotation. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A Model of the Spraying of Drops from the Molten Surface of a Meteoroid in the Process of Ablation

An additional investigation has been carried out of the rational model (Aslanov, 2000) of the separation of drops from the tops of the unstable wave formation on the molten surface of a meteoroid. The ratio of the wavelength of unstable hydrodynamic disturbances to the diameter of drops has been calculated in a mathematically closed form. Particular theoretical estimates of the size of the region of spraying of molten drops agree with prevailing sizes given in the known classification of the forms of meteoroid fragmentation.     

Chemical Enrichment of the Intra-Cluster Medium

We investigate the metal enrichment of the intra-cluster medium by using a method that combines N-Body simulations and a semi-analytic model (SAM) of galaxy formation. The cluster of galaxies is simulated in a flat, low density universe, with a numerical resolution that allows the detection of substructures in the dark matter background of the cluster. The phenomenological approach used to model the physical processes involved in the galaxy formation and metal production is applied to the substructures found in the dark matter halos detected at different redshifts. Details of the chemical implementation in the SAM and first results related to the mean properties of the baryonic matter components are presented. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.