Proton collisions in cosmic ray sources

In this paper we have studied the possible proton collisions in cosmic ray sources. On the basis of our calculations of background temperature, the operational domains of various proton collisions are suggested. The energy rate loss through the photo-neutrino processes on protons is computed and we have discussed the energy distribution of the secondary particles in various collisions.     

On the width distribution of penumbral filaments in sunspots

The mean width and distribution of penumbral filaments of a sunspot have been estimated, using white light photographs obtained with a vacuum, Newtonian type, telescope. Three areas corresponding to the penumbra of a sunspot have been analysed. Data were collected during the solar eclipse of June 1973. The photometric profiles of the Moon limb over the photosphere have been analysed to obtain useful information on both, atmospheric and instrumental perturbation on each exposure. The mean value of the width of penumbral filaments is 0.37 arc sec.Now at INTA-Villafranca, S.T.S., P.O. Box 54065, Madrid, Spain.     

A Comparative Analysis of Ground, Magnetospheric and Interplanetary Observations of Long Period Magnetic Oscillations

Continuous measurements of the geomagnetic field variations at ground stations are important to investigate several aspects of magnetospheric dynamics related to variations in the solar wind conditions which, ultimately, originate from the Sun. We present a comparative analysis of geomagnetic field measurements at several ground stations with simultaneous magnetospheric and interplanetary observations in order to understand the origin and characteristics of the observed fluctuations. The results suggest that long period geomagnetic field fluctuations can be directly driven by solar wind density fluctuations at the same frequencies via the modulation of the magnetopause current. We also discuss the possible occurrence of additional contributions related with cavity/waveguide resonances of the entire magnetosphere as well as those of resonance processes of the geomagnetic field lines.     

Accretion magnetar in the close binary system 4U 2206+54

The magneto-rotational evolution of a neutron star in the massive binary system 4U 2206+54 is discussed in light of the recent discovery of its 5555 s rotational period and its average rate of spin-down. We show that this behavior of the neutron star means that its magnetic field exceeds the quantum mechanical critical limit and it is an accretion magnetar. The system’s evolution is explained by wind driven mass transfer without formation of an accretion disk. The constant character of the x-ray source indicates a steady rate of accretion and raises anew the question of the stability of the boundary of the magnetosphere of a star undergoing spherical accretion. A solution to this problem is also a key to determining the mechanism for the slowing down of the star’s rotation.     

GRB sky distribution puzzles

We analyze the randomness of the sky distribution of cosmic gamma-ray bursts. These events are associated with massive galaxies, spiral or elliptical, and therefore their positions should trace the large-scale structure, which, in turn, could show up in the sky distribution of fluctuations of the cosmicmicrowave background (CMB). We test this hypothesis by mosaic correlation mapping of the distributions of CMB peaks and burst positions, find the distribution of these two signals to be correlated, and interpret this correlation as a possible systematic effect.     

POLE-TO-POLE SOLAR WIND DENSITY FROM ULYSSES RADIO MEASUREMENTS

We present new in situ measurements of solar wind electron density as a function of heliolatitude. The data were obtained on Ulysses during its fast transit from south solar pole to north solar pole, at heliocentric distance about 1.5 AU, near the 1996 solar activity minimum. The density is measured accurately using the method of quasi-thermal noise spectroscopy with the Ulysses radio experiment, at a higher time resolution than the particle analysers on board. At low heliolatitudes (22° S to 21° N) the histogram of our data shows three main classes of flows with densities centered at 3.5, 7, and 12 cm^-3, close to the values previously found by near-ecliptic space probes, in the region where fast coronal hole wind alternates with slower streamer belt wind. Poleward of 22° latitude where Ulysses encountered fast wind coming from coronal holes, the histogram of our data shows a single class of flow centered at 2.9 cm^-3 with a roughly normal distribution. We find a density nearly independent of latitude, with the mean density from the south coronal hole 10% larger than that from the north, which may stem from a genuine north/south asymmetry and/or from the small decrease in solar activity during the time of the observations. We finally compare the data with some analytical models.