On the difference in darkness between sunspots

The effects of the magnetic field as well as the velocity field on sunspot equilibrium are discussed. The gas pressure difference, P, between a spot and the environments in the same horizontal layer is primarily determined by the magnetic field. Using recent model atmospheres we find that P shows a maximum value, P _max, at a depth of 650 ± 150 km below the photosphere. The value of P _max suggests that the curvature of the field lines is important for the equilibrium.It appears that, at an optical depth of unity in the umbra, the density has a value close to that of the environment at the same geometric depth (see Figure 4). If such is the case the expression for the umbra temperature (Equation (15)) may be considerably simplified (Equations (17) and (18)) and compared with observations.     

Infrared imaging of Jupiter in the 8–14-micrometer spectral region

High spatial resolution images of Jupiter were produced on the Hale 200-in. telescope in August 1974 and October 1975. A programmable wobbling secondary was used to raster scan the planet with 64 by 64 1-arsec pixels. Images were made with broadband (8–14 μm) and several 1- and 2-μm wide filters. All images reveal a belt and zone structure similar to visible pjotographs. Belts, in the broadband data, appear to be about 2°K hotter than the zones, but contrast varies markedly in different parts of the 8–14-μm spectral region. The lowest belt-zone contrast is found in the hydrogen opacity dominated region at 12.5 μm, while images at 9.5 μm exhibit the greatest contrast. Isolated areas are observed to be as much as 4°K hotter than surrounding areas at 9.5 μm. This large contrast is probably due to variations in the distribution of the ammonia clouds in the upper atmosphere.     

On the evolution of low mas binary systems

The evolution of parameters of close binary systems containing a red dwarf (with mass loss) and a condensed star is investigated. The mass loss from the system and asynchronism of the red dwarf rotation are taken into consideration. The calculations show that if the initial mass ratioq ₀2 then during 10⁷ yr the instability of mass loss process arises, and a bright X-ray source forms with luminosity close to the Eddington one. Ifq ₀>2 then during the mass loss phase the bright X-ray source arises twice. The models explain the existence of the forbidden interval of orbital periods and the absence of systems with periods less than 80 min.     

Observations of Cassiopeia A at 20 and 25 MHz with the uran-1 interferometer

The variation in elemental depletions seen in diffuse clouds in the interstellar medium is shown to be consistent with the exposure of grains to weak shocks. Shocks remove a weakly bound layer of amorphous oxide material from refractory cores. Depletions are shown to be the result of the incorporation of elements in refractory cores formed during equilibrium condensation in high temperature sources together with accretion under low (T1000K) temperature conditions. Evidence is presented for the high temperature condensation of CaAlTi grains. In addition to refractory CaAlTi particels, a refractory condensate containing 20% of available Mg, 60% of Si and 90% of Fe is inferred from data on depletions. An amorphous layer with a composition (2MgO) (SiO) condenses on these cores.     

The structure of a type-II supernova remnant G 160.5+2.8 (HB-9) observed at λ=12m

A two-dimensional brightness distribution of the old supernova remnant G 160.5+2.8 (HB-9) has been measured at a frequency of 25 MHz with the T-Shaped UTR-2 radio telescope, with the resolution 29×27. The source has a distinctly pronounced, almost spherical envelope. At the same time, individual features located near the internal boundary of the source are observable.Certain considerations are put forward to validate a suggestion that the brightest feature in the decameter range (maximum at=4^h55^m.3 and =46°.37) might be of an extragalactic origin.From structure considerations, the velocity of the pulsar PSR 0459+47 projected on HB-9 is estimated. The estimate does not contradict the hypothesis of Damasheket al. (1978) concerning a possible genetic relation between HB-9 and PSR 0459+47.     

Bifurcation points in close binary evolution: Medium-mass binaries

The remaining core hydrogen burning lifetime after case B of mass transfer of the secondary (mass gaining) component in a medium mass close binary star is estimated, for mediummass binaries with primaries in the mass range 5M to 9M . From the comparison of this quantity with the helium burning time-scale of the remnant primary a critical mass ratioq _c is derived such that for larger values ofq, mass transfer from the secondary towards the primary starts before the latter has evolved into a white dwarf. Consequences for the advanced stages of medium mass binaries are discussed.     

Vector magnetic field evolution,energy storage,and associated photospheric velocity shear within a flare-productive active region

The evolution of vector photospheric magnetic fields has been studied in concert with photospheric spot motions for a flare-productive active region. Over a three-day period (5–7 April, 1980), sheared photospheric velocity fields inferred from spot motions are compared both with changes in the orientation of transverse magnetic fields and with the flare history of the region. Rapid spot motions and high inferred velocity shear coincide with increased field alignment along the B _L= 0 line and with increased flare activity; a later decrease in velocity shear precedes a more relaxed magnetic configuration and decrease in flare activity. Crude energy estimates show that magnetic reconfiguration produced by the relative velocities of the spots could cause storage of 10³² erg day^–1, while the flares occurring during this time expended 10³¹ erg day^–1.Maps of vertical current density suggest that parallel (as contrasted with antiparallel) currents flow along the stressed magnetic loops. For the active region, a constant-, force-free magnetic field (J = B) at the photosphere is ruled out by the observations.Presently located at NASA/MSFC, Huntsville, Ala. 35812, U.S.A.     

Cosmic ray intensity variations and two types of high speed solar streams

This study deals with the short-term variations of cosmic ray intensity during the interval 1973–78. Daily means of high latitude neutron and meson monitors from the same station and those of a low latitude neutron monitor have been analysed using the Chree method of superposed epochs. The zero epoch for the Chree analyses corresponds to the day of a substantial increase (V 200 km s^–1) in the solar wind speed to values of 550 km s^–1 and which persists at such high values for an interval of at least three days. The investigation reveals the existence of two types of cosmic ray intensity variations with distinctly different spectral characteristics. During the interval 1973–76, relative changes in the neutron and meson monitor rates are nearly equal indicating an almost flat rigidity spectrum of variation. During 1977–78, however, the spectrum acquires a negative spectral character similar to that observed for Forbush decreases. We suggest that events of the interval 1973–76 are essentially due to high speed streams associated with solar coronal holes and that events of the interval 1977–78 are due to fast streams from solar active regions with flare activity.