Anomalous frequency dependence of scattering of the radio emission from the Crab pulsar

The frequency dependence of scattering of the radio emission from the Crab pulsar at the low frequencies 111, 63, and 44 MHz has been measured and analyzed during sporadic enhancements of scattering and dispersion measure in October–December 2006 and December 2008. The frequency dependence of the scattering differs from the generally accepted dependence, τ _sc (ν) ∝ ν ^γ , where γ = −4.0 for Gaussian and γ = −4.4 for power-law Kolmogorov distributions of inhomogeneities of the scattering medium. In intervals of enhancement, the exponent of the frequency dependence γ decreased to −3.2(0.2) at the above frequencies. A model is proposed in which this is due to the presence of a dense plasma structure in the nebula in the line of sight toward the pulsar, in which scattering of the radio emission on turbulence differs from scattering in the interstellar medium. It is shown that the frequency dependence of scattering of the radio emission can be weaker in a dense plasma than in the rarefied interstellar medium.     

The first results of U/Pb dating and isotope geochemical studies of detrital zircons from the neoproterozoic sandstones of the Southern Timan (Djejim-Parma Hill)

This report presents the first results of U/Pb dating, isotope-geochemical, and geochemical studies of detrital zircons from the Neoproterozoic clastic rocks of the Southern Timan. Sixty-one zircon grains were treated, including 51 from red-colored sandstones and 10 grains from aleurosandstones of the Djejim Formation of the southern Chetlas-Djejim zone (Djejim-Parma Hill). It was found that the U/Pb-ages of zircons from the rocks of the Djejim Formation, varied from ∼2.97 to ∼1.20 Ga. The studies of microelement composition in 47 grains (of 61 U/Pb isotope ages obtained), on the basis of several empirical regularities found formerly, show that the detrital zircons had originated from “granites” (22 grains), “diorites” (12 grains), or their volcanic analogues, or more rarely, from “syenites” and “basites” (5 and 8 grains, respectively). The Lu/Hf isotope system of zircons allows one to estimate the model ages (T _DM^C) of the substrate magmatic rocks being parental to the zircons considered. In particular, Archean zircons are characterized by ∼2.84–3.36 Ga model ages of magmaforming rocks. For some of the grains, their model ages (∼2.84 Ga) are close to those of zircons as such (∼2.7–2.8 Ga), which points to the juvenile character of the substrate from which the parent magma of the zircons treated was fused. For Proterozoic (to Middle Riphean) zircons, the Lu/Hf isotope system allows one to estimate the model age of the substrate of their parental rocks within ∼2.00–3.36 Ga, which shows that these rocks were formed under the recycling of the Archean and Early-Proterozoic crust. The ages obtained for detrital zircons, as well as model ages of the substrate of the corresponding parental magmatic rocks, are quite comparable to the age of crystalline complexes of the ancient framework of the East European Platform (EEP), formed in the course of the Archean, Early-Proterozoic, and Early-Middle Riphean tectonomagmatic events. This permits us to conclude that the Neoproterozoic detrital complexes of the Timan were formed owing to the erosion of earlier Neoproterozoic and Early Precambrian complexes constituting the Neoproterozoic Baltica continent, presenting complexes of the passive margin of this continent. A variety of ages of detrital zircons from sandstones and aleurosandstones from the Djejim Formation of Djejim-Parma Hill, and of the estimates of magmatic rocks parental to these zircons, may be characterized as a Baltic Provenance signal.     

“Hot” particles of the Yenisei River: Radioisotope composition,structure, and behavior in natural conditions

The radioisotope compositions, structure, and behavior of “hot” particles under the natural conditions of the Yenisei River in the nearby influence zone of Krasnoyarsk mining and chemical combine were examined in this study. By the composition of gamma-radiating isotopes, all particles are divided into three groups: mono-isotopic, bi-isotopic and poly-isotopic. Mono-isotopic “hot” particles, containing only ⁶⁰Co were discovered for the first time. Transuranium elements (²⁴¹Am and ²⁴³Cm) were revealed in poly-isotopic particles. Investigation of poly-isotopic particles by means of a scan electron microscope showed that the presence of UO₂ together with the lack of activation of ¹⁵²Eu testifies to the reactor origin of this particle. Experiments showed that in natural conditions “hot” particles under the influence of filtrating water and moisture of pore solutions are gradually dissolved and radionuclides are repeatedly drawn into migration.     

The regularities in the structural group composition of high-molecular heteroatomic petroleum components

We generalized experimental data on the structural group composition and macrostructural characteristics of high-molecular compounds (HMCs)—hydrocarbons, resins, and asphaltenes—from more than 180 crude oil samples extracted from different oil fields of Eurasia. Most of oil resin molecules contain 1–3 structural blocks, each consisting of 0–3 aromatic and 0–5 naphthenic rings in different combinations, with the total number of rings in each block not exceeding 5–6. The average molecular weights of resins are no more than 100–1500 a.m.u. Asphaltenes differ from resins from the same source in the larger number of structural blocks (mainly tri- or tetracyclic aromatic) in molecule (up to five), lower degrees of substitution of aromatic cores, and smaller portions of carbon atoms in saturated fragments. The average molecular weights of asphaltenes measured by naphthalene cryoscopy do not exceed 2500 a.m.u. Owing to intermolecular interactions, HMCs form various associates and polymolecular particles, including quasi-crystalline “batches” and multibatch aggregates. Spontaneous disintegration and formation of such particles make the oils dynamically equilibrium polydisperse systems. We have developed the main regularities of compositional and structural changes of HMCs depending on the depth of occurrence, age, and lithologic composition of oil-bearing deposits. Being chemically labile heteroatomic substances, petroleum HMCs are more rapidly subjected to compositional and structural transformations than hydrocarbons, i.e., are more responsive to changes in strata conditions.     

Sub-parsec structure of binary supermassive black holes in active galactic nuclei

Long-term, multi-frequency monitoring of the radio fluxes of the four BL Lac objects 3C 120, OJ 287, 1308+326, and BL Lac is considered. Harmonic components of the flux variability on scales from one year to decades are determined. The observational data used were obtained at the Radio Astronomy Laboratory of the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory (Ukraine) and the University of Michigan Radio Astronomy Observatory (USA). These data are used to construct kinematic models for active galactic nuclei using values for the orbital and precessional periods of binary systems consisting of supermassive black holes. The derived speeds of the companions in their orbits lie in the narrow range 3000–4000 km/s. The orbital radii for the binary supermassive black holes also lie in a narrow range, 10¹⁷–10¹⁸ cm, providing evidence that observed prominent examples of active galactic nuclei are fairly close binary systems. The parameters of the mediumin which the components of the binary systems are moving are estimated, as well as the rates at which the systems are losing orbital angular momentum and their lifetimes to coalescence.     

Supermassive black holes in interacting galaxies

The possible influence of galactic interaction on the formation and growth of supermassive black holes in their nuclei and the dynamics of their circumnuclear regions are considered, based on new data from the updated Vorontsov-Velyaminov catalog of interacting galaxies and modern estimates of the masses of supermassive black holes. A sample of interacting galaxies with known black-hole masses is created, and the dependence of the masses of the central black holes on the absolute B magnitudes and central stellar velocity dispersions in the host galaxy derived for this sample. A statistical analysis of the sample shows that the black-hole masses in interacting galaxies satisfy the same mass-velocity dispersion relation as non-interacting galaxies. A higher mass dispersion is characteristic of merging pairs than for galaxies that interact in other ways. The maximum masses of the central black holes are observed in radio galaxies.     

Rare-metal granitoids of the Ulug-Tanzek deposit (Eastern Tyva): Age and tectonic setting

Doklady Earth Sciences -