Fluctuational mechanism of formation of proton vortices in the “npe” phase of a neutron star

The superfluid core (“npe” phase) of a neutron star, consisting of superfluid neutrons, superconducting protons, and normal electrons, is considered. The Gibbs thermodynamic potential of a superconducting proton vortex in a proton superconductor of the second kind, interacting with the normal core of a neutron vortex of radius r ≪ λ parallel to it (λ is the depth of penetration), is calculated. It is shown that under this assumption, the capture by the core of only one vortex turns out to be energetically favored. The force exerted on the proton vortex by the entrainment current, always directed toward the core, is found. The corresponding force for a proton antivortex is directed outward toward the outer boundary of the neutron vortex. It is shown that the fluctuational formation of a vortex-antivortex pair is possible at a large distance from the core under the action of the entrainment current. Under the action of the entrainment current, the antivortex travels outward, while the vortex remains inside the neutron vortex. It is shown that the formation of new proton vortices is possible only in the region in which the entrainment magnetic field strength is H(ρ) > H_cl (H_cl is the first critical field). Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 42, No. 2, pp. 225–234, April–June, 1999     

A deep seismic profile of 800 km length recorded in southern Queensland, Australia

Summary. In 1984, the Australian Bureau of Mineral Resources and the Geological Survey of Queensland recorded a regional seismic reflection profile of over 800 km length from the eastern part of the Eromanga Basin to the Beenleigh Block east of the Clarence Moreton Basin. A relatively transparent upper crustal basement with an underlying, more reflective lower crust is characteristic of much of the region. Prominent westerly dipping reflectors occur well below the sediments of the eastern margin of the Clarence Moreton Basin and the adjacent Beenleigh Block, and provide some of the most interesting features of the entire survey. A wide angle reflection/refraction survey of 192 km length and an expanding reflection spread of 25 km length were recorded across the Nebine Ridge. The only clear deep reflectors are interpreted as P-to-SV or SV-to-P converted reflections from a mid-crustal boundary at a depth of about 17 km. The combined Nebine Ridge data provide well-constrained P and S wave velocity models of the upper crust, and suggest a crustal structure quite different from that beneath the adjacent Mesozoic basins.     

Heliospheric Observations of STEREO-Directed Coronal Mass Ejections in 2008?–?2010: Lessons for Future Observations of Earth-Directed CMEs

We present a study of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) which impacted one of the STEREO spacecraft between January 2008 and early 2010. We focus our study on 20 CMEs which were observed remotely by the Heliospheric Imagers (HIs) onboard the other STEREO spacecraft up to large heliocentric distances. We compare the predictions of the Fixed-?? and Harmonic Mean (HM) fitting methods, which only differ by the assumed geometry of the CME. It is possible to use these techniques to determine from remote-sensing observations the CME direction of propagation, arrival time and final speed which are compared to in-situ measurements. We find evidence that for large viewing angles, the HM fitting method predicts the CME direction better. However, this may be due to the fact that only wide CMEs can be successfully observed when the CME propagates more than 100^° from the observing spacecraft. Overall eight CMEs, originating from behind the limb as seen by one of the STEREO spacecraft can be tracked and their arrival time at the other STEREO spacecraft can be successfully predicted. This includes CMEs, such as the events on 4 December 2009 and 9 April 2010, which were viewed 130^° away from their direction of propagation. Therefore, we predict that some Earth-directed CMEs will be observed by the HIs until early 2013, when the separation between Earth and one of the STEREO spacecraft will be similar to the separation of the two STEREO spacecraft in 2009??C?2010.     

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.