The X-ray Emission and the Magnetic Fields of Late-Type Stars

We present the results of X-ray luminosities of some active late-type stars, based on data primarily from the ROSAT position sensitive proportional counter (PSPC). According to the observations, we divide the stars into four groups: single, wide binary, binary and RS CVn. We investigated the correlation between the X-ray emission and the hardness ratio, coronal temperature, magnetic field strength, magnetic flux density. Our results suggest that the magnetic field plays a very important role in stellar X-ray emission.     

The origin of the CN radical in comets: A review from observations and models

The origin of CN radicals in comets is not completely understood so far. We present a study of CN and HCN production rates and CN Haser scale lengths showing that: (1) at heliocentric distances larger than 3 AU, CN radicals could be entirely produced by HCN photolysis; (2) closer to the Sun, for a fraction of comets CN production rates are higher than HCN ones whereas (3) in the others, CN distribution cannot be explained by the HCN photolysis although CN and HCN production rates seem to be similar. Thus, when the comets are closer than 3 AU to the Sun, an additional process to the HCN photolysis seems to be required to explain the CN density in some comets.The photolysis of HC₃N or C₂N₂ could explain the CN origin. But the HC₃N production rate is probably too low to reproduce CN density profile, even if uncertainties on its photolysis leave the place for all possible conclusions. The presence of C₂N₂ in comets is a reliable hypothesis to explain the CN origin; thus, its detection is a challenging issue. Since C₂N₂ is very difficult to detect from ground-based observations, only in situ measurements or space observations could determine the contribution of this compound in the CN origin.Another hypothesis is a direct production of CN radicals by the photo- or thermal degradation of complex refractory organic compounds present on cometary grains. This process could explain the spatial profile of CN inside jets and the discrepancy noted in the isotopic ratio ¹⁴N/¹⁵N between CN and HCN. Laboratory studies of the thermal and UV-induced degradation of solid nitrogenated compounds are required to model and validate this hypothesis.     

H3 as a trap for noble gases: 1—The case of Argon

The possibility of H₃⁺ playing a role as a sink for noble gases has been investigated in the case of Argon. Elaborate quantum methods (ab initio Coupled Cluster and density functional BH&HLYP levels of theory) have been shown to reproduce the rotational constants within 0.3% together with the only known IR frequency on the test case of Ar…D₃⁺. Dissociation energies of (Ar)_n…H₃⁺ as a function of cluster size, i.e. 7.2 (n=1), 3.7 (n=2), 3.6 (n=3), 1.6 (n=4), 1.7 (n=5) kcal/mol, follow the pattern established experimentally for (Ar)_n…H₃⁺ and (H₂)_n…H₃⁺ series. Rotational constants and harmonic frequencies of (Ar)_n…H₃⁺ (n=1-3) are presented.     

Peak metamorphic temperatures in type 6 ordinary chondrites: An evaluation of pyroxene and plagioclase geothermometry

Abstract— Quantifying the peak temperatures achieved during metamorphism is critical for understanding the thermal histories of ordinary chondrite parent bodies. Various geothermometers have been used to estimate equilibration temperatures for chondrites of the highest metamorphic grade (type 6), but results are inconsistent and span hundreds of degrees. Because different geothermometers and calibration models were used with different meteorites, it is unclear whether variations in peak temperatures represent actual ranges of metamorphic conditions within type 6 chondrites or differences in model calibrations. We addressed this problem by performing twopyroxene geothermometry, using QUILF95, on the same type 6 chondrites for which peak temperatures were estimated using the plagioclase geothermometer (Nakamuta and Motomura 1999). We also calculated temperatures for published pyroxene analyses from other type 6 H, L, and LL chondrites to determine the most representative peak metamorphic temperatures for ordinary chondrites. Pyroxenes record a narrow, overlapping range of temperatures in H6 (865–926 °C), L6 (812–934 °C), and LL6 (874–945 °C) chondrites. Plagioclase temperature estimates are 96–179 °C lower than pyroxenes in the same type 6 meteorites. Plagioclase estimates may not reflect peak metamorphic temperatures because chondrule glass probably recrystallized to plagioclase prior to reaching the metamorphic peak. The average temperature for H, L, and LL chondrites (～900 °C), which agrees with previously published oxygen isotope geothermometry, is at least 50 °C lower than the peak temperatures used in current asteroid thermal evolution models. This difference may require minor adjustments to thermal model calculations.     

Studying Hydrodynamic Instability Using Shock-Tube Experiments

The hydrodynamic instability, which develops on the contact surface between two fluids, has great importance in astrophysical phenomena such as the inhomogeneous density distribution following a supernova event. In this event acceleration waves pass across a material interface and initiate and enhance unstable conditions in which small perturbations grow dramatically. In the present study, an experimental technique aimed at investigating the above-mentioned hydrodynamic instability is presented. The experimental investigation is based on a shock-tube apparatus by which a shock wave is generated and initiates the instability that develops on the contact surface between two gases. The flexibility of the system enables one to vary the initial shape of the contact surface, the shock-wave Mach number, and the density ratio across the contact surface. Three selected sets of shock-tube experiments are presented in order to demonstrate the system capabilities: (1) large-initial amplitudes with low-Mach-number incident shock waves; (2) small-initial amplitudes with moderate-Mach-number incident shock waves; and (3) shock bubble interaction. In the large-amplitude experiments a reduction of the initial velocity with respect to the linear growth prediction was measured. The results were compared to those predicted by a vorticity-deposition model and to previous experiments with moderate- and high-Mach number incident shock waves that were conducted by others. In this case, a reduction of the initial velocity was noted. However, at late times the growth rate had a 1/t behavior as in the small-amplitude low-Mach number case. In the small-amplitude moderate-Mach number shock experiments a reduction from the impulsive theory was noted at the late stages. The passage of a shock wave through a spherical bubble results in the formation of a vortex ring. Simple dimensional analysis shows that the circulation depends linearly on the speed of sound of the surrounding material and on the initial bubble radius.     

Mass composition of the escaping plasma at Mars

Data from the Ion Mass Analyzer (IMA) sensor of the ASPERA-3 instrument suite on Mars Express have been analyzed to determine the mass composition of the escaping ion species at Mars. We have examined 77 different ion-beam events and we present the results in terms of flux ratios between the following ion species: CO⁺₂/O⁺ and O⁺₂/O⁺. The following ratios averaged over all events and energies were identified: CO⁺₂/O⁺ = 0.2 and O⁺₂/O⁺ = 0.9. The values measured are significantly higher, by a factor of 10 for O⁺₂/O⁺, than a contemporary modeled ratio for the maximum fluxes which the martian ionosphere can supply. The most abundant ion species was found to be O⁺, followed by O⁺₂ and CO⁺₂. We estimate the loss of CO⁺₂ to be by using the previous measurements of Phobos-2 in our calculations. The dependence of the ion ratios in relation to their energy ranges we studied, 0.3-3.0 keV, indicated that no clear correlation was found.     

Theoretical survey of the NH+CH3 potential energy surface in relation to Titan atmospheric chemistry

This paper looks at the possibilities opened by reaction of NH with methyl radical. A general survey of the potential surface by ab initio Möller-Plesset (MP2) and density functional theory has been performed, including determination of transition states on the pathways considered and vibrational analysis of all stationary points. Energetical data have been obtained using coupled cluster molecular orbital methods (CCSD(T)). It is shown that HCN is not formed from these starting reactants, but that CH₂NH, a possible precursor of tholins and of prebiotic compounds through hydration is the major product.     

Near-infrared identification of the counterpart to X1908+075: a new OB-supergiant X-ray binary

We report the near-infrared (near-IR) identification of the likely counterpart to X1908+075, a highly absorbed Galactic X-ray source recently suspected to belong to the rare class of OB supergiant–neutron star binary systems. Our JHK_s -band imaging of the field reveals the existence within the X-ray error boxes of a near-IR source consistent with an early-type star lying at   d ∼ 7 kpc  and suffering   A_V ∼ 16 mag  of extinction, the latter value being in good agreement with the hydrogen column density derived from modelling of the X-ray spectrum. Our follow-up, near-IR spectroscopic observations confirm the nature of this candidate and lead to a late O-type supergiant classification, thereby supporting the identification of a new Galactic OB-supergiant X-ray binary.