Atomic data relevant to line formation in strongly magnetized white dwarf stars

The discovery of magnetic field strengths in the range of 500 million Gauss in the objects Grw+70°8247 and PG1031+224 has given enormous impetus to investigations of magnetic white dwarf stars. We have determined intensities of Balmer transitions for B>10⁸ Gauss as a function of field and find strong oscillations of the transitions strengths, which are of importance to the quantitative analysis of the observed spectra and the interpretation of polarimetric measurements in these objects.Paper presented at the IAU Colloquium No. 93 on Cataclysmic Variables. Recent Multi-Frequency Observations and Theoretical Developments, held at Dr. Remeis-Sternwarte Bamberg, F.R.G., 16–19 June, 1986.     

The interaction of nova shells with the interstellar medium

Decelerations of the shells around the novae V603 Aq1, V476 Cyg, DQ Her and GK Per were determined from photographs and recent CCD observations. The deceleration is larger for higher expansion velocities, the mean half-lifetime, after which the expansion velocity has dropped to half its initial value, is 75 years.Based on observations obtained at the European Southern Observatory, La Silla, Chile, and at the Centro Astronomico Hispano-Aleman Calar Alto, operated by the Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie, HeidelbergPaper presented at the IAU Colloquium No. 93 on Cataclysmic Variables. Recent Multi-Frequency Observations and Theoretical Developments, held at Dr. Remeis-Sternwarte Bamberg, F.R.G., 16–19 June, 1986.     

Ultraviolet solar irradiance measurement from 200 to 358 nm during spacelab 1 mission

The paper presents the results obtained from the UV-spectrometer of the Solar Spectrum Experiment during the Spacelab 1 mission in December 1983. The irradiance data concern 492 passbands, which are located between 200 and 358 nm at almost equidistant wavelengths separated by about 0.3 nm. The passbands have a well-defined, bell-shaped profile with a full width at half maximum of about 1.3 nm. The data, which have an error budget between 4 and 5%, agree closely with the spectral distributions observed by Heath (1980) and Mentall et al. (1981) and confirm that the solar irradiance and the fluxes of Sun-like stars show about the same spectral distribution down to at least 240 nm.     

Spectroscopy of CN Orionis

Two outbursts and a minimum phase of the dwarf nova CN Orionis have been observed spectroscopically. One outburst was covered almost completely. The outburst spectra show periodic variations of the absorption lines which are interpreted with the formation of an elliptic disc during outburst stage. During decline from outburst a narrow emission line appears in the core of the broad H absorption line. The balmer decrement in the outburst phase is much steeper than in the minimum phase. This implies that during the outburst the emission line region is located more outward in the disk. The semi amplitude of the radial velocity curve was determined to K1=152 km/s±10 km/s. Using the photometric orbital period and an assumption about the inclination angle the approximate system parameters could be derived.Based on observations colleted at the European Southern Observatory, La Silla, Chile and at Mount Stromlo Observatory, Canberra, Australia.Paper presented at the IAU Colloquium No. 93 on Cataclysmic Variables. Recent Multi-Frequency Observations and Theoretical Developments, held at Dr. Remeis-Sternwarte Bamberg, F.R.G., 16–19 June, 1986.     

Nuclear reactions on accreting neutron star surface

The production of X-rays and gamma-rays in bursts is believed to be due to the rapid burning of matter accreted onto a neutron star surface from its companion, most probably a giant star. The accreted matter consists mainly of hydrogen and helium and a very small amount of heavy elements. Due to the infall of matter, the temperature at the bottom layers is raised to a value of the order of 10⁸ K. The neutron star surface density is>10⁷ g cm^–3. As hydrogen burning is a slow process under any temperature and density conditions, we consider the helium-burning reactions as the source of gamma-rays in the neutron star surface. Under high-density conditions the ordinary laboratory reaction rates should become modified. At high-density conditions, the strong screening effect due to the polarising cloud of electrons around the ions become important and enhances the reaction rates considerably. The helium-burning reactions are calculated under such conditions. The abundances of helium-burning products such as¹²C, 1¹⁶O, and²⁰Ne, etc., are computed. Under high-density and temperature conditions carbon is found to be more abundant than oxygen. Neon is completely absent in almost all the relevant physical conditions in which a strong screening effect is operative. It is suggested that explosive burning of accreted helium of 10^–13 M will account for the observed energy of gamm-ray burst.     

The wadic project: A comprehensive field evaluation of directional wave instrumentation

The results of a comprehensive field trial of nearly all commercially available directional wave measurement systems at the Edda field in the North Sea during winter 1985-86 are presented. The results summarize the accuracy of the principal engineering wave parameters from each system and the dependence on sea state. Limiting factors on system performance and operational problems are also included in the assessment. Overall experience has been good with systems utilizing widely different measurement principles returning consistent results.     

The impact of wave loads and pore-water pressure generation on initiation of sediment transport

The build-up of pore-water pressure by waves can lead to sediment liquefaction and subsequent transport by traction currents. This process was investigated by measuring pore-water pressures both in a field experiment and laboratory wave tank tests. Liquefaction was observed in the wave tank tests. The results suggest that sand is less susceptible than silts to wave-induced liquefaction because of the tendency to partially dissipate pore-water pressures. However, previous studies have determined that pore-water pressures must approach liquefaction before current velocities necessary to initiate transport are reduced. Once liquefaction has occurred more sediment can be transported.     

Powder- and single crystal Mössbauer spectroscopy on synthetic fayalite

Mössbauer measurements on synthetic iron orthosilicate Fe₂SiO₄ (fayalite) were carried out in the antiferromagnetic spin state below T _N 65 K. The Mössbauer parameters isomer shift , inner magnetic field H(0), angle between H(0) and the z-component of the electric field gradient (efg), quadrupole splitting QS and asymmetry parameter were determined as a function of temperature. These parameters could be attributed to the two crystallographic sites M1 and M2.The smaller isomer shift on M1 with respect to M2 displays the more covalent character of the Fe-O bond on M1, which is supported by previous neutron diffraction experiments. H(0) shows a Brillouin-type behaviour with different fields on the two crystallographic sites (stronger on M1) and a small discontinuity at T = 23 K which corresponds with previous magnetic measurements. The quadrupole splitting is equal on both sites within error bars, in agreement with previous theoretical results and in contradiction to previous Mössbauer refinements published elsewhere.