Butterfly diagrams of strongly spotted late type stars

At present, long-term (over 30 years) multicolor photometric observations give the possibility to determine general properties of spotted areas on late-type stars. Star-spot modeling from broadband photometric data has been carried out by Alekseev and Gershberg since 1996 under the assumption that spots are situated in two latitudinal zones. Here we propose a new analysis of their results for several G and K dwarf stars with high irregular activity. On these stars, EK Dra, VY Ari, V775 Her, and V833 Tau, two spot belts exist separately and do not merge into a single equatorial active region, as occurs on cooler red-dwarf stars. The zonal spottedness models allow us to fit simultaneously both rotational modulation and long-term variability of stellar brightness. These models give evidence for an equatorward drift of the lower latitude boundary of the spotted region, φ₀, during the rising phase of activity, beyond any possible errors concerned with our methodology. In order to evaluate the drift rate we introduce the concept of `effective' spot belt, whose width is independent of longitude. This permits us to construct butterfly diagrams for stellar spots. The equatorward drift rates of the lower boundary of the spotted region D=dφ_low/dt are (− 1)–(− 2) deg year⁻¹ in the years of increasing spottedness. These values are less than the analogous solar one D≈−4 deg year⁻¹ for the rising phase of the cycle. Thus, cyclic activity can be revealed from butterfly diagrams and derived drifts of starspots prior to a possible detection from the spectral analysis of photometric variability. Finally, we briefly discuss a possible explanation of high-latitude activity and surface drifts of starspots in the framework of the current state of dynamo theory.     

A high-velocity ionized outflow and XUV photosphere in the narrow emission line quasar PG1211+143

We report on the analysis of a ∼60-ks XMM–Newton observation of the bright, narrow emission line quasar PG1211+143. Absorption lines are seen in both European Photon Imaging Camera and Reflection Grating Spectrometer spectra corresponding to H- and He-like ions of Fe, S, Mg, Ne, O, N and C. The observed line energies indicate an ionized outflow velocity of ∼24 000 km s⁻¹. The highest energy lines require a column density of   N _H∼ 5 × 10²³ cm⁻²  , at an ionization parameter of  log ξ∼ 3.4  . If the origin of this high-velocity outflow lies in matter being driven from the inner disc, then the flow is likely to be optically thick within a radius of ∼130 Schwarzschild radii, providing a natural explanation for the big blue bump (and strong soft X-ray) emission in PG1211+143.     

Statistics of the individual-pulse polarization based on propagation effects in the pulsar magnetosphere

Pulsar radio emission is modelled as a sum of two completely polarized non-orthogonal modes with the randomly varying Stokes parameters and intensity ratio. The modes are the result of polarization evolution of the original natural waves in the hot, magnetized, weakly inhomogeneous plasma of the pulsar magnetosphere. In the course of the wavemode coupling, the linearly polarized natural waves acquire purely orthogonal elliptical polarizations. Further on, as the waves pass through the cyclotron resonance, they become non-orthogonal. The pulse-to-pulse fluctuations of the final polarization characteristics and the intensity ratio of the modes are attributed to the temporal fluctuations in the plasma flow.
The model suggested allows one to reproduce the basic features of the one-dimensional distributions of the individual-pulse polarization characteristics. Besides that, the propagation origin of the pulsar polarization implies a certain correlation between the mode ellipticity and position angle. On a qualitative level, for different sets of parameters, the expected correlations appear compatible with the observed ones. Further theoretical studies are necessary to establish the quantitative correspondence of the model to the observational results and to develop a technique of diagnostics of the pulsar plasma on this basis.     

Quintessential inflation models with a nonminimally coupled scalar field

The evolution of a homogeneous, isotropic cosmological model driven by a nonminimally coupled scalar field is studied. The potential for the quintessential inflation model proposed by Peebles and Vilenkin is selected as a scalar potential. Possible scenarios for the cosmological dynamics are described in the conformal Einstein and Jordan representations. It is shown that, unlike in models with a minimal scalar field, here a class of solutions exists for which the scalar field is fixed at finite values during cosmological expansion. __________ Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 49, No. 3, pp. 487–498 (August 2006).     

Screening of polymers on selected Hawaii soils for erosion reduction and particle settling

In recent years, high‐molecular‐weight anionic polyacrylamides (PAMs) have been tested on a variety of soils, primarily in temperate climates. However, little information is available regarding the effectiveness of PAM for preventing soil loss through runoff in tropical settings. Screening tests were performed using three negatively charged PAMs and one positively charged PAM on five Hawaii soils (two Oxisols, one Vertisol, and two Aridisols) to determine erosion loss, sediment settling, and aggregate stability. A laboratory‐scale rainfall simulator was used to apply erosive rainfall at intensities from 5 to 8·5 cm h^?1 at various PAM doses applied in both dry and solution forms. Soil detachment due to splash and runoff, as well as the runoff and percolate water volumes, were measured for initial and successive storms. The impact of PAM on particle settling and aggregate stability was also evaluated for selected soil‐treatment combinations. Among the PAMs, Superfloc A‐836 was most effective, and significantly reduced runoff and splash sediment loss for the Wahiawa Oxisol and Pakini Andisol at rates varying between 10 and 50 kg ha^?1. Reduced runoff and splash sediment loss were also noted for PAM Aerotil‐D when applied in solution form to the Wahiawa Oxisol. Significant reductions in soil loss were not noted for either the Lualualei Vertisol or the Holomua Oxisol. It is believed that the high montmorillonite content of the Lualualei Vertisol and the low cation‐exchange capacity of the Holomua Oxisol diminished the effectiveness of the various PAMs tested. The polymers were also found to enhance sediment settling of all soils and helped improve their aggregate stability. This screening study shows the potential use of PAM for tropical soils for applications such as infiltration enhancement, runoff reduction, and enhanced sedimentation of detention ponds. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.