Mass motions associated with Hα active region arch structures

We have studied mass motions associated with active region arch structures from observations of a developing active region near the center of the solar disk. We present a method for the computation of the line-of-sight velocity from photographs at H ± 0.5 under the assumption of Beckers' cloud model and reasonable assumptions about the Doppler width and optical depth of the arches. Some arches show motions typical to arch filaments (the material moves towards the observer near the apex of the arch and away from the observer near the footpoints), while in others the velocity field is more complex. Assuming a symmetric loop, we reconstructed the velocity vector along an arch filament. The results are consistent with the picture where material is draining out of the filament while the whole structure is ascending with a velocity near that of the apex, which does not exceed 10 km s^–1. The motion is systematically slower than expected from a free-fall model.     

Re-analysis of close binary systems

Line-forming regions around close binaries with strong winds ( /4r _* v 10^–4 g cm^–2) are large in extent compared with the stars, large enough to screen them. Their orbitally-modulated Doppler shifts can overestimate the mass function, because of a larger rotational lever arm. In particular, most of the black-hole candidates need not involve companions more massive than a neutron star.The solar-wind problem is reconsidered. An extrapolation to Wolf-Rayet stars suggests that their winds are centrifugally driven. Their mass-loss rates tend to have been overestimated.Seemingly single (massive) stars can hide a (compact) companion.     

Strömgren photometry of a-stars: A test of physical parameter determination

By use of known published values forT _eff, logg, andM _v, a check on our procedure for determining the physical parameters of A v-type stars from Strömgren photometry has been performed. External errors for our calculated physical parameters have been obtained.Paper presented at the 11th European Regional Astronomical Meetings of the IAU on New Windows to the Universe, held 3–8 July, 1989, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.     

Probability imaging of the bright double star ζ Aqr in the infrared

The technique of probability imaging is applied to the bright, well resolved, infrared binary star Aqr. It is shown how the second probability density function (pdf) contains all pertinent information to reconstruct the binary system with no ambiguity. Relations between the second pdf and other techniques (speckle masking technique and fork algorithm) are briefly indicated. An analysis of the behaviour of the second pdf under additive signal-independent nose is undertaken. As expected from the general theory of signal processing, the second pdf of the noise is found to blur the second pdf of the signal by means of a convolution relation.Based on observations obtained at ESO, La Silla, Chile.     

Evolution of horizontal branch stars with extension

The details of the evolution of a low-mass horizontal branch star through the asymptotic giant phase with the assumption of first an extended atmosphere and second with extended and mass including atmosphere are given in comparison with the evolution of the same model without extension.Paper presented at the 11th European Regional Astronomical Meetings to the IAU on New Window to the Universe, held 3–8 July, 1989, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.     

The resolution of the compact core of quasars and active galaxies with the gravitational lens effect

The central energy source of quasars and active galactic nuclei cannot be resolved by observation. When such a compact source is affected by gravitational micro-lensing (lensing of stars in a distant galaxy), brightness changes of the order of magnitudes may occur. Since it is an eclipse-like effect, it gives the possibility of calculating the one-dimensional source profile from the lightcurve. We present the method and the results of its application on simulated lightcurves. It should be possible to obtain information on the structure of the source on a scale smaller than 10^–3 pc. The micro gravitational lens effect gives, therefore, the only known possibility of observing directly the central energy source of quasars and active galactic nuclei.Paper presented at the 11th European Regional Astronomical Meetings of the IAU on New Windows to the Universe, held 3–8 July, 1989, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain.     

Diffuse extragalactic gamma-radiation above ‘black-body cutoff’

The possible contribution of gamma-rays predicted within the universal cosmic-ray (CR) hypothesis to the energy range of CR spectrum above black-body cutoff is calculated. These gamma-rays arise from the relativistic electromagnetic cascade generated in the field of microwave background radiation (MBR). The ultra-high energy photons and electrons that initiate the cascade are produced at the decay of -mesons created in interactions of photons with the MBR. Simple analytic expression for cascade gamma-ray spectrum is obtained from the solution of kinetic equations for electrons and photons as well as for protons propagating in the MBR field. It is shown that at certain values of magnetic field and radio-wave density in the intergalactic space te flux of cascade gamma-rays may at least partly mask the black-body cutoff in the CR spectrum.Deceased, August 13, 1989.     

Spectrum of cosmic fireballs

A progress report on cosmic fireballs is presented. The main new results are: (a) the phenomenon should be almost universal, and most explosive -ray sources should show the characteristic fireball spectrum; (b) even if the radiation density is insufficient, pair production in electron-proton or electron-electron scattering might start the fireball; (c) some computed fireball spectra are shown. They all have in common a 1/E low-energy behaviour, a 100 keV flattening, and a 0.5 MeV cut-off.Paper presented at the Symposium on Cosmic Gamma-Ray Bursts, held at Toulouse, France, 26–29 November, 1979.     

Examples of predominantly two-body orbits in the Sun-Jupiter asteroid system

Accurate numerical continuation of families of plane symmetric direct periodic orbits around the large primary in the Sun-Jupiter case of the restricted problem of three bodies allows the determination of the vertical branching points where families of three-dimensional symmetric periodic orbits bifurcate from the planar ones. Three families of plane periodic orbits, and the initial segments of ten bifurcating families of three-dimensional ones are determined. The stability of these families is examined and examples of their orbits are illustrated.     

On the temporal variation of the solar continuous brightness fluctuations

From a sequence of white-light photographs of solar granulation at the centre of the disk, obtained by Spectro-Stratoscope on May 17, 1975, two-dimensional spatial power spectra of photospheric intensity fluctuations were deduced. These show periodicities of 1000 s, 250–450 s (5-min oscillation), and shorter ones in the range 30–120 s. The reality of the shorter periods, however, seems to be questionable.The weighted mean wavenumber of the spatial power spectra and rms of the intensity fluctuation (I _rms) are also computed, showing the same periodicities as the power.Mitteilungen aus dem Kiepenheuer-Institut Nr. 188.On leave of absence from the Institute of Geophysics, University of Tehran.