Infrared Afterglow of the Gamma Ray Burst GRB041219 as the Result of Reradiation from Dust in a Circumstellar Cloud

Observations of the afterglows of gamma ray bursts (GRBs) in different spectral ranges yield valuable information both about the nature of GRBs and about the properties of the surrounding medium. A powerful infrared (IR) afterglow has been observed at the site of the strong GRB041219. Here we interpret the observed IR afterglow as the result of a reprocessing of gamma radiation on dust in a cloud surrounding the GRB source. In this model we do not expect the appearance of a prompt optical afterglow which should be absorbed by the surrounding dust cloud. We estimate the collimation angle of the gamma radiation and obtain limits on the red shift (distance to the GRB source) by matching the model parameters to the experimental data.__________Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 48, No. 3, pp. 439–444 (August 2005).     

Radiation exposure and Mission Strategies for Interplanetary Manned Missions (REMSIM)

Cosmic radiation is an important problem for human interplanetary missions. The “Radiation Exposure and Mission Strategies for Interplanetary Manned Missions–REMSIM” study is summarised here. They are related to current strategies and countermeasures to ensure the protection of astronauts from radiation during interplanetary missions, with specific reference to: radiation environment and its variability; radiation effects on the crew; transfer trajectories and associated fluences; vehicle and surface habitat concepts; passive and active shielding concepts; space weather monitoring and warning systems.     

Study of the weakly magnetic star HD 116656

Astronomy Letters - We studied the spectroscopic binary HD 116656 (ζ1 UMa) that has previously been suspected to be a Si-type chemically peculiar star. The magnetic field of each individual...     

UGC 5119: A galaxy with a stellar polar ring?

We present our photometric BV R_c observations of UGC 5119, a candidate polar-ring galaxy. We have determined its absolute magnitude, \(M_{0,B} = - 20\mathop m\limits_. 3\), and total color indices, \((B - V)_t^0 = + 0\mathop m\limits_. 73 \pm 0\mathop m\limits_. 10\) and \((V - R_c )_t^0 = + 0\mathop m\limits_. 54 \pm 0\mathop m\limits_. 10\). A Fourier analysis of the shape of its isophotes shows that UGC 5119 is most likely an elliptical galaxy with a disk component in the central part and a “boxy” feature on the periphery. At distances larger than 8″, the galaxy exhibits a turn of its major axis and a change in the phase of the fourth harmonic. Assuming the position angle of the major axis to be constant, a stellar ringlike structure is distinguished in the galaxy. The age of the ring stars is the same as that of the stars in the host galaxy. The distinguished ringlike structure cannot be attributed to typical polar rings rich in gas and in young stars.     

Comparative Analysis of “Exact” and “Approximate” Methods for Estimating the Absolute and Relative Elements of Detached Close Binary Systems

In this paper the star characteristics (luminosities, spectra, masses, absolute and relative radii of the components, mass ratio, major semiaxis, and orbital inclination) of close binary systems (CBS) with detached components are compared element-by-element. Svechnikov and Perevozkina's Catalog of the orbital elements, masses, and luminosities of pre-main sequence-type eclipsing variable stars with known photometric and spectroscopic elements and Svechnikov and Kuznetsova's Catalog of approximate photometric and absolute elements of eclipsing variable stars are used as initial data. The orbital elements contained in the first catalog are determined from solutions of the known photometric light curves and the known radial velocity curves, while the orbital elements for the second catalog were estimated using data from the General Catalog of Variable Stars (GCVS) IV employing approximate statistical relationships such as mass-radius, mass-luminosity, and mass-spectrum, along with the dependence of the orbital inclination on the depth of the principal minimum and others. Possible reasons for discrepancies among the compared quantities are discussed.     

Study of bi-orthogonal modes in magnetic butterflies

We present a bi-orthogonal decomposition of the temporal and latitudinal distribution of solar magnetic fields from synoptic magnetograms. Results are compared with a similar decomposition of the distribution of sunspots since 1874. We show that the butterfly diagrams can be interpreted as the result of approximately constant amplitudes and phases of two oscillations with periods close to 22 years. A clear periodicity of 7 years can also be identified in the most energetic modes of both spatio-temporal series. These results can be used to obtain relevant information concerning the physics of the solar dynamo.     

The Parabolic Three-Body Problem

In this communication we present an analytical model for the restricted three-body problem, in the case where the perturber is in a parabolic orbit with respect to the central mass. The equations of motion are derived explicitly using the so-called Global Expansion of the disturbing function, and are valid for any eccentricity of the massless body, as well as in the case where both secondary masses have crossing orbits. Integrating the equations of motion over the complete passage of the perturber through the system, we are then able to construct a first-order algebraic mapping for the change in semimajor axis, eccentricity and inclination of the perturbed body.Comparisons with numerical solutions of the exact equations show that the map yields precise results, as long as the minimum distance between both bodies is not too small. Finally, we discuss several possible applications of this model, including the evolution of asteroidal satellites due to background bodies, and simulations of passing stars on extra-solar planets.     

An iterative scheme for use in MT 2D forward modelling — to speed up production of the Jacobian and to improve accuracy of the inverse matrix

An important stage in two-dimensional magnetotelluric modelling is the calculation of the Earth's response functions for an assumed conductivity model and the calculation of the associated Jacobian relating those response functions to the model parameters. The efficiency of the calculation of the Jacobian will affect the efficiency of the inversion modelling. Rodi (1976) produced all the Jacobian elements by inverting a single matrix and using an approximate first-order algorithm. Since only one inverse matrix required calculation the procedure speeded up the inversion. An iterative scheme to improve the approximation to the Jacobian information is presented in this paper. While this scheme takes a little longer than Rodi's algorithm, it enables a more accurate determination of the Jacobian information. It is found that the Jacobian elements can be produced in 10% of the time required to calculate an inverse matrix or to calculate a 2D starting model. A modification of the algorithm can further be used to improve the accuracy of the original inverse matrix calculated in a 2D finite difference program and hence the solution this program produces. The convergence of the iteration scheme is found to be related both to the originally calculated inverse matrix and to the change in the newly formed matrix arising from perturbation of the model parameter. A ridge regression inverse algorithm is used in conjunction with the iterative scheme for forward modelling described in this paper to produce a 2D conductivity section from field data.     

Rosetta mission mutual impedance probe modelling: the short and long Debye length plasma cases

The Rosetta spacecraft (S/C), which is planned to meet comet 46P/Wirtanen in 2011, will carry a set of five wave and plasma instruments (i.e. the Rosetta Plasma Consortium). This is to measure the cometary plasma properties from the minimum value of activity of the comet to its maximum value at perihelion. The mutual impedance probe, MIP, is one of those (Trotignon et al., 1999) five. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.