Identification of the interstellar cyanomethyl radical (CH2CN) in the molecular clouds TMC-1 and Sagittarius B2

We report the astronomical identification of the cyanomethyl radical, CH2CN, the heaviest nonlinear molecular radical to be identified in interstellar clouds. The complex fine and hyperfine structures of the lowest rotational transitions at about 20.12 and 40.24 GHz are resolved in TMC-1, where the abundance appears to be about 5 x 10(-9) relative to that of H2. This is significantly greater than the observed abundance of CH3CN (methyl cyanide) in TMC-1. In Sgr B2 the hyperfine structure is blended in the higher frequency transitions at 40, 80, and 100 GHz, although the spin-rotation doubling is clearly evident. Preliminary searches in other sources indicate that the distribution of CH2CN is similar to that for such carbon chain species as HC3N or C4H.     

Physical parameters of the Jovian atmosphere

The following physical parameters have been computed for the Jovian atmosphere between 270 and ?300 km: (1) Pressure, (2) Density, (3) Speed and sound, (4) Number density, (5) Density scale. It has considered that the top of the clouds is at 0 km. For the calculations of these parameters we have used:

1. for the altitudes 270-0 km data from Voyager I and II.
2. for the altitudes ?300–0 km data from Voyager II and spectroscopic observations.

     

Effects of mass transfer on an oscillating free-convection flow in the Stokes's problem past an infinite porous vertical limiting surface with heat sources and variable suction

An analysis of the effects of the mass transfer on the unsteady free-convection flow of a viscous incompressible fluid, past an impulsively started infinite porous vertical limiting surface with heat sources is presented, when the free-stream velocity and the suction velocity, are oscillating in the time about constant mean values. Approximate solutions for the coupled nonlinear equations are derived for the mean velocity, the mean temperature, the mean skin-friction, and the mean rate of heat transfer. All the above quantities are shown graphically followed, by a discussion.     

Discrete Alfvén waves in planar flux tubes

Properties of discrete Alfvén wave modes are derived, at frequencies up to the ion-cyclotron frequency, for current-carrying plasma slabs with non-uniform densities. It is shown that the essential features of the dispersion relations can be derived by examining the dominant terms in the potential function, when the wave equation is cast in the Schrödinger equation form. Analytical predictions for a class of mass and current density profiles are compared with numerically calculated dispersion relations and wavefields for particular profiles.     

Problems with the interpretation of the 220 nm interstellar feature

The bump in the ultraviolet part of the interstellar extinction curve provides a great challenge in the modelling of interstellar dust. Its shape can be well approximated by a classical dispersion profile with a total halfwidth of 48 nm centred at 217 nm. Apart from few slightly deviating cases the parameters of the band seem to be surprisingly constant in the solar neighbourhood.The equivalent widthW of the 217 nm band shows a very tight correlation with the colour excessE(B-V). Studies of correlations with the strength of diffuse interstellar bands gave no conclusive results as to the nature of the band.The most common interpretation of the 217 nm feature as originating from small graphite grians meets several difficulties. No final decision on the carrier can be made at present.Paper presented at a Workshop on The Role of Dust in Dense Regions of Interstellar Matter, held at Georgenthal, G.D.R., in March 1986.     

An analysis of the spectrum of the zeta geminorum

Four spectrograms of the cepheid Geminorum at different phases have been analysed for the determination of the abundances of various elements. The analysis shows that the atmosphere of Gem has an essentially solar composition.     

Sunspot nests

For the period August 1959–December 1964 the Greenwich Photoheliographic Results were searched for sunspot nests. Such a nest is a sequence of sunspot groups that appear within a small area on the solar surface and that last for several months. The search procedure is described and data for 41 probable sunspot nests are given. At least three quarters of these nests appear to be real, and not chance clusters.The nests are the same type of activity sequences as the Fleckenherde discovered by Becker (1955) and the complexes of activity pointed out by Gaizauskas et al. (1983). The complexes of activity as defined by Bumba and Howard (1965) are different patterns, however; the relation between complexes and the nests is shown.Some properties of the nests are: (i) many nests appear as double structures; (ii) single nests and components of double nests are quite compact: the effective areas are comparable to those of medium-large sunspot groups; (iii) each nest rotates at its own steady rate about the Sun; (iv) the intrinsic scatter in the rotation rates is much larger than the trend in the differential rotation; (v) displacements in latitude are less than a few meters per second; (vi) many nests live for 6 to 15 Carrington rotation periods, the minimum lifetime is not yet determined; (vii) the fraction of the sunspot groups that are members of nests is large (at least 30%).     

Changing population concentration in India: a macro-regional scenario

There are great spatial variations in the distribution of the fast growing populations of India. About 70% of the 1981 population is concentrated in only 40% of the geographical area. Such a pattern of population concentration, with its spatio-temporal dimension, can be understood better if examined at the macro-regional level considering the physico-climatic and socio-economic diversity of the country. This is done by way of analyzing district level data for India as a whole and also for its various macro-regions. The study reveals that the Great Plains and Coastal Plains and Islands have a homogenous distribution and a higher population increase. The Deccan Plateau shows the most homogenous dispersion of population. The population is declining in the Northern Mountains and the Great Plains but accentuating in the Coastal Plains and Islands and the Deccan Plateau. The north and south of India are showing opposite trends in population concentration.     

Hall effects on thermal hydromagnetic instability of a partially ionized medium

Thermal instability of a finitely conducting hydromagnetic composite medium is considered including the effects of Hall currents and the collisions with neutrals. The equilibrium magnetic field is assumed to be uniform and vertical. For stationary convection, the collissions have no effect, while the Hall currents are found to have a destabilizing effect on the thermal instability. It is further shown that whenM is finite andQ the asymptotic behaviours of the critical Rayleigh number, the critical wave number and the critical temperature gradient remain the same as those obtained by Chandrasekhar whereM is a nondimensional number which includes the Hall current effects andQ stands for the Chandrasekhar number.     

Spectrophotometric study of X Persei

The continuum energy distribution of the emission line star X Per (O9.5III-V) has been obtained in the wavelength range 340–710 nm and has been compared with the energy distribution of Cam in the same wavelength range. The continuum of the star is found to be modified by the circumstellar envelope. A number density of the order of 10¹¹ in the envelope has been obtained from the observations of H in emission.