The Leonard Award Address Presented 1996 July 25, Berlin,Germany: The elemental composition of stony cosmic spherules

Abstract— Five hundred stony cosmic spherules collected from deep-sea sediments, polar ice, and the stratosphere have been analyzed for major and some minor element composition. Typical spherules are products of atmospheric melting of millimeter sized and smaller meteoroids. The samples are small and modified by atmospheric entry, but they are an important source of information on the composition of asteroids. The spherules in this study were all analyzed in an identical manner, and they provide a sampling of the solar system's asteroids that is both different and less biased than provided by studies of conventional meteorites. Volatile elements such as Na and S are depleted due to atmospheric heating, while siderophiles are depleted by less understood causes. The refractory nonsiderophile elements appear not to have been significantly disturbed during atmospheric melting and provide important clues on the elemental composition of millimeter sized meteoroids colliding with the Earth. Typical spherules have CM-like composition that is distinctively different than ordinary chondrites and most other meteorite types. We assume that C-type asteroids are the primary origin of spherules with this composition. Type S asteroids should also be an important source of the spherules, and the analysis data provide constraints on their composition. A minor fraction of the spherules are melt products of precursor particles that did not have chondritic elemental compositions. The most common of these are particles that are dominated by olivine. The observed compositions of spherules are inconsistent with the possibility that an appreciable fraction of the spherules are simply chondrules remelted during atmospheric entry.     

A moment method for radiative transfer in an anisotropically-scattering slab medium with space-dependent albedoω(x)

The moment method is used to solve the radiative transfer problem in an anisotropic scattering plane medium with arbitrary space-dependent albedo(x). The results are compared with those obtained recently by Cengel and Özisik.     

The ultrashort period dwarf nova SW ursae majoris

SW UMa is an unusual dwarf nova in several respects. Recent observations by Robinsonet al. (1986) have established that SW UMa is an SU UMa system, while Shafter, Szkody, and Thorstensen (1986) have presented evidence suggesting that SW UMa may be a DQ Her system as well. If the DQ Her classification is confirmed then SW UMa will be the only system to have this dual classification. Finally, time resolved spectroscopy of SW UMa has revealed the presence of an S-wave component in the H emission which has an unexpected phasing relative to the line wings.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.     

Multi-frequency observations of the 1985 outburst of RS ophiuchi

The 1985 outburst of the bright, recurrent nova RS Oph was almost simultaneously observed at X-ray, UV, optical, IR and radio frequencies at many epochs. The abundances in the ejected shell and the development of the bolometric luminosity as a function of time suggest that the cause of the outburst is a nuclear runaway on a massive white dwarf.Paper presented at the IAU Colloquium No. 93 on Cataclysmic Variables. Recent Multi-Frequency Observations and Theoretical Development, held at Dr. Remeis-Sternwarte Bamberg, F.R.G., 16–19 June, 1986.     

X-ray and ultraviolet observations of AG Draconis during quiescence and outburst

We describe the first X-ray monitoring of a symbiotic star during phases of enhanced activity. AG Dra is a Pop II object with a composite spectrum, characterized by a cool K-type component, prominent high ionization emission lines and a strong UV continuum which is attributed to a hot dwarf companion. Periodic variability of the UV radiation during minimum could be attributed to the orbital motion of the system. In April 1980 HEAO-2 detected an intense, soft X-ray flux from AG Dra, stronger than in other symbiotic stars. After one major outburst of November 1980, which continued until 1983, two more outbursts occurred in February 1985 and January 1986, and coordinated X-ray (EXOSAT) and ultraviolet (IUE) observations were organized to study the behaviour of AG Dra during different activity phases. EXOSAT observations made during decline after the 1985 outburst, revealed a weak X-ray flux in the Thin Lexan filter of the Low Energy dedtector. Observations made during minimum, in June and November 1985, at phases 0.22 and 0.50 of the UV light curve, disclosed the presence of an intense X-ray flux, which was not occulted in November. AG Dra was again observed with EXOSAT in February 1986 when the stellar luminosity was still at maximum. No X-ray flux was detected, in spite of the prominent, high ionization UV spectrum observed with IUE.A detailed discussion of the X-ray and ultraviolet results on AG Dra in the light of possible models is in progress.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.     

Implications from the shape of the viscosity-surface density relation

We present results of new vertical structure computations for cool, convective accretion disks. The influence of the uncertainty in the low temperature opacities on the cool branch of the viscosity-surface density relation is investigated. We discuss how the shape of this relation allows a prediction of temperatures in the accretion disk during the onset of an outburst and we compare this with observations for VW Hydri by Hassall (1984).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.     

On the uniqueness of the determination of the coronal potential magnetic field from line-of-sight boundary conditions

We consider a simple model in which the coronal magnetic field B is assumed to be potential in the region between the solar surface _o and an exterior source-surface ₁ of arbitrary shape. We prove that the boundary value problem that determines B from the value B _lof its component on ₀ along either (orthoradial direction) or (fixed direction) has at most one solution. On the other hand, we show that a solution can exist only if B _lsatisfies some solubility conditions.     

Periodic variations in the symbiotic star spectra

Periodic variations of emission line intensities and radial velocities in three S-type symbiotic stars: BF Cyg, CI Cyg and AX Per are presented and discussed. The behavior of emission lines is different in these objects and suggests that significant differences in physical conditions and geometry may occur in these seemingly similar systems.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.     

Resonant asteroids between the main belt and Jupiter's orbit

Selected orbits of asteroids close to the 3/2 and 4/3 resonances in the outer belt are studied by extended numerical integrations of the four-body problem Sun-Jupiter-Saturn-asteroid. Jupiter's variable eccentricity causes strong or dominant effects in the asteroidal eccentricity, rate of perihelion, and critical argument. However, a suitable transformation removes most of these effects by the transition to respective new quantities. Cases of circulation can change to permanent libration in the new critical argument. This happens in the case of (1256) Normannia, one of the two objects found to be circulating near the 3/2 resonance in former work. The other object, (334) Chicago, remains a case of circulation and shows significant deviations from quasi-periodic motion, contrary to all the other studied Hildas (3/2 cases) and to (279) Thule (4/3). Temporary libration with respect to a resonance of high order is visible in the long-period evolution of Chicago's orbit. There are cases of some analogy further inward in the belt: (903) Nealley changes to permanent libration at the 2/1 resonance by the use of the new critical argument, and (522) Helga's orbit shows a non-quasi-periodic behaviour.