Observations of the Rosette Nebula using the Decameter Wave Radio Telescope at Gauribidanur

A map of Rosette Nebula in continuum absorption is made at 34.5 MHz using the Decameter Wave Radio Telescoe at Gauribidanur, India, with a resolution of 26×40, is presented. These observations are combined with the 2700 MHz measurements of Grahamet al. (1982) to derive the electron temperature distribution across the nebula. It is found that the temperatures in the southeastern parts of the nebula are around 5000 K and increase up to 8000 K towards the northwestern regions. It is suggested that the lower electron temperatures in the southeastern regions are due to the presence of more dust there compared to other regions in the nebula.     

Apsidal motion in the eclipsing binary system V 451 Ophiuchi

MulticolourWBVR photoelectric observations of the eclipsing binary V 451 Oph were carried out, and a highly accurate light curve was obtained. The angular velocity of the orbital rotation, =2.1 deg yr^–1, and the apsidal motion constantk ₂=0.0045 are given.     

Flare loops heated by thermal conduction

A flare observed with the Hard X-Ray Imaging Spectrometer (HXIS) was studied during its rise to maximum temperature and X-ray emission rate. Two proximate flare loops, of lengths 2.8 × 10⁹ cm and 1.1 × 10¹⁰ cm, rose to temperatures of 21.5 × 10⁶ K and 30 × 10⁶ K, respectively, in 30 s. Assuming equal heat flux F into each loop from a thermal source at the point where they met, we derive a simple relationship between temperature T and loop length , which gives a loop temperture ratio of 0.68, in close agreement with the observed ratio of 0.72. The observations imply that heating in each loop was maintained by a thermal flux of 5 × 10⁹ ergs cm^-2 s^-1. It is suggested that conductive heating adequately describes the rise and maximum phase emissions in the loops and that long flare loops reach higher temperatures than short loops during the impulsive phase because of an equipartition of energy between them at their point of interaction.     

Accretion spin-up of low-magnetic neutron stars

The present paper is concerned with the spin-up of low-magnetic neutron stars by the accretion of matter onto the star. Calculations have been made for the evolution of the rotation of a neutron star and applied to different stellar models. It is shown that the existence of a millisecond pulsar imposes no restriction on any of the equations of state considered. However, constraints would arise with the possible discovery of third-octave pulsars (with frequencies in excess of 1000 Hz). Predictions are made as to the distribution of bursters over the orbital periods of neutron stars (about half of these having similar orbital periods). It is demonstrated that in the case of continued accretion onto a star, after it has acquired the critical angular frequency allowing no diviation from axial symmetry, specific accretion disks can be formed with a smooth transition into a star. The specific angular momentum is computed for a neutron star for the instant of the attainment of the Oppenheimer-Volkoff limit.     

Decimetric type III radio bursts and associated hard X-ray spikes

A detailed comparison is made between hard X-ray spikes and decimetric type III radio bursts for a relatively weak solar flare on 1981 August 6 at 10: 32 UT. The hard X-ray observations were made at energies above 30 keV with the Hard X-Ray Burst Spectrometer on the Solar Maximum Mission and with a balloon-born coarse-imaging spectrometer from Frascati, Italy. The radio data were obtained in the frequency range from 100 to 1000 MHz with the analog and digital instruments from Zürich, Switzerland. All the data sets have a time resolution of 0.1 s or better. The dynamic radio spectrum shows many fast drift type III radio bursts with both normal and reverse slope, while the X-ray time profile contains many well resolved short spikes with durations of 1 s. Some of the X-ray spikes appear to be associated in time with reverse-slop bursts suggesting either that the electron beams producing the radio bursts contain two or three orders of magnitude more fast electrons than has previously been assumed or that the electron beams can trigger or occur in coincidence with the acceleration of additional electrons. One case is presented in which a normal slope radio burst at 600 MHz occurs in coincidence with the peak of an X-ray spike to within 0.1 s. If the coincidence is not merely accidental and if it is meaningful to compare peak times, then the short delay would indicate that the radio signal was at the harmonic and that the electrons producing the radio burst were accelerated at an altitude of 4 × 10⁹ cm. Such a short delay is inconsistent with models invoking cross-field drifts to produce the electron beams that generate type III bursts but it supports the model incorporating a MASER proposed by Sprangle and Vlahos (1983).     

Microwave radiation from magnetic stars

Cyclotron microwave emission from magnetic stars is considered, assuming that they have coronae with the temperatureT10⁷ K and the emission measureEM10⁵⁴ cm^–3. It has been shown that the cyclotron radiation from a star with a dipole magnetic field has a specific spectrum with a maximum in the frequency rangesv _o/2 >v >sv _o/2 (s being the number of cyclotron harmonic, andv _o the gyrofrequency corresponding to the polar magnetic field) and radiation flux decreasing towards lower frequencies asv _4/3. The frequency of the spectrum maximum depends on the angle between the line-of-sight and the magnetic axis of the star. The observed radiation from a rotating magnetic star can be modulated with a modulation depth of about 0.2 at frequencies near maximum. The radiation is partially circularly-polarized in the sense of an extraordinary mode. The degree of polarization is almost constant at frequenciesv >sv _o/2 and increases with frequency atv >sv _o/2. The estimation of cyclotron radio fluxes of the nearest magnetic stars shows that they are observable in microwaves by means of modern radio astronomy.     

The shape and structure of Mimas

The Voyager images have shown that Mimas and Enceladus have regular shapes, with topography of the order of 1% of the diameter. Therefore, we can compare the global shapes of these satellites with the corresponding figures of gravitational equilibrium. In the case of Mimas, this comparison rules out a homogeneous interior, but implies the existence of a denser, presumably rocky core within this small icy satellite.     

Properties of metre-wavelength solar bursts associated with interplanetary type II emission

A statistical analysis is used to determine the properties of metre-wavelength events which are associated with interplanetary type II bursts. It is found that the likelihood of an interplanetary type II burst is greatly increased if: (a) an associated metre-wavelength type II has a starting frequency less than 45 MHz; (b) a strong metre-wavelength continuum is present; (c) the type II contains herringbone fine structure; and (d) the metre-wavelength activity is accompanied by strong, long-lasting H and soft X-ray events.Visiting scientist at Division of Radiophysics, January 1983; previous address - NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland.     

The rotations of 128 Nemesis and 393 Lampetia: The longest known periods to date

Extensive photoelectric lightcurves of the asteroids 128 Nemesis and 393 Lampetia show for both objects extremely long rotational periods, the longest known to date for minor planets. For 393 Lampetia the combined results suggest with high probability a period of 38.7 hr with a maximal amplitude of 0.14 mag; a double-wave characteristic of the lightcurve must be assumed. For 128 Nemesis the complete double-wave lightcurve was observed and a period of 39.0 hr with a total amplitude of only 0.10 mag was deduced. Observations of 128 Nemesis confirm without doubt the presence of small-scale features of amplitude 0.01 to 0.02 mag, corresponding to small topographic features of about 15 km in height and width on the surface.     

Linearly expanding universes in JBD-theory

The assumption of a linearly expanding universe for the JBD-cosmological equations generates a set of solutions for the barotropic equations of statep= (=const.). These solutions turn out to be valid for closed space-except in the casep= which is for open space. The gravitational constant which is inversely proportional to the scalar field increases with time if >–1/3 and decreases for <–1/3. No solution exists for =1/3. The Brans-Dicke parameter is negative if <–1/3.