On the difference in darkness between sunspots

The effects of the magnetic field as well as the velocity field on sunspot equilibrium are discussed. The gas pressure difference, P, between a spot and the environments in the same horizontal layer is primarily determined by the magnetic field. Using recent model atmospheres we find that P shows a maximum value, P _max, at a depth of 650 ± 150 km below the photosphere. The value of P _max suggests that the curvature of the field lines is important for the equilibrium.It appears that, at an optical depth of unity in the umbra, the density has a value close to that of the environment at the same geometric depth (see Figure 4). If such is the case the expression for the umbra temperature (Equation (15)) may be considerably simplified (Equations (17) and (18)) and compared with observations.     

Auroral ion velocity distributions for a polarization collision model

We have calculated the effect that convection electric fields have on the velocity distribution of auroral ions at the altitudes where the plasma is weakly-ionized and where the various ion-neutral collision frequencies are much smaller than the ion cyclotron frequencies, i.e. between about 130 and 300 km. The appropriate Boltzmann equation has been solved by expanding the ion velocity distribution function in a generalized orthogonal polynomial series about a bi-Maxwellian weight factor. We have retained enough terms in the series expansion to enable us to obtain reliable quantitative results for electric field strengths as large as 90 mV m^?1. Although we have considered a range of ion-neutral scattering mechanisms, our main emphasis has been devoted to the long-range polarization interaction. In general, we have found that to lowest order the ion velocity distribution is better represented by a two-temperature or bi-Maxwellian distribution than by a one-temperature Maxwellian, with there being different ion temperatures parallel and perpendicular to the geomagnetic field. However, the departures from this zeroth-order bi-Maxwellian distribution become significant when the ion drift velocity approaches (or exceeds) the neutral thermal speed.     

The Jovian surface condition and cooling rate

A theory which is almost fully analytic is used to investigate Jupiter's cooling rate. We find that a simple model of contraction with adiabatic interior structure gives a total cooling time to the present which is in good agreement with the age of the solar system. The interplay between the surface condition and the cooling rate is exhibited and discussed. The current rate of change of the effective temperature is calculated to be ?1°K/0.145×10⁹ yr. Discrepancies with fully numerical investigations of the Jovian age and cooling rate are noted.     

High spectral resolution ground-based observations of Venus in the 450- to 1250-cm−1 region

Ground-based observations of Venus were made with a 5-cm drive Michelson interferometer during December 1970 and December 1973. The thermal emission spectrum of the central portion of the apparent disk was recorded from 450–1250 cm^?1 with an apodized spectral resolution of 0.25 cm^?1. All statistically significant sharp line absorption features in the spectrum have been identified with gaseous CO₂. Comparison between the observed spectrum and a synthetic spectrum computed from a model atmosphere, assuming gaseous CO₂ and a sulfuric acid haze as opacity sources, indicates good agreement. A broad diffuse absorption feature associated with the sulfuric acid haze is evident in the 870- to 930 cm^?1 region. With the exception of the rotational lines of the 927-cm^?1 CO₂ band, the above feature appears as a continuum down to 0.25 cm^?1 resolution. In the 750- to 1250-cm^?1 range, the spectrum exhibits moderate thermal contrast with maximum brightness temperatures of 234–238°K occurring near 825 cm^?1. These temperatures are in general agreement with previous measurements.     

On the evolution of low mas binary systems

The evolution of parameters of close binary systems containing a red dwarf (with mass loss) and a condensed star is investigated. The mass loss from the system and asynchronism of the red dwarf rotation are taken into consideration. The calculations show that if the initial mass ratioq ₀2 then during 10⁷ yr the instability of mass loss process arises, and a bright X-ray source forms with luminosity close to the Eddington one. Ifq ₀>2 then during the mass loss phase the bright X-ray source arises twice. The models explain the existence of the forbidden interval of orbital periods and the absence of systems with periods less than 80 min.     

Observations of Cassiopeia A at 20 and 25 MHz with the uran-1 interferometer

The variation in elemental depletions seen in diffuse clouds in the interstellar medium is shown to be consistent with the exposure of grains to weak shocks. Shocks remove a weakly bound layer of amorphous oxide material from refractory cores. Depletions are shown to be the result of the incorporation of elements in refractory cores formed during equilibrium condensation in high temperature sources together with accretion under low (T1000K) temperature conditions. Evidence is presented for the high temperature condensation of CaAlTi grains. In addition to refractory CaAlTi particels, a refractory condensate containing 20% of available Mg, 60% of Si and 90% of Fe is inferred from data on depletions. An amorphous layer with a composition (2MgO) (SiO) condenses on these cores.     

The structure of a type-II supernova remnant G 160.5+2.8 (HB-9) observed at λ=12m

A two-dimensional brightness distribution of the old supernova remnant G 160.5+2.8 (HB-9) has been measured at a frequency of 25 MHz with the T-Shaped UTR-2 radio telescope, with the resolution 29×27. The source has a distinctly pronounced, almost spherical envelope. At the same time, individual features located near the internal boundary of the source are observable.Certain considerations are put forward to validate a suggestion that the brightest feature in the decameter range (maximum at=4^h55^m.3 and =46°.37) might be of an extragalactic origin.From structure considerations, the velocity of the pulsar PSR 0459+47 projected on HB-9 is estimated. The estimate does not contradict the hypothesis of Damasheket al. (1978) concerning a possible genetic relation between HB-9 and PSR 0459+47.     

Bifurcation points in close binary evolution: Medium-mass binaries

The remaining core hydrogen burning lifetime after case B of mass transfer of the secondary (mass gaining) component in a medium mass close binary star is estimated, for mediummass binaries with primaries in the mass range 5M to 9M . From the comparison of this quantity with the helium burning time-scale of the remnant primary a critical mass ratioq _c is derived such that for larger values ofq, mass transfer from the secondary towards the primary starts before the latter has evolved into a white dwarf. Consequences for the advanced stages of medium mass binaries are discussed.     

Vector magnetic field evolution,energy storage,and associated photospheric velocity shear within a flare-productive active region

The evolution of vector photospheric magnetic fields has been studied in concert with photospheric spot motions for a flare-productive active region. Over a three-day period (5–7 April, 1980), sheared photospheric velocity fields inferred from spot motions are compared both with changes in the orientation of transverse magnetic fields and with the flare history of the region. Rapid spot motions and high inferred velocity shear coincide with increased field alignment along the B _L= 0 line and with increased flare activity; a later decrease in velocity shear precedes a more relaxed magnetic configuration and decrease in flare activity. Crude energy estimates show that magnetic reconfiguration produced by the relative velocities of the spots could cause storage of 10³² erg day^–1, while the flares occurring during this time expended 10³¹ erg day^–1.Maps of vertical current density suggest that parallel (as contrasted with antiparallel) currents flow along the stressed magnetic loops. For the active region, a constant-, force-free magnetic field (J = B) at the photosphere is ruled out by the observations.Presently located at NASA/MSFC, Huntsville, Ala. 35812, U.S.A.