Nitrogen sulfide in quiescent dark clouds

We report the first detection of interstellar nitrogen sulfide (NS) in cold dark clouds. Several components of the 2 pi 1/2, J = 3/2 --> 1/2 and J = 5/2 --> 3/2 transitions were observed in TMC-1 and L134N. The inferred column density for TMC-1 is NNS approximately 8 x 10(12)cm-2 toward the NH3 peak in that cloud, and in L134N is NNS approximately 3 x 10(12)cm-2 toward the position of peak NH3 emission. These values correspond to fractional abundances relative to molecular hydrogen of fNS approximately 8 x 10(-10) for TMC-1, and fNS approximately 6 x 10(-10) for L134N. The NS emission is extended along the TMC-1 ridge and is also extended in L134N. The measured abundances are significantly higher than those predicted by some recent gas phase ion-molecule models.     

Resonance line radiation originating from a region with well-developed plasma turbulence

This study considers the influence of the effects of scattering due to Langmuir turbulent pulsations in the transfer of radiation in the spectral lines. The transfer equation of radiation in spectral lines, by taking into account scattering due to Langmuir turbulent pulsations, is written in a form convenient for application by numerical methods.The profile's intensity for a plane-parallel finite isothermal slab of a turbulent plasma in the case of complete redistribution of scattering by an atom are obtained. Numerical studies show that in this case with the broadening of spectral lines and the decreasing of self-reversal, the Langmuir frequency _pe is of the same order as the electronic Doppler width _De. Creation of the line satellites when _pe is larger than the line width is shown with the aid of numerical methods.     

Radiation-hydrodynamic waves and global solar oscillations

We investigate nonadiabatic hydrodynamic waves in a nongrey, radiating, thermally conducting, homogeneous atmosphere in LTE with a finite mean free path of photons. Avoiding the Eddington approximation the remaining simplifications in the basic equations are discussed, the generalized dispersion relation is analysed, and some wave properties in a grey model are studied. The properties of waves in a stratified atmosphere are analysed as well. In connection with the predicted properties of the nonadiabatic waves we discuss observations ofp-modes by measuring brightness fluctuations.     

Coronal environment of quiescent prominences

With thespectro-coronagraph and themultichannel subtractive double pass spectrograph (MSDP) at the Pic du Midi Observatory two quiescent prominences were observed simultaneously. From the spectro-coronagraph observations 2D maps of Hei 10830 , Fexiii 10798 and 10747 line intensities were obtained. In addition, we obtained 2D maps of the ratioR of the two iron lines. This ratio is used as a diagnostic for determining the density of the hot coronal plasma surrounding prominences. We found that the electron density is higher at the location of the prominences than in the corona, whereas small regions (40) of lower electron density are unevenly distributed around the prominences indicating that the surrounding corona is highly inhomogeneous. The density of the cavity is reduced by a factor 1.5 compared to the density of the prominence environment (5 × 10⁸ cm^–3). We discuss the existence of cavities around these prominences according to the orientation of their axes relative to the line of sight and according to the velocity field inside the prominences. Constraints on models for prominence formation are derived.     

Will the Russians return from the near abroad?

The author "examines a range of issues surrounding the involuntary migration of Russian populations from the non-Russian republics of the former USSR. Among the questions addressed are possible magnitudes of in-migration into Russia (with special attention paid to conditions in one of the major source regions, Central Asia), attitudes in Russia regarding appropriate policy with respect to treatment of co-nationals in the near abroad and whether their return to Russia would have a positive or negative impact, and conditions in areas of Russia that presently are absorbing the greatest numbers of migrants. The assertion that Russian policy should seek aggressively to prevent the out-migration of Russian populations [from] the near abroad is assessed critically."     

Palomar prime-focus infrared camera (PFIRCAM)

In a joint effort between engineers and scientists at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and the California Institute of Technology, a near-infrared (0.8–2.6 m) direct imaging system has been developed and integrated into the Caltech Palomar Observatory detector series. The camera system has been tested and operated in a science mode at the prime-focus (f/3.3) of the Hale 5-m Telescope. This paper outlines the system components and performance, including discussion of the detector linearity.     

A model of impulsive loop flares revisited

A critical examination of the components of the recent impulsive loop flare model of Takakura is made. It is found that his analysis of the stability of the electron distribution resulting from anomalous heat conduction is in error and electron plasma waves would not be excited. Rather, in the regions where the electron/proton temperature ratioT _e/T _i 10, electrostatic ion-cyclotron waves would be excited and in the regions whereT _e 10, ion-acoustic waves would be excited. Ratios ofT _e/T _i 10 occur only in the late time development behind the conduction fronts. Since the anomalous resistivity due to electrostatic ion-cyclotron waves is fortuitously about 70% of the one used by Takakura, the general development will follow closely the one calculated by him. Because the anomalous resistivity due to ion-acoustic waves is about 95 times the one used by Takakura, the development in the parts of the loop whereT _e/T _i 10 for late times would be altered considerably.Also Guest Worker at NOAA Space Environment Laboratory, Boulder, Colorado, U.S.A.     

Periodic orbits and their bifurcations in a 3-D system

We study some simple periodic orbits and their bifurcations in the Hamiltonian . We give the forms of the orbits, the characteristics of the main families, and some existence diagrams and stability diagrams. The existence diagram of the family 1a contains regions that are stable (S), simply unstable (U), doubly unstable (DU) and complex unstable (). In the regionsS andU there are lines of equal rotation numberm/n. Along these lines we have bifurcations of families of periodic orbits of multiplicityn. When these lines reach the boundary of the complex unstable region, they are tangent to it. Inside the region there are linesm/n, along which the orbits 1a, describedn-times, are doubly unstable; however, along these lines there are no bifurcations ofn-ple periodic orbits. The families bifurcating from 1a exist only in certain regions of the parameter space (, ). The limiting lines of these regions join at particular points representing collisions of bifurcations. These collisions of bifurcations produce a nonuniqueness of the various families of periodic orbits. The complicated structure of the various bifurcations can be understood by constructing appropriate stability diagrams.     

Effect of perturbed potentials on the non-linear stability of libration pointL 4 in the restricted problem

The non-linear stability of the libration pointL ₄ in the restricted problem has been studied when there are perturbations in the potentials between the bodies. It is seen that the pointL ₄ is stable for all mass ratios in the range of linear stability except for three mass ratios depending upon the perturbing functions. The theory is applied to the following four cases:

A 256×256 pixel InSb FPA for SIRTF and other astronomical applications

As part of the NASA Space Infrared telescope Facility (SIRTF), a low noise multiplexer has been developed. The hybridization of this multiplexer to a high indium antimonide (InSb) photodiode array has resulted in a MWIR detector of outstanding performance. The multiplexer is made of a 256×256 array of source follower amplifiers on a 30 m square pitch. Random access binary decoders are used to access each pixel of the array, allowing any read-out scheme to be implemented. Dark current has been measured at temperatures ranging from 4K to 77K. Generation recombination currents dominate above 45K. With 100mV of reverse bias applied, less than 3×10^-17 A is typical below 50K with 8×10^-19 A (5 e^-/s) at 4K. Under the same conditions 0.25 pA was measured at 77K. Read noise has been measured as low as 186 e^- using non-correlated techniques. Detector QE is 50 to 80 % through the entire 1 to 5 m band.