Changes in Quasi-periodic Variations of Solar Photospheric Fields: Precursor to the Deep Solar Minimum in Cycle 23?

Possible precursor signatures in the quasi-periodic variations of solar photospheric fields were investigated in the build-up to one of the deepest solar minima experienced in the past 100 years. This unusual and deep solar minimum occurred between Solar Cycles 23 and 24. We used both wavelet and Fourier analysis to study the changes in the quasi-periodic variations of solar photospheric fields. Photospheric fields were derived using ground-based synoptic magnetograms spanning the period 1975.14 to 2009.86 and covering Solar Cycles 21, 22, and 23. A hemispheric asymmetry in the periodicities of the photospheric fields was seen only at latitudes above ±?45^° when the data were divided into two parts based on a wavelet analysis: one prior to 1996 and the other after 1996. Furthermore, the hemispheric asymmetry was observed to be confined to the latitude range of 45^° to 60^°. This can be attributed to the variations in polar surges that primarily depend on both the emergence of surface magnetic flux and varying solar-surface flows. The observed asymmetry along with the fact that both solar fields above ±?45^° and micro-turbulence levels in the inner-heliosphere have been decreasing since the early- to mid-nineties (Janardhan et al. in Geophys. Res. Lett. 382, 20108, 2011) suggest that around this time active changes occurred in the solar dynamo that governs the underlying basic processes in the Sun. These changes in turn probably initiated the build-up to the very deep solar minimum at the end of Cycle 23. The decline in fields above ±?45^°, for well over a solar cycle, would imply that weak polar fields have been generated in the past two successive solar cycles, viz. Cycles 22 and 23. A continuation of this declining trend beyond 22 years, if it occurs, will have serious implications for our current understanding of the solar dynamo.     

Interplanetary Coronal Mass Ejections,Associated Features,and Transient Modulation of Galactic Cosmic Rays

Interplanetary structures such as shocks, sheaths, interplanetary counterparts of coronal mass ejections (ICMEs), magnetic clouds, and corotating interaction regions (CIRs) are of special interest for the study of the transient modulation of galactic cosmic rays (GCRs). These structures modulate the GCR intensity with varying amplitudes and recovery-time profiles. It is known that ICMEs are mainly responsible for Forbush decreases in the GCR intensity. However, not all of the ICMEs produce such decreases in GCR intensity. We utilize GCR intensity data recorded by neutron monitors and solar-wind plasma/field data during the passage of ICMEs with different features and structures, and we perform a superposed-epoch analysis of the data. We also adopt the best-fit approach with suitable functions to interpret the observed similarities and differences in various parameters. Using the GCR-effectiveness as a measure of the cosmic-ray response to the passage of ICMEs, about half of the ICMEs identified during 1996?–?2009 are found to produce moderate to very large intensity depressions in GCR intensity. The ICMEs associated with halo CMEs, magnetic-cloud (MC) structures, bidirectional superthermal electron (BDE) signatures, and those driving shocks are 1.5 to 4 times more GCR effective than the ICMEs not associated with these structures/features. Further, the characteristic recovery time of GCR intensity due to shock/BDE/MC/halo-CME-associated ICMEs is larger than those due to ICMEs not associated with these structures/features.     

Cosmic-Ray Modulation due to High-Speed Solar-Wind Streams of Different Sources,Speed, and Duration

We study the modulation of galactic cosmic rays (GCR) due to high-speed streams (HSS) identified in the solar wind. We compare the GCR modulation due to i) streams with different speed, ii) streams of different duration, and iii) streams from different solar sources. We apply the method of superposed-epoch analysis to analyze the interplanetary plasma and field parameters during the passage of streams with distinct plasma and field characteristics. We use the plasma/field characteristics to distinguish various features of solar sources and interplanetary structures, and discuss the observed differences in the cosmic-ray response. We study the influence of speed, duration, and solar sources of the streams on the GCR modulation. We discuss the relative importance of different solar-wind parameters in the modulation process.     

A study of the relation between intensity oscillations and magnetic field parameters in a sunspot: Hinode observations

We present properties of intensity oscillations of a sunspot in the photosphere and chromosphere using G band and Ca II H filtergrams from Hinode. Intensity power maps as function of magnetic field strength and frequency reveal reduction of power in the G band with an increase in photospheric magnetic field strength at all frequencies. In Ca II H, however, stronger fields exhibit more power at high frequencies, particularly in the 4.5–8.0 mHz band. Power distributions in different locations of the active region show that the oscillations in Ca II H exhibit more power compared to that of the G band. We also relate the power in intensity oscillations with different components of the photospheric vector magnetic field using near simultaneous spectro-polarimetric observations of the sunspot from the Hinode spectropolarimeter. The photospheric umbral power is strongly anti-correlated with the magnetic field strength and its line-of-sight component but there is a good correlation with the transverse component. A reversal of this trend is observed in the chromosphere except at low frequencies(ν≤ 1.5 mHz). The power in sunspot penumbrae is anti-correlated with the magnetic field parameters at all frequencies(1.0 ≤ν≤ 8.0 mHz) in both the photosphere and chromosphere, except that the chromospheric power shows a strong correlation in the frequency range 3–3.5 mHz.     

Nonlinear stability of the triangular libration points for the photo gravitational elliptic restricted problem of three bodies

In the present paper we have studied the stability of the triangular libration points for the doubly photogravitational elliptic restricted problem of three bodies under the presence of resonances as well as under their absence. Here we have found the conditions for stability.     

Inflationary Solutions for Higher Dimensional Anisotropic Cosmological Model in Scalar-Tensor Theory II

This is the second paper of the series where we have considered Brans-Dicke (B-D) theory as well as general scalar tensor theory of gravitation in higher dimensional space-time model in the false vacuum state. We have examined whether inflationary solutions are possible both for constant or variable coupling parameter ω. Also the nature of the scalar field and the coupling parameter are discussed in the asymptotic limit. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Chemistry of springwater in Almora, Central Himalaya, India

 A field study was conducted to assess variations in physico-chemical characteristics of water of the springs located within the boundary of a Central Himalayan town where the springwater is used for drinking purposes. Monitoring of 12 springs was carried out for three seasons (winter, summer and monsoon). The results indicate direct influence of unplanned sewage disposal on the springwater quality as reflected by significant regional variations in the concentration of nitrates, chlorides, sulfates, sulfides and electrical conductivity. Population density varies within the town from 3110 to 14 137 persons/km^–2 and has direct relationship with water quality. Springs located in the densely populated area had higher concentrations of all these compounds. Concentrations of nitrates up to 60 ppm were observed in some springs, making water unsuitable for human consumption. No significant changes were observed in springwater quality during different seasons. Received: 3 February 1995 · Accepted: 27 February 1996     

Screened triple-alpha reaction rate to produce carbon in stellar interiors

Recent experimental data for radiative width and resonance energy are used to find reaction rates and mean lives for triple-alpha reaction affecting screening effect. The reaction rates are found to be drastically altered. Plots of various dimensionless parameters in temperature-density plane are given. The red-giant sttage will be of short duration. The mean lives for gravitationally collapsing stars are insignificantly small. Our results at ?=10⁵ g cm^?3 greatly differ fro those of Burbidgeet al. (1957).     

Identification of AlF Molecular Lines in Sunspot Umbral Spectra

High resolution FTS sunspot umbral spectra from NSO/Kitt Peak were used to detect rotational lines due to 11 electronic transitions of the molecule AlF, in the wavelength region 4400 – 9000 Å. The presence of lines due to bands C – A (0,0), (0,1), (0,2) and (1,2), D – A (0,0) and (0,1), F – A (0,0), G – A (0,0), and F – B (0,0) is confirmed. Further, the presence of lines due to C – A (1,0) and (1,1) transitions is treated as doubtful because of heavy blending in the region, by rotational lines of TiO. Among the identified lines, those which are well resolved were selected for measurement of equivalent widths. The measured values for the bands D – A (0,0) and F – A (0,0) were used to estimate the respective effective rotational temperatures to be 1240 ± 120 K and 2390 ± 400 K.     

On the formation of Jupiter

Arguments are presented to show that Jupiter could not have been formed as a star of mass 0.001M and that the observed excess energy is not due to gravitational contraction from an extended, gaseous state.