“Pure” supernovae and accelerated expansion of the Universe

A special class of type Ia supernovae that is not subject to ordinary and additional intragalactic gray absorption and chemical evolution has been identified. Analysis of the Hubble diagrams constructed for these supernovae confirms the accelerated expansion of the Universe irrespective of the chemical evolution and possible gray absorption in galaxies.     

Hydrodynamic processes in young binaries as a source of cyclic variations in circumstellar extinction

Hydrodynamic models of a young binary accreting matter from the remnants of a protostellar cloud have been calculated by the SPH method. Periodic variations in column density in projection onto the primary component are shown to take place at low inclinations of the binary plane to the line of sight. These can result in periodic extinction variations accompanied by brightness variations in the primary. Generally, there can be three periodic components. The first component has a period equal to the orbital one and is attributable to the streams of matter penetrating into the inner regions of the binary. The second component has a period that is a factor of 5–8 longer than the orbital one and is related to the density waves generated in a circumbinary (CB) disk. Finally, the third, longest period is attributable to the precession of the inner CB disk regions. The relationship between the amplitudes of these cycles depends on the model parameters as well as on the inclination and orientation of the binary in space. We show that at a dust-togas ratio of 1: 100 and amass extinction coefficient of 250 cm² g^?1, the amplitude of the V-band brightness variations in the primary component can reach 1 ^m at a mass accretion rate onto the binary components of 10.8^?8 M _⊙ yr^?1 and a 10° inclination of the binary plane to the line of sight. We discuss possible applications of the model to young, pre-main-sequence stars.     

A geoelectrical survey of an area under construction near the Moscow–St. Petersburg highway

The results of a geoelectrical survey of the Mshentsy area located in Tver oblast near the Moscow–St. Petersburg express road, which is under construction, are presented. In order to obtain information about the geological composition of the area and the processes that occur in it (karst and water flow zones ), we performed our measurements using the electrical resistivity imaging, self potential survey, water electrical conductivity and temperature measurements. Using petrophysical resistivity modeling of the rocks, taking the geoelectric data into account, we completed a lithology differentiation of the section and calculated the hydraulic conductivity values of the rocks. By interpreting this data, we found a wide distribution of fractured carbonates that compose the lower part of the section of the studied territory. The conclusion was drawn that the Mshentsy area belongs to the intense local karst zone.     

Solving the problem of shock wave attenuation in an obstacle during a contact explosion of a high-energy material charge

A problem of estimation of shock wave attenuation in an obstacle under an explosion of a high-energy material (explosive) charge on its surface is considered. An algorithm for its solution is proposed using the analytical and semiempirical dependences generally recognized in explosion physics.     

Using Models of the Deep Structure of the Earth’s Crust and Upper Mantle Based on GOCE Gravity Data in Metallogenic Analysis

Izvestiya, Atmospheric and Oceanic Physics - Gravimetric data obtained by the GOCE spacecraft contributes to the development of global models of the deep structure of the Earth’s crust and...     

Petrology and structure of the Palaeoproterozoic (1.9 Ga) Rytky nickel sulphide deposit,Central Finland: a comparison with the Kotalahti nickel deposit

The Palaeoproterozoic (1.9 Ga) Rytky and Kotalahti mafic-ultramafic intrusions are located in the contact zone between the Archaean craton and Proterozoic supracrustal rocks. During the second deformation event (D₂) the surrounding country rocks were subjected to intensive metamorphism and deformation associated with the Svecofennian orogeny; the Archaean/Proterozoic boundary controlled both D₂ thrusting and magma ascent. Emplacement of the Rytky and Kotalahti intrusions took place at the culmination of D₂, as shown by the gneiss inclusions with S₂ schistosity within the intrusions. Overthrusting continued after emplacement, with detached fragments of the bodies incorporated into the Archaean gneisses. During the third deformation event (D₃) the originally subhorizontal intrusions were rotated into a subvertical position, so that they now have their stratigraphic top towards the west. The Rytky intrusion is composed mainly of medium- and coarse-grained lherzolite, websterite and gabbronorite. The nickel deposit with pentlandite as the main nickel mineral is associated with the lherzolite and websterite. The coarse-grained lherzolite, websterite and melagabbro represent the first rocks to form, and they contain the nickel sulphide mineralisation. Country rock contamination, as indicated by high TiO₂, P₂O₅, Rb, Zr and light rare earth element contents (LREE), is most pronounced in the marginal part of the intrusion, which was the first to form. The variation in olivine composition (Fo 78.6-84.77 mole %; Ni 630–2386 ppm) and the metal ratio of the sulphide (Ni/Co 19.3 – 50.3) along with the internal stratigraphy of the intrusion indicate an in-situ process of sulphide ore formation.Editorial handling: P. LightfootAn erratum to this article can be found at     

Detection and extraction of signals from the epoch of reionization using higher-order one-point statistics

Detecting redshifted 21-cm emission from neutral hydrogen in the early Universe promises to give direct constraints on the epoch of reionization (EoR). It will, though, be very challenging to extract the cosmological signal (CS) from foregrounds and noise which are orders of magnitude larger. Fortunately, the signal has some characteristics which differentiate it from the foregrounds and noise, and we suggest that using the correct statistics may tease out signatures of reionization. We generate mock data cubes simulating the output of the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) EoR experiment. These cubes combine realistic models for Galactic and extragalactic foregrounds and the noise with three different simulations of the CS. We fit out the foregrounds, which are smooth in the frequency direction, to produce residual images in each frequency band. We denoise these images and study the skewness of the one-point distribution in the images as a function of frequency. We find that, under sufficiently optimistic assumptions, we can recover the main features of the redshift evolution of the skewness in the 21-cm signal. We argue that some of these features – such as a dip at the onset of reionization, followed by a rise towards its later stages – may be generic, and give us a promising route to a statistical detection of reionization.     

Investigation of the evolution of coronal bright points and magnetic field topology

Our investigation has been carried using the instruments onboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) providing a high resolution of images (AIA photographs and HMI magnetograms). We have investigated the structure and magnetic evolution of several coronal bright points and small scale N-S polarity magnetic fluxes closely associated with them. We also compare the evolution of the magnetic polarities of elementary isolated sources of positive and negative fluxes (magnetic bipoles) and coronal bright points. Tiny (“elementary”) coronal bright points have been detected. A standard coronal bright point is shown to be a group of “elementary” coronal bright points that flare up sequentially. Our investigation shows that a change in the magnetic fluxes of opposite polarities is observed before the flare of a coronal bright point. We show that not all cases of the formation of coronal bright points are described by the magnetic reconnection model. This result has not been considered previously and has not been pointed out by other authors.     

Evaluation of significant sources influencing the variation of physico-chemical parameters in Port Blair Bay,South Andaman,India by using multivariate statistics

Port Blair is the capital city of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, the union territory of India. More than 50% of the population of these islands lives around Port Blair Bay. Therefore the anthropogenic effects in the bay water were studied for monitoring purpose from seven stations. Physico-chemical parameters of seawater were analyzed in samples collected once in every 3 months for 2 years from seven sampling stations located in Port Blair Bay, South Andaman Island to evaluate the spatial and tidal variation. Cluster analysis and factor analysis were applied to the experimental data in an attempt to understand the sources of variation of physico-chemical parameters. In cluster analysis, the stations Junglighat Bay and Phoenix Bay having high anthropogenic influence formed a separate group. The factors obtained from factor analysis indicated that the parameters responsible for physico-chemical variations are mainly related to land run-off, sewage outfall and tidal flow.