Jitter radiation images, spectra and light curves from a relativistic spherical blastwave

We consider radiation emitted by the jitter mechanism in a Blandford–McKee self-similar blastwave. We assume the magnetic field configuration throughout the whole blastwave meets the condition for the emission of jitter radiation and we compute the ensuing images, light curves and spectra. The calculations are performed for both a uniform and a wind environment. We compare our jitter results to synchrotron results. We show that jitter radiation produces slightly different spectra than synchrotron, in particular between the self-absorption and the peak frequency, where the jitter spectrum is flat, while the synchrotron spectrum grows as  ν^1/3  . The spectral difference is reflected in the early decay slope of the light curves. We conclude that jitter and synchrotron afterglows can be distinguished from each other with good quality observations. However, it is unlikely that the difference can explain the peculiar behaviour of several recent observations, such as flat X-ray slopes and uncorrelated optical and X-ray behaviour.     

Project to optimize the Simeiz-1873 LSR Optical System

We present results of the investigation of efficiency of optical channels of the Laser Satellite Ranger (LSR) Simeiz-1873. A prospective modification of the optical system allowing a significant increase in the efficiency of the station is proposed. Methods of the simultaneous probing of satellites at two wavelengths, 1064 and 532 nm, and a method of control of the active aperture of the telescope are presented.     

The brightness of the galactic radio loops at 1420 MHz: Some indications for the existence of Loops V and VI

In this article we use 1420 MHz data to demonstrate the likely reality of Galactic radio Loops V and VI. We further estimate distances and spectral indices for both these and the four main radio loops. In the cases of Loops I–IV, radio spectral indices are calculated from the mean brightnesses at 1420 and 820/404 MHz. The spectral indices of Loops V and VI are obtained from T –T plots between 1420 and 408 MHz. Using the supernova remnant (SNR) hypothesis for the origin of radio loops, distances are calculated from the surface brightnesses and the angular diameters at 1420 MHz. We also study how results for brightnesses and distances of radio loops agree with current theories of SNR evolution. For this purpose, the ambient density and initial explosion energy of the loops are discussed. We also discuss applications of different Σ–D relations. The results obtained confirm a non‐thermal origin and nearby locations for the Galactic radio loops. Therefore, we have indications that they are very old SNRs that evolve in low ambient densities, with high initial explosion energies. (© 2008 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Imaging Observations of Quasi-Periodic Pulsatory Nonthermal Emission in Two-Ribbon Solar Flares

Using RHESSI and some auxiliary observations we examine possible connections between the spatial and temporal structure of nonthermal hard X-ray (HXR) emission sources from the two-ribbon flares of 29 May 2003 and 19 January 2005. In each of these events quasi-periodic pulsations (QPP) with time period of 1 – 3 minutes are evident in both hard X rays and microwaves. The sources of nonthermal HXR emission are situated mainly at the footpoints of the flare arcade loops observed by TRACE and the SOHO/EIT instrument in the EUV range. At least one of the sources moves systematically during and after the QPP phase in each flare. The sources move predominantly parallel to the magnetic inversion line during the 29 May flare and along flare ribbons during the QPP phase of both flares. By contrast, the sources start to show movement perpendicular to the flare ribbons with velocity comparable to that along the ribbons’ movement after the QPP phase. The sources of each pulse are localized in distinct parts of the ribbon during the QPP phase. The measured velocity of the sources and the estimated energy release rate do not correlate well with the flux of the HXR emission calculated from these sources. The sources of microwaves and thermal HXRs are situated near the apex of the flare loop arcade and are not stationary either. Almost all of the QPP as well as some pulses of nonthermal HXR emission during the post-QPP phase reveal soft – hard – soft spectral behavior, indicating separate acts of electron acceleration and injection. In our opinion at least two different flare scenarios based on the Nakariakov et al. (2006, Astron. Astrophys. 452, 343) model and on the idea of current-carrying loop coalescence are suitable for interpreting the observations. However, it is currently not possible to choose between them owing to observational limitations.     

Star formation history in the central region of the barred galaxy NGC 4245

We have investigated the gas and stellar kinematics and the stellar population properties at the center of the early-type galaxy NGC 4245 with a large-scale bar by the method of two-dimensional spectroscopy. The galaxy has been found to possess a pronounced chemically decoupled compact stellar nucleus, which is at least a factor of 2.5 richer in metals than the stellar population of the bulge, and a ring of young stars with a radius of 300 pc. Star formation goes on in the ring even now; its location corresponds to the inner Lindblad resonance of the large-scale bar. According to Hubble Space Telescope data, the mean stellar age in the chemically decoupled nucleus is significantly younger than that within 0″.25 of the center. It may be concluded that we take the former ultracompact star formation ring with a radius of no more than 100 pc located at the inner Lindblad resonance of the now disappeared nuclear bar as the chemically decoupled nucleus. On the whole, the picture of star formation at the center of this gas-poor galaxy is consistent with theoretical predictions of the consequences of the secular evolution of a stellar-gaseous disk under the action of a bar or bars.     

Photometric function variations observed on the near side of the Moon: Mapping

During two lunations, telescopic imaging of the near side of the Moon was performed at the Maidanak mountain observatory (Uzbekistan) with the use of digital cameras based on CMOS detectors. In different ranges of phase angles, the slope of the phase function of the lunar surface was mapped at a wavelength of 0.52 μm with the method of phase ratios. It has been shown that when the phase angle is gradually decreasing, the correlation between the phase-function slope and the albedo first disappears, and then even changes its sign at small phase angles.     

Hierarchy of periodic solutions families of spatial Hill’s problem

Many modern space projects require the knowledge of orbits with certain properties. Most of these projects assume the motion of a space vehicle in the neighborhood of a celestial body, which in turn moves in the field of the Sun or another massive celestial body. A good approximation of this situation is Hill’s problem. This paper is devoted to the investigation of the families of spatial periodic solutions to the three-dimensional Hill’s problem. This problem is nonintegrable; therefore, periodic solutions are studied numerically. The Poincare theory of periodic solutions of the second kind is applied; either planar or vertical impact orbits are used as generating solutions.     

Dependence of the acceleration of the outer edge of a stellar envelope on supernova explosion energy

Based on numerical simulations of a supernova explosion, we investigate the shock-wave breakout through the stellar surface. The computations have been performed in a wide range of explosion energies and presupernova masses. The results are compared with the classical Gandelman-Frank-Kamenetsky self-similar solution. We have determined the dependence of an arbitrary coefficient in the self-similar solution on the explosion energy and presupernova structure. The derived analytical approximation formula for this coefficient can be used to estimate the supernova explosion energy from such parameters of the ejected envelope determined from astronomical observations as its maximum expansion velocity and the density distribution along its outer edge. The formula may prove to be also useful in studying the X-ray and gamma-ray bursts that accompany the shock-wave breakout through the surface of compact presupernovae.     

Two new large-separation gravitational lenses from SDSS

We present discovery images, together with follow-up imaging and spectroscopy, of two large-separation gravitational lenses found by our survey for wide arcs [the CAmbridge Sloan Survey Of Wide ARcs in the skY (CASSOWARY)]. The survey exploits the multicolour photometry of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey to find multiple blue components around red galaxies. CASSOWARY 2 (or 'the Cheshire Cat') is composed of two massive early-type galaxies at   z = 0.426  and 0.432, respectively, lensing two background sources, the first a star-forming galaxy at   z = 0.97  and the second a high -redshift galaxy  ( z > 1.4)  . There are at least three images of the former source and probably four or more of the latter, arranged in two giant arcs. The mass enclosed within the larger arc of radius ∼11 arcsec is  ∼33 × 10¹² M_⊙  . CASSOWARY 3 comprises an arc of three bright images of a   z = 0.725  source, lensed by a foreground elliptical at   z = 0.274  . The radius of the arc is ∼4 arcsec and the enclosed mass is  ∼2.5 × 10¹² M_⊙  . Together with earlier discoveries like the Cosmic Horseshoe and the 8 o'clock Arc, these new systems, with separations intermediate between the arcsecond-separation lenses of typical strong galaxy lensing and arcminute-separation cluster lenses, probe the very high end of the galaxy mass function.