Effects of the angular momentum of accreting matter on the flow structure in the subsonic settling and Bondi-Hoyle accretion regimes

Previously unexplored accretion regimes associated with the rotation of accreting matter, namely the perturbations of a quasi-spherical subsonic settling flow and Bondi-Hoyle accretion in the presence of axial rotation, are considered within the framework of ideal hydrodynamics. For subsonic settling accretion, the perturbations are shown to grow rapidly as the gravitating center is approached, so that the flow in the inner regions can no longer be considered quasi-spherical. For Bondi-Hoyle accretion, a vacuum cylindrical cavity is shown to be formed at large distances from the gravitating center near the flow axis, with the flow velocity outside this cavity being virtually independent of the distance to the rotation axis.     

On the self-consistent model of an axisymmetric radio pulsar magnetosphere

We consider a model of axisymmetric neutron star magnetospheres. In our approach, the current density in the region of open field lines is constant and the returning current flows in a narrow layer along the separatrix. In this case, the stream equation describing the magnetic field structure is linear both in the open and closed regions; the main problem is matching the solutions along the separatrix. We demonstrate that it is the stability condition on the separatrix that allows us to obtain a unique solution of the problem. In particular, the zero point of magnetic field is shown to be located near the light cylinder. Moreover, the hypothesis of the existence of the non-linear Ohm's Law, connecting the potential drop in the pair creation region and the longitudinal electric current flowing in the magnetosphere, is confirmed.     

The Investigation of Optical Variability on Time Scales of 10-7-102S: Hardware, Software, Results

We present a hardware/software complex for photometric observations with high time resolution. The hardware consists of a detector, a recording system which is a "time - coded" converter, a PC/AT 486 computer and a tape recorder. As a detector we can use any device that provides its output in such a way that for every detected quantum there is a correspondent standard impulse with additional information on the quantum - space coordinates, frequency, polarization, etc. A special "time - coded" converter "Quantochron" registers the quanta arrival times with an accuracy of ± 20 nanoseconds stores in the computer the 16-bit codes as well as the 16-bit codes of additional information. At present, the photometer complex allows to register without distortion the flux events up to 380 kHz. We describe the special methods and software capable of searching and analyzing any type of photon flux intensity variations. The results of the high time resolution investigations of a number of relativistic and fast variable objects, such as black hole candidates, LMXB, pulsars and flare stars, are presented.     

Sand-mediated divergence between shallow reef communities on horizontal and vertical substrata in the western Indian Ocean

Distinctions are rarely made between vertical and horizontal surfaces when assessing reef community composition, yet physical differences are expected because of hydrodynamic differences and sediment accumulation on flat surfaces. As sand often diminishes biotic cover, we hypothesised that vertical surfaces will support a greater biomass but have lower diversity due to domination by a few species. To test this, we quantified sessile communities on vertical and horizontal surfaces at three sites in the Delagoa Bioregion on the east coast of South Africa. Community composition consistently differed: vertical communities were dominated by various filter feeders, especially the ascidian Pyura stolonifera, whereas those on horizontal reef comprised a mixture of filter feeders and various algae. The total number of species and all diversity metrics were significantly greater for horizontal reef surfaces. Contrastingly, Simpson’s dominance and biomass were significantly greater for vertical reef surfaces. Percentage cover of sand explained much of the variation in community composition whereas depth did not. Small-scale topographic differences in substratum orientation associated with differences in sand inundation will therefore influence both α and β diversity. Coastal developments and activities that alter sand movements and delivery to the coastal zone are therefore likely to have a profound influence on the maintenance and diversity of shallow subtidal communities.     

Granite Systems with Rare-Metal Pegmatites

Geology of Ore Deposits - For most rare-metal pegmatite fields, two generations of granitic pegmatites are documented, namely, beryll-bearing (often with tantaloniobates and muscovite, which are...     

Rapid Polarized Emission Variability of Blazar S5 0716+714 in Optical Range

Astronomy Reports - The results of polarimetric observations of blazar S5 0716+714, carried out with the 6-meter BTA telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of...     

Search for fast optical activity of SGR 1806-20 at the SAO RAS 6-m telescope

The region of SGR 1806-20 localization was observed during its gamma-ray activity in 2001. The observations have been performed on the 6-meter telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory, using the Panoramic Photometer-Polarimeter (PPP). The search for variability was performed on the 10⁻⁶–10 s time scale, and its results were compared to the properties of corresponding X-ray flares. This work has been supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (grant No 04-02-17555), Russian Academy of Sciences (program “Evolution of Stars and Galaxies”), and by the Russian Science Support Foundation. The authors would also like to thank the anonymous referee for his/her valuable comments.     

Internal Structure of the Jets from Young Stars Simulated at Plasma Focus Facilities

Astronomy Letters - The laboratory simulations of jets from young stars that have been carried out for many years at plasma focus facilities allow the internal structure of the active regions...     

Search for possible connections between isolated radio pulsars and supernova remnants

We have developed a method of searching for the connections between the isolated radio pulsars and supernova remnants, based on the analysis of their kinematic characteristics. We investigate fairly young (τ _ch ≲ 10⁶ yr) radio pulsars with known proper motions and estimated distances (dispersion measures), and supernova remnants located no more than 1–2 kpc away from them. Using a standard empirical radial velocity distribution, we have constructed 100–200 thousand trajectories for each of these pulsars, tracing back their possible motion in the Galactic gravitational field on a time-scale of a few million years. The probabilities of their close encounters with the SNRs at epochs consistent with the age of the pulsar are analyzed. When these probabilities exceed considerably their reference values, obtained by assuming a purely random encounter between the objects, we conclude that the pulsars may have originated in the SNRs under consideration. Out of eight preselected pairs of pulsar-SNR association candidates, two pairs, J 1829-1751 / G16.2-2.7 and J 1833-0827 / G24.7-0.6 may have a common origin with a high probability.     

Comprehensive systematics of tantalum and tantalo-niobium deposits

A comprehensive systematics of tantalum and tantalo-niobium deposits has been elaborated in form of a table, where three granitoid and one syenitoid igneous series crucial for forecasting of rare-metal-bearing territories are displayed in four columns, and mineralized volcanic and plutonic rocks, pegmatites, and placers critical to ore processing technology are shown in rows. The known and inferred geological and economic types of deposits and their mineralogical subtypes are placed in cells at intersections of rows and columns. The proposed systematics, which combines many attributes, contains a new quality and makes it possible to forecast economic mineralization, including new types that correspond to so far empty cells of the table. Ordinary geological maps and maps of mineral resources are used for this purpose.