The Sunyaev-Zel’dovich effect in elliptical galaxies

The history of the discovery of hot gas in galaxies is briefly reviewed, and the main properties of this gas described, emphasizing the need to refine these properties, in particular, the mass of the gas. It is proposed to do this via observations of the Sunyaev-Zel’dovich (SZ) effect due to hot gas in the coronas of elliptical galaxies. The absolute and relative perturbations of the spectrum of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation due to scattering of the CMB photons by electrons with a Maxwellian energy distribution are calculated. The possibility of observing the SZ effect is demonstrated using three elliptical galaxies as examples. The kinematic SZ effect arising due to the peculiar motions and rotations of the galaxies is also accessible to observations. Together with X-ray data, such observations would enable refinement of the properties of gas in galaxies, and also yield additional information about the rotation of galaxies, possible accretion flows in the galactic gas, and hot galactic winds.     

Normative quartz as an indicator of the mass transfer intensity during the postmagmatic alteration of the Botuobinskaya pipe kimberlites (Yakutia)

The intensity of postmagmatic processes in the Botuobinskaya pipe kimberlites was estimated from the calculated content of normative secondary quartz (Q). Several simple algorithms are proposed to calculate the Q content from chemical analyses of kimberlites. Ten groups of altered kimberlites have been recognized from the Q contents. The contents of MgO, some trace elements, and LREE in the groups, the contents of Cr and Ca of crimson garnets, the diamond contents of kimberlites, and the average weight of diamonds decrease as the Q content increases. It is shown that the negative SiO₂–MgO correlation is the most effective indicator of the postmagmatic alteration of kimberlites. As the degree of their secondary alteration increases, the kimberlites transform into an assemblage of quartz and clay minerals enriched in some trace elements and almost completely lacking REE and diamonds.     

Soil-to-dwelling radon isotope ratio in the Baikal region

Relations between indoor and soil gas radon were experimentally studied in villages of the Baikal region. On the basis of the obtained data, the soil-to-indoor radon ratio was calculated, which can be used for prediction of radon pollution in buildings of the same kind.     

Climatic changes and alluvial-sedimentation settings in southeastern Transbaikalia in the Middle-Late Holocene (by the example of the Ilya floodplain)

Climatic changes in southeastern Transbaikalia in the Middle and Late Holocene and their influence on alluvial sedimentation environments are reconstructed from the results of study of the Ilya floodplain sediments (Alkhanai National Park). At the beginning of the Subboreal period, the regional climate became more arid, which led to a significant increase in steppe species communities in the landscapes. Intense climate aridization also took place at the beginning and at the end of the Subatlantic period of the Holocene. The alluvial-sedimentation rate increased during the weakening of aridization and decreased during cooling and the intensification of aridization. The obtained regional data are compared with data on the adjacent areas and the global climatic changes in the Northern Hemisphere.     

Long-term variability of a complete sample of flat-spectrum radio sources at declinations of 4°–6° (B1950)

We present the results of twenty-year observations of a complete sample of 68 flat-spectrum radio sources with flux densities S _{3.9 GHz} > 200 mJy carried out at centimeter wavelengths with the RATAN-600 radio telescope. Since 1995, we have observed simultaneously at six frequencies between 0.97 and 21.7 GHz. Of the 56 sources identified with optical objects, 41 are quasars with redshifts between 0.293 and 3.263. Based on our analysis of the spectral shapes, we divide the sources into four classes. Changes of spectral class for individual sources are fairly rare. Based on the light curves and spectra, in most cases, a flare’s evolution is in accordance with a model in which the variations result from the evolution of a shock in the radio jet. The main result of our study is that there is no redshift dependence for the true linear sizes of the radiating regions, the variability indices derived for all 20 years of data or for individual flares, or the peak frequencies of the spectra of the compact radio emission. We suggest that this testifies to an absence of cosmological evolution of the sample quasars, at least to z ≈ 3.     

The mass of the compact object in the X-ray binary her X-1/HZ her

We have obtained the first estimates of the masses of the components of the Her X-1/HZ Her X-ray binary system taking into account non-LTE effects in the formation of the H _γ absorption line: m _x = 1.8 M _⊙ and m _v = 2.5 M _⊙. These mass estimates were made in a Roche model based on the observed radial-velocity curve of the optical star, HZ Her. The masses for the X-ray pulsar and optical star obtained for an LTE model lie are m _x = 0.85 ± 0.15 M _⊙ and m _v = 1.87 ± 0.13 M _⊙. These mass estimates for the components of Her X-1/HZ Her derived from the radial-velocity curve should be considered tentative. Further mass estimates from high-precision observations of the orbital variability of the absorption profiles in a non-LTE model for the atmosphere of the optical component should be made.