Multicolor photoelectric and photographic observations of the long-period variable Y Ori

Results of observations of the long-period variable Y Ori are presented. The photoelectric observations in UBVR were made at the 60-cm telescope of the high-altitude Maydanak station of the Tashkent Astronomical Institute during the autumn of 1989. The UBVR lightcurves as well as the variations in the color indices U-B, B-V, and V-R are presented. The photographic observations were made at the 40 Schmidt telescope of the Byurakan Observatory and at the 70-cm Maksutov telescope of the Abastumani Observatory. A nebulosity was discovered around Y Ori in red light near the brightness maximum. Such a formation is observed for the first time, not only for Y Ori but also for long-period variables in general. The obtained results are discussed in this work.Translated fromAstrofizika, Vol. 38, No. 1, pp. 5–15, January–March, 1995.     

GRBs in the 5-10 keV regime as seen by BATSE

The BATSE Spectroscopy Detectors (SDs) each have a thin beryllium window which allows detection of photons down to 5 keV. Until recently, exploitation of low-energy SD discriminator data has been held up by a lack of knowledge of its energy coverage. A recent series of in-flight changes in the instrument configuration has allowed the SD discriminators to be calibrated fairly accurately. With this in hand, we have surveyed BATSE GRBs for such features as X-ray precursors and after-glows in the roughly 5-10 keV band. For a large percentage of the BATSE bursts, no emission is observed in this energy band. In some cases where low-energy emission has been observed, ratios of flux histories indicate differential spectral evolution. In addition, we have obtained joint spectral fits between the low-energy data and the regular SD data, showing that a single spectral model is sometimes insufficient to fit the entire energy range.     

The BATSE search for absorption lines

No absorption lines between 15 and 100 keV have been detected in burst spectra accumulated by BATSE. Almost 250 bursts have been inspected visually, and a computerized search has begun. Our simulations show that BATSE could indeed detect lines similar to those observed byGinga in strong bursts, and our tests of the detectors' actual capabilities demonstrate they function as understood. The apparent discrepancy between BATSE andGinga is not yet compelling, and therefore the BATSE nondetections do not invalidate theGinga detections. Nonetheless, the absence of BATSE line detections indicates a low line-occurrence frequency.     

Cosmic ray fluctuations in compressible turbulent medium

The influence of compressibility of the medium on cosmic ray (CR) fluctuations has been investigated. The CR transport equation has been used to obtain an equation for the second moment of CR particle density (correlation function of the particle density). It is shown that the effects due to the compressibility of the medium has an essential influence on CR fluctuations. The relations between CR power spectra and random velocity field have been determined. For the turbulence which is created by an ensemble of weak sound waves we have obtained the connection between the spectral indices of CR power spectra and the velocity field. It is shown that the spectral indices of CR power spectra and the velocity field of random sound waves coincide.     

The Mauritius Radiotelescope

The Mauritius Radiotelescope (MRT) is a T-shaped array of helical antennas with a 2048 m EW arm and a 890 m South arm. The primary objective of the telescope is to produce a sky survey in the declination zone -15° to -65° with a point source sensitivity of 200 mJy and an angular resolution of 4'×4.6'cosec(z) at 151.6 MHz, z being the zenith angle . This paper describes the telescope and the present status     

Magnetic reconnection model for X-ray flare loop interaction

The subtle interactions between the magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) and transverse plasmons are investigated. It is shown that there is a resistive instability by the plasmon's soliton in a current sheet, which eventually turns into an eruptive instability at the magnetic field reconnection. In the case of ion-acoustic turbulence, the high temperature current sheet model must adopt the aromalous conductivity instead of the Coulomb conductivity. The numerical results are consistent with the observations obtained by Hanaoka (1994). Thus the flare caused by X-ray loop coalescence can be basically interpreted by this model of magnetic field reconnection driven by ponderomotive force.     

Observations of pulsating Ap stars in South Africa

The rapidly oscillating Ap (roAp) stars currently represent the only main sequence stars other than the Sun which exhibit non-radial acoustic pulsations of high overtone. This makes them excellent subjects for asteroseismology, an approach which promises to yield accurate knowledge of the interior structures of stars. Of the 27 known roAp stars, 24 were discovered in Sutherland despite extensive searches conducted elsewhere. This paper reviews the discovery of the roAp phenomenon and describes the factors that contribute to the high discovery rate for these stars at Sutherland. Two long-term observational projects in progress at Sutherland are discussed,viz. the Cape roAp Star Survey and long-term monitoring of frequency variations in roAp stars.     

Formation of spectral lines in stellar atmospheres. Linear and nonlinear theory

The present paper represents a short review of some directions of radiative transfer theory in spectral lines (RTSL) concerning investigations of authors in this field.Published in Astrofizika, Vol. 38, No. 4, pp. 565–571, October–December, 1995.     

Microwave enhancement in coronal holes: Statistical properties

We report on the statistical properties of the microwave enhancement (brightness temperature, area, fine structure, life time and magnetic field strength) in coronal holes observed over a period of several solar rotations.