A magnetospheric storm with a nearly constant input rate for about 24 hours

We examine time variations of the total magnetospheric output U_T and the two geomagnetic indices AE and Dst during the magnetospheric storm of 31 December 1967–1 January 1968. A unique feature of this particular storm is that the solar-wind magnetosphere dynamo power ε was nearly constant for about 24 h by maintaining a high value of ～10¹⁹ erg s^?1. It is found that U_T was also nearly constant during that period, indicating that the magnetosphere is primarily a directly driven system. However, during an early epoch of the storm, the electrojet intensity levelled off, while the ring current began to grow during the same epoch. Subsequently, there occurred a sudden surge of the electrojet intensity, while the growth of the ring-current levelled off. Later variations of both the AE and Dst indices were very complex. After the surge, the AE index continued to decline and became as low as ~250 nT during the maximum epoch of this major storm (when the Dst decrease attained the maximum values). This trend can also be seen in many other major storms, but is often masked by changes of ε. One possible cause for such features for ε ? 10¹⁹erg/s^?1 is that the neutral wind is generated by the $\text{(}\text{E × B}\text{)}$ motion in the lower ionosphere, reducing the electrojet intensity and enhancing the ring-current particle-injection rate.     

The global joule heat production rate and the AE index

The accuracy of the AE index as a measure of the joule heat production rate is examined for a typical substorm event on 18 March 1978 by estimating the global joule heat production rate, as a function of time, using data obtained from the IMS six meridian chains. In spite of the fact that the AE index had had an initial slow growth which was followed by a rapid growth, the joule heat production rate attained a high level during the slow growth and thus their variations were considerably different from those of the AE index. Therefore, although the AE index is statistically linearly related to the global joule heat production rate, one should be cautious in assuming that details of time variations of the AE index during individual events represent those of the joule heat production rate.     

Has the crab pulsar magnetic field grown after its birth?

We investigate the evolution of rotation period and spindown age of a pulsar whose surface magnetic field undergoes a phase of growth. Application of these results to the Crab pulsar strongly indicates that its parameters cannot be accounted for by the field growth theories.     

Thermal imbalance effects on pulsational stability in stellar models

The treatment followed by Coxet al. (1973) for the estimation of the effects of thermal imbalance on the pulsational stability of stars is applied to Roche and point source (Chandrika Prashad) model. The calculations suggest that the eigenvalues obtained for the above model are correct to 0(t _ff/t_s). The expressions for stability coefficients and corresponding eigenfunctions for the stars in thermal imbalance for the above models have also been derived.     

Accumulation of Zn,Cu and Cd by crabs and barnacles

The crab Carcinus maenas (L.) and the barnacle Elminius modestus Darwin were exposed to a range of dissolved concentrations of Zn, Cu and Cd for 21 days in artificial seawater. Accumulation of Zn and Cu by crabs has been interpreted in terms of the presence of a regulation mechanism to maintain constant body concentrations (83·2 ± 19·4 μg Zn g^?1 dry wt.; 39·8 ± 9·8 μg Cu g^?1 dry wt.) under varying external dissolved metal levels, until a threshold dissolved metal concentration (c. 400 μg Zn l^?1; c. 170 μg Cu l^?1) beyond which net accumulation of metal begins. Cadium appears to be accumulated by C. maenas at all exposures with no evidence for regulation of body cadmium concentrations. Exposure of E. modestus to Zn, Cu or Cd caused net accumulation of the respective metal in the bodies of the barnacles, with no evidence for regulation of body metal concentrations.     

Astrometry from space: GAIA and planet detection

The proposed baseline GAIA mission will be able to detect the astrometric signature of Jupiter-size planets around of the order of a million stars, using either global or narrow-angle astrometry. If the mission can realize the higher astrometric accuracy that photon statistics allows for bright stars, lower-mass planets (from Earth size to ten times larger) can be found around ten to a few hundred stars.     

Analytical and numerical analysis of the generalized Shkarofsky function

The main analytical properties of the generalized Shkarofsky function and a numerical code for its computation are discussed. The results of a numerical analysis are compared with the results of an asymptotic analysis for parameter values relevant to the problem of whistler-mode propagation in the Earth's magnetosphere. This comparison allows us to specify the range of applicability of different approximations to the generalized Shkarofsky function, which have been used for the analysis of relativistic effects on whistler-mode propagation and instability.     

Observations and recommendations of the second un/esa workshop on basic space science

Observations and recommendations of the second un/esa workshop on basic space science