Heat blanketing envelopes and thermal radiation of strongly magnetized neutron stars

Strong (B?10⁹ G) and superstrong (B?10¹⁴ G) magnetic fields profoundly affect many thermodynamic and kinetic characteristics of dense plasmas in neutron star envelopes. In particular, they produce strongly anisotropic thermal conductivity in the neutron star crust and modify the equation of state and radiative opacities in the atmosphere, which are major ingredients of the cooling theory and spectral atmosphere models. As a result, both the radiation spectrum and the thermal luminosity of a neutron star can be affected by the magnetic field. We briefly review these effects and demonstrate the influence of magnetic field strength on the thermal structure of an isolated neutron star, putting emphasis on the differences brought about by the superstrong fields and high temperatures of magnetars. For the latter objects, it is important to take proper account of a combined effect of the magnetic field on thermal conduction and neutrino emission at densities ρ?10¹⁰ g?cm^?3. We show that the neutrino emission puts a B-dependent upper limit on the effective surface temperature of a cooling neutron star.     

Investigations of space debris at Terskol observatory

Within the framework of the “Astronomy in the Elbrus Region” international program, investigations of space debris objects using optical measurements are carried out at the observation complex of the Zeiss-2000 telescope (developed by the International Center for Astronomical and Medico-Ecological Research, National Academy of Sciences, Ukraine) at Terskol Observatory. The objectives of this study are to detect, catalog, and determine the physical characteristics of small-sized space debris fragments, maintain orbit catalogs, and investigate the influence of nongravitational perturbations on the orbital motion and the evolution of orbits of these fragments.     

A new key pole for the East European Craton at 1452 Ma: Palaeomagnetic and geochronological constraints from mafic rocks in the Lake Ladoga region (Russian Karelia)

Palaeomagnetic and geochronological studies on mafic rocks in the Lake Ladoga region in South Russian Karelia provide a new, reliably dated Mesoproterozoic key paleopole for the East European Craton (Baltica). U–Pb dating on baddeleyite gives a crystallisation age of 1452 ± 12 Ma for one of the studied dolerite dykes. A mean palaeomagnetic pole for the Mesoproterozoic dolerite dykes, Valaam sill and Salmi basalts yields a paleopole at 15.2°N, 177.1°E, A₉₅ = 5.5°. Positive baked contact test for the dolerite dykes and positive reversal test for the Salmi basalts and for the dykes confirm the primary nature of the magnetisation. Comparison of this Baltica palaeopole with coeval paleomagnetic data for Laurentia and Siberia provides a revised palaeoposition of these cratons. The results verify that the East European Craton, Laurentia and Siberia were part of the supercontinent Columbia from the Late Palaeoproterozoic to the Middle Neoproterozoic.     

Statistical properties of the atmospheric turbulent boundary layer over steep surface waves

A new method of digital optical anemometry (Particle Image Velocimetry, PIV) of turbulent flows is suggested and implemented in the laboratory; it is based on the use of continuous laser radiation and high-speed video photography, providing continuous statistical ensembles of flow velocity fields. Application of the method to the study of wind field over waves has allowed us to perform, for the first time, direct measurements of velocity fields, averaged over turbulent pulsations induced by waves in the air flow. The experiments demonstrated that the velocity fields, averaged over the turbulent pulsations, are nonseparated even in the case of steep and breaking waves, when separation of the flow from the wave crests in the instantaneous fields is observed. Based on comparison with the experimental data, it is shown that the average wind fields over waves are described well quantitatively in the framework of semiempirical closure models of turbulence.     

Impact of subgrid-scale vegetation heterogeneity on the simulation of carbon-cycle characteristics

The carbon cycle module of the global climate model developed at the Obukhov Institute of Atmospheric Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences (IAP RAS CM) has been extended by implementing the subgrid-scale heterogeneity (SH) of plant functional types (PFTs). It is found that subgrid-scale PFT heterogeneity enhances the photosynthesis intensity and increases vegetation and soil carbon stocks in grass-dominated regions. In forest-dominated regions, photosynthesis is suppressed and vegetation and soil carbon stocks are diminished. Regionally, accounting for subgrid-scale vegetation heterogeneity may lead to twofold changes in these variables. On the whole, accounting for subgrid-scale PFT heterogeneity enhances (suppresses) the carbon flux in regions where it is directed from terrestrial ecosystems to the atmosphere (from the atmosphere to terrestrial ecosystems).     

Zircon trace element characteristics and ages in granulite xenoliths: a key to understanding the age and origin of the lower crust,Arkhangelsk kimberlite province,Russia

Garnet granulite and pyroxenite xenoliths from the Grib kimberlite pipe (Arkhangelsk, NW Russia) represent the lower crust beneath Russian platform in close vicinity to the cratonic region of the north-eastern Baltic (Fennoscandian) Shield. Many of the xenoliths have experienced strong interaction with the kimberlite host, but in others some primary granulite-facies minerals are preserved. Calculated bulk compositions for the granulites suggest that their protoliths were basic to intermediate igneous rocks; pyroxenites were ultrabasic to basic cumulates. A few samples are probably metasedimentary in origin. Zircons are abundant in the xenoliths; they exhibit complex zoning in cathodoluminescence with relic cores and various metamorphic rims. Cores include oscillatory zircon crystallized in magmatic protoliths, and metamorphic and magmatic sector-zoned zircons. Recrystallization of older zircons led to the formation of bright homogeneous rims. In some samples, homogeneous shells are surrounded by darker convoluted overgrowths that were formed by subsolidus growth when a change in mineral association occurred. The source of Zr was a phase consumed during a reaction, which produced garnet. Late-generation zircons in all xenoliths show concordant U–Pb ages of 1.81–1.84 Ga (1,826 ± 11 Ma), interpreted as the age of last granulite-facies metamorphism. This event completely resets most zircon cores. An earlier metamorphic event at 1.96–1.94 Ga is recorded by some rare cores, and a few magmatic oscillatory zircons have retained a Neoarchaean age of 2,719 ± 14 Ma. The assemblage of metaigneous and metasedimentary rocks was probably formed before the event at 1.96 Ga. Inherited magmatic zircons indicate the existence of continental crust by the time of intrusion of magmatic protoliths in the Late Archaean. The U–Pb zircon ages correspond to major events recorded in upper crustal rocks of the region: collisional metamorphism and magmatism 2.7 Ga ago and reworking of Archaean rocks at around 1.95–1.75 Ga. However, formation of the granulitic paragenesis in lower crustal rocks occurred significantly later than the last granulite-facies event seen in the upper crust and correlates instead with retrograde metamorphism and small-volume magmatism in the upper crust.     

A steady state of the disc dynamo

Abstract

We discuss the steady states of the αω-dynamo in a thin disc which arise due to α-quenching. Two asymptotic regimes are considered, one for the dynamo numberD near the generation thresholdD ₀, and the other for |D| ? 1. Asymptotic solutions for |D—D ₀| ? |D ₀| have a rather universal character provided only that the bifurcation is supercritical. For |D| ? 1 the asymptotic solution crucially depends on whether or not the mean helicity α, as a function ofB, has a positive root (hereB is the mean magnetic field). When such a root exists, the field value in the major portion of the disc is O(l), while near the disc surface thin boundary layers appear where the field rapidly decreases to zero (if the disc is surrounded by vacuum). Otherwise, when α = O(|B|^?s) for |B| → ∞, we demonstrate that |B| = O(|D|^1/s ) and the solution is free of boundary layers. The results obtained here admit direct comparison with observations of magnetic fields in spiral galaxies, so that an appropriate model of nonlinear galactic dynamos hopefully could be specified.     

The unique eclipsing system KH 15D: New photometric data

We present results of photometric observations of the young eclipsing system KH 15D made during two observational seasons, 2002–2004. A comparison of our data with the earlier results of Hamilton et al. and Herbst et al. reveals the existence of a multiyear photometric trend in the brightness: over a period of 5 years the brightness of the system in the I_c band decreased by almost 1 stellar magnitude. It is also shown that the systematic variations in the eclipse parameters reported by Herbst et al. continue to the present. The shape of the light curve has not changed significantly and, as before, it is characterized by a slight brightening in the central portion of the eclipses. These results are discussed in the context of current models for KH 15D.Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 48, No. 1, pp. 5–14 (February 2005).