Photometric and Spectroscopic Study of the Variable Star ET And

The short-periodic spectroscopic and photometric variations and the frequency ratio of 1:2 suggest the existence of a triple system for ET And, though some serious difficulties continue to exist in explaining all observational facts. Assuming a triple, the observable star is the primary of a very close, ellipsoidal binary system. Under this assumption the star cannot be a main-sequence B9 star as usually assumed. It should be a star located in the domain of the horizontal branch stars in the HR diagram possessing a thin and expanding envelope. Spektroskopische und photometrische Beobachtungen des variablen Sterns ET And wurden in den Jahren 1981/82 ausgeführt. Zusätzlich zu der bekannten periodischen Variation der Radialgeschwindigkeit von 48.308 Tagen, hervorgerufen durch einen Begleiter und der wahrscheinlich von der Rotation des Sterns herrührenden photometrischen Periode von 1.61883 Tagen, existieren weitere periodische Variationen. So variieren die Radialgeschwindigkeiten mit einer Periode von 0.1989 Tagen und die photometrischen Werte mit der Hälfte dieses Wertes, d. h. mit 0.0994 Tagen. Die Minima der Helligkeit koinzidieren mit den Extrema der Radialgeschwindigkeiten. Die Radialgeschwindigkeitskurve weicht etwas von der Harmonischen ab; die Werte steigen rascher an, als sie abfallen. Das gleiche Verhalten liegt auch für den entsprechenden Teil der Lichtkurve vor. Die kurzperiodischen spektroskopischen und photometrischen Variationen und das Frequenzverhältnis 1:2 legen die Existenz eines Dreifachsystems für ET And nahe, obwohl für die Erklärung aller Beobachtungswerte einige ernste Schwierigkeiten fortbestehen. Vorausgesetzt der Stern sei ein Dreifachsystem, dann ist der beobachtete Stern die Hauptkomponente eines sehr engen ellipsoidalen Systems und kann nicht ein Hauptsequenz-B9-Stern sein, wie allgemein angenommen wird. Vermutlich handelt es sich bei ET And um einen Vertreter der Gruppe der Horizontalsterne im HR-Diagramm, welcher noch eine dünne, expandierende Hülle besitzt.     

Photometry and spectrophotometry of magnetic stars

A review of selected photometric and spectrophotometric properties of magnetic stars is given. It is shown that unreddened B–V of magnetic stars around B9 type can be transformed to log T_e using the calibration for normal stars and no systematic errors are introduced. Mechanisms of light variability are discussed. It is concluded that different mechanisms must be operating in different stars. Recently obtained photometric observations of short-period variability by KURTZ and Hβ variability by MADEJ et al. are discussed. An information about internal structure and the atmospheric structure of these stars can be derived from these observations.     

On the interaction of internal gravity waves with a magnetic field – I. Artificial wave forcing

We present results from numerical simulations of the interaction of internal gravity waves (IGW) with a magnetic field. In accordance with the dispersion relation governing IGW in the presence of magnetism and rotation, when the IGW frequency is approximately that of the Alfvén frequency, strong reflection of the wave occurs. Such strong reflection markedly changes the angular momentum transport properties of the waves. In these simple models a strong, time-independent shear layer develops, in contrast to the oscillating shear layer that develops in the purely hydrodynamic case.     

Red-violet asymmetry in pearl satellites' birth

A high resolution numerical sonagram of Pc-1 magnetic record has shown that single narrow lines of Pc-1 spectra produce lower frequency (“red-shifted”) satellite lines more than twice as often as their higher frequency (“violet”) counterparts. The violet satellites usually emerge only when at least two ancestor lines are present simultaneously.     

Mid-latitude electron content modelling: The role of interhemispheric coupling

A modelling study of the electron content of the mid-latitude ionosphere and protonosphere has been carried out for solstice conditions using the mathematical model of Bailey (1983). In the model calculations coupled time-dependent O⁺, H⁺ continuity and momentum equations and O⁺, H⁺ and electron heat balance equations are solved for a magnetic shell extending over both hemispheres. The inclusion of interhemispheric flow of plasma and of heat balance has enabled us to investigate the role of interhemispheric coupling on the electron content and related shape parameters. The computed results are compared with results from slant path observations of the ATS-6 radio beacon made at Lancaster (U.K.) and Boulder, Colorado (U.S.A.).It has been found that the conjugate photoelectron heating has a major effect on the shape of the daily variation of slant slab thickness (τ) and also on the magnitude of the protonospheric content (N_p). Some of the main features of τ are closely related to the sunrise and sunset times in the conjugate ionosphere. Also it is found that night-time increases in total electron content (N_T) and F2 region peak electron density (N_max) in winter are natural consequences of ionization loss at low altitudes causing an enhanced downward flow of plasma from the protonosphere which is coupled to the summer hemisphere. One other important consequence of the coupled protonosphere is that the effects on N_T of the neutral air wind are not much different in winter from those in summer.     

Pc1-2 Discrete regular daytime pulsation bursts at high latitudes

A family of related Pc1-2 (0.2–10 s) discrete daytime geomagnetic pulsations is presented using pulsation data obtained at Davis, Antarctica, a typical polar-cap station. The morphological properties of IPRP and Pclb pulsation regimes, which maximize in amplitude and frequency of occurrence under the projection of the polar cusp, are examined. Furthermore, two other variations of discrete pulsation bursts yet to be named are also presented, viz IPFP (Intervals of Pulsations with Falling Period) and IPAP (Intervals of Pulsations with Alternating Period) which are observed on rare occasions. It is also suggested that the Pc1b (0.2–5 s) should be extended to incorporate Pc2b (5–10 s) which from the results in this paper are physically the same phenomenon and could be collectively classified as IPCP (Intervals of Pulsations with Constant Period).     

Oscillatory free-convective flow of an elastico-viscous fluid past an impulsively started infinite vertical porous plate,II

In this work we present the two-dimensional free-convective flow of an elastico-viscous fluid past an infinite vertical porous plate for the Stokes problem when the flow is subjected to a constant suction velocity through the porous plate. As the mean steady flow has been presented in Part I, obly the solution for the transient velocity profiles, transient temperature profiles, the amplitude and the phase of the skin-friction and the rate of heat transfer are presented in this work. As in the case of mean steady flow, the influence of the various parameters on the unsteady flow field is discussed for both the cases cooling and heating of the porous plate by free-convection currents.     

Hall effects on MHD free-convection flow past an accelerated vertical porous plate

The effect of Hall currents on the hydromagnetic free-convection flow of an electrically conducting and incompressible viscous fluid past a uniformly accelerated infinite vertical porous plate is discussed. The magnetic Reynolds number is assumed to be small so that the induced magnetic field can be neglected. The governing equations of the flow are solved by defining a complex velocity with the help of the Laplace transform method when the Prandtl number is equal to unity. The influence of the various parameters on the unsteady flow field is presented for both the cases, cooling and heating of the porous plate by free-convection currents.     

Comet Halley's dust drag perturbing the Giotto spacecraft

Hypervelocity impact sputter causes impulses substantially greater than the initial momenta of micro-grains of comet Halley's dust coma, the effective factor being discontinuous at the dust mass (0.2 g) that just penetrates the spacecraft bumper shield. Marginally non-penetrating grains determine the net drag and torque, calculated here for the Giotto shield and exposed components. The torque due to asymmetries induces a precession of the spacecraft axis, whose amplitude is solved for passage through the model dust coma, to find slowly damped oscillations of significant (1°) amplitude.     

On the supernova remnants produced by pulsars

We conclude that pulsar-driven supernova remnants (SNRs) are extremely rare objects. Indeed an analysis of the known sample of plerions suggests a very low birthrate ∼ 1 in 240 years. Long-lived and bright plerions like the Crab nebula are likely to be produced only when the pulsar has an initial period ∼ 10–20 milliseconds and a field ∼ 10¹² G. Such pulsars inside rapidly expanding shell remnants should also produce detectable plerions. The extreme rarity of SNRs with such hybrid morphology leads us to conclude that these pulsars must have been born with an initial period larger than ∼ 35–70 milliseconds. Joint Astronomy Program, Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560012.