Inner part observation of theβ pictoris disk

The inner regions of the circumstellar disk around Pictoris might be dust-free due to a possible planet which may have cleared up dust particles. We present a new observational technique based on the use of an anti-blooming CCD in order to directly image this zone. The structure of the disk is revealed down to 2 arcsec from the star (30 AU). We show that the Pic disk brightness is neutral inV, R, andI _C , but drops down when going inward inB, possibly related to a change in the dust composition. Also, a slight disk asymmetry is present but inverted from the outer to the inner zones.Paper presented at the Conference onPlanetary Systems: Formation, Evolution, and Detection held 7–10 December, 1992 at CalTech, Pasadena, California, U.S.A.     

Wind variability in intermediate luminosity B supergiants

We discuss wind variability in intermediate luminosity B supergiants. Because these are not the hottest, most luminous or just about other kind of -est stars, they have not attracted much attention. However, since their wind lines are well-developed, but unsaturated, they make ideal diagnostics for time dependent wind studies. We show that their wind profiles undergo large scale variability and that this phenomenon is quite common. We also discuss a time series for the B0.5 Ib HD 64760 which suggests the long sought after connection between wind and photospheric activity. Newly developed analysis techniques needed to extract physical information from the wind lines are discussed, and results are applied to the time series.     

Non-radial stellar oscillations: a perspective from potential scattering (I)

This article is the first in a series designed to gain insight into the stellar oscillation problem from a somewhat novel point of view: that of potential scattering, well-known in the quantum mechanical literature. In this paper the known theoretical foundations are developed and applied in the context of the astrophysical problem, wherein the star itself (rather than any portion of it) is the potential which scatters waves and traps them. The basis for the identification of a precisely defined scattering problem is the existence of a linear Schrödinger equation associated both globally (Section 2) and locally (Section 8) with the nonlinear eigenvalue equation for nonradial stellar pulsations. The paper is also designed to be a fairly complete account of the relevant mathematical topics that are germane to a study of this kind. This paper is dedicated to the memory of Professor Zdenèk Kopal, who was a great source of professional encouragement to me during the last fifteen years of his life.     

Clumped structure of WR wind derived from IR observations of WR+O binaries: some comments on the light curve solution for V444 Cygni

Strong increasing of the width and the depth of the secondary minimum of the light curve of V444 Cyg Wolf-Rayet eclipsing binary discovered by Cherepashchuk and Khaliullin (1973, 1975) from simultaneous narrow band continuum observations (4244–7512 Å) have been confirmed by new quasi-simultaneous UJK observations. This increasing of the width and the depth of the secondary minimum implies strong increasing of the radius of the extended atmosphere of the WN5 star with wavelength, which cannot be explained be the theory of homogeneous WR wind. These data can be understood in the model of WR wind proposed by Cherepashchuk et al. (1984). New data, supporting the reliability of the light curve solution for V444 Cyg of Cherepashchuk (1975) are presented.     

Cosmic-ray modulation and long-duration solar flare events

The correlation between the long-term intensity variations of cosmic rays at neutron monitor energies and the LDE index measure of solar flares with long-lasting soft X-ray emissions is reported. Three subsequent solar cycles, 20–22, are taken into account and half-monthly data are analyzed. Possible explanation of this correlation is discussed in terms of the recent concepts of cosmic-ray modulation, in particular with merged interaction regions affecting the cosmic-ray intensity.     

A photochemical model of the martian atmosphere

The factors governing the amounts of CO, O2, and O3 in the martian atmosphere are investigated using a minimally constrained, one-dimensional photochemical model. We find that the incorporation of temperature-dependent CO2 absorption cross sections leads to an enhancement in the water photolysis rate, increasing the abundance of OH radicals to the point where the model CO abundance is smaller than observed. Good agreement between models and observations of CO, O2, O3, and the escape flux of atomic hydrogen can be achieved, using only gas-phase chemistry, by varying the recommended rate constants for the reactions CO + OH and OH + HO2 within their specified uncertainties. Similar revisions have been suggested to resolve discrepancies between models and observations of the terrestrial mesosphere. The oxygen escape flux plays a key role in the oxygen budget on Mars; as inferred from the observed atomic hydrogen escape, it is much larger than recent calculations of the exospheric escape rate for oxygen. Weathering of the surface may account for the imbalance. Quantification of the escape rates of oxygen and hydrogen from Mars is a worthwhile objective for an upcoming martian upper atmospheric mission. We also consider the possibility that HOx radicals may be catalytically destroyed on dust grains suspended in the atmosphere. Good agreement with the observed CO mixing ratio can be achieved via this mechanism, but the resulting ozone column is much higher than the observed quantity. We feel that there is no need at this time to invoke heterogeneous processes to reconcile models and observations.     

Near-infrared spectroscopy of dark asteroids

Near-infrared (J, H and K bands) spectra of nine dark asteroids (chosen among a sample of supposed primitive objects between C and D classes) have been obtained at the Mauna Kea Observatory (Hawaii) with the 2.2-m telescope using KSPEC as spectrograph. The aim of this work was to search for evidence of the presence of organic materials in these objects as found in other planetary bodies as 5145 Pholus, and in some cometary nuclei. A careful analysis of the data has revealed flat or slightly redder spectra than the solar one for all observed asteroids. No evidence of distinct absorption features was found.     

WKB estimates for the onset of ideal MHD instabilities in solar coronal loops

A WKB approach, based on the method of Connor, Hastie, and Taylor (1979), is used to obtain simple estimates of the critical conditions for the onset of ideal MHD instabilities in line-tied solar coronal loops. The method is illustrated for the constant twist, Gold-Hoyle (1960) field, and the critical conditions are compared with previous and new numerical results. For the force-free case, the WKB estimate for the critical loop length reduces to . For the sufficiently non-force-free case the critical length can be expressed in the forml ₀ +l ₁/m. The results confirm the findings of De Bruyne and Hood (1992) that for force-free fields them = 1 mode is the first mode to become unstable but for the sufficiently strong non-force-free case this reverses with them → ∞ mode being excited first.     

Phase differences between irradiance and velocity low degree solar acoustic modes revisited

Since 1984, simultaneous observations of irradiance and velocity solar acoustic modes, have been carried out by several authors in order to measure the phase difference between irradiance and velocity modes. Following the earliest observations with stratospheric balloon (Frolich and van Der Raay, 1984), a two ground-based stations (Tenerife and Baja California) were established (Jimenez et al, 1990) obtaining coherence results in the frequency range from 2.5 mHz to 4.3 mHz. These phase differences between irradiance and velocity solar acoustic modes are interpreted in terms of the non-adiabatic behaviour of the solar atmosphere. In 1988 the IPHIR (Frolich et al, 1988) instrument flown on the PHOBOS-2 mission to Mars and measured the solar irradiance during 150 consecutive days. The best velocity observations obtained in Tenerife for this period were compared with IPHIR data to compute the phase differences (Schrijver et al, 1991). The final conclusion is that good agreement is attained between space quadsi-space and ground observations which yield a phase diffenrece of about -125 degrees in the frequency range 2.5 mHz to 4.2 mHz, with a slight increase suggested by the data running up to 4.6 mHz.     

Toward planets around neutron stars

The two Earth-like mass objects orbiting a 6.2-ms pulsar, PSR1257+25, have survived more than one year of close scrutiny aimed at verifying their existence and remain the most serious candidates to become the first planets detected beyond the Solar System. The analysis of systematic timing measurements of the pulsar made over a 2.5-year period continues to require the presence of two planets with the minimum masses of 3.4M and 2.8M and the corresponding distances from PSR1257+12 of 0.36 AU and 0.47 AU to correctly predict the pulse arrival times. The presently available 3µs rms accuracy of this procedure leaves little room for significant contributions to the pulsar's timing from any mechanisms other than the Keplerian motion. A detection of the effect of planetary perturbations on pulse arrival times which is commonly accepted as the most convincing way to furnish a 100% proof of the reality of pulsar planets is already possible at a 2 level. Intensive searches for millisecond pulsars now under way at various observatories are expected to address a very intriguing question of the frequency of occurrence of neutron star planetary systems.Paper presented at the Conference onPlanetary Systems: Formation, Evolution, and Detection held 7–10 December, 1992 at CalTech, Pasadena, California, U.S.A.