Radio observations of the planetary nebula around the OH/IR star OH 354.88-0.54 (V1018 Sco)

We present radio observations of the unique, recently formed, planetary nebula (PN) associated with a very long-period OH/IR variable star V1018 Sco that is unequivocally still in its asymptotic giant branch phase. Two regions within the optical nebula are clearly detected in non-thermal radio continuum emission, with radio spectral indices comparable to those seen in colliding-wind Wolf–Rayet binaries. We suggest that these represent shocked interactions between the hot, fast stellar wind and the cold nebular shell that represents the PN's slow wind moving away from the central star. This same interface produces both synchrotron radio continuum and the optical PN emission. The fast wind is neither spherical in geometry nor aligned with any obvious optical or radio axis. We also report the detection of transient H₂O maser emission in this nebula.     

Near-infrared imaging polarimetry of dusty young stars

We have carried out JHK polarimetric observations of 11 dusty young stars, by using the polarimeter module IRPOL2 with the near-infrared camera UIST on the 3.8-m United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (UKIRT). Our sample targeted systems for which UKIRT-resolvable discs had been predicted by model fits to their spectral energy distributions. Our observations have confirmed the presence of extended polarized emission around TW Hya and around HD 169142. HD 150193 and HD 142666 show the largest polarization values among our sample, but no extended structure was resolved. By combining our observations with Hubble Space Telescope (HST) coronographic data from the literature, we derive the J - and H -band intrinsic polarization radial dependences of the disc of TW Hya. We find the polarizing efficiency of the disc is higher at H than at J , and we confirm that the J - and H -band percentage polarizations are reasonably constant with radius in the region between 0.9 and 1.3 arcsec from the star. We find that the objects for which we have detected extended polarizations are those for which previous modelling has suggested the presence of flared discs, which are predicted to be brighter than flat discs and thus would be easier to detect polarimetrically.     

Geo-neutrinos in SNO+

There are plans to fill the Sudbury Neutrino Observatory with liquid scintillator after measurements with heavy water are completed. The new experiment, known as SNO+, would make an excellent detector for geo-neutrinos. SNO+ would be located amidst a thick and uniform region of continental crust, away from nuclear power reactors. As a result, the geo-neutrino signal to reactor background ratio in SNO+ will exceed that from previous measurements. Geo-neutrino measurements by SNO+ will shed light on the amount of uranium and thorium radioactivity in the crust, as well as deeper inside the Earth. Spectral information from SNO+ geo-neutrino detection will provide the first direct measurement of the U/Th ratio.     

Numerical simulations of type I planetary migration in non-turbulent magnetized discs

Using 2D magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) numerical simulations performed with two different finite-difference Eulerian codes, we analyse the effect that a toroidal magnetic field has on low-mass planet migration in non-turbulent protoplanetary discs. The presence of the magnetic field modifies the waves that can propagate in the disc. In agreement with a recent linear analysis, we find that two magnetic resonances develop on both sides of the planet orbit, which contribute to a significant global torque. In order to measure the torque exerted by the disc on the planet, we perform simulations in which the latter is either fixed on a circular orbit or allowed to migrate. For a     planet, when the ratio β between the square of the sound speed and that of the Alfven speed at the location of the planet is equal to 2, we find inward migration when the magnetic field   B _φ  is uniform in the disc, reduced migration when   B _φ  decreases as   r ⁻¹  and outward migration when   B _φ  decreases as   r ⁻²  . These results are in agreement with predictions from the linear analysis. Taken as a whole, our results confirm that even a subthermal stable field can stop inward migration of an earth-like planet.     

General planetary theory in elliptic functions

It is shown that the first-order general planetary theory, i.e. the theory without secular terms, developed in (Brumberg and Chapront, 1973) may be re-constructed and presented by the series in powers of the eccentricity and inclination variables with the closed form coefficients expressed in terms of elliptic functions. The intermediate solution of the zero degree in eccentricities and inclinations has been given explicitly with the aid of elliptic functions and the Hansen type quadratures with trigonometric function kernels. In determining the first and higher degree terms in eccentricities and inclinations one meets the Hansen type quadratures with elliptic function kernels. The secular evolution is described by the autonomous polynomial differential system.