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At least 595 records · Page 33

Field-determined oscillations in the magnetosheath as possible source of medium-period, daytime micropulsations

Studies of the magnetosheath show it to be characterized by the variable occurrence of large amplitude, sometimes quasiperiodic, field oscillations at diverse distances inward from the bow shock, including the region in proximity with the magnetopause. One established cause of such oscillations near the shock is local oblique orientation of the interplanetary field to the nominal shock surface, and there is evidence that the oscillations, or pulsations, composing the oblique structure appear also downstream in the sheath. It is suggested that medium-period micropulsations, exemplified by pc 3, might be excited in the magnetosphere when proper alignment of the interplanetary field allows shock pulsations to be convected to the magnetopause by plasma flow through the subsolar section of the magnetosheath.

Greenstadt, E. W.↗

Correlation analysis of X-ray emission from Cygnus X-1

Normalized autocorrelation and cross-correlation coefficients have been calculated for the X-ray emission of Cygnus X-1 in two energy bins, 2.1-5.1 keV and 5.1-12 keV. The analysis shows a strong correlation between the pulsations in the two energy bins, with the low-energy pulsations lagging behind the high-energy ones, or alternatively a shorter duration of the pulse trains in the high-energy bin. The power spectral density derived from the autocorrelation functions indicates a larger contribution of the high-frequency components for the higher-energy X-rays.

Brinkman, A. C.↗

Relativistic stellar stability - Preferred-frame effects

In a previous paper, the PPN (parametrized post-Newtonian) formalism was used to analyze relativistic influences on stellar stability in nearly all metric theories of gravity. That analysis omitted all preferred-frame terms. In this paper, possible preferred-frame effects on stellar stability are examined and no new instabilities are found. Although terms linear in the preferred-frame velocity w (time-odd terms, analogous to viscosity and energy generation) change the shapes of the normal modes, their symmetry properties prevent them from changing the characteristic frequencies. Thus, no new vibrational or secular instabilities can occur. Terms quadratic in w do not change either the shapes of the normal modes or the characteristic frequencies for radial pulsations (except for the effects due to the renormalization of the gravitation constant which does not affect stability). Thus, they have no influence on radial stability. Terms quadratic in w do change both the normal modes and the characteristic frequencies of nonradial pulsations; but in the limit of a neutral mode these changes vanish.

Ni, W.-T.↗

Limits on rapid X-ray pulsing in X-ray binaries

A recent sounding rocket experiment in which the X-ray variations of Cir X-1 and Vela X-1 were investigated at time resolutions down to 1 msecond is described. Sporadic flaring activity in the X-ray sources was observed on time scales from 1 to several seconds, corresponding to intensity changes of about 20% in Cir X-1 and up to 100% in Vela X-1. Periodic, aperiodic, or quasi-periodic pulsations were not detected with time constants less than 1 second. The limits of rapid X-ray pulsations are shown to range from 3 to 15% for Cir X-1, Cyg X-1, Vela X-1, and 3U 1700-37.

Spada, G.↗

Studies of hydrodynamic events in stellar evolution. III Ejection of planetary nebulae

Investigation of the dynamic behavior of the hydrogen-rich envelope (0.101 solar mass) of an evolved star (1.1 solar mass) as the luminosity rises to 19,000 solar luminosities during the second ascent of the red-giant branch. For luminosities in the range 3100 less than L less than 19,000 solar luminosities the H-rich envelope pulsates like a long-period variable (LPV) with periods of the order of a year. As L reaches 19,000 solar luminosities, the entire H-rich envelope is ejected as a shell with speeds of a few times 10 km sec. The ejection occurs on a time scale of a few LPV pulsation periods. This ejection is shown to be related to the formation of a planetary nebula. The computations are based on an implicit hydrodynamic computer code. Tand rho-dependent opacities and excitation and ionization energies are included. As the H-rich envelope is accelerated off the stellar core, the gap between envelope and core is approximated by a vacuum filled with radiation.

Kutter, G. S.↗

Excitation and dissipation of Pc-1 micropulsations

A theoretical model based on hydromagnetic instabilities (including Alfven firehose and magnetoacoustic mirror instabilities), in the region where the electrons are in the transition from collisional to collisionless and ions are in the collisionless region, is proposed as a possible wave emission mechanism for Pc-1 pulsations. The model is compared with recent observations with good agreement between the theory and observations, especially for an emission source located at a distance L less than 5. Furthermore, a suggestion is made that the hydromagnetic instabilities could be relevant to the night and early morning hours emissions while the ion cyclotron instabilities could be responsible for the daytime emission of Pc-1 pulsations.

Hung, R. J.↗

Acoustical modeling study of the open test section of the NASA Langley V/STOL wind tunnel

An acoustic model study was carried out to identify effective sound absorbing treatment of strategically located surfaces in an open wind tunnel test section. Also an aerodynamic study done concurrently, sought to find measures to control low frequency jet pulsations which occur when the tunnel is operated in its open test section configuration. The acoustical modeling study indicated that lining of the raised ceiling and the test section floor immediately below it, results in a substantial improvement. The aerodynamic model study indicated that: (1) the low frequency jet pulsations are most likely caused or maintained by coupling of aerodynamic and aeroacoustic phenomena in the closed tunnel circuit, (2) replacing the hard collector cowl with a geometrically identical but porous fiber metal surface of 100 mks rayls flow resistance does not result in any noticable reduction of the test section noise caused by the impingement of the turbulent flow on the cowl.

Ver, I. L.↗

Structure of a quasi-parallel, quasi-laminar bow shock

A thick, quasi-parallel bow shock structure was observed with field and particle detectors of both HEOS 1 and OGO 5. The typical magnetic pulsation structure was at least 1 to 2 earth radii thick radially and was accompanied by irregular but distinct plasma distributions characteristic of neither the solar wind nor the magnetosheath. Waves constituting the large pulsations were polarized principally in the plane of the nominal shock, therefore also in the plane perpendicular to the average interplanetary field. A separate interpulsation regime detected between bursts of large amplitude oscillations was similar to the upstream wave region magnetically, but was characterized by disturbed plasma flux and enhanced noise around the ion plasma frequency. The shock structure appeared to be largely of an oblique, whistler type, probably complicated by counterstreaming high energy protons. Evidence for firehose instability-based structure was weak at best and probably negative.

Greenstadt, E. W.↗

A new interpretation of luminous blue stars

A major revision of current theoretical ideas about the brightest blue stars must be made if Carson's (1976) radiative opacities are adopted in stellar models. Unlike earlier opacities, these exhibit a large 'bump' due to CNO ionization, which leads to very strong central condensation, convective instability, and pulsational instability in hot diffuse stellar envelopes. Despite a number of theoretical uncertainties, the new picture of the structure of very luminous stars is reasonably successful in accounting for a variety of previously unexplained observations. The stellar models for the phase of core hydrogen burning predict large radii and rather cool effective temperatures for O stars and a spreading out of the main-sequence band in the H-R diagram toward luminous cool supergiants for masses higher than about 20 solar masses. In massive X-ray binary systems, circular orbits and supergiant-like visual companions are expected to be quite common. Long-period variability is predicted to exist for massive blue supergiants of luminosity class Ia. The models for helium stars predict large radii and rather cool effective temperatures for Wolf-Rayet stars, as well as multimodal pulsational instability and, possibly, surface turbulence for these stars.

Stothers, R.↗

The magnetopause at 5.2 R/E/ in August 1972 - Magnetopause motion

The paper analyzes magnetic field records from ATS 5 and Explorer 45 satellites, provided with triaxial flux gate magnetometer, during the close approach of the magnetopause to the earth. Attention is directed to a discussion of the observing arrangements, a detailed comparison of the two sets of observations, and an interpretation of the magnetopause motion and of magnetic pulsations. The pulsations appear not to be due to surface waves propagating in the magnetopause.

Cahill, L. J., Jr.↗

Observations of Hercules X-1 with SAS-3 during 1975 July

X-ray pulsations from Her X-1 with energies between 0.1 and 30 keV were observed for four days with the SAS-3 satellite, during the 1975 July-August ON state of the source. The existence of a strong flux between 0.1 and 0.4 keV, with pulsations that are out of phase with those above 1 keV, is confirmed. A pulsed flux in the 19-30 keV band was discovered. The average fractional rate of change in pulse period between 1972 and 1975 was about 3 x 10 to the -6th/yr, and the absolute value of the average fractional rate of change in orbital period during the same interval was not greater than 5 x 10 to the -7th/yr

Joss, P. C.↗

Observed characteristics of auroral forms

Observed characteristics of discrete auroral arcs and pulsating aurora are described, and a mechanism for the discrete auroras is considered. Strong horizontal and vertical electric fields characterize the discrete auroras, since their motions and their distortions indicate the presence of shear processes involving substantial charge excesses and magnetic field-aligned currents. Pulsating auroras do not exhibit shearing behavior and this lack of shearing shows that substantial electric fields are not involved. Transitional types of auroras, including black aurora, are considered.

Davis, T. N.↗

IMF orientation, solar wind velocity, and Pc 3-4 signals - A joint distribution

Separate studies using the same micropulsation data base in the period range 10-150 s have shown earlier that signal levels recorded during September, October, and November 1969 at Calgary correlated positively with both solar-wind alignment of the IMF and solar-wind speed, but each correlation contained enough scatter to allow for the influence of the other factor. In this report, joint correlations of velocity and field direction with parameters representing hourly distributions rather than minima of IMF orientation angle display the relative effect of the two agents on magnetic pulsation signal levels. The joint correlations reduce the overall scatter and show that solar-wind speeds above 200-300 km/s and angles between the IMF and the sun-earth line of less than 50-60 deg are associated with enlarged magnetic pulsation amplitudes. These threshold effects tend to support both the bow-shock origin and the Kelvin-Helmholtz amplification of daytime signal transients in the Pc 3, 4 period ranges.

Greenstadt, E. W.↗

Magnetospheric plasma wave research 1975-1978

Research conducted from 1975 through 1978 on magnetospheric plasma waves generated in or passing through the magnetospheres of the earth and Jupiter is reviewed. Attention is given to bow shock whistlers and electrostatic waves, electromagnetic wave packets in the magnetosheath ('lion roars'), nonthermal continuum radiation apparently associated with energetic electrons in the outer radiation zone, electrostatic and magnetic noise and PI2 pulsations in the magnetotail and plasma sheet and polar cusp phenomena. Plasma waves in the auroral zone, including VLF hiss and saucers, electrostatic wave turbulence and kilometric radiation are treated, together with MHD waves and magnetic pulsations, ion cyclotron waves, VLF chorus and hiss and electrostatic electron cyclotron harmonic radiation in and beyond plasmapause, plasmaspheric hiss, whistlers, power line harmonic radiation and controlled wave generation experiments. Observations of plasmasphere and auroral zone phenomena in the ionosphere are discussed, and escaping and trapped plasma waves in the magnetospheres of Jupiter and other planets are considered. Planned future magnetospheric research for the next four years is outlined.

Shawhan, S. D.↗

The periods and amplitudes of TU Cas

Light curve observations of the double-mode Cepheid TU Cas obtained by 10 different sets of observers on several photometric systems over a time span of 67 years were carefully studied to determine the fundamental and first overtone periods and their amplitudes on the V magnitude scale. The presence of a second overtone radial pulsation is discussed, and it is concluded that a previous detection of this mode was spurious due to the lack of a proper zero point correction for two groups of observations. The amplitudes of the two modes are shown to possibly vary during the entire observing period with the fundamental mode amplitude of 0.69 + or - 0.03 and the overtone amplitude decreasing about 0.2 or 0.3 magnitude. If this Cepheid displays the two pulsation modes because it is mode switching, this switching time scale might be less than a hundred years.

Hodson, S. W.↗

On the origin of period changes in RR Lyrae stars

The observed period changes are explained with respect to the behavior of the semiconductive zone (SCZ) within the core of an RR Lyrae star. General consideration are given which suggest that the composition changes occuring within the SCZ during the horizontal-branch evolution result from many small mixing events, each of which slightly perturbs the pulsation period. Results indicate that small mixing events within the core of an RR Lyrae star can produce changes in the pulsation period comparable with those typically observed. It is further indicated that these mixing events together with the nuclear burning between them can produce period changes of both signs.

Renzini, A.↗

Simultaneous X-ray and optical observations of the 7.7 second X-ray pulsar 4U 1626-67

Simultaneous X-ray and optical observations of the 7.7-s X-ray pulsar 4U 1626-67, obtained during May 29-31, 1978, reveal the presence of (1) intense, correlated optical and X-ray flares and (2) 7.7-s optical pulsations which agree in phase with the 1-3 keV X-ray pulsations to within 0.5 s (two standard deviations) and which agree in period to within 0.001 s (one standard deviation). From these data it is concluded that a substantial fraction (a minimum of 8%) and possibly all of the optical emission is produced from within approximately 0.5 light sec or 1.5 x 10 to the 10th cm of the neutron star. Furthermore, the data rule out the possibility that this optical emission comes from the X-ray heated surface of a degenerate or nondegenerate dwarf companion. It most likely comes from an accretion disk.

Mcclintock, J. E.↗

Micropulsations in the electric field near the plasmapause, observed by Isee 1

The results of a survey of occurrence of micropulsations near and inside the plasmapause, made on the basis of 1 year of data from the double probe electric field instrument on Isee 1, are presented. It is reported that the observed pulsations are classified as Pc 3 and P 2, and that one single Pc 1 event is observed. It is found that Pc 3 events are common during the local day, with a maximum percentage of occurrence as high as 72 in the morning hours. Attention is given to Pi 2 events showing that they are concentrated on the local nightside. Finally, it is noted that pulsations in the Pc 1 range appear on only one inbound pass, which makes the Pc 1 a rare phenomenon at low and moderate latitudes in the plasmasphere.

Moe, T. E.↗