A Statistical Study of Magnetic Flux Emergence in Solar Active Regions Prior to Strongest Flares

Using the data on magnetic field maps and continuum intensity for Solar Cycles 23 and 24,we explored 100 active regions(ARs)that produced M5.0 or stronger flares.We focus on the presence/absence of the emergence of magnetic flux in these ARs 2-3 days before the strong flare onset.We found that 29 ARs in the sample emerged monotonically amidst quiet-Sun.A major emergence of a new magnetic flux within a pre-existing AR yielding the formation of a complex flare-productive configuration was observed in another 24 cases.For 30 ARs,an insignificant(in terms of the total magnetic flux of pre-existing AR)emergence of a new magnetic flux within the pre-existing magnetic configuration was observed;for some of them the emergence resulted in a formation of a configuration with a small δ-sunspot;11 out of 100 ARs exhibited no signatures of magnetic flux emergence during the entire interval of observation.In six cases the emergence was in progress when the AR appeared on the Eastern limb,so that the classification and timing of emergence were not possible.We conclude that the recent flux emergence is not a necessary and/or sufficient condition for strong flaring of an AR.The flux emergence rate of flare-productive ARs analyzed here was compared with that of flare-quiet ARs analyzed in our previous studies.We revealed that the flare-productive ARs tend to display faster emergence than the flare-quiet ones do.

Dreicer Electric Field Definition and Runaway Electrons in Solar Flares

We analyze electron acceleration by a large-scale electric field E in a collisional hydrogen plasma under the solar flare coronal conditions based on approaches proposed by Dreicer and Spitzer for the dynamic friction force of electrons.The Dreicer electric field EDr is determined as a critical electric field at which the entire electron population runs away.Two regimes of strong(E≲E_(Dr))and weak(E≪E_(Dr))electric field are discussed.It is shown that the commonly used formal definition of the Dreicer field leads to an overestimation of its value by about five times.The critical velocity at which the electrons of the"tail"of the Maxwell distribution become runaway under the action of the sub-Dreiser electric fields turns out to be underestimated by√3 times in some works because the Coulomb collisions between runaway and thermal electrons are not taken into account.The electron acceleration by sub-Dreicer electric fields generated in the solar corona faces difficulties.

Ambiguity of Polystyrene Aerosol Beads Properties Found with Mie Spectra Analysis

Broadband Mie scattering is used to determine the parameters of polystyrene aerosol beads in air,such as size and wavelength dependence of refractive index.This method consists in the selection of such parameters of the scattering object,which reproduce observed spectrum properties.That is why it is very sensitive and hence very precise.We found that there is an ambiguity of polystyrene aerosol beads properties,determined with this method.Different combinations of polystyrene particle size and its refractive index can give the same position of Mie resonances.This ambiguity leads to an increase in the error in determining the size and refractive index of the particle.The refined errors are calculated and the way of their reduction is indicated.

Spectral Dependence of Quasi-Rayleigh Polarization Leap of Nonspherical Particles:Polystyrene Beads Application

Solid particles in Earth’s atmosphere,such as polystyrene beads,are an important factor affecting the processes of absorption and scattering of light in the atmosphere.These processes affect on the solar energy transfer in the Earth’s atmosphere,consequently they have influence on the regional and global climate changes and atmospheric visibility.In particular,great interest to study the scattering properties of small particles compared with wavelength,because of such particles experience low gravitational settlement and may have long time of life in the atmosphere.When scattering particle is much smaller than the wavelength of the scattered or absorbed light,this is the case of Rayleigh scattering.Scattering properties of these particles(such as intensity and the degree of linear polarization)at the Rayleigh scattering are simply derived from electromagnetic Maxwell’s equations.But when the particles are large enough to be comparable with the wavelength,the deviations from Rayleigh scattering law are observed.One of the clear manifestations of such deviations is the recently discovered quasi-Rayleigh polarization leap of monodisperse spherical particles.This quasi-Rayleigh polarization leap allows remote sensing of the sizes of distant particles,based on the spectral position of quasi-Rayleigh polarization leap at different phase angles of observation.In this paper,we studied the effect of the non-sphericity of a scattering polystyrene particle on the magnitude and position of the quasi-Rayleigh polarization leap.It is established that the non-sphericity shifts the position of the quasi-Rayleigh polarization leap shorter wavelengths.It is shown that for non-sphericity of particles makes the quasi-Rayleigh polarization leap becomes less pronounced.Moreover,it was found,that increasing of the phase angle and degree of non-sphericity shift the quasi-Rayleigh polarization leap position to shorter wavelength.However,in the case of not very elongated particles,the quasi-Rayleigh polarization leap is quite well manifested.Therefore,this method is suitable for remote sensing not only the size,but also the degree of non-sphericity of the scattering particles.A simple formula has been obtained for polystyrene beads that relates the degree of non-sphericity of a particle with the wavelength and phase angles at which the quasi-Rayleigh polarization leap is observed.

Thermonuclear Reaction as the Main Source of the Earth’s Energy

The article shows that neither radioactive decay of long-lived radioactive isotopes nor the Earth’s “primordial” heat supply can explain a huge energy formed in the Earth’s core. A hypothesis is introduced that the main source of Earth’s energy is the thermonuclear reactions in the solid inner Earth’s core which consist of hydrides of irons and other metals.

Diffuse matter and cosmogony of stellar systems in researches by G.A.Shajn

The main topic of long-term researches by G.A. Shajn is the nature of diffuse matter, its dis- tribution in the Galaxy and extragalactic systems, interaction with the interstellar medium and hot stars, and the formation of emission and reflection nebulae and stars. Based on the analysis of experimental data, mainly photographic observations of nebulae in the Milky Way and extragalactic systems, he made conclusions and suggested well-founded hypotheses on a wide range of considered problems, including those related to cosmogony. The structure of nebulae, and their masses and sizes give reasons behind the conclusion that most of them are formed not in the process of ejection of matter from the stars, but rather they are objects which are born and evolve, and quite often are comprised of giant conglomerates of gas, dust and stars. The distribution of OB-type stars and nebulae in spiral branches points to their genetic relation and the fundamental role of the interstellar medium as the source of their formation. The structural features of nebulae are determined by the action of magnetohydrodynamic forces. Magnetic fields in a galaxy control the motion of diffuse gas-dust matter and ensure the maintenance of its spiral structure. These ideas continue being developed in modern directions of astrophysics.

Photometric and Spectroscopic Analysis of LBV Candidate J004341.84+411112.0 in M31

We study Luminous Blue Variable(LBV)candidate J004341.84+411112.0 in the Andromeda galaxy.We present optical spectra of the object obtained with the 6 m telescope of BTA SAO RAS.The candidate shows typical LBV features in its spectra:broad and strong hydrogen lines and the He I lines with P Cygni profiles.Its remarkable spectral resemblance to the well known LBV P Cygni suggests a common nature of the objects and supports LBV classification of J004341.84+411112.0.We estimate the temperature,reddening,radius and luminosity of the star using its spectral energy distribution.Obtained bolometric luminosity of the candidate(M_(bol)=-10.41±0.12 mag)is quite similar to those of known LBV stars in the Andromeda galaxy.We analyzed a ten year light curve of the object in R filter.The candidate demonstrates photometric variations of the order of 0.4 mag,with an overall brightness increasing trendΔR>0.1 mag.Therewith,the corresponding color variations of the object are fully consistent with LBV behavior when a star become cooler and brighter in the optical spectral range with a nearly constant bolometric luminosity.LBV-type variability of the object,similarity of its spectrum and estimated luminosity to those of known LBVs allow us to classify J004341.84+411112.0 as an LBV.

Analysis of X-Ray Emission from OB Stars. IV. About X-Ray Emission from Inhomogeneous Winds of OB Stars

We study the origin of X-ray emission from OB stars due to collisions of stellar winds and/or inhomogeneities in the winds. The low-resolution X-ray spectra of a big sample of OB stars were fitted by both the stationary APEC/MEKAL models and by this model with an additional PSHOCK component describing the nonstationary X-ray emission. These spectra were also described by two-temperature PSHOCK models. More than ~50% of considered spectra can be described by the above-mentioned model combinations including the PSHOCK model and the quality of the fits appears to be better for O stars. The plasma temperature of the PSHOCK component is about 1–5 keV with the ionization timescale τ_(u)~ 10^(8)–10^(13)s cm^(-3). The temperature of the PSHOCK component increases with the momentum and kinetic energy of the stellar wind by a power law with an index ~0.12–0.14.Such dependencies were not revealed through modeling by the stationary APEC/MEKAL models only. At the same time the X-ray luminosity of OB stars depends on momentum and kinetic energy of their winds similarly either for stationary or for nonstationary models. We conclude that many O stars and some B stars can be sources of the nonstationary X-rays formed in their inhomogeneous stellar wind.

Spectroscopic and photometric observations of symbiotic nova PU Vul during 2009–2016

A new set of low-resolution spectral and UBVJHKL-photometric observations of the symbi- otic nova PU Vul is presented. The binary has been evolving after its symbiotic nova outburst in 1977 and now it is in the nebular stage. It is found that the third orbital cycle （after 1977） was characterized by great changes in associated light curves. Now, PU Vul exhibits a sine-wave shape in all the light curves （with an amplitude in the U band of about 0.7 mag）, which is typical for symbiotic stars in the quiescent state. Brightness variability due to pulsations of the cool component is now clearly visible in the VRI light curves. The amplitude of the pulsations increases from 0.5 mag in the V band to 0.8 mag in the I band. These two types of variability, as well as a very slow change in the physical parameters of the hot component due to evolution after the outburst of 1977, influence the spectral energy distribution （SED） of the system. The variability of emission lines is highly complex. Only hydrogen line fluxes vary with orbital phase. An important feature of the third orbital cycle is the first emergence of the OVI, 6828A Raman scattering line. We determine the temperature of the hot component by means of the Zanstra method applied to the He II, 4686A line. Our estimate is about 150000 K for the spectrum obtained near orbital maximum in 2014. The VO spectral index derived near pulsation minimum corresponds to M6 spectral class for the cool component of PU Vul.

Automatic detection and correction algorithms for magnetic saturation in the SMFT/HSOS longitudinal magnetograms

A longitudinal magnetic field often suffers the saturation effect in a strong magnetic field region when the measurement is performed at a single-wavelength point and linear calibration is adopted.In this study,we develop a method that can judge the threshold of saturation in Stokes V/I observed by the Solar Magnetic Field Telescope(SMFT)and correct it automatically.The procedure is to first perform the second-order polynomial fit to the Stokes V/I vs.I/I_(m)(I_(m) is the maximum value of Stokes I)curve to estimate the threshold of saturation,then reconstruct Stokes V/I in a strong field region to correct for saturation.The algorithm is demonstrated to be effective by comparing with the magnetograms obtained by the Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager(HMI).The accuracy rate of detection and correction for saturation is~99.4%and~88%respectively among 175 active regions.The advantages and disadvantages of the algorithm are discussed.

Analysis of the X-ray emission of OB stars II: B stars

This paper is the second part of an investigation into the mechanism for the origin of X-rays in early-type stars. Archival X-ray observations of 25 B stars, obtained by the XMM-Newton satellite, are analysed. We check two hypotheses on the origin of X-ray emission: the Magnetically Confined Wind Shock Model(MCWS) and Pollock’s paradigm. For all studied stars, the mean ratio of the half widths at half maximum to the terminal velocities appears to be R ≈ 0.15-0.20 in contradiction to Pollock’s hypothesis that R ≈ 0.5. We checked three possible consequences of the MCWS model: correlations between the hardness of the X-ray spectra for B stars and terminal wind velocities, mass loss rates and magnetic fields.It was shown that such correlations are marginal or even absent both for magnetic and non-magnetic B stars.

Analysis of the X-ray emission from OB stars Ⅲ: low-resolution spectra of OB stars

This paper is the third in our series of papers devoted to the investigation of X-ray emission from OB stars.In our two previous papers,we study the high-resolution X-ray spectra of 32 O stars and 25 B stars to investigate the correlations between the properties of X-ray emission and stellar parameters.We checked if the X-ray hardness and post-shock plasma temperature grow with increasing stellar magnetic field,mass loss rate and terminal wind velocity.Our previous analysis of high-resolution spectra showed that the correlations are weak or even absent.In the present paper,we analyzed low-resolution X-ray spectra,using model-independent X-ray hardness values for checking the above mentioned dependencies.We establish that X-ray luminosities LX weakly depend on the stellar magnetic field.At the same time,Lx ∝ M0.5 and LX ∝ Ekin0.5,where M is the mass loss rate and Ekin is the kinetic energy of the wind.The X-ray luminosities decrease with growing magnetic confinement parameter η.We also argue that there is an additional(probably non-thermal) component contributed to the stellar X-ray emission.

Non-sinusoidal transit timing variations for the exoplanet HAT-P-12b

Considering the importance of investigating the transit timing variations(TTVs)of transiting exoplanets,we present a follow-up study of HAT-P-12 b.We include six new light curves observed between2011 and 2015 from three different observatories,in association with 25 light curves taken from the published literature.The sample of the data used thus covers a time span of~10.2 years with a large coverage of epochs(1160)for the transiting events of the exoplanet HAT-P-12 b.The light curves are utilized to determine the orbital parameters and conduct an investigation of possible TTVs.The new linear ephemeris shows a large value of reducedχ^(2),i.e.X_(red)^(2)(23)=7.93,and the sinusoidal fitting using the prominent frequency coming from a periodogram shows a reducedχ^(2) around 4.Based on these values and the corresponding O-C diagrams,we suspect the presence of a possible non-sinusoidal TTV in this planetary system.Finally,we find that a scenario with an additional non-transiting exoplanet could explain this TTV with an even smaller reducedχ^(2) value of around 2.

VARIATION IN THE 160.~m010 PERIOD OF THE SOLAR RELATIVE DIFFERENCE BRIGHTNESS

This paper reports on the measured results of the difference brightness of the center of the Sun with respect to the limb of the solar disk in 1986, with the wavebands 0.7—0.8 μm being used. Two photoelectric diode arrays (with 16×16, 32×32 pixels) are respectivetlyused as detectors. The data obtained and their power spectra are independently calculated. Results show clearly the period changing in 160m and the average amplitude being 8×10^(-5) solar relative intensity units.The periodic values of the difference brightness observed for 358 days (or 1870 h) from 1976 to 1986 at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory are also analysed. The results show that the accurate value of the oscillation period is 160_.~m0099 (±16) and the statistically effective value is above 3σ~2. This value is in good agreement with the infrared observed value of 160_.~m0100 (±6) and the observed value of 160_.~m010(±1) obtained at the Doppler difference velocity.