Determination of Supermassive Black Hole Spins Based on the Standard Shakura–Sunyaev Accretion Disk Model and Polarimetric Observations

Based on spectropolarimetry for 47 type 1 active galactic nuclei observed with the 6-m BTA telescope, we have estimated the spins of the supermassive black holes at the centers of these galaxies. We have determined the spins based on the standard Shakura–Sunyaev accretion disk model. About 70% of the investigated active galactic nuclei are shown to have Kerr supermassive black holes with a dimensionless spin greater than 0.9.     

Extreme Ultraviolet Variability Experiment (EVE) on?the?Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO): Overview?of?Science Objectives, Instrument Design, Data?Products, and Model Developments

The highly variable solar extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation is the major energy input to the Earth’s upper atmosphere, strongly impacting the geospace environment, affecting satellite operations, communications, and navigation. The Extreme ultraviolet Variability Experiment (EVE) onboard the NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) will measure the solar EUV irradiance from 0.1 to 105?nm with unprecedented spectral resolution (0.1?nm), temporal cadence (ten seconds), and accuracy (20%). EVE includes several irradiance instruments: The Multiple EUV Grating Spectrographs (MEGS)-A is a grazing-incidence spectrograph that measures the solar EUV irradiance in the 5 to 37?nm range with 0.1-nm resolution, and the MEGS-B is a normal-incidence, dual-pass spectrograph that measures the solar EUV irradiance in the 35 to 105?nm range with 0.1-nm resolution. To provide MEGS in-flight calibration, the EUV SpectroPhotometer (ESP) measures the solar EUV irradiance in broadbands between 0.1 and 39?nm, and a MEGS-Photometer measures the Sun’s bright hydrogen emission at 121.6?nm. The EVE data products include a near real-time space-weather product (Level?0C), which provides the solar EUV irradiance in specific bands and also spectra in 0.1-nm intervals with a cadence of one minute and with a time delay of less than 15?minutes. The EVE higher-level products are Level?2 with the solar EUV irradiance at higher time cadence (0.25?seconds for photometers and ten seconds for spectrographs) and Level?3 with averages of the solar irradiance over a day and over each one-hour period. The EVE team also plans to advance existing models of solar EUV irradiance and to operationally use the EVE measurements in models of Earth’s ionosphere and thermosphere. Improved understanding of the evolution of solar flares and extending the various models to incorporate solar flare events are high priorities for the EVE team.     

Conditions for the Formation and Maintenance of Filaments – (Invited Review)

Observational conditions for the formation and maintenance of filaments are reviewed since 1989 in the light of recent findings on their structure, chirality, inferred magnetic topology, and mass flows. Recent observations confirm the necessary conditions previously cited: (1) their location at a boundary between opposite-polarity magnetic fields (2) a system of overlying coronal loops, (3) a magnetically-defined channel beneath, (4) the convergence of the opposite-polarity network magnetic fields towards their common boundary within the channel and (5) cancellation of magnetic flux at the common polarity boundary. Evidence is put forth for three additional conditions associated with fully developed filaments: (A) field-aligned mass flows parallel with their fine structure (B) a multi-polar background source of small-scale magnetic fields necessary for the formation of the filament barbs and (C) a handedness property known as chirality which requires them to be either of two types, dextral or sinistral. One-to-one relationships have been established between the chirality of filaments and the chirality of their filament channels and overlying coronal arcades. These findings reinforce earlier evidence that every filament magnetic field is separate from the magnetic field of the overlying arcade but both are parts of a larger magnetic field system. The larger system has at least quadrupolar footprints in the photosphere and includes the filament channel and subphotospheric magnetic fields, This ‘systems’ view of filaments and their environment enables new perspectives on why arcades and channels are invariable conditions for their existence. Supplementary material to this paper is available in electronic form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1005026814076     

The implications of intrinsic luminosity evolution on the value of the density parameter (Ω) and the evolution of radio sizes of radio galaxies and quasars

The implications of the intrinsic luminosity evolution with cosmological epoch on the value of the density parameter () and evolution of radio sizes of extragalactic radio sources have been considered. It is shown that a power law evolution model of the sortP (1 +z) can be used to contrain the value of . In the presence of a strong luminosity evolution, the model yields an upper limit of 0.5.It is also shown that the angular diameter redshift ( – z) relation for quasars can be interpreted in terms of the assumed luminosity evolution combined with a luminosity-linear size correlation with little or no linear size evolution required. On the other hand, strong linear size evolution is needed to explain the – z data for radio galaxies independent of luminosity.     

Influence of the Gravitational Fields of the Moon and the Sun on Long-Period Variations in the Proper Rotation of “Midas” Satellites

We report the results of an analysis of the variation of the proper rotation of several destabilized satellites over many-year long time intervals. The cause of the cyclic variations of the proper rotation period of “Midas-7” satellite, which has been orbiting the Earth since 1963 at an altitude of 3700 km, have long been unclear. These variations could not be explained either by the influence of the terrestrial atmosphere and terrestrial magnetic field, or by solar activity. Based on the results of 40-year long observations of “Midas-4,” “Midas-6,”, and “Midas-7” satellites it was established that their proper rotation exhibits not only dissipative braking variations, but also long-period variations with the periods of 477 days (“Midas-4”), 466 days (“Midas-6”), and 346 days (“Midas-7”) with different amplitudes. These variations in the case of the above satellites have well-defined resonance nature. An explanation of the processes found is proposed based on the results of this study and simulations of the observed orbital dynamics of the satellites. Long-period variations of the proper spacecraft rotation arise as a result of the combined effect of the gravitational fields of the Earth, Moon, and Sun depending on the orientation of their orbital planes in space. The amplitudes of such variations is determined by the inclination of satellite orbits to the equator: the closer it is to the pole (i.e., to 90?), the stronger the effect.     

Comparative Analysis of “Exact” and “Approximate” Methods for Estimating the Absolute and Relative Elements of Detached Close Binary Systems

In this paper the star characteristics (luminosities, spectra, masses, absolute and relative radii of the components, mass ratio, major semiaxis, and orbital inclination) of close binary systems (CBS) with detached components are compared element-by-element. Svechnikov and Perevozkina's Catalog of the orbital elements, masses, and luminosities of pre-main sequence-type eclipsing variable stars with known photometric and spectroscopic elements and Svechnikov and Kuznetsova's Catalog of approximate photometric and absolute elements of eclipsing variable stars are used as initial data. The orbital elements contained in the first catalog are determined from solutions of the known photometric light curves and the known radial velocity curves, while the orbital elements for the second catalog were estimated using data from the General Catalog of Variable Stars (GCVS) IV employing approximate statistical relationships such as mass-radius, mass-luminosity, and mass-spectrum, along with the dependence of the orbital inclination on the depth of the principal minimum and others. Possible reasons for discrepancies among the compared quantities are discussed.     

Estimate of the Upper Limit on Hot Plasma Differential Emission Measure (DEM) in Non-Flaring Active Regions and Nanoflare Frequency Based on the Mg <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">xii</Emphasis> Spectroheliograph Data from CORONAS-F/SPIRIT

Nanoflare-heating theory predicts steady hot-plasma emission in non-flaring active regions. It is hard to find this emission with conventional non-monochromatic imagers (such as the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly or the X-Ray Telescope), because their images contain a cool-temperature background. In this work, we search for hot plasma in non-flaring active regions using the Mg?xii spectroheliograph onboard the Complex Orbital Observations Near-Earth of Activity on the Sun (CORONAS)-F/SPectroheliographIc X-ray Imaging Telescope (SPIRIT). This instrument acquired monochromatic images of the solar corona in the Mg?xii 8.42 Å line, which emits only at temperatures higher than 4 MK. The Mg?xii images only contain the signal from hot plasma, without any low-temperature background. We studied the hot plasma in active regions using SPIRIT data from 18?–?28 February 2002. During this period, the Mg?xii spectroheliograph worked with a 105-second cadence almost without data gaps. Hot plasma was observed only in the flaring active regions. We did not observe any hot plasma in non-flaring active regions. The hot-plasma column emission measure in the non-flaring active region is not expected to exceed \(3 \times10^{24}\) cm^?5. The hot differential emission measure is lower than 0.01% of the DEM of the main temperature component. The absence of Mg?xii emission in the non-flaring active regions can be explained by weak and frequent nanoflares (with a delay of less than 500 seconds) or by very short and intense nanoflares that lead to non-equilibrium ionization.     

Remarks on the paper “The tidal loss of satellite-orbiting objects and its implications for the lunar surface” by Mark J. Reid

The paper by Reid suggests that masses may be stored in circumlunar orbits for long periods of time, limited only by tidal dissipation. The real loss may, however, be much faster, due to large changes in the orbit caused by the disturbing field of the Earth. It is shown that the example quoted of Jupiter's satellites is inadequate to make the case for stability of such orbits.     

Toward accurate measurement of property-dependent galaxy clustering I. Comparison of the V_(max) method and the “shuffled” method

Galaxy clustering provides insightful clues to our understanding of galaxy formation and evolution, as well as the universe. The redshift assignment for the random sample is one of the key steps to accurately measure galaxy clustering. In this paper, by virtue of the mock galaxy catalogs, we investigate the effect of two redshift assignment methods on the measurement of galaxy two-point correlation functions(hereafter 2 PCFs), the V_(max) method and the "shuffled" method. We have found that the shuffled method significantly underestimates both of the projected 2 PCFs and the two-dimensional 2 PCFs in redshift space,while the V_(max) method does not show any notable bias on the 2 PCFs for volume-limited samples. For fluxlimited samples, the bias produced by the V_(max) method is less than half of the shuffled method on large scales. Therefore, we strongly recommend the V_(max) method to assign redshifts to random samples in the future galaxy clustering analysis.     

Eton 5: Simultaneous rocket measurements of the OH meinel Δυ = 2 sequence and (8,3) band emission profiles in the nightglow

Simultaneous rocket measurements of the emission profiles of the OH Meinel (8,3) band and the Δυ = 2 sequence at 1.61 μm are presented and analysed. It is shown that the υ = 8 level of the hydroxyl radical must suffer significant loss in the mesosphere due to collisions with O₂ and/or N₂. The rate coefficients for this removal process are obtained, for certain limiting assumptions about the excitation mechanism, and the coefficients are found to be in good agreement with those deduced from an independent analysis of ground-based observations. A variety of kinetic models, which reproduce the observed (8,3) band profile in some detail, predict Δυ = 2 sequence emission profiles which compare favourably with the measured profile in their total zenith intensities but not in their altitude distributions. The differences between the measured and modelled Δυ = 2 altitude profiles suggest that the 1.61 μm observations may have been contaminated by some unidentified vehicle-induced emission.     

On the interpretation of the “inverse phase effect” for CO2 equivalent widths on Venus

Computations of the equivalent widths of absorption lines as a function of planetary phase angle are made for a homogeneous cloud with particles having the properties (shape, refractive index, and size distribution) deduced from polarimetry of Venus. The computed equivalent widths show an “inverse phase effect” comparable to that which is observed for CO₂ lines on Venus. This result verifies a recent suggestion of Regas et al. that the existence of an inverse phase effect does not by itself imply the presence of multiple layers of scattering particles in the atmosphere of Venus.     

CorPITA: An Automated Algorithm for the Identification and Analysis of Coronal “EIT Waves”

The continuous stream of data available from the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) telescopes onboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) spacecraft has allowed a deeper understanding of the Sun. However, the sheer volume of data has necessitated the development of automated techniques to identify and analyse various phenomena. In this article, we describe the Coronal Pulse Identification and Tracking Algorithm (CorPITA) for the identification and analysis of coronal “EIT waves”. CorPITA uses an intensity-profile technique to identify the propagating pulse, tracking it throughout its evolution before returning estimates of its kinematics. The algorithm is applied here to a data set from February 2011, allowing its capabilities to be examined and critiqued. This algorithm forms part of the SDO Feature Finding Team initiative and will be implemented as part of the Heliophysics Event Knowledgebase (HEK). This is the first fully automated algorithm to identify and track the propagating “EIT wave” rather than any associated phenomenon and will allow a deeper understanding of this controversial phenomenon.     

The ratios I(K1)/I(H1) and I(K3)/I(H3) of ca II as diagnostics of the chromosphere above sunspots

The ratios I(K ₁)/I(H ₁) and I(K ₃)/I(H ₃) were calculated from four semi-empirical models of sunspot umbra. We determined the dependencies of both ratios of such parameters as temperature gradient and atmospheric opacity. A certain influence on the expected ratios I(K ₁)/I(H ₁) and I(K ₃)/I(H ₃) can also come from the FIP effect provided it exists in the chromosphere above sunspot umbra. Theoretical and observed values of I(K ₁)/I(H ₁) and I(K ₃)/I(H ₃) are compared. It is shown that for one of the sunspots we observed, the values obtained for the ratio I(K ₁)/I(H ₁) cannot be explained in terms of existing umbra models.     

Constraints on the flux of meteoritic and cometary water on the Moon from volatile element (N–Ar) analyses of single lunar soil grains,Luna 24 core

We report new nitrogen and argon isotope and abundance results for single breccia clasts and agglutinates from four different sections of the Luna 24 drill core in order to re-evaluate the provenance of N trapped in lunar regolith, and to place limits on the flux of planetary material to the Moon’s surface. Single Luna 24 grains with ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratios <1 show δ¹⁵N values between ?54.5‰ and +123.3‰ relative to terrestrial atmosphere. Thus, low-antiquity lunar soils record both positive and negative δ¹⁵N signatures, and the secular increase of the δ¹⁵N value previously postulated by Kerridge (Kerridge, J.F. [1975]. Science 188(4184), 162–164. doi:10.1126/science.188.4184.162) is no longer apparent when the Luna and Apollo data are combined. Instead, the N isotope signatures, corrected for cosmogenic ¹⁵N, are consistent with binary mixing between isotopically light solar wind (SW) N and a planetary N component with a δ¹⁵N value of +100‰ to +160‰. The lower δ¹⁵N values of Luna 24 grains compared to Apollo samples reflect a higher relative proportion of solar N, resulting from the higher SW fluence in the region of Mare Crisium compared to the central near side of the Moon. Carbonaceous chondrite-like micro-impactors match well the required isotope characteristics of the non-solar N component trapped in low-antiquity lunar regolith. In contrast, a possible cometary contribution to the non-solar N flux is constrained to be ?3–13%. Based on the mixing ratio of SW to planetary N obtained for recently exposed lunar soils, we estimate the flux of micro-impactors to be (2.2–5.7) × 10³ tons yr^?1 at the surface of the Moon. Our estimate for Luna 24 agrees well with that for young Apollo regolith, indicating that the supply of planetary material does not depend on lunar location. Thus, the continuous influx of water-bearing cosmic dust may have represented an important source of water for the lunar surface over the past ～1 Ga, provided that water removal rates (i.e., by meteorite impacts, photodissociation, and sputtering) do not exceed accumulation rates.     

A refined “standard” thermal model for asteroids based on observations of 1 Ceres and 2 Pallas

We present ground-based thermal infrared observations of asteroids 1 Ceres and 2 Pallas made over a period of 2 years. By analysing these data in light of the recently determined occultation diameter of Ceres (933–945 km) and Pallas (538 km) and their known small-amplitude lightcurves, we have determined a new value for the infrared beaming parameter used in the “standard” thermal emission model for asteroids. The new value is significantly lower than that previously used, and when applied in the reduction of thermal infrared observations of other asteroids, should yield model diameters that are closer to actual diameters. In our formulation, we also incorporate the recently adopted IAU magnitude convention for asteroids, which uses the zero-phase magnitudes (including the opposition effect) the same as is used for satellites.     

Diurnal and seasonal variations of the oh (8, 3) airglow band and its correlation with OI 5577 Å

In this paper the results of OH (8,3) emission intensity and rotational temperature measurements made in the Brazilian sector (23°S) from 1972 to 1974 are presented. Diurnal variations of both the parameters are found to fall into distinct classes, showing significant seasonal effects. A correlative study with the OI 5577 Å emission measured simultaneously is also presented. It is shown that both the phase and amplitude of the major part of the mean nocturnal intensity variations of the two emissions can be explained by the density and temperature perturbations caused by the solar semidiurnal tide. The OH emission is found to increase slightly during magnetic disturbances.     

Determining the local abundance of Martian methane and its’ 13C/12C and D/H isotopic ratios for comparison with related gas and soil analysis on the 2011 Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission

Understanding the origin of Martian methane will require numerous complementary measurements from both in situ and remote sensing investigations and laboratory work to correlate planetary surface geophysics with atmospheric dynamics and chemistry. Three instruments (Quadrupole Mass Spectrometer (QMS), Gas Chromatograph (GC) and Tunable Laser Spectrometer (TLS)) with sophisticated sample handling and processing capability make up the Sample Analysis at Mars (SAM) analytical chemistry suite on NASA’s 2011 Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Mission. Leveraging off the SAM sample and gas processing capability that includes methane enrichment, TLS has unprecedented sensitivity for measuring absolute methane (parts-per-trillion), water, and carbon dioxide abundances in both the Martian atmosphere and evolved from heated soil samples. In concert with a wide variety of associated trace gases (e.g. SO₂, H₂S, NH₃, higher hydrocarbons, organics, etc.) and other isotope ratios measured by SAM, TLS will focus on determining the absolute abundances of methane, water and carbon dioxide, and their isotope ratios: ¹³C/¹²C and D/H in methane; ¹³C/¹²C and ¹⁸O/¹⁷O/¹⁶O in carbon dioxide; and ¹⁸O/¹⁷O/¹⁶O and D/H in water. Measurements near the MSL landing site will be correlated with satellite (Mars Express, Mars 2016) and ground-based observations.