The ion-composition of the plasma produced by impacts of fast dust particles     

B.-K. Dalmann  E. Grün  J. Kissel  H. Dietzel 《Planetary and Space Science》1977,25(2):135-147

The composition of the impact plasma produced by fast dust particles (v > 1 km/sec) hitting an Au or W target was measured both with a model of the HELIOS micrometeoroid experiment (low electric field at the target) and a high field detector. The plasma composition and the total plasma charge depend strongly on the impact velocity and the electric field strength at the target. Spectra of 9 different projectile-target combinations were analysed. Two types of spectra could be observed, depending on the projectile material. (1) Spectra of metals and hard dielectrics (Mohs' hardness ? 5). Particle constituents of low ionisation energy (e · u ? 7eV, e.g. Na, K, Al) dominate the spectra of these materials at impact velocities below 10 km/sec. At higher speed the relative intensities change and new ions with higher ionisation energies appear. (2) Spectra of soft dielectrics (Mohs' hardness < 3). Below 9 km/sec these materials produced less total charge than did the others. The highest masses were detected at 74 amu. The relative abundance of ions with low ionization energies such as Li, Na, K, etc. is comparatively small. Negative ions were also observed in the impact plasma. Their total number was found to be approximately 3–6% of that of the positive ions at 6 km/sec particle speed.  相似文献   

Lyman-alpha observations of Comet West (1975n)     

Chet B. Opal  George R. Carruthers 《Icarus》1977,31(4):503-509

Images of Comet West in atomic hydrogen (1216 Å) emission were obtained from a sounding rocket on 1976 March 5.5 (R = 0.38 AU). The hydrogen production rate derived from the fit of a simple radial-outflow model to the observed inner isophotes was 3.2 × 10³⁰ atoms/sec. The outer isophotes did not fit the predictions of the complex dynamic model of Keller and Meier, partly because of optical depth effects, but also because the nucleus was breaking up at about this time and it is quite possible that additional hydrogen was being emitted from smaller chunks of the nucleus distributed along the orbit. The above production rate, taken with data on C and O obtained simultaneously by Feldman and Brune, gives Q_H: Q_o: Q_c = 8:3.5:1. For Comet Kohoutek we obtained the ratio 7:1.7:1. The difference, if real, may be due to minor differences in composition or evolution, but in any case it appears that the two comets are similar.  相似文献   

The Jovian surface condition and cooling rate     

W.B. Hubbard 《Icarus》1977,30(2):305-310

A theory which is almost fully analytic is used to investigate Jupiter's cooling rate. We find that a simple model of contraction with adiabatic interior structure gives a total cooling time to the present which is in good agreement with the age of the solar system. The interplay between the surface condition and the cooling rate is exhibited and discussed. The current rate of change of the effective temperature is calculated to be ?1°K/0.145×10⁹ yr. Discrepancies with fully numerical investigations of the Jovian age and cooling rate are noted.  相似文献   

Measures of Jupiter photographs—1974/1975 apparition     

R.B. Minton 《Icarus》1977,31(1):110-122

The 1974/1975 Jupiter apparition is described. Photographic images have been measured and zonal velocities are given for all spots observed on four or more dates. Global and localized zonal flow patterns are graphically presented. Methane absorption band imagery at 890 nm indicates that white ovals and red spots are high in altitude, and blue features are cloud-free areas. The motions of blue features are complex and unlike the motions of other features. Interactions or associations between spots at five adjacent atmospheric currents have been observed. Zonal motion within an equatorial plume has been observed. Evidence is presented for a probable source of red spots in the North Tropical Zone.  相似文献   

Photochemistry of nitrogen in the Martian atmosphere     

Darrell F. Strobel  Michael B. McElroy 《Icarus》1977,30(1):26-41

Models are developed for the photochemistry of a CO₂H₂ON₂ atmosphere on Mars and estimates are given for the concentrations of N, NO, NO₂, NO₃, N₂O₅, HNO₂, HNO₃, and N₂O as a function of altitude. Nitric oxide is the most abundant form of odd nitrogen, present with a mixing ratio relative to CO₂ of order 10^?8. Deposition rates for nitrite and nitrate minerals could be as large as 3× 10⁵ N equivalent atoms cm^?2 sec^?1 under present conditions and may have been higher in the past.  相似文献   

Sources and sinks for atmospheric H₂: A current analysis with projections for the influence of anthropogenic activity     

Joyce E. Penner  Michael B. McElroy  Steven C. Wofsy 《Planetary and Space Science》1977,25(6):521-540

Oxidation of CH₄ provides the major source for atmospheric H₂ which is removed mainly by reaction with OH. Biological activity at the Earth's surface appears to represent at most a minor sink for H₂. Anthropogenic activity is a significant source for both H₂ and CO in the present atmosphere and may be expected to exert a growing influence in the future. Models are presented which suggest a rise in the mixing ratio of H₂ from its present value of 5.6 × 10^?7 to about 1.8 × 10^?6 by the year 2100. The mixing ratio of CO should grow from 9.7 × 10^?8 to 2.3 × 10^?7 over the same time period and there should be a rise in CH₄ by about a factor of 1.5 associated with anthropogenically induced reductions in tropospheric OH.  相似文献   

Light curves of SZ Piscium for 1977 and 1978     

Joel A. Eaton  Franco Scaltriti  M. Cerruti-Sola  M. B. K. Sarma  B. D. Ausekar  Santo Catalano  Marcello Rodono 《Astrophysics and Space Science》1982,82(2):289-306

We present a relatively completeV-band light curve of SZ Psc for 1978 and a partial light curve for 1977. From the 1978 light curve we derive a new time of primary minimum, JD2443823.674±0.001, and a Russell-model solution,i=75°.8±0°.1,r _h =0.096±0.003,r _c =0.351±0.001, andL _h =0.253±0.002. The hotter component of this system is a F5-8 main-sequence star, the cooler component a K3-4 star well above the main sequence. The system is detached with the larger component filling only 82% of its Roche lobe. The distortion wave in this RS CVn-type binary seems not to migrate regularly as do those in many other such systems, but rather seems to change phase and amplitude more erratically. Between 1977 and 1978 its phase stayed practically constant while its amplitude decreased by a factor of three. We discuss the implications of this behavior for the spot model of RS CVn-type activity. We find that the traditional comparison star for SZ Psc, HD 219018, is very likely a constant star contrary to a recent suggestion that it is variable. Its brightness and colors,V=7.705, (B-V)=0.628, and (V-I) _c =0.688, are those of a G2V star.Visiting Astronomer, Kitt Peak National Observatory, which is operated by AURA, Inc., under contract with the National Science Foundation, and Visiting Astronomer, Prarie Observatory, University of Illinois.  相似文献   

The spectrum of the Ap star HR 465 near the rare-earth minimum phase     

B. N. G. Guthrie 《Astrophysics and Space Science》1982,85(1-2):315-324

Four spectra of the long-period Ap star HR 465 were taken in 1969–70 near its rare-earth minimum phase and analysed. Equivalent widths or upper limits were obtained for lines of 23 elements. Lines of Cr were very strong. The relative abundances of the iron-peak elements were derived by a differential curve-of-growth analysis using Gem as the comparison star. The Sc/Fe, Ti/Fe, V/Fe, and Ni/Fe abundance ratios were found to be abnormally low, while the Cr/Fe ratio was abnormally high (0.08). The equivalent widths in 1969–70 were compared with those measured by Aller on a spectrum taken in 1960 near the rare-earth maximum phase. Ionized lines of Sc, Ti, V, Te, Nb, Mo, and the rare-earths all vary out of phase with the Cri and Crii lines. Although Mo and Cr occupy corresponding positions in the periodic table, the Mo/Cr abundance ratio was apparently at least 180 times higher in 1960 than in 1969–70.  相似文献   

Torsional waves on the Sun and the activity cycle     

B. J. Labonte  R. Howard 《Solar physics》1982,75(1-2):161-178

Some properties of the recently-discovered torsional oscillations of the Sun are presented. The detailed relation of this velocity feature to magnetic activity gives evidence that these motions represent a fundamental oscillation within the Sun that is responsible for the solar activity cycle and that they are not a natural consequence of an - dynamo. A new torsional oscillation with wave number 1 hemisphere^–1 is demonstrated to exist on the Sun.  相似文献   

Gamma radiation and photospheric white-light flare continuum     

H. S. Hudson  B. N. Dwivedi 《Solar physics》1982,76(1):45-61

Recent gamma-ray observations of solar flares have provided a better means for estimating the heating of the solar atmosphere by energetic protons. Such heating has been suggested as the explanation of the continuum emission of the white-light flare. We have analyzed the effects on the photosphere of high-energy particles capable of producing the intense gamma-ray emission observed in the 1978 July 11 flare. Using a simple energy-balance argument and taking into account hydrogen ionization, we have obtained the following conclusions:

1. Heating near τ₅₀₀₀ = 1 in the input HSRA model atmosphere is negligible, even for very high fluxes of energetic particles.
2. Energy deposition increases with height for the inferred proton spectra, and does not depend strongly upon the assumed angle of incidence. The computed energy inputs fall in the range 10–100 ergs (cm³ s)^?1 at the top of the photosphere.
3. H^? continuum dominates for column densities as small as 10²² cm^?3, but at greater heights hydrogen ionizes sufficiently for the higher continua to dominate the energy balance.
4. The total energy deposited in the ‘photospheric’ region of H^? dominance could be within a factor of 3 of the necessary energy deposition, by comparison with the white-light flare of 1972 August 7, but the emergent spectrum is quite red so that the intensity excess in the visible band is insufficient to explain the observations.

In summary, it remains energetically possible, within observational limits, that high-energy protons could cause sufficient heating of the upper photosphere to produce detectable excess continuum, but emission from the vicinity of τ = 1 is not significant.  相似文献