Some basic questions on helicity inferred from vector magnetograms

This paper summarizes current helicity measurements in the solar active regions (ARs). There is a basic agreement with the “hemispheric sign rule (HSR)” of the current helicity among different vector magnetographs through two solar cycles, but there is a large dispersion of the fraction of ARs following the HSR. In our sample, there are 50%–78% ARs in solar cycle 22 and 44%–79% ARs in cycle 23 following the HSR. A variation is also found in the fraction of the ARs following the HSR between different instruments even when the same ARs are selected. The difference also exists for the same instrument when the selected ARs are different. There are some differences in the variation of HSR with solar cycle for the individual helicity parameter inferred from different instruments. Factors which influence the correlation of different data sets are analyzed.     

Study of solar features causing GMSs with 250γ<<Emphasis Type="Italic">H</Emphasis><400γ

The effect of solar features on geospheric conditions leading to geomagnetic storms (GMSs) with planetary index,A ^P ≥ 20 and the range of horizontal component of the Earth’s magnetic fieldH such that 250γ <H < 400γ has been investigated using interplanetary magnetic field (IMF), solar wind plasma (SWP) and solar geophysical data (SGD) during the period 1978–99. Statistically, it is observed that maximum number of GMSs have occurred during the maximum solar activity years of 21st and 22nd solar cycles. A peculiar result has been observed during the years 1982, 1994 when sunspot numbers (SSNs) decrease very rapidly while numbers of GMSs increase. No distinct association between yearly occurrence of disturbed days and SSNs is observed. Maximum number of disturbed days have occurred during spring and rainy seasons showing a seasonal variation of disturbed days. No significant correlation between magnitude (intensity) of GMSs and importance ofH _α , X-ray solar flares has been observed. Maximum number of GMSs is associated with solar flares of lower importance, i.e., SF during the period 1978-93.H _α , X-ray solar flares occurred within lower helio-latitudes, i.e., (0–30)°N to (0–30)°S are associated with GMSs. NoH _α , X-ray solar flares have occurred beyond 40°N or 40°S in association with GMSs. In helio-latitude range (10–40)°N to (10–40)°S, the 89.5% concentration of active prominences and disappearing filaments (APDFs) are associated with GMSs. Maximum number of GMSs are associated with solar flares. Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are related with eruptive prominences, solar flares, type IV radio burst and they occur at low helio-latitude. It is observed that CMEs related GMS events are not always associated with high speed solar wind streams (HSSWSs). In many individual events, the travel time between the explosion on the Sun and maximum activity lies between 58 and 118 h causing GMSs at the Earth.     

Solar variability and ring widths in fossil trees

Summary We have analysed ring width sequences of 1.3 My old fossil trees, grown with no water deficit, in Dunarobba forest (Italy). We find evidence for a modulation period of the annual ring growth widths on time scale of 11 y to 15 y. Since similar modulation cycles have also been found by other authors in polar ice¹⁰Be concentration of the last millennium and in a series of annual ring widths of a same kind of trees grown in Central Europe of 15–20 My ago, we suggest that such cycles might be related to solar-activity cycles. This would support the hypothesis of a quasi-periodic behaviour of the solar dynamical system controlled by an oscillator whose fundamental period is of 22–25y, that can be identified with the Hale cycle; this system would be operational at least since the Miocene era.     

Temporal changes in the energy spectrum of Forbush decreases in 20–23 solar activity cycles

Variations in the energy spectrum of galactic cosmic rays during Forbush decreases registered in the 20–23 solar activity cycles are studied, using the data from neutron monitors and the Yakutsk cosmic ray spectrograph. It is shown that the Forbush decreases in the 23rd cycle of solar activity had a harder energy spectrum than in the three previous cycles, due to the relatively low level of turbulence of the interplanetary magnetic field during the 23rd solar activity cycle.     

The Origin of Short-Time Variations in Cosmic-Ray Intensity

It is well known today that a continuous stream of highly ionized plasma is emitted from the Sun’s surface. This plasma is called the solar wind and consists of protons, electrons, and light nuclei. The solar wind pushes the solar magnetic field into interplanetary space to form the interplanetary magnetic field. The interplanetary magnetic field is a dynamical system that depends on the solar cycle and the Sun’s rotation phase. Thus, the Solar System is a natural plasma physics laboratory with an enormous multitude of different effects showing the current state of the system. By recording cosmic-ray fluxes, one can study the behavior of the interplanetary magnetic field and obtain information about processes that occur both on the Sun’s surface and throughout the Solar System. The main short-time variations in cosmic-ray intensity include the 27-day variations and the Forbush decreases. These variations are caused by complex solar plasma structures, which are generated by different processes on the Sun’s surface and propagate through space in a wide range of velocities. Cosmic-ray fluxes recorded with the PAMELA magnetic spectrometer on board the Resurs DK1 satellite in 2006–2016 are used to show some examples of cosmic-ray variations.     

An exact solution of the kompaneets equations for a strong point explosion in a medium with quadratic density decrease

In the Kompaneets approximation, we study the propagation of a shock front from the explosion point in an inhomogeneous medium with a power-law variation of the density characterized by the exponent n=2, which is important and corresponds to the external parts of the solar and stellar coronas. An unexpectedly simple exact solution, which allows us to clarify the structure of the general solution under an arbitrary monotonous law of the density variation, was obtained. The results for the plane case are compared with Korikanskii’s results for a noncentral point explosion in a radially stratified medium. A correspondence between the exact solutions is established in these cases, and a new solution for the noncentral explosion is obtained for the case of a density with a singularity at a finite radius, which decreases quadratically at infinity. Radioastronimical Institute of the National Academy of Sciences, Khar’kov, Ukraine; Research Institute of Physics, State University, Rostov-on-Don, Russia. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 41, No. 6, pp. 683–698, June, 1998.     

Investigation of heavy cosmic-ray nuclei by solid-state track detectors on orbiting platforms

Results are presented from investigations of Fe-group nuclei in galactic and solar cosmic rays in the energy ranges 30–210 MeV/n and 7–210 MeV/n in various phases of the solar cycles. Spectra of Fe particles have been obtained with high energy resolution as a result of exposing PLATAN chambers, made up of layers of a polyethyelene terephthalate solid-state track detector, for between one and three years on the Salyut-6, Salyut-7, and Mir space stations, orbiting at an inclination of 51.6° to the plane of the equator and at an altitude of 350–400 km. Measurements were made of the energy spectra of Fe particles from a unique event, the series of solar flares of September 29 and October 19–29, 1989, which is the most powerful of those recorded and measured over the entire history of cosmic ray research. A modern model of particle penetration inside the Earth’s magnetosphere, developed at the Institute of Nuclear Physics at Moscow State University, is used to compare the measured spectrum with measurements made using the solid-state track detector in the HIIS experiment on the LDEF station, and with extramagnetospheric measurements made using electronic equipment on the IMP-8 satellite and the Galileo space station. It is shown that the solid-state track detector technique has advantages for obtaining the characteristics of the energy spectrum. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 69, 94–98 (September 1999)     

Paleoastrophysics: Progress and prospects

Results of highly accurate measurements of the radiocarbon concentration in the annual growth rings of trees over the last 400 years are presented. The temporal behavior of the intensity of galactic cosmic rays is reconstructed for the first time for the periods before, during, and after a deep and extended solar activity minimum — the Maunder minimum (1645–1715). It was established that even during the epoch of a deep solar minimum, the intensity of the galactic cosmic rays experienced solar modulation. The time profile of the generation of high-energy gamma radiation from the supernova explosion of 1006 is established. It is shown that processes of particle acceleration and generation of high-energy gamma rays take place with a three-year delay relative to the onset of the optical flare. The time profile of the generation of solar cosmic rays was obtained for the first time over the last thirty cycles of solar activity by precision measurements of the nitrate content in the polar ice cap. It is shown that solar flares accompanied by the generation of cosmic rays occur during the growth and decay phase of solar activity (measured by the Wolf numbers). Research prospects in the field of experimental paleoastrophysics are discussed. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 69, 90–93 (September 1999)     

Characteristics of the spatial spectrum of plasma irregularities excited at mid-latitudes by the high-power “Sura” facility

We present the results of analysis of the spectra of amplitude scintillations at a frequency of 150 MHz and a difference phase at frequencies of 150 and 400 MHz, which were obtained in the experiment on radio tomography of artificial ionospheric turbulence (AIT) excited by the mid-latitude high-power “Sura” heating facility [1]. We used the data on radio probing of the AIT region at a frequency of 150 MHz by signals from artificial satellites in near-polar circular orbits at altitudes of 1000 km above the Earth’s surface. The signals were received simultaneously at three spaced apart points located at distances of about 100–150 km from each other along the projection of the satellite trajectory onto the Earth’s surface. The analysis of the data shows that in the range of scales smaller than 0.5–1.0 km across the geomagnetic field, the AIT spatial spectrum can be described by the power-law function with the spectral index p_⊥ = 1.7–2.5. For irregularities with the same transverse scales, the spectral index in the direction of the magnetic field amounts to p_‖ = 5–7. __________ Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 50, No. 8, pp. 722–730, August 2007     

Efficiency of reverse cycles

It is demonstrated that the generally accepted treatment of the second law of thermodynamics is incorrect when the statement of the maximum limiting efficiency of the forward Carnot cycle is applied to the reverse cycles. An analysis of reversible cycles compared with the Carnot cycle shows that the reverse Carnot cycle has the lowest efficiency of all reverse cycles. A new characteristic is proposed — the thermal efficiency of reverse cycles, and a generalized theorem is put forward for the additivity of the thermal efficiencies of the forward and reverse cycles. A formulation of the second law of thermodynamics is suggested from the point of view of the efficiency of reverse cycles. Zh. Tekh. Fiz. 69, 11–14 (June 1999)     

Measurement of atmospheric NO2 column density with kitt peak solar flux atlas as a reference

The vertical column abundance of NO₂ is measured using direct sunlight. The solar spectra in the wavelength region of 430–450 nm observed from the earth’s surface are ratioed with a reference spectrum taken from the Kitt Peak Solar Flux Atlas. The large Fraunhofer features (20–40%) are eliminated by wavelength correction, resolution matching and ratioing of observed spectra to the reference. The retrieved values of the NO₂ vertical column density are in a range of (2–15)x10¹⁶ molecules/cm² with an accuracy of better than 3%. This result demonstrates the usefulness of the Kitt Peak Atlas in the study of tropospheric NO₂ concentration, giving a standard extraterrestrial solar spectrum for the case in which the Langley method is not readily applicable.     

Study of the effects of size quantization in coupled AlxGa1? x As/GaAs/Alx Ga1? x as quantum wells by means of photoreflectance spectroscopy

Photoreflectance spectra are measured in heterostructures with coupled quantum wells at room temperature. The energies of the optical transitions are determined, and their variation with the well width and barrier thickness is studied. The experimental results are compared with the theoretically calculated electron-hole transition energies. Good agreement is obtained for narrow wells. __________ Translated from Optika i Spektroskopiya, Vol. 93, No. 6, 2002, pp. 929–934. Original Russian Text Copyright ? 2002 by Avakyants, Bokov, Galiev, Kaminskiĭ, Kul’bachinskiĭ, Mokerov, Chervyakov.     

Vacuum solutions of neutrino anomalies through a softly broken U(1) symmetry

We discuss an extended model which naturally leads to mass scales and mixing angles relevant for understanding both the solar and atmospheric neutrino anomalies in terms of the vacuum oscillations of the three known neutrinos. The model uses a softly broken –– symmetry and contains a heavy scale GeV. The –– symmetric neutrino masses solve the atmospheric neutrino anomaly while breaking of –– generates the highly suppressed radiative mass scale needed for the vacuum solution of the solar neutrino problem. All the neutrino masses in the model are inversely related to , thus providing seesaw-type of masses without invoking any heavy right-handed neutrinos. The possible embedding of the model into an SU(5) grand unified theory is discussed. Received: 5 August 1999 / Revised version: 18 November 1999 / Published online: 6 April 2000     

Limiting cycles of a second-order nonlinear recursive digital system with truncation in modulus after summation

We analyze free oscillations in a digital second-order system with saturation nonlinearity and truncation in modulus after summation. The limiting cycles are found to exist in the system. Analytical and experimental estimates for their periods and existence conditions are given. Yaroslavl’ State University, Yaroslavl’, Russia. Translated from Izvestiya Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedenii, Radiofizika, Vol. 43, No. 2, pp. 174–181, February 2000.     

Cyclic Variations in the Solar Radiation Fluxes at the Beginning of the 21st Century

The solar activity in the current, that is, the 24th, sunspot cycle is analyzed. Cyclic variations in the sunspot number (SSN) and radiation fluxes in various spectral ranges have been estimated in comparison with the general level of the solar radiation, which is traditionally determined by the radio emission flux F_10.7 at a wavelength of 10.7 cm (2.8 GHz). The comparative analysis of the variations in the solar constant and solar indices in the UV range, which are important for modeling the state of the Earth’s atmosphere, in the weak 24th cycle and strong 22nd and 23rd cycles has shown relative differences in the amplitudes of variations from the minimum to the maximum of the cycle. The influence of the hysteresis effect between the activity indices and F_10.7 in the 24th cycle, which is taken into account here, makes it possible to refine the forecast of the UV indices and solar constant depending on the quadratic regression coefficients that associate the solar indices with F_10.7 depending on the phase of the cycle.     

The dynamics of relativistic electron fluxes in the near-Earth space in 2001–2005

This paper presents data on relativistic electron fluxes (1.5–3 MeV) measured at altitudes of 360–500 km onboard the CORONAS-F satellite. The monthly average fluxes of these particles in the Earth’s outer radiation belt are shown to greatly increase from August 2001 to September 2003. The monthly average fluxes of relativistic electrons in the Earth’s outer radiation belt in the period from August 2001 to July 2004 are also found to be strongly correlated with the monthly average velocities of the solar wind and values of the Kp-index, with this correlation breaking down after July 2004. This paper discusses the possible reasons for the discovered patterns.     

Spectral peculiarities of high energy X-ray radiation,gamma radiation,and Submillimeter radio emission in the impulsive phase of a solar flare

We analyze experimental data on the temporal behavior of fluxes and energy spectra of hard solar X-ray and gamma radiation in the energy range of 0.015 to 300 MeV, obtained onboard the CORONAS-F satellite during a solar flare on August 25, 2001. These data are compared with measurements of the radio emission fluxes over the wide frequency range of 1–405 GHz. For our analysis, we use data obtained onboard the YOHKOH, TRACE and GOES satellites, along with ground-based observations of this solar event using the Solar Submillimeter Telescope (SST; Argentina). For the first time, we find nearly simultaneous changes in the energy spectra of gamma radiation over the range 10–150 MeV and the frequency spectrum of radio emission at the beginning and during a impulsive phase of this event (whose duration did not exceed three minutes).     

Features of cosmic ray variation at the phase of the minimum between the 23rd and 24th solar cycles

The minimum between the 23rd and 24th cycles of solar activity was unusually deep and extended. The modulation of cosmic rays was minimal for the more than 70-year-long period of direct measurements. The data from stratospheric measurements by the Lebedev Physical Institute suggest that the flux of cosmic rays with more than 100 MeV/nucleon of energy exceeded the highest ever observed level (May 1965) by almost 12%. However, the ground-based neutron monitors sensitive to relatively high energies indicated that the flux of cosmic rays increased by less than 3%. This work compares the variations in the cosmic rays over periods of five minima of solar activity (the 20th to the 24th cycle). It is shown that in late 2008, an extra flux of particles with energies less than several GeV/nucleon was detected in the Earth’s orbit. A similar (though far smaller in scale) phenomenon was also observed in 1987 at the same orientation of the Sun’s magnetic field A < 0, but was not observed in epochs where A > 0.