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Rosner, R.

Publications and source records attributed to Rosner, R..

At least 37 records · Page 2

The generation of MHD waves by forced turbulence in a weakly magnetized fluid

The effect of the fluctuating buoyancy force on wave generation in a weakly magnetized plasma is considered. As expected, the efficiency of MHD wave generation is enhanced by including this force. However, it remains true that the observed variation of coronal emission at fixed spectral type cannot be accounted for by a wave generation process of the type discussed here.

Rosner, R.

On the effects of Cosmions upon the structure and evolution of very low mass stars

A number of recent studies have suggested that cosmions, or WIMPS, may play an important role in the energetics of the solar interior; in particular, it has been argued that these hypothetical particles may transport sufficient energy within the nuclear-burning solar core so as to depress the solar core temperature to the point of resolving the solar neutrino problem. Solutions to the solar neutrino problem have proven themselves to be quite nonunique, so that it is of some interest whether the cosmion solution can be tested in some independent manner. It is argued that if cosmions solve the solar neutrino problem, then they must also play an important role in the evolution of low mass main sequence stars; and, second, that if they do so, then a simple (long mean free path) model for the interaction of cosmions with baryons leads to changes in the structure of the nuclear-burning core which may be in principal observable. Such changes include suppression of a fully-convective core in very low mass main sequence stars; and a possible thermal runaway in the core of the nuclear burning region. Some of these changes may be directly observable, and hence may provide independent constraints on the properties of the cosmions required to solve the solar neutrino problem, perhaps even ruling them out.

Deluca, E. E.

On the generation of flux tube waves in stellar convection zones. I - Longitudinal tube waves driven by external turbulence

The source functions and the energy fluxes for wave generation in magnetic flux tubes embedded in an otherwise magnetic field-free, turbulent, and compressible fluid are derived. The calculations presented here assume that the tube interior is not itself turbulent, e.g., that motions within the flux tube are due simply to external excitation. Specific results for the generation of longitudinal tube waves are presented.

Musielak, Z. E.

On the generation of magnetohydrodynamic waves in a stratified and magnetized fluid. II - Magnetohydrodynamic energy fluxes for late-type stars

Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) wave energy fluxes for late-type stars are calculated, using previously obtained formulae for the source functions for the generation of MHD waves in a stratified, but otherwise uniform, turbulent atmosphere; the magnetic fields in the wave generation region are assumed to be homogeneous. In contradiction to previous results, it is shown that in this uniform magnetic field case there is no significant increase in the efficiency of MHD wave generation, at least within the theory's limits of applicability. The major results are that the MHD energy fluxes calculated for late-type stars are less than those obtained for compressible modes in the magnetic field-free case, and that these MHD energy fluxes do not vary enough for a given spectral type to explain the observed range of UV and X-ray fluxes from such stars. It is therefore concluded that MHD waves in stellar atmospheres with homogeneous magnetic fields in the wave generation region cannot explain the observed stellar coronal emissions; if such MHD waves are responsible for a significant component of stellar coronal heating, then nonuniform fields within the generation region must be appealed to.

Musielak, Z. E.

On wind-type flows in astrophysical jets. III - Temporal evolution of perturbations and the formation of shocks

The temporal evolution of disturbances in a spherically symmetric polytropic wind from a central object is studied. Such disturbances may be due to localized momentum addition/subtraction, as, for example, by MHD waves, heating/cooling mechanisms in the outflow, or localized deviations from spherical symmetric expansion. The evolution of an initial perturbed state to a continuous or discontinuous final equilibrium state, as predicted by previous analytic calculations for stationary flows, is followed. It is shown that some of the predicted discontinuous equilibrium states are not physically accessible, while the attainment of the remaining equilibrium states depends on both the temporal and the spatial parameters characterizing the perturbation. The results are derived for solar conditions, but in fact can be applied to outflows in other astrophysical systems. In particular, applications to the solar wind and flows in astrophysical jets are discussed.

Trussoni, E.

The stellar composition of X-ray surveys from the Einstein Observatory

A new class of X-ray-luminous 'yellow' stellar objects which contributes significantly to the stellar log N-log S distribution, but which cannot be reconciled with normal G and K main-sequence stars. This identification results from a new analysis of the stellar content of three samples of X-ray-selected X-ray sources observed with the Einstein Observatory, namely the 'Medium Sensitivity Survey', the 'High Sensitivity Survey', and the 'Hyades Region Survey'. In this paper, both X-ray and optical properties of the stellar samples in these surveys are reported. The actual stellar content of the surveys is compared with predictions based on current knowledge of stellar X-ray luminosity functions and the stellar composition and spatial distribution in the Galaxy. It is shown that a plausible identification for the excess population of 'yellow' stars is with the active, RS CVn-like binaries.

Favata, F.

On the thermal instability of galactic and cluster halos

The paper presents a detailed study of thermal instabilities in cooling flows associated with galaxies and clusters of galaxies. In the case of purely radiation-driven accretion onto a central object such as the cD galaxy M87, it is found that the gas is largely subject to overstability, rather than to monotonic instability. If thermal conductivity is taken into account, the flow is stabilized on scales of several kiloparsecs, even if the conductivity is appreciably reduced (e.g., about 1 percent) with respect to the Spitzer value. In no case are the globular perturbations (i.e., perturbations with comparable radial and azimuthal dimensions) found to be monotonically unstable. The paper presents numerical solutions of the local dispersion relation for the cooling flow in M87 and discusses the possible consequences of the results for a correct understanding of cooling flows.

Malagoli, A.

Magnetic flux tubes as sources of wave generation

The structure of solar, and very likely stellar, surface magnetic fields is highly inhomogeneous: at the photospheric level, the fields are locally strong, and show concentration into a flux tube structure. In this case, the wave energy generated in stellar convection zones may be largely carried away by flux tube waves, which can then become important sources for the heating of the outer atmospheric layers. Such flux tube wave generation may help to explain the UV and X-ray fluxes observed by the IUE and Einstein observatories. The generation of longitudinal tube waves in magnetic flux tubes embedded in an otherwise magnetic field-free, turbulent, and stratified medium was considered. It is shown that compressible tube waves are generated by dipole emission and that the generation efficiency is a strong function of the magnetic field strength. Energy flux calculations are presented for different magnetic flux tubes, and show how the results depend on the magnetic field strength and the characteristics of the convective turbulence.

Musielak, Z. E.

MHD energy fluxes for late type dwarfs

The efficiency of MHD wave generation by turbulent motions in stratified stellar atmospheres with embedded uniform magnetic fields is calculated. In contradiction with previous results, it is shown that there is no significant increase in the efficiency of wave generation because of the presence of magnetic fields, at least within the theory's limits of applicability. It is shown that MHD energy fluxes for late-type stars are less than those obtained for acoustic waves in a magnetic-field-free atmosphere, and do not vary enough for a given spectral type in order to explain observed UV and X-ray fluxes. Thus, the results show that MHD energy fluxes obtained if stellar surface magnetic fields are uniform cannot explain the observed stellar coronal emissions.

Rosner, R.

A computational code for two-dimensional unsteady magnetohydrodynamics by the method of characteristics

A computational code for solving two-dimensional, time-dependent MHD equations by the method of characteristics is presented. Its capabilities are demonstrated by solving two very different problems for which analytical solutions exist: linearized, standing MHD wave motions in a magnetized cylindrical plasma, and nonlinear self-similar expansion of a magnetized plasma ball. The nonlinear development of standing MHD wave solutions in a cylindrical plasma is also studied. The method can be naturally embedded in the computational architecture of massively parallel processors.

Lou, Y. Q.

On the generation of magnetohydrodynamic waves in a stratified and magnetized fluid. I - Vertical propagation

The generation of MHD waves by turbulent motions in a stratified medium with an embedded uniform magnetic field, a topic which is relevant to the study of the solar atmosphere, is considered. Both compressible and incompressible MHD waves are treated in a one-dimensional approach; however, the direction of the background magnetic field is permitted to vary in an arbitrary direction. Theoretical expressions for MHD energy fluxes are obtained as a function of wave frequency and multipole coefficients. It is shown that monopole, dipole, and quadrupole emissions are responsible for the generation of the compressible components of the fast and slow modes. However, the incompressible components and the Alfven modes can be generated by the dipole emission only. Specific results obtained for special magnetic field geometries are discussed for the fast and slow modes.

Musielak, Z. E.

Current-driven magnetohydrodynamic thermal instabilities in sheared fields

Approximate analytic solutions are sought for the dispersion relation for the MHD stability of magnetized medium in current-driven filamentation modes such as those observed in the solar atmosphere. The magnetic field is assumed to have a self-consistent sheared equilibrium structure. The analysis is carried out in the small wavenumber regime, where shear length is similar to the mode wavelength. Instability is found to depend on the ratio between the thermal and magnetic diffusivities, i.e., the Prandtl number, which identifies the unstable transverse wavenumbers. The instability conditions are expressed in an algebraic equation amenable to numerical solution. Results are provided from use of the model to determine the maximum growth rate and typical scale lengths of instabilities in a precoronal atmosphere and the lower transition region.

Bodo, G.

On strategies for inverting remote sensing data

Attention is given to a number of methods for inverting remote sensing data obtained in a variety of astronomical applications. Applications include image restoration, inversion of helioseismological data to obtain the internal rotation rate of stars such as the sun, fitting of spectra (especially thermal line spectra) to grating or other dispersed observed spectra, differential emission measure analysis, and reconstruction of images derived from interferometric observations. The results consider the tradeoff between resolution and variance and the stability properties for each method and propose an inversion stragegy using the available techniques.

Jeffrey, W.

The equilibrium structure of thin magnetic flux tubes. II

The thermal structure of the medium inside thin, vertical magnetic flux tubes embedded in a given external atmosphere is investigated, assuming cylindrical symmetry and a depth-independent plasma beta. The variation with tube radius of the temperature on the tube axis is computed and the temperature on the tube wall is estimated. The temperature variation across the flux tube is found to be due to the depth variation of the intensity and to the density stratification of the atmosphere. Since the temperature difference between the axis and the wall is small in thin flux tubes (of the order of 10 percent), the horizontal temperature gradient may often be neglected and the temperature in a tube of given radius may be described by a single function of depth. Thus, a more detailed numerical treatment of the radiative transfer within thin flux tubes can be substantially simplified by neglecting horizontal temperature differences within the flux tube proper.

Kalkofen, W.

On magnetic field stochasticity and nonthermal line broadening in solar flares

Observations of nonthermal line broadening seen in solar flares by the Solar Maximum Mission satellite are discussed in light of recent results on the generation of magnetic field stochasticity. It is shown that a consistent model for the data can be constructed by assuming that the observations signal the destruction of an ambient magnetohydrodynamic equilibrium.

Antonucci, E.

X-ray spectra and the rotation-activity connection of RS Canum Venaticorum binaries

Results are presented from a survey of RS CVn binaries which were observed with the imaging proportional counter (IPC) on board the Einstein Observatory. Spectral analyses of the IPC pulse height spectra show that the coronae of RS CVn binaries always contain hot gas with temperatures in excess of 10 to the 7th K, similar to active late-type main-sequence stars, and that at least two temperature components are necessary to account for the higher quality IPC spectra (when absorption is unimportant). It is argued that these bimodal temperature distributions found by the IPC are indicative of true distributions of emission measure versus temperature that are continuous (just as is the case of magnetically confined coronal plasma loops observed on the sun). It is further shown that none of the derivable X-ray characteristics of RS CVn binaries depend on rotation period, implying that previous claims of period-activity relationships in RS CVn binaries were unfounded.

Majer, P.