How do interplanetary shock impact angles control the size of the geoeffective magnetosphere?

In this paper, we investigate temporal and spatial magnetosphere response to the impact of interplanetary (IP) shocks with different inclinations and speeds on the Earth’s magnetosphere. A data set with more than 500 IP shocks is used to identify positive sudden impulse (SI⁺) events as expressed by the SuperMAG partial ring current index. The SI⁺ rise time (RT), defined as the time interval between compression onset and maximum SI⁺ signature, is obtained for each event. We use RT and a model suggested by Takeuchi et al. (2002) to calculate the geoeffective magnetospheric distance (GMD) in the shock propagation direction as a function of shock impact angle and speed for each event. GMD is a generalization of the geoeffective magnetosphere length (GML) suggested by Takeuchi et al. (2002), defined from the subsolar point along the X line toward the tail. We estimate statistical GMD and GML values which are then reported for the first time. We also show that, similarly to well-known results for RT, the highest correlation coefficient for the GMD and impact angle is found for shocks with high speeds and small impact angles, and the faster and more frontal the shock, the smaller the GMD. This result indicates that the magnetospheric response depends heavily on shock impact angle. With these results, we argue that the prediction and forecasting of space weather events, such as those caused by coronal mass ejections, will not be accurately accomplished if the disturbances’ angles of impact are not considered as an important parameter within model and observation scheme capabilities.     

Gasodynamic characteristics of a combustion chamber in the integrated power plant with an asymmetric air intake

The results of experimental investigations of gasodynamic characteristics of a combustion chamber model in the integrated power plant (IPP) with an asymmetric air intake are presented. The influence of an angle of air supply into the chamber model on hydraulic losses and the flow structure is shown at different air flowrates, relative values of the minimal flow section area of the feeding air intake pipes, under changes of the flowrate of gas simulating gas generation products and geometric model parameters. A technique for measuring the concentration of carbon dioxide simulating IPP gas generation products in the combustion chamber air flow and the results of experimental investigations of a mixture formation process in the combustion chamber model are described.     

Two magnetars: SGR 1627–41 and 1E 1547–5408

We describe the results obtained with Target of Opportunity observations of the galactic sources SGR 1627–41 and 1E 1547–5408. These two transients show several similarities supporting the interpretation of Anomalous X-ray Pulsars and Soft Gamma-ray Repeaters as a single class of strongly magnetized neutron stars.     

R. Buccheri, J. van Paradijs, M. A. Alpar, The Many of Neutron Stars

We see neutron stars principally by their radio and X-ray emission. Their appearance in these different bands depends on whether the emission comes from the surface or its magnetosphere. New phenomena continue to be found from neutron stars, which makes it an exciting and topical research area. This volume is a collection of the papers from a NATO Advanced Study Institute held in Italy in October 1996. Many, and for me the most interesting ones, are substantial reviews on topics such as Pulsar magnetic fields and glitches (M. Ruderman), Radio pulsar population properties (D. Lorimer), Gamma-ray emission from CGRO pulsars (G. Kanbach), Neutron stars and black holes in X-ray binaries (J. van Paradijs), Kilohertz quasi-periodic oscillations in low-mass X-ray binaries (M. van der Klis), Thermonuclear burning on rapidly accreting neutron stars (L. Bildsten), On the X-ray emission properties of rotation powered pulsars (W. Becker and J. Truemper). It will serve as a useful reference and source book for students in high energy astrophysics and related fields. The high price may deter its purchase by individuals, but it will be a good volume for a library needing recent coverage on neutron stars. It does not of course include the most recent developments on anomalous X-ray pulsars or magnetars. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.