Variations of the high energy electron flux along the Ulysses trajectory

We describe for the first time the analysis of high energy electrons (above 240 MeV) from the COSPIN/KET experiment onboard Ulysses. The electron time profiles in four energy windows are presented from Oct. 90 to the end of March 94, up to a maximum heliographic latitude of 57 °S. The recovery rates we derived for the electrons are compared to the recovery rates of positively charged particles with the same rigidity.     

Energetic particles at high latitudes

We review work on diffusion coefficients of energetic particles with an attempt to extract implications on their behaviour at high latitudes. In the ecliptic plane results from solar energetic particle propagation between the Sun and about 5 AU can be described by an effective radial mean free path _r which is approximately constant as a function of distancer. When particle propagation in three dimensions in the heliosphere is considered it is not sufficient to consider _r only. Jovian electrons can be used as probes to determine the parameters of three-dimensional diffusion. In the polar regions diffusion is dominated by its parallel component. Some predictions how should vary with latitude are discussed. For different choices of this variation we present expectations for intensity-time profiles of solar particle events during the Ulysses polar passages.     

Ulysses out-of-ecliptic observations of “27-day” variations in high energy cosmic ray intensity

We report the discovery that for latitudes above 40°S, the observed recurring modulation of cosmic rays and anomalous nuclei occurs without the detection byUlysses of the solar wind velocity and magnetic field recurring enhancements that have, heretofore at lower latitudes, defined corotating interaction regions—i.e., the mechanism producing the recurring intensity variations >40°S appears to be located beyond the radial range ofUlysses.     

The impact of semi-convection and overshooting on the surface abundances in massive stars

We analyse the effects of semi-convection and overshooting on the predicted surface abundances after the first and second dredge-ups in 15 and 20 M Pop. I stars. Overshooting is applied either to the core boundary or to the boundaries of all convective zones. It is shown that the surface abundances are sensitive to the mixing scheme adopted in the interior. The models including semi-convection lead to lower¹²C/¹³C ratios than the other mixing schemes, while models with overshooting predict higher enhancements of sodium at the surface.     

Optimization of the centrifugal impeller flow passage in high-speed pumps

Based on the jet-vortex model for flow passage hydrodynamics in a high-speed centrifugal pump with the open-type impeller, we present the calculated relations for design and optimization of the experimentally verified pump design parameters.     

Local fracture of the burning solid propellant

The problem of fracture mechanics for the solid propellant deteriorated by a crack-shaped cavity, the surface of which burns is considered. It is assumed that the propellant reagents are uniformly distributed in the solid phase while the combustion products are gaseous. The sufficient condition for the “combustion -fracture” stability regime is obtained.     

The natural cytotoxicity in cosmonauts on board space stations

The nature of the changes of resistance to infection seems to be very important. Our studies indicate that different functions of natural killers could be depressed after the spaceflight. The decrease of the percentage of the lymphocytes that can bind target cells lead to the lowering of the “active” NK level and this can be resulted in the depression of total NK activity and lowering of resistance to viral and tumor antigens. The investigation of natural killer cells in cosmonauts before and after short and long-term spaceflights also revealed the important role of spaceflight duration, stress and individual immune reactivity.     

TEC differences for the mid-latitude ionosphere in both sides of the longitudes with zero declination

Based on measurements of ground-based GPS station network, differences of the mid-latitude ionospheric TEC in the east and west sides of North America, South America and Oceania have been analyzed in this paper. Results show that for nearly all seasons from 2001 to 2010 and in both sides of the longitudes with zero declination, there exist systematic differences for the mid-latitude ionospheric TEC in the regions mentioned above and the features of these differences markedly depend upon the local time but less depend upon seasons and the level of solar activity. Theory analysis shows that the longitude variations of both declination and zonal thermospheric winds are one of important factors to cause differences of the mid-latitude ionospheric TEC in both sides of the longitudes with zero declination.     

Implications of X-ray Observations for Electron Acceleration and Propagation in Solar Flares

High-energy X-rays and ??-rays from solar flares were discovered just over fifty years ago. Since that time, the standard for the interpretation of spatially integrated flare X-ray spectra at energies above several tens of keV has been the collisional thick-target model. After the launch of the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI) in early 2002, X-ray spectra and images have been of sufficient quality to allow a greater focus on the energetic electrons responsible for the X-ray emission, including their origin and their interactions with the flare plasma and magnetic field. The result has been new insights into the flaring process, as well as more quantitative models for both electron acceleration and propagation, and for the flare environment with which the electrons interact. In this article we review our current understanding of electron acceleration, energy loss, and propagation in flares. Implications of these new results for the collisional thick-target model, for general flare models, and for future flare studies are discussed.