Radio recombination lines from the largest bound atoms in space

In this paper, we report the detection of a series of radio recombination lines (RRLs) in absorption near 26 MHz arising from the largest bound carbon atoms detected in space. These atoms, which are more than a million times larger than the ground state atoms are undergoing delta transitions (n~1009, Delta n=4) in the cool tenuous medium located in the Perseus arm in front of the supernova remnant, Cassiopeia A. Theoretical estimates had shown that atoms which recombined in tenuous media are stable up to quantum levels n~1500. Our data indicates that we have detected radiation from atoms in states very close to this theoretical limit. We also report high signal-to-noise detections of alpha, beta and gamma transitions in carbon atoms arising in the same clouds. In these data, we find that the increase in line widths with quantum number (proportional to n^5) due to pressure and radiation broadening of lines is much gentler than expected from existing models which assume a power law background radiation field. This discrepancy had also been noted earlier. The model line widths had been overestimated since the turnover in radiation field of Cassiopeia A at low frequencies had been ignored. In this paper, we show that, once the spectral turnover is included in the modeling, the slower increase in line width with quantum number is naturally explained.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

Radio seismology of the outer solar corona

Observed oscillations of coronal loops in EUV lines have been successfully used to estimate plasma parameters in the inner corona (< 0.2 R_0, where R_0 is the solar radius). However, coronal seismology in EUV lines fails for higher altitudes because of rapid decrease in line intensity. We aim to use radio observations to estimate the plasma parameters of the outer solar corona (> 0.2 R_0). We use the large Ukrainian radio telescope URAN-2 to observe type IV radio burst at the frequency range of 8-32 MHz during the time interval of 09:50-12:30 UT in April 14, 2011. The burst was connected to C2.3 flare, which occurred in AR 11190 during 09:38-09:49 UT. The dynamic spectrum of radio emission shows clear quasi-periodic variations in the emission intensity at almost all frequencies. Wavelet analysis at four different frequencies (29 MHz, 25 MHz, 22 MHz and 14 MHz) shows the quasi-periodic variation of emission intensity with periods of 34 min and 23 min. The periodic variations can be explained by the first and second harmonics of vertical kink oscillation of transequatorial coronal loops, which were excited by the same flare. The apex of transequatorial loops may reach up to 1.2 R_0 altitude. We derive and solve the dispersion relation of trapped MHD oscillations in a longitudinally inhomogeneous magnetic slab. The analysis shows that a thin (with width to length ratio of 0.1), dense (with the ratio of internal and external densities of > 20) magnetic slab with weak longitudinal inhomogeneity may trap the observed oscillations. Seismologically estimated Alfv\'en speed inside the loop at the height of 1 R_0 is 1000 km/s. Then the magnetic field strength at this height is estimated as 0.9 G. Extrapolation of magnetic field strength to the inner corona gives 10 G at the height of 0.1 R_0.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures, Accepted in A&

Vortex-like state observed in ferromagnetic contacts

Point-contacts (PC) offer a simple way to create high current densities, 10^9 A/cm^2 and beyond, without substantial Joule heating. We have shown recently (Nano Letters, 7 (2007) 927) that conductivity of nanosized PCs between a normal and ferromagnetic metals exhibits bi-stable hysteretic states versus both bias current and external magnetic field - the effect typical for spin-valve structures. Here we report that apart from the bi-stable state a third intermediate-resistance state is occasionally observed. We interpret this state as due to a spin-vortex in the PC, nucleated either by Oersted field of the bias current and/or by the circular geometry of PC. The observed three-level-states in the PC conductivity testify that the interface spins are both weakly coupled to the spins in the bulk and have depressed exchange interaction within the surface layer.Comment: 4 pgs., 4 figs. submitted to ICM-09 (July 26-21, Karlsruhe) V2: corrected typos, accepted for publication in J. Phys.: Conf. Serie