Photospheric Magnetic Field: Relationship Between North-South Asymmetry and Flux Imbalance

Photospheric magnetic fields were studied using the Kitt Peak synoptic maps for 1976-2003. Only strong magnetic fields (B>100 G) of the equatorial region were taken into account. The north-south asymmetry of the magnetic fluxes was considered as well as the imbalance between positive and negative fluxes. The north-south asymmetry displays a regular alternation of the dominant hemisphere during the solar cycle: the northern hemisphere dominated in the ascending phase, the southern one in the descending phase during Solar Cycles 21-23. The sign of the imbalance did not change during the 11 years from one polar-field reversal to the next and always coincided with the sign of the Sun's polar magnetic field in the northern hemisphere. The dominant sign of leading sunspots in one of the hemispheres determines the sign of the magnetic-flux imbalance. The sign of the north-south asymmetry of the magnetic fluxes and the sign of the imbalance of the positive and the negative fluxes are related to the quarter of the 22-year magnetic cycle where the magnetic configuration of the Sun remains constant (from the minimum where the sunspot sign changes according to Hale's law to the magnetic-field reversal and from the reversal to the minimum). The sign of the north-south asymmetry for the time interval considered was determined by the phase of the 11-year cycle (before or after the reversal); the sign of the imbalance of the positive and the negative fluxes depends on both the phase of the 11-year cycle and on the parity of the solar cycle. The results obtained demonstrate the connection of the magnetic fields in active regions with the Sun's polar magnetic field in the northern hemisphere.Comment: 24 pages, 12 figures, 2 table

Adaptation of forest ecosystems to the humidity factor in the Middle Urals

For nominally indigenous forests of the Trans-Urals hilly piedmont province of the Middle Urals, the species composition and productivity of the lower layers – as an adaptation to different humidity regimes – were studied. The research is based on three forest types (by the principles of genetic typology): cowberry pine forest, grass pine forest, and dwarf shrub-sphagnum pine forest. The investigated plots constitute a generalized topoecological profile. In the lower layers of the studied pine forests, the species composition differs considerably. The species richness differs significantly between the extreme (periodically dry and permanently humid) and optimal (fresh, periodically humid) habitats. The humidity factor is important. The productivity of the lower layers is stable regardless of the humidification conditions. This indicates that ecosystems have a higher adaptive capacity than individual plant species. To study the mechanisms by which the productivity is maintained, we constructed the rank distributions of the above-ground phytomass of grass species in the all three types of pine forests. We found that a statistically significant increase takes place in the β parameter of the exponential approximating function when the soil humidity decreases as the productivity level of the grass-dwarf shrub layer is maintained

Li₂Zn₂(MoO₄)₃ crystal as a potential detector for ¹⁰⁰Mo 2β-decay search

Properties of Li₂Zn₂(MoO₄)₃ crystals grown by the low-thermal-gradient Czochralski technique have been studied. Chemical composition of the material was tested by ICP-MS mass-spectrometry. Optical properties (refraction, transmittance and reflectivity) have been measured. Luminescence characteristics of crystals under ultraviolet, synchrotron, and X-ray excitation has been studied. Properties and the applicability of Li₂Zn₂(MoO₄)₃ crystals as scintillation and bolometric detectors have been checked for the first time.Досліджено властивості кристалів Li₂Zn₂(MoO₄)₃, вирощених методом Чохральського з низьким температурним градієнтом. Хімічний склад зразків перевірено за допомогою ICP-MS мас-спектрометрії. Виміряно оптичні характеристики (заломлення, прозорість та відбивання). Люмінесцентні характеристики кристалів досліджено при збудженні ультрафіолетовим, синхротронним та рентгенівським випроміненнями. Вперше перевірено можливості використання кристалів Li₂Zn₂(MoO₄)₃ як сцинтиляційних та болометричних детекторів.Изучены свойства кристаллов Li₂Zn₂(MoO₄)₃, выращенных методом Чохральского с низким температурным градиентом. Химический состав проверен при помощи ICP-MS масс-спектрометрии. Измерены оптические свойства (преломление, прозрачность и отражение). Люминесцентные характеристики кристаллов изучены при возбуждении ультрафиолетовым, синхротронным и рентгеновским излучениями. Впервые проверены возможности использования кристаллов Li₂Zn₂(MoO₄)₃ в качестве сцинтилляционных и болометрических детекторов

Li₂Zn₂(MoO₄)₃ crystal as a potential detector for ¹⁰⁰Mo 2β-decay search

Properties of Li₂Zn₂(MoO₄)₃ crystals grown by the low-thermal-gradient Czochralski technique have been studied. Chemical composition of the material was tested by ICP-MS mass-spectrometry. Optical properties (refraction, transmittance and reflectivity) have been measured. Luminescence characteristics of crystals under ultraviolet, synchrotron, and X-ray excitation has been studied. Properties and the applicability of Li₂Zn₂(MoO₄)₃ crystals as scintillation and bolometric detectors have been checked for the first time.Досліджено властивості кристалів Li₂Zn₂(MoO₄)₃, вирощених методом Чохральського з низьким температурним градієнтом. Хімічний склад зразків перевірено за допомогою ICP-MS мас-спектрометрії. Виміряно оптичні характеристики (заломлення, прозорість та відбивання). Люмінесцентні характеристики кристалів досліджено при збудженні ультрафіолетовим, синхротронним та рентгенівським випроміненнями. Вперше перевірено можливості використання кристалів Li₂Zn₂(MoO₄)₃ як сцинтиляційних та болометричних детекторів.Изучены свойства кристаллов Li₂Zn₂(MoO₄)₃, выращенных методом Чохральского с низким температурным градиентом. Химический состав проверен при помощи ICP-MS масс-спектрометрии. Измерены оптические свойства (преломление, прозрачность и отражение). Люминесцентные характеристики кристаллов изучены при возбуждении ультрафиолетовым, синхротронным и рентгеновским излучениями. Впервые проверены возможности использования кристаллов Li₂Zn₂(MoO₄)₃ в качестве сцинтилляционных и болометрических детекторов