Combined effects of tidal and rotational distortions on the equilibrium configuration of low-mass, pre-main sequence stars

In close binary systems, rotation and tidal forces of the component stars deform each other and destroy their spherical symmetry. We present new models for low-mass, pre-main sequence stars that include the combined distortion effects of tidal and rotational forces on the equilibrium configuration of stars. We investigate the effects of interaction between tides and rotation on the stellar structure and evolution. The Kippenhahn & Thomas (1970) approximation, along with the Clairaut-Legendre expansion for the gravitational potential of a self-gravitating body, is used to take the distortion effects into account. We obtained values of internal structure constants for low-mass, pre-main sequence stars from stellar evolutionary models that consider the combined effects of rotation and tidal forces due to a companion star. We also derived a new expression for the rotational inertia of a tidally and rotationally distorted star. Our distorted models were successfully used to analyze the eclipsing binary system EK Cep, reproducing the stellar radii, effective temperature ratio, lithium depletion, rotational velocities, and the apsidal motion rate in the age interval of 15.5-16.7 Myr. In the low-mass range, the assumption that harmonics greater than j=2 can be neglected seems not to be fully justified, although it is widely used when analyzing the apsidal motion of binary systems. The non-standard evolutionary tracks are cooler than the standard ones, mainly for low-mass stars. Distorted models predict more mass-concentrated stars at the zero-age main-sequence than standard models

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Not AvailableRemoval of soil particles by wind is an active landdegradation process in the Indian Thar Desert. To compute the soil loss due to wind erosion, eroded aeolian masses are mostly collected by samplers, which are available with different designs at desert areas of the world. In the Indian Thar Desert, dust catcher in the design of Bagnold sampler was generally used to collect eroded masses at different heights from the surface, but this had a few drawbacks. Keeping in mind the constraints of the existing sampler, a new wind-erosion sampler was designed, fabricated, tested and installed in the Indian Thar Desert at Jaisalmer. This erosion sampler has the ability to adjust its orifice towards the wind direction and thus is capable of collecting aeolian masses from any direction. With this sampler, eroded aeolian masses were collected and analysed during several dust-storm events and periodic wind-erosion events during June–September 2009. Computation of mass flux (ML–2 T–1) and soil loss from the collected aeolian mass data successfully captured the intensity of dust-storm/wind-erosion events and their variation within a season. Therefore, the new erosion sampler may be used as a tool to monitor and assess dust-storm events in the Indian Thar Desert.Not Availabl