Contents
Images
Upload your image
DSS Images Other Images
Related articles
s-Process in low metallicity Pb stars.
We consider a sample of very metal-poor, C-rich, s-rich and lead-richstars observed at high-resolution spectroscopy, and some recentspectroscopic data of C+s-rich stars obtained at moderate resolution.The spectroscopic data of these stars are interpreted with AGBtheoretical models of different 13C-pocket efficiencies,initial mass and initial r-enrichment. When lead is not measured we giveour theoretical prediction. The observed stars are not on the AGB phase,but are main sequence or giant stars. They acquired the C and senrichments by mass transfer in a close binary system from the moremassive companion while on the AGB (now a white dwarf). A considerablefraction of the stars show both high s and r enrichments. To explain thes+r enriched stars we assume a parental cloud already enriched inr-elements. The measurement of Nb is an indicator of an extrinsic AGB ina binary system. The intrinsic indicator [hs/ls] constrains the initialmass, while [Pb/hs] and [Pb/ls] are a measure of the s-processefficiency. The apparent discrepancies of C and N abundances may bereconciled by assuming a strong cool bottom process occurring during theAGB. An important primary production of light elements, from Ne to Si,increasing with the star mass, is predicted for AGB models at very lowmetallicity, induced by n capture on primary 22Ne and itsprogenies.
| A detailed spectroscopy of the carbon-rich star BD +57°2161
An LTE abundance analysis based on high-resolution spectra is presentedfor the carbon-rich star BD +57°2161, whose evolutionary status isunknown. With [C/Fe] =+0.4 dex and a mean s-process overabundance of[s/Fe] ≃ +1.5 dex the peculiar atmospheric composition of BD+57°2161 is confirmed. The 12C/13C abundanceratio was found to be about 10. The mild iron deficiency, [Fe/H] = -0.2,supports the idea that BD +57°2161 could be an old-disk-populationobject. Radial-velocity measurements confirm the binary nature of thestar. Therefore the peculiar chemical composition could be due to themass transfer from the secondary - AGB star in the past. Orbitalparameters are estimated for another star of this group, BD +75°348.
| Search for C2- in Diffuse Clouds
A search has been carried out for the C2- ion indiffuse clouds toward HD 23180, HD 24912, HD 24398, HD 46711, and HD50064 using the HIDES spectrometer on the Okayama 188-cm telescope. Anupper limit of 8.3 × 1010, 1.8 × 1012cm-2 was obtained for the C2- columndensity. The upper limit value (3.8 × 1011cm-2) toward HD 23180 is two orders of magnitude smaller thanthat of the C2 radical. Possible production mechanisms forC2- are discussed.
| The Binary Frequency Among Carbon-enhanced, s-Process-rich, Metal-poor Stars
We discuss radial velocities for a sample of carbon-enhanced,s-process-rich, very metal-poor (CEMP-s) stars, analyzed withhigh-resolution spectroscopy obtained over multiple epochs. We find that~68% of the stars in the sample show evidence of radial velocityvariations. The expected detection fraction for these stars, adoptingthe measured binary fraction in the field (~60%) and assuming that theyshare the same period and eccentricity distribution, is ~22%. Even ifone assumes that the true binary fraction of these stars is 100%, theexpected detection percentage is ~36%. These values indicate that thebinary fraction among CEMP-s stars is higher than the field binaryfraction, suggesting that all of these objects are in double (ormultiple) systems. The fact that the observed frequency of velocityvariation exceeds the expected detection fraction in the case of anassumed binary fraction of 100% is likely due to a more restricteddistribution of orbital periods for these objects, as compared to normalfield binaries. Our results indicate that CEMP-s stars are themetal-poor analogs of classical CH stars.Based in part on observations collected at the European SouthernObservatory, Paranal, Chile (ESO Programme 167.D-0173).INAF-Osservatorio Astronomico di Padova, Vicolo dell'Osservatorio 5,I-35122 Padova, Italy.
| Statistical Constraints for Astrometric Binaries with Nonlinear Motion
Useful constraints on the orbits and mass ratios of astrometric binariesin the Hipparcos catalog are derived from the measured proper motiondifferences of Hipparcos and Tycho-2 (Δμ), accelerations ofproper motions (μ˙), and second derivatives of proper motions(μ̈). It is shown how, in some cases, statistical bounds can beestimated for the masses of the secondary components. Two catalogs ofastrometric binaries are generated, one of binaries with significantproper motion differences and the other of binaries with significantaccelerations of their proper motions. Mathematical relations betweenthe astrometric observables Δμ, μ˙, and μ̈ andthe orbital elements are derived in the appendices. We find a remarkabledifference between the distribution of spectral types of stars withlarge accelerations but small proper motion differences and that ofstars with large proper motion differences but insignificantaccelerations. The spectral type distribution for the former sample ofbinaries is the same as the general distribution of all stars in theHipparcos catalog, whereas the latter sample is clearly dominated bysolar-type stars, with an obvious dearth of blue stars. We point outthat the latter set includes mostly binaries with long periods (longerthan about 6 yr).
| The Indo-US Library of Coudé Feed Stellar Spectra
We have obtained spectra for 1273 stars using the 0.9 m coudéfeed telescope at Kitt Peak National Observatory. This telescope feedsthe coudé spectrograph of the 2.1 m telescope. The spectra havebeen obtained with the no. 5 camera of the coudé spectrograph anda Loral 3K×1K CCD. Two gratings have been used to provide spectralcoverage from 3460 to 9464 Å, at a resolution of ~1 Å FWHMand at an original dispersion of 0.44 Å pixel-1. For885 stars we have complete spectra over the entire 3460 to 9464 Åwavelength region (neglecting small gaps of less than 50 Å), andpartial spectral coverage for the remaining stars. The 1273 stars havebeen selected to provide broad coverage of the atmospheric parametersTeff, logg, and [Fe/H], as well as spectral type. The goal ofthe project is to provide a comprehensive library of stellar spectra foruse in the automated classification of stellar and galaxy spectra and ingalaxy population synthesis. In this paper we discuss thecharacteristics of the spectral library, viz., details of theobservations, data reduction procedures, and selection of stars. We alsopresent a few illustrations of the quality and information available inthe spectra. The first version of the complete spectral library is nowpublicly available from the National Optical Astronomy Observatory(NOAO) via ftp and http.
| The Geneva-Copenhagen survey of the Solar neighbourhood. Ages, metallicities, and kinematic properties of 14 000 F and G dwarfs
We present and discuss new determinations of metallicity, rotation, age,kinematics, and Galactic orbits for a complete, magnitude-limited, andkinematically unbiased sample of 16 682 nearby F and G dwarf stars. Our63 000 new, accurate radial-velocity observations for nearly 13 500stars allow identification of most of the binary stars in the sampleand, together with published uvbyβ photometry, Hipparcosparallaxes, Tycho-2 proper motions, and a few earlier radial velocities,complete the kinematic information for 14 139 stars. These high-qualityvelocity data are supplemented by effective temperatures andmetallicities newly derived from recent and/or revised calibrations. Theremaining stars either lack Hipparcos data or have fast rotation. Amajor effort has been devoted to the determination of new isochrone agesfor all stars for which this is possible. Particular attention has beengiven to a realistic treatment of statistical biases and errorestimates, as standard techniques tend to underestimate these effectsand introduce spurious features in the age distributions. Our ages agreewell with those by Edvardsson et al. (\cite{edv93}), despite severalastrophysical and computational improvements since then. We demonstrate,however, how strong observational and theoretical biases cause thedistribution of the observed ages to be very different from that of thetrue age distribution of the sample. Among the many basic relations ofthe Galactic disk that can be reinvestigated from the data presentedhere, we revisit the metallicity distribution of the G dwarfs and theage-metallicity, age-velocity, and metallicity-velocity relations of theSolar neighbourhood. Our first results confirm the lack of metal-poor Gdwarfs relative to closed-box model predictions (the ``G dwarfproblem''), the existence of radial metallicity gradients in the disk,the small change in mean metallicity of the thin disk since itsformation and the substantial scatter in metallicity at all ages, andthe continuing kinematic heating of the thin disk with an efficiencyconsistent with that expected for a combination of spiral arms and giantmolecular clouds. Distinct features in the distribution of the Vcomponent of the space motion are extended in age and metallicity,corresponding to the effects of stochastic spiral waves rather thanclassical moving groups, and may complicate the identification ofthick-disk stars from kinematic criteria. More advanced analyses of thisrich material will require careful simulations of the selection criteriafor the sample and the distribution of observational errors.Based on observations made with the Danish 1.5-m telescope at ESO, LaSilla, Chile, and with the Swiss 1-m telescope at Observatoire deHaute-Provence, France.Complete Tables 1 and 2 are only available in electronic form at the CDSvia anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/418/989
| Classification of Spectra from the Infrared Space Observatory PHT-S Database
We have classified over 1500 infrared spectra obtained with the PHT-Sspectrometer aboard the Infrared Space Observatory according to thesystem developed for the Short Wavelength Spectrometer (SWS) spectra byKraemer et al. The majority of these spectra contribute to subclassesthat are either underrepresented in the SWS spectral database or containsources that are too faint, such as M dwarfs, to have been observed byeither the SWS or the Infrared Astronomical Satellite Low ResolutionSpectrometer. There is strong overall agreement about the chemistry ofobjects observed with both instruments. Discrepancies can usually betraced to the different wavelength ranges and sensitivities of theinstruments. Finally, a large subset of the observations (~=250 spectra)exhibit a featureless, red continuum that is consistent with emissionfrom zodiacal dust and suggest directions for further analysis of thisserendipitous measurement of the zodiacal background.Based on observations with the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO), aEuropean Space Agency (ESA) project with instruments funded by ESAMember States (especially the Principle Investigator countries: France,Germany, Netherlands, and United Kingdom) and with the participation ofthe Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) and the NationalAeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
| First stars IV. CS 29497-030: Evidence for operation of the s-process at very low metallicity
We present an abundance analysis of the very metal-poor, carbon-enhancedstar CS 29497-030. Our results indicate that this unusually hot turnoffstar (Teff = 6650 K, log g = 3.5) has a metallicity [Fe/H] =-2.8, and exhibits large overabundances of carbon ([C/Fe] = +2.38),nitrogen ([N/Fe] = +1.88), and oxygen ([O/Fe] = +1.67). This star alsoexhibits a large enhancement in its neutron-capture elements; thepattern follows that expected to arise from the s-process. Inparticular, the Pb abundance is found to be very high with respect toiron ([Pb/Fe] = +3.5), and also with respect to the second peaks-process elements (e.g., Ba, La, Ce, Nd), which fits into the newlyintroduced classification of lead (Pb) stars. The known spectroscopicbinary status of this star, along with the observed s-process abundancepattern, suggest that it has accreted matter from a companion, whichformerly was an Asymptotic Giant-Branch (AGB) star. In a preliminaryanalysis, we have also identified broad absorption lines of metallicspecies that suggest a large axial rotational velocity for this star,which may be the result of spin-up associated with the accretion ofmaterial from its previous AGB companion. In addition, this star isclearly depleted in the light element Li. When considered along with itsrather high inferred temperature, these observations are consistent withthe expected properties of a very low metallicity halo blue straggler.Based on observations made with the ESO Very Large Telescope at ParanalObservatory, Chile (program ID 165.N-0276(A)).Table \ref{tab6} is only available in electronic form athttp://www.edpsciences.org
| Lead and mathbf s-process elements in stars of various metallicities: AGB predictions compared with observation
We present AGB predictions for all heavy elements within a large rangeof 13C-pocket efficiencies for stars of differentmetallicities, and compare them in detail with a number of spectroscopicobservations of s-rich and lead-rich in the Galaxy. The current conceptof the s-process efficiency, specified by the [hs/ls] index, is shown tobe inappropriate for the metal poor AGB stars and a second independentindex, [Pb/hs] or [Pb/ls], needs to be introduced. The state-of-the-artconcerning the interpretation of lead stars allows a very large spreadof [Pb/hs] in metal poor stars, as typically observed. We discussagreements and discrepancies for a large range of elements.
| Nitrogen Overabundance: Globular Cluster and Halo Formation
Halo globular clusters pose four succinct issues that must be solved inany scenario of their formation: single-age, single-metallicity stellarpopulations; a lower limit ([Fe/H]~-2.5) to their average metallicity;comprising only 1% of the stellar halo mass; and being among the oldeststars in our Galaxy. New spectra are presented of Galactic stars andintegrated spectra of Galactic globular clusters that extend to 3250Å. These spectra show that the most metal-poor and among thebest-studied Galactic globular clusters show strong NH 3360 Åabsorption, even though their spectral energy distributions in thenear-UV are dominated by blue horizontal-branch AF-type stars. Thesestrong NH features must be coming from the main-sequence stars in theseclusters. These new data are combined with existing data on the widerange of carbon and nitrogen abundance in very metal-poor ([Fe/H] <-3.5) halo giant and dwarf stars, together with recent models ofzero-metal star formation, to make a strawman scenario for globularcluster formation that can reproduce three of the above four issues, aswell as two of the three related issues pertaining to nitrogenoverabundance. This strawman proposal makes observational andtheoretical predictions that are testable, needing specific help fromthe modelers to understand all of the elemental constraints on globularcluster and halo formation.
| More lead stars
The standard model for the operation of the s-process in asymptoticgiant branch (AGB) stars predicts that low-metallicity ([Fe/H] <~ -1)AGB stars should exhibit large overabundances of Pb and Bi as comparedto other s-elements. The discovery of the first three such ``leadstars'' (defined as stars enriched in s-elements with [Pb/hs] >~ 1,hs being any of Ba, La or Ce) among CH stars has been reported in aprevious paper (Van Eck et al. \cite{VanEck-01}). Five more CH stars(with [Fe/H] ranging from -1.5 to -2.5) are studied in the presentpaper, and two of them appear to be enriched in lead (with [Pb/Ce] =~0.7). The Pb I line at lambda4057 .812 Å is detected and clearlyresolved thanks to high-resolution spectra (R = lambda /Delta lambda =135ts000 ). The abundances for these two stars (HD 198269 and HD 201626)are consistent with the predictions for the s-process operating inlow-metallicity AGB stars as a consequence of the ``partial mixing'' ofprotons below the convective hydrogen envelope. Another two stars (HD189711 and V Ari) add to a growing number of low-metallicity stars (alsoincluding LP 625-44 and LP 706-7, as reported by Aoki et al.\cite{Aoki2001}) which do not conform to these predictions. Variationson the canonical proton-mixing scenario for the operation of thes-process in low-metallicity stars, that could account for thesediscrepant stars, are briefly discussed.Based on observations carried out at the European Southern Observatory(La Silla, Chile; Program 65.L-0354) and at the Observatoire de HauteProvence (operated by CNRS, France).
| A search for diffuse absorption bands in carbon-rich stars - I. Barium and related stars
The results of a search for interstellar and circumstellar absorptionlines in high-resolution optical spectra of seven late-type stars arepresented. All these stars are single-lined spectroscopic binaries withunseen companions, presumably white dwarfs. Some residual materialindicative of recent mass transfer from an asymptotic giant branch (AGB)star might still be associated with the systems. Peculiar energydistribution and the sodium D1 and D2 lines givedirect evidence about the material in the line of sight in some cases.Absorption features of simple carbon-bearing molecules (C2,CN) have been detected in most of the examined stars, confirming acarbon-rich nature of the corresponding medium. The presence of fourwell-known prominent diffuse absorption bands at 5780, 5797, 5705, and5844 Å, belonging to different families, was examined. We have notfound clear evidence for these bands in the programme stars. Thepossible explanations are discussed in brief.
| Hipparcos red stars in the HpV_T2 and V I_C systems
For Hipparcos M, S, and C spectral type stars, we provide calibratedinstantaneous (epoch) Cousins V - I color indices using newly derivedHpV_T2 photometry. Three new sets of ground-based Cousins V I data havebeen obtained for more than 170 carbon and red M giants. These datasetsin combination with the published sources of V I photometry served toobtain the calibration curves linking Hipparcos/Tycho Hp-V_T2 with theCousins V - I index. In total, 321 carbon stars and 4464 M- and S-typestars have new V - I indices. The standard error of the mean V - I isabout 0.1 mag or better down to Hp~9 although it deteriorates rapidly atfainter magnitudes. These V - I indices can be used to verify thepublished Hipparcos V - I color indices. Thus, we have identified ahandful of new cases where, instead of the real target, a random fieldstar has been observed. A considerable fraction of the DMSA/C and DMSA/Vsolutions for red stars appear not to be warranted. Most likely suchspurious solutions may originate from usage of a heavily biased color inthe astrometric processing.Based on observations from the Hipparcos astrometric satellite operatedby the European Space Agency (ESA 1997).}\fnmsep\thanks{Table 7 is onlyavailable in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp tocdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/397/997
| Carbon-rich giants in the HR diagram and their luminosity function
The luminosity function (LF) of nearly 300 Galactic carbon giants isderived. Adding BaII giants and various related objects, about 370objects are located in the RGB and AGB portions of the theoretical HRdiagram. As intermediate steps, (1) bolometric corrections arecalibrated against selected intrinsic color indices; (2) the diagram ofphotometric coefficients 1/2 vs. astrometric trueparallaxes varpi are interpreted in terms of ranges of photosphericradii for every photometric group; (3) coefficients CR andCL for bias-free evaluation of mean photospheric radii andmean luminosities are computed. The LF of Galactic carbon giantsexhibits two maxima corresponding to the HC-stars of the thick disk andto the CV-stars of the old thin disk respectively. It is discussed andcompared to those of carbon stars in the Magellanic Clouds and Galacticbulge. The HC-part is similar to the LF of the Galactic bulge,reinforcing the idea that the Bulge and the thick disk are part of thesame dynamical component. The CV-part looks similar to the LF of theLarge Magellanic Cloud (LMC), but the former is wider due to thesubstantial errors on HIPPARCOS parallaxes. The obtained meanluminosities increase with increasing radii and decreasing effectivetemperatures, along the HC-CV sequence of photometric groups, except forHC0, the earliest one. This trend illustrates the RGB- and AGB-tracks oflow- and intermediate-mass stars for a range in metallicities. From acomparison with theoretical tracks in the HR diagram, the initial massesMi range from about 0.8 to 4.0 Msun for carbongiants, with possibly larger masses for a few extreme objects. A largerange of metallicities is likely, from metal-poor HC-stars classified asCH stars on the grounds of their spectra (a spheroidal component), tonear-solar compositions of many CV-stars. Technetium-rich carbon giantsare brighter than the lower limit Mbol =~ -3.6+/- 0.4 andcentered at =~-4.7+0.6-0.9 at about =~(2935+/-200) K or CV3-CV4 in our classification. Much like the resultsof Van Eck et al. (\cite{vaneck98}) for S stars, this confirms theTDU-model of those TP-AGB stars. This is not the case of the HC-stars inthe thick disk, with >~ 3400 K and>~ -3.4. The faint HC1 and HC2-stars( =~ -1.1+0.7-1.0) arefound slightly brighter than the BaII giants ( =~-0.3+/-1.3) on average. Most RCB variables and HdC stars range fromMbol =~ -1 to -4 against -0.2 to -2.4 for those of the threepopulation II Cepheids in the sample. The former stars show the largestluminosities ( <~ -4 at the highest effectivetemperatures (6500-7500 K), close to the Mbol =~ -5 value forthe hot LMC RCB-stars (W Men and HV 5637). A full discussion of theresults is postponed to a companion paper on pulsation modes andpulsation masses of carbon-rich long period variables (LPVs; Paper IV,present issue). This research has made use of the Simbad databaseoperated at CDS, Strasbourg, France. Partially based on data from theESA HIPPARCOS astrometry satellite. Table 2 is only available inelectronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr(130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/390/967
| Nucleosynthesis and Mixing on the Asymptotic Giant Branch. III. Predicted and Observed s-Process Abundances
We present the results of s-process nucleosynthesis calculations forasymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars of different metallicities anddifferent initial stellar masses (1.5 and 3 Msolar), and wepresent comparisons of them with observational constraints fromhigh-resolution spectroscopy of evolved stars over a wide metallicityrange. The computations were based on previously published stellarevolutionary models that account for the third dredge-up phenomenonoccurring late on the AGB. Neutron production is driven by the13C(α,n)16O reaction during the interpulseperiods in a tiny layer in radiative equilibrium at the top of the He-and C-rich shell. The neutron source 13C is manufacturedlocally by proton captures on the abundant 12C; a few protonsare assumed to penetrate from the convective envelope into the radiativelayer at any third dredge-up episode, when a chemical discontinuity isestablished between the convective envelope and the He- and C-richzones. A weaker neutron release is also guaranteed by the marginalactivation of the reaction 22Ne(α,n)25Mgduring the convective thermal pulses. Owing to the lack of a consistentmodel for 13C formation, the abundance of 13Cburnt per cycle is allowed to vary as a free parameter over a wideinterval (a factor of 50). The s-enriched material is subsequently mixedwith the envelope by the third dredge-up, and the envelope compositionis computed after each thermal pulse. We follow the changes in thephotospheric abundance of the Ba-peak elements (heavy s [hs]) and thatof the Zr-peak ones (light s [ls]), whose logarithmic ratio [hs/ls] hasoften been adopted as an indicator of the s-process efficiency (e.g., ofthe neutron exposure). Our model predictions for this parameter show acomplex trend versus metallicity. Especially noteworthy is theprediction that the flow along the s-path at low metallicities drainsthe Zr and Ba peaks and builds an excess at the doubly magic208Pb, which is at the termination of the s-path. We thendiscuss the effects on the models of variations in the crucialparameters of the 13C pocket, finding that they are notcritical for interpreting the results. The theoretical predictions arecompared with published abundances of s-elements for AGB giants ofclasses MS, S, SC, post-AGB supergiants, and for various classes ofbinary stars, which supposedly derive their composition by mass transferfrom an AGB companion. This is done for objects belonging both to theGalactic disk and to the halo. The observations in general confirm thecomplex dependence of neutron captures on metallicity. They suggest thata moderate spread exists in the abundance of 13C that isburnt in different stars. Although additional observations are needed,it seems that a good understanding has been achieved of s-processoperation in AGB stars. Finally, the detailed abundance distributionincluding the light elements (CNO) of a few s-enriched stars atdifferent metallicities are examined and satisfactorily reproduced bymodel envelope compositions.
| The effective temperatures of carbon-rich stars
We evaluate effective temperatures of 390 carbon-rich stars. Theinterstellar extinction on their lines of sights was determined andcircumstellar contributions derived. The intrinsic (dereddened) spectralenergy distributions (SEDs) are classified into 14 photometric groups(HCi, CVj and SCV with i=0,5 and j=1,7). The newscale of effective temperatures proposed here is calibrated on the 54angular diameters (measured on 52 stars) available at present from lunaroccultations and interferometry. The brightness distribution on stellardiscs and its influence on diameter evaluations are discussed. Theeffective temperatures directly deduced from those diameters correlatewith the classification into photometric groups, despite the large errorbars on diameters. The main parameter of our photometric classificationis thus effective temperature. Our photometric < k right >1/2 coefficients are shown to be angular diameters on arelative scale for a given photometric group, (more precisely for agiven effective temperature). The angular diameters are consistent withthe photometric data previously shown to be consistent with the trueparallaxes from HIPPARCOS observations (Knapik, et al. \cite{knapik98},Sect. 6). Provisional effective temperatures, as constrained by asuccessful comparison of dereddened SEDs from observations to modelatmosphere predictions, are in good agreement with the values directlycalculated from the observed angular diameters and with those deducedfrom five selected intrinsic color indices. These three approaches wereused to calibrate a reference angular diameter Phi 0 and theassociated coefficient CT_eff. The effective temperatureproposed for each star is the arithmetic mean of two estimates, one(``bolometric'') from a reference integrated flux F0, theother (``spectral'') from calibrated color indices which arerepresentative of SED shapes. Effective temperatures for about 390carbon stars are provided on this new homogeneous scale, together withvalues for some stars classified with oxygen-type SEDs with a total of438 SEDs (410 stars) studied. Apparent bolometric magnitudes are given.Objects with strong infrared excesses and optically thick circumstellardust shells are discussed separately. The new effective temperaturescale is shown to be compatible and (statistically) consistent with thesample of direct values from the observed angular diameters. Theeffective temperatures are confirmed to be higher than the mean colortemperatures (from 140 to 440 K). They are in good agreement with thepublished estimates from the infrared flux method forTeff>= 3170 K, while an increasing discrepancy is observedtoward lower temperatures. As an illustration of the efficiency of thephotometric classification and effective temperature scale, the C/Oratios and the Merrill-Sanford (M-S) band intensities are investigated.It is shown that the maximum value, mean value and dispersion of C/Oincrease along the photometric CV-sequence, i.e. with decreasingeffective temperature. The M-S bands of SiC2 are shown tohave a transition from ``none'' to ``strong'' at Teff =~(2800+/- 150right ) K. Simultaneously, with decreasing effectivetemperature, the mean C/O ratio increases from 1.04 to 1.36, thetransition in SiC2 strength occurring while 1.07<= C/O<= 1.18. This research has made use of the Simbad database operatedat CDS, Strasbourg, France. Table 10 is only available in electronicform at the CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5)}or via http://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/369/178
| General Catalog of Galactic Carbon Stars by C. B. Stephenson. Third Edition
The catalog is an updated and revised version of Stephenson's Catalogueof Galactic Cool Carbon Stars (2nd edition). It includes 6891 entries.For each star the following information is given: equatorial (2000.0)and galactic coordinates, blue, visual and infrared magnitudes, spectralclassification, references, designations in the most significantcatalogs and coordinate precision classes. The main catalog issupplemented by remarks containing information for which there was noplace in entries of the main part, as well as some occasional notesabout the peculiarities of specific stars.
| Re-processing the Hipparcos Transit Data and Intermediate Astrometric Data of spectroscopic binaries. I. Ba, CH and Tc-poor S stars
Only 235 entries were processed as astrometric binaries with orbits inthe Hipparcos and Tycho Catalogue (\cite{Hipparcos}). However, theIntermediate Astrometric Data (IAD) and Transit Data (TD) made availableby ESA make it possible to re-process the stars that turned out to bespectroscopic binaries after the completion of the Catalogue. This paperillustrates how TD and IAD may be used in conjunction with the orbitalparameters of spectroscopic binaries to derive astrometric parameters.The five astrometric and four orbital parameters (not already known fromthe spectroscopic orbit) are derived by minimizing an objective function(chi 2) with an algorithm of global optimization. This codehas been applied to 81 systems for which spectroscopic orbits becameavailable recently and that belong to various families ofchemically-peculiar red giants (namely, dwarf barium stars, strong andmild barium stars, CH stars, and Tc-poor S stars). Among these 81systems, 23 yield reliable astrometric orbits. These 23 systems make itpossible to evaluate on real data the so-called ``cosmic error''described by Wielen et al. (1997), namely the fact that an unrecognizedorbital motion introduces a systematic error on the proper motion.Comparison of the proper motion from the Hipparcos catalogue with thatre-derived in the present work indicates that the former are indeed faroff the present value for binaries with periods in the range 3 to ~ 8years. Hipparcos parallaxes of unrecognized spectroscopic binaries turnout to be reliable, except for systems with periods close to 1 year, asexpected. Finally, we show that, even when a complete orbital revolutionwas observed by Hipparcos, the inclination is unfortunately seldomprecise. Based on observations from the Hipparcos astrometric satelliteoperated by the European Space Agency (ESA 1997).
| A carbon rich star BD +75deg 348: a binary?
An LTE abundance analysis of the ``CH-like" star BD +75deg348, with an unknown evolutionary status, is presented based on highresolution, high signal-to-noise spectra. With [C/Fe] = +0.5 dex and amean s-process overabundance of [s/Fe] =~ +1.6 dex the peculiaratmospheric composition of BD +75deg 348 is confirmed. Themodest iron deficiency, [Fe/H] = -0.8, and the kinematic data supportthe idea that BD +75deg 348 is an old disk population object.Possible evolutionary stages, that can explain its atmosphericparameters and peculiar chemical composition, are discussed.
| The First 50 Years at Palomar, 1949-1999 Another View: Instruments, Spectroscopy and Spectrophotometry and the Infrared
We review the research on a wide variety of topics using data obtainedwith the 200-inch Hale telescope. Using state-of-the-art spectrographs,photometers, spectrometers and infrared detectors, the Palomarastronomers investigated the spectra of stars, interstellar matter, AGNsand quasars in great detail. Spectral resolutions ranged from 1000 A forbroad-band photometry to 0.04 A using interferometric techniques.
| Empirical calibration of the lambda 4000 Å break
Empirical fitting functions, describing the behaviour of the lambda 4000Ä break, D4000, in terms of effective temperature,metallicity and surface gravity, are presented. For this purpose, thebreak has been measured in 392 stars from the Lick/IDS Library. We havefollowed a very detailed error treatment in the reduction and fittingprocedures, allowing for a reliable estimation of the breakuncertainties. This calibration can be easily incorporated into stellarpopulation models to provide accurate predictions of the break amplitudefor, relatively old, composite systems. Table 1 is only available inelectronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr(130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html
| Speckle Interferometry of New and Problem HIPPARCOS Binaries
The ESA Hipparcos satellite made measurements of over 12,000 doublestars and discovered 3406 new systems. In addition to these, 4706entries in the Hipparcos Catalogue correspond to double star solutionsthat did not provide the classical parameters of separation and positionangle (rho,theta) but were the so-called problem stars, flagged ``G,''``O,'' ``V,'' or ``X'' (field H59 of the main catalog). An additionalsubset of 6981 entries were treated as single objects but classified byHipparcos as ``suspected nonsingle'' (flag ``S'' in field H61), thusyielding a total of 11,687 ``problem stars.'' Of the many ground-basedtechniques for the study of double stars, probably the one with thegreatest potential for exploration of these new and problem Hipparcosbinaries is speckle interferometry. Results are presented from aninspection of 848 new and problem Hipparcos binaries, using botharchival and new speckle observations obtained with the USNO and CHARAspeckle cameras.
| Dust extinction and intrinsic SEDs of carbon-rich stars. II. The hot carbon stars
The present work is an extension of a recent study by Knapik &Bergeat (\cite{knapik}, henceforth called Paper I) of the spectralenergy distributions (SEDs) of about 300 cool carbon-rich variables andof the interstellar extinction observed on their line of sights. Themethods were originally developed for Semi-Regular (SR) and Irregular(L)-variables. Shortly, this is a kind of a pair method making usesimultaneously of the whole SED from UV to IR. Our approach is appliedhere to the galactic carbon-rich giants with bluer SEDs, namely the hotcarbon (HC) stars, including many ``constant'' stars and a minority ofvariables: AC Her a RV Tau star, the R Coronae Borealis (RCB) stars andothers. Some HdC (i.e. carbon-rich hydrogen deficient stars) and Ba IIstars are also considered. The total number of studied HC stars amountsto about 140. With few exceptions, the colour excesses for interstellarextinction are found in good agreement with the field values from mapspublished in the literature, taking into account the approximatedistances to our stars from HIPPARCOS data (\cite{esa}, henceforthcalled ESA) or binarity. We propose a classification scheme with sixphotometric groups (or boxes: HC0 to HC5) from the bluest to the reddestSEDs. Oxygen-rich SEDs earlier than HC0, are attributed to the hotteststars (AC Her, most RCB-variables and a few others). Previous findingsare confirmed of a junction between oxygen-rich and carbon-rich SEDs atspectral type G. The latest (HC5) group is immediately close to theearliest one in Paper I, namely CV1. The sequence of groups then goesregularly from HC0 to CV6. Substantial infrared excesses with respect toour solutions are found in HD 100764 a HC1 carbon star, AC Her a G0g RVTau star, and the RCB stars classified in either HC or oxygen-groups.The colour excesses at maximum light can usually be attributed tointerstellar reddening, with neutral circumstellar (CS) reddening (largegrains) or no CS extinction at all on the line of sight (non sphericalgeometry) as possible explanations. The latter model (disc or patchydistribution through successive puffs) is favoured. Two RCB variablesfor which we exploit SEDs on a rising branch (V CrA) or minimum light(RS Tel), show CS laws, respectively a selective extinction compatiblewith small grains and an extinction partly neutral indicative of largegrains on the line of sight. This research has made use of the Simbaddatabase operated at CDS, Strasbourg, France.}\fnmsep\thanks{Partiallybased on data from the ESA HIPPARCOS astrometrysatellite}\fnmsep\thanks{Tables~3 and 4 are only available in electronicform at the CDS via anonymous ftp 130.79.128.5
| Insights into the formation of barium and Tc-poor S stars from an extended sample of orbital elements
The set of orbital elements available for chemically-peculiar red giant(PRG) stars has been considerably enlarged thanks to a decade-longCORAVEL radial-velocity monitoring of about 70 barium stars and 50 Sstars. When account is made for the detection biases, the observedbinary frequency among strong barium stars, mild barium stars andTc-poor S stars (respectively 35/37, 34/40 and 24/28) is compatible withthe hypothesis that they are all members of binary systems. Thesimilarity between the orbital-period, eccentricity and mass-functiondistributions of Tc-poor S stars and barium stars confirms that Tc-poorS stars are the cooler analogs of barium stars. A comparative analysisof the orbital elements of the various families of PRG stars, and of asample of chemically-normal, binary giants in open clusters, revealsseveral interesting features. The eccentricity - period diagram of PRGstars clearly bears the signature of dissipative processes associatedwith mass transfer, since the maximum eccentricity observed at a givenorbital period is much smaller than in the comparison sample of normalgiants. be held The mass function distribution is compatible with theunseen companion being a white dwarf (WD). This lends support to thescenario of formation of the PRG star by accretion of heavy-element-richmatter transferred from the former asymptotic giant branch progenitor ofthe current WD. Assuming that the WD companion has a mass in the range0.60+/-0.04 Msb ȯ, the masses of mild and strong barium starsamount to 1.9+/-0.2 and 1.5+/-0.2 Msb ȯ, respectively. Mild bariumstars are not restricted to long-period systems, contrarily to what isexpected if the smaller accretion efficiency in wider systems were thedominant factor controlling the pollution level of the PRG star. Theseresults suggest that the difference between mild and strong barium starsis mainly one of galactic population rather than of orbital separation,in agreement with their respective kinematical properties. There areindications that metallicity may be the parameter blurring the period -Ba-anomaly correlation: at a given orbital period, increasing levels ofheavy-element overabundances are found in mild barium stars, strongbarium stars, and Pop.II CH stars, corresponding to a sequence ofincreasingly older, i.e., more metal-deficient, populations. PRG starsthus seem to be produced more efficiently in low-metallicitypopulations. Conversely, normal giants in barium-like binary systems mayexist in more metal-rich populations. HD 160538 (DR Dra) may be such anexample, and its very existence indicates at least that binarity is nota sufficient condition to produce a PRG star. This paper is dedicated tothe memory of Antoine Duquennoy, who contributed many among theobservations used in this study
| Baldone Schmidt Telescope Plate Archive and Catalogue
The article presents information on the archive and catalogue of theastrophotos taken with the Schmidt telescope of the Institute ofAstronomy of the University of Latvia (until July 1, 1997 --Radioastrophysical Observatory of the Latvian Academy of Sciences) inthe period 1967--1998. The archive and catalogue contain more than 22000direct and 2300 spectral photos of various sky regions. Information onthe types of photo materials and color filters used as well as on mostfrequently photographed sky fields or objects is given. The catalogue isavailable in a computer readable form at the Institute of Astronomy ofthe University of Latvia and at the Astrophysical Observatory in Baldone(Riekstukalns, Baldone, LV-2125, Latvia), e-mail: astra@latnet.lv.
| Carbon Stars
Absolute magnitudes are estimated for carbon stars of various subtypesin the Hipparcos catalogue and as found in the Magellanic Clouds.Stellar radii fall within the limits of 2.4-4.7 AU. The chemicalcomposition of carbon stars indicates that the C-N stars show nearlysolar C/H, N/H, and ^12C/^13C ratios. This indicates that much of the Cand N in our Galaxy came from mass-losing carbon stars. Special carbonstars such as the C-R, C-H, and dC stars are described. Mass loss fromasymptotic giant branch (AGB) carbon stars, at rates up to several x10^-5 M{solar} year^-1, contributes about half of the total mass returnto the interstellar medium. R stars do not lose mass and may becarbon-rich red giants. The mass loss rates for Miras are about 10 timeshigher than for SRb and Lb stars, whose properties are similar enough toshow that they are likely to belong to the same population. Thedistribution of carbon star mass loss rates peaks at about 10^-7M{solar} year^-1, close to the rate of growth of the core mass anddemonstrative of the close relationship between mass loss and evolution.Infrared spectroscopy shows that dust mixtures can occur. Detachedshells are seen around some stars; they appear to form on the timescales of the helium shell flashes and to be a normal occurrence incarbon star evolution.
| H gamma and H delta Absorption Features in Stars and Stellar Populations
The H gamma and H delta absorption features are measured in a sample of455 (out of an original 460) Lick/IDS stars with pseudo--equivalentwidth indices. For each Balmer feature, two definitions, involving anarrow (~20 Angstroms) and a wide (~40 Angstroms) central bandpass, aremeasured. These four new Balmer indices augment 21 indices previouslydetermined by Worthey et al., and polynomial fitting functions that giveindex strengths as a function of stellar temperature, gravity, and[Fe/H] are provided. The new indices are folded into models for theintegrated light of stellar populations, and predictions are given forsingle-burst stellar populations of a variety of ages and metallicities.Contrary to our initial hopes, the indices cannot break a degeneracybetween burst age and burst strength in post-starburst objects, but theyare successful mean-age indicators when used with sensitive metallicityindicators. An appendix gives data, advice, and examples of how totransform new spectra to the 25-index Lick/IDS system.
| A catalogue of [Fe/H] determinations: 1996 edition
A fifth Edition of the Catalogue of [Fe/H] determinations is presentedherewith. It contains 5946 determinations for 3247 stars, including 751stars in 84 associations, clusters or galaxies. The literature iscomplete up to December 1995. The 700 bibliographical referencescorrespond to [Fe/H] determinations obtained from high resolutionspectroscopic observations and detailed analyses, most of them carriedout with the help of model-atmospheres. The Catalogue is made up ofthree formatted files: File 1: field stars, File 2: stars in galacticassociations and clusters, and stars in SMC, LMC, M33, File 3: numberedlist of bibliographical references The three files are only available inelectronic form at the Centre de Donnees Stellaires in Strasbourg, viaanonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5), or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html
| Carbon isotope ratio in carbon stars of the galactic halo.
We analysed CN red system (~8000Å) and C_2_ Swan system(~4700Å) to know carbon isotope ratios (^12^C/^13^C) for carbonstars in the Galactic halo, named CH stars. The isotope ratios areobtained for 6 CH stars by the curve-of-growth analysis of the isolated^12^CN and ^13^CN lines. In this analysis, we compared directly ^12^CNand ^13^CN lines of similar intensities (iso-intensity method), and theresulting ^12^C/^13^C ratios are almost independent of the modelatmosphere and its parameters. The ^13^CN lines appear to be too weak insome CH stars, for which we applied the spectral synthesis method to thestronger C_2_ Swan band, obtained ^12^C/^13^C ratios for two stars andestimated the lower limits of ^12^C/^13^C ratios for two stars. In thiscase, however, the results depend on model atmosphere and itsparameters. Results from our present and previous works show that mostof them (12 stars) distribute around ^12^C/^13^C~10 and two stars havevery high values (^12^C/^13^C>=500). The distribution of ^12^C/^13^Cratios in CH stars is different from that of the population I carbonstars as well as population II oxygen-rich giants (G~K types). The CHstars of very high ^12^C/^13^C ratios can be explained by dredge-up of^12^C due to 3α-process as in population I carbon stars (N-type).On the other hand the formation of the CH stars with low ^12^C/^13^Cratios requires the large supply of ^12^C followed by a process ofdecreasing ^12^C/^13^C ratio.
|
Submit a new article
Related links
Submit a new link
Member of following groups:
|
Observation and Astrometry data
| Constellation: | こぎつね座 |
| Right ascension: | 21h09m59.27s |
| Declination: | +26°36'54.9" |
| Apparent magnitude: | 8.143 |
| Distance: | 202.84 parsecs |
| Proper motion RA: | -41.8 |
| Proper motion Dec: | 32.5 |
| B-T magnitude: | 9.507 |
| V-T magnitude: | 8.256 |
Catalogs and designations:
|
INHABITED SKY
