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Secular Evolution in Mira Variable Pulsations
Stellar evolution theory predicts that asymptotic giant branch (AGB)stars undergo a series of short thermal pulses that significantly changetheir luminosity and mass on timescales of hundreds to thousands ofyears. These pulses are confirmed observationally by the existence ofthe short-lived radioisotope technetium in the spectra of some of thesestars, but other observational consequences of thermal pulses are subtleand may only be detected over many years of observations. Secularchanges in these stars resulting from thermal pulses can be detected asmeasurable changes in period if the star is undergoing Mira pulsations.It is known that a small fraction of Mira variables exhibit largesecular period changes, and the detection of these changes among alarger sample of stars could therefore be useful in evolutionary studiesof these stars. The American Association of Variable Star Observers(AAVSO) International Database currently contains visual data for over1500 Mira variables. Light curves for these stars span nearly a centuryin some cases, making it possible to study the secular evolution of thepulsation behavior on these timescales. In this paper we present theresults of our study of period change in 547 Mira variables using datafrom the AAVSO. We use wavelet analysis to measure the period changes inindividual Mira stars over the span of available data. By making linearfits to the period versus time measurements, we determine the averagerates of period change, dlnP/dt, for each of these stars. We findnonzero dlnP/dt at the 2 σ significance level in 57 of the 547stars, at the 3 σ level in 21 stars, and at the level of 6 σor greater in eight stars. The latter eight stars have been previouslynoted in the literature, and our derived rates of period change largelyagree with published values. The largest and most statisticallysignificant dlnP/dt are consistent with the rates of period changeexpected during thermal pulses on the AGB. A number of other starsexhibit nonmonotonic period change on decades-long timescales, the causeof which is not yet known. In the majority of stars, the periodvariations are smaller than our detection threshold, meaning theavailable data are not sufficient to unambiguously measure slowevolutionary changes in the pulsation period. It is unlikely that morestars with large period changes will be found among heretoforewell-observed Mira stars in the short term, but continued monitoring ofthese and other Mira stars may reveal new and serendipitous candidatesin the future.
| A study of bright Southern long period variables
In this paper we present radial velocity curves of AGB variables thatexhibit various kinds of anomalies: semiregular variables (SRVs) withtypical mira periods, SRVs exceeding the mira 2.5 mag amplitude limit,miras with secondary maxima in their light curves, and a SRV with a longsecondary period. The stars with reliable Hipparcos parallaxes from thisand from previous studies are plotted in a log P-MK-diagram.Our objects nicely follow the log P-MK-relations determinedfor the LMC. This allows the pulsation mode to be identified. While allmiras fall on the fundamental mode sequence, the SRVs fall on both thefirst overtone and fundamental mode sequences. The SRVs on thefundamental mode sequence occur at both high and low luminosities, someof them being more luminous than larger amplitude miras. Thisdemonstrates observationally that some parameter other than luminosityaffects the stability of long period variables, probably mass. Firstovertone pulsators all show velocity amplitudes around 4 kms-1. For the fundamental mode pulsators, the velocityamplitude shows a correlation with light amplitude. The two miras R Cenand R Nor, known for their double-peaked light curves, have velocitycurves that are quite different. The R Nor velocity curve shows noevidence of the double peaks, meaning that the true pulsation period isthe time between alternate minima or maxima. There is slight evidencefor a double bump in the R Cen velocity curve. It is suggested thatthese stars are relatively massive (3-5 Mȯ).
| The analysis of indexed astronomical time series - IX. A period change test
A frequency domain test statistic is applied to the full time series ofbrightness maxima and minima in order to test for changes in the meanpulsation periods of 382 Mira stars. The test statistic depends on twoparameters that are related to the intrinsic cycle-to-cycle scatter inthe period, and to the measurement error, respectively. It is shown thatthe former is strongly related to the mean pulsation period of the star.
| Reprocessing the Hipparcos data of evolved stars. III. Revised Hipparcos period-luminosity relationship for galactic long-period variable stars
We analyze the K band luminosities of a sample of galactic long-periodvariables using parallaxes measured by the Hipparcos mission. Theparallaxes are in most cases re-computed from the Hipparcos IntermediateAstrometric Data using improved astrometric fits and chromaticitycorrections. The K band magnitudes are taken from the literature andfrom measurements by COBE, and are corrected for interstellar andcircumstellar extinction. The sample contains stars of several spectraltypes: M, S and C, and of several variability classes: Mira, semiregularSRa, and SRb. We find that the distribution of stars in theperiod-luminosity plane is independent of circumstellar chemistry, butthat the different variability types have different P-L distributions.Both the Mira variables and the SRb variables have reasonablywell-defined period-luminosity relationships, but with very differentslopes. The SRa variables are distributed between the two classes,suggesting that they are a mixture of Miras and SRb, rather than aseparate class of stars. New period-luminosity relationships are derivedbased on our revised Hipparcos parallaxes. The Miras show a similarperiod-luminosity relationship to that found for Large Magellanic CloudMiras by Feast et al. (\cite{Feast-1989:a}). The maximum absolute Kmagnitude of the sample is about -8.2 for both Miras and semi-regularstars, only slightly fainter than the expected AGB limit. We show thatthe stars with the longest periods (P>400 d) have high mass lossrates and are almost all Mira variables.Based on observations from the Hipparcos astrometric satellite operatedby the European Space Agency (ESA \cite{Hipparcos}).Table \ref{Tab:data1} is 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/403/993
| A weakly non-adiabatic one-zone model of stellar pulsations: application to Mira stars
There is growing observational evidence that the irregular changes inthe light curves of certain variable stars might be due to deterministicchaos. Supporting these conclusions, several simple models of non-linearoscillators have been shown to be capable of reproducing the observedcomplex behaviour. In this paper, we introduce a non-linear,non-adiabatic one-zone model intended to reveal the factors leading toirregular luminosity variations in some pulsating stars. We have studiedand characterized the dynamical behaviour of the oscillator as the inputparameters are varied. The parametric study implied values correspondingto stellar models in the family of long period variables and inparticular of Mira-type stars. We draw attention to certain solutionsthat reproduce with reasonable accuracy the observed behaviour of somepeculiar Mira variables.
| How many Hipparcos Variability-Induced Movers are genuine binaries?
Hipparcos observations of some variable stars, and especially oflong-period (e.g. Mira) variables, reveal a motion of the photocentercorrelated with the brightness variation (variability-induced mover -VIM), suggesting the presence of a binary companion. A re-analysis ofthe Hipparcos photometric and astrometric data does not confirm the VIMsolution for 62 among the 288 VIM objects (21%) in the Hipparcoscatalogue. Most of these 288 VIMs are long-period (e.g. Mira) variables(LPV). The effect of a revised chromaticity correction, which accountsfor the color variations along the light cycle, was then investigated.It is based on ``instantaneous'' V-I color indices derived fromHipparcos and Tycho-2 epoch photometry. Among the 188 LPVs flagged asVIM in the Hipparcos catalogue, 89 (47%) are not confirmed as VIM afterthis improved chromaticity correction is applied. This dramatic decreasein the number of VIM solutions is not surprising, since the chromaticitycorrection applied by the Hipparcos reduction consortia was based on afixed V-I color. Astrophysical considerations lead us to adopt a morestringent criterion for accepting a VIM solution (first-kind risk of0.27% instead of 10% as in the Hipparcos catalogue). With this moresevere criterion, only 27 LPV stars remain VIM, thus rejecting 161 ofthe 188 (86%) of the LPVs defined as VIMs in the Hipparcos catalogue.Based on observations from the Hipparcos astrometric satellite operatedby the European Space Agency (ESA 1997).Table 1 is also available in electronic form at the CDS, via anonymousftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/399/1167
| 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
| Period Change in S Sextantis
We present a wavelet time series analysis of the star S Sextantis. Thedominant period is shown to have varied over the past 90 years, thoughthis variation has not been monotonic. We suggest that this star maybelong to the class of "meandering Miras."
| Period Evolution in Mira Variables
We investigate a number of Mira variables which show evolution in theirperiods. Three different types of period changes are found: continuouschanges, sudden changes, and meandering periods. On the order of 1% ofMiras show evidence for period changes, but unstable periods may becommon among the longest period Miras. The case of R Hya is studied inmore detail, using archived data from AAVSO, AFOEV, BAAVSS, RASNZ, andVSOLJ, and historical records: we find that its period evolved fromalmost 500 days around its discovery (AD 1662) to about 385 days sinceAD 1950. The period change was accompanied by a dramatic change in itsmass-loss rate. Such changes in mass-loss rates, especially for theMiras with meandering periods, could be one of the causes of the ringsseen around many descendents of Mira variables, the planetary nebulae.
| Polarimetry of 167 Cool Variable Stars: Data
Multicolor photoelectric polarimetry is presented for 167 stars, most ofwhich are variable stars. The observations constitute a data set thatfor some stars covers a time span of 35 yr. Complex variations are foundover time and wavelength and in both the amount of polarization and itsposition angle, providing constraints for understanding the polarizingenvironments in and around these cool stars.
| Long period variable stars: galactic populations and infrared luminosity calibrations
In this paper HIPPARCOS astrometric and kinematic data are used tocalibrate both infrared luminosities and kinematical parameters of LongPeriod Variable stars (LPVs). Individual absolute K and IRAS 12 and 25luminosities of 800 LPVs are determined and made available in electronicform. The estimated mean kinematics is analyzed in terms of galacticpopulations. LPVs are found to belong to galactic populations rangingfrom the thin disk to the extended disk. An age range and a lower limitof the initial mass is given for stars of each population. A differenceof 1.3 mag in K for the upper limit of the Asymptotic Giant Branch isfound between the disk and old disk galactic populations, confirming itsdependence on the mass in the main sequence. LPVs with a thin envelopeare distinguished using the estimated mean IRAS luminosities. The levelof attraction (in the classification sense) of each group for the usualclassifying parameters of LPVs (variability and spectral types) isexamined. Table only available in electronic form at the CDS viaanonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/374/968 or via ASTRIDdatabase (http://astrid.graal.univ-montp2.fr).
| R Centauri: An Unusual Mira Variable in a He-Shell Flash
We present an analysis of AAVSO visual observations of the Mira variableR Cen from 1918 to 2000. The period of the dominant mode has beensteadily decreasing from 550 days at JD 2,434,000 (1951) to its presentvalue of 505-510 days. In the same interval, the pulsational amplitudehas decreased by 3 mag, from 5.5-11.8 V to 6.3-9.1 V. We suggest thatboth are caused by a He-shell flash, as the period decrease is similarto that of other He-shell flash stars such as R Hya, R Aql, and T UMi.The period change is consistent with the luminosity drop expectedimmediately after the flash, as predicted by He-shell flash models forstars of 2-3 Msolar or less. The light curve shows thefamiliar pattern of alternating deep and shallow minima, giving theappearance of double maxima. While the amplitude of the main mode hasdecreased 3 mag in the last 50 years, the amplitude of the secondarymode near 274 days has remained almost constant, so that the doublemaxima have nearly vanished from the light curve in recent years. Thepower spectrum between 1930 and 1966 shows harmonics up to 8 times themain frequency at 1/548 cycle day-1. The most likelyexplanation for the double-peaked light curve is a resonance between twomodes.
| Multiperiodicities from the Hipparcos epoch photometry and possible pulsation in early A-type stars
A selection criterion based on the relative strength of the largestpeaks in the amplitude spectra, and an information criterion are used incombination to search for multiperiodicities in Hipparcos epochphotometry. The method is applied to all stars which have beenclassified as variable in the Hipparcos catalogue: periodic, unsolvedand microvariables. Results are assessed critically: although there aremany problems arising from aliasing, there are also a number ofinteresting frequency combinations which deserve further investigation.One such result is the possible occurrence of multiple periods of theorder of a day in a few early A-type stars. The Hipparcos catalogue alsocontains a number of these stars with single periodicities: such starswith no obvious variability classifications are listed, and informationabout their properties (e.g., radial velocity variations) discussed.These stars may constitute a new class of pulsators.
| Stars with the Largest Hipparcos Photometric Amplitudes
A list of the 2027 stars that have the largest photometric amplitudes inHipparcos Photometry shows that most variable stars are all Miras. Thepercentage of variable types change as a function of amplitude. Thiscompilation should also be of value to photometrists looking forrelatively unstudied, but large amplitude stars.
| Infrared colours for Mira-like long-period variables found in the (Mȯ<~10-7 Msolar yr-1) Hipparcos Catalogue
Near-infrared, JHKL, photometry is presented for 193 Mira andsemi-regular variables that were observed by Hipparcos; periods,bolometric magnitudes and amplitudes are derived for 92 of them. Becauseof the way in which the Hipparcos targets were selected, this group ofstars provides a useful data base of Miras with low mass-loss rates(Mȯ<~10-7Msolaryr-1).Various period-colour relationships are discussed in detail. The colour,particularly BCK = 10.86 - 38.10 K (J - K)0 +64.16(J - K)20 - 50.72(J -K)30 + 19, K-L, at a given period is found todepend on the pulsation amplitude of the star. A comparison with modelssuggests that this is a consequence of atmospheric extension, in thesense that large-amplitude pulsators have very extended atmospheres andredder Mȯ<10-7Msolaryr-1, K-L and H-K but bluerJ-H than their lower amplitude counterparts. The stars with veryextended atmospheres also have higher values of K-[12] and hence highermass-loss rates. This finding provides further evidence for the causalconnection between pulsation and mass loss. Two sequences are identifiedin the Hp-K versus logP diagram (where Hp is the Hipparcos broad-bandmagnitude) at short periods (logP<2.35). At a given period these twogroups have, on average, the same pulsation amplitude, but differentJHKL colours and spectral types. The short-period stars in the bluersequence have similar near-infrared colours to the Miras found inglobular clusters. Long-term trends in the infrared light curves arediscussed for stars that have sufficient data.
| Mira kinematics from Hipparcos data: a Galactic bar to beyond the Solar circle
The space motions of Mira variables are derived from radial velocities,Hipparcos proper motions and a period-luminosity relation. Thepreviously known dependence of Mira kinematics on the period ofpulsation is confirmed and refined. In addition, it is found that Miraswith periods in the range 145-200d in the general Solar neighbourhoodhave a net radial outward motion from the Galactic Centre of75+/-18kms-1. This, together with a lag behind the circularvelocity of Galactic rotation of 98+/-19kms-1, is interpretedas evidence for an elongation of their orbits, with their major axesaligned at an angle of ~17° with the Sun-Galactic Centre line,towards positive Galactic longitudes. This concentration seems to be acontinuation to the Solar circle and beyond of the bar-like structure ofthe Galactic bulge, with the orbits of some local Miras probablypenetrating into the bulge. These conclusions are not sensitive to thedistance scale adopted. A further analysis is given of the short-period(SP) red group of Miras discussed in companion papers in this series. InAppendix A the mean radial velocities and other data for 842 oxygen-richMira-like variables are tabulated. These velocities were derived frompublished optical and radio observations.
| Period-Luminosity-Colour distribution and classification of Galactic oxygen-rich LPVs. I. Luminosity calibrations
The absolute K magnitudes and kinematic parameters of about 350oxygen-rich Long-Period Variable stars are calibrated, by means of anup-to-date maximum-likelihood method, using Hipparcos parallaxes andproper motions together with radial velocities and, as additional data,periods and V-K colour indices. Four groups, differing by theirkinematics and mean magnitudes, are found. For each of them, we alsoobtain the distributions of magnitude, period and de-reddened colour ofthe base population, as well as de-biased period-luminosity-colourrelations and their two-dimensional projections. The SRa semiregulars donot seem to constitute a separate class of LPVs. The SRb appear tobelong to two populations of different ages. In a PL diagram, theyconstitute two evolutionary sequences towards the Mira stage. The Mirasof the disk appear to pulsate on a lower-order mode. The slopes of theirde-biased PL and PC relations are found to be very different from theones of the Oxygen Miras of the LMC. This suggests that a significantnumber of so-called Miras of the LMC are misclassified. This alsosuggests that the Miras of the LMC do not constitute a homogeneousgroup, but include a significant proportion of metal-deficient stars,suggesting a relatively smooth star formation history. As a consequence,one may not trivially transpose the LMC period-luminosity relation fromone galaxy to the other Based on data from the Hipparcos astrometrysatellite. Appendix B is 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/Abstract.html
| The Infrared Spectral Classification of Oxygen-rich Dust Shells
This paper presents infrared spectral classifications for a flux-limitedsample of 635 optically identified oxygen-rich variables includingsupergiants and sources on the asymptotic giant branch (AGB). Severalclasses of spectra from oxygen-rich dust exist, and these can bearranged in a smoothly varying sequence of spectral shapes known as thesilicate dust sequence. Classification based on this sequence revealsseveral dependencies of the dust emission on the properties of thecentral star. Nearly all S stars show broad emission features fromalumina dust, while most of the supergiants exhibit classic featuresfrom amorphous silicate dust. Mira variables with symmetric light curvesgenerally show broad alumina emission, while those with more asymmetriclight curves show classic silicate emission. These differences may arisefrom differences in the photospheric C/O ratio.
| Classification and Identification of IRAS Sources with Low-Resolution Spectra
IRAS low-resolution spectra were extracted for 11,224 IRAS sources.These spectra were classified into astrophysical classes, based on thepresence of emission and absorption features and on the shape of thecontinuum. Counterparts of these IRAS sources in existing optical andinfrared catalogs are identified, and their optical spectral types arelisted if they are known. The correlations between thephotospheric/optical and circumstellar/infrared classification arediscussed.
| Semiregular variables of types SRa and SRb. Silicate dust emission features.
We have analysed the IRAS-LRS spectra of representative samples ofO-rich Semiregular (SR) variables of types SRa and SRb and of Miravariables. The silicate features were extracted by fitting the energydistribution with two blackbodies, approximating the continuous emissionfrom the photosphere and the circumstellar dust. The shape and strengthof the silicate features in the LRS range were then studied by computingthe residual fluxes in 5 selected wavelength regions covering the whole10μm and 18μm features and parts of the 10μm feature assignedto emission from olivine and possibly corundum. We compare our approachwith previous investigations and argue that a quantitative study ofdetails in the feature shape requires subtraction of the stellar and thedust continuum and the use of flux ratios rather than a discreteclassification system. The Miras form an extension of the SRb's towardslower stellar temperatures and higher dust shell opacities and they haveslightly higher average dust temperatures. The SRa's seem to be moresimilar to the Miras in their dust shell properties. The average 10μmfeature shapes of the three groups of variables agree, but taking intoaccount the photospheric and dust shell parameters, systematicdifferences show up. For stars hotter than about 2900K, the 10μmfeature width shows a wide range of values but no clear trend with thestellar temperature or the optical depth of the dust shell. These starsare generally SRb variables and have the thinnest dust envelopes. Atcooler stellar temperatures, where mostly Miras are found, the opticaldepth of the dust shell determines the feature width in the sense thatthicker shells have narrower features. It appears that the 13μmfeature is obvious only in a narrow range of effective temperature andoptical depth of the dust shell. We discuss our results in terms ofradiative transfer effects, differences in the average grain size,annealing and hydration of amorphous silicates and contributions fromother dust components. Of these possibilities the last one seems to bemost plausible with regard to the behavior of the 10μm feature width.The observations can be interpreted in terms of changing contributionsfrom olivine and corundum possibly caused by an increasing amount ofdust processing (Miras) and the influence of the atmospheric structureon the formation of these dust components (SRb's).
| Lumnosity attenuation and distances of red giant stars
The Mv of M red variable stars is increased by the molecularTiO bands which grow from M0 to M10 in an inherent spectral darkeningsequence. The Mv is the result of both the effective visualflux and the equivalent radius. The equivalent radius is apparentlysmaller than the empirical radius due to a molecular covering process instars later than M3. The full range of optical red giant stars forms asequence from the brightest M early spectral types (S Car, M0(max),Mv approx = -3.2 mag) to the faintest M-latest spectral types(IK Tau, M10.5 min), Mv approx. = 16.5 mag). The typicalMiras and SR stars of M-medium and M-late spectral types are betweenthese two extremes. The sequence has a range of 20 mag on the visual(HR) diagram which extends from the red giant branch (RGB) passingbeyond the Mv of red dwarf stars as far as the point where itintercepts with the prolongation of the zero-age main sequence (ZAMS) inthe latest spectral type. Typical M10-stars at 200 pc has a V approx. =20 mag. M-latest stars at larger distances are unobservable stars in thevisual band. The distances of 134 variable stars are also given. Thedistances to 86 stars were determined by using a pure photometricmethod, while preliminary distances (less than 200 pc) for the remaining48 M-latest stars were determined by the spectral-photometric method.Since the local stellar density of M stars up to 100 pc rises at least7.5 times, it is possible to discuss that the long-standing problem ofdark matter in spiral galaxies could be resolved by these very dimmassive giant stars and by the molecular covered stars at the extremeend of the attenuating sequence. Furthermore, post M-latest stars may bethe only nonvisual stellar objects that can explain the enormousquantity of faint and point infrared sources found by IRAS. These weakobjects suggest the existence of an infrared Milky Way which is moredense than the optical one.
| The origin and evolution of short-period Miras in the solar neighborhood: Constraints on the life cycle of old stars
The spatial distribution of the short-period (P less than 300 days)oxygen-rich Miras in the solar neighborhood can be fitted with anexponential scale height above the Galactic plane of about 600 pc. Usingthe Gliese catalog of local main-sequence stars, we estimate that thedensity of suitable G-type progenitor dwarfs within 20 pc of the Sun forthese short-period Miras is 6 x 10-4/cu pc. The portion ofthe H-R diagram near the main-sequence turnoff of thesevelocity-selected Gliese stars is intermediate between that of the oldopen cluster NGC 188 and that of the metal-rich globular cluster, 47Tuc. We infer that the main-sequence progenitors of the short-periodMiras have masses near 1.0 solar mass, and we estimate that these Mirashave ages approximately 9 x 109. We also identify a few olddisk red giants in the neighborhood of the Sun. On the basis of verylimited information, we estimate that the total amount of mass lost fromthese stars during their first ascent up the red giant branch is lessthan or equal to 0.1 solar mass. We derive a duration of theshort-period Mira phase of close to 5 x 105 yr. This estimatefor the duration of the short period Mira phase is longer than ourestimate of 2 x 105 yr for the duration of the Mira phase forstars with periods longer than 300 days. From their infrared colors, weestimate a typical mass-loss rate from the short-period Miras ofapproximately 1 x 10-7 solar mass/yr.
| Circumstellar Dust in Mira Variables and the Mass Loss Mechanisms
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1993A&A...273..570A&db_key=AST
| Near-infrared photometry of a sample of IRAS point sources
This paper presents the J, H, K, L, M photometry of 516 sourcespertaining to a sample of 787 sources which has been extracted from theIRAS Point Source Catalog in order to study the late stages of stellarevolution and the concomitant phenomena of mass loss. Three differentclssifications of these sources based on broad-band photometry and IRASlow-resolution spectra are given, and the distributions of the sourcesin terms of these classifications are presented. A subsample of peculiarsources, believed to have recently undergone a helium flash, has beenisolated using the K - L, (12-micron) color diagram. Some objectsmeriting further study are also mentioned.
| 1612 MHz OH survey of IRAS point sources. I - Observations made at Dwingeloo, Effelsberg and Parkes
The data from a large sky survey are presented including a northernpilot study and a detailed southern study in which detections are biasedtoward the most evolved sources and distant sources. Both areinvestigated at the 1612-MHz transition of OH to take advantage of thestrongest line for AGB stars with optically thick dust shells. The IRASsources are chosen by considering their IR colors related to fluxes at12, 25, and 60 microns. Observations are reported for 2703 IRAS pointsources at the 1612-MHz transition, and 738 OH/IR stars are detected.The survey identifies 597 of the sources as previously unidentified, and95 percent of the OH profiles observed have twin-peak masercharacteristics which are related to emission from expandingcircumstellar shells. The other 5 percent of the sources are concludedto be transition objects between OH/IR stars and planetary nebulae.
| Emission features in IRAS LRS spectra of M Mira variables
A total of 291 M Mira variables with IRAS low-resolution spectrometer(LRS) spectra that have 8-micron fluxes greater than 15 Jy have beenanalyzed. After subtraction of a 2500 K blackbody energy distributionfrom the spectrum, the remaining difference spectra can be classifiedinto seven groups, depending on the shape of their spectral emissionfeatures around 10 microns: Sil, Sil(+) Sil(2+), S, three-component,'broad', and no feature. The spectral emission features are interpretedas being produced primarily by amorphous silicates with differingamounts of crystalline olivine. A weak broad feature at 9-13 microns ispossibly produced by aluminum oxide and/or a size distribution ofsilicate particles that favors larger grains. The 8-22-micron IR excess,defined as the fraction of energy above the 2500 K continuum, shows onlya slight tendency to correlate with period and no tendency to correlatewith mass loss rate. Maser emission from OH and H2O is much morefrequently detected in stars that show the Sil or Sil(+) emissionfeature, but SiO maser emission is detected with the same percentage inall emission feature classes with the exception of the S feature. Starsshowing the S feature appear to be closely related to the MS and Sstars.
| Maxima and minima of long period variables, 1949-1975
Not Available
| Detection of new southern SiO maser sources associated with Mira and symbiotic stars
In July 1987 the Parkes radio telescope was used to search for 43.12 GHzSiO maser emission from southern late-type stars. The discovery of suchemission from 12 Mira-like systems, including the symbiotic star H1-36is reported, and the implications of the data for the symbiotic starsare discussed. Several M-type Mira variables with unusually lowSiO/infrared flux ratios are identified. In addition, profiles arepresented for the only other known symbiotic maser, R Aqr, atunprecedented signal-to-noise ratio; these profiles show linearlypolarized emission from several components of the source. In conjunctionwith previous work, constraints are placed on the orbital dynamics ofthe masing component in RAqr.
| Classification of Mira variables based on visual light curve shape
The paper presents classifications of 368 Mira variables of M, S and Cspectral classes based on the shape of their visual light curve. Theclassification is esentially based on Ludendorff's (1928) scheme and thelight curves used are mainly from the compilation of Campbell (1955).The distribution of light curves over period, mean amplitude, lightcurve asymmetry factor, period variability, and spectral class atmaximum is discussed.
| The visible spectra of Southern Hemisphere Mira variable stars
The 483 blue classification spectrograms of 72 Southern Hemisphere Miravariables presently added to the Keenan et al. (1974) catalog indicatethat the irregular behavior of absorption features in Mira variables canbe accounted for by a second shock front that lies higher in theatmosphere than the one producing Balmer emission. Since shock velocityprobably varies from cycle to cycle, the affected lines are not expectedto maintain the same equivalent width at the same phase in differentcycles.
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Observation and Astrometry data
| Constellation: | Norma |
| Right ascension: | 15h35m57.36s |
| Declination: | -49°30'28.6" |
| Apparent magnitude: | 8.82 |
| Distance: | 194.553 parsecs |
| Proper motion RA: | 1.6 |
| Proper motion Dec: | -2.6 |
| B-T magnitude: | 10.736 |
| V-T magnitude: | 8.979 |
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