High-resolution imaging of Galactic massive stars with AstraLux. I. 138 fields with ? > - 25°
Context. Massive stars have high-multiplicity fractions, and many ofthem have still undetected components, thus hampering the study of theirproperties. Aims: I study a sample of massive stars with highangular resolution to better characterize their multiplicity. Methods: I observed 138 fields that include at least one massive starwith AstraLux, a lucky imaging camera at the 2.2 m Calar Alto telescope.I also used observations of 3 of those fields with ACS/HRC on HST toobtain complementary information and to calibrate the AstraLux data. Theresults were compared with existing information from the WashingtonDouble Star Catalog, Tycho-2, 2MASS, and other literature results. Results: I discover 16 new optical companions of massive stars, themajority of which are likely to be physically bound to their primaries.I also improve the accuracy for the separation and magnitude differenceof many previously known systems. In a few cases the orbital motion isdetected when comparing the new data with existing ones and constraintson the orbits are provided. Conclusions: The analysis indicatethat the majority of the AstraLux detections are bound pairs. For arange of separations of 0.1 arcsec-14'' and magnitude differences lowerthan 8, I find that the multiplicity fraction for massive stars is closeto 50%. When objects outside those ranges are included, the multiplicityfraction should be considerably higher.Table 3 is also available in electronic form at the CDS via anonymousftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/518/A1
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The High Angular Resolution Multiplicity of Massive Stars
We present the results of a speckle interferometric survey of Galacticmassive stars that complements and expands upon a similar survey madeover a decade ago. The speckle observations were made with the Kitt PeakNational Observatory and Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory 4 mtelescopes and USNO speckle camera, and they are sensitive to thedetection of binaries in the angular separation regime between 0farcs03and 5'' with relatively bright companions (ΔV < 3). We reporton the discovery of companions to 14 OB stars. In total we resolvedcompanions of 41 of 385 O-stars (11%), 4 of 37 Wolf-Rayet stars (11%),and 89 of 139 B-stars (64%; an enriched visual binary sample that weselected for future orbital determinations). We made a statisticalanalysis of the binary frequency among the subsample that are listed inthe Galactic O Star Catalog by compiling published data on other visualcompanions detected through adaptive optics studies and/or noted in theWashington Double Star Catalog and by collecting published informationon radial velocities and spectroscopic binaries. We find that the binaryfrequency is much higher among O-stars in clusters and associationscompared to the numbers for field and runaway O-stars, consistent withpredictions for the ejection processes for runaway stars. We present afirst orbit for the O-star δ Orionis; a linear solution of theclose, apparently optical, companion of the O-star ι Orionis; andan improved orbit of the Be star δ Scorpii. Finally, we listastrometric data for another 249 resolved and 221 unresolved targetsthat are lower mass stars that we observed for various other scienceprograms.
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New Estimates of the Solar-Neighborhood Massive Star Birthrate and the Galactic Supernova Rate
The birthrate of stars of masses >=10 Msolar is estimatedfrom a sample of just over 400 O3-B2 dwarfs within 1.5 kpc of the Sunand the result extrapolated to estimate the Galactic supernova ratecontributed by such stars. The solar-neighborhood Galactic-plane massivestar birthrate is estimated at ~176 stars kpc-3Myr-1. On the basis of a model in which the Galactic stellardensity distribution comprises a ``disk+central hole'' like that of thedust infrared emission (as proposed by Drimmel and Spergel), theGalactic supernova rate is estimated at probably not less than ~1 normore than ~2 per century and the number of O3-B2 dwarfs within the solarcircle at ~200,000.
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A Galactic O Star Catalog
We have produced a catalog of 378 Galactic O stars with accuratespectral classifications that is complete for V<8 but includes manyfainter stars. The catalog provides cross-identifications with othersources; coordinates (obtained in most cases from Tycho-2 data);astrometric distances for 24 of the nearest stars; optical (Tycho-2,Johnson, and Strömgren) and NIR photometry; group membership,runaway character, and multiplicity information; and a Web-based versionwith links to on-line services.
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Stellar tracers of the Cygnus Arm. I. Spectroscopic study of bright photometric candidates
We present medium-resolution spectroscopy of a sample of stars in thesecond Galactic quadrant selected from the literature because theircolours suggest that they are moderately-reddened early-type stars atvery large distances. From the derived spectral types and observedcolours, we calculate distances to all these objects. For a sizablefraction of our sample, we find distances well in excess of what isexpected for Perseus Arm objects, even allowing for rather generouserrors. In the interval l=150degr -180degr , there is a large number ofobjects with distances in excess of 4 kpc, which are likely tracing theOuter or Cygnus Arm. In particular, we find that the association Cam OB3is placed on this Arm. Based on our results, the extent and definitionof the associations Cas OB4 and Aur OB2 need to be reevaluated.Based on observations made at Observatoire de Haute Provence (CNRS),France.
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Catalog of Galactic OB Stars
An all-sky catalog of Galactic OB stars has been created by extendingthe Case-Hamburg Galactic plane luminous-stars surveys to include 5500additional objects drawn from the literature. This work brings the totalnumber of known or reasonably suspected OB stars to over 16,000.Companion databases of UBVβ photometry and MK classifications forthese objects include nearly 30,000 and 20,000 entries, respectively.
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The total-to-selective extinction ratio determined from near IR photometry of OB stars
The paper presents an extensive list of the total to selectiveextinction ratios R calculated from the infrared magnitudes of 597 O andB stars using the extrapolation method. The IR magnitudes of these starswere taken from the literature. The IR colour excesses are determinedwith the aid of "artificial standards" - Wegner (1994). The individualand mean values of total to selective extinction ratios R differ in mostcases from the average value R=3.10 +/-0.05 - Wegner (1993) in differentOB associations. The relation between total to selective extinctionratios R determined in this paper and those calculated using the "methodof variable extinction" and the Cardelli et al. (1989) formulae isdiscussed. The R values presented in this paper can be used to determineindividual absolute magnitudes of reddened OB stars with knowntrigonometric parallaxes.
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On the Absolute Magnitudes of the O Stars
The conclusion published in 1992 by Garmany & Stencel from a studyof northern OB associations, that the absolute magnitudes of the O starsshow ``a large scatter ... intrinsic to the classification system,'' iscritically examined. It is found that the differences between theirderived absolute magnitudes of O stars and this author's 1973calibration exhibit large systematic effects in several associations,ranging from -0.74 to +1.02 mag with substantially smaller dispersions.Of course, when these results are combined, the scatter equals the fullrange of the systematic effects. To investigate the possibility ofdistance errors, the Garmany & Stencel B0-B2.5 stars in the sameassociations are subjected to the same analysis. The results for the Bstars show no significant systematic differences, eliminating errors inthe association distances derived by Garmany & Stencel from the Bstars as the source of the differences found for the O stars. It isnoteworthy that the dispersions in the absolute magnitudes of the Bstars within a given association are similar to or larger than those ofthe O stars. An examination of the distribution on the sky of the starsshows that the O and B stars in the discrepant associations aregenerally not colocated; such was already known to be the case for theimportant Perseus OB1 association. It is suggested that despite theirefforts to improve them, significant problems remain with theassociation memberships adopted by Garmany & Stencel; the relativelysmall dispersions of the O star absolute magnitudes even in thediscrepant cases indicate that they belong to different, usually moredistant associations near the lines of sight to the B associations withwhich they have been mistakenly connected. Several individual cases ofunrecognized multiple systems and classification errors are also foundin the Garmany & Stencel sample. It is concluded that the scatter inthe absolute magnitudes of the O stars is not as large as found byGarmany & Stencel, and not larger than that of the B stars.
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Atlas of Interstellar Extinction Curves of OB Stars Covering the Whole Available Wavelength Range
The paper presents a collection of 436 extinction curves covering thewhole available range of wavelengths from satellite UV to near-IR. Thedata were taken from the ANS photometric catalogue and from thecompilations of IR photometric measurements. The data curves have beenobtained with the aid of ``artificial standards": Papaj et al. (1993)and Wegner (1994, 1995). The visual magnitudes and spectralclassifications of O and B type stars with EB-V>= 0.05were taken from the SIMBAD database. The curves are given in the form ofplots and tables E{lambda - V} / EB-V versus1/λ. The observed variety of extinction laws among slightlyreddened stars is apparently due to the various physical parameters ofinterstellar clouds.
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UBV beta Database for Case-Hamburg Northern and Southern Luminous Stars
A database of photoelectric UBV beta photometry for stars listed in theCase-Hamburg northern and southern Milky Way luminous stars surveys hasbeen compiled from the original research literature. Consisting of over16,000 observations of some 7300 stars from over 500 sources, thisdatabase constitutes the most complete compilation of such photometryavailable for intrinsically luminous stars around the Galactic plane.Over 5000 stars listed in the Case-Hamburg surveys still lackfundamental photometric data.
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The Tokyo PMC catalog 90-93: Catalog of positions of 6649 stars observed in 1990 through 1993 with Tokyo photoelectric meridian circle
The sixth annual catalog of the Tokyo Photoelectric Meridian Circle(PMC) is presented for 6649 stars which were observed at least two timesin January 1990 through March 1993. The mean positions of the starsobserved are given in the catalog at the corresponding mean epochs ofobservations of individual stars. The coordinates of the catalog arebased on the FK5 system, and referred to the equinox and equator ofJ2000.0. The mean local deviations of the observed positions from theFK5 catalog positions are constructed for the basic FK5 stars to comparewith those of the Tokyo PMC Catalog 89 and preliminary Hipparcos resultsof H30.
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Vitesses radiales. Catalogue WEB: Wilson Evans Batten. Subtittle: Radial velocities: The Wilson-Evans-Batten catalogue.
We give a common version of the two catalogues of Mean Radial Velocitiesby Wilson (1963) and Evans (1978) to which we have added the catalogueof spectroscopic binary systems (Batten et al. 1989). For each star,when possible, we give: 1) an acronym to enter SIMBAD (Set ofIdentifications Measurements and Bibliography for Astronomical Data) ofthe CDS (Centre de Donnees Astronomiques de Strasbourg). 2) the numberHIC of the HIPPARCOS catalogue (Turon 1992). 3) the CCDM number(Catalogue des Composantes des etoiles Doubles et Multiples) byDommanget & Nys (1994). For the cluster stars, a precise study hasbeen done, on the identificator numbers. Numerous remarks point out theproblems we have had to deal with.
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Hypergiant 6 CAS and association CAS OB5.
Not Available
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Galactic OB associations in the northern Milky Way Galaxy. I - Longitudes 55 deg to 150 deg
The literature on all OB associations was reviewed, and their IRAS pointsource content was studied, between galactic longitude 55 and 150 deg.Only one third of the 24 associations listed by Ruprecht et al. (1981)have been the subject of individual studies designed to identify thebrightest stars. Distances to all of these were recomputed using themethod of cluster fitting of the B main sequence stars, which makes itpoossible to reexamine the absolute magnitude calibration of the Ostars, as well as for the red supergiant candidate stars. Also examinedwas the composite HR diagram for these associations. Associations withthe best defined main sequences, which also tend to contain very youngclusters, referred to here as OB clusters, have extremely few evolved Band A or red supergiants. Associations with poorly defined mainsequences and few OB clusters have many more evolved stars. They alsoshow an effect in the upper HR diagram referred to as a ledge byFitzpatrick and Garmany (1990) in similar data for the Large MagellanicCloud. It is suggested that the differences in the associations are notjust observational selection effects but represent real differences inage and formation history.
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Extinction law survey based on UV ANS photometry
The paper presents an extensive survey of interstellar extinction curvesderived from the ANS photometric measurements of early type starsbelonging to our Galaxy. This survey is more extensive and deeper thanany other one, based on spectral data. The UV color excesses aredetermined with the aid of 'artificial standards', a new techniqueproposed by the authors which allows the special check of Sp/L match ofa target and the selected standard. The results indicate that extinctionlaw changes from place to place.
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Photoelectric photometry of OB stars in the Vilnius system
Not Available
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Bibliographic Catalogue of Stellar Radial Velocities
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1990A&AS...85..885B&db_key=AST
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Hydrogenated amorphous carbon-coated silicate particles as a source of interstellar extinction
A new model for interstellar grains has recently been proposed in whichlarge and small silicate grains are mantled with thin layers ofhydrogenated amorphous carbon (HAC or a-C:H) and amorphous carbon (a-C).A complete description of the grain model is presented for the firsttime. The optical properties of small inhomogenous particles arediscussed and new expressions for carbon depletion, bump strength andalbedo are derived. It is shown, in particular, that the wide variety ofinterstellar extinction curves can be explained by variations in carbondepletion, and model fits to normal and extreme cases of extinction arepresented. The model enables a direct measurement of carbon depletion tobe made from the extinction data and implies that carbon depletion in aninterstellar cloud is determined by the recent history of that cloud.Thus, on this model, grains respond to and react with their environment,rather than being immutable, inert entities in the interstellar gas.
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Mass loss from stars : the universal formula for mass loss rate
Not Available
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A spectral survey of early-type stars in the region of Cassiopeia using an objective prism
Not Available
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H-alpha as a tracer of mass loss from OB stars
This paper investigates the use of the H-alpha emission from stellarwinds of OB stars to determine the stellar mass-loss rate. The power inH-alpha emitted by the wind can be parameterized in terms of thetemperature and the density field of the wind. A simple expression isderived which relates the observed H-alpha luminosity to the stellarmass-loss rate, the stellar radius, the velocity law, and the stellareffective temperature. This expression is calibrated for the influenceof the velocity law using a sample of Galactic OB stars with UVmass-loss rates. Consequently, the results depend on the validity of theUV rates. The derived velocity law for O stars turns out to be inagreement with the radiation-pressure-driven wind theory. There isevidence for a dependence of the velocity-law gradient on spectral type.The results for B stars, however, are more uncertain due to thedependence on the adopted mass accretion rate/L relation. Application ofthe calibrated H-alpha luminosity/mass-loss rate relation to a sample of149 galactic OB stars shows that mass accretion rate can be reliablydetermined from H-alpha. Due to the moderate amount of observing timerequired to derive mass accretion rate from H-alpha, this method may beapplied successfully to investigate mass-loss effects in extra-Galacticstars.
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Mass loss rates in the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram
Mass loss rates have been collected for 271 stars of spectral type Othrough M, primarily of population I. Good agreement is found forresults obtained according to six different methods, and it is shownthat the mass loss rate data can be well represented by one empiricalinterpolation formula as a function of the effective temperature andluminosity. The chemically evolved stars are shown to have mass lossrates which are larger than those of normal stars occupying the samepositions in the Hertzprung-Russell diagram by factors of 160 forWolf-Rayet stars and 11 for C-type stars.
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Interdependence of the 4430 A diffuse interstellar band, polarization, and ultraviolet extinction
Central intensities of the 4430-A diffuse interstellar band (DIB) areobtained from reticon spectra of 128 early-type stars, and stars in thePerseus OB1 association are found to have higher ratios of polarizationand weaker 4430-A intensities than do the stars in Cepheus OB3. Thecorrelation noted for OB1 between the A(4430) residuals and E(15-18) canbe explained if the 4430-A DIB arises in a thin grain mantle and the2200-A feature arises in the grain core. The absence of a 4430-A DIB inhigh-Galactic-latitude clouds would then be due to a lack of mantle. TheDIB ratio 5780/5797 A is found to resemble the behavior of the(4430-A)/E(B-V) ratio for seven stars from a range of Galacticlatitudes, confirming the existence of three previously identifiedfamilies of DIBs.
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Mid-infrared excess and ultraviolet extinction
Recent suggestions that the mid-infrared excess and the 2174 Aextinction bump have the same origin are investigated. For this purpose,correlations between the mid infrared excess and the ultravioletextinction parameters are examined, using a sample of 61 stars reportedto have peculiar extinction properties. No correlation is found betweenthe mid-infrared excess and the ultraviolet extinction bump or the farultraviolet extinction rise. This result suggests that the carriers ofthe ultraviolet bump and the mid-infrared emission are different.
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The interstellar 217 NM band - A third catalogue of equivalent widths
A catalog of equivalent widths of the 217 nm interstellar absorptionband as well as other parameters characterizing the extinction curve inthe ultraviolet has been compiled for 790 O and B stars. A relativelytight correlation between the equivalent width of the 217 nm band andE(B-V) indicates that the absorber of this band is connected with thepopulation of larger interstellar grains responsible for the visualextinction. The parameter characterizing the amount of extinction in thefar UV is only weakly correlated with E(B-V), a result in accord withthe assumption that a second population of very small grains causes therapid increase of the far-UV extinction.
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The Mv-W(H-gamma) calibration for O6 to A3 supergiants
The Mv-W(H-gamma) calibration of main-sequence stars of Millward andWalker (1985) is evaluated by observing bright supergiants in clusters.Fifty-two spectra of 39 O, B, and A supergiants combined with 19 higherdispersion spectra of 18 stars are studied. Wing profiles were generatedby fitting a two-component, absorption-coefficient model to the H-gammaprofiles. The calculated Mv data are compared to photometric values. Itis observed that there is a difference in the present calibration andthe Millward and Walker calibration due to the manner in which the wingprofiles are defined; however, the nonlinear relation between thespectral types and W(H-gamma) found by Millward and Walker is confirmed.
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Bibliographic Catalogue of Stellar Radical Velocities
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1986A&AS...65...59B&db_key=AST
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The variation of interstellar extinction in the ultraviolet
One hundred and fifty-four reddened stars that are apparently normal inthe visible were selected from the S2/68 Ultraviolet Sky Survey. Theultraviolet data for 92 of these cannot be explained in terms of a fixedinterstellar extinction law. Between 1400 and 2740 A, the extinctioncurve for each star can be well represented by two parts; astraight-line scattering component and a Lorentzian 2200 A absorptionfeature. Independent variations are found in both parts and these cannotbe explained by photometric or spectral classification errors. Bothparts vary smoothly, implying that there is no fixed extinction law, andone star in three is found to depart from the mean law by more than 1mag at either 1500 or 2200 A. The two variations allow not only all 154stars to be explained but also anomalous stars reported by otherauthors. These are not special but merely situated towards the limits ofthe variations. A variation in the relative proportions of graphite andsilicate grains goes some way towards explaining the observations. Theprofile of the 2200 A feature is determined, the symmetrical shape isconfirmed, and the profile fits a Lorentzian very closely.
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A catalog of ultraviolet interstellar extinction excesses for 1415 stars
Ultraviolet interstellar extinction excesses are presented for 1415stars with spectral types B7 and earlier. The excesses with respect to Vare derived from Astronomical Netherlands Satellite (ANS) 5-channel UVphotometry at central wavelengths of approximately 1550, 1800, 2500, and3300 A. A measure of the excess extinction in the 2200-A extinction bumpis also given. The data are valuable for investigating the systematicsof peculiar interstellar extinction and for studying the character of UVinterstellar extinction in the general direction of stars for which theextinction-curve shape is unknown.
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Mass loss rates for northern OB-stars
A mass loss survey of 44 O- and early B-type stars in northern OBassociations is presented. For 22 stars mass loss rates were derivedfrom H-alpha equivalent widths using the method of Klein and Castor(1978). For 15 stars upper limits of the mass loss rates were estimated.For the remaining 7 stars H-alpha and H-beta equivalent width values aregiven but no quantitative evaluation of M-dot was possible. The resultsare compared with present ideas concerning the relation between massloss and other basic stellar parameters.
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INHABITED SKY
