Speckle interferometry at SOAR in 2015

The results of speckle interferometric observations at the SOAR telescope in 2015 are given, totalling 1303 measurements of 924 resolved binary and multiple stars and non-resolutions of 260 targets. The separations range from 12 mas to 3.37" (median 0.17"); the maximum measured magnitude difference is 6.7 mag. We resolved 27 pairs for the first time, including 10 as inner or outer subsystems in previously known binaries, e.g. the 50-mas pair in Epsilon Cha. Newly resolved pairs are commented upon. We discuss three apparently non-hierarchical systems discovered in this series, arguing that their unusual configuration results from projection. The resolved quadruple system HIP 71510 is studied as well.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures. Accepted for publication in AJ. The online tables are not included, available from Tokovinin on request. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1506.0571

Separated Fringe Packet Observations with the CHARA Array II: ω\omega Andromeda, HD 178911, and {\xi} Cephei

When observed with optical long-baseline interferometers (OLBI), components of a binary star which are sufficiently separated produce their own interferometric fringe packets; these are referred to as Separated Fringe Packet (SFP) binaries. These SFP binaries can overlap in angular separation with the regime of systems resolvable by speckle interferometry at single, large-aperture telescopes and can provide additional measurements for preliminary orbits lacking good phase coverage, help constrain elements of already established orbits, and locate new binaries in the undersampled regime between the bounds of spectroscopic surveys and speckle interferometry. In this process, a visibility calibration star is not needed, and the separated fringe packets can provide an accurate vector separation. In this paper, we apply the SFP approach to {\omega} Andromeda, HD 178911, and {\xi} Cephei with the CLIMB three-beam combiner at the CHARA Array. For these systems we determine component masses and parallax of 0.963${\pm}$0.049 $M_{\odot}$ and 0.860${\pm}$0.051 $M_{\odot}$ and 39.54${\pm}$1.85 milliarcseconds (mas) for {\omega} Andromeda, for HD 178911 of 0.802${\pm}$0.055 $M_{\odot}$ and 0.622${\pm}$0.053 $M_{\odot}$ with 28.26${\pm}$1.70 mas, and masses of 1.045${\pm}$0.031 $M_{\odot}$ and 0.408${\pm}$0.066 $M_{\odot}$ and 38.10${\pm}$2.81 mas for {\xi} Cephei.Comment: 28 pages, 4 tables, 6 figures, accepted to AJ May 201

Speckle and Spectroscopic Orbits of the Early A-Type Triple System in Virginis

Eta Virginis is a bright (V = 3.89) triple system of composite spectral type A2 IV that has been observed for over a dozen years with both spectroscopy and speckle interferometry. Analysis of the speckle observations results in a long period of 13.1 yr. This period is also detected in residuals from the spectroscopic observations of the 71.7919 day short-period orbit. Elements of the long-period orbit were determined separately using the observations of both techniques. The more accurate elements from the speckle solution have been assumed in a simultaneous spectroscopic determination of the short- and long-period orbital elements. The magnitude difference of the speckle components suggests that lines of the third star should be visible in the spectrum

HR 266=ADS 784: an Early Type Spectroscopic, Speckle Astrometric Multiple System

The detection and nature of a \u27speckle astrometric\u27 system are reported with attention given to alternative interpretations of the system components. The HR 226 = ADS 784 system is described as a short-period binary (with a period of 4.241148 +/- 0.000008 d) orbiting an unseen companion (with a period of 1769 +/- 10 d), and the triple\u27s visual orbit is 83.10 +/- 0.20 yr. The elements of the various orbits taken from spectroscopic data are employed to develop the model scenarios. The masses and spectral types of the components are developed and used to calculate the inclinations of the short-, intermediate-, and long-period orbits. The computations show that the inclinations are similar and can be interpreted as three coplanar orbits; however, this conclusion suggests that the unseen companion\u27s absorption features should be detectable. Since the absorption features are not detectable it is concluded that the unseen companion is either a pair of late-type lower-mass stars or one rapidly rotating star

SB9: The Ninth Catalogue of Spectroscopic Binary Orbits

The Ninth Catalogue of Spectroscopic Binary Orbits (http://sb9.astro.ulb.ac.be) continues the series of compilations of spectroscopic orbits carried out over the past 35 years by Batten and collaborators. As of 2004 May 1st, the new Catalogue holds orbits for 2,386 systems. Some essential differences between this catalogue and its predecessors are outlined and three straightforward applications are presented: (1) Completeness assessment: period distribution of SB1s and SB2s; (2) Shortest periods across the H-R diagram; (3) Period-eccentricity relation.Comment: Accepte for publication in A&A, 6 pages, 6 figure

Real-time Coupling of Multi-Domain Representational and Analytical Building Object Models via Homology-based Mapping

Ideally, multiple computational building evaluation routines (particularly simulation tools) should be coupled in real-time to the representational design model to provide timely performance feed-back to the system user. In this paper we demonstrate how this can be achieved effectively and conveniently via homology-based mapping. We consider two models as homologous if they entail isomorphic topological information. If the general design representation (i.e., a shared object model) is generated in a manner so as to include both the topological building information and pointers to the semantic information base, it can be used to directly derive the domain representations (>enriched< object models with detailed configurational information and filtered semantic data) needed for evaluation purposes. As a proof of concept, we demonstrate a computational design environment that dynamically links an object-oriented space-based design model, with structurally homologous object models of various simulation routines

Information technology for construction management and building performance evaluation support - a North-American perspective

We provide a critical overview of the current status of computational support for construction the management and building performance evaluation in North-America. This overview is based on the research conducted in relation to the design and construction of the Intelligent Workplace (IW), Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. With regard to the commercial software products in the field of construction management the following limitations can be identified: Although project planning, cost estimating and construction simulation are supported, tasks like bidding as well as site and material management have not received the same level of attention. Few project management software packages are integrated in a total design support software system. Little analysis or evaluation options are provided to support managerial decision making. Various research groups address the construction planning and scheduling, construction contracting, site layout generation as well as the integration of these three topics. Currently problems such as efficient material management and calculation of environmental and energy responsive site management are insufficiently addressed within the ongoing research projects. In the domain of building performance simulation and decision support one can notice that, the development and application of computational tools is industry driven. As a result the concerns addressed by the tools are mainly issues pertaining to the selection and sizing of systems and components rather than an integrated performance evaluation. Consequently, these programs are rarely used by building designers, especially in the early design stages, where the predictive capabilities of simulation tools could be of significant value. Although many research institutions address the necessity for the integration of performance simulation within the overall design support environments most of the practically available performance simulation tools still remain mono-dimensional and isolated

Know the Star, Know the Planet. II. Speckle Interferometry of Exoplanet Host Stars

A study of the host stars to exoplanets is important to understanding their environment. To that end, we report new speckle observations of a sample of exoplanet host primaries. The bright exoplanet host HD 8673 (= HIP 6702) is revealed to have a companion, although at this time we cannot definitively establish the companion as physical or optical. The observing lists for planet searches and for these observations have for the most part been pre-screened for known duplicity, so the detected binary fraction is lower than what would otherwise be expected. Therefore, a large number of double stars were observed contemporaneously for verification and quality control purposes, to ensure the lack of detection of companions for exoplanet hosts was valid. In these additional observations, ten pairs are resolved for the first time and sixty pairs are confirmed. These observations were obtained with the USNO speckle camera on the NOAO 4m telescopes at both KPNO and CTIO from 2001 to 2010.Comment: 2 figures, 3 table

SB9: The ninth catalogue of spectroscopic binary orbits

The Ninth Catalogue of Spectroscopic Binary Orbits (http://sb9.astro.ulb.ac.be) continues the series of compilations of spectroscopic orbits carried out over the past 35 years by Batten and collaborators. As of 2004 May 1st, the new Catalogue holds orbits for 2386 systems. Some essential differences between this catalogue and its predecessors are out-lined and three straightforward applications are presented: (1) completeness assessment: period distribution of SB1s and SB2s; (2) shortest periods across the H-R diagram; (3) period-eccentricity relation.Facultad de Ciencias Astronómicas y Geofísica