31 research outputs found
Analysis of alpha Centauri AB including seismic constraints
Detailed models of alpha Cen A and B based on new seismological data for
alpha Cen B by Carrier & Bourban (2003) have been computed using the Geneva
evolution code including atomic diffusion. Taking into account the numerous
observational constraints now available for the alpha Cen system, we find a
stellar model which is in good agreement with the astrometric, photometric,
spectroscopic and asteroseismic data. The global parameters of the alpha Cen
system are now firmly constrained to an age of t=6.52+-0.30 Gyr, an initial
helium mass fraction Y_i=0.275+-0.010 and an initial metallicity
(Z/X)_i=0.0434+-0.0020. Thanks to these numerous observational constraints, we
confirm that the mixing-length parameter alpha of the B component is larger
than the one of the A component, as already suggested by many authors (Noels et
al. 1991, Fernandes & Neuforge 1995 and Guenther & Demarque 2000): alpha_B is
about 8% larger than alpha_A (alpha_A=1.83+-0.10 and alpha_B=1.97+-0.10).
Moreover, we show that asteroseismic measurements enable to determine the radii
of both stars with a very high precision (errors smaller than 0.3%). The radii
deduced from seismological data are compatible with the new interferometric
results of Kervella et al. (2003) even if they are slightly larger than the
interferometric radii (differences smaller than 1%).Comment: 13 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in A&
High-Resolution Spectroscopy of the Transiting Planet Host Star TrES-1
We report on a spectroscopic determination of the stellar parameters and
chemical abundances for the parent star of the transiting planet TrES-1. Based
on a detailed analysis of iron lines in our Keck and HET spectra we derive
K, , and [Fe/H] . By measuring the \ion{Ca}{2} activity indicator and by putting useful
upper limits on the Li abundance we constrain the age of TrES-1 to be Gyr. By comparing theoretical stellar evolution models with the
observational parameters we obtain , and
. Our improved estimates of the stellar
parameters are utilized in a new analysis of the transit photometry of TrES-1
to derive a mass , a radius , and an inclination . The improved planetary mass and radius estimates
provide the grounds for new crucial tests of theoretical models of evolution
and evaporation of irradiated extrasolar giant planets.Comment: 14 pages, 3 figures, Astrophysical Journal Letters, accepte
Modeling Mid-Ultraviolet Spectra. I. Temperatures of Metal-Poor Stars
Determining the properties of old stellar systems using evolutionary
population synthesis requires a library of reliable model stellar fluxes.
Empirical libraries are limited to spectra of stars in the solar neighborhood,
with nearly solar abundances and abundance ratios. We report here a first step
towards providing a flux library that includes nonsolar abundances, based on
calculations from first principles that are calibrated empirically. We have
started with main-sequence stars, whose light dominates the mid-ultraviolet
spectrum of an old stellar system. We have calculated mid-ultraviolet spectra
for the Sun and nine nearby, near-main-sequence stars spanning metallicities
from less than 1/100 solar to greater than solar, encompassing a range of
light-element abundance enhancements. We first determined temperatures of eight
of the stars by analyzing optical echelle spectra together with the
mid-ultraviolet. Both could be matched at the same time only when models with
no convective overshoot were adopted, and only when an approximate chromosphere
was incorporated near the surface of relatively metal-rich models. Extensive
modifications to mid-UV line parameters were also required, notably the manual
assignment of approximate identifications for mid-UV lines missing from
laboratory linelists. Without recourse to additional missing opacity, these
measures suffice to reproduce in detail almost the entire mid-UV spectrum of
solar-temperature stars up to one-tenth solar metallicity, and the region from
2900A to 3100A throughout the entire metallicity range. Ramifications for
abundance determinations in individual metal-poor stars and for age-metallicity
determinations of old stellar systems are briefly discussed, with emphasis on
the predictive power of the calculations.Comment: Proof revision -Minor changes to revised version submitted to
Astrophysical Journal May 1, 2001. 29 pages, 4 figures (Fig. 3 with 5 panels
and Fig. 4 with 6 panels). Figures 1 and 2 are .gif; postscript versions of
Figures 1 and 2 are available from
http://www.astro.virginia.edu/~rtr/uv/index.htm
Chemical Composition of the Planet-Harboring Star TrES-1
We present a detailed chemical abundance analysis of the parent star of the
transiting extrasolar planet TrES-1. Based on high-resolution Keck/HIRES and
HET/HRS spectra, we have determined abundances relative to the Sun for 16
elements (Na, Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Y, and Ba).
The resulting average abundance of is in good
agreement with initial estimates of solar metallicity based on iron. We compare
the elemental abundances of TrES-1 with those of the sample of stars with
planets, searching for possible chemical abundance anomalies. TrES-1 appears
not to be chemically peculiar in any measurable way. We investigate possible
signs of selective accretion of refractory elements in TrES-1 and other stars
with planets, and find no statistically significant trends of metallicity
[/H] with condensation temperature . We use published abundances and
kinematic information for the sample of planet-hosting stars (including TrES-1)
and several statistical indicators to provide an updated classification in
terms of their likelihood to belong to either the thin disk or the thick disk
of the Milky Way Galaxy. TrES-1 is found to be a very likely member of the thin
disk population. By comparing -element abundances of planet hosts and a
large control sample of field stars, we also find that metal-rich
([Fe/H]) stars with planets appear to be systematically
underabundant in [/Fe] by dex with respect to comparison
field stars. The reason for this signature is unclear, but systematic
differences in the analysis procedures adopted by different groups cannot be
ruled out.Comment: 52 pages, 15 figures, 5 tables, accepted for publication in the
Astronomical Journa
Spectroscopic analysis of the Alpha Centauri system
A detailed spectroscopic analysis of the two components of the binary system alpha Centauri has been carried out on the basis of extensive high resolution and high signal-to-noise spectra. The temperatures of the stars have been determined from the Fei excitation equilibrium and checked from the H_alpha line wings. The abundances of 17 elements have been obtained and indicate a general overabundance of 0.24 dex relative to the Sun, with no significant difference between the two stars. All elements analysed, from CNO to the iron peak, show basically the same overabundance. Only nickel seems to be significantly more overabundant, while the neutron capture elements appear less enhanced. Based on observations carried out at the European Southern Observatory (La Silla, Chile
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SEISMOLOGICAL TESTS OF THE DIFFUSION/MASS-LOSS THEORY FOR LAMBDA BOOTIS STARS
Helioseismic Tests of the New Los Alamos LEDCOP Opacities
We compare the helioseismic properties of two solar models, one calibrated with the OPAL opacities and the other with the recent Los Alamos LEDCOP (Light Element Detailed Configuration Opacity) opacities. We show that, in the radiative interior of the Sun, the small differences between the two sets of opacities (up to 6% near the base of the convection zone) lead to noticeable differences in the solar structure (up to 0.3% in sound speed), with the OPAL model being the closest to the helioseismic data. More than half of the difference between the two opacity sets results from the interpolation scheme and from the relatively widely spaced temperature grids used in the tables. The remaining 3% intrinsic difference between the OPAL and the LEDCOP opacities in the radiative interior of the Sun is well within the error bars on the opacity calculations resulting from the uncertainties on the physics. We conclude that both the OPAL and LEDCOP opacities produce solar models in close agreement with helioseismic inferences, but discrepancies still persist at the level of 0.6% between the calculated and inferred sound speed in the radiative interior of the Sun
Constraining the difference in convective blueshift between the components of alpha Centauri with precise radial velocities
Original article can be found at: http://www.aanda.org/ Copyright The European Southern ObservatoryNew radial velocities of Cen A & B obtained in the framework the Anglo-Australian Planet Search programme as well as in the CORALIE programme are added to those by Endl et al. (2001) to improve the precision of the orbital parameters. The resulting masses are 1:105 0:0070 M and 0:934 0:0061 M for A and B respectively. The factors limiting how accurately these masses can be derived from a combined visual-spectroscopic solution are investigated. The total e ect of the convective blueshift and the gravitational redshift is also investigated and estimated to di er by 215 8 ms−1 between the components. This suggests that the di erence in convective blueshift between the components is much smaller than predicted from current hydrodynamical model atmosphere calculations.Peer reviewe