1,163 research outputs found
A CORAVEL radial-velocity monitoring of S stars: symbiotic activity vs. orbital separation
Orbital elements are presented for the Tc-poor S stars HR 363 (= HD 7351) and
HD 191226. With an orbital period of 4592 d (=12.6 y), HR 363 has the longest
period known among S stars, and yet it is a strong X-ray source. Its X-ray flux
is similar to that of HD 35155, an S star with one of the shortest orbital
periods (640 d). This surprising result is put in perspective with other
diagnostics of binary interaction observed in binary S stars. They reveal that
there is no correlation between the level of binary interaction and the orbital
period. This situation may be accounted for if the wind mass-loss rate from the
giant is the principal factor controlling the activity level in these
(detached) systems, via a stream of matter funneled through the inner Lagragian
point.Comment: Astronomy & Astrophysics Supplements, 6 pages, 2 figures, 4 tables
(LaTeX A&A). Also available at:
http://obswww.unige.ch/~udry/cine/barium/barium.htm
Roche-lobe filling factor of mass-transferring red giants - the PIONIER view
Using the PIONIER visitor instrument that combines the light of the four
Auxiliary Telescopes of ESO's Very Large Telescope Interferometer, we measure
precisely the diameters of several symbiotic and related stars: HD 352, HD
190658, V1261 Ori, ER Del, FG Ser, and AG Peg. These diameters - in the range
of 0.6 to 2.3 milli-arcseconds - are used to assess the filling factor of the
Roche lobe of the mass-losing giants and provide indications on the nature of
the ongoing mass transfer. We also provide the first spectroscopic orbit of ER
Del, based on CORAVEL and HERMES/Mercator observations. The system is found to
have an eccentric orbit with a period of 5.7 years. In the case of the
symbiotic star FG Ser, we find that the diameter is changing by 13% over the
course of 41 days, while the observations of HD 352 are indicative of an
elongation. Both these stars are found to have a Roche filling factor close to
1, as is most likely the case for HD 190658 as well, while the three other
stars have factors below 0.5-0.6. Our observations reveal the power of
interferometry for the study of interacting binary stars - the main limitation
in our conclusions being the poorly known distances of the objects.Comment: A&A, in pres
A holistic approach to carbon-enhanced metal-poor stars
By considering the various CEMP subclasses separately, we try to derive, from
the specific signatures imprinted on the abundances, parameters (such as
metallicity, mass, temperature, and neutron source) characterizing AGB
nucleosynthesis from the specific signatures imprinted on the abundances, and
separate them from the impact of thermohaline mixing, first dredge-up, and
dilution associated with the mass transfer from the companion.To put CEMP stars
in a broad context, we collect abundances for about 180 stars of various
metallicities, luminosity classes, and abundance patterns, from our own sample
and from literature. First, we show that there are CEMP stars which share the
properties of CEMP-s stars and CEMP-no stars (which we call CEMP-low-s stars).
We also show that there is a strong correlation between Ba and C abundances in
the s-only CEMP stars. This strongly points at the operation of the 13C neutron
source in low-mass AGB stars. For the CEMP-rs stars (seemingly enriched with
elements from both the s- and r-processes), the correlation of the N abundances
with abundances of heavy elements from the 2nd and 3rd s-process peaks bears
instead the signature of the 22Ne neutron source. Adding the fact that CEMP-rs
stars exhibit O and Mg enhancements, we conclude that extremely hot conditions
prevailed during the thermal pulses of the contaminating AGB stars. Finally, we
argue that most CEMP-no stars (with no overabundances for the neutron-capture
elements) are likely the extremely metal-poor counterparts of CEMP
neutron-capture-rich stars. We also show that the C enhancement in CEMP-no
stars declines with metallicity at extremely low metallicity ([Fe/H]~< -3.2).
This trend is not predicted by any of the current AGB models.Comment: 27 pages, 24 figures, accepted for publication in A&
Monitoring evolved stars for binarity with the HERMES spectrograph
Binarity is often invoked to explain peculiarities that can not be explained
by the standard theory of stellar evolution. Detecting orbital motion via the
Doppler effect is the best method to test binarity when direct imaging is not
possible. However, when the orbital period exceeds the duration of a typical
observing run, monitoring often becomes problematic. Placing a high-throughput
spectrograph on a small semi- robotic telescope allowed us to carry out a
radial-velocity survey of various types of peculiar evolved stars. In this
review we highlight some findings after the first four years of observations.
Thus, we detect eccentric binaries among hot subdwarfs, barium, S stars, and
post- AGB stars with disks, which are not predicted by the standard binary
interaction theory. In disk objects, in addition, we find signs of the on-
going mass transfer to the companion, and an intriguing line splitting, which
we attribute to the scattered light of the primary.Comment: To appear in the proceedings of the conference "Setting a new
standard in the analysis of binary stars", A. Tkachenko (ed.), European
Astron. Soc. Publ. Se
Fluorine abundances in planetary nebulae
We have determined fluorine abundances from the F II 4789 and F IV 4060
nebular emission lines for a sample of planetary nebulae (PNe). Our results
show that fluorine is generally overabundant in PNe, thus providing new
evidence for the synthesis of fluorine in asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars.
[F/O] is found to be positively correlated with the C/O abundance ratio, in
agreement with the predictions of theoretical models of fluorine production in
thermally pulsing AGB stars. A large enhancement of fluorine is observed in the
Wolf-Rayet PN NGC 40, suggesting that high mass-loss rates probably favor the
survival of fluorine.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ Letter
A PIONIER View on Mass-Transferring Red Giants
Symbiotic stars display absorption lines of a cool red giant together with
emission lines of a nebula ionized by a hotter star, indicative of an active
binary star system in which mass transfer is occurring. PIONIER at the VLT has
been used to combine the light of four telescopes at a time to study in
unprecedented detail how mass is transferred in symbiotic stars. The results of
a mini-survey of symbiotic stars with PIONIER are summarised and some tentative
general results about the role of Roche lobe overflow are presented.Comment: Report for the ESO Messenger June issu
Traditional timber frames
Due to new possibilities traditional timber framing has become increasingly popular since the beginning of the 21e century. Although traditional timber framing has been used for centuries, the expected mechanical behaviour is not dealt with in great detail in building codes, guidelines or text books. Especially the behaviour of connections is of great importance govern the stiffness (and stability) behaviour of traditional portal frames. A mechanical model is developed to describe and predict the behaviour of a portal frame. The stiffnesses used in this model are based on test data. The theoretical analysis is based on the work energy metho
Traditional timber frames
Due to new possibilities traditional timber framing has become increasingly popular since the beginning of the 21e century. Although traditional timber framing has been used for centuries, the expected mechanical behaviour is not dealt with in great detail in building codes, guidelines or text books. Especially the behaviour of connections is of great importance govern the stiffness (and stability) behaviour of traditional portal frames. A mechanical model is developed to describe and predict the behaviour of a portal frame. The stiffnesses used in this model are based on test data. The theoretical analysis is based on the work energy metho
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