39 research outputs found
Abundance analyses of helium-rich subluminous B stars
The connection between helium-rich hot subdwarfs of spectral types O and B
(He-sdB) has been relatively unexplored since the latter were found in
significant numbers in the 1980's. In order to explore this connection further,
we have analysed the surface composition of six He-sdB stars, including LB
1766, LB 3229, SB 21 (= Ton-S 137 = BPS 29503-0009), BPS 22940-0009, BPS
29496-0010, and BPS 22956-0094. Opacity-sampled line-blanketed model
atmospheres have been used to derive atmospheric properties and elemental
abundances. All the stars are moderately metal-poor compared with the Sun
([Fe/H] ~ -0.5). Four stars are nitrogen-rich, two of these are carbon-rich,
and at least four appear to be neon-rich. The data are insufficient to rule out
binarity in any of the sample. The surface composition and locus of the N-rich
He-sdBs are currently best explained by the merger of two helium white dwarfs,
or possibly by the merger of a helium white dwarf with a post-sdB white dwarf.
C-rich He-sdBs require further investigation.Comment: Accepted 2010 July
KIC 10449976: discovery of an extreme-helium subdwarf in the Kepler field
Optical spectroscopy of the blue star KIC 10449976 shows that it is an
extremely helium-rich subdwarf with effective temperature T=40000+/-300 K and
surface gravity log g=5.3+/-0.1. Radial-velocity measurements over a five-day
timescale show an upper variability limit of ~50+/-20 km/s. Kepler photometry
of KIC 10449976 in both long and short cadence modes shows evidence for a
periodic modulation on a timescale of ~3.9 days. We have examined the
possibility that this modulation is not astrophysical but conclude it is most
likely real. We discuss whether the modulation could be caused by a low-mass
companion, by stellar pulsations, or by spots. The identification of any one of
these as cause has important consequences for understanding the origin of
helium-rich subdwarfs.Comment: Accepted by MNRA
Kinematics of subluminous O and B stars by surface helium abundance
The majority of hot subdwarf stars are low-mass core-helium-burning stars. Their atmospheres are generally helium deficient; however, a minority have extremely helium-rich surfaces. An additional fraction have an intermediate surface-helium abundance, occasionally accompanied by peculiar abundances of other elements. We have identified a sample of 88 hot subdwarfs including 38 helium-deficient, 27 intermediate-helium and 23 extreme-helium stars for which radial-velocity and proper-motion measurements, together with distances, allow a calculation of galactic space velocities. We have investigated the kinematics of these three groups to determine whether they belong to similar or different Galactic populations. The majority of helium-deficient subdwarfs in our sample show a kinematic distribution similar to that of thick disc stars. Helium-rich sdBs show a more diverse kinematic distribution. Although the majority are probably disc stars, a minority show a much higher velocity dispersion consistent with membership of a Galactic halo population. Several of the halo subdwarfs are members of the class of ‘heavy-metal’ subdwarfs discovered by Naslim et al
Discovery of a variable lead-rich hot subdwarf: UVO 0825+15
UVO 0825+15 is a hot bright helium-rich subdwarf which lies in K2 Field 5 and in a sample of intermediate helium-rich subdwarfs observed the Subaru High Dispersion Spectrograph. The K2 light curve shows low-amplitude variations, whilst the Subaru spectrum shows Pb IV absorption lines, indicative of a very high lead overabundance. UVO 0825+15 also has a high proper motion with kinematics typical for a thick disc star. Analyses of ultraviolet and intermediate dispersion optical spectra rule out a short-period binary companion and provide fundamental atmospheric parameters of Teff=38 900±270 K, logg/cms−2=5.97±0.11, log nHe/nH = −0.57 ± 0.01, EB − V ≈ 0.03, and angular radius θ = 1.062 ± 0.006 × 10−11 radians (formal errors). The high-resolution spectrum shows that carbon is \u3e2 dex subsolar, iron is approximately solar, and all other elements heavier than argon are at least 2–4 dex overabundant, including germanium, yttrium and lead. Approximately 150 lines in the blue-optical spectrum remain unidentified. The chemical structure of the photosphere is presumed to be determined by radiatively dominated diffusion. The K2 light curve shows a dominant period around 10.8 h, with a variable amplitude, its first harmonic, and another period at 13.3 h. The preferred explanation is multiperiodic non-radial oscillation due to g modes with very high radial order, although this presents difficulties for pulsation theory. Alternative explanations fail for lack of radial-velocity evidence. UVO 0825+15 represents the fourth member of a group of hot subdwarfs having helium-enriched photospheres and 3–4 dex overabundances of trans-iron elements and is the first lead-rich subdwarf to show evidence of pulsations
Discovery of a variable lead-rich hot subdwarf: UVO 0825+15
UVO 0825+15 is a hot bright helium-rich subdwarf which lies in K2 Field 5 and in a sample of intermediate helium-rich subdwarfs observed the Subaru High Dispersion Spectrograph. The K2 light curve shows low-amplitude variations, whilst the Subaru spectrum shows Pb IV absorption lines, indicative of a very high lead overabundance. UVO 0825+15 also has a high proper motion with kinematics typical for a thick disc star. Analyses of ultraviolet and intermediate dispersion optical spectra rule out a short-period binary companion and provide fundamental atmospheric parameters of Teff=38 900±270 K, logg/cms−2=5.97±0.11, log nHe/nH = −0.57 ± 0.01, EB − V ≈ 0.03, and angular radius θ = 1.062 ± 0.006 × 10−11 radians (formal errors). The high-resolution spectrum shows that carbon is \u3e2 dex subsolar, iron is approximately solar, and all other elements heavier than argon are at least 2–4 dex overabundant, including germanium, yttrium and lead. Approximately 150 lines in the blue-optical spectrum remain unidentified. The chemical structure of the photosphere is presumed to be determined by radiatively dominated diffusion. The K2 light curve shows a dominant period around 10.8 h, with a variable amplitude, its first harmonic, and another period at 13.3 h. The preferred explanation is multiperiodic non-radial oscillation due to g modes with very high radial order, although this presents difficulties for pulsation theory. Alternative explanations fail for lack of radial-velocity evidence. UVO 0825+15 represents the fourth member of a group of hot subdwarfs having helium-enriched photospheres and 3–4 dex overabundances of trans-iron elements and is the first lead-rich subdwarf to show evidence of pulsations
PDRs4All III: JWST's NIR spectroscopic view of the Orion Bar
(Abridged) We investigate the impact of radiative feedback from massive stars
on their natal cloud and focus on the transition from the HII region to the
atomic PDR (crossing the ionisation front (IF)), and the subsequent transition
to the molecular PDR (crossing the dissociation front (DF)). We use
high-resolution near-IR integral field spectroscopic data from NIRSpec on JWST
to observe the Orion Bar PDR as part of the PDRs4All JWST Early Release Science
Program. The NIRSpec data reveal a forest of lines including, but not limited
to, HeI, HI, and CI recombination lines, ionic lines, OI and NI fluorescence
lines, Aromatic Infrared Bands (AIBs including aromatic CH, aliphatic CH, and
their CD counterparts), CO2 ice, pure rotational and ro-vibrational lines from
H2, and ro-vibrational lines HD, CO, and CH+, most of them detected for the
first time towards a PDR. Their spatial distribution resolves the H and He
ionisation structure in the Huygens region, gives insight into the geometry of
the Bar, and confirms the large-scale stratification of PDRs. We observe
numerous smaller scale structures whose typical size decreases with distance
from Ori C and IR lines from CI, if solely arising from radiative recombination
and cascade, reveal very high gas temperatures consistent with the hot
irradiated surface of small-scale dense clumps deep inside the PDR. The H2
lines reveal multiple, prominent filaments which exhibit different
characteristics. This leaves the impression of a "terraced" transition from the
predominantly atomic surface region to the CO-rich molecular zone deeper in.
This study showcases the discovery space created by JWST to further our
understanding of the impact radiation from young stars has on their natal
molecular cloud and proto-planetary disk, which touches on star- and planet
formation as well as galaxy evolution.Comment: 52 pages, 30 figures, submitted to A&
PDRs4All II: JWST's NIR and MIR imaging view of the Orion Nebula
The JWST has captured the most detailed and sharpest infrared images ever
taken of the inner region of the Orion Nebula, the nearest massive star
formation region, and a prototypical highly irradiated dense photo-dissociation
region (PDR). We investigate the fundamental interaction of far-ultraviolet
photons with molecular clouds. The transitions across the ionization front
(IF), dissociation front (DF), and the molecular cloud are studied at
high-angular resolution. These transitions are relevant to understanding the
effects of radiative feedback from massive stars and the dominant physical and
chemical processes that lead to the IR emission that JWST will detect in many
Galactic and extragalactic environments. Due to the proximity of the Orion
Nebula and the unprecedented angular resolution of JWST, these data reveal that
the molecular cloud borders are hyper structured at small angular scales of
0.1-1" (0.0002-0.002 pc or 40-400 au at 414 pc). A diverse set of features are
observed such as ridges, waves, globules and photoevaporated protoplanetary
disks. At the PDR atomic to molecular transition, several bright features are
detected that are associated with the highly irradiated surroundings of the
dense molecular condensations and embedded young star. Toward the Orion Bar
PDR, a highly sculpted interface is detected with sharp edges and density
increases near the IF and DF. This was predicted by previous modeling studies,
but the fronts were unresolved in most tracers. A complex, structured, and
folded DF surface was traced by the H2 lines. This dataset was used to revisit
the commonly adopted 2D PDR structure of the Orion Bar. JWST provides us with a
complete view of the PDR, all the way from the PDR edge to the substructured
dense region, and this allowed us to determine, in detail, where the emission
of the atomic and molecular lines, aromatic bands, and dust originate
PDRs4All IV. An embarrassment of riches: Aromatic infrared bands in the Orion Bar
(Abridged) Mid-infrared observations of photodissociation regions (PDRs) are
dominated by strong emission features called aromatic infrared bands (AIBs).
The most prominent AIBs are found at 3.3, 6.2, 7.7, 8.6, and 11.2 m. The
most sensitive, highest-resolution infrared spectral imaging data ever taken of
the prototypical PDR, the Orion Bar, have been captured by JWST. We provide an
inventory of the AIBs found in the Orion Bar, along with mid-IR template
spectra from five distinct regions in the Bar: the molecular PDR, the atomic
PDR, and the HII region. We use JWST NIRSpec IFU and MIRI MRS observations of
the Orion Bar from the JWST Early Release Science Program, PDRs4All (ID: 1288).
We extract five template spectra to represent the morphology and environment of
the Orion Bar PDR. The superb sensitivity and the spectral and spatial
resolution of these JWST observations reveal many details of the AIB emission
and enable an improved characterization of their detailed profile shapes and
sub-components. While the spectra are dominated by the well-known AIBs at 3.3,
6.2, 7.7, 8.6, 11.2, and 12.7 m, a wealth of weaker features and
sub-components are present. We report trends in the widths and relative
strengths of AIBs across the five template spectra. These trends yield valuable
insight into the photochemical evolution of PAHs, such as the evolution
responsible for the shift of 11.2 m AIB emission from class B in
the molecular PDR to class A in the PDR surface layers. This
photochemical evolution is driven by the increased importance of FUV processing
in the PDR surface layers, resulting in a "weeding out" of the weakest links of
the PAH family in these layers. For now, these JWST observations are consistent
with a model in which the underlying PAH family is composed of a few species:
the so-called 'grandPAHs'.Comment: 25 pages, 10 figures, to appear in A&