894 research outputs found
HD 85567: A Herbig B[e] star or an interacting B[e] binary
Context. HD 85567 is an enigmatic object exhibiting the B[e] phenomenon, i.e.
an infrared excess and forbidden emission lines in the optical. The object's
evolutionary status is uncertain and there are conflicting claims that it is
either a young stellar object or an evolved, interacting binary.
Aims. To elucidate the reason for the B[e] behaviour of HD 85567, we have
observed it with the VLTI and AMBER.
Methods. Our observations were conducted in the K-band with moderate spectral
resolution (R~1500, i.e. 200 km/s). The spectrum of HD 85567 exhibits Br gamma
and CO overtone bandhead emission. The interferometric data obtained consist of
spectrally dispersed visibilities, closure phases and differential phases
across these spectral features and the K-band continuum.
Results. The closure phase observations do not reveal evidence of asymmetry.
The apparent size of HD 85567 in the K-band was determined by fitting the
visibilities with a ring model. The best fitting radius, 0.8 +/- 0.3 AU, is
relatively small making HD 85567 undersized in comparison to the
size-luminosity relationship based on YSOs of low and intermediate luminosity.
This has previously been found to be the case for luminous YSOs, and it has
been proposed that this is due to the presence of an optically thick gaseous
disc. We demonstrate that the differential phase observations over the CO
bandhead emission are indeed consistent with the presence of a compact (~1 AU)
gaseous disc interior to the dust sublimation radius.
Conclusions. The observations reveal no sign of binarity. However, the data
do indicate the presence of a gaseous disc interior to the dust sublimation
radius. We conclude that the data are consistent with the hypothesis that HD
85567 is a YSO with an optically thick gaseous disc within a larger dust disc
that is being photo-evaporated from the outer edge.Comment: Accepted for publication in A &
AMBER and CRIRES observations of the binary sgB[e] star HD 327083: evidence of a gaseous disc traced by CO bandhead emission
HD 327083 is a sgB[e] star that forms a binary system with an orbital
semi-major axis of ~1.7 AU. Our previous observations using the VLTI and AMBER
in the medium resolution K-band mode spatially resolved the environment of HD
327083. The continuum visibilities obtained indicate the presence of a
circumbinary disc. CO bandhead emission was also observed. However, due to the
limited spectral resolution of the previous observations, the kinematic
structure of the emitting material was not constrained. In this paper, we
address this and probe the source of the CO emission with high spectral
resolution and spatial precision. We have observed HD 327083 with high spectral
resolution (25 & 6 km/s) using AMBER and CRIRES. The observations are compared
to kinematical models to constrain the source of the emission. It is shown that
the CO bandhead emission can be reproduced using a model of a Keplerian disc
with an inclination and size consistent with our previous VLTI observations.
The model is compared to AMBER differential phase measurements, which have a
precision as high as 30-micro-arcseconds. A differential phase signal
corresponding to 0.15 milli-arcseconds (~5 sigma) is seen over the bandhead
emission, which is in excellent agreement with the model that fits the CRIRES
observations. In comparison, a model of an equatorial outflow, as envisaged in
the standard sgB[e] scenario, does not reproduce the observations well. The
excellent agreement between the disc model and observations in the spatial and
spectral domains is compelling evidence that the CO bandhead emission of HD
327083 originates in a circumbinary Keplerian disc. In contrast, the model of
an equatorial outflow cannot reproduce the observations well. This suggests
that the standard sgB[e] scenario is not applicable to HD 327083, which
supports the hypothesis that the B[e] behaviour of HD 327083 is due to binarity
(ABRIDGED).Comment: Accepted for publication in A&
Probing discs around massive young stellar objects with CO first overtone emission
We present high resolution (R~50,000) spectroastrometry over the CO 1st
overtone bandhead of a sample of seven intermediate/massive young stellar
objects. These are primarily drawn from the red MSX source (RMS) survey, a
systematic search for young massive stars which has returned a large, well
selected sample of such objects. The mean luminosity of the sample is
approximately 5 times 10^4 L_\odot, indicating the objects typically have a
mass of ~15 solar masses. We fit the observed bandhead profiles with a model of
a circumstellar disc, and find good agreement between the models and
observations for all but one object. We compare the high angular precision
(0.2-0.8 mas) spectroastrometric data to the spatial distribution of the
emitting material in the best-fitting models. No spatial signatures of discs
are detected, which is entirely consistent with the properties of the
best-fitting models. Therefore, the observations suggest that the CO bandhead
emission of massive young stellar objects originates in small-scale disks, in
agreement with previous work. This provides further evidence that massive stars
form via disc accretion, as suggested by recent simulations.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRA
Development and testing of the Active Temperature, Ozone and Moisture Microwave Spectrometer (ATOMMS) cm and mm wavelength occultation instrument
We present initial results from testing a new remote sensing system called the Active Temperature, Ozone and Moisture Microwave Spectrometer (ATOMMS). ATOMMS is designed as a satellite-to-satellite occultation system for monitoring climate. We are developing the prototype instrument for an aircraft to aircraft occultation demonstration. Here we focus on field testing of the ATOMMS instrument, in particular the remote sensing of water by measuring the attenuation caused by the 22 GHz and 183 GHz water absorption lines.
Our measurements of the 183 GHz line spectrum along an 820 m path revealed that the AM 6.2 spectroscopic model provdes a much better match to the observed spectrum than the MPM93 model. These comparisons also indicate that errors in the ATOMMS amplitude measurements are about 0.3%. Pressure sensitivity bodes well for ATOMMS as a climate instrument. Comparisons with a hygrometer revealed consistency at the 0.05 mb level, which is about 1% of the absolute humidity.
Initial measurements of absorption by the 22 GHz line made along a 5.4 km path between two mountaintops captured a large increase in water vapor similar to that measured by several nearby hygrometers. A storm passage between the two instruments yielded our first measurements of extinction by rain and cloud droplets. Comparisons of ATOMMS 1.5 mm opacity measurements with measured visible opacity and backscatter from a weather radar revealed features simultaneously evident in all three datasets confirming the ATOMMS measurements. The combined ATOMMS, radar and visible information revealed the evolution of rain and cloud amounts along the signal path during the passage of the storm. The derived average cloud water content reached typical continental cloud amounts. These results demonstrated a significant portion of the information content of ATOMMS and its ability to penetrate through clouds and rain which is critical to its all-weather, climate monitoring capability
The narrow, inner CO ring around the magnetic Herbig Ae star, HD 101412
We describe and model emission lines in the first overtone band of CO in the
magnetic Herbig Ae star HD 101412. High-resolution CRIRES spectra reveal
unusually sharp features which suggest the emission is formed in a thin disk
centered at 1 AU with a width 0.32 AU or less. A wider disk will not fit the
observations. Previous observations have reached similar conclusions, but the
crispness of the new material brings the emitting region into sharp focus.Comment: Accepted as Astronomy and Astrophysics Letter; 4 pages, 5 figure
VLTI/AMBER observations of the binary B[e] supergiant HD 327083
HD 327083 is a luminous B type star which exhibits emission lines and an
infrared excess and is therefore classified as a supergiant B[e] star. In
addition, the star is the primary of a close binary system. It is not clear
whether the B[e] behaviour of HD 327083 is related to its binarity or its
evolutionary state. Here we address this issue by studying its circumstellar
environment with high spatial resolution. To this end, we have observed HD
327083 with the VLTI and AMBER in the medium resolution K-band setting. 13CO
bandhead emission is detected, confirming HD 327083 is a post-main sequence
object. The observations spatially resolve the source of the NIR continuum and
the Br-gamma and CO line emission. In addition, differential phase measurements
allow us to probe the origin of the observed Br-gamma emission with sub-mas
precision. Using geometrical models, we find that the visibilities and closure
phases suggest that the close binary system is surrounded by a circum-binary
disk. We also find that in the case of the binary HD 327083, the relative sizes
of the continuum and Br-gamma emitting regions are different to those of a
single supergiant B[e] star where the standard dual outflow scenario is thought
to apply. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that the mass loss
of HD 327083 is related to its binary nature.Comment: Accepted in A&
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Feasibility of meltcasing strontium fluoride to produce high-density heat sources
A modest proof-of-principle effort has been conducted to investigate melt casting as a process for compacting SrF/sub 2/ to near theoretical density. A nonradioactive SrF/sub 2/ mixture, similar in chemical composition and method of prepartion to SrF/sub 2/ encapsulated at the Hanford Waste Encapsulation and Storage Facility (WESF) was used for the test evaluations. Hard, dimensionally stable, monolithic ingots that are >98% of theoretical density have been produced. Significant chemical purification from Al, Fe, Cr, Ni, Na and Zr has been demonstrated
Tracers of Discs and Winds around Intermediate and High Mass Young Stellar Objects
We present a study of the kinematical properties of a small sample of nearby
near-infrared bright massive and intermediate mass young stellar objects using
emission lines sensitive to discs and winds. We show for the first time that
the broad (kms) symmetric line wings on the HI Brackett series
lines are due to Stark broadening or electron scattering, rather than pure
Doppler broadening due to high speed motion. The results are consistent with
the presence of a very dense circumstellar environment. In addition, many of
these lines show evidence for weak line self-absorption, suggestive of a wind
or disc-wind origin for that part of the absorbing material. The weakness of
the self-absorption suggests a large opening angle for such an outflow. We also
study the fluorescent 1.688m FeII line, which is sensitive to dense
material. We fitted a Keplerian disc model to this line, and find reasonable
fits in all bar one case, in agreement with previous finding for classical Be
stars that fluorescent iron transitions are reasonable disc tracers. Overall
the picture is one in which these stars still have accretion discs, with a very
dense inner circumstellar environment which may be tracing either the inner
regions of a disc, or of a stellar wind, and in which ionised outflow is also
present. The similarity with lower mass stars is striking, suggesting that at
least in this mass range they form in a similar fashion.Comment: 20 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA
Probing the properties of Be star discs with spectroastrometry and NLTE radiative transfer modelling: beta CMi
While the presence of discs around classical Be stars is well established,
their origin is still uncertain. To understand what processes result in the
creation of these discs and how angular momentum is transported within them,
their physical properties must be constrained. This requires comparing high
spatial and spectral resolution data with detailed radiative transfer
modelling. We present a high spectral resolution, R~80,000, sub milli-arcsecond
precision, spectroastrometric study of the circumstellar disc around the Be
star beta CMi. The data are confronted with three-dimensional, NLTE radiative
transfer calculations to directly constrain the properties of the disc.
Furthermore, we compare the data to disc models featuring two velocity laws;
Keperian, the prediction of the viscous disc model, and angular momentum
conserving rotation. It is shown that the observations of beta CMi can only be
reproduced using Keplerian rotation. The agreement between the model and the
observed SED, polarisation and spectroastrometric signature of beta CMi
confirms that the discs around Be stars are well modelled as viscous decretion
discs.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRA
LBT/LUCIFER near-infrared spectroscopy of PV Cephei. An outbursting young stellar object with an asymmetric jet
We present a detailed spectroscopic investigation of the young eruptive star
PV Cep, to improve our understanding of its nature and characterise its
circumstellar environment after its last outburst in 2004. The analysis of our
medium-resolution spectroscopy in the near-IR (0.9-2.35 um), collected in 2012
at the Large Binocular Telescope with the IR spectrograph LUCIFER, allows us to
infer the main stellar parameters (visual extinction, accretion luminosity,
mass accretion and ejection rates), and model the inner disc, jet, and wind.
The NIR spectrum displays several strong emission lines associated with
accretion/ejection activity and circumstellar environment. Our analysis shows
that the brightness of PV Cep is fading, as well as the mass accretion rate
(2x10^-7 Msun/yr^-1 in 2012 vs ~5x10^-6 Msun/yr^-1 in 2004), which is more than
one order of magnitude lower than in the outburst phase. Among the several
emission lines, only the [FeII] intensity increased after the outburst. The
observed [FeII] emission delineates blue- and red-shifted lobes, both with
high- and low-velocity components, which trace an asymmetric jet and wind,
respectively. The observed emission in the jet has a dynamical age of ~8 years,
indicating that it was produced during the last outburst. The mass ejection
rate in both lobes is 1.5x10^-7 Msun/yr^-1, approximately matching the high
accretion rate observed during and immediately after the outburst . The
observed jet/outflow asymmetries are consistent with an inhomogeneous medium.
Our modelling of the CO emission hints at a small-scale gaseous disc ring,
extending from ~0.2-0.4 AU to ~3 AU from the source, with an inner temperature
of ~3000 K. Our HI lines modelling indicates that most of the observed emission
comes from an expanding disc wind at Te=10000 K. The line profiles are strongly
affected by scattering, disc screening, and outflow self-absorption.Comment: To be published in A&
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