Understanding the dynamical structure of pulsating stars. HARPS spectroscopy of the delta Scuti stars rho Pup and DX Cet

High-resolution spectroscopy is a powerful tool to study the dynamical structure of pulsating stars atmosphere. We aim at comparing the line asymmetry and velocity of the two delta Sct stars rho Pup and DX Cet with previous spectroscopic data obtained on classical Cepheids and beta Cep stars. We obtained, analysed and discuss HARPS high-resolution spectra of rho Pup and DX Cet. We derived the same physical quantities as used in previous studies, which are the first-moment radial velocities and the bi-Gaussian spectral line asymmetries. The identification of f=7.098 (1/d) as a fundamental radial mode and the very accurate Hipparcos parallax promote rho Pup as the best standard candle to test the period-luminosity relations of delta Sct stars. The action of small-amplitude nonradial modes can be seen as well-defined cycle-to-cycle variations in the radial velocity measurements of rho Pup. Using the spectral-line asymmetry method, we also found the centre-of-mass velocities of rho Pup and DX Cet, V_gamma = 47.49 +/- 0.07 km/s and V_gamma = 25.75 +/- 0.06 km/s, respectively. By comparing our results with previous HARPS observations of classical Cepheids and beta Cep stars, we confirm the linear relation between the atmospheric velocity gradient and the amplitude of the radial velocity curve, but only for amplitudes larger than 22.5 km/s. For lower values of the velocity amplitude (i.e., < 22.5 km/s), our data on rho Pup seem to indicate that the velocity gradient is null, but this result needs to be confirmed with additional data. We derived the Baade-Wesselink projection factor p = 1.36 +/- 0.02 for rho Pup and p = 1.39 +/- 0.02 for DX Cet. We successfully extended the period-projection factor relation from classical Cepheids to delta Scuti stars.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A (in press

Indefinite Sturm-Liouville operators with the singular critical point zero

We present a new necessary condition for similarity of indefinite Sturm-Liouville operators to self-adjoint operators. This condition is formulated in terms of Weyl-Titchmarsh $m$-functions. Also we obtain necessary conditions for regularity of the critical points 0 and $\infty$ of $J$-nonnegative Sturm-Liouville operators. Using this result, we construct several examples of operators with the singular critical point zero. In particular, it is shown that 0 is a singular critical point of the operator -\frac{(\sgn x)}{(3|x|+1)^{-4/3}} \frac{d^2}{dx^2} acting in the Hilbert space $L^2(\R, (3|x|+1)^{-4/3}dx)$ and therefore this operator is not similar to a self-adjoint one. Also we construct a J-nonnegative Sturm-Liouville operator of type (\sgn x)(-d^2/dx^2+q(x)) with the same properties.Comment: 24 pages, LaTeX2e <2003/12/01

Q^2 Evolution of the Neutron Spin Structure Moments using a ^3He Target

We have measured the spin structure functions g_1 and g_2 of ^3He in a double-spin experiment by inclusively scattering polarized electrons at energies ranging from 0.862 to 5.058 GeV off a polarized ^3He target at a 15.5° scattering angle. Excitation energies covered the resonance and the onset of the deep inelastic regions. We have determined for the first time the Q^2 evolution of Γ_1(Q^2)=∫_0^1g_1(x,Q^2)dx, Γ_2(Q^2)=∫_0^1g_2(x,Q^2)dx, and d_2(Q^2)=∫_0^1x^2[2g_1(x,Q^2)+3g_2(x,Q^2)]dx for the neutron in the range 0.1 ≤ Q^2 ≤0.9  GeV^2 with good precision. Γ_1(Q^2) displays a smooth variation from high to low Q^2. The Burkhardt-Cottingham sum rule holds within uncertainties and d_2 is nonzero over the measured range

Evaluation of the non-elementary integral ∫eλxαdx,α≥2\int e^{\lambda x^\alpha} dx, \alpha\ge2, and other related integrals

A formula for the non-elementary integral $\int e^{\lambda x^\alpha} dx$ where $\alpha$ is real and greater or equal two, is obtained in terms of the confluent hypergeometric function $_1F_1$. This result is verified by directly evaluating the area under the Gaussian Bell curve, corresponding to $\alpha = 2$, using the asymptotic expression for the confluent hypergeometric function and the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus (FTC). Two different but equivalent expressions, one in terms of the confluent hypergeometric function $_1F_1$ and another one in terms of the hypergeometric function $_1F_2$, are obtained for each of these integrals, $\int \cosh(\lambda x^\alpha)dx$, $\int \sinh(\lambda x^\alpha)dx$, $\int \cos(\lambda x^\alpha)dx$ and $\int \sin(\lambda x^\alpha)dx$, $\lambda\in \mathbb{C}, \alpha\ge2$. And the hypergeometric function $_1F_2$ is expressed in terms of the confluent hypergeometric function $_1F_1$. Some of the applications of the non-elementary integral $\int e^{\lambda x^\alpha}dx,\alpha\ge2$ such as the Gaussian distribution and the Maxwell-Bortsman distribution are given.Comment: 15 pages, 1 figur