58 research outputs found
New X-ray Detections of WNL Stars
Previous studies have demonstrated that putatively single nitrogen-type
Wolf-Rayet stars (WN stars) without known companions are X-ray sources.
However, almost all WN star X-ray detections so far have been of earlier WN2 -
WN6 spectral subtypes. Later WN7 - WN9 subtypes (also known as WNL stars) have
proved more difficult to detect, an important exception being WR 79a (WN9ha).
We present here new X-ray detections of the WNL stars WR 16 (WN8h) and WR 78
(WN7h). These new results, when combined with previous detections, demonstrate
that X-ray emission is present in WN stars across the full range of spectral
types, including later WNL stars. The two WN8 stars observed to date (WR 16 and
WR 40) show unusually low X-ray luminosities (Lx) compared to other WN stars,
and it is noteworthy that they also have the lowest terminal wind speeds
(v_infty). Existing X-ray detections of about a dozen WN stars reveal a trend
of increasing Lx with wind luminosity Lwind = (1/2) M_dot v_infty^2, suggesting
that wind kinetic energy may play a key role in establishing X-ray luminosity
levels in WN stars.Comment: 20 pages, 5 figure
High-resolution near-IR Spectral mapping with H and [Fe II] lines of Multiple Outflows around LkH 234
We present a high-resolution, near-IR spectroscopic study of multiple
outflows in the LkH 234 star formation region using the Immersion
GRating INfrared Spectrometer (IGRINS). Spectral mapping over the blueshifted
emission of HH 167 allowed us to distinguish at least three separate, spatially
overlapped, outflows in H and [Fe II] emission. We show that the H
emission represents not a single jet, but complex multiple outflows driven by
three known embedded sources: MM1, VLA 2, and VLA 3. There is a redshifted
H outflow at a low velocity, \VLSR 50 {\kms}, with respect to
the systemic velocity of \VLSR 11.5 {\kms}, that coincides with the
HO masers seen in earlier radio observations two arcseconds southwest of
VLA 2. We found that the previously detected [Fe II] jet with \VLSR
100 {\kms} driven by VLA 3B is also detected in H emission, and confirm
that this jet has a position angle about 240. Spectra of the
redshifted knots at 14\arcsec65\arcsec northeast of LkH 234 are
presented for the first time. These spectra also provide clues to the existence
of multiple outflows. We detected high-velocity (50120 {\kms}) H gas
in the multiple outflows around LkH 234. Since these gases move at
speeds well over the dissociation velocity ( 40 {\kms}), the emission must
originate from the jet itself rather than H gas in the ambient medium.
Also, position-velocity diagrams and excitation diagram indicate that emission
from knot C in HH 167 come from two different phenomena, shocks and
photodissociation.Comment: 32 pages, 12 figures, 2 tables, Accepted for publication in the
Astrophysical Journa
Effective Temperatures of Low-Mass Stars from High-Resolution H-band Spectroscopy
High-resolution, near-infrared spectra will be the primary tool for finding
and characterizing Earth-like planets around low-mass stars. Yet, the
properties of exoplanets can not be precisely determined without accurate and
precise measurements of the host star. Spectra obtained with the Immersion
GRating INfrared Spectrometer (IGRINS) simultaneously provide diagnostics for
most stellar parameters, but the first step in any analysis is the
determination of the effective temperature. Here we report the calibration of
high-resolution H-band spectra to accurately determine effective temperature
for stars between 4000-3000 K (K8--M5) using absorption line depths of Fe
I, OH, and Al I. The field star sample used here contains 254 K and M stars
with temperatures derived using BT-Settl synthetic spectra. We use 106 stars
with precise temperatures in the literature to calibrate our method with
typical errors of about 140 K, and systematic uncertainties less than 120
K. For the broadest applicability, we present T--line-depth-ratio
relationships, which we test on 12 members of the TW Hydrae Association and at
spectral resolving powers between 10,000--120,000. These ratios offer a
simple but accurate measure of effective temperature in cool stars that is
distance and reddening independent.Comment: 19 pages, 11 figures and 3 tables. Accepted in Ap
X-ray Emission from the FU Orionis Star V1735 Cygni
The variable star V1735 Cyg (= Elias 1-12) lies in the IC 5146 dark cloud and
is a member of the class of FU Orionis objects whose dramatic optical
brightenings are thought to be linked to episodic accretion. We report the
first X-ray detections of V1735 Cyg and a deeply-embedded class I protostar
lying 24 arcsecs to its northeast. X-ray spectra obtained with EPIC on
XMM-Newton reveal very high-temperature plasma (kT > 5 keV) in both objects,
but no large flares. Such hard X-ray emission is not anticipated from accretion
shocks and is a signature of magnetic processes. We place these new results
into the context of what is presently known about the X-ray properties of FU
Orionis stars and other accreting young stellar objects.Comment: 25 pages, 6 figure
- …