58 research outputs found

    New X-ray Detections of WNL Stars

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    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 H2_{2} and [Fe II] lines of Multiple Outflows around LkHα\alpha 234

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    We present a high-resolution, near-IR spectroscopic study of multiple outflows in the LkHα\alpha 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 H2{_2} and [Fe II] emission. We show that the H2{_2} 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 H2{_2} outflow at a low velocity, \VLSR << ++50 {\kms}, with respect to the systemic velocity of \VLSR == −-11.5 {\kms}, that coincides with the H2{_2}O 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 H2{_2} emission, and confirm that this jet has a position angle about 240°\degree. Spectra of the redshifted knots at 14\arcsec−-65\arcsec northeast of LkHα\alpha 234 are presented for the first time. These spectra also provide clues to the existence of multiple outflows. We detected high-velocity (50−-120 {\kms}) H2{_2} gas in the multiple outflows around LkHα\alpha 234. Since these gases move at speeds well over the dissociation velocity (>> 40 {\kms}), the emission must originate from the jet itself rather than H2{_2} 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

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    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 (∼\simK8--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 ∼\sim120 K. For the broadest applicability, we present Teff_{\rm eff}--line-depth-ratio relationships, which we test on 12 members of the TW Hydrae Association and at spectral resolving powers between ∼\sim10,000--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

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    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
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