75 research outputs found
Spectroscopic and Photometric Analysis of the Nova-Like Cataclysmic Variable PG 1000+667: A New VY Sculptoris Star
Multiyear photometry and orbit-resolved spectroscopy of the nova-like cataclysmic variable PG 1000+667 show behavior associated with the VY Sculptoris subclass of nova-like cataclysmic variables. Photometric observations over a 35 month interval from Indiana University\u27s robotic telescope Robo-Scope show two drops of 3 mag to a low state. Spectroscopy shows a periodic velocity variation in the Hβ emission line with P = 3.47 hr. This places the star just above the 2-3 hour period gap, which supports the VY Sculptoris classification
Testing the binary hypothesis for the formation and shaping of planetary nebulae
There is no quantitative theory to explain why a high 80% of all planetary
nebulae are non-spherical. The Binary Hypothesis states that a companion to the
progenitor of a central star of planetary nebula is required to shape the
nebula and even for a planetary nebula to be formed at all. A way to test this
hypothesis is to estimate the binary fraction of central stars of planetary
nebulae and to compare it with that of the main sequence population.
Preliminary results from photometric variability and the infrared excess
techniques indicate that the binary fraction of central stars of planetary
nebulae is higher than that of the main sequence, implying that PNe could
preferentially form via a binary channel. This article briefly reviews these
results and current studies aiming to refine the binary fraction.Comment: EUROWD12 Proceeding
Planetary nebulae : getting closer to an unbiased binary fraction
Why 80% of planetary nebulae are not spherical is not yet understood. The
Binary Hypothesis states that a companion to the progenitor of the central star
of a planetary nebula is required to shape the nebula and even for a planetary
nebula to be formed at all. A way to test this hypothesis is to estimate the
binary fraction of central stars of planetary nebula and to compare it with the
main sequence population. Preliminary results from photometric variability and
infrared excess techniques indicate that the binary fraction of central stars
of planetary nebulae is higher than that of the putative main sequence
progenitor population, implying that PNe could be preferentially formed via a
binary channel. This article briefly reviews these results and future studies
aiming to refine the binary fraction.Comment: SF2A 2012 proceeding
Dynamical Masses for the Large Magellanic Cloud Massive Binary System [L72] LH 54-425
We present results from an optical spectroscopic investigation of the massive
binary system [L72] LH~54-425 in the LH 54 OB association in the Large
Magellanic Cloud. We revise the ephemeris of [L72] LH 54-425 and find an
orbital period of 2.247409 +/- 0.000010 days. We find spectral types of O3 V
for the primary and O5 V for the secondary. We made a combined solution of the
radial velocities and previously published V-band photometry to determine the
inclination for two system configurations, i = 52 degrees for the configuration
of the secondary star being more tidally distorted and i = 55 degrees for the
primary as the more tidally distorted star. We argue that the latter case is
more probable, and this solution yields masses and radii of M_1 = 47 +/- 2
M_Sun and R_1 = 11.4 +/- 0.1 R_Sun for the primary, and M_2 = 28 +/- 1 M_Sun
and R_2 = 8.1 +/- 0.1 R_Sun for the secondary. Our analysis places LH 54-425
amongst the most massive stars known. Based on the position of the two stars
plotted on a theoretical HR diagram, we find the age of the system to be about
1.5 Myr.Comment: 21 pages, 6 figures. Accepted in ApJ. To appear vol. 683, Aug. 10t
Fast optical variability of SS 433
We study the optical variability of the peculiar Galactic source SS 433 using
the observations made with the Russian Turkish 1.5-m telescope (RTT150). A
simple technique which allows to obtain high-quality photometric measurements
with 0.3-1 s time resolution using ordinary CCD is described in detail. Using
the test observations of nonvariable stars, we show that the atmospheric
turbulence introduces no significant distortions into the measured light
curves. Therefore, the data obtained in this way are well suited for studying
the aperiodic variability of various objects.
The large amount of SS 433 optical light curve measurements obtained in this
way allowed us to obtain the power spectra of its flux variability with a
record sensitivity up to frequencies of ~0.5 Hz and to detect its break at
frequency =~2.4e-3 Hz. We suggest that this break in the power spectrum results
from the smoothing of the optical flux variability due to a finite size of the
emitting region. Based on our measurement of the break frequency in the power
spectrum, we estimated the size of the accretion-disk photosphere as 2e12 cm.
We show that the amplitude of the variability in SS 433 decreases sharply
during accretion-disk eclipses, but it does not disappear completely. This
suggests that the size of the variable optical emission source is comparable to
that of the normal star whose size is therefore R_O \approx 2e12 cm \approx 30
R_sun. The decrease in flux variability amplitude during eclipses suggests the
presence of a nonvariable optical emission component with a magnitude
m_R=~13.2.Comment: 12 pages, 11 figures. Accepted for publication in Astronomy Letters.
The original version in Russian is available at
http://hea.iki.rssi.ru/rtt150/ru/ss433_pazh10/pss433_fast.pd
First Results from the CHARA Array. II. A Description of the Instrument
The CHARA Array is a six 1-m telescope optical/IR interferometric array
located on Mount Wilson California, designed and built by the Center for High
Angular Resolution Astronomy of Georgia State University. In this paper we
describe the main elements of the Array hardware and software control systems
as well as the data reduction methods currently being used. Our plans for
upgrades in the near future are also described
The Ultraviolet Spectrum and Physical Properties of the Mass Donor Star in HD 226868 = Cygnus X-1
We present an examination of high resolution, ultraviolet spectroscopy from
Hubble Space Telescope of the photospheric spectrum of the O-supergiant in the
massive X-ray binary HD 226868 = Cyg X-1. We analyzed this and ground-based
optical spectra to determine the effective temperature and gravity of the O9.7
Iab supergiant. Using non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (non-LTE), line
blanketed, plane parallel models from the TLUSTY grid, we obtain T_eff = 28.0
+/- 2.5kK and log g > 3.00 +/- 0.25, both lower than in previous studies. The
optical spectrum is best fit with models that have enriched He and N
abundances. We fit the model spectral energy distribution for this temperature
and gravity to the UV, optical, and IR fluxes to determine the angular size of
and extinction towards the binary. The angular size then yields relations for
the stellar radius and luminosity as a function of distance. By assuming that
the supergiant rotates synchronously with the orbit, we can use the radius -
distance relation to find mass estimates for both the supergiant and black hole
as a function of the distance and the ratio of stellar to Roche radius. Fits of
the orbital light curve yield an additional constraint that limits the
solutions in the mass plane. Our results indicate masses of 23^{+8}_{-6} M_sun
for the supergiant and 11^{+5}_{-3} M_sun for the black hole.Comment: ApJ in pres
Identification of the Mass Donor Star's Spectrum in SS 433
We present spectroscopy of the microquasar SS 433 obtained near primary
eclipse and disk precessional phase Psi = 0.0, when the accretion disk is
expected to be most ``face-on''. The likelihood of observing the spectrum of
the mass donor is maximized at this combination of orbital and precessional
phases since the donor is in the foreground and above the extended disk
believed to be present in the system. The spectra were obtained over four
different runs centered on these special phases. The blue spectra show clear
evidence of absorption features consistent with a classification of A3-7 I. The
behavior of the observed lines indicates an origin in the mass donor. The
observed radial velocity variations are in anti-phase to the disk, the
absorption lines strengthen at mid-eclipse when the donor star is expected to
contribute its maximum percentage of the total flux, and the line widths are
consistent with lines created in an A supergiant photosphere. We discuss and
cast doubt on the possibility that these lines represent a shell spectrum
rather than the mass donor itself. We re-evaluate the mass ratio of the system
and derive masses of 10.9 +/- 3.1 Msun and 2.9 +/- 0.7 Msun for the mass donor
and compact object plus disk, respectively. We suggest that the compact object
is a low mass black hole.
In addition, we review the behavior of the observed emission lines from both
the disk/wind and high velocity jets.Comment: submitted to ApJ, 24 pages, 7 figure
OBSERVATIONAL CONFIRMATION OF A LINK BETWEEN COMMON ENVELOPE BINARY INTERACTION AND PLANETARY NEBULA SHAPING
Search for VHE gamma rays from SS433/W50 with the CANGAROO-II telescope
SS433, located at the center of the supernova remnant W50, is a close
proximity binary system consisting of a compact star and a normal star. Jets of
material are directed outwards from the vicinity of the compact star
symmetrically to the east and west. Non-thermal hard X-ray emission is detected
from lobes lying on both sides. Shock accelerated electrons are expected to
generate sub-TeV gamma rays through the inverse-Compton process in the lobes.
Observations of the western X-ray lobe region of SS433/W50 system have been
performed to detect sub-TeV gamma-rays using the 10m CANGAROO-II telescope in
August and September, 2001, and July and September, 2002. The total observation
times are 85.2 hours for ON source, and 80.8 hours for OFF source data. No
significant excess of sub-TeV gamma rays has been found at 3 regions of the
western X-ray lobe of SS433/W50 system. We have derived 99% confidence level
upper limits to the fluxes of gamma rays and have set constraints on the
strengths of the magnetic fields assuming the synchrotron/inverse-Compton model
for the wide energy range of photon spectrum from radio to TeV. The derived
lower limits are 4.3 microgauss for the center of the brightest X-ray emission
region and 6.3 microgauss for the far end from SS433 in the western X-ray lobe.
In addition, we suggest that the spot-like X-ray emission may provide a major
contribution to the hardest X-ray spectrum in the lobe.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figures, to be published in Astroparticle Physic
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