78 research outputs found
Single and Composite Hot Subdwarf Stars in the Light of 2MASS Photometry
Utilizing the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) Second Incremental Data
Release Catalog, we have retrieved near-IR magnitudes for several hundred hot
subdwarfs (sdO and sdB stars) drawn from the "Catalogue of Spectroscopically
Identified Hot Subdwarfs" (Kilkenny, Heber, & Drilling 1988, 1992). This sample
size greatly exceeds that of previous studies of hot subdwarfs. Examining 2MASS
photometry alone or in combination with visual photometry (Johnson BV or
Stromgren uvby) available in the literature, we show that it is possible to
identify hot subdwarf stars that exhibit atypically red IR colors that can be
attributed to the presence of an unresolved late type companion. Utilizing this
large sample, we attempt for the first time to define an approximately volume
limited sample of hot subdwarfs. We discuss the considerations, biases, and
difficulties in defining such a sample.
We find that, of the hot subdwarfs in Kilkenny et al., about 40% in a
magnitude limited sample have colors that are consistent with the presence of
an unresolved late type companion. Binary stars are over-represented in a
magnitude limited sample. In an approximately volume limited sample the
fraction of composite-color binaries is about 30%.Comment: to appear in Sept 2003 AJ, 41 pages total, 12 figures, 2 tables are
truncated (full tables to appear in electronic journal or available by
request
A Search for Jovian Planets around Hot White Dwarfs
Current searches for extrasolar planets have concentrated on observing the
reflex Doppler shift of solar-type stars. Little is known, however, about
planetary systems around non-solar-type stars. We suggest a new method to
extend planetary searches to hot white dwarfs. Near a hot white dwarf, the
atmosphere of a Jovian planet will be photoionized and emit hydrogen
recombination lines, which may be detected by high- dispersion spectroscopic
observations. Multi-epoch monitoring can be used to distinguish between non-LTE
stellar emission and planetary emission, and to establish the orbital
parameters of the detected planets. In the future, high-precision astrometric
measurements of the hot white dwarf will allow the masses of the detected
planets to be determined. Searches for Jovian planets around hot white dwarfs
will provide invaluable new insight on the development of planetary systems
around stars more massive than the Sun and on how stellar evolution affects
these systems. We present high-dispersion spectroscopic observations of the
white dwarf Feige 34 to demonstrate the complexity and feasibility of the
search method.Comment: 10 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in the ApJ Letter
Stellar evolution with mass loss - comparison of numerical and semi-analytical computations.
We present here results of stellar evolution calculations that include the
latest advances in radiative opacities and neutrino cooling, and discuss on the
basis of these models how the internal stellar structure responds to mass-loss
from the stellar surface. This problem has particular importance for the
development of semi-analytical algorithms for effi cient calculation of
synthetic stellar populations with realistic (and hence complex) mass-loss
scenarios. We therefore compare our numerical results with test calculations
based on a semi-analytical stellar evolution method developed by us. Although
small, but important, differences between results from the two methods are
revealed, the evolutionary tracks in the HR-diagram predicted by the two
approaches are almost identical.Comment: uuencoded Postscript, 4 pages
Seasonal characteristics of the relationship between daily precipitation intensity and surface temperature
Past studies have argued that the intensity of extreme precipitation events should increase exponentially with temperature. This argument is based on the principle that the atmospheric moisture holding capacity increases according to the Clausius-Clapeyron equation and on the expectation that precipitation formation should follow accordingly. We test the latter assumption by investigating to what extent a relation with temperature can be observed intraseasonally in present-day climate. For this purpose, we use observed and simulated daily surface temperature and precipitation over Europe. In winter a general increase in precipitation intensity is indeed observed, while in summer we find a decrease in precipitation intensity with increasing temperature. We interpret these findings by making use of model results where we can distinguish separate precipitation types and investigate the moisture content in the atmosphere. In winter, the Clausius-Clapeyron relationship sets a limit to the increase in the large-scale precipitation with increasing temperature. Conversely, in summer the availability of moisture, and not the atmosphere's capacity to hold this moisture, is the dominant factor at the daily timescale. For convective precipitation, we find a peak like structure which is similar for all subregions, independent of the mean temperature, contrary to large-scale precipitation which has a more monotonic dependence on temperature
Detection of a multi-shell planetary nebula around the hot subdwarf O-type star 2MASS J19310888+4324577
(Abridged) The origin of hot subdwarf O-type stars (sdOs) remains unclear
since their discovery in 1947. Among others, a post-Asymptotic Giant Branch
(post-AGB) origin is possible for a fraction of sdOs. We are involved in a
comprehensive ongoing study to search for and to analyze planetary nebulae
(PNe) around sdOs with the aim of establishing the fraction and properties of
sdOs with a post-AGB origin. We use deep Halpha and [OIII] images of sdOs to
detect nebular emission and intermediate resolution, long-slit optical
spectroscopy of the detected nebulae and their sdO central stars. These data
are complemented with other observations for further analysis of the detected
nebulae. We report the detection of an extremely faint, complex PN around 2MASS
J19310888+4324577 (2M1931+4324), a star classified as sdO in a binary system.
The PN shows a bipolar and an elliptical shell, whose major axes are oriented
perpendicular to each other, and high-excitation structures outside the two
shells. WISE archive images show faint, extended emission at 12 and 22 microns
in the inner nebular regions. The internal nebular kinematics is consistent
with a bipolar and a cylindrical/ellipsoidal shell, in both cases with the main
axis mainly perpendicular to the line of sight. The nebular spectrum only
exhibits Halpha, Hbeta and [OIII]4959,5007 emission lines, but suggests a very
low-excitation ([OIII]/Hbeta = 1.5), in strong contrast with the absence of
low-excitation emission lines. The spectrum of 2M1931+4324 presents narrow,
ionized helium absorptions that confirm the previous sdO classification and
suggest an effective temperature >= 60000 K. The binary nature of 2M1931+4324,
its association with a complex PN, and several properties of the system provide
strong support for the idea that binary central stars are a crucial ingredient
in the formation of complex PNe.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, accepted in Astronomy and Astrophysic
A search for kilogauss magnetic fields in white dwarfs and hot subdwarf stars
We present new results of a survey for weak magnetic fields among DA white
dwarfs with inclusion of some brighter hot subdwarf stars. We have detected
variable circular polarization in the Halpha line of the hot subdwarf star
Feige 34 (SP: sdO). From these data, we estimate that the longitudinal magnetic
field of this star varies from -1.1 +/- 3.2 kG to +9.6 +/- 2.6 kG, with a mean
of about +5 kG and a period longer than 2 h. In this study, we also confirm the
magnetic nature of white dwarf WD1105-048 and present upper limits of kilogauss
longitudinal magnetic fields of 5 brightest DA white dwarfs. Our data support
recent finding that 25% of white dwarfs have kilogauss magnetic fields. This
frequency also confirms results of early estimates obtained using the magnetic
field function of white dwarfs.Comment: accepted for publication in the Astrphysical Journa
Photometry of a Galactic field at l = 232, b = -6. The old open cluster Auner 1, the Norma-Cygnus spiral arm and the signature of the warped Galactic Thick Disk
We perform a detailed photometric study of the stellar populations in a
Galactic Field at l = 232, b = -6 in the Canis Major (CMa) constellation. We
present the first U,B,V,I photometry of the old open cluster Auner1 and
determine it to be 3.25 Gyr old and to lie at 8.9 kpc from the Sun. In the
background of the cluster, at more than 9 kpc, we detect a young population
most probably associated to the Norma Cygnus spiral arm. Furthermore, we detect
the signature of an older population and identify its Turn Off and Red Giant
Branch. This population is found to have a mean age of 7 Gyrs and a mean
metallicity of Z = 0.006 . We reconstruct the geometry of the stellar
distribution and argue that this older population - often associated to the
Canis Major {\it galaxy}- belongs in fact to the warped old thin/thick disk
component along this line of sight.Comment: 19 pages, 7 eps figures (some degraded), accepted for publication in
the Astronomical Journa
The masses of the millisecond pulsar J1012+5307 and its white-dwarf companion
We report on spectroscopy of the white-dwarf companion of the millisecond
radio pulsar PSR J1012+5307. We find strong Balmer absorption lines, as would
be expected for a cool DA white dwarf. The profiles are much narrower than
usual, however, and lines are seen up to H12, indicating that the companion has
a low gravity and hence a low mass. This is consistent with the
expectation---based on evolutionary considerations and on the mass
function---that it is a low-mass white dwarf with a helium core. By comparing
the spectra to model atmospheres, we derive an effective temperature
K and a surface gravity (cgs
units). Using the Hamada-Salpeter mass-radius relation for helium white dwarfs,
with an approximate correction for finite-temperature effects, we infer a mass
\mwd=0.16\pm0.02\,\msun. This is the lowest mass among all spectroscopically
identified white dwarfs. We determine radial velocities from our spectra, and
find a radial-velocity amplitude of 280\pm15\,\kms. With the pulsar's
radial-velocity amplitude, the mass ratio \mpsr/\mwd=13.3\pm0.7. From all
constraints, we find that with 95\% confidence 1.5<\mpsr/\msun<3.2.Comment: 6 pages of text and figures. Refereed version, resubmitted to ApJL.
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