178 research outputs found
Interpretation of the variability of the <i>β</i> Cephei star <i>λ</i> Scorpii. I. The multiple character
We derive accurate values of the orbital parameters of the close binary β Cephei star λ Scorpii. Moreover, we present the first determination of the properties of the triple system to which λ Scorpii belongs. Our analysis is based on a time series of 815 high-resolution spectra, covering a timespan of 14 years. We find a close orbit of 5d.9525days (e=0.26) and a wide orbit of approximately 1082d days (e=0.23). The orbital parameters of the triple star and a spectrum synthesis lead us to conclude that the system is composed of two early-type B stars and a low-mass pre-main-sequence star rather than containing an ultra-massive white dwarf as claimed before. Our proposed configuration is compatible with population synthesis. The radial velocity variations of the primary allow us to confirm the presence of at least one pulsation mode with frequency 4.679410 c d-1 which is subject to the light-time effect in the triple system. A detailed analysis of the complex line-profile variations is described in a subsequent paper
New ground-based observational methods and instrumentation for asteroseismology
Space instrumentation like SOHO, MOST, CoRoT and Kepler has been and is being
built to attain very high precision data to be used for asteroseismic analysis.
Nonetheless, there is a very strong need for providing additional information,
especially on mode identification. With this contribution I will review the
efforts been put on new ground-based instrumentation and the methodology that
can be used to achieve this aim.Comment: 6 pages. Review contribution to be published in Astrophysics and
Space Science Proceedings series (ASSP), in the proceedings of "20th Stellar
Pulsation Conference Series: Impact of new instrumentation and new insights
in stellar pulsations", 5-9 September 2011, Granada, Spai
Orbital parameters, masses and distance to Beta Centauri determined with the Sydney University Stellar Interferometer and high resolution spectroscopy
The bright southern binary star beta Centauri (HR 5267) has been observed
with the Sydney University Stellar Interferometer (SUSI) and spectroscopically
with the ESO CAT and Swiss Euler telescopes at La Silla. The interferometric
observations have confirmed the binary nature of the primary component and have
enabled the determination of the orbital parameters of the system. At the
observing wavelength of 442 nm the two components of the binary system have a
magnitude difference of 0.15. The combination of interferometric and
spectroscopic data gives the following results: orbital period 357 days,
semi-major axis 25.30 mas, inclination 67.4 degrees, eccentricity 0.821,
distance 102.3 pc, primary and secondary masses M1 = M2 = 9.1 solar masses and
absolute visual magnitudes of the primary and secondary M1V = -3.85 and M2V =
-3.70. The high accuracy of the results offers a fruitful starting point for
future asteroseismic modelling of the pulsating binary components.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRA
KIC 4768731: a bright long-period roAp star in theKeplerfield
We report the identification of 61.45 d−1 (711.2 μHz) oscillations, with amplitudes of 62.6 μmag, in KIC 4768731 (HD 225914) using Kepler photometry. This relatively bright (V = 9.17) chemically peculiar star with spectral type A5 Vp SrCr(Eu) has previously been found to exhibit rotational modulation with a period of 5.21 d. Fourier analysis reveals a simple dipole pulsator with an amplitude that has remained stable over a 4-yr time span, but with a frequency that is variable. Analysis of high-resolution spectra yields stellar parameters of Teff = 8100 ± 200 K, log g = 4.0 ± 0.2, [Fe/H] = +0.31 ± 0.24 and v sin i = 14.8 ± 1.6 km s−1.
Line profile variations caused by rotation are also evident. Lines of Sr, Cr, Eu, Mg and Si are strongest when the star is brightest, while Y and Ba vary in antiphase with the other elements. The abundances of rare earth elements are only modestly enhanced compared to other roAp stars of similar Teff and log g. Radial velocities in the literature suggest a significant change over the past 30 yr, but the radial velocities presented here show no significant change over a period of 4 yr
Orbital elements, masses and distance of lambda Scorpii A and B determined with the Sydney University Stellar Interferometer and high resolution spectroscopy
The triple system HD158926 (lambda Sco) has been observed interferometrically
with the Sydney University Stellar Interferometer and the elements of the wide
orbit have been determined. These are significantly more accurate than the
previous elements found spectroscopically. The inclination of the wide orbit is
consistent with the inclination previously found for the orbit of the close
companion. The wide orbit also has low eccentricity, suggesting that the three
stars were formed at the same time.
The brightness ratio between the two B stars was also measured at lambda =
442nm and 700nm. The brightness ratio and colour index are consistent with the
previous classification of lambda Sco A as B1.5 and lambda Sco B as B2.
Evolutionary models show that the two stars lie on the main sequence. Since
they have have the same age and luminosity class (IV) the mass-luminosity
relation can be used to determine the mass ratio of the two stars: M_B/M_A =
0.76+/-0.04.
The spectroscopic data have been reanalyzed using the interferometric values
for P, T, e and omega, leading to revised values for a_1sin i and the mass
function. The individual masses can be found from the mass ratio, the mass
function, spectrum synthesis and the requirement that the age of both
components must be the same: M_A = 10.4+/-1.3 Msun and M_B = 8.1+/-1.0 Msun.
The masses, angular semimajor axis and the period of the system can be used
to determine the dynamical parallax. We find the distance to lambda Sco to be
112+/-5 pc, which is approximately a factor of two closer than the HIPPARCOS
value of 216+/-42 pc.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures. Accepted for publication by Monthly Notices of
the Royal Astronomical Societ
Lamost observations in the kepler field. I. Database of low-resolution spectra*
The nearly continuous light curves with micromagnitude precision provided by the space mission Kepler are revolutionizing our view of pulsating stars. They have revealed a vast sea of low-amplitude pulsation modes that were undetectable from Earth. The long time base of Kepler light curves allows for the accurate determination of the frequencies and amplitudes of pulsation modes needed for in-depth asteroseismic modeling. However, for an asteroseismic study to be successful, the first estimates of stellar parameters need to be known and they cannot be derived from the Kepler photometry itself. The Kepler Input Catalog provides values for the effective temperature, surface gravity, and metallicity, but not always with sufficient accuracy. Moreover, information on the chemical composition and rotation rate is lacking. We are collecting low-resolution spectra for objects in the Kepler field of view with the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST, Xinglong observatory, China). All of the requested fields have now been observed at least once. In this paper, we describe those observations and provide a useful database for the whole astronomical communit
Spectroscopic survey of Kepler stars. I. HERMES/Mercator observations of A- and F-type stars
The Kepler space mission provided near-continuous and high-precision photometry of about 207 000 stars, which can be used for asteroseismology. However, for successful seismic modeling it is equally important to have accurate stellar physical parameters. Therefore, supplementary ground-based data are needed. We report the results of the analysis of high-resolution spectroscopic data of A- and F-type stars from the Kepler field, which were obtained with the HERMES spectrograph on the Mercator telescope. We determined spectral types, atmospheric parameters and chemical abundances for a sample of 117 stars. Hydrogen Balmer, Fe i, and Fe ii lines were used to derive effective temperatures, surface gravities, and microturbulent velocities. We determined chemical abundances and projected rotational velocities using a spectrum synthesis technique. The atmospheric parameters obtained were compared with those from the Kepler Input Catalogue (KIC), confirming that the KIC effective temperatures are underestimated for A stars. Effective temperatures calculated by spectral energy distribution fitting are in good agreement with those determined from the spectral line analysis. The analysed sample comprises stars with approximately solar chemical abundances, as well as chemically peculiar stars of the Am, Ap, and λ Boo types. The distribution of the projected rotational velocity, vsin i, is typical for A and F stars and ranges from 8 to about 280 km s−1, with a mean of 134 km s−1
The 2003-4 multisite photometric campaign for the Beta Cephei and eclipsing star 16 (EN) Lacertae with an Appendix on 2 Andromedae, the variable comparison star
A multisite photometric campaign for the Beta Cephei and eclipsing variable
16 Lacertae is reported. 749 h of high-quality differential photoelectric
Stromgren, Johnson and Geneva time-series photometry were obtained with ten
telescopes during 185 nights. After removing the pulsation contribution, an
attempt was made to solve the resulting eclipse light curve by means of the
computer program EBOP. Although a unique solution was not obtained, the range
of solutions could be constrained by comparing computed positions of the
secondary component in the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram with evolutionary
tracks.
For three high-amplitude pulsation modes, the uvy and the Geneva UBG
amplitude ratios are derived and compared with the theoretical ones for
spherical-harmonic degrees l <= 4. The highest degree, l = 4, is shown to be
incompatible with the observations. One mode is found to be radial, one is l =
1, while in the remaining case l = 2 or 3.
The present multisite observations are combined with the archival photometry
in order to investigate the long-term variation of the amplitudes and phases of
the three high-amplitude pulsation modes. The radial mode shows a
non-sinusoidal variation on a time-scale of 73 yr. The l = 1 mode is a triplet
with unequal frequency spacing, giving rise to two beat-periods, 720.7 d and
29.1 yr. The amplitude and phase of the l = 2 or 3 mode vary on time-scales of
380.5 d and 43 yr.
The light variation of 2 And, one of the comparison stars, is discussed in
the Appendix.Comment: 18 pages, 19 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA
Spectrum Analysis of Bright Kepler Gamma Doradus Candidate Stars
Ground-based spectroscopic follow-up observations of the pulsating stars
observed by the Kepler satellite mission are needed for their asteroseismic
modelling. We aim to derive the fundamental parameters for a sample of 26 Gamma
Doradus candidate stars observed by the Kepler satellite mission to accomplish
one of the required preconditions for their asteroseismic modelling and to
compare our results with the types of pulsators expected from the existing
light curve analysis. We use the spectrum synthesis method to derive the
fundamental parameters like Teff, logg, [M/H], and vsini from newly obtained
spectra and compute the spectral energy distribution from literature photometry
to get an independent measure of Teff. We find that most of the derived Teff
values agree with the values given in the Kepler Input Catalogue. According to
their positions in the HR-diagram three stars are expected Gamma Dor stars, ten
stars are expected Delta Sct stars, and seven stars are possibly Delta Sct
stars at the hot border of the instability strip. Four stars in our sample are
found to be spectroscopic binary candidates and four stars have very low
metallicity where two show about solar C abundance. Six of the 10 stars located
in the Delta Sct instability region of the HR-diagram show both Delta Sct and
Gamma Dor-type oscillations in their light curves implying that Gamma Dor-like
oscillations are much more common among the Delta Sct stars than predicted by
theory. Moreover, seven stars showing periods in the Delta Sct and the Delta
Sct-Gamma Dor range in their light curves are located in the HR-diagram left of
the blue edge of the theoretical Delta Sct instability strip. The consistency
of these findings with recent investigations based on high-quality Kepler data
implies the need for a revision of the theoretical Gamma Dor and Delta Sct
instability strips.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, 7 tables; accepted for publication in MNRA
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