1,578 research outputs found
Dynamical mass of the O-type supergiant in Zeta Orionis A
A close companion of Zeta Orionis A was found in 2000 with the Navy Precision
Optical Interferometer (NPOI), and shown to be a physical companion. Because
the primary is a supergiant of type O, for which dynamical mass measurements
are very rare, the companion was observed with NPOI over the full 7-year orbit.
Our aim was to determine the dynamical mass of a supergiant that, due to the
physical separation of more than 10 AU between the components, cannot have
undergone mass exchange with the companion. The interferometric observations
allow measuring the relative positions of the binary components and their
relative brightness. The data collected over the full orbital period allows all
seven orbital elements to be determined. In addition to the interferometric
observations, we analyzed archival spectra obtained at the Calar Alto, Haute
Provence, Cerro Armazones, and La Silla observatories, as well as new spectra
obtained at the VLT on Cerro Paranal. In the high-resolution spectra we
identified a few lines that can be associated exclusively to one or the other
component for the measurement of the radial velocities of both. The combination
of astrometry and spectroscopy then yields the stellar masses and the distance
to the binary star. The resulting masses for components Aa of 14.0 solar masses
and Ab of 7.4 solar masses are low compared to theoretical expectations, with a
distance of 294 pc which is smaller than a photometric distance estimate of 387
pc based on the spectral type B0III of the B component. If the latter (because
it is also consistent with the distance to the Orion OB1 association) is
adopted, the mass of the secondary component Ab of 14 solar masses would agree
with classifying a star of type B0.5IV. It is fainter than the primary by about
2.2 magnitudes in the visual. The primary mass is then determined to be 33
solar masses
Impact of ERP implementation on the quality of work life of users: A sub-Saharan African study
ERP implementations have a disruptive impact on users and in sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries are more problematic than in developed countries. Extant ERP literature has not focused on the impact of implementations on users work life. Therefore this research aimed to confirm this impact on SSA usersâ work life. A theoretical framework and survey was developed from Dooyeweerdâs âDown-To-Earthâ aspects and the Easton and Van Laar Work-Related Quality of Life scale. Responses from users from 7 countries working for one case organisation were analysed. The significant effect of an ERP implementation on work life quality was confirmed. Cultural differences were also confirmed. The factors mostly accounting for work life quality impact were skills development and an improvement in working conditions due to a reduction in corruption pressure. The framework and research instrument can be used by organisations to assess the impact of an ERP implementation on user work life quality
Kepler Observations of the Three Pre-Launch Exoplanet Candidates: Discover of Two Eclipsing Binaries and a New Exoplanet
Three transiting exoplanet candidate stars were discovered in a ground-based photometric survey prior to the launch of NASA's Kepler mission. Kepler observations of them were obtained during Quarter 1 of the Kepler mission. All three stars are faint by radial velocity follow-up standards, so we have examined these candidates with regard to eliminating false positives and providing high confidence exoplanet selection. We present a first attempt to exclude false positives for this set of faint stars without high-resolution radial velocity analysis. This method of exoplanet confirmation will form a large part of the Kepler mission follow-up for Jupiter-sized exoplanet candidates orbiting faint stars. Using the Kepler light curves and pixel data, as well as medium-resolution reconnaissance spectroscopy and speckle imaging, we find that two of our candidates are binary stars. One consists of a late-F star with an early M companion, while the other is a K0 star plus a late M-dwarf/brown dwarf in a 19 day elliptical orbit. The third candidate (BOKS-1) is an r = 15 G8V star hosting a newly discovered exoplanet with a radius of 1.12 R_(Jupiter) in a 3.9 day orbit
Palomar testbed interferometer status report
We discuss recent work from the Palomar Testbed Interferometer (PTI), including science results and system improvements. In the past two years PTI has been used to observe a wide range of scientifically interesting sources, including binaries, Cepheids and Miras. In addition PTI has been used to observe departures from spherical symmetry in several stars. Recent system improvements incude a new low read-noise camera based on a HAWAII infrared array, routine opteration in two baselines, and operation in the J band. Future developments include an upgrade to three-aperture combination and closure phase measurements, and double-Fourier interferometry
Measurement of the Surface Gravity of Boo
Direct angular size measurements of the G0IV subgiant Boo from the
Palomar Testbed Interferometer are presented, with limb-darkened angular size
of mas, which indicate a linear
radius of . A bolometric flux estimate of erg cms is computed, which indicates
an effective temperature of K and luminosity of for this object. Similar data are established for a check
star, HD 121860. The Boo results are compared to, and confirm, similar
parameters established by the {\it MOST} asteroseismology satellite. In
conjunction with the mass estimate from the {\it MOST} investigation, a surface
gravity of [cm s] is established for
Boo.Comment: To appear in March 1, 2007 ApJ v657 n
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