Photometric and polarimetric studies of three W UMa-type binaries: FZ Ori,V407 Peg and LP UMa

We present analyses of new optical photometric observations of three W UMa-type contact binaries FZ Ori, V407 Peg and LP UMa. Results from the first polarimetric observations of the FZ Ori and V407 Peg are also presented. The periods of FZ Ori, V407 Peg and LP UMa are derived to be 0.399986, 0.636884 and 0.309898 d, respectively. The O?C analyses indicate that the orbital periods of FZ Ori and LP UMa have increased with the rate of 2.28×10^?8 and 1.25×10^?6 d?yr^?1, respectively and which is explained by transfer of mass between the components. In addition to the secularly increasing rate of orbital period, it was found that the period of FZ Ori has varied in sinusoidal way with oscillation period of ～30.1 yr. The period of oscillations are most likely to be explained by the light-time effect due to the presence of a tertiary companion. Small asymmetries have been seen around the primary and secondary maxima of light curves of all three systems, which is probably due to the presence of cool/hot spots on the components. The light curves of all three systems are analysed by using Wilson-Devinney code (WD) and the fundamental parameters of these systems have been derived. The present analyses show that FZ Ori is a W-subtype, and V407 Peg and LP UMa are A-subtype of the W UMa-type contact binary systems. The polarimetric observations in B, V, R and I bands, yield average values of polarization to be 0.26±0.03, 0.22±0.02, 0.22±0.03 and 0.22±0.05 per cent for FZ Ori and 0.21±0.02, 0.29±0.03, 0.31±0.01 and 0.31±0.04 per cent for V407 Peg, respectively.     

A re-analysis of the eclipsing binary system VV Orionis

The observations of VV Ori inUBV and inuvby obtained by Chambliss in 1975–79 have been re-analyzed with the use of an updated version of the WINK program of Wood. Several solutions were obtained using the normal points (ca. 80 per light curve). These establish fairly reliable values for the linear limb-darkening coefficient of VV Ori A and approximate values for the luminosity of the third component of this system. Attempts to determine non-linear coefficients of limb darkening for the primary component, however, proved to be unsuccessful. Solutions were also obtained using all observations (ca. 620 per light curve). Very close agreement was found between the values of the geometric elements determined from these solutions and those determined by use of the normal points only. The solutions based on all observations produced reliable values foru ₁, the limb darkening coefficient of VV Ori A, (typically, 0.30±-0.04). These results are in good agreement with theoretical limb darkening coefficients derived from model atmospheres calculations. The contribution of VV Ori C to the light of the system was also ascertained, and it was found that this could be best interpreted, if this component has a spectral type of A3V. The other orbital elements of VV Ori were also discussed, and the differences between the various solutions were noted. Since VV Ori A is one of the very few early-type stars for which reliable limb-darkening coefficients can be empirically determined, this system is viewed as being of considerable importance.     

Observations of the Orion Nebula in Hα, [NII] and Hβ lines

Monochromatic photographs of the Orion Nebula taken through narrow bandpass interference filters (Δλ=10 Å) centred on Hα, Hβ and [NII] lines are presented. Ratio contours of Hα/[NII] and Hα/Hβ are derived. They enable a detailed study of the point-to-point variation in ionization structure and temperature throughout the nebula. Dust located within the ionized gas is studied from the Hα/Hβ ratio which varies from point to point over the nebula. Its strongest concentration, apart in the obvious ‘dark bay’, occurs in a shell surrounding the exciting stars, with about 2′ of diameter. Close to Θ¹ Ori the Hα/Hβ ratio, corrected for interstellar reddening, is about 3.0 in good agreement with the predicted value (Brocklehurst, 1971). To account for these measures, the following arguments are proposed:

1. Dust grains are completely or partially destroyed in region close to the exciting stars.
2. Radiation pressure and stellar wind push the remaining dust up to some equilibrium distance outwards. The consequence of this action is obviously the formation of a ‘dust mantle’ which is seen as a ring in projection.

     

GMRT and VLA observations at 49 cm and 20 cm of the HII region near <Emphasis Type="Italic">l</Emphasis> = 24.8°, <Emphasis Type="Italic">b</Emphasis> = 0.1°

We report multi-frequency radio continuum and hydrogen radio recombination line observations of HII regions near l = 24.8°, b = 0.1° using the Giant Metrewave Radio Telescope (GMRT) at 1.28 GHz (n = 172), 0.61 GHz (n = 220) and the Very Large Array (VLA) at 1.42 GHz (n = 166). The region consists of a large number of resolved HII regions and a few compact HII regions as seen in our continuum maps, many of which have associated infrared (IR) point sources. The largest HII region at l = 24.83° and b = 0.1° is a few arcmins in size and has a shell-type morphology. It is a massive HII region enclosing ∼550 M_⊙ with a linear size of 7 pc and an rms electron density of ∼110 cm⁻³ at a kinematic distance of 6 kpc. The required ionization can be provided by a single star of spectral type O5.5. We also report detection of hydrogen recombination lines from the HII region at l = 24.83° and b = 0.1° at all observed frequencies near V _lsr = 100 km s⁻¹. We model the observed integrated line flux density as arising in the diffuse HII region and find that the best fitting model has an electron density comparable to that derived from the continuum. We also report detection of hydrogen recombination lines from two other HII regions in the field.     

High resolution radio recombination line observations

Summary Over the last decade sensitive observations of radio recombination line emission using high angular resolution synthesis telescopes have become available. As a result it has now become possible to image the physical parameters deduced from radio recombination lines across individual sources. In the case of HII regions this work has resulted in detailed images of radial velocities, electron temperatures and the abundance of singly ionized helium (Y⁺). Direct observational evidence has been found for pressure broadening and non-LTE effects. Dramatic variations have been found in the ratio of He⁺ to H⁺, from as low as a few percent (the galactic centre) to as high 34% in one region of W3. Detailed images have been obtained of the partially ionized medium (CII and H regions) close to HII regions. Observations of recombination lines at very low frequencies have revealed the existence of very low density ionized gas in all directions in our galaxy. Higher resolution observations have led to a partial understanding of this medium. The first complete velocity field of the ionized gas in the centre of our galaxy has been obtained. Very recently the first images were made of extragalactic radio recombination lines, offering the possibility to study the kinematics of the ionized gas in the central few hundred parsecs of external galaxies.     

Formaldehyde and H110α observations towards 6.7 GHz methanol maser sources

Intriguing work on observations of 4.83 GHz formaldehyde (H₂CO) absorptions and 4.87 GHz H110α radio recombination lines (RRLs) towards 6.7 GHz methanol (CH₃OH) maser sources is presented. Methanol masers provide ideal sites to probe the earliest stages of massive star formation, while 4.8 GHz formaldehyde absorptions are accurate probes of physical conditions in dense (10³–10⁵ cm^?3) and low temperature molecular clouds towards massive star forming regions. The work is aimed at studying feature similarities between the formaldehyde absorptions and the methanol masers so as to expand knowledge of events and physical conditions in massive star forming regions. A total of 176 methanol maser sources were observed for formaldehyde absorptions, and formaldehyde absorptions were detected 138 of them. 53 of the formaldehyde absorptions were newly detected. We noted a poor correlation between the methanol and formaldehyde intensities, an indication that the signals (though arise from about the same regions) are enhanced by different mechanisms. Our results show higher detection rates of the formaldehyde lines for sources with stronger methanol signals. The strongest formaldehyde absorptions were associated with IRAS sources and IRDCs that have developed HII regions, and that do not have EGOs.     

The BM Ori System. II. Abundances of Helium and Iron in the Atmosphere of the Primary Star

The abundances of helium and iron in the atmosphere of the principal star of the BM Ori system are estimated. Spectra obtained with the BTA telescope and from the archives of the IUE and HST satellites are used. It turns out that the helium abundance is close to that in the sun, while that of iron is lower. The helium and iron abundances in other stars of the Trapezium of Orion are generally similar to those in BM Ori, but there are some differences. For example, of the two stars ¹ Ori C and ¹Ori D, one has a higher and the other a lower abundance of helium than does the sun. At the same time, the secondary of BM Ori has a normal abundance of iron.     

The local ISM in three dimensions: kinematics,morphology and physical properties

We summarize the results of our long-term program to study the kinematics, morphology, and physical properties of warm partially ionized interstellar gas located within 100 pc of the Sun. Using the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) and other spectrographs on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), we measure radial velocities of neutral and singly ionized atoms that identify comoving structures (clouds) of warm interstellar gas. We have identified 15 of these clouds located within 15 pc of the Sun. Each of them moves with a different velocity vector, and they have narrow ranges of temperature, turbulence, and metal depletions. We compute a three-dimensional model for the Local Interstellar Cloud (LIC), in which the Sun is likely embedded near its edge, and the locations and shapes of the other nearby clouds. These clouds are likely separated by ionized Strömgren sphere gas produced by ? CMa, Sirius B, and other hot white dwarfs. We propose that some of these partially ionized clouds are shells of the Strömgren spheres.     

Analysis of the Z distribution of young objects in the Galactic thin disk

We have obtained new estimates of the Sun’s distance from the symmetry plane Z _⊙ and the vertical disk scale height h using currently available data on stellar OB associations, Wolf–Rayet stars, HII regions, and Cepheids. Based on individual determinations, we have calculated the mean Z _⊙ = ?16 ± 2 pc. Based on the model of a self-gravitating isothermal disk for the density distribution, we have found the following vertical disk scale heights: h = 40.2 ± 2.1 pc from OB associations, h = 47.8 ± 3.9 pc from Wolf–Rayet stars, h = 48.4 ± 2.5 pc from HII regions, and h = 66.2 ± 1.6 pc from Cepheids. We have estimated the surface, Σ = 6 kpc^?2, and volume, D(Z _⊙) = 50.6 kpc^?3, densities from a sample of OB associations. We have found that there could be ～5000 OB associations in the Galaxy.     

Main sequence models for massive Zero-metal stars

Zero-age main-sequence models for stars of 20, 10, 5 and 2M _⊙ with no heavy elements are constructed for three different possible primordial helium abundances:Y=0.00,Y=0.23, andY=0.30. The latter two values ofY bracket the range of primordial helium abundances cited by Wagoner. With the exceptions of the two 20M _⊙ models that contain helium, these models are found to be self-consistent in the sense that the formation of carbon through the triple-alpha process during pre-main sequence contraction is not sufficient to bring the CN cycle into competition with the proton-proton chain on the ZAMS. The zero-metal models of the present study have higher surface and central temperatures, higher central densities, smaller radii, and smaller convective cores than do the population I models with the same masses. If galaxies containing the zero-metal stars were formed as recently as one third the Hubble time, they would likely appear very blue today — perhaps bluer even that most known quasars — and their redshifted effective temperatures could range as high as 3×10⁴ K to 4×10⁴ K.     

The <Emphasis Type="Italic">z</Emphasis> distribution of hydrogen clouds and masers with kinematic distances

Data on HII regions, molecular clouds, and methanol masers have been used to estimate the Sun’s distance from the symmetry plane z _⊙ and the vertical disk scale height h. Kinematic distance estimates are available for all objects in these samples. The Local-arm (Orion-arm) objects are shown to affect noticeably the pattern of the z distribution. The deviations from the distribution symmetry are particularly pronounced for the sample of masers with measured trigonometric parallaxes, where the fraction of Local-arm masers is large. The situation with the sample of HII regions in the solar neighborhood is similar. We have concluded that it is better to exclude the Local arm from consideration. Based on the model of a self-gravitating isothermal disk, we have obtained the following estimates from objects located in the inner region of the Galaxy (R ≤ R ₀): z _⊙ = ?5.7 ± 0.5 pc and h ₂ = 24.1 ± 0.9 pc from the sample of 639 methanol masers, z _⊙ = ?7.6±0.4 pc and h ₂ = 28.6±0.5 pc from 878HII regions, z _⊙ = ?10.1 ± 0.5 pc and h ₂ = 28.2 ± 0.6 pc from 538 giant molecular clouds.     

Theoretical evolution of a hydrogen-helium star of 3M ⊙ from the pre-Main Sequence to the core helium-exhaustion phase

The evolution of a first-generation 3M star from the threshold of stability through the stage of helium exhaustion in the core has been studied. The total time elapsed is 4.174×10⁸ yr and most of this time is spent in the blue-giant region of theH-R diagram. Hydrogen-burning near the Main Sequence occurs at a high central temperature via the proton-proton chain until the triplealpha reactions generate a small amount of C¹² toward the end of the hydrogen-burning phase. The corresponding evolution time is longer than that of a normal population I star with the same mass. The ignition of the triple-alpha processes begins in a mildly degenerate, small convective core while the star still has a high surface temperature. Helium-burning in the core, coupled with hydrogenburning in the shell, occupies a period of about 1.8×10⁷ yr, which is only one-third that of a normal star. The mass of the star interior to the hydrogen shell source has increased to a value of 0.50M near the end of core helium exhaustion. This region maintains an inhomogenous composition composed of helium, carbon and oxygen.     

Analysis of HST ultraviolet spectra for T Tauri stars: DR Tau

We analyze the spectra of DR Tau in the wavelength range 1200 to 3100 Å obtained with the GHRS and STIS spectrographs from the Hubble Space Telescope. The profiles for the C IV 1550 and He II 1640 emission lines and for the absorption features of some lines indicate that matter falls to the star at a velocity ～300 km s^?1. At the same time, absorption features were detected in the blue wings of the N I, Mg I, Fe II, Mg II, C II, and Si II lines, suggesting mass outflow at a velocity up to 400 km s^?1. The C II, Si II, and Al II intercombination lines exhibit symmetric profiles whose peaks have the same radial velocity as the star. This is also true for the emission features of the Fe II and H₂ lines. We believe that stellar activity is attributable to disk accretion of circumstellar matter, with matter reaching the star mainly through the disk and the boundary layer. At the time of observations, the accretion luminosity was L_ac ? 2L_⊙ at an accretion rate ?10^?7M_⊙ yr^?1. Concurrently, a small (<10%) fraction of matter falls to the star along magnetospheric magnetic field lines from a height ～R_*. Within a region of size ?3.5R_*, the disk atmosphere has a thickness ～0.1R_* and a temperature ?1.5 × 10⁴ K. We assume that disk rotation in this region significantly differs from Keplerian rotation. The molecular hydrogen lines are formed in the disk at a distance <1.4 AU from the star. Accretion is accompanied by mass outflow from the accretion-disk surface. In a region of size <10R_*, the wind gas has a temperature ～7000 K, but at the same time, almost all iron is singly ionized by H I L _α photons from inner disk regions. Where the warm-wind velocity reaches ?400 km s^?1, the gas moves at an angle of no less than 30° to the disk plane. We found no evidence of regions with a temperature above 10⁴ K in the wind and leave open the question of whether there is outflow in the H₂ line formation region. According to our estimate, the star has the following set of parameters: M_* ? 0.9M_⊙, R_* ? 1.8R_⊙, L_* ? 0.9L_⊙, and \(A_V \simeq 0\mathop .\limits^m 9\). The inclination i of the disk axis to the line of sight cannot be very small; however, i≤60°.     

Is C/O enhanced in NGC 253?

We have mapped the nuclear region of the starburst galaxy NGC 253 in the³ P ₁ ³ P ₀ line of neutral carbon using the JCMT. Carbon is widespread across the nuclear region with a similiar distribution to CO as expected. Previous studies of Galactic star-forming regions showed that carbon emission is enhanced in photon-dominated regions (where UV photons impinge upon molecular clouds). Previous observations of other PDR tracers such as ionized carbon and FIR continuum constrain the physical conditions in the PDR gas of NGC 253. The carbon we have observed is far brighter than predicted by theoretical models of PDRs with solar elemental values. This indicates that carbon emission is not a reliable diagnostic of the physical conditions in the nuclear region of a galaxy undergoing a burst of star formation.     

Kinematic parameters of the galactic spiral pattern from data on open star clusters and OB stars

Data on the positions, radial velocities, and proper motions of open star clusters and OB stars are used to obtain the rotation curve of the Galaxy fitted by a polynomial in inverse powers of the distances from the Galactic rotation axis. We determine the locations of the corotation region and the inner and outer Lindblad resonances using a previously estimated pattern speed. Based on data for objects of the Carina-Sagittarius and Orion arms, we have determined the distortion amplitudes of the velocity field of the Galactic disk, ?_R = ?3.97±4.79 km s^?1 and f_θ=+13.27±2.57 km s^?1.     

Nova Monocerotis 2002 (V838 Mon) at early outburst stages

We obtained U BV R photometric and spectroscopic observations during the outburst of V838 Mon. Before its outburst, the B brightness of the star had been stable ( $\tilde15.^m 85$ ) for 45 years. This was a blue star with the color index $(B - V)_0 = - 0\mathop .\limits^m 03 \pm 0\mathop .\limits^m 1$ and may have been a cataclysmic variable. In the middle of March 2002, the outburst amplitude reached $8\mathop .\limits^m 1$ in B. The star has the counterpart V 1006/7 in M 31 in luminosity at maximum and in spectrum. The unusual spectrum at the premaximum stage originated in the expanding photosphere of a cool K-type giant. The expansion velocity of the photosphere was 150 km s^?1; the maximum velocity in the expanding stellar envelope reached 500 km s^?1. The absorption components of neutral metal lines were enhanced by a factor of 3 or 4 compared to a normal K-type star. No overabundance of s-process elements was found. One day before the brightness peak, an intense Hα emission line with broad wings, FWZI=3100 km s^?1, and numerous lines of ionized metals appeared in V838 Mon, which is characteristic of normal classical novae. We show light, color, and spectral variations of the object.     

Properties of Wolf-Rayet stars in eclipsing binary systems

The results of investigations of a number of eclipsing Wolf-Rayet binaries are presented. The ‘core’ radiuses, the ‘core’ temperatures and masses of WR stars in the eclipsing WR+OB binary systems V 444 Cyg, CX Cep, CQ Cep, and CV Ser are obtained (see Table I). The results obtained from the light curves analysis of the V 444 Cyg in the range λλ2460 Å-3.5μ give strong evidence for the Beals (1944) model of WR phenomenon. The chromospheric-coronal effects in the WN5 extended atmosphere are not observed up to a distance ofr?20R _⊙. In the Hertzsprung—Russell diagram all the WR stars lie on the left side from the main sequence between the main sequence and the sequence of uniform helium stars (see Figure 9). Their locations are close to those of the helium remnants formed as a result of mass exchange in massive close binary systems. The period variations in the systems V 444 Cyg and CQ Cep have been discovered and a reliable value of the mass loss rateM=10^?5 M _⊙yr^?1 is obtained, for the two WR stars. The results of the photometric and spectroscopic investigations of the WR stars with low mass companions (post X-ray binary stage?) are presented too (see Table II). The masses of the companions are (1–2)M _⊙, their optical luminosity is ～10³⁶, erg s^?1 which implies that these companions cannot be the normal stars. It is possible that these companions are neutron stars accreting from the stellar wind of the WR stars. Low values of the X-ray luminosities of such WR stars with low mass companions imply that the accretion of matter in such systems is distinct from the accretion process in classical X-ray binary systems. It is noted also that the parameters of low massive companions coupled with WR stars are close to those of helium stars.     

Alfvén waves in the solar atmosphere

We examine the propagation of Alfvén waves in the solar atmosphere. The principal theoretical virtues of this work are: (i) The full wave equation is solved without recourse to the small-wavelength eikonal approximation (ii) The background solar atmosphere is realistic, consisting of an HSRA/VAL representation of the photosphere and chromosphere, a 200 km thick transition region, a model for the upper transition region below a coronal hole (provided by R. Munro), and the Munro-Jackson model of a polar coronal hole. The principal results are:

1. If the wave source is taken to be near the top of the convection zone, where n _H = 5.2 × 10¹⁶ cm^?3, and if B _⊙ = 10.5 G, then the wave Poynting flux exhibits a series of strong resonant peaks at periods downwards from 1.6 hr. The resonant frequencies are in the ratios of the zeroes of J ₀, but depend on B _⊙, and on the density and scale height at the wave source. The longest period peaks may be the most important, because they are nearest to the supergranular periods and to the observed periods near 1 AU, and because they are the broadest in frequency.
2. The Poynting flux in the resonant peaks can be large enough, i.e. P _⊙ ≈ 10⁴–10⁵ erg cm^?2s^?1, to strongly affect the solar wind.
3. ¦δv¦ and ¦δB¦ also display resonant peaks.
4. In the chromosphere and low corona, ¦δv ≈ 7–25 kms^?1 and ¦δB¦ ≈0.3–1.0 G if P _⊙≈10⁴-10⁵ erg cm^?2s^?1.
5. The dependences of ¦δv¦ and ¦δB¦ on height are reduced by finite wavelength effects, except near the wave source where they are enhanced.
6. Near the base, ¦δB¦ ≈ 350–1200 G if P _⊙ ～- 10⁴–10⁵. This means that nonlinear effects may be important, and that some density and vertical velocity fluctuations may be associated with the Alfvén waves.
7. Below the low corona most wave energy is kinetic, except near the base where it becomes mostly magnetic at the resonances.
8. ?₀ < δv ² > v _A or < δB ² > v _A/4π are not good estimators of the energy flux.
9. The Alfvén wave pressure tensor will be important in the transition region only if the magnetic field diverges rapidly. But the Alfvén wave pressure can be important in the coronal hole.

     

The apsidal motion of V 380 Cygni

Measurements have been made with an electronographic image tube spectrograph of two helium and three hydrogen lines at twenty nine positions in the dense core of the Orion Nebula. Values for the helium abundance derived show that a large amount of the helium is neutral. This must be caused by large optical depth variations in the core near partially ionised globules (PIG's). The total abundance of helium is shown to be in the range $$0.0104< N(He)/N(H)< 0.132$$ .