X-ray activity from different types of stars

X-ray emission is an important indicator of stellar activity. In this paper, we study stellar Xray activity using the XMM-Newton and LAMOST data for different types of stars. We provide a sample including 1259 X-ray-emitting stars, of which 1090 have accurate stellar parameter estimations. Our sample size is much larger than those used in previous works. We find a bimodal distribution of the X-ray to optical flux ratio(log(fX/fV)) for G and K stars. We interpret that this bimodality is due to two subpopulations with different coronal heating rates. Furthermore, using the full widths at half maxima calculated from Hα and Hβ lines, we show that these stars in the inactive peaks have smaller rotational velocities. This is consistent with the magnetic dynamo theory that presumes stars with low rotational velocities have low levels of stellar activity. We also examine the correlation between log(fX/fV) and luminosity of the excess emission in the Hα line, and find a tight relation between the coronal and chromospheric activity indicators.     

Chromospheric activity in several single late-type stars

New high-resolution echelle spectra of six single late-type Pleiades-like stars(V368 Cep, EP Eri, DX Leo, GJ 211, PW And and V383 Lac) were obtained with the 2.16 meter telescope at Xinglong Station in 2008–2010. Using the spectral subtraction technique, we analyzed our spectroscopic data and calculated the equivalent widths of excess emission from several indicators of chromospheric activity(Na I D1, D2, Hα and Ca II infrared triplet lines). All our results using chromospheric activity indicators confirmed the previous findings. In addition, the maximum amplitudes of chromospheric rotational modulation and the ratio of EW8542/EW8498 were found to rise with increasing v sin i velocity.     

Mid-infrared atmospheric transmittance at 5100 m-altitude Ali Observatory

Ali in Tibet, 5100 m above sea level, is one of the most suitable locations in the world for infrared spectral observations. The atmospheric transmittances at Ali Observatory and Mauna Kea Observatory were calculated by MODTRAN using radiosonde data. The results were 0.848 and 0.789 respectively which indicated better conditions at Ali Observatory. A self-made instrument with a 320×256-pixel HgCdTe infrared focal plane array and a 7.5-cm diameter telescope was utilized for the actual measurements. Without the help of standard stars, the on-site and real-time atmospheric transmittance can be obtained as 0.831 by fitting the relation between the measured atmospheric radiation intensity and the zenith angle based on radiation transfer equations. This paper firstly reports the atmospheric transmittance in the M'band(4.605–4.755 μm) at the 5100 m-altitude Ali observatory by actual measurement. It shows that the high-altitude Ali observatory with sufficiently low water vapor content is suitable for observation in the mid-infrared bands.     

Measurements of atmospheric turbulence parameters at Vainu Bappu Observatory using short-exposure CCD images

We report atmospheric turbulence parameters, namely atmospheric seeing, tilt-anisoplanatic angle(θ_0) and coherence time(Τ_0), measured under various sky conditions, at Vainu Bappu Observatory in Kavalur. Bursts of short exposure images of selected stars were recorded with a high-speed, frame-transfer CCD mounted on the Cassegrain focus of a newly commissioned 1.3 m telescope. The estimated median seeing is ≈ 1.85 " at wavelength of ～ 600 nm, the image motion correlation between different pairs of stars is ～44% for θ0≈ 36" and mean Τ_0 is ≈ 2.4 ms. This work was motivated by the design considerations and expected performance of an adaptive optics system that is currently being planned for the telescope.     

Be星ζTau的光谱研究

A long sequence of observations of ( Tau obtained using the grating spectrograph at the 60 / 90 cm Schmidt telescoope during 1978 Dec.-1990 Feb. and the All-Fiber-Coupler grating CCD spectrograph at the 216 cm telescope after 1990 at the Xing-long Station of Beijing Observatory is presented. The reciprocal linear dispersions of the spectra were 17 A/mm, 50 A/mm and 96 A/mm. In order to study spectroscopic behaviour in detail, we measure the radial velocities of the shell absorption lines and the equivalent width and V/ R ratio of the Hα emission line. The results show that:1. The variations of the radial velocity of the shell absorption lines appeared cycle in 1978-1985. First cycle ceased around 1982 but second one lasted shorter and the amplitude was less. During 1986-1990, the velocity values conspicuously diminished and the cyclic variation also disappeared. It is a pity that we locked the radial velocity material since 1990.2. The variations of the V / R ratio of Hα is in phase with the radial ve     

A catalog of early-type emission-line stars and Hα line profiles from LAMOST DR2

We present a catalog including 11 204 spectra of 10 436 early-type emission-line stars from LAMOST DR2, among which 9752 early-type emission-line spectra are newly discovered. For these earlytype emission-line stars, we discuss the morphological and physical properties of their low-resolution spectra. In this spectral sample, the Hα emission profiles display a wide variety of shapes. Based on the Hα line profiles, these spectra are categorized into five distinct classes: single-peak emission, single-peak emission in absorption, double-peak emission, double-peak emission in absorption, and P-Cygni profiles. To better understand what causes the Hα line profiles, we divide these objects into four types from the perspective of physical classification, which include classical Be stars, Herbig Ae/Be stars, close binaries and spectra contaminated by H II regions. The majority of Herbig Ae/Be stars and classical Be stars are identified and separated using a(H-K, K-W1) color-color diagram. We also discuss 31 binary systems that are listed in the SIMBAD on-line catalog and identify 3600 spectra contaminated by H II regions after cross-matching with positions in the Dubout-Crillon catalog. A statistical analysis of line profiles versus classifications is then conducted in order to understand the distribution of Hα profiles for each type in our sample. Finally, we also provide a table of 172 spectra with Fe II emission lines and roughly calculate stellar wind velocities for seven spectra with P-Cygni profiles.     

Hα profile variations in the spectrum of the supergiant HD14134

Variations of the Hα line in the spectra of the star HD14134 are investigated using observations carried out in 2013–2014 and in 2016 with the 2-m telescope at Shamakhy Astrophysical Observatory.In the spectra of this star,the absorption and emission components of Hα are found to disappear and an inverse P Cyg profile of Hα is seen on some observational epochs.Our observations showed that when the Hα line disappeared or an inversion of the P-Cyg-type profile is observed in the spectra,the Hβ line is redshifted.When these events appeared,no synchronous variabilities were observed in the spectral parameters of other spectral lines formed in deeper atmospheric layers.In addition,the structures of Hα,CII(6578.05 ,6582.88 ),SiII(6347.1 ,6371.36 ) and Hβ lines are variable on a timescale of hours,but we did not detect significant variations in the other photospheric lines,as well as in the HeI(5875.72 ) line.It is suggested that observational evidence for the non-stationary atmosphere of HD14134 can be associated in part with non-spherical stellar wind.     

Optical and near-infrared photometric study of NGC 6724

BVRI CCD photometry of the poorly studied open cluster NGC 6724 has been carried out down to a limiting magnitude of V ～20 mag. The stars of the cluster have been observed using the Newtonian focus(f/4.84) of the 74-inch telescope at Kottamia Astronomical Observatory in Egypt.Also, the 2 MASS-JHK system is used to confirm the results we obtained. The main photometric parameters have been estimated for the present object; the diameter is found to be 6 arcmin, the distance is 1530±60 pc from the Sun and the age is 900±50 Myr. The optical reddening E(B-V) = 0.65 mag,while the infrared reddening is E(J-H) = 0.20 mag. The slope of the mass function distribution and the relaxation time estimations indicate that cluster NGC 6724 is dynamically relaxed.     

Chromospheric activity on the late-type star V1355 Ori using Lijiang 1.8-m and 2.4-m telescopes

We obtained new high-resolution spectra using the Lijiang 1.8-m and 2.4-m telescopes to investigate the chromospheric activities of VI355 Ori as indicated in the behaviors of Ca Ⅱ HK,Hδ,Hγ,Hβ,Na Ⅰ D_1,D_2,Hα and Ca Ⅱ infrared triplet(IRT) lines.The observed spectra show obvious emissions above the continuum in Ca II HK lines,absorptions in the Hδ,Hγ,Hβ and Na Ⅰ D_1,D_2 lines,variable behavior(filled-in absorption,partial emission with a core absorption component or emission above the continuum)in the Hα line,and weak self-reversal emissions in the strong filled-in absorptions of the Ca Ⅱ IRT lines.We used a spectral subtraction technique to analyze our data.The results show no excess emission in the Hδ and Hγ lines,very weak excess emissions in the Na Ⅰ D_1,D_2 lines,excess emission in the Hβ line,clear excess emission in the Hα line,and excess emissions in the Ca Ⅱ IRT lines.The value of the ratio of EW_(8542)/EW_(8498) is in the range 0.9 to 1.7,which implies that chromospheric activity might have been caused by plage events.The value of the ratio E_(Hα)/E_(Hβ) is above 3,indicating that the Balmer lines would arise from prominence-like material.We also found time variations in light curves associated with equivalent widths of chromospheric activity lines in the Na Ⅰ D_1,D_2,Ca Ⅱ IRT and Hα lines in particular.These phenomena can be explained by plage events,which are consistent with the behavior of chromospheric activity indicators.     

INTRODUCTION TO THE BAO SCHMIDT CCD ASTEROID PROGRAM

The Beijing Astronomical Observatory (BAO) Schmidt CCD Asteroid Program(SCAP)is performed by the QSO and Observational Cosmology Group of Beijing Astronomical Observatory, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Starting in May 1995, SCAP uses the 60/90 cm f/3. 0 Schmidt telescope equipped with a 2048 * 2048 CCD, making asteroid searching observations in non-photometric nights which are not suitable for high-precision astronomical photometric observations, as well as in the short period of dark time outside the astronomical twilights. Asteroid information is also extracted from general photometric observation data when applicable. The telescope locates in Xinglong Station of Beijing Astronomical Observatory, which is about 180 km north - east of the Beijing city.     

Measurements of the Ca II infrared triplet lines of young stellar objects

Equivalent widths and line widths of Ca II infrared triplet emission lines were measured in the high-resolution optical spectra of 39 young stellar objects.We found that the equivalent widths of the emission lines decrease with stellar evolution.It has often been claimed that strong chromospheric activity is generated by a dynamo process caused by fast rotation of the photosphere.However,we found no clear correlation between the strength of the Ca II lines and the stellar rotation velocity.Instead,we found that the objects with high mass accretion rates had stronger Ca II emission lines.This correlation supports the turbulent chromosphere model or the magnetic accretion theory for classical T Tauri stars.We also noticed that the equivalent widths of Ca II lines in transitional disk objects are one-tenth of those in classical T Tauri stars,even if the masses of the circumstellar disks are comparable.     

Full-disk synoptic observations of the chromosphere using Hα telescope at the Kodaikanal Observatory

This paper reports on the installation and observations of a new solar telescope installed on 2014 October 7 at the Kodaikanal Observatory. The telescope is a refractive type equipped with a tunable Lyot Hα filter. A CCD camera with size 2k×2k acquires images of the Sun and has a pixel size of 1.21′′pixel-1and a full field-of-view of 41′. The telescope is equipped with a guiding system which keeps the image of the Sun within a few pixels throughout the observations. The FWHM of the Lyot filter is 0.4 A? and the filter is motorized, capable of scanning the Hα line profile at a smaller step size of 0.01 A?. Partial-disk imaging covering about 10′is also possible with the help of a relay lens kept in front of the CCD camera. In this paper, we report the detailed specifications of the telescope, filter unit, the installation, observations and the procedures we have followed to calibrate and align the data. We also present preliminary results with this new full-disk telescope.     

A study of variable stars in the open cluster NGC 1582 and its surrounding field

This paper presents Charge-Coupled Device time-series photometric observations of the open cluster NGC 1582 and its surrounding field with Johnson B,V and R filters by using the Nanshan 1 m telescope administered by Xinjiang Astronomical Observatory.19 variable stars and three variable candidates were detected in a 45′×48.75′ field around the cluster.12 of the variable stars are newly-discovered variable objects.The physical properties,classifications and memberships of these 22 objects are studied through their light curves,their positions on the color-magnitude diagram and with archival data from the Naval Observatory Merged Astrometric Dataset.Among these objects,five are eclipsing binary systems,six are pulsating variable stars including one known S Scuti star and one newly-discovered RR Lyrae star.The distance to the RR Lyrae star is estimated to be 7.9 ± 0.3 kpc,indicating that the star is located far behind the cluster.Four variable stars are probable members of the cluster,and 13 of the 22 objects are confirmed to be field stars.     

Be星γCas1992年快变观测

The visible spectroscopic and near infrared photometric data of the Be star γ Cas were obtained on November 5,6 and 9 of 1992. Total of 13 profiles were obtained, with a reciprocal dispersion of 2.7Amm~(-1) in H_αand HeI 6678 region. The profiles for H_αand HeI 6678 of γ Cas are shown in figure 1,2 and 3, respectively.The results of the measurement in table 1 and 2 suggest that there are rapid variations in H_α and HeI 6678 emission feature. In figure 2 it is clear that there is a systematic trend indicating a red shift in latter profile relative to early profile.     

Variable stars in M37

The CCD photometric observations of open star cluster M37(NGC 2099) were carried out up to a limiting magnitude of V ～ 20 in both B and V filters to search for variable stars using a 2k×4k CCD and the 1.3 m telescope at the Vainu Bapu Observatory, Kavalur.A total of 314 stars were in the first observing run, out of which 60 were identified as variables.Eight out of the identified 60 variables are classified as W UMa binary stars.For model fitting, we used PHOEBE based on the W-D code to estimate the physical parameters of these newly detected W UMa binaries that theoretically best match the observed light curves.     

Spectroscopic study of Be-shell stars: 4 Her and 88 Her

We present an optical spectroscopic study based on 41 spectra of 4 Her and 32 spectra of 88 Her,obtained over a period of 6 months.We estimate the rotational velocity of these stars from Hel lines in the blue spectral region(4000-4500 ?).We find that these stars are likely to be rotating at a fractional critical rotation of~0.80.We measure the average I_p/I_c ratio to quantify the strength of the Hα line and obtain1.63 for 4 Her and 2.06 for 88 Her.The radius of the Ha emission region is estimated to be R_d/R_*~5.0,assuming a Keplerian disk.These stars are thus found to be fast rotators with a relatively small Ha emission region.We detect V/R variation of the Ha spectral line during the observed period.We re-estimate the periods for both stars and obtain a period of ~46 d and its harmonic of 23.095 d for 4 Her,and a period of~86 d for 88 Her.As these two cases are shell stars with binaries and have low Ha EW with the emission region closer to the central star,the V/R variation and a change in period may be an effect of the binary on the circumstellar disk.     

Diagnostics of Ellerman bombs with high-resolution spectral data

Ellerman bombs(EBs) are tiny brightenings often observed near sunspots.The most impressive characteristic of EB spectra is the two emission bumps in both wings of the Hα and Ca II 8542 ?A lines. High-resolution spectral data of three small EBs were obtained on 2013 June 6 with the largest solar telescope, the 1.6 m New Solar Telescope at the Big Bear Solar Observatory. The characteristics of these EBs are analyzed. The sizes of the EBs are in the range of 0.3′′- 0.8′′ and their durations are only 3–5 min. Our semi-empirical atmospheric models indicate that the heating occurs around the temperature minimum region with a temperature increase of 2700–3000 K, which is surprisingly higher than previously thought. The radiative and kinetic energies are estimated to be as high as 5 × 1025- 3.0 × 1026 erg despite the small size of these EBs. Observations of the magnetic field show that the EBs just appeared in a parasitic region with mixed polarities and were accompanied by mass motions.Nonlinear force-free field extrapolation reveals that the three EBs are connected with a series of magnetic field lines associated with bald patches, which strongly implies that these EBs should be produced by magnetic reconnection in the solar lower atmosphere. According to the lightcurves and the estimated magnetic reconnection rate,we propose that there is a three phase process in EBs: pre-heating, flaring and cooling phases.     

Scintillation Dynamic Spectra and Transverse Velocities ofSeven Pulsars

Using a pulsar timing system developed at Urumqi Astronomical Observatory‘s 25-m telescope, we observed scintillation dynamic spectra for seven pulsars at the relatively high frequency of 1540 MHz over a wide frequency band of 320 MHz. Averaging observations at different epochs, we obtain time scales and decorrelation bandwidths for diffractive scintillation and show that these imply a power-law index for the electron density fluctuation close to 4.0. Assuming this value and that the scattering disk is approximately midway between the pulsar and the earth, we compute transverse velocities for the seven pulsars. These values are generally in good agreement with the proper motion velocities.     

Absolute parameters and observed flares in the M-type detached eclipsing binary 2MASS J04100497+2931023

The eclipsing binary 2 MASS J04100497+2931023(J04100497+2931023) is classified its spectral type of M0±2 V on basis of a low-resolution spectral survey by the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope(LAMOST). The low-resolution spectra exhibit strong single-peak emission in the Hα line. We obtained the radial velocities of this binary by means of the Cross-Correlation Function method from the LAMOST medium-resolution spectra. Both components of J04100497+2931023 indicate strong emissions in the Hα line. We performed follow-up photometric observations of J04100497+2931023 using the Xinglong 85 cm telescope of National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences. We obtained its full light curve in V RI filters. We first determined their absolute parameters from simultaneously radial velocity and light curves by the Wilson-Devinney program. From our new light curves, we detected three flares for the first time, including one convective flare. The amplitudes,durations, energies, and spectral indices of three flares were also determined. J04100497+2931023 was monitored for approximately 29 h, which indicates that the flare rate is 0.1 flare per hour. We conclude that J04100497+2931023 is a low-mass detached eclipsing binary with strong magnetic activity.