The winds of WC10 central stars of planetary nebulae

We present the results of an analysis of the winds of two WC10 central stars of planetary nebulae, CPD-56°8032 and He 2-113. These two stars have remarkably similar spectra, although the former exhibits somewhat broader emission line widths. High resolution spectra (up to R=50 000) were obtained in May 1993 for both objects at the 3.9 m AAT, using the UCL Echelle Spectrograph. The fluxes in individual Cii auto-ionising multiplet components, many of which were blended, were derived. Lines originating from auto-ionising resonance states situated in the C²⁺ continuum are very sensitive to the electron temperature, since the population of the these levels is close to LTE. The measured widths and profile shapes of these transitions are presented and are in excellent agreement with those predicted on the basis of their calculated auto-ionising lifetimes. The wind electron temperature is derived for both stars from the ratio of the fluxes in four such transitions (T _e =18 500 K±1 500 K for CPD-56° 8032 andT _e =13 600 K±800 K for He 2-113). Optical depth effects are investigated using normal recombination lines to obtain an independent wind electron temperature estimate in excellent agreement with the dielectronic line analysis.     

M4–18: the planetary nebula and its WC10 central star

We present a detailed analysis of the planetary nebula M4–18 (G146.7+07.6) and its WC10-type Wolf–Rayet (WR) central star, based on high‐quality optical spectroscopy (WHT/UES, INT/IDS, WIYN/DensPak) and imaging ( HST /WFPC2). From a non-LTE model atmosphere analysis of the stellar spectrum, we derive T _eff=31 kK,     v _∞=160 km s⁻¹ and abundance number ratios of H/He<0.5, C/He=0.60 and O/He=0.10. These parameters are remarkably similar to those of He 2–113 ([WC10]). Assuming an identical stellar mass to that determined by De Marco et al. for He 2–113, we obtain a distance of 6.8 kpc to M4–18 [ E ( B−V )=0.55 mag from nebular and stellar techniques]. This implies that the planetary nebula of M4–18 has a dynamical age of ∼3100 yr, in contrast to ≥270 yr for He 2–113. This is supported by the much higher electron density of the latter. These observations may be reconciled with evolutionary predictions only if [WC]-type stars exhibit a range in stellar masses.
Photoionization modelling of M4–18 is carried out using our stellar WR flux distribution, together with blackbody and Kurucz energy distributions obtained from Zanstra analyses. We conclude that the ionizing energy distribution from the WR model provides the best consistency with the observed nebular properties, although discrepancies remain.     

Surface abundances of light elements for a large sample of early B-type stars – I. Spectral observations of 123 stars; measurements of hydrogen and helium lines; infrared photometry

High-resolution spectral observations of 123 B0–B5 stars in the main sequence evolutionary phase were obtained at two observatories, namely the McDonald Observatory (McDO) and the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory (CrAO). Accurate equivalent widths W of two Balmer lines, H β and H γ , and ten He  i lines were obtained for all the stars, as well as of the He  ii   λ 4686 line for the hottest ones. A careful analysis of the measured equivalent widths was performed. It is shown that there is a very good agreement between the W values derived from the McDO and CrAO spectra for 14 common stars. A comparison with published data leads to the conclusion that the W values measured earlier by some authors for strong He  i lines are very likely to be underestimated. Infrared photometric observations in the J , H , and K bands were performed for 70 programme stars. All these data will be used in other papers: in particular for the T _eff and log  g determination and for the He, C, N and O abundance analyses.     

High-resolution optical spectroscopy of the sharp-lined B-type star HD 83206

Very-high-resolution ( R ∼160 000) spectroscopic observations are presented for the early B-type star, HD 83206. Because it has very sharp metal lines, this star affords an opportunity to test theories of model atmospheres and line formation. Non-LTE model atmosphere calculations have been used to estimate the atmospheric parameters and absolute metal abundances (C, N, O, Mg and Si); an LTE analysis was also undertaken to investigate the validity of this simpler approach and to estimate an iron abundance. For the non-LTE calculations, there is excellent agreement with observations of the Balmer lines H α and H δ and the lines of Si  ii and Si  iii for atmospheric parameters of T _eff≃21 700±600 K and log  g ≃4.00±0.15 dex. The agreement is less convincing for the LTE calculations, and a higher gravity is deduced. Careful comparison of the metal line profiles with non-LTE calculations implies that the projected rotational and microturbulent velocities have maximum values of ≃5 and ≃2 km s⁻¹, respectively. The latter value is smaller than has often been adopted in LTE model atmosphere analyses of main-sequence stars. Non-LTE absolute metal abundances are estimated, and a comparison with those for normal B-type stars (deduced using similar non-LTE techniques) shows no significant differences. A comparison of the abundances deduced using non-LTE and LTE calculations implies systematic differences of 0.1–0.2 dex, showing the importance of using a non-LTE approach when accurate absolute abundances are required. Its location in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram and normal metal abundance lead us to conclude that HD 83206 is probably a main-sequence B-type star. As such, it is among the sharpest-lined young B-type star discovered to date.     

Optical studies of the X-ray transient XTE J2123–058 – II. Phase-resolved spectroscopy

We present time-resolved spectroscopy of the soft X-ray transient XTE J2123–058 in outburst. A useful spectral coverage of 3700–6700 Å was achieved spanning two orbits of the binary, with single-epoch coverage extending to ∼9000 Å. The optical spectrum approximates a steep blue power law, consistent with emission on the Rayleigh–Jeans tail of a hot blackbody spectrum. The strongest spectral lines are He  ii 4686 Å and C  iii /N  iii 4640 Å (Bowen blend) in emission. Their relative strengths suggest that XTE J2123–058 was formed in the Galactic plane, not in the halo. Other weak emission lines of He  ii and C  iv are present, and Balmer lines show a complex structure, blended with He  ii . He  ii 4686-Å profiles show a complex multiple S-wave structure, with the strongest component appearing at low velocities in the lower-left quadrant of a Doppler tomogram. H α shows transient absorption between phases 0.35 and 0.55. Both of these effects appear to be analogous to similar behaviour in SW Sex type cataclysmic variables. We therefore consider whether the spectral line behaviour of XTE J2123–058 can be explained by the same models invoked for those systems.     

Optical spectroscopy of X-Mega targets – II. The massive double-lined O-type binary HD 93205

A new high-quality set of orbital parameters for the O-type spectroscopic binary HD 93205 has been obtained combining échelle and coudé CCD observations. The radial velocity orbits derived from the He  ii λ 4686 Å (primary component) and He  i λ 4471 Å (secondary component) absorption lines yield semi-amplitudes of 133±2 and 314±2 km s⁻¹ for each binary component, resulting in minimum masses of 31 and 13 M_⊙ ( q =0.42) . We also confirm for the binary components the spectral classification of O3 V+ O8 V previously assigned. Assuming for the O8 V component a 'normal' mass of 22–25 M_⊙ we would derive for the primary O3 V a mass of 'only' 52–60 M_⊙ and an inclination of about 55° for the orbital plane. We have also determined for the first time a period of apsidal motion for this system, namely 185±16 yr using all available radial velocity data sets of HD 93205 (from 1975 to 1999). Phase-locked variations of the X-ray emission of HD 93205 consisting of a rise of the observed X-ray flux near periastron passage are also discussed.     

Spectroscopy of WC9 Wolf–Rayet stars: a search for companions

A spectroscopic search for luminous companions to WC9-type Wolf–Rayet stars making circumstellar dust reveals the presence of absorption lines attributable to companions in the blue spectra of WR 69 (HD 136488) and WR 104 (Ve2–45). Comparison of spectra of WR 104 observed in 1995 and 1997 showed the absorption lines to be more conspicuous in the latter observation and the emission lines weaker, suggesting a selective eclipse of the WC9 star similar to that observed by Crowther in 1996. The WC9 emission-line spectra are shown to be less uniform than previously thought, showing a significant range of O  ii line strengths. The only two WC9 stars in the observed sample that do not make circumstellar dust, WR 81 (He3–1316) and WR 92 (HD 157451), are found to have anomalously weak O  ii and strong He  ii lines. We suggest that these spectroscopic differences may reflect a compositional difference that plays a role in determining which of the WC9 stars make dust.     

Infrared spectroscopy of cataclysmic variables – III. Dwarf novae below the period gap and nova-like variables

We present K -band spectra of the short-period dwarf novae YZ Cnc, LY Hya, BK Lyn, T Leo, SW UMa and WZ Sge, the nova-like variables DW UMa, V1315 Aql, RW Tri, VY Scl, UU Aqr and GP Com, and a series of field dwarf stars with spectral types ranging from K2 to M6.
The spectra of the dwarf novae are dominated by emission lines of H  i and He  i . The large velocity and equivalent widths of these lines, in conjunction with the fact that the lines are double-peaked in the highest inclination systems, indicate an accretion disc origin. In the case of YZ Cnc and T Leo, for which we obtained time-resolved data covering a complete orbital cycle, the emission lines show modulations in their equivalent widths that are most probably associated with the bright spot (the region where the gas stream collides with the accretion disc). There are no clear detections of the secondary star in any of the dwarf novae below the period gap, yielding upper limits of 10–30 per cent for the contribution of the secondary star to the observed K -band flux. In conjunction with the K -band magnitudes of the dwarf novae, we use the derived secondary star contributions to calculate lower limits to the distances to these systems.
The spectra of the nova-like variables are dominated by broad, single-peaked emission lines of H  i and He  i – even the eclipsing systems we observed do not show the double-peaked profiles predicted by standard accretion disc theory. With the exception of RW Tri, which exhibits Na  i , Ca  i and ¹²CO absorption features consistent with a M0V secondary contributing 65 per cent of the observed K -band flux, we find no evidence for the secondary star in any of the nova-like variables. The implications of this result are discussed.     

Star formation in the Cepheus Flare region – II. A-type stars associated with IRAS sources

In order to reveal the star-forming history of the molecular cloud complex we studied the intermediate mass stellar population in the Cepheus Flare region. (Paper I dealt with the distance and the young stellar object candidates of the region.) Correlating the IRAS Point Source Catalogue and Faint Source Catalogue positions with those of 1214 B8–A8 and 1760 F0–F5 type stars brighter than     and classified during an objective prism survey, we identified 19 stars showing far-infrared excess emission in the Cepheus Flare region. In addition to the 16 stars whose counterparts are given in the IRAS catalogues, we found three more stars with infrared excess not recognized before. In order to identify the young medium-mass stars associated with the Cepheus Flare molecular clouds we observed the optical spectra of the IR-excess stars, and using published optical photometry and the IRAS data we examined their spectral energy distributions (SEDs) and IRAS two-colour diagram. The observations resulted in the discovery of a new Herbig Ae/Be star, BD +68°1118, coinciding with IRAS 21169+6842. More evolved HAe/Be stars may be SAO 19953, BD +67°1314 and BD +69°1231, whose H α lines showed weak emission components. Possible β Pictoris- or Vega-type stars may be HD 203854, HD 212826 and HD 216486, whereas the far-infrared fluxes at the positions of BD +72°1018, HD 210806 and HD 217903 can be attributed to the heating of the interstellar environment. We used distances and radial velocities of the stars derived from the spectroscopy and published optical photometry as indicators of their relations to the clouds. Information on the environment of the observed stars deduced from the diffuse interstellar band at λ 6613 is briefly discussed.     

Spectral analysis of the high-gravity extreme helium star LS IV+6°2

The optical spectrum of the early B hydrogen-deficient star LS IV+6°2 has been analysed. With T _eff = 31000 K, log  g  = 4.05, n _H ∼ 10⁻⁴ and n _c ∼ 0.1 (relative abundances by number), it is the hottest high-gravity extreme helium star (EHe) yet studied. The He  i spectrum shows all predicted permitted and forbidden transitions in absorption. LS IV+6°2 is a comparatively metal-rich EHe star; abundances of C, N, O, Ne, Mg, Al and P are typical of other EHes, whilst Si and S are somewhat deficient. With the surface parameters given, LS IV+6°2 lies close to the boundary of the helium star pulsation instability finger near T _eff ∼ 27000 K. Available data indicate that the radial velocity is variable, but give no indication of amplitude or period.     

Spectroscopy of SN 1987A at 0.9–2.4 μm: days 1348–3158

We present near-infrared spectroscopic observations of SN 1987A covering the period 1358 to 3158 d post explosion. This is the first time that IR spectra of a supernova have been obtained to such late epochs. The spectra comprise emission from both the ejecta and the bright, ring-shaped circumstellar medium (CSM). The most prominent CSM emission lines are recombination lines of H  i and He  i , and forbidden lines of [S  iii ] and [Fe  ii ]. The ejecta spectra include allowed lines of H  i , He  i and Na  i and forbidden lines of [Si  i ], [Fe  i ], [Fe  ii ] and possibly [S  i ]. The intensity ratios and widths of the H  i ejecta lines are consistent with a low-temperature Case B recombination spectrum arising from non-thermal ionization/excitation in an extended, adiabatically-cooled H envelope, as predicted by several authors. The slow decline of the ejecta forbidden lines, especially those of [Si  i ], indicates that pure non-thermal excitation was taking place, driven increasingly by the decay of ⁴⁴Ti. The ejecta iron exhibits particularly high velocities  (4000–4500 km s^-1)  , supporting scenarios where fast radioactive nickel is created and ejected just after the core bounce. In addition, the ejecta lines continue to exhibit blueshifts with values ∼−200 to −800 km s⁻¹ to at least day 2000. These blueshifts, which first appeared around day 600, probably indicate that very dense concentrations of dust persist in the ejecta, although an alternative explanation of asymmetry in the excitation conditions is not ruled out.     

Optical spectroscopy of GX 339−4 during the high–soft and low–hard states – II. Line ionization and emission region

We have carried out observations of the X-ray transient GX 339−4 during its high–soft and low–hard X-ray spectral states. Our high-resolution spectroscopic observation in 1999 April suggests that the H α line has a single-peaked profile in the low–hard state as speculated in our previous paper. The He  ii λ 4686 line, however, has a double-peaked profile in both the high–soft and low–hard states. This suggests that the line-emission mechanism is different in the two states. Our interpretation is that double-peaked lines are emitted from a temperature-inversion layer on the accretion disc surface when it is irradiatively heated by soft X-rays. Single-peaked lines may be emitted from outflow/wind matter driven by hard X-ray heating. We have constructed a simple plane-parallel model and we use it to illustrate that a temperature-inversion layer can be formed at the disc surface under X-ray illumination. We also discuss the conditions required for the formation of temperature inversion and line emission. Based on the velocity separations measured for the double-peaked lines in the high–soft state, we propose that GX 339−4 is a low-inclination binary system. The orbital inclination is about 15° if the orbital period is 14.8 h.     

Elemental abundance analyses with DAO spectrograms – XXII. The B9–A3 stars λ Ursae Majoris, 59 Herculis, 14 Cygni and 29 Cygni

Elemental abundances of the moderately rotating B9–A3 stars λ UMa, 59 Her, 14 Cyg and 29 Cyg have been derived in a consistent manner with previous studies of this series from spectrograms obtained with Reticon and CCD detectors. The derived elemental abundances show that λ UMa is a mild Am star, while 59 Her is slightly metal-rich. Although 14 Cyg has values closer to solar than these stars, its subsolar Ca and Sc abundances indicate that it might be the hottest known hot-Am star. 29 Cyg is a metal-poor λ Boo star.     

Neon abundances in normal late-B and mercury–manganese stars

We make new non-local thermodynamic equilibrium calculations to deduce the abundances of neon from visible-region echelle spectra of selected Ne  i lines in seven normal stars and 20 HgMn stars. We find that the best strong blend-free Ne line that can be used at the lower end of the effective temperature T _eff range is λ 6402, although several other potentially useful Ne  i lines are found in the red region of the spectra of these stars. The mean neon abundance in the normal stars (log  A =8.10) is in excellent agreement with the standard abundance of neon (8.08). However, in HgMn stars neon is almost universally underabundant, ranging from marginal deficits of 0.1–0.3 dex to underabundances of an order of magnitude or more. In many cases, the lines are so weak that only upper limits can be established. The most extreme example found is υ Her with an underabundance of at least 1.5 dex. These underabundances are qualitatively expected from radiative acceleration calculations, which show that Ne has a very small radiative acceleration in the photosphere, and that it is expected to undergo gravitational settling if the mixing processes are sufficiently weak and there is no strong stellar wind. According to theoretical predictions , the low Ne abundances place an important constraint on the intensity of such stellar winds, which must be less than 10⁻¹⁴ M_⊙ yr⁻¹ if they are non-turbulent.     

ROSAT All-Sky Survey X-ray and EUV observations of YY Gem and AU Mic

Simultaneous X-ray and extreme ultraviolet (EUV) ( ROSAT XRT and WFC All-Sky Survey) observations of the highly active dMe flare stars YY Gem and AU Mic show that the two stars displayed an unusual type of flaring behaviour. We detect several X-ray and EUV flares superimposed on an enhanced and smoothly varying quiescent background. The two large impulsive-type X-ray flares on YY Gem reach peak X-ray luminosities of     and we estimate that they had similar integrated luminosities (∼6–8×10³³ erg). AU Mic also produced several X-ray and EUV flares, with one very impulsive flare producing a 10-fold increase in XRT count rate. This flare was even larger than the YY Gem flares (peak L _X of     and integrated L _X of    
The     ratio for both stars is at the 'saturation' limit found in rapidly rotating dwarfs and the most active RS CVn stars. We suggest that the gradually varying components are the result of a period of continuous, unresolved flaring activity. Alternatively, they may be the result of the emergence and subsequent decay of a new magnetic active region on the stellar surface of these stars.     

Correlated V/R and infrared photometric variations in the Be/X-ray binary LS I +61° 235/RX J0146.9+6121

We report on the long-term variability of the Be/X-ray binary LS I +61° 235/RX J0146.9+6121. New optical spectroscopic and infrared photometric observations confirm the presence of global one-armed oscillations in the circumstellar disc of the Be star, and allow us to derive a V R band quasi-period of 1240±30 d. Pronounced shell events, reminiscent of the spectacular variations in Be stars, are also seen. We have found that the J , H and K infrared photometric bands vary in correlation with the spectroscopic V R variations, implying that the one-armed disc oscillations are prograde. The effect of the oscillations is not only seen in the H α line but is also seen in the He  i λ 6678 and Paschen lines. As these lines are formed at different radii in the equatorial disc of the Be star, such effects confirm the global nature of the perturbation. The Keplerian disc has been found to be denser than the average for a sample of isolated Be stars, which may be indicative of some kind of interaction with the compact companion. Finally, from a Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer observation we derive a spin period of the neutron star of 1404.5±0.5 s.     

Microturbulence in O supergiants

We investigate the role of classical microturbulence in the non-LTE He  i /He  ii line formation problem for luminous O-type stars. We find that the shapes and strengths of certain saturated He  i lines, in particular the triplets λλ4471, 4713 and the singlet λ4921, are sensitive to microturbulent velocities in excess of 5 km s⁻¹. Weaker lines, including most of the He  i singlets, are effectively independent of this parameter, as are the Fowler series He  ii lines λλ4199, 4541, 5411. We show that this behaviour is due to interaction between direct line-broadening effects in the radiative transfer, and indirect changes in the atmospheric structure and the populations of absorbing states. Using an analysis of high-resolution, high signal-to-noise ratio observations of the O9.7 supergiant HD 152003 as an illustrative example, we show how the introduction of microturbulence in non-LTE models allows consistent fits to be obtained for all   blue-region He  i lines — including the strong triplets λλ4026, 4713, 4471 — at an assumed solar helium abundance, thereby offering a resolution to the problem of the 'generalized dilution effect' described by Voels et al. We argue that by extension this result may also have implications for the so-called 'helium discrepancy' identified in OB-type stars by Herrero et al.     

Abundance analysis of the cool extreme helium star LSS 3378

Abundance analysis of the cool extreme helium (EHe) star LSS 3378 is presented. The abundance analysis is done using local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) line formation and LTE model atmospheres constructed for EHe stars.
The atmosphere of LSS 3378 shows evidence of H-burning, He-burning, and s -process nucleosynthesis. The derived abundances of iron peak and α-elements indicate the absence of selective fractionation or any other processes that can distort chemical composition of these elements. Hence, the Fe abundance [log ε(Fe) = 6.1] is adopted as an initial metallicity indicator. The measured abundances of LSS 3378 are compared with those of R Coronae Borealis (RCB) stars and with rest of the EHe stars as a group.     

Merged binary white dwarf evolution: rapidly accreting carbon–oxygen white dwarfs and the progeny of extreme helium stars

We have examined the evolution of merged low-mass double white dwarfs that become luminous helium stars. We have approximated the merging process by the rapid accretion of matter, consisting mostly of helium, on to a carbon–oxygen (CO) white dwarf. After a certain mass is accumulated, a helium shell flash occurs, the radius and luminosity increase and the star becomes a yellow giant. Mass accretion is stopped artificially when the total mass reaches a pre-determined value. When the mass above the helium-burning shell becomes small enough, the star evolves blueward almost horizontally in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram. The theoretical models for the merger of a 0.6-M_⊙ CO white dwarf with a 0.3-M_⊙ He white dwarf agree very well with the observed locations of extreme helium stars in the  log  T _eff–log  g   diagram, with their observed rates of blueward evolution, and with luminosities and masses obtained from their pulsations. Together with predicted merger rates for  CO+He  white dwarf pairs, the evolutionary time-scales are roughly consistent with the observed numbers of extreme helium stars. Predicted surface carbon and oxygen abundances can be consistent with the observed values if carbon and oxygen produced in the helium shell during a previous asymptotic giant branch phase are assumed to exist in the helium zone of the initial CO white dwarfs. These results establish the  CO+He  white dwarf merger as the best, if not only, viable model for the creation of extreme helium stars and, by association, the majority of R Coronae Borealis stars.