Lithium in chemically peculiar CP stars with magnetic fields

The problem of lithium in chemically peculiar Ap-CP stars has been the subject of debate for many years. The main reason for this is a lack of spectral observations of Ap stars in the neighborhood of the lithium resonance doublet Li I 6708 Å. An international cooperation project on “Lithium in cool CP stars with magnetic fields” was started in 1996. Systematic observations of CP stars in spectral regions of the 6708 Å and 6103 Å lines at the ZTSh (CrAO), CAT (ESO), Feros (ESO), and the 74″ telescope of the Mount Stromlo Observatory (Australia) have been used to analyze spectra of several CP stars studied by the way the 6708 Å lithium line varies with the stars’ rotational phase. Monitoring of the spectra of the oscillating CP stars (group I) HD 83368, HD 60435, and HD 3980, for which significant Doppler shifts of the Li I 6708 Å line are observed led to the discovery of “lithium spots” on the surface of these stars whose positions are related to the magnetic field structure. Models of the surfaces of these stars with the special program “ROTATE” based on the profiles of the Li I 6708 Å line are used to estimate the size of the spots, their positions on the stars’ surface, and the lithium abundances in these spots. A detailed analysis and modelling of the spectra of slowly rotating oscillating CP stars with strong, invariant lithium 6708 Å emission, including blending with lines of the rare earth elements, reveals an enhanced lithium abundance, with the abundance determined from the lithium 6103 Å line being higher than that determined from the 6708 Å line for all the stars. This may indicate vertical stratification of lithium in the atmospheres of CP stars with an anomalous isotopic composition (⁶Li/⁷Li = 0.2–0.5). HD 101065, an ultraslow rotator (vsini ≈ 1.5) visible from the poles and with powerful oscillations which cause pulsating line broadening in its spectrum, is unique among these stars. The amount of lithium in the atmosphere of HD 101065 logN(Li) = 3.1 on a scale of logN(H) = 12.0 and the isotope ratio ⁶Li/⁷Li ≈ 0.3. The high estimates of ⁶Li/⁷Li may be explained by the production of lithium in spallation reactions and the preservation of surface ⁶Li and ⁷Li by strong magnetic fields in the upper layers of the atmosphere near the magnetic poles. __________ Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 50, No. 3, pp. 463–492 (August 2007).     

Spectral observations using a BTA telescope of chemically peculiar stars in the spectral region near the Li I (6708 Å) resonance doublet

New spectral observations of chemically peculiar (CP) magnetic stars were obtained using an NES echelle spectrometer with a BTA telescope in the Special Astrophysical Observatory (Russian Academy of Sciences). Several stars were shown to have anomalous Li abundances. Testing and monitoring the stars with Doppler shifts Vsini > 10 km/s indicated that the lithium 6708 Å line was variable in the spectra of some roaAP-CP stars. To distinguish variable features in the spectra, the dispersogram technique was used. The most peculiar among the stars studied is HD 12098. The strong and variable lithium 6708 Å line was detected in the spectrum of this star. The star has been shown to have greatly different lithium abundances in two rotation phases corresponding to opposite surface areas. As mentioned earlier, a similar behavior of the Li blend was found in the spectra of HD 83368 and HD 60435 which have lithium spots on their surface. Spectral observations of slowly rotating CP stars with the Doppler shifts Vsini < 10 km/s revealed the strong and nonvariable lithium 6708 Å line in the spectra of these stars. Quantitative spectral analysis using the Li I 6708 Å resonance doublet and the Li I 6103 Å line shows the lithium abundance, as determined by the 6103 Å line, to be somewhat greater than that determined by the 6708 Å line. A higher ratio of ⁶Li/⁷Li amounting to ～0.3–0.5 was found in these stars. ⁶Li production is assumed to be due to spallation reactions on the surface of magnetic CP stars; this isotope ratio remained in strong magnetic fields.     

Variability of the spectrum of β CrB in the region of the lithium line Li I λ6708Å

Some results of observations of the spectrum of the spectroscopic-binary Ap star CrB in the region of the lithium line Li I 6708Å are presented. The observations were made at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory over the period 1993–1995 with the coudé spectrograph equipped with a CCD camera on the 2.6-m telescope. Several factors which can affect the behavior of the lithium blend are examined: stellar rotation, magnetic field, isotopic shift, the binary system, and blending by unidentified elements. The principal result of this work is the detection of variability of the lithium blend Li I 6708Å over the period of rotation of the star. The variations of the radial velocity V_r, and the FWHM of the lithium blend are reported here for the first time. They indicate either a nonuniform distribution of lithium or a nonuniform distribution of conditions for excitation of the lithium resonance doublet in the complex structure of the strong surface magnetic field. Similar variations are also shown by the lines of the rare-earth elements Gd II 6702.10 Å, Gd II + Ce II 6704.3Å, and Ce II + Fe I 6706.0 Å.Translated fromAstrofizika, Vol. 39, No. 1, pp. 19–30, January–March, 1996.     

Effective temperatures,radii and bolometric magnitudes of Ap and Am stars

The effective temperatures radii and bolometric magnitudes of Ap, Am and normal A stars have been estimated from their energy distribution curves between 478 nm and 680 nm. All the Am stars and one Ap star (i.e. CrB) were found to be affected by line blanketing, a rough estimation of which in the respective (B-V) colours has been found out in each case.The range in effective temperature is 0.45–0.60 in terms of (=5040/T _e), while it is 1.8–4.8R in the case of radius, that in bolometric magnitude being from-0^m.67 to+1^m.61. An approximate estimate of the masses shows that they are between 1.5 and 3.0M . All these estimates are in agreement with those of the normal A stars. The Ap and Am stars are found to be slightly evolved and, therefore, are probably in the hydrogen shell-burning phase.     

Radii of some Ap,Am and A stars

Based on the observed energy curves of nine Ap stars, three Am stars, four normal A stars and one F0 V magnetic star, their radii have been estimated.Thence, the bolometric magnitudesM _bo1 have been obtained and a plot between logT _e andM _bo1 of these stars shows that a majority of Ap and Am stars are a little above the zero-age Main-Sequence, suggesting that they are slightly more evolved as compared to the normal A stars.The bolometric corrections derived from the aboveM _bo1 are much closer to those computed by Mihalas than to the ones given by Davis and Webb, the latter being about O ^m 1 more negative than the former.     

The Os-Pt-Hg abundance peak in Ap stars and the problem of very heavy cosmic rays

Relative abundances in the region 74Z83 (W to Bi) are determined for 73 Dra, HR 4072, and some other Ap stars. Abundance peaks occur at atomic massesA=191±2 on 73 Dra, atA=201±3 on HR 4072, atA=199±5 on other main group Ap stars, and atA=201±2 on Mn stars. Pb has a relatively low abundance on Ap stars and also in cosmic rays which have an abundance peak atA=193±3. The abundance peaks on main group Ap stars are due to the cyclicr-process which occurred in explosions of former companion stars. Fission products of transuranic elements are recycled by further rapid neutron captures. At the end of ther-process, the high neutron flux decreases gradually so that the final -decays take place in a neutron-rich environment; superheavy elements (Z110) formed in ther-process may be partly destroyed by neutron-induced fission. The pulsar remnants of the explosions accelerater-process elements to cosmic-ray energies. The peak atA 201 on Mn stars is discussed briefly.     

Solar-type stars in Cepheus OB 2: Hα emission stars and IRAS point sources

A survey for emission line stars was carried out in 1980 with the Schmidt telescope of Konkoly Observatory in the region of IC 1396 (Kun, 1986a, hereafter referred to as Paper I). This work was aimed at a preliminary mapping of the probable medium mass members of the association Cepheus OB 2. The stars of the region have been followed since then with the same telescope in order to obtain a more complete view on the stellar content of this giant star-forming region. The common variability of the H emission strength makes the sense of repeating such surveys. The new survey resulted in the discovery of 65 further emission stars. Equatorial coordinates and finding charts are given for them.PhotographicBVRI photometry was carried out for all known emission stars of the field. The colourmagnitude and two-colour diagrams derived from theB, V, R, andI magnitudes show that these stars are probably F-G-type (1.5M <M<3M ), partly pre-Main-Sequence members of Cep OB 2, whereas a few of them may be distant red giants.The youngest objects of the region can be found among the IRAS point sources. Their properties are discussed on the basis of IRAS data alone.     

Spectrophotometric studies of Ap stars

Based on the observed energy distribution curves of about a hundred Ap stars, the various relationships among their physical parameters: namely, the temperature, colour index, bolometric correction and bolometric magnitude have been studied. The hotter Ap stars have been found to be apparently bluer than their normal counterparts, which is possibly due to the broad continuum features at 4200 and 5200 that are generally present in Ap stars only. The bolometric corrections are independent of parallax measurements; the Ap stars as well as the normal stars follow the same sequence of bolometric corrections when related to temperature. The Ap stars appear to beslightly evolved and their position in the HR diagram indicates the hydrogen shell burning phase. The mass range of Ap stars is similar to that of normal A stars.     

Mass loss from coronae and its effect upon stellar rotation

The acoustic energy-generation rate from the convective zone was calculated for various models. Results show that chromosphere and corona can be expected around stars with temperature lower than 8000K at the main sequence, and lower than 6500K at logg=2.When a star is rotating rapidly, mass loss from its corona is large, and can be an effective mechanism of braking the stellar rotation. If this mechanism is effective, we can explain the slow rotation of stars later than F2 to be the result of the loss of the angular momentum through a stellar wind that is effective in their main sequence phase. Stars with massM>1.5M lose mass through a stellar wind during their contraction phase. The mass-loss rate is larger than the solar value because of the larger energy input into the chromosphere-corona system and because of the smaller gravitational potential at the surface. T Tauri stars may be the observational counterparts for such stars. As the duration of contraction phase is very short (less than 10⁷ years), the braking mechanism works only in the presence of a strong magnetic field (Ap) or in the presence of a companion (Am).Presented at the Trieste Colloquium on Mass Loss from Stars, September 12–16, 1968.     

Evening twilight OH (7,2) band emission at Calcutta and its covariation with LI 6708 Å

Evening twilight airglow emissions of OH (7,2) band and Li 6708 Å are observed by Dunn-Manring type photometer and following important results are obtained.

1. Intensity of OH (7,2) and Li (6708 Å) decrease exponentially during evening twilight period.
2. OH (7,2) band covaries with Li (6708 Å) during evening twilight period.
3. Empirical equations of OH (7,2) band with time is obtained.
4. Possible explanations of such type of variations is also presented.

     

Spectrophotometric studies of Am stars

The relationships among the various physical parameters-namely, the effective temperatures, radii and bolometric magnitudes, determined on the basis of the energy distribution curves of 25 Am stars — have been studied. Their effective temperatures are in the range of 7200 K to 9700 K; the radii, 1.5R to 2.5R ; the bolometric magnitudes, 0.75 mag. to 2.25 mag.; and the masses, 1.5M to 2.25M . The Am stars in general, appear redder than their normal counterparts, the blanketing in the blue andUV regions being the major cause. For the relatively cooler stars, the (B-V) colours are found to be less affected by blanketing. They are located in the neighbourhood of the upper edge of the zero-age Main Sequence band and show a fairly wide range in the evolutionary status among themselves. The bolometric corrections which are independent of the uncertainties in the parallax measurements, follow the same trend as that of the Ap stars, with reference to the temperature.     

Zeeman-doppler imaging: A new option for magnetic field study of Ap and solar-type stars

In the task of studying stellar magnetic fields, polarimetric methods have been intensively used in Ap stars. But the observational material classically used to reconstruct stellar magnetic structures (average longitudinal magnetic field as a function of rotational phase) is not rich enough in spatial information to derive geometries more complex than centered or decentered dipoles.In solar-type stars, all evidences of activity recently detected on their surfaces (starspots, flares, ...) indicate they are most likely magnetic stars. But polarimetric methods have always failed in these stars, probably due to the complex magnetic topologies encountered which even prevented until now a simple detection (Borra, Edwards, and Mayor, 1984). With the Zeeman broadening measurement technique proposed by Robinson (1980), no reliable results can be derived for rapid rotators, which are otherwise presumed to be the best candidates for magnetic detections. Once more, if temperature inhomogeneity charts are already available for solar-type stars (Vogt, 1987), spatial information on their magnetic distributions has conversely not yet been obtained.The new option, recently proposed by Semel (1989) and qualified by Donati, Semel, and Praderie (1989), is based on the rotational modulation study of a rapid rotator Stokes parameter V(), obtained with both high spectral resolution R, and high signal-to-noise ratio S/N. Since the magnetic information used refers to localized strips on the stellar disc (as a consequence of the star rotation), multipolar structures can thus be resolved.A new instrumentation and observing procedure have been defined for ZDI, in order to obtain very high S/N data. The method has been successfully tested on two bright magnetic Ap stars: a magnetic detection was obtained on UMa and a 15-point phase coverage of ² CVn is available for the reconstruction of complete 2D abundance and magnetic mappings of its photosphere.Concerning solar-type stars, a numerical simulation was carried out in order to determine the observational constraints required for the detection of typical magnetic field similar to those reported in slow rotators with the Robinson method (Saar, 1988). The specifications needed are S/N 400 per 40 mÅ pixel and R - 6 × 10⁴.     

Population I pulsating stars

Evolutionary masses corresponding to various evolutionary phases of Population I pulsating stars (89 Delta Scuti variables and 155 classical cepheids) are interpolated in the systems of tracks of Iben (1967) and Paczyski (1970). The evolutionary masses are larger in the latter system than in the former one. The uncertainty of the evolutionary mass of a star is estimated, when various evolutionary phases are possible for this star (a smaller evolutionary mass corresponds to a later phase). Semi-empirical period-evolutionary mass-colour (P-M _e -C) and period-evolutionary mass (P-M _e ) relations are derived for various modes, groups of stars, colour indices (and effective temperature), and evolutionary phases. For Delta Scuti stars, the uncertainty of evolutionary masses calculated from theP-M _e relations for different modes, is estimated. The improvement of the evolutionary mass accuracy is estimated, when aP-M _e -C relation is used instead of the correspondingP-M _e relation. The theoretical and semi-empirical period ratios of radial pulsations derived from theP-M _e relations for Delta Scuti stars, are compared. There is a relatively good agreement between theP-M _e relations for the two types of Population I pulsating stars, but a gap exists between them. The evolutionary masses of these stars are closer in the two systems of tracks and are derived with a relatively higher accuracy in comparison with their ages.     

Temperature behavior of elemental abundances in the atmospheres of magnetic peculiar stars

We analyze the temperature dependence of the abundances of the chemical elements Si, Ca, Cr, and Fe in the atmospheres of normal, metallic-line (Am), magnetic peculiar (Ap), and pulsating magnetic peculiar (roAp) stars in the range 6000–15000 K. The Cr and Fe abundances in the atmospheres of Ap stars increase rapidly as the temperature rises from 6000 to 9000–10000 K. Subsequently, the Cr abundance decreases to values that exceed the solar abundance by an order of magnitude, while the Fe abundance remains enhanced by approximately +1.0 dex compared to the solar value. The temperature dependence of the abundances of these elements in the atmospheres of normal and Am stars is similar in shape, but its maximum is several orders of magnitude lower than that observed for Ap stars. In the range 6000–9500 K, the observed temperature dependences for Ap stars are satisfactorily described in terms of element diffusion under the combined action of gravitational settling and radiative acceleration. It may well be that diffusion also takes place in the atmospheres of normal stars, but its efficiency is very low due to the presence of microturbulence. We show that the magnetic field has virtually no effect on the Cr and Fe diffusion in Ap stars in the range of effective temperatures 6000–9500 K. The Ca abundance and its variation in the atmospheres of Ap stars can also be explained in terms of the diffusion model if we assume the existence of a stellar wind with a variable moderate rate of ～(2–4) × 10^{? 15}M_⊙ yr^?1.     

Correlations between statistical population indices and spectral characteristics of carbon stars

The coefficients of correlation between spectroscopic data published by Yamashita (1967) and others for carbon stars and the statistical population indices calculated for these stars at the Toru Observatory are calculated (Table II). The intensity estimates of Cai 4227 Å, Nai D lines, the C¹³/C¹² ratio, then=n(Li/Ca) index, as well as CN and probably C₂ bands are higher in population I carbon stars. The CH(G) band and probably hydrogen (H, H, H) lines as well as Baii 4554 and 4934 Å lines are stronger in population II carbon stars. The photoelectric colour indices, corrected for interstellar reddening do not show significant population effects. They can be used as spectral type equivalents. For a population criterion the CH/CN intensity ratio is proposed.     

Relations between spectral characteristics and statistical population indices of Mira type variables

Line and band intensities of Mira type variables from Keenan's Catalogue (1966) and some other sources are discussed in relation to statistical population indices characterizing positions and motions of these stars. Residual intensity estimates of Ca 4226, Cr 4254, TiO, VO, ScO, YO prove to be stronger in population I Miras, whereas H em line is definitely stronger in population II stars. The coefficient of correlation between residual line or band intensity and the partial statistical population index, depending principally on the star distance to the galactic plane, grows with increasing mass number of the corresponding element.     

Recent progress in CP star detection and classification

Chemically peculiar (CP) stars are mainly found among B and A stars. Present theories are not able to account fully for the observed spectrum anomalies, suggesting that in the atmospheres of stars in the range ofT _e , where mass loss is no longer very large and convection is still not very important, the present theoretical approach needs further refinement. Moreover, the lack of laboratory data is responsible, at least partly, for the discrepancies between observed and computed stellar energy distributions.The choice for quick detection of CP stars among faint objects is reviewed; the measure of the flux depression at 5200 appears to be very powerful, and the identification of this complex feature is urgently needed.The need to separate the various subclasses of the He abnormal stars in a standard way is underlined and further analyses of the characteristics of the Boo stars are required.The problem of the determination ofT _e and consequently of realistic atmospheric abundance anomalies of CP stars is discussed.     

Convection in normal stars and metal-deficient stars

The depths at which convection starts have been calculated for main sequence stars and giant stars of various effective temperature and hydrogen-to-metal ratios. It is found that for late-type stars ofT _e4400 K convenction stars at 0.1. In metal-deficient stars convection starts at shallower optical depths compared to normal stars of the same spectral type. The larger the metal deficiency, the shallower is the depth at which convection starts. The importance of convection in the study of metal-deficient stars and late type stars are also discussed.     

Vertical Chromium Distribution in the Atmosphere of a Chemically Peculiar Star. I. Diagnostics

On the basis of CCD spectrograms obtained with high resolution at the Coudé focus of the 2.6-m telescope of the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory, Cr II lines lying in the wings of the H hydrogen line are investigated. Vertical chromium stratification in the atmospheres of two normal and eight chemically peculiar stars is diagnosed using the method of spectral synthesis. An increase in Cr abundance with depth is found for the cool Ap stars CrB, HR 7575, Equ, and 10 Aql. Some increase in Cr abundance in the upper layers of the atmosphere is presumed for all Am stars and for both Hg—Mn components of 46 Dra. The vertical chromium distribution in the atmospheres of the hot, spotted Ap stars 17 Com and ² CVn is evidently uniform.     

δ Scuti Pulsations in Pre-main Sequence Stars

Intermediate mass pre-main sequence stars (1.5 to 5 M )cross the instability strip on their way to the main sequence.They are therefore expected to be pulsating in a similar way as the Scuti stars. In this review, I present the status of observational studies ofpulsations in these stars, and comment on prospects for futureinvestigations of these pulsations from the ground and from space.