The effective temperatures,radii and masses of Dwarf Cepheids

Using the flux values determined with the infrared flux method (IRFM) developed by Blackwell and Lynas-Gray (1993), we derived the empirical relationship between flux (F _v ) and (V — K) colour appropriate to Dwarf Cepheids. For three Dwarf Cepheids CY Aqr, YZ Boo and SZ Lyn where both VK photometry and radial velocities were available from the literature, effective temperatures were determined using the intrinsic Strömgren indices, model atmosphere grids for (V — K) and the relation between temperature and (V — K) colour. Then, by applying the infrared surface brightness method, radii and distances and hence masses and absolute magnitudes were estimated with effective temperatures determined by three different methods. It was found that the average mass of these variables is about 0.5 solar mass and this result supports the hypothesis that Dwarf Cepheids are pre-white dwarf objects. It was also confirmed that the temperatures determined with the IRFM are most successful in the application of the surface brightness method to the radius estimation of Dwarf Cepheids.     

VR c photometry of dwarf cepheids (II)

In this paper, we derived the empirical relationship between stellar surface brightness parameter (F _v) and (V —R _c) colour in Cousins system appropriate to dwarf cepheids. Also theoretical counterpart to this relation has been calculated from model atmospheres. The theoretical relation is in reasonable agreement with the empirical relation but reveals small sensitivities to surface gravity and metallicity. Both relations were used to apply the surface brightness method to estimate the radius of four dwarf cepheids of YZ Boo, AD CMi, XX Cyg, and EH Lib which were observed withV andR band in Cousins photometric system by Kim and Joner (1994). We could obtain the reliable result for AD CMi and it was found that, for three other variables, there are large phase shifts between angular diameter variation and radial displacements.     

Stellar luminosities and radii fromuvbyβ photometry

A linear relation is found to exist between the Barnes-Evans visual surface brightness parameterF _V and the (b-y)₀ colour index ofuvby photometry for spectral types later than G0. Using this relation, and a previously determined relation for spectral types B0-G0, tables of intrinsic colours and indices, absolute magnitude and stellar radius are given for the ZAMS and luminosity classes Ia-V over a wide range of spectral types. Comparison of absolute magnitudes and radii calculated fromuvby photometry with values obtained using the visual magnitude, parallax and angular diameter indicates thatuvby photometry can be used to determineM _V to ±0 ^m .2 and log(R/R ) to ±0.05.     

A method of colour excess determination for classical cepheids

By use of the reddening free [m ₁], [c ₁], and indices data inuvby photometric system for three classical cepheids whose reddening values had been determined with the aid of photometry of field stars, three intrinsic relations of [m ₁]–(b–y), [c ₁]–(b–y), and –(b–y) have been established. It was shown that these three relations can be used to determine the colour excesses for other classical cepheids.     

Models of rapidly rotating white dwarfs

Numerical solutions of the structural equations for rapidly rotating white dwarfs are tabulated for values of the central density parametery ^–2 _o ranging from 0.0001 to 0.80. The physical parameters of white dwarfs rotating at the break-up velocity are also tabulated. Further, the massradius relations for both the equatorial and the polar radii are derived. These two relations are found to differ from other recent theoretical calculations by less than 10 and 4%, respectively. The use of uniformly rotating white dwarf models to account for the observational data on Sirius B is discussed. It is concluded that Sirius B may be rotating rapidly and near its break-up velocity. Further it is suggested that the radius and Einstein red shift for this star are 0.01135 R and 59 km/sec.     

Surface photometry of blue compact dwarf galaxies from the Byurakan lists

Surface photometry of 23 ultraviolet excess galaxies from the two Byurakan surveys (FBS and SBS), selected to be blue compact dwarf candidates, has been made in B and R colors. A remarkable fraction of the sample exhibit a projected brightness distribution following the same de Vaucouleurs law as the bright spheroidal objects of the field (ellipticals and bulges of spirals). The other most frequent morphological type has an exponential brightness distribution, therefore similar to usual dwarf Magellanic irregulars. From their small absolute dimensions and average high effective surface brightness, the studied objects are indeed compact in the usual empirical sense.This article was presented as a report at the French-Armenian Colloquium (seeAstrofizika, 38, No. 4, 1995). Since it was submitted for publication slightly late, it was decided to include it in the present issue.Published in Astrofizika, Vol. 39, No. 1, pp. 91–100, January–March, 1996.     

Ultraviolet observations of cataclysmic variables

The preliminary results of the analysis of more than 1000 spectra of cataclysmic variables in the archive of the International Ultraviolet Explorer were presented at the meeting. To characterize the slope of the spectra I useF=log(f _1460Å/f _2880Å). For most spectraF lies between 0.2 and 0.7. No correlation of F with orbital period, inclination, system type or (for dwarf novae) length of the interoutburst interval are found, apart from somewhat lower values ofF for DQ Her type systems. Out of 16 dwarf novae for which spectra both at outburst maximum and minimum are available 11 show no large difference inF between maximum and minimum, and in 5F declines with the flux level. Out of 6 dwarf novae 5 show very red spectra during the rise to maximum, and 1 shows slopes during rise similar to those during decline.In the ultraviolet resonance lines, due to a wind from the disc, no correlation is found between inclination and terminal velocity.Paper presented at the IAU Colloquium No. 93 on Cataclysmic Variables. Recent Multi-Frequency Observations and Theoretical Developments, held at Dr. Remeis-Sternwarte Bamberg, F.R.G., 16–19 June, 1986.     

Scanner observations of the classical cepheids RT Aur and T Vul

The effective temperatures of the classical Cepheids RT Aur and T Vul have been determined by a comparison of their spectral scans with appropriate model atmospheres. The radii of the stars have been determined through the Wesselink method. Using these temperatures and the Wesselink radii, the luminosities of the stars have been determined. These radii estimates, including the radii of SU Cas (Joshi & Rautela 1980) andζ Gem (unpublished) fit better in the theoretical period-radius relationship given by Cogan (1978), as compared to earlier determinations of Wesselink radii. The pulsation masses and evolutionary masses of the stars have been calculated. The pulsation to evolutionary mass ratio is derived to be 0.85. Based on the effective temperatures obtained by us at different phases of the stars aθ _c ? (B-V)₀ relationship is found of the form, \(\begin{gathered} \theta _e = 0.274 (B - V)_0 + 0.637 \\ \pm 0.011 \pm 0.007 \\ \end{gathered} \)      

Fundamental parameters and intrinsic colors of F,G, and K supergiants and classical cepheids

We used high-resolution echelle spectra with high signal-to-noise ratio to determine with a high degree of accuracy some atmospheric parameters (T _eff, log g and [Fe/H]) for 68 non-variable supergiants of types F, G, and K and 26 classical Cepheids in 302 pulsation phases. Very accurate effective temperatures, with errors of only 10–30 K, were determined by the line-depth ratio method. We found that the observed intrinsic color indices (B ? V)₀ can be related to these parameters: (B ? V)₀ = 57.984? 10.3587(log T _eff)² + 1.67572(log T _eff)³ ? 3.356 log g+ 0.321 V _t + 0.2615[Fe/H] + 0.8833log g(log T _eff). With this empirical relation, the intrinsic colors of individual supergiants and classical Cepheids of spectral types F0-K0 and of luminosity classes I and II can be estimated with an accuracy as high as 0.05 ^m , which is comparable to the accuracy of the most elaborate photometric procedures. In view of large distances to supergiants, the method we propose here allows a large-scale mapping of interstellar extinction with an accuracy of 0.1–0.2 ^m in a quite large region of the Galaxy.     

A study of the background corona near solar minimum

The white light coronagraph data from Skylab is used to investigate the equatorial and polarK andF coronal components during the declining phase of the solar cycle near solar minimum. Measurements of coronal brightness and polarization brightness product between 2.5 and 5.5R during the period of observation (May 1973 to February 1974) lead to the conclusions that: (1) the equatorial corona is dominated by either streamers or coronal holes seen in projections on the limb approximately 50% and 30% of the time, respectively; (2) despite the domination by streamers and holes, two periods of time were found which were free from the influences of streamers or holes (neither streamers nor holes were within 30° in longitude of the limb); (3) the derived equatorial background density model is less than 15% below the minimum equatorial models of Newkirk (1967) and Saito (1970); (4) a spherically symmetric density model for equatorial coronal holes yields densities one half those of the background density model; and (5) the inferred brightness of theF-corona is constant to within ±10% and ±5% for the equatorial and polar values, respectively, over the observation period. While theF-corona is symmetric at 2R it begins to show increasing asymmetry beyond this radius such that at 5R the equatorialF-coronal brightness is 25% greater than the polar brightness.The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.     

Ultra long period Cepheids: a primary standard candle out to the Hubble flow

The cosmological distance ladder crucially depends on classical Cepheids (with P=3–80 days), which are primary distance indicators up to 33 Mpc. Within this volume, very few SNe Ia have been calibrated through classical Cepheids, with uncertainty related to the non-linearity and the metallicity dependence of their period–luminosity (PL) relation. Although a general consensus on these effects is still not achieved, classical Cepheids remain the most used primary distance indicators. A possible extension of these standard candles to further distances would be important. In this context, a very promising new tool is represented by the ultra-long period (ULP) Cepheids (P≳80 days), recently identified in star-forming galaxies. Only a small number of ULP Cepheids have been discovered so far. Here we present and analyse the properties of an updated sample of 37 ULP Cepheids observed in galaxies within a very large metallicity range of 12+log(O/H) from ∼7.2 to 9.2 dex. We find that their location in the colour-magnitude (V−I,V) diagram as well as their Wesenheit (V−I) index-period (WP) relation suggests that they are the counterparts at high luminosity of the shorter-period (P≲80 days) classical Cepheids. However, a complete pulsation and evolutionary theoretical scenario is needed to properly interpret the true nature of these objects. We do not confirm the flattening in the studied WP relation suggested by Bird et al. (Astrophys. J. 695:874, 2009). Using the whole sample, we find that ULP Cepheids lie around a WP relation similar to that of the LMC, although with a large spread (∼ 0.4 mag).     

Photometric observations of Cepheids from the ASAS-3 catalog: Photoelectric <Emphasis Type="Italic">BV I</Emphasis><Subscript>c</Subscript> observations of 46 low-amplitude Cepheids

From December 2006 to January 2008, we performed 1699 BV I _c observations for 46 low-amplitude Cepheids discovered in the course of the ASAS project using the 76-cm telescope of the South-African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO). We provide the tables of observations and V light and B-V and V-I _c color curves. These new observations, along with data from the ASAS-3 catalog, have been used to improve the elements of the light variations. Our data allow the number of known Galactic low-amplitude Cepheids to be almost doubled. This makes it possible to increase the number of distance indicators suitable for studying the structure of the inner Galactic arms by almost 15%.     

On the relation between radius,luminosity, surface brightness,and surface density in elliptical galaxies

We have analyzed luminosity profiles of E galaxies studied by Strom and Strom in six clusters of galaxies. We have found a relationship between radius, luminosity, and surface brightness for galaxies in each of the clusters. A dependence of the zero point of the relation with the local projected density of galaxies is likewise found:r _{e proj} ^–0.14 L ^0.445 I _e ^–0.413 . This relationship implies (i) that there is not a universal luminosity profile for elliptical galaxies, (ii) the environmental variation of radius is larger than that produced by mergers of galaxies, (iii) distance to a galaxy can be estimated from apparent magnitude, surface brightness, angular size, and apparent local projected density of galaxies.     

The PL calibration for Milky Way Cepheids and its implications for the distance scale

The rationale behind recent calibrations of the Cepheid PL relation using the Wesenheit formulation is reviewed and reanalyzed, and it is shown that recent conclusions regarding a possible change in slope of the PL relation for short-period and long-period Cepheids are tied to a pathological distribution of HST calibrators within the instability strip. A recalibration of the period-luminosity relation is obtained using Galactic Cepheids in open clusters and groups, the resulting relationship, described by log L/L _⊙=2.415(±0.035)+1.148(±0.044)log P, exhibiting only the moderate scatter expected from color spread within the instability strip. The relationship is confirmed by Cepheids with HST parallaxes, although without the need for Lutz-Kelker corrections, and in general by Cepheids with revised Hipparcos parallaxes, albeit with concerns about the cited precisions of the latter. A Wesenheit formulation of W _V =−2.259(±0.083)−4.185(±0.103)log P for Galactic Cepheids is tested successfully using Cepheids in the inner regions of the galaxy NGC 4258, confirming the independent geometrical distance established for the galaxy from OH masers. Differences between the extinction properties of interstellar and extragalactic dust may yet play an important role in the further calibration of the Cepheid PL relation and its application to the extragalactic distance scale.     

Damping constant and turbulence in the solar atmosphere

In the region of the formation of weak and medium-strong lines, the microturbulence increases with height (V _ver=0.7–0.9 km s^-1, V _hor= 1.1–1.5 km s^-1), the macroturbulence decreases (V _ver=1.6–1.4 km s^-1, V _hor= 2.4–1.5 km s^-1), and the total velocity field (vertical component) is depth-independent (1.7 km s^-1). The empirical damping constants for Fe, Ti, Cr, Ni lines are equal 1.3₆, 1.7₆, 1.6₆, 1.6₆, respectively. The correlation length (the Kubo-Anderson process has been used) in the solar photosphere is 520–550 km.     

Radii and luminosities of classical cepheids

The radiii of 17 classical Cepheids are determined. The linear surface brightness-colour relationS _v=b(B–V)_o+const is accepted. The present method permits the determination of the coefficientb for each star separately and the obtaining of the absolute magnitude of Cepheids. The coefficientb shows a slight dependence on the periodP of stars. The period-luminosity relation is approximately the same as the one obtained by van den Bergh (1976) for Cepheids in open clusters. The simultaneous radial velocity and photoelectric observation may show the phase shifts between motions of the continuum layer and of the level where the Fe I line is formed. The Cepheidl Car is outside the instability strip, and probably has a red companion as was suggested by Schmidt (1980a). Conclusions about the existence of overtone pulsators cannot probably be drawn only from the scattering in the period-radius relation.     

A new calibration of Wesselink's correlation for the determination of stellar radii

By means of a new homogeneous set of data from 34 double-lined detached systems, we have recalibrated the colour-surface brightness correlation in the interval –0.3(B-V)_o0.95. A comparison is made with Wesselink's calibration. We find that Wesselink's method can provide a good estimate of the stellar radii.     

Surface photometry of theHii regions S254–S257

The surface photometry of S254–S257 has been carried out by means of a wide range image processing technique in the reduction system. The photographic plates in the H+[NII] andV-bands are taken with the Schmidt telescope. Especially, we have obtained the calibrated map of theHii region, superposing two or more plates with different exposure times, and removing the star images. Three kinds of calibrated maps of theHii regions are drawn: (1)E-map in the (H+[NII]+continuum) (2)V-map in the continuum atV-band, (3)(E-V)-map in the (H+[NII]) line emission. The intensity profiles across the nebular centers were also obtained. Based on calibrated maps, the morphological structure and mass distribution of S255 and S257 are discussed. The location of observed nebulae on the (m _H–m _v) diagram, wherem _H andm _v denote the surface brightness, expressed in the magnitude per square arcmin, is shown together with that of some other nebulae. Some arguements on the age sequence of observedHii regions are presented.     

Study of the effect of metallicity on the amplitudes of Cepheids

Results concerning the dependence of photometric and radial velocity amplitudes on metallicity are presented based on about 200 Galactic classical Cepheids pulsating in the fundamental mode. The Galactic distribution of the [Fe/H] value of Cepheids is also studied. We show that the photometric amplitude ratio A_I/A_V is independent of metallicity. The observed dependence of this ratio on the pulsation period does not correspond to the theoretical predictions. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Photometric observations of Cepheids from the ASAS-3 catalog: Photoelectric <Emphasis Type="Italic">BV I</Emphasis><Subscript>c</Subscript> observations of 33 classical Cepheids

Cepheids, the principal distance indicators, point to the existence of two inner Galactic spiral arms in the immediate solar neighborhood (within 5 kpc). However, the available Cepheids are clearly insufficient for a detailed study of the structure of these arms. Fortunately, southern-sky monitoring (the ASAS project) has led to the discovery of many new variable stars, more than one thousand of which have been identified as possible Cepheids. To improve the classification and to construct reliable light curves for new Cepheids, we have begun their regular photometric observations. Here, we present the first results: 1192 photoelectricBV I _c observations were performed for 33 classical Cepheidswith the 76-cm telescope of the South-African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO, the South-African Republic) from December 2006 to January 2008. We provide tables of observations and V light and B-V and V-I _c color curves. The new observations together with ASAS-3 data have been used to improve the elements of the light variations.