On the Rd Edge of the δ Scuti Instability Strip

The δ Scuti star ctalogue is used to derive the observational locations of such stars on the HR diagram.The theoretical and observational instability strips are compared to check the theoretical red edge obtained by considering nonlocal time-dependent convection theory.The observational instability strip almost overlaps with the theoretical one,but the observed blue and red envelopes are hotter overlaps with the theoretical one,but the observed blue and red envelopes are hotter than the theoretical edges.The distribution of δ Scuti stars in the pulsation strip is not uniform.     

Variable Star Status of Two Stars:V204 and I-I-39 in M3

The star I-I-42 (=vZ1390),a cluster member in M3,located near the red edge of the instability strip of the horizontal branch,was discovered by Roberts and Sandage as a low amplitude variable,it was designated as V204 in the "second catalogue of variable stars in globular clusters",but its coordinates given in all versions of this catalogue are wrong since 1955. We argue that V204 is indeed a low amplitude HB variable star,located near to the red edge of the instability strip,with a period of 0.74785d and an amplitude of about 0.04mag in V . We also find that the red cluster member star I-I-39 is a low amplitude variable with a period of 1.16d and amplitude of about 0.03mag in V which might be pulsating at the second overtone.     

Period–Luminosity Relationship for δ Scuti Stars Revisited

The Gaia DR3 parallax approach was used to estimate the absolute parameters of 2375 δ Scuti stars from the ASAS catalog.The selected stars have a variety of observational characteristics,with a higher than 80% probability of being δ Scuti stars.We have displayed all the stars in the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram along with the δ Scuti instability strip,the Zero Age Main Sequence and the Terminal Age Main Sequence.Then,we determined which fundamental and overtone modes each star belongs to using pu...     

ASAS J174406+2446.8 is identified as a marginal-contact binary with a possible cool third body

ASAS J174406+2446.8 was originally found as a δ Scuti-type pulsating star with the period P=0.189068 d by ASAS survey.However,the LAMOST stellar parameters reveal that it is far beyond the red edge of pulsational instability strip on the log g-T diagram of δ Scuti pulsating stars.To understand the physical properties of the variable star,we observed it by the 1.0-m Cassegrain reflecting telescope at Yunnan Observatories.Multi-color light curves in B,V,R_c and I_c bands were obtained and are analyzed by using the W-D program.It is found that this variable star is a shallow-contact binary with an EB-type light curve and an orbital period of 0.3781 d rather than a δ Scuti star.It is a W-subtype contact binary with a mass ratio of 1.135(±0.019) and a fill-out factor of 10.4%(±5.6)%.The situation of ASAS J174406+2446.8 resembles those of other EB-type marginal-contact binaries such as UU Lyn,Ⅱ Per and GW Tau.All of them are at a key evolutionary phase from a semi-detached configuration to a contact system predicted by the thermal relaxation oscillation theory.The linear ephemeris was corrected by using 303 new determined times of light minimum.It is detected that the O-C curve shows a sinusoidal variation that could be explained by the light-travel-time effect via the presence of a cool red dwarf.The present investigation reveals that some of the δ Scuti-type stars beyond the red edge of pulsating instability strip on the log g-T diagram are misclassified eclipsing binaries.To understand their structures and evolutionary states,more studies are required in the future.     

Distributions of Neutron Exposures in AGB Stars and the Galaxy

Based on the s-process nucleosynthesis model with the 13C(α,n)16O reaction oc- curring under radiative conditions in the interpulse phases, we investigate the characteristics of the distribution of neutron exposure in low-mass Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) stars. We introduce a new concept, the distribution of neutron exposures of the Galaxy (NEG), to study the chemical evolution characteristics of the Galaxy for s-process elements. Using a chemical evolution model of the Galaxy, we develop a model for the NEG and obtain the evolution results of the NEG in different epochs. The present results appear to reasonably re- produce the distribution of neutron exposures of the solar system (hereafter NES). The main component and the strong component in the NES are built up in different epochs. The strong component of the s-process is mainly synthesised in the low-mass and metal-poor AGB stars, and the main component is produced by the s-process in the low-mass AGB stars with higher metallicities.     

The Chemical Composition of the Field Zero-Age Star HD77407

High-resolution optical spectra of the zero age star HD77407 are analysed and its Li, C, O, Na, Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Co, Ni and Ba contents are determined using spectral synthesis method. The temperature of the star is determined by fitting the H α line wings. The parameters derived for this star are Teff=5900K, log g=4.47 and [Fe/H] = 0.07. It is found that the derived iron content is slightly higher than what is given in the published literature. This star shows a relative overabundances of Ca and Ba, and underabundances of Na, V and Ni with respect to the solar mix. Activity of the star is indicated by the filled in Hα and Ca II triplet line cores. It has been confirmed that our spectroscopic approach yields fairly reliable and consistent results for active stars.     

An accreting low magnetic field magnetar for the ultraluminous X-ray source in M82

One ultraluminous X-ray source in M82 has recently been identified as an accreting neutron star(named Nu STAR J095551+6940.8).It has a super-Eddington luminosity and is spinning up.An aged magnetar is more likely to be a low magnetic field magnetar.An accreting low magnetic field magnetar may explain both the superEddington luminosity and the rotational behavior of this source.Considering the effect of beaming,the spin-up rate is understandable using the traditional form of accretion torque.The transient nature and spectral properties of M82 X-2 are discussed.The theoretical range of periods for accreting magnetars is provided.Three observational appearances of accreting magnetars are summarized.     

Rotation Periods of Nine ROSAT Selected Solar-Type Stars

We monitored 16 X-ray selected young solar-type stars for light variation and found appreciable periodic light variability with amplitudes of a few hundredths of a magni-tude in nine of the objects. Using the method of Phase Dispersion Minimization (PDM) and Fourier analysis (software PERIOD04), the rotation periods of these stars were determined from the photometric data. The rotation periods of all nine stars are shorter than about 3days. It is suggested that, as with the Pleiades cluster, small amplitude light variations are quite common among young solar-type stars with rotation periods around 3 days or less. This gives further evidence for the spin up of solar-type stars predicted by models of angular momentum evolution of pre-main sequence stars.     

Grids of stellar models including second harmonic and colors:solar composition(Z = 0.0172,X = 0.7024)

Grids of stellar evolution are required in many fields of astronomy/astrophysics,such as planet hosting stars,binaries,clusters,chemically peculiar stars,etc.In this study,a grid of stellar evolution models with updated ingredients and recently determined solar abundances is presented.The solar values for the initial abundances of hydrogen,heavy elements and mixing-length parameter are 0.0172,0.7024 and 1.98,respectively.The mass step is small enough(0.01 M_⊙)that interpolation for a given star mass is not required.The range of stellar mass is 0.74 to10.00 M_⊙.We present results in different forms of tables for easy and general application.The second stellar harmonic,required for analysis of apsidal motion of eclipsing binaries,is also listed.We also construct rotating models to determine the effect of rotation on stellar structure and derive fitting formulae for luminosity,radius and the second harmonic as a function of rotational parameter.We also compute and list colors and bolometric corrections of models required for transformation between theoretical and observational results.The results are tested for the Sun,the Hyades cluster,the slowly rotating chemically peculiar Am stars and eclipsing binaries with apsidal motion.The theoretical and observational results along isochrones are in good agreement.The grids are also applicable to rotating stars provided that equatorial velocity is given.     

Pulsation and Long-Term Variability of the High-Amplitude δ Scuti Star AD Canis Minoris

Time-series photometry was made for the large-amplitude δ Scuti star AD CMi in 2005 and 2006. High-quality photometric data provided in the literature were used to analyze the pulsation of the star, with the derived multiple frequencies fitted to our new data. Besides the dominant frequency and its harmonics, one low frequency (2.27402 c d -1) is discovered, which provides a reasonable interpretation for the long-noticed luminosity variation at the maximum and minimum light. Combining the nine new times of light maxima determined from the new data with the 64 times collected from the literature, we analyzed the long-term variability of AD CMi with the O - C technique. The results provide the updated value of period of 0.122974478 days, and seem to be in favor of the model of combination of the evolutionary effect and light-time effect of a binary system, of which some parameters are hereby deduced.     

Variable Star Status of Two Stars： V204 and I-I-39 in M3

The star 1-1-42 （=vZ1390）, a cluster member in M3, located near the red edge of the instability strip of the horizontal branch, was discovered by Roberts and Sandage as a low amplitude variable, it was designated as V204 in the ＂second catalogue of variable stars in globular clusters＂, but its coordinates given in all versions of this catalogue are wrong since 1955. We argue that V204 is indeed a low amplitude HB variable star, located near to the red edge of the instability strip, with a period of 0.74785d and an amplitude of about 0.04 mag in V. We also find that the red cluster member star 1-1-39 is a low amplitude variable with a period of 1.16^d and amplitude of about 0.03 mag in V which might be pulsating at the second overtone.     

Radial velocity measurements from LAMOST medium-resolution spectroscopic observations: a pointing towards the Kepler field

Radial velocity is one of the key measurements in understanding the fundamental properties of stars, stellar clusters and the Galaxy. A plate of stars in the Kepler field was observed in May of 2018 with the medium-resolution spectrographs of LAMOST, aiming to test the performance of this new system which is the upgraded equipment of LAMOST after the first five-year regular survey. We present our analysis on the radial velocity measurements(RVs) derived from these data. The results show that slight and significant systematic errors exist among the RVs obtained from the spectra collected by different spectrographs and exposures, respectively. After correcting the systematic errors with different techniques, the precision of RVs reaches ～1.3,～1.0,～0.5 and ～0.3 km s^-1 at S/Nr = 10, 20, 50 and 100, respectively. Comparing with the RVs of standard stars from the APOGEE survey, our RVs are calibrated with a zero-point shift of～7 km s^-1. The results indicate that the LAMOST medium-resolution spectroscopic system may provide RVs with a reasonable accuracy and precision for the selected targets.     

Photometric and spectroscopic study of flares on Ross 15

We conducted photometric and spectroscopic observations of Ross 15 in order to further study the flare properties of this less observed flare star.A total of 28 B-band flares are detected in 128 hr of photometric observations,leading to a total flare rate of 0.22-0.040.04 h-1,more accurate than that provided by previous work.We give the energy range of the B-band flare(1029.5-1031.5 erg) and the flare frequency distribution(FFD) for the star.Within the same energy range,the FFD is lower than that of GJ 1243(M4)and YZ CMi(M4.5),roughly in the middle of those of three M5-type stars and higher than the average FFDs of spectral types> M6.We performed,for the first time for Ross 15,simultaneous high-cadence spectroscopic and photometric observations,resulting in detection of the most energetic flare in our sample.The intensity enhancements of the continuum and Balmer lines with significant correlations between them are detected during the flare,which is the same as those of other deeply studied flare stars with similar spectral type.     

Mira Symbiotic Stars

1 INTRODUCTION Symbiotic stars (SSs) are interacting binaries consisting of a cool giant, a hot compact companion and an H II region (Berman 1932; Boyarchuk 1967; Boyarchuk 1968). The cool component is a red giant (RG) that belongs either to the first gia…     

Contribution of dust produced by binary merger ejecta

By means of a population synthesis code and by constructing a simple toy model of dust produced by asymptotic giant branch(AGB) stars, common envelope(CE) ejecta and binary merger ejecta, we estimate the dust product rates(DPRs) of these processes in the Milky Way. The total DPR from AGB stars is～ 6.7 × 10-4M yr-1, in which about 73% of dust grains are carbon, 24% are silicates and 3% are iron. The total DPR from CE ejecta is ～ 4.2 × 10-4M yr-1, in which about 83% of dust grains are silicates, about 12% are carbon and 5% are iron.The DPR from binary merger ejecta is less than 1/3 that from AGB stars or CE ejecta,and it could even be negligible under certain circumstances. Therefore, compared with AGB stars and CE ejecta, the contribution of dust produced by binary merger ejecta to total dust grains in the Milky Way is smaller or can be negligible.     

On the Physical Processes in Contact Binary Systems

Three importantphysical processes occurringin contact binarysystems are studied. The first one is the effect of spin, orbital rotation and tide on the structure of the components, which includes also the effect of meridian circulation on the mixing of the chemical elements in the components. The second one is the mass and energy exchange between the components. To describe the energy exchange, a new approach is introduced based on the understanding that the exchange is due to the release of the potential, kinetic and thermal energy of the exchanged mass. The third is the loss of mass and angular momentum through the outer Lagrangian point. The rate of mass loss and the angular momentum carried away by the lost mass are discussed. To show the effects of these processes, we follow the evolution of a binary system consisting of a 12M and a 5M star with mass exchange between the components and mass loss via the outer Lagrangian point, both with and without considering the effects of rotation and tide. The result shows that the effect of rotation and tide advances the start of the semi-detached and the contact phases, and delays the end of the hydrogen-burning phase of the primary. Furthermore, it can change not only the occurrence of mass and angular momentum loss via the outer Lagrangian point, but also the contact or semi-contact status of the system. Thus, this effect can result in the special phenomenon of short-term variations occurring over a slow increase of the orbital period. The occurrence of mass and angular momentum loss via the outer Lagrangian point can affect the orbital period of the system significantly, but this process can be influenced, even suppressed out by the effect of rotation and tide. The mass and energy exchange occurs in the common envelope. The net result of the mass exchange process is a mass transfer from the primary to the secondary during the whole contact phase.     

Investigating variable stars in the open cluster NGC 1912 and its surrounding field

In this work,we studied the variable stars in the open cluster NGC 1912 based on the photometric observations and Gaia DR2 data.More than 3600 CCD frames in B,V,R filters were reduced,and we obtained the light curves that span about 63 hours.By analyzing these light curves,we detected 24 variable stars,including 16 periodic variable stars,seven eclipsing binaries and one star whose type is unclear.Among these 24 variable stars,11 are newly discovered,which are classified as sixγDoradus stars,oneδScuti star,three detached binaries and one contact binary.We also confirmed 13 previously known variable stars.Based on cluster members identified by Cantat-Gaudin et al.(2018),we inferred cluster memberships for these detected variable stars.Using Gaia DR2 data,we plotted a new color-magnitude diagram for NGC1912,and showed the nature of variable cluster members in kinematical properties and heliocentric distance.Among the 24 variable stars,seven variables are probable cluster members,which show homogeneity in kinematic characters and space position with the established cluster members.Four of the seven variable cluster members are the previously discovered stars,consisting of twoγDor stars and twoδSct stars.The remaining three variable cluster members,which are allγDor stars,are firstly detected in this work.The main physical parameters of these variable cluster members estimated from the color-magnitude diagram are log(age/yr)=8.75,[Fe/H]=-0.1,m-M=10.03 mag,and E(B-V)=0.307.     

The symmetry energy and incompressibility constrained by the observations of glitching pulsars

We investigate the masses of glitching pulsars in order to constrain their equation of state(EOS). The observations of glitches(sudden jumps in rotational frequency) may provide information on the interior physics of neutron stars. With the assumption that glitches are triggered by superfluid neutrons, the masses of glitching neutron stars can be estimated using observations of maximum glitches.Together with the observations of thermal emission from glitching pulsars Vela and J1709–4429, the slope of symmetry energy and incompressibility of nuclear matter at saturation density can be constrained.The slope of symmetry energy L should be larger than 67 MeV while the lower limit of incompressibility for symmetric nuclear matter K_0 is 215 MeV. We also obtain a relationship between L and K_0:6.173 MeV + 0.283 K_0≤ L ≤ 7.729 MeV + 0.291 K_0. The restricted EOSs are consistent with the observations of 2-solar-mass neutron stars and gravitational waves from a binary neutron star inspiral.     

Statistics of the Instability Strip of β Cephei Stars

We present a study of the β Cephei instability strip based on a sample of 49 stars of this type.After deriving their effective temperatures and luminosities from their observed(B-V),(U-B) colors and parallaxes we find their positions in the HR diagram to be mostly confined to the main sequence,and their masses to lie between 7 M and 30 M.Their distribution on the HR diagram matches well with our previous theoretical instability strip which has an upper bound in the luminosity and rather tight boundaries in the effective temperature.