On the behavior of the Cii 4267.261, 6578.052 and 6582.882 Å lines in chemically peculiar and standard stars

With the aim of investigating the possible particular behavior of carbon in a sample of chemically peculiar stars of the main sequence without turning to modeling, we performed spectroscopic observations of three important and usually prominent single ionized carbon lines: 4267.261, 6578.052 and 6582.882 Å. In addition, we observed a large number of standard stars in order to define a kind of normality strip, useful for comparing the observed trend for the peculiar stars. We paid particular attention to the problem of the determination of fundamental atmospheric parameters, especially for the chemically peculiar stars for which the abundance anomalies change the flux distribution in such a way that the classical photometric methods to infer effective temperatures and gravities parameter cannot be applied. Regarding CP stars, we found a normal carbon abundance in Hg–Mn, Si (with some exceptions) and He strong stars. He weak stars are normal too, but with a large spread out of the data around the mean value. A more complicated behavior has been noted in the group of SrCrEu stars: four out of seven show a strong overabundance, being the others normal.     

Magnetic,chemically peculiar (CP2) stars in the SuperWASP survey

The magnetic chemically peculiar (CP2) stars of the upper main sequence are well‐suited for investigating the impact of magnetic fields on the surface layers of stars, which leads to abundance inhomogeneities (spots) resulting in photometric variability. The light changes are explained in terms of the oblique rotator model; the derived photometric periods thus correlate with the rotational periods of the stars. CP2 stars exhibiting this kind of variability are classified as α² Canum Venaticorum (ACV) variables. We have analysed around 3850000 individual photometric WASP measurements of magnetic chemically peculiar (CP2) stars and candidates selected from the catalogue of Ap, HgMn, and Am stars, with the ultimate goal of detecting new ACV variables. In total, we found 80 variables, from which 74 are reported here for the first time. The data allowed us to establish variability for 23 stars which had been reported as probably constant in the literature before. Light curve parameters were obtained for all stars by a least‐squares fit with the fundamental sine wave and its first harmonic. Because of the scarcity of Strömgren uvbyβ measurements and the lack of parallax measurements with an accuracy better than 20%, we are not able to give reliable astro‐physical parameters for the investigated objects. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

X-ray spectroscopy of stars

Non-degenerate stars of essentially all spectral classes are soft X-ray sources. Their X-ray spectra have been important in constraining physical processes that heat plasma in stellar environments to temperatures exceeding one million degrees. Low-mass stars on the cooler part of the main sequence and their pre-main sequence predecessors define the dominant stellar population in the galaxy by number. Their X-ray spectra are reminiscent, in the broadest sense, of X-ray spectra from the solar corona. The Sun itself as a typical example of a main-sequence cool star has been a pivotal testbed for physical models to be applied to cool stars. X-ray emission from cool stars is indeed ascribed to magnetically trapped hot gas analogous to the solar coronal plasma, although plasma parameters such as temperature, density, and element abundances vary widely. Coronal structure, its thermal stratification and geometric extent can also be interpreted based on various spectral diagnostics. New features have been identified in pre-main sequence stars; some of these may be related to accretion shocks on the stellar surface, fluorescence on circumstellar disks due to X-ray irradiation, or shock heating in stellar outflows. Massive, hot stars clearly dominate the interaction with the galactic interstellar medium: they are the main sources of ionizing radiation, mechanical energy and chemical enrichment in galaxies. High-energy emission permits to probe some of the most important processes at work in these stars, and put constraints on their most peculiar feature: the stellar wind. Medium and high- resolution spectroscopy have shed new light on these objects as well. Here, we review recent advances in our understanding of cool and hot stars through the study of X-ray spectra, in particular high-resolution spectra now available from XMM-Newton and Chandra. We address issues related to coronal structure, flares, the composition of coronal plasma, X-ray production in accretion streams and outflows, X-rays from single OB-type stars, massive binaries, magnetic hot objects and evolved WR stars.     

Abundances from Disentangled Component Spectra of Close Binary Stars: An Observational Test of an Early Mixing in High-Mass Stars

Recent theoretical calculations of stellar evolutionary tracks for rotating high-mass stars suggests that the chemical composition of the surface layers changes even whilst the star is evolving on the Main Sequence. The abundance analysis of binary components with precisely known fundamental stellar quantities allows a powerful comparison with theory. The observed spectra of close binary stars can be separated into the individual spectra of the component stars using the method of spectral disentangling on a time-series of spectra taken over the orbital cycle. Recently, Pavlovski and Hensberge (2005, A&A, 439, 309) have shown that, even with moderately high line-broadening, metal abundances can be derived from disentangled spectra with a precision of 0.1 dex. In a continuation of this project we have undertaken a detailed abundance analysis of the components of another two high-mass binaries, V453 Cyg, and V380 Cyg. Both binaries are well-studied systems with modern solutions. The components are close to the TAMS and therefore very suitable for an observational test of early mixing in high-mass stars.     

Variability of the HeIλ5876 Å line in early type chemically peculiar stars. II

To try to understand the behavior of helium variability in Chemically Peculiar stars, we continued our on‐going observational campaign started by Catanzaro, Leone & Catalano (1999). In this paper we present a new set of time resolved spectroscopic observations of the HeI5876 Å line for a sample of 10 stars in the spectral range B3 ‐ A2 and characterized by different overabundances. This line does not show variability in two stars: HD77350 and HD175156. It shows instead an equivalent width variation in phase with the Hipparcos light curve for two stars: HD79158 and HD196502. Antiphase variations have been found in 4 stars of our sample, namely: HD35502, HD124224, HD129174 and HD142990. Nothing we can say about HD115735 because of the constancy of Hipparcos photometric data, while no phase relation has been observed for HD90044. In the text we discuss the case of HD175156, according to photometric calibration and our spectroscopic observations we rule out the membership of this star to the main sequence chemically peculiar stars. We confirm the results obtained in the previous paper for which phase relations between light, spectral and magnetic variations are not dependent on stellar spectral type or peculiarity subclass.     

The chemical evolution of globular clusters – I. Reactive elements and non-metals

We propose a new chemical evolution model aimed at explaining the chemical properties of globular clusters (GCs) stars. Our model depends upon the existence of (i) a peculiar pre-enrichment phase in the GC's parent galaxy associated with very low-metallicity Type II supernovae (SNe II) and (ii) localized inhomogeneous enrichment from a single Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) and intermediate-mass  (4–7 M_⊙)  asymptotic giant branch field stars. GC formation is then assumed to take place within this chemically peculiar region. Thus, in our model the first low-mass GC stars to form are those with peculiar abundances (i.e. O-depleted and Na-enhanced), while 'normal' stars (i.e. O-rich and Na-depleted) are formed in a second stage when self-pollution from SNe II occurs and the peculiar pollution from the previous phase is dispersed. In this study, we focus on three different GCs: NGC 6752, 6205 (M 13) and 2808. We demonstrate that, within this framework, a model can be constructed which is consistent with (i) the elemental abundance anticorrelations, (ii) isotopic abundance patterns and (iii) the extreme [O/Fe] values observed in NGC 2808 and M 13, without violating the global constraints of approximately unimodal [Fe/H] and C+N+O.     

A near-infrared survey of IRAS sources in the South Galactic Cap

The paper describes the JHK colours of late-type stars which were investigated as part of a survey of South Galactic Cap (b < -30°) IRAS sources selected on the basis of their 12/25µm flux ratios as high mass-loss candidates. Near-infrared two-colour diagrams provide an effective technique for distinguishing between various groups of late-type stars. Such diagrams are also useful in indicating which stars are likely to be peculiar and worthy of more detailed study. The late-type stars isolated by this survey comprise: 61 Mira variables (3 of which are carbon stars with very thick shells), 3 young stellar objects, 4 interacting binaries, 2 semi-regular carbon variables and 154 oxygen-rich giants.     

Infrared study of infrared carbon stars based on 2MASS,IRAS and ISO SWS data

For this paper, we collected all infrared carbon stars (IRCSs) known so far from the literature and identified the 2MASS counterparts of all IRCSs. Using 2MASS, IRAS and ISO SWS data, we investigate the infrared properties of IRCSs. We find that the infrared colors and temperatures of IRCSs—not only in the IRAS region but also in the near infrared—are between those for visual carbon stars and extreme carbon stars. The results in this paper strongly support the suggestion that the sequence of visual carbon stars → infrared carbon stars → extreme carbon stars is the evolutionary sequence in the AGB phase for carbon-rich stars. In addition, using the ISO SWS data, we find that an evolutionary sequence also exists within the IRCS stage.     

Formation of Carbon-Enhanced Metal-Poor RR Lyrae Stars

Carbon-enhanced metal-poor (CEMP) stars are considered to be related to the first generation of stars, and responsible for the chemical evolution of the early Galaxy. More than half of them are in binaries, and could be explained by the binary evolution, but the formation channel of them is still not fully understood. Among the hundreds of CEMP stars, there are nine CEMP RR Lyrae stars identified, and at least seven of which are very likely not binaries. The usual binary star evolution channel is difficult to produce such a single star, particularly that of carbon enrichment. One way in which such a single star might be produced is the merger of a helium white dwarf with a Hertzsprung gap (HG) star. We use a stellar evolution program to calculate the models of the merger remnants, and find that the models can reproduce the observed distribution of these CEMP single RR Lyrae stars in terms of surface temperature, gravity, and carbon abundance. Hence, it is extremely possible that the helium white dwarf and HG star merger model is one of the formation channels of the metal-poor carbon-rich RR Lyrae stars.     

Infrared study of the extreme carbon stars based on IRAS, 2MASS and ISO data

We collected 55 galactic extreme carbon stars from the published literature in this paper. Observational data from IRAS, 2MASS and ISO were analyzed. The results show that the infrared properties of extreme carbon stars are quite different to those for ordinary visual carbon stars. It is shown from IRAS and 2MASS photometric data that extreme carbon stars have much redder infrared colors not only in the far infrared, but also in the near infrared, hence they have much thicker ciucumstellar envelopes and mass loss. It is also indicated from IRAS Low-Resolution Spectra (LRS) and ISO Short Wavelength Spectra (SWS) that they have much redder infrared spectra from 2 μm to 45 μm. The above results are believed to be the signature of undergoing the last stages of AGB evolution for extreme carbon stars.     

How to drive roAp stars

Rapidly oscillating Ap stars constitute a unique class of pulsators with which to study non-radial oscillations under some — even for stars — unusual physical conditions. These stars are chemically peculiar, they have strong magnetic fields and they often pulsate in several high-order acoustic modes simultaneously. We discuss here an excitation mechanism for short-period oscillation modes based on the classical κ mechanism. We particularly stress the conditions that must be fulfilled for successful driving. Specifically, we discuss the roles of the chemical peculiarity and strong magnetic field on the oscillation modes and what separates these pulsators from δ Scuti and Am-type stars.     

Spectral analyses of [WCL]-type central stars

The optical spectra of the seven late-type Wolf-Rayet central stars NGC-40 (PNG 120.0+09.8, subtype [WC8]), He 2-99 (PNG 309.0–04.2, [WC9]), BD+30°3639 (PN G 064.7+05.0, [WC9]), CPD-56°8032 (PNG 332.9–09.9, [WC11]), He2-113 (PNG 321.0+03.9, [WC11]), M4-18 (PNG 146.7+07.6, [WC11]) and K2-16 (PNG 352.9+11.4, [WC11]) are analyzed by means of spherically expanding model atmospheres. The NLTE simulations account for the elements hydrogen, helium, carbon and oxygen. As main results effective temperature, element abundances and final velocity of the wind are determined for each star. Assuming distances or luminosities for the objects, also the stellar radii and the mass-loss rates can be fixed. The results of these analyses establish empirical constraints for the evolutionary status of WC-type central stars as post-AGB objects and provide input for modeling their planetary nebulae.     

Magnetic fields at the surfaces of stars

Summary Magnetic fields have now been detected in stars in several parts of the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram. Roughly dipolar fields ranging in strength between 3× 10² and 3×10⁴ G are found in many chemically peculiar A and B main sequence stars. Dipolar fields are also found in some 2–3% of white dwarfs, but with strengths between 1×10⁶ and 5×10⁸ G. In both these types of stars, the observed fields vary as the underlying star turns, but do not change in a secular manner. In solartype stars, structurally complex fields of a few kG are found with filling factors of the order of 0.1 to 0.8. Further indirect evidence of fields in cool main sequence stars is provided by detection of visible and ultraviolet line emission (chromospheric activity), x radiation (coronal matter), and giant starspots. In this review, we survey the observations of stellar magnetism in all these types of stars, as well as efforts to model the observed magnetic fields and associated photospheric peculiarities and activity.This article was processed by the author using the Springer-Verlag T_EX AAR macro package 1991.     

Modeling the evolution of Sakurai's Object

Sakurai's Object is a born again AGBstar of the very late thermal pulse flavor. In thiscontribution I will discuss new models of stellar evolution andnucleosynthesis models of this phase. Two most intriguing properties ofSakurai's Object have so far not been understood theoretically: the peculiar chemical appearance, in particular the high lithiumabundance, and the short time scale of only a few years on which thetransition from the dwarf configuration into the born again giantappearance has occurred. A new nucleosynthesis mode of hot hydrogen-deficient ³He burning can explain the extraordinarylithium abundance. During the thermal pulse ³He is ingested fromthe envelope together with the protons into the hot He-flashconvection zone. The first network calculations show that, due to thelarge ¹²C abundance protons are captured rather by carbon, thandestroy newly formed ⁷Be and ultimately ⁷Li. Moreover, the shortevolution time scale has been reproduced by making the assumption that the convective efficiency forelement mixing is smaller by two to three orders of magnitude thanpredicted by the mixing-length theory. As a result the main energygeneration from fast convective proton capture will occur at a largermass coordinate, closer to the surface and the expansion to the giantstate is accelerated to a few years, in excellent agreement with thebehavior of Sakurai's Object. This result represents an independent empiricalconstraint on the poorly known efficiency of element mixing inconvective zones of the stellar interior.     

Facilities at ARIES for the Nainital-Cape Survey

A collaborative programme searching for mmag pulsations in chemically peculiar stars in the northern hemisphere was initiated in 1997 between Nainital, India, and Cape Town, South Africa. It was therefore named as theNainital-Cape Survey programme. The detection limits imposed by the observing conditions (including atmospheric noise and telescope size) at both Manora Peak and Devasthal sites are described. The scintillation noise on the best photometric nights is≈ 0.1 to 0.2 mmag for these sites. Both places allow one to detect few mmag variation in bright stars(B ≤ 12 mag), and are therefore particularly well-suited for carrying out the proposed survey work. The main characteristics of the three-channel photometer developed at ARIES for carrying out the observations are also presented. This excellent instrument has been used extensively since 1999 at the f/13 Cassegrain focus of ARIES’ 104 cm telescope. In particular, it allowed the survey to result in the discovery of δ Scuti like pulsations in four Am stars, in one rapidly oscillating Ap star, and in a number of probable variables so far. The future prospects are then presented, which regard the acquisition of a high speed time series CCD photometer, a project to build a 3-metre class telescope at Devasthal, and collaborative observations with Indian and foreign astronomical sites.     

Discovery of magnetic fields in three He variable Bp stars with He and Si spots

It is essential for the understanding of stellar structure models of high mass stars to explain why constant stars, nonpulsating chemically peculiar hot Bp stars and pulsating stars co‐exist in the slowly pulsating B stars and β Cephei instability strips. We have conducted a search for magnetic fields in the four Bp stars HD55522, HD105382, HD131120, and HD138769 which previously have been wrongly identified as slowly pulsating B stars. A recent study of these stars using the Doppler Imaging technique revealed that the elements He and Si are inhomogeneously distributed on the stellar surface, causing the periodic variability. Using FORS 1 in spectropolarimetric mode at the VLT, we have acquired circular polarisation spectra to test the presence of a magnetic field in these stars. A variable magnetic field is clearly detected in HD55522 and HD105382, but no evidence for the existence of a magnetic field was found in HD131120. The presence of a magnetic field in HD138769 is suggested by one measurement at 3σ level. We discuss the occurrence of magnetic B stars among the confirmed pulsating B stars and find strong magnetic fields of order kG and oscillations to be mutually exclusive. (© 2007 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A semi-automatic procedure for abundance determination of A- and F-type stars

A variety of physical processes leading to different types of pulsations and chemical compositions are observed between A- and F-type stars. To investigate the underlying mechanisms responsible for these processes in stars with similar locations in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram, an accurate abundance determination is needed, among others. Here, we describe a semi-automatic procedure developed to determine chemical abundances of various elements ranging from helium to mercury for this type of stars. We test our procedure on synthetic spectra, demonstrating that our procedure provides abundances consistent with the input values, even when the stellar parameters are offset by reasonable observational errors. For a fast-rotating star such as Vega, our analysis is consistent with those carried out with other plane-parallel model atmospheres. Simulations show that the offsets from the input abundances increase for stars with low inclination angle of about  4°  . For this inclination angle, we also show that the distribution of the iron abundance found in different regions is bimodal. Furthermore, the effect of rapid rotation can be seen in the peculiar behaviour of the Hβ line.     

Catalogue of averaged stellar effective magnetic fields – II. Re-discussion of chemically peculiar A and B stars

This paper presents a catalogue and the method of determining averaged quadratic effective magnetic fields  〈 B _e〉  for 1212 main-sequence and giant stars, and 11 white dwarf stars. The catalogue includes stars that are members of several open clusters. We have compiled measurements of the longitudinal magnetic field for those stars, which were scattered in the existing literature. A new parameter, magnetization (MA), has been defined, and we present values of MA for stars of various spectral classes. Our sample includes a subset of 610 chemically peculiar early-type stars. We confirm the conclusion of our previous study that the number distribution of all chemically peculiar stars versus the averaged magnetic field strength is described by a decreasing exponential function. Relations of this type also hold for stars of all the analysed subclasses of chemical peculiarity. Magnetization tends to correlate with the effective temperature only at high MA, for He-weak and He-rich stars.     

Magnetic field measurements of CP stars from hydrogen line cores

We present the results of measurements of magnetic fields of chemically peculiar (CP) stars, performed from the shifts between the circularly polarized components of metal and hydrogen lines (the Babcock method). The observations are carried out with an analyzer of circular polarization at the 6‐m telescope of the SAO RAS. We found that for the absolute majority of the objects studied (in 22 CP stars out of 23), the magnetic fields, determined from the Zeeman shifts in the hydrogen line cores, are significantly lower than those obtained from metal lines in the same spectra. This disparity varies between the stars. We show that instrumental effects can not produce the above features, and discuss the possible causes of the observed effect. The discovered condition reveals a more complicated structure of magnetic fields of CP stars than a simple dipole, in particular, a reduction of the field strength in the upper atmosphere with the vertical gradient, significantly higher than the dipole (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)