New face in the spectral behavior of Capella in the UV

We present low and high resolution ultraviolet spectra of the Capella spectroscopic binary system from the observations taken by the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) during the period between 1978–1990 and 1978–1995. Thirteen profile of Capella showing variations of line fluxes at different orbital phases are presented. This paper focuses on the C IV emission line at 1550 Å produced in the transition region of the secondary star and Mg II emission lines at 2800 Å produced in the stellar chromosphere of the secondary star by calculating spectral line fluxes. Our results show that there are significant variations of line fluxes with time. These spectral variations are similar to that found in the EUV by Dupree and Brickhouse (in Int. Astron. Union Symp. 176P:184D, 1995) in the UV for H 1 Ly?α by Ayres et al. (in Astrophys. J. 402:710A, 1993), and in the near IR by Katsova (in Astrophys. Space Sci. 252:427K, 1997). We attribute these variations in line fluxes to the variations of both density and temperature in the line emitting regions as a result of the intermediate-scale magnetic fields responsible for stellar activity leading to these spectral variations.     

Spectral behavior of AE Aqr between high and low states in the UV

We present ultraviolet spectra of the AE Aqr binary system taken by the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) during the period from 1978 to 1993, to accomplish a large scale study of what happens to the ultraviolet fluxes of different emission lines during different orbital phases. Five profiles of AE Aqr binary system show variations of line fluxes at different orbital phases are presented. We concentrated on studying N V emission line at 1240 Å, O I emission line at 1306 Å, He II emission line at 1640 Å, N III emission line at 1749 Å and Si III emission line at 1892 Å, produced in the line emitting gas (Eracleous et al., 1994, Eracleous and Horne, 1996), by calculating the line fluxes of these spectral lines. Our results show that there are spectral variations of line fluxes for the aforementioned emission lines at different times, similar to the light curves found for AE Aqr binary system by using ASCA, XMM – Newton and Chandra X-ray observations (Mauche, 2006). We attributed these spectral variations to the variations of the mass-transfer rate (Ikhsanov et al., 2004) and to the collisions between the compact blobs and the fluffy blobs, where the collisions are supersonic, shocking the gas, causing heating, then expansion (Eracleous et al., 1994, Eracleous and Horne, 1996, Horne, 2009).     

Spectral and photometric evolution of the symbiotic nova HM Sagittae in 1986–2002

We present the results of our photometric and spectroscopic observations of the symbiotic nova HM Sge in 1994–2002. After its outburst in 1975, the star was shown to fade in the U, B, V bands at a rate of about \(0\mathop m\limits_. 05\) per year. The behavior of the B-V and U-B color indices reflects the variations of emission lines and, in part, the fading of the erupted component. We have studied the evolution of the emission spectrum in the range from Hδ to λ7751 Å over the period 1986–2002. The absolute fluxes in the hydrogen lines decreased by half, the ionization of the gaseous envelope continued to increase, and the Raman O VI lines appeared and strengthened. The significant (threefold) decrease in the ratio of the auroral and nebular O III lines is interpreted as a drop in the electron temperature of the envelope as its density decreased by a factor of about 1.5. We have measured the absolute intensity of the near-infrared continuum up to 10 000 Å and show that the infrared continuum follows the pulsations of the Mira star in the system HM Sge. We conclude that the dust envelope around the cool component became noticeably transparent in the 1990s.     

Ultraviolet spectroscopic study of EU UMa and ST LMi from HST and IUE observations

We present the first orbit-resolved ultraviolet spectroscopic observations of the two polar systems EU UMa and ST LMi obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope Faint Object Spectrograph (HST FOS) and International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) during their intermediate- and low-luminosity states in the period between 1982 and 2003. Different line profiles of the two systems showing variations of line fluxes at different orbital phases are presented. This paper focuses on the C IV emission line at 1550 Å produced in the accretion stream, presenting calculations of spectral line fluxes, ultraviolet luminosities, and accretion rates for the two systems. Our analysis of the spectroscopic data reveals changes with orbital phase of the emission line profiles that correspond to the light curve variations of both EU UMa and ST LMi in the optical and infrared bands. The variations of line fluxes are attributed to variations of both density and temperature as a result of a changing rate of mass transfer from the secondary star to the white dwarf. The ultraviolet luminosity and accretion rate of EU UMa are smaller than the ultraviolet luminosity and accretion rate of ST LMi.     

Étude du système AX Mon

We have divided this investigation into four main parts. In the first part, we study the ways in which the envelope affects the composition and the spectral variations, and the orbital motion acts on the envelope absorption intensities and how the extent of the envelope constantly decreases during the 11 yr of our observations. This phenomenon regarding AX Mon has not been previously reported in the literature. However, it explains the appearance of the α Cygni spectrum which occurs according to an arbitrary integral multiple of the orbital periods. Two absorbing envelopes seem to exist: an exterior shell of hydrogen and an interior metallic shell, which appears only when the last hydrogen line of the Balmer series of the envelope is H 27. In the second part, the study of the line Feii λ 4233 shows the influence of the orbital motion on the profile and, in particular, its effect on the absorption in the envelope. The decrease of the extent of the envelope is shown by means of a series of ‘isophase curves’, which indicates that there is maximum emission whenever, there is maximum envelope extension. The existence of satellite components to the red or violet gives evidence for the existence of heterogeneous velocity layers, contracting more rapidly than the bulk of the envelope during the cycle 100 and expanding more rapidly during cycle 116. The study of theV/R ratio shows that this ratio is independent of the orbital motion and always remains bigger than one. Some layers fall down to the photosphere as the envelope decreases (cycle 100 to 108). These layers participate in the general motion of the envelope (cycles 109 to 112) and then are strongly accelerated towards the border when the general contraction in the envelope increases again (cycles 112 to 116). The nature of the radial velocities indicates a pulsation of the emission layers which is connected with the orbital motion. The direction of the acceleration in the internal layers is reversed from apastron to periastron, while at the same time the acceleration of the internal layers increases. These motions cause changes in the density which could explain the variations of intensity in the spectrum of the envelope. In the third part, we study the photometric variations referring to three time-scales:

1. very short time-scale variations (≤4 hr). These variations can be important, reaching 0.1 mag, and can be described by a model matter ejection in very hot gaseous streams.
2. short time-scale variations (>1 day). These variations are connected with the intensity of the satellite absorptions of the line Feii λ 4233 and could be interpreted as absorption variations in the low layers of the envelope.
3. long time-scale variations (≤3 yr). We observe a perceptible decrease of the amplitude of (b) type variations, but no change in their mean value. We can then determine the AX Mon indices (V=6.77;B?V=+0.33;U?B=?0.66). The amplitude of the variations seems to increase as the envelope increases.

In the fourth part, we show that the spectral type of the hotter star can be estimated to be B0.5 V and for the cold star to be K2 II. The mass-ratio is estimated by choosing the velocity curve of the α Cygni spectrum to represent the B star, this choice leading to results which agree very well with the observations. In the resulting model, the secondary star fills the Roche's lobe and mass exchange can occur between the K star and the B star. The large value of the inclination (i=79°) leads to a quasiequatorial observation and explains why, in spite of the small eccentricity, we can observe tidal effects and the resulting spectral changes. The study of the evolution of the system by means of the theories by Crawford and Plavec shows that the mass exchange began with the commencement of nuclear reactions at the border of the B star. During this evolution, the role of the two components has changed, the original primary becoming the secondary. In this assumption, the present system has exchanged about half of the permitted mass. The emissive zone radius is estimated to be 70R _⊙ by means of Sobolev's theory. This zone is entirely contained within the Roche's lobe of the star and is very sensitive to the gravitational action of the K star.     

Photometric and spectroscopic study of nova Cassiopeiae 1995 (V723 Cas)

We report an 11-year long series of U BV RI observations and the results of our monitoring of the classical slow nova V723 Cas. We analyze the spectra of this star taken using the 6-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory of the Russian Academy of Sciences with a spectral resolution of 3.5–8.5 Å during the nebular stage and at the supersoft X-ray source phase (SSS). This systemhas a large orbital inclination and its orbital period is equal to 0.693265 days. The orbital period increases. We found low-amplitude light variations with the orbital period during the early stages of the outburst and even at the pre-maximum stage. The orbital light curve at the nebular stage is asymmetric and gradually increases its amplitude up to V=2 ^m in 2006. The asymmetry of the light curve of V723 Cas can be explained by the reflection effect, eclipse of the extended accretion disk, and high rate of mass transfer in the system. The light curve of V723 Cas has developed a plateau due to the SSS phase. In the spectrum of V723 Cas the transition to the SSS phase shows up in an order-of-magnitude increase of the flux of the [Fe X] λ 6374 Å emission, which forms in the expanding envelope. In addition, narrow emission lines λ 6466.4 Å (O V) and λ 6500.5 Å (Fe XVII) also emerged in the spectrum.     

Spectral behavior of AM Her and QQ Vul in high and intermediate states in the UV

We present low resolution UV spectra of two polar systems, AM Her and QQ Vul from the observations taken by the IUE (International Ultraviolet Explorer) of the period between 1978–1996 and 1983–1996 for both systems respectively, to accomplish a large scale study of what happens to the ultraviolet flux of C IV 1550 Å spectral line during different orbital phases. Two spectra for both systems showing the variations in line fluxes and line widths at different orbital phases in high and intermediate states are presented. We concentrated on calculating the line fluxes and line widths of C IV 1550 Å emission line originating in the accretion stream. Our results show that there is spectral variability for the aformentioned physical parameters at different times, similar to that known for the light curve (Heise and Verbunt, Astron. Astrophys. 189:112, 1988; Gansicke et al., Astron. Astrophys. 303:127, 1995; Kafka and Honeycutt, Astron. J. 125:2188K, 2003). We attribute it to the variations of both density and temperature as a result of changing the mass transfer rate (Hutchings et al., Astron. J. 123:2841H, 2002; King and Lasota, Astron. Astrophys. 140L:16K, 1984) which is responsible for this spectral variability. Also we found that the line fluxes of AM Her are greater than the line fluxes of QQ Vul, while the line widths of both systems are approximately the same.     

Are the W Ursae Majoris-type systems EK Comae Berenices and UX Eridani surrounded by circumstellar matter?

The variations of the orbital periods of two nearly neglected W UMa-type eclipsing binaries, EK Comae Berenices and UX Eridani, are presented through a detailed analysis of the O–C diagrams. It is found that the orbital period of EK Com is decreasing and the period of UX Eridani is increasing, and several sudden jumps have occurred in the orbital periods of both binaries. We analyze the mechanism(s), which might underlie the changes of the orbital periods of both systems, and obtain some new results. The long-term decrease of the orbital period of EK Comae Berenices might be caused by the decrease of the orbital angular momentum due to a magnetic stellar wind (MSW) or by mass transfer from the more massive to the less massive component. The secular increase in the orbital period of UX Eridani might be caused by mass transfer from the less massive to the more massive star. The possible mechanisms, which underlie the sudden changes in the orbital periods of the close binary systems are as the followings: (1) the variations of the structure due to the variation of the magnetic field; (2) the rapid mass exchange between the close binaries and their circumstellar matter. Finally, the evolutionary status of the systems EK Comae Berenices and UX Eridani is discussed.     

Period studies of classical Algol-type binaries II: UX Leo,RW Mon,EQ Ori,XZ UMa and AX Vul

This study presents an investigation of the orbital period variations of five Algol type binaries, UX Leo, RW Mon, EQ Ori, XZ UMa and AX Vul based on all available minima times. The O–C diagrams of all systems exhibit a periodic variation superimposed on a downward parabolic segment. The mass loss due to magnetic braking effect in the cooler components is assumed to account for the parabolic variation with a downward shape, while it is suggested that the light-time effect (LITE) due to an unseen component around the eclipsing binaries explains the tilted sinusoidal changes in their O–C diagrams. The orbital period decrease rates for the systems are estimated as approximately between about 0.7 and 2.5 s per century. It is clearly seen that mass loss effect is more dominant than the expected mass transfer for classical Algols in this study. The minimum mass of the probable third bodies around the eclipsing pairs was calculated to be ?0.5 M_⊙ except for UX Leo, in which it was estimated to be approximately 0.9 M_⊙. In order to search for third lights in the light curves of five systems, the V-light curves of the systems were analyzed and their physical and photometric parameters were determined. For UX Leo, a significant third light contribution was determined. We found a very small third light that can be tested using multi-color light curves, for RW Mon, EQ Ori and XZ UMa, while a third light for AX Vul could not be exposed.     

A study of the B[e] star AS 160

We present the results of our study of the poorly known B[e] star AS 160=IRAS 07370-2438. The high-resolution spectrum obtained with the 6-m BTA telescope exhibits strong emission in the Hα line with a two-component profile, indicating that the gaseous envelope of the star is nonspherical. Previously nonanalyzed photometric data suggest the presence of a compact dust envelope. The fundamental parameters of the star (log L/L_⊙ = 4.4 ± 0.2, v sin i = 200 km s^?1 and its distance (3.5±0.5 kpc) have been determined for the first time and are in agreement with published estimates of the MK spectral type of the object (B1.5 V:). Analysis of the object's properties leads us to suggest that this is a binary system that belongs to our recently identified type of Be stars with warm dust.     

Orbital Parameters of the Binary Companion in o and Using Spectrum Disentangling

o And is one of the most frequently observed Be stars, both in photometry and spectroscopy. It is a multiple system of at least four stars (a Be star, a close binary of spectral types B7 and B8, and an A star). For over a century, numerous observers report a highly variable spectrum, photometric changes, and a substantial range of radial velocity. The star has changed back and forth between a shell-type and a normal B-type star. The last emission phase started in 1992 and ended in 2000. Analysis of the dynamical spectra at spectral lines Mg II 4481 Å and He I 6678 Å and radial velocity curves shows that the two binary components can be resolved. We decomposed the triple star spectra and computed orbital parameters of the binary companion using the KOREL code for spectrum disentangling.     

Photometric and spectroscopic evolution of the symbiotic nova V1016 Cygni after its outburst

We have constructed the light curves of the symbiotic nova V1016 Cyg for the period 1971–2007 in a homogeneous photometric system close to UBV using our observations with the Zeiss-600 SAI telescope. Based on the observational data obtained with the 125-cm SAI telescope in 2000–2007, we have performed absolute spectrophotometry of the star in the range λ3700–9300 Å. The derived line intensities are compared with the data of other authors in the preceding years (1965–1988). The behavior of nebular lines showed the variations in electron density and, probably, electron temperature in the [OIII] emission region caused by a variable stellar wind from the hot component. All the available observations of the star confirm the theoretical conclusion that the nova-like outburst of V1016 Cyg was produced by a thermonuclear flash in the accreted envelope of a white dwarf.     

Photometric variability and spectrum of the post-AGB candidate IRAS 19200+3457

We present our photoelectric and spectroscopic observations of the early B supergiant with an IR excess IRAS 19200+3457, a poorly known post-AGB candidate. The star has been found to be photometrically variable. We observed rapid irregular brightness variations with amplitudes up to \(\Delta V = 0\mathop .\limits^m 4, \Delta B = 0\mathop .\limits^m 4\), and \(\Delta U = 0\mathop .\limits^m 5\). IRAS 19200+3457 and three other hot post-AGB stars—V886 Her, V1853 Cyg, and LSIV—12°111—exhibit a similar variability pattern. Our low-resolution spectroscopic observations in the period 2001–2003 show that the spectrum of IRAS 19200+3457 represents an early B star with hydrogen emission lines originating from a circumstellar gaseous envelope. The HeI λ5876 Å, λ6678 Å, λ7065 Å, and OI λ7774 Å lines are in absorption. The hydrogen and, probably, HeI lines proved to be variable. Our observations confirm the conclusion that IRAS 19200+3457 belongs to the class of intermediate-mass protoplanetary objects.     

Soft X-ray Fluxes of Major Flares Far Behind the Limb as Estimated Using STEREO EUV Images

With increasing solar activity since 2010, many flares from the backside of the Sun have been observed by the Extreme Ultraviolet Imager (EUVI) on either of the twin STEREO spacecraft. Our objective is to estimate their X-ray peak fluxes from EUVI data by finding a relation of the EUVI with GOES X-ray fluxes. Because of the presence of the Fe xxiv line at 192 Å, the response of the EUVI 195 Å channel has a secondary broad peak around 15 MK, and its fluxes closely trace X-ray fluxes during the rise phase of flares. If the flare plasma is isothermal, the EUVI flux should be directly proportional to the GOES flux. In reality, the multithermal nature of the flare and other factors complicate the estimation of the X-ray fluxes from EUVI observations. We discuss the uncertainties, by comparing GOES fluxes with the high cadence EUV data from the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA) on board the Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). We conclude that the EUVI 195 Å data can provide estimates of the X-ray peak fluxes of intense flares (e.g., above M4 in the GOES scale) to small uncertainties. Lastly we show examples of intense flares from regions far behind the limb, some of which show eruptive signatures in AIA images.     

Symbiotic halo star LT Del: Phase variations of the emission spectrum and parameters of the cool component

Long-term photometric and spectroscopic observations of the yellow symbiotic star LT Del are analyzed. UBV light curves are presented. Based on the observations of 20 cycles, we have refined the orbital period of the star, P = 476 _· ^d 0 ± 1 _· ^d 0. The brightness has been found to be unstable at some orbital phases with an amplitude up to 0 _· ^m 3. We have measured the fluxes in hydrogen and helium emission lines and in continuum and investigated their relationship to the orbital period. The fluxes in hydrogen and HeI lines follow the UBV light curves in phase; the He II 4686 Å flux does not depend on the phase and is constant within the accuracy of our measurements. The intensity ratio of the 4686 Å andHβ lines changes from 0.2 to 0.9 over the period. We interpret the spectroscopic observations based on the hypothesis of heating and ionization of the stellar wind from a cool component by high-frequency radiation from a hot star with a temperature of 105 K. We have estimated the spectral type of the cool star from our photometry and its continuum energy distribution as a bright K2–4 red giant branch halo star. The bolometric luminosity and mass loss rate have been estimated for the K component to be L _bol ～ 700L _⊙ and \(\dot{M}\) ～ 10^?8 M _⊙ yr^?1, respectively.     

The photometric variability of the WC9-type Wolf-Rayet star WR 103

We discuss a collection of archival multi-colour photometric data of the variable WC9-type Wolf-Rayet star WR?103?=?HD?164270 observed over a time interval of eleven years. The photometric systems used are Walraven VBLUW, Bessel UBV and Strömgren uvby. The purpose is to search for periodicity and to disentangle continuum and line emission variations. The star turns out to be stochastically variable in all time intervals under consideration. The time scale of the variations hovers between a few hours to a few days. The continuum light amplitude varies from ～ 0.^m1 in the visual to ～ 0.^m2 in the UV. Emission-line variations at the level of 1–5 % percent are detectable in all pass bands, but are largest in the Strömgren b and Walraven V filters, due to the prominent presence of the Ciii emission lines (blended with a much weaker Oii line) at 4650 and 5696?Å?emission lines, respectively. The relative large light amplitude of WR?103 resembles that of WN8-type stars; a possible link between the two is discussed. Stellar (multi-mode) pulsations are likely the cause of the photometric variability. We also discuss the exceptional status of WR?103 within the class of WC9-type stars which are almost photometrically stable. A striking phenomenon observed for the first time in WR?103: a three days lasting flux enhancement of the Ciii line by at least 10 % was observed in August 1998. Such strong spectroscopic flare-like events are very seldom observed in WR stars. So far, the one of WR?103 had the longest duration ever observed.     

Investigation of the spectroscopic variability of the Wolf-Rayet star HD 192163

Based on 24 high-resolution echelle spectrograms of the Wolf-Rayet star HD 192163 taken in 2005–2007 at the Cassegrain focus of the 2-m Zeiss-2000 telescope at the Shemakha Astrophysical Observatory (National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan), we have investigated the profiles of five emission lines: He II 4859, He II 5411, CIV 5808, He I 5875, (He II + Hα) 6560. We have analyzed the echelle spectrograms using the DECH20 code. Various emission line parameters have been determined: the equivalent widths, radial velocities, central intensities, and FWHMs. The violet wing of the He II + Hα emission band has been found to be variable (from 6496 Å to 6532 Å). Significant differences in the equivalent widths and radial velocities of the He II + Hα emission band in 2005 and 2007 were revealed. This can be a manifestation of long-term variations in the star HD 192163. We have confirmed that HD 192163 belongs to the WN6 spectral subtype.     

Stars with discrepant v sin i as derived from Ca II λ 3933 Å and Mg II λ 4481 Å lines. III. Stars with v sin i (λ 3933 Å) < v sin i (λ 4481 Å)

Axial rotation of a star plays an important role in its evolution, physical conditions in its atmosphere and the appearance of its spectrum. We analyzed CCD spectra of nine stars for which the projected rotational velocity derived from the Ca II line at λ 3933 Å was remarkably lower than the one derived from the MgII line at λ 4481 Å. We derived effective temperatures and surface gravities using published uvbyβ photometries, and computed synthetic spectra. Comparing the observed line profiles of the two lines with the computed ones, we estimated the values of v sin i. One of the stars, HD44783, is a Be-star which, besides the narrow absorptions in the spectrum originating in its circumstellar envelope, also has lines of interstellar origin. We also found indications of circumstellar matter in the spectrum of HD25152. In the spectra of the remaining seven stars the narrow components in the Ca II λ 3933 Å line as well as narrow absorptions in the Na I λ 5889.951 Å (D1) and λ 5895.924 Å (D2) lines are of interstellar origin. In HD114376 there are two systems of interstellar components, thus disclosing two different interstellar clouds in the direction of the star. In the spectrum of HD138527 signs of a possible companion were detected, the emission of which contributes 15% to the total light of the system.     

The intensity variation of the atomic oxygen red line during morning and evening twilight on 9–10 April 1969

During the evening of 9 April and the morning of 10 April 1969, the twilight zenith intensity of the atomic oxygen red line OI(³P-¹D) at 6300 Å was measured at the Blue Hill Observatory (42°N, 17°W). At the same time incoherent scatter radar data were being obtained at the Millstone Hill radar site 50 km distant. We have used a diurnal model of the mid-latitude F-region to calculate the ionospheric structure over Millstone Hill conditions similar to 9–10 April 1969. The measured electron temperature, ion temperature, and electron density at 800 km are used as boundary conditions for the model calculations. The diurnal variation of neutral composition and temperature were obtained from the OGO-6 empirical model and the neutral winds were derived from a semiempirical three-dimensional dynamic model of the neutral thermosphere. The solar EUV flux was adjusted to yield reasonable agreement between the calculated and observed ionospheric properties.This paper presents the results of these model computations and calculations of the red line intensity. The 6300 Å emission includes contributions from photoelectron excitation, dissociative recombination, Schumann-Runge photodissociation and thermal electron impact. The variations of these four components for morning and evening twilight between 90–120° solar zenith angles, and their relative contributions to the total 6300 Å emission line intensity, are presented and the total is compared to the observations. For this particular day the Schumann-Runge photodissociation component, calculated using the solar fluxes tabulated by Ackermann (1970), is the dominant component of the morning twilight 6300 Å emission. During evening twilight it is necessary to utilize a lower O₂ density than for the morning twilight in order to bring the calculated and observed 6300 Å emission rates into agreement. The implication that there may be a diurnal variation in the O₂ density at the base of the thermosphere is discussed in the light of available experimental data and current theoretical ideas.     

Disparity of spectral behavior of RR Tel and RX Pup in the UV

The main aim of this study is to use archival low-dispersion spectra from the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) in an attempt to follow up the spectral behavior of two symbiotic Mira systems RR Tel and RX Pup of the period from 1978–1995 and 1979–1989 for two systems respectively. We concentrated on studying N IV 1486 Å intercombination line, coming from the emission nebulae (Bryan and Kwok, 1991, Muerset et al., 1991, Murset and Nussbaumer, 1994), by calculating the line fluxes and line widths of N IV 1486 Å. We found that there is a disparity of spectral variability for these physical parameters at different times for both systems. For RR Tel, both line fluxes and line widths are increasing with the phase, while for RX Pup, both line fluxes and line widths are decreasing with the phase. There is a relation between the parameters of this emission line (line flux, line width) and phase, which we attribute to the variations of temperature of the emission nebulae at different times, as a result of the activity of the hot component.