The δ Scuti star 38 o1 Eri

We present and discuss 247 high dispersion échelle spectra of the δ Scuti star 38 o ¹ Eri. We find at least three periods, but all are affected by aliasing problems. We attempt to identify the modes by a technique involving both temporal and spatial pre-whitening. All modes are of high degree, probably ℓ≈4 and ℓ≈7.     

A search for CO+ in planetary nebulae

We have carried out a systematic search for the molecular ion CO⁺ in a sample of eight protoplanetary and planetary nebulae in order to determine the origin of the unexpectedly strong HCO⁺ emission previously detected in these sources. An understanding of the HCO⁺ chemistry may provide direct clues for the physical and chemical evolution of planetary nebulae. We find that the integrated intensity of the CO⁺ line may be correlated with that of HCO⁺, suggesting that the reaction of CO⁺ with molecular hydrogen may be an important formation route for HCO⁺ in these planetary nebulae.     

Radiative decay of the 4d5(6S)5p z5,7Po states in Tc ii: comparison along the homologous and isoelectronic sequences. Application to astrophysics

Using three independent theoretical approaches (CA, HFR + CP, AUTOSTRUCTURE), oscillator strengths have been calculated for a set of Tc  ii transitions of astrophysical interest and the reliability of their absolute scale has been assessed. The examination of the spectra emitted by some Ap stars has allowed the identification of Tc  ii transitions in HD 125248. This Tc  ii detection should however await confirmation from spectral synthesis relying on dedicated model atmospheres. New partition functions are also provided for Tc  i , Tc  ii and Tc  iii for temperatures ranging between 4000 and 13 000 K.     

SuperWASP-N extrasolar planet candidates from fields 06h < RA < 16h

The Wide Angle Search for Planets (WASP) survey currently operates two installations, designated SuperWASP-N and SuperWASP-S, located in the Northern and Southern hemispheres, respectively. These installations are designed to provide high time-resolution photometry for the purpose of detecting transiting extrasolar planets, asteroids, and transient events. Here, we present results from a transit-hunting observing campaign using SuperWASP-N covering a right ascension (RA) range of 06^h < RA < 16^h. This paper represents the fifth and final in the series of transit candidates released from the 2004 observing season. In total, 729 335 stars from 33 fields were monitored with 130 566 having sufficient precision to be scanned for transit signatures. Using a robust transit detection algorithm and selection criteria, six stars were found to have events consistent with the signature of a transiting extrasolar planet based on the photometry, including the known transiting planet XO-1b. These transit candidates are presented here along with discussion of follow-up observations and the expected number of candidates in relation to the overall observing strategy.     

Effective collision strengths for fine-structure forbidden transitions among the 3s23p3 levels of K v

In wind-fed X-ray binaries the accreting matter is Compton-cooled and falls freely on to the compact object. The matter has a modest angular momentum l and accretion is quasi-spherical at large distances from the compact object. Initially small non-radial velocities grow in the converging supersonic flow and become substantial in the vicinity of the accretor. The streamlines with l >( GMR ∗)^1/2 (where M and R ∗ are the mass and radius of the compact object) intersect outside R ∗ and form a two-dimensional caustic which emits X-rays. The streamlines with low angular momentum, l <( GMR ∗)^1/2, run into the accretor. If the accretor is a neutron star, a large X-ray luminosity results. We show that the distribution of accretion rate/luminosity over the star surface is sensitive to the angular momentum distribution of the accreting matter. The apparent luminosity depends on the side from which the star is observed and can change periodically with the orbital phase of the binary. The accretor then appears as a 'Moon-like' X-ray source.     

ASCA spectroscopy of the hard X-ray emission from the colliding wind interaction in γ2 Velorum

We discuss an ASCA observation of the eccentric WC8+O7.5 III binary γ ² Velorum near apastron. The X-ray spectrum is compared with two previous observations obtained when the system was near periastron. All three spectra display a hard-emission component that undergoes strong variability over the orbital cycle. The properties of the hard X-ray emission of γ ² Vel are constrained by taking into account the contribution from contaminating soft X-ray sources in the vicinity of γ ² Vel. We find that the observed variations are in qualitative agreement with the predictions of colliding wind models. We investigate for the first time the effect of uncertainties in the chemical composition of the X-ray emitting plasma on our understanding of the high-energy properties of the wind interaction region. Our results indicate that these uncertainties significantly affect the derived shock temperature and absorption column, but play a smaller role in determining the intrinsic X-ray luminosity of the colliding wind zone. We further find that the intrinsic luminosity from the hard X-ray component in γ ² Vel does not follow the 1/ D distance relation expected from simple models of adiabatic shocks.     

2–16 μm spectroscopy of micron-sized enstatite (Mg,Fe)2Si2O6 silicates from primitive chondritic meteorites

We present mid-infrared spectra from individual enstatite silicate grains separated from primitive type 3 chondritic meteorites. The 2–16 μm transmission spectra were taken with microspectroscopic Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) techniques as part of a project to produce a data base of infrared spectra from minerals of primitive meteorites for comparison with astronomical spectra. In general, the wavelength of enstatite bands increases with the proportion of Fe. However, the wavelengths of the strong En₁₀₀ bands at 10.67 and 11.67 decrease with increasing Fe content. The 11.67-μm band exhibits the largest compositional wavelength shift (twice as large as any other). Our fits of the linear dependence of the pyroxene peaks indicate that crystalline silicate peaks in the 10-μm spectra of Herbig AeBe stars, HD 179218 and 104237, are matched by pyroxenes of En₉₀₋₉₂ and En₇₈₋₈₀, respectively. If these simplistic comparisons with the astronomical grains are correct, then the enstatite pyroxenes seen in these environments are more Fe-rich than are the forsterite (Fo₁₀₀) grains identified in the far-infrared which are found to be Mg end-member grains. This differs from the general composition of type 3 chondritic meteoritic grains in which the pyroxenes are more Mg-rich than are the olivines from the same meteorite.     

Probing the wind–wind collision in γ2 Velorum with high-resolution Chandra X-ray spectroscopy: evidence for sudden radiative braking and non-equilibrium ionization

We present a new analysis of an archived Chandra HETGS X-ray spectrum of the WR+O colliding wind binary γ² Velorum. The spectrum is dominated by emission lines from astrophysically abundant elements: Ne, Mg, Si, S and Fe. From a combination of broad-band spectral analysis and an analysis of line flux ratios we infer a wide range of temperatures in the X-ray-emitting plasma (∼4–40 MK). As in the previously published analysis, we find the X-ray emission lines are essentially unshifted, with a mean FWHM of  1240 ± 30 km s⁻¹  . Calculations of line profiles based on hydrodynamical simulations of the wind–wind collision predict lines that are blueshifted by a few hundred  km s⁻¹  . The lack of any observed shift in the lines may be evidence of a large shock-cone opening half-angle (>85°), and we suggest this may be evidence of sudden radiative braking. From the R and G ratios measured from He-like forbidden-intercombination-resonance triplets we find evidence that the Mg  xi emission originates from hotter gas closer to the O star than the Si  xiii emission, which suggests that non-equilibrium ionization may be present.     

A source of extended HCO+ emission in young stellar objects

Anomalous molecular line profile shapes are the strongest indicators of the presence of the infall of gas that is associated with star formation. Such profiles are seen for well-known tracers, such as HCO⁺, CS and H₂CO. In certain cases, optically thick emission lines with appropriate excitation criteria may possess the asymmetric double-peaked profiles that are characteristic of infall. However, recent interpretations of the HCO⁺ infall profile observed towards the protostellar infall candidate B335 have revealed a significant discrepancy between the inferred overall column density of the molecule and that which is predicted by standard dark cloud chemical modelling.
This paper presents a model for the source of the HCO⁺ emission excess. Observations have shown that, in low-mass star-forming regions, the collapse process is invariably accompanied by the presence of collimated outflows; we therefore propose the presence of an interface region around the outflow in which the chemistry is enriched by the action of jets. This hypothesis suggests that the line profiles of HCO⁺, as well as other molecular species, may require a more complex interpretation than can be provided by simple, chemically quiescent, spherically symmetric infall models.
The enhancement of HCO⁺ depends primarily on the presence of a shock-generated radiation field in the interface. Plausible estimates of the radiation intensity imply molecular abundances that are consistent with those observed. Further, high-resolution observations of an infall-outflow source show HCO⁺ emission morphology that is consistent with that predicted by this model.     

IRAS 22036+5306: an Al2O3 oxide-dominated post-AGB star

Radiative transfer modelling of the Infrared Space Observatory ( ISO ) spectrum of IRAS 22036+5306 has shown that its unusual 11-μm band can be suitably modelled with an alumina-olivine mixture substantially dominated by the former. The results of this work add further credence to recent findings that significant amounts of Al  ₂O₃  dust grains are present in the dust shells of stars near or beyond the tip of the asymptotic giant branch. Indeed, in the case of IRAS 22036+5306, Al  ₂O₃  dominates the dust composition to the extent that it shifts the 9.8-μm band due to amorphous silicates to 11 μm. IRAS 22036+5306 may be an unusual case in that the inner dust torus is maintained at a sufficiently high temperature for Al  ₂O₃  condensation, but not silicate.     

Class II maser candidates in substituted methanol: CH3OD, 13CH3OH, CH318OH and CH3SH

We investigate the possibility of interstellar masers in transitions of the methanol isotopomers CH₃OD, ¹³CH₃OH and CH₃¹⁸OH, and of CH₃SH. The model used, in which masers are pumped through the first and second torsionally excited states by IR radiation, has accounted successfully for the Class II masers in main species methanol, ¹²CH₃¹⁶OH. Several potential maser candidates are identified for CH₃OD, their detectability depending on the enrichment of this species in star-forming regions. In ¹³CH₃OH and CH₃¹⁸OH the best maser candidates are direct counterparts of the well-known 6.7- and 12.2-GHz methanol masers, but the lower interstellar abundance of these substituted species means that the expected brightness is greatly reduced. The maser candidates in CH₃SH are also weak. By comparing these species we find that the large b -component of the dipole moment in methanol plays a significant role in its propensity to form masers, as does the strong torsion–rotation interaction due to the light hydroxyl frame. Thus the exceptional brightness of interstellar methanol masers is due to a favourable combination of molecular properties as well as high interstellar abundance.