Molecular bands in the spectra of M stars

The profiles of the main molecular bands in the spectral-energy distributions (SEDs) of M stars have been calculated. The calculations of the individual band profiles were performed using the just-overlapping-lines approximation. Information about the oscillator strengths and the sources of the spectroscopic data for specific transitions between electronic levels of molecules is provided. The calculations of theoretical SEDs for M stars were performed using available lists of molecular lines for sources of bound-bound opacity in the atmospheres of oxygen-sequence stars. The observed SEDs of the oxygen-sequence red giant HD 148783 (30 Her) and the M dwarf 2MASS J22424129?2659272 are reproduced. The dependence of the calculated SEDs of the M giant on the adopted metallicity and carbon abundance is studied. The observed SEDs of HD 148783 and 2MASS J22424129?2659272 are described well by theoretical spectra calculated for model atmospheres with T _eff/log g/[Fe/H] = 3250/ ? 0.4/0 and 3000/5.0/0, respectively.     

Optical identifications and spectra of radio sources

We present classifications, optical identifications, and radio spectra for eight radio sources from three flux-density-complete samples in the following declination ranges: 4°–6° (B1950), S _3.9 > 200 mJy; 10°–12°30′ (J2000), S _4.85 > 200 mJy; 74°?75° (J2000), S _4.85 > 100 mJy. For all these samples, the right ascensions are 0^h–24^h and the Galactic latitudes, |b| > 15°. Our optical observations at 4000–7500 ° were made with the 6-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory; we also observed at 0.97–21.7 GHz with the RATAN-600 radio telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory. We classify four of the objects as quasars and four as galaxies. Five of the radio sources have power-law spectra at 0.97–21.7 GHz, while two objects have flat spectra. The quasar J2358+0430 virtually did not vary during 23 years.     

Optical properties of the circumstellar dust around stars with aperiodic fadings

Multicolor observations of 21 rapid, irregular variable stars with Algol-like fadings and of R Coronae Borealis are used to derive the optical extinction coefficients of the circumstellar dust associated with these objects, θ(λ). We used more than 3600 uniform multi-color brightness measurements obtained in a rigorous U BV R system at the Terskol High-altitude Observing Station. The mean extinction coefficient θ for the circumstellar dust for this sample of stars coincides almost exactly with the interstellar extinction coefficient, θ_is, but is somewhat higher in the ultraviolet. We suggest an explanation for this difference.     

Non-LTE analysis of the formation of KI lines in the spectra of A-K stars

The non-LTE formation of KI lines in the spectra of A-K stars is analyzed. The computations are based on a 36-level model of the neutral potassium atom for blanketed LTE Kurucz model atmospheres with T _eff=4000–10000 K, logg=0.0–4.5, and [M/H]=(0.0)–(?2.0). The KI atoms in the atmospheres of these stars are in states of moderate and strong “over-recombination.” A number of atomic parameters are refined using the profiles and equivalent widths of five lines in the solar spectrum. The classical van der Waals damping constants must be increased by factors of 2–60 to fit the observed profiles. The non-LTE solar potassium abundance—logε (K)=5.14—corresponds to the meteoritic abundance. Non-LTE corrections to the potassium abundance are important and equal to ?0.4...?0.7 dex for the λ7699 Å line and ?0.15...?0.3 dex for the λλ12522, 12432, and 11769 Å lines.     

Microvariability of line profiles in the spectra of OB stars: δOri A

We have studied variability of the spectral lines of the OB star δOri A—the brightest component of the δOri triple system. Forty spectra with signal-to-noise ratios ≈500–800 and a time resolution of four minutes were obtained. We detected variability in the HeIIλ4686, HeIλ4713, and Hβ absorption and the CIIIλ5696 emission profiles. The amplitude of the variability is ≈(0.5–1)% of the continuum intensity. The dynamical wavelet spectrum of the profile variations reveals large-scale components in the interval 25–50 km/s that move within the-V sin i to V sin i band for the primary star of the system, Aa¹, with a band crossing time of 4^h–5^h. However, some of the variable features go outside the band, presumably due to either imhomogeneities in the stellar wind from δOri Aa¹ or nonradial pulsations of the weaker components of the system, Aa² or Ab. The detected variability may be cyclic with a period of ≈4^h. We suggest that it is associated with nonradial pulsations of the primary in the sector mode (l,m) = (2, ?2).     

Microvariability of line profiles in the spectra of OB stars: III. The supergiant ρ LEO

We observed the bright supergiant ρ Leo (B1 lab) in January–February 2004 using the 6-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory (Russia) and the 1.8-m telescope of the Bohyunsan Optical Astronomy Observatory (South Korea). 47 spectra with high time resolution (4–10 min), signal-to-noise ratios 300–1000, and spectral resolutions 45 000–60 000 were obtained. We detected variability in the HeI, SiII, SiIII, and NII line profiles, which may be due to rotational modulation of the profiles and photospheric pulsations of ρ Leo. The possible influence of the stellar magnetic field on the line-profile variations is discussed.     

Intercombinational line profiles in the UV spectra of T Tauri stars and analysis of the accretion zone

We have analyzed for the first time profiles of the SiIII 1892 Å and CIII 1909 Å intercombinational lines in HST spectra of the stars RY Tau and RU Lup. The widths of these optically thin lines exceeded 400 km/s, ruling out formation in the stellar chromosphere. Since the intensity of the Si line exceeds that of the C line, it is unlikely that a large fraction of the observed line flux is formed in a stellar wind. The observed profiles can be reproduced in the framework of an accretion shock model if the velocity field in the accretion zone is appreciably nonaxisymmetric. In this case, the line profiles should display periodic variations, which can be used to determine the accretion zone geometry and the topology of the magnetic field near the stellar surface; corresponding formulas are presented. In addition, periodic variations of the 0.3–0.7 keV X-ray flux should be observed.     

Optical absorption spectra and Fe distribution in the structures of Li-Fe micas

The paper proposes pioneering data on the polarized optical absorption spectra of Li-Fe micas: intermediate members of the siderophyllite-zinnwaldite-polylithionite and annite-protolithionite-zinnwaldite-trilithionite series with variable Fe and Li proportions and Li- and Fe-bearing muscovite (phengite). Based on the analysis of structural data, the complicated structure of the Fe²⁺ → Fe³⁺ charge transfer band in the mica structures is explained, and arguments are presented to justify the ascribing of its shortwave component (CTB-1, ν = 17200-14900 cm^?1) to charge transfer in the pair Fe²⁺(M2) → Fe³⁺(M2) and the longwave component (CTB-2, ν = 14200-13600 cm^?1) to charge transfer in the pair Fe²⁺(M1) Fe³⁺(M2). It is demonstrated that the anomalous shift of the superposition of two-component CTB toward the shortwave region, to 17000 cm^?1, results from a decrease in the length of oxygen edges between adjacent M2M2 and M1M2 tetrahedrons when Li is accommodated in the mica structure. The first data are presented on the spectrum of Fe²⁺ ions in large distorted M3(M1) tetrahedrons (OAC Fe²⁺ II) in hetero-octahedral Li micas (zinnwaldite), and the behavior of the corresponding absorption bands at 11400 and 8000 cm^?1 is determined. It is proved that characteristics of the optical spectra of Fe²⁺ ions can be used as an indicator of the structure of the octahedral layer in the mica structures. Results of the comparative analyses of spectral parameters of the Fe²⁺ → Fe³⁺ charge transfer, crystal field spectra of Fe²⁺ ions, and the crystal-chemical characteristics controlling them in micas of the polylithionite-siderophyllite series are completely consistent with the character of cation ordering in the crystal structures of these micas determined by X-ray diffraction analysis.     

Radio and optical spectra of objects from three complete samples of radio sources

We present classifications, optical identifications, and radio spectra for 19 radio sources from three complete samples, with declinations 4°–6° (B1950, S _{3.9 GHz} > 200 mJy), 10°–12°30′ (J2000, S _{4.85 GHz} > 200 mJy), and 74°–75° (J2000, S _{4.85 GHz} > 100 mJy). We also present corresponding information for the radio source J0527+0331. The right ascensions are 0–24^h and the Galactic latitudes |b| > 15° for all the samples. Our observations were obtained with the 6 m telescope from the Special Astrophysical Observatory in the range 4000–9000 Å or 4000–7500 Å and the RATAN-600 radio telescope at frequencies in the range 0.97–21.7 GHz. We obtained flux densities for the radio sources and optical spectra for their optical counterparts. Nine objects were classified as quasars with redshifts from z = 1.029 to 3.212; nine objects are emission-line galaxies with redshifts from 0.172 to 0.546, and one is a galaxy with burstlike star formation at z = 0.156, and one is a BL Lac object with z = 0.509. The spectra of five radio sources were decomposed into extended and compact components. The radio source J0527+0331, identified with a BL Lac object, displays significant variations of time scales from several days to several years. Data on flux variations are presented for 11 radio sources, as well as their spectra at several epochs.     

Galaxies and stars

The distribution of galaxies in the vicinity of stars brighter than V=7.25^m is analyzed. The number density of galaxies is slightly decreased in such regions. This result is statistically significant and cannot be explained as a direct effect of the extended photographic images of these stars. The result is apparently associated with the presence of clouds near the stars, which absorb or scatter light.     

NanoSIMS isotopic analysis of small presolar grains: Search for Si3N4 grains from AGB stars and Al and Ti isotopic compositions of rare presolar SiC grains

We report isotopic ratio measurements of small SiC and Si₃N₄ grains, with special emphasis on presolar SiC grains of type Z, and new nucleosynthesis models for ²⁶Al/²⁷Al and the Ti isotopic ratios in asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. With the NanoSIMS we analyzed 310 SiC grains from Murchison (carbonaceous CM2 chondrite) separate KJB (diameters 0.25-0.45 μm) and 153 SiC grains from KJG (diameters 1.8-3.7 μm), 154 SiC and 23 Si₃N₄ grains from Indarch (enstatite EH4 chondrite) separate IH6 (diameters 0.25-0.65 μm) for their C and N isotopic compositions, 549 SiC and 142 Si₃N₄ grains from IH6 for their C and Si isotopic compositions, 13 SiC grains from Murchison and 66 from Indarch for their Al-Mg compositions, and eight SiC grains from Murchison and 10 from Indarch for their Ti isotopic compositions. One of the original objectives of this effort was to compare isotopic analyses with the NanoSIMS with analyses previously obtained with the Cameca IMS 3f ion microprobe. Many of the Si₃N₄ grains from Indarch have isotopic anomalies but most of these apparently originate from adjacent SiC grains. Only one Si₃N₄ grain, with ¹³C and ¹⁴N excesses, has a likely AGB origin. The C, N, and Si isotopic data show that the percentage of SiC grains of type Y and Z increase with decreasing grain size (from ∼1% for grains >2 μm to ∼5-7% for grains of 0.5 μm), providing an opportunity for isotopic analyses in these rare grains. Our measurements expand the number of Al-Mg analyses on SiC Z grains from 4 to 23 and the number of Ti analyses on Z grains from 2 to 11. Inferred²⁶Al/²⁷Al ratios of Z grains are in the range found in mainstream and Y grains and do not exceed those predicted by models of AGB nucleosynthesis. Cool bottom processing (CBP) has been invoked to explain the low ¹²C/¹³C ratios of Z grains, but this process apparently does not lead to increased ²⁶Al production in the parent stars of these grains. This finding is in contrast to presolar oxide grains where CBP is needed to explain their high ²⁶Al/²⁷Al ratios. The low ^46,47,49Ti/⁴⁸Ti ratios found in Z grains and their correlation with low ²⁹Si/²⁸Si ratios extend the trend seen in mainstream grains and confirm an origin in low-metallicity AGB stars. The relatively large excesses in ³⁰Si and ⁵⁰Ti in Z grains are predicted by our models to be the result of increased production of these isotopes by neutron-capture nucleosynthesis in low-metallicity AGB stars. However, the predicted excesses in ⁵⁰Ti (and ⁴⁹Ti) are much larger than those found. Even lowering the strength of the ¹³C pocket cannot solve this discrepancy in a consistent way.     

The activity of late-type stars: the Sun among stars with cyclic activity

The coronal and chromospheric emission of several hundred late-type stars whose activity was recently detected are analyzed. This confirms the previous conclusion for stars of HK project that there exist three groups of objects: active red M dwarfs, G-K stars with cyclic activity, and stars exhibiting high but irregular activity. The X-ray fluxes, EUV-spectra, and X-ray cycles can be used to study the main property of stellar coronas—the gradual increase in the number of high-temperature (T ≥ 10 MK) regions in the transition from the Sun to cyclically active K dwarfs and more rapidly rotating F and G stars with irregular activity. The level of X-ray emission is closely related to the spottedness of the stellar surface. The correlation between the chromospheric and coronal emission is weak when the cycles are well-defined, but becomes strong when the activity is less regular. Unexpectedly, stars whose chromospheric activity is even lower than that of the Sun are fairly numerous. Common and particular features of solar activity among the activity of other cyclically active stars are discussed. Our analysis suggests a new view of the problem of heating stellar coronas: the coronas of stars with pronounced cycles are probably heated by quasistationary processes in loops, while prolonged nonstationary coronal events are responsible for heating the coronas of F and G stars with high but irregular activity.     

Dynamical evolution of multiple stars

We have modeled the dynamical evolution of small groups of N=3–18 stars in the framework of the gravitational N-body problem, taking into account possible coalescences of stars and the ejection of single and binary stars from the system. The distribution of states is analyzed for a time equal to 300 initial crossing times of the system. The parameters of the binaries and stable triple systems formed, as well as those of ejected single stars, are studied. In most cases, the evolution of the group results in the formation of a binary or stable triple system. The orbital eccentricities of the binaries formed are distributed according to the law f(e)=2e. As a rule, stable triple systems display pronounced hierarchy (the mean ratio of the semimajor axes of the outer and inner binaries is about 20:1). Stars are ejected with velocities from several km/s to several tens of km/s. The results of the modeling are compared with the parameters of observed wide binaries and triple systems.     

Studies of classical barium stars

Using atmosphere models based on high-resolution spectra, we have derived the abundances of chemical elements in the atmospheres of seven classical barium stars and compared them with the elemental abundances of moderate barium stars and normal red giants. The behavior of elements up to the iron peak is the same in all three groups of giants, providing evidence that they have a common origin. The dependence of the anomalous abundances of s-process elements on stellar mass and metallicity is qualitatively similar for all three groups, probably indicating that a substantial role is played by the evolutionary phase of the stars. We conclude that the barium-star phenomenon and the overabundances of s-process elements in barium stars cannot be explained as a consequence of binarity alone. The extent to which the s-process elements are overabundant is affected by the mass, metallicity, and evolutionary phase of the given star, and any of these parameters may prove to be important in a specific object.     

A model for the population of helium stars in the Galaxy: Low-mass stars

We model the Galactic ensemble of helium stars using population synthesis techniques, assuming that all helium stars are formed in binaries. In this picture, single helium stars are produced by mergers of helium remnants of the components of close binaries (mainly, the merging of helium white dwarfs) or in the disruption of binaries with helium components during supernova explosions. The estimated total birthrate of helium stars in the Galaxy is 0.043 yr^?1; the total number is 4 × 10⁶; and the binarity rate is 76%. We construct a subsample of low-mass (M_He ? 2M_⊙) helium stars defined by observational selection effects: the limiting magnitude (V_He ≤ 16), ratio of the magnitudes of the components in binaries (V_He ≤ V_comp), and lower limit for the semiamplitude of the radial velocity required for detecting binarity (K_min = 30 km s^?1). The parameters of this subsample are in satisfactory agreement with observations of helium subdwarfs. In particular, the binarity rate in the selection-limited sample is 58%. We analyze the relations between the orbital periods and masses of helium subdwarfs and their companions in systems with various combinations of components. We predict that the overwhelming majority (～97%) of unobserved companions to helium stars will be white dwarfs, predominantly, carbon-oxygen white dwarfs.     

The nature hypervelocity stars

We list and analyze the main currently known mechanisms for accelerating the space motions of stars. A high space velocity of a star can be a consequence of its formation in the early stages of the evolution of a massive galaxy, when it was spheroidal and non-stationary, so that stars were born with velocities close to the escape velocity for the galaxy. Another possibility is that the star arrived from another galaxy with a velocity that is high for our Galaxy. The decay of unstable close multiple stars or supernova explosions in close binaries can also provide velocities of up to several hundreds of km/s to main-sequence stars and velocities of up to ∼1000 km/s to degenerate stars, neutron stars, and stellar-mass black holes. The merger of components of a binary system containing two neutron stars or a neutron star and a black hole due to gravitational-wave radiation can accelerate the nascent black hole to a velocity∼1000 km/s. Hypervelocity relativistic stars can be born due to asymmetric neutrino ejection during a supernova explosion. Stars can be efficiently accelerated by single and binary supermassive black holes (with masses from several millions to several billions of solar masses) in the nuclei of galaxies. Thanks to their gravitational field and fast orbital motion (in the case of binary objects), supermassive black holes are able to accelerate even main-sequence stars to relativistic velocities.     

The evolution of close binary stars

A review of our current understanding of the physics and evolution of close binary stars with various masses under the influence of the nuclear evolution of their components and their magnetic stellar winds is presented. The role of gravitational-wave radiation by close binaries on their evolution and the loss of their orbital angular momentum is also considered. The final stages in the evolution of close binary systems are described. The review also notes the main remaining tasks related to studies of the physics and evolution of various classes of close binaries, including analyses of collisions of close binaries and supermassive black holes in galactic nuclei. Such a collision could lead to the capture of one of the components by the black hole and the acceleration of the remaining component to relativistic speeds.     

Evolution of stars near bright quasars

We consider the evolution of stars that are located in the near vicinity of bright quasars and illuminated by their hard radiation. The absorption of the external radiation flux in the stellar envelope was calculated applying the formalism used to determine the opacity of the stellar material. The simulations show that the external irradiation heats the outer layers of the star, altering their structure and reducing the thickness of the convective envelope in low-mass stars, but leaves the inner layers essentially unaffected. In addition, the irradiation substantially increases the mass loss in the stars. This is important for our understanding of the evolution of quasar masses, since this increased mass loss by nearby stars can supply the quasar with additional accreting gas. The results can also be applied to detached binaries in which a low-mass star is irradiated by a very massive companion.     

Wolf-Rayet stars with relativistic companions

The evolution of close binary systems containing Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars and black holes (BHs) is analyzed numerically. Both the stellar wind from the donor star itself and the induced stellar wind due to irradiation of the donor with hard radiation arising during accretion onto the relativistic component are considered. The mass and angular momentum losses due to the stellar wind are also taken into account at phases when the WR star fills its Roche lobe. It is shown that, if a WR star with a mass higher than ～10M _⊙ fills its Roche lobe in an initial evolutionary phase, the donor star will eventually lose contact with the Roche lobe as the binary loses mass and angular momentum via the stellar wind, suggesting that the semi-detached binary will become detached. The star will remain a bright X-ray source, since the stellar wind that is captured by the black hole ensures a near-Eddington accretion rate. If the initial mass of the helium donor is below ～5M _⊙, the donor may only temporarily detach from its Roche lobe. Induced stellar wind plays a significant role in the evolution of binaries containing helium donors with initial masses of ～2M _⊙. We compute the evolution of three observed WR-BH binaries: Cyg X-3, IC 10 X-1, and NGC 300 X-1, as well as the evolution of the SS 433 binary system, which is a progenitor of such systems, under the assumption that this binary will avoid a common-envelope stage in its further evolution, as it does in its current evolutionary phase.     

Evolution of stars with high metallicities

We have calculated evolutionary tracks for stars with high abundances of heavy elements. An abundance increase from the solar level (～0.02) to 0.1 (for ΔY/ΔZ=0–2.4), which corresponds to the central regions of the disk components of giant galaxies, shifts the main sequence towards lower effective temperatures; however, it does not appreciably affect either the luminosity of the stars or their lifetime on the main sequence. Increasing the heavy-element abundance to 0.2 for ΔY/ΔZ=2.4 shifts the main sequence towards higher effective temperatures, appreciably increases the luminosity of the stars, and substantially accelerates their evolution.