Identification of absorption lines of short half-life actinides in the spectrum of Przybylski’s star (HD 101065)

Absorption lines of some actinides, namely, actinium (Z = 89), protactinium (91), neptunium (93), plutonium (94), americium (95), curium (96), berkelium (97), californium (98), and einsteinium (99), were identified in the spectrum of one of the most peculiar main-sequence stars HD 101065 (Przybylski’s star). In the identification we used a high-resolution spectrum (R = 80 000) acquired at the 8.2-m ESO telescope.     

Identification of lines in the spectrum of the quasar 0237–233

The emission and absorption lines (3716–4290) in the spectrum of the quasar 0237–233 are identified within the framework of the PLS model. The available evidence indicates that it is a helium star. Similarities between the spectral properties of 0237–233 and the star Upsilon Sagittarii are pointed out. Predictions are made for the absorption-line spectrum which falls outside 3716–4290 and also for an expected discontinuity at 2600.     

Oscillator strengths for selected Fe II lines in the range λλ 300–400 nm

We review available published data on the oscillator strengths determined for ionized iron Fe II lines. Particular attention is given to the lines in the ultraviolet spectrum. The oscillator strengths are calculated for 33 Fe II lines observed in the solar spectrum between λ 300 and 400 nm. The results are derived by fitting our data to the solar equivalent widths.     

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.     

Hα emission stars in the region of IC 1396

155 H emission stars not catalogued earlier have been detected with the 60/90/180 cm Schmidt telescope of Konkoly Observatory in a field of 19.5 square degrees centred on theHii region IC 1396.UBVR photohraphic magnitudes were obtained for most of them. Equatorial coordinates for the epoch 1950.0 as well as identification charts are given. Space distribution of the emission stars and their connection with the association Cepheus OB 2 are briefly discussed.     

Measurements of mean longitudinal magnetic fields in the Of?p stars HD 108 and HD 191612

Using polarimetric spectra obtained with the SOFIN spectrograph installed at the Nordic Optical Telescope, we detect a longitudinal magnetic field 〈B_z〉 = –168±35 G in the Of?p star HD 108. This result is in agreement with the longitudinal magnetic field measurement of the order of –150 G recently reported by the MiMeS team. The measurement of the longitudinal magnetic field in the Of?p star HD 191612 results in 〈B_z〉 = +450±153 G. The only previously published magnetic field measurement for this star showed a negative longitudinal magnetic field 〈B_z〉 = –220±38 G, indicating a change of polarity over ∼100 days. Further, we report the detection of distinct Zeeman features in the narrow Ca II and Na I doublet lines for both Of?p stars, hinting at the possible presence of material around these stars. The origin of these features is not yet clear and more work is needed to investigate how magnetic fields interact with stellar wind dynamics (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

The clustering of Lα absorption lines in the QSO spectra

For nine published high-resolution QSO spectra a correlation analysis of their L forest lines has been performed. The two-point correlation functions show some quasi-periodic structure of magnitude ||0.3. Their characteristic separation along the line-of-sight amounts to s ₀=3×10^–3 or to s ₀=5×10^–3 for =1 and 0.2, respectively. Especially the distribution of nearest neighbouring line positions in two close QSO pairs allows for the interpretation that the absorption clouds lie in sheet-like structures as predicted by the pancake theory. The correlation data contain some hints on metal absorbers within the forest of unidentified lines.     

Soft X-ray emission lines of Ni XVIII in the solar spectrum

R-matrix calculations of electron impact excitation rates in Nixviii are used to derive theoretical electron-temperature-sensitive emission line ratios involving 3s–4p,3p–4d,3p –4s, and 3d–4f transitions in the 41–53 Å wavelength range. A comparison of these with solar flare observations from a rocket-borne X-ray spectrograph (XSST) reveals generally excellent agreement between theory and experiment (within the experimental and theoretical uncertainties), which provides support for the atomic data adopted in the analysis. However the 3s 2S–4p 2P1/2 line of Nixviii at 41.22 Å appears to be blended with the Fexix 13.74 Å feature observed by XSST in third order. In addition, the measured Nixviii intensity ratio I(3p 2P3/2– 4s 2S)/I(3p 2P1/2–4s 2S)=I(51.02 Å)/I(50.26 Å)=0.56, a factor of 3.8 smaller than the theoretical (temperature and density-insensitive) value of 2.1. The reason for this discrepancy is currently unexplained, but is unlikely to be due to blending of the 50.26 Å line, as the intensity of this feature is consistent with that expected from the other Nixviii lines in the XSST spectrum. Future observations of the Nixviii lines by the Advanced X-ray Astrophysics Facility (AXAF) should allow this problem to be resolved, and may also permit the use of the lines as electron-temperature diagnostics.     

Hα profile variations in the spectrum of the supergiant HD14134

Variations of the Hα line in the spectra of the star HD14134 are investigated using observations carried out in 2013–2014 and in 2016 with the 2-m telescope at Shamakhy Astrophysical Observatory.In the spectra of this star,the absorption and emission components of Hα are found to disappear and an inverse P Cyg profile of Hα is seen on some observational epochs.Our observations showed that when the Hα line disappeared or an inversion of the P-Cyg-type profile is observed in the spectra,the Hβ line is redshifted.When these events appeared,no synchronous variabilities were observed in the spectral parameters of other spectral lines formed in deeper atmospheric layers.In addition,the structures of Hα,CII(6578.05 ,6582.88 ),SiII(6347.1 ,6371.36 ) and Hβ lines are variable on a timescale of hours,but we did not detect significant variations in the other photospheric lines,as well as in the HeI(5875.72 ) line.It is suggested that observational evidence for the non-stationary atmosphere of HD14134 can be associated in part with non-spherical stellar wind.     

Profiles of the Hα and Hβ lines in the spectra of B and Be stars in the diffuse stellar cluster h/χ Persei

High dispersion CCD spectra are used to study the profiles of the Hα and Hβ lines of 48 stars in early spectral classes in the young diffuse binary cluster h/χ Per. In addition, moderate resolution spectra of 15 B and Be stars were taken over the interval 4400–4960 Å. One or, possibly, two new Be stars are discovered. The major parameters of the Hα line are measured for the observed B and Be stars. The spectra over 4400–4960 Å are used to estimate T_eff, logg, and υsin i. No traces of emission are detected in the Hα line profiles for 28 of the stars and emission is observed in the Hα line for 20. During our observations an absorption profile of the Hα line was observed for some of the stars, such as Oo146, Oo566, Oo922, and Oo1268, although they have previously been identified as Be stars. A significant long-term variability of the Hα line is discovered for the Be stars Oo1161 and Oo2242. Oo2371 manifests a variability in its faint emission spectrum which is typical of close binary systems that include a Be star. __________ Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 51, No. 2, pp. 305–319 (May 2008).     

Effect of Coriolis force on the shapes of rotating stars and stars in binary systems

In this paper an attempt has been made to determine the effect of Coriolis force on the shapes of Roche equipotential surfaces of rotating stars and stars in binary systems. Equations of Roche equipotential surfaces have been obtained for rotating and binary stars which take into account the effects of Coriolis force besides the centrifugal and gravitational forces. Shapes of Roche equipotentials and values of Roche limits are obtained for different values of angular velocity of rotation for rotating stars and for different values of mass ratios for the binary stars. The obtained results have been compared with the corresponding results in which the effect of Coriolis force has not been considered.     

Variability of the spectrum of β CrB in the region of the lithium line Li I λ6708Å

Some results of observations of the spectrum of the spectroscopic-binary Ap star CrB in the region of the lithium line Li I 6708Å are presented. The observations were made at the Crimean Astrophysical Observatory over the period 1993–1995 with the coudé spectrograph equipped with a CCD camera on the 2.6-m telescope. Several factors which can affect the behavior of the lithium blend are examined: stellar rotation, magnetic field, isotopic shift, the binary system, and blending by unidentified elements. The principal result of this work is the detection of variability of the lithium blend Li I 6708Å over the period of rotation of the star. The variations of the radial velocity V_r, and the FWHM of the lithium blend are reported here for the first time. They indicate either a nonuniform distribution of lithium or a nonuniform distribution of conditions for excitation of the lithium resonance doublet in the complex structure of the strong surface magnetic field. Similar variations are also shown by the lines of the rare-earth elements Gd II 6702.10 Å, Gd II + Ce II 6704.3Å, and Ce II + Fe I 6706.0 Å.Translated fromAstrofizika, Vol. 39, No. 1, pp. 19–30, January–March, 1996.     

Investigation of the lines H<Subscript>α</Subscript> and H<Subscript>β</Subscript> in the spectrum of the star HD 206267

The results of investigations of the H_α and H_β lines in the spectrum of the star HD 206267 are presented. Observations were carried out in 2011–2014 at the Cassegrain focus of the 2-m telescope of the Tusi Shamakhy Astrophysical Observatory of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan using an echelle spectrometer. The following features have been revealed for the first time: the moving discrete absorption components in the core of the H_α line from the red side to the violet, the stable emission in the violet wing of the H_α line, the antiphase variation of the radial velocities and equivalent widths of the H_α line, and the independence of the changes of the equivalent widths of the H_β line from the phase of the orbital period. No spectral features according to which this star could be considered as a source of X-ray radiation have been found.     

Final evolution of stars in the range 103–104 M ⊙

The final dynamical collapse of oxygen cores of 10³ and 10⁴ M which undergo the pair formation instability is computed. These cores are found to suffer complete collapse, presumably to form black holes, in contrast to cores of 100M which have previously been found to explode completely, leaving no remnant. These calculations represent a first attempt to ascertain the outcome of evolution over several decades of mass previously unexplored. The outcome may have some relevance to models of X-ray sources in globular clusters.     

Changes in the spectrum of the recombining planetary nebula He 1–5

In 2008, we observed the spectrum of the planetary nebula He 1–5, which has had no ionization source for more than 50 years. Comparison with the observations performed in 1972–1976 and 1988 shows that the line intensity ratio I(λ5007[O III])/I(Hβ) decreased by a factor of 2.5, the intensity ratio of the red [N II] doublet to Hα was almost constant, and the [S II]-to-Hα intensity ratio may have slightly increased. The observed changes in the spectrum agree, within the limits of the observational errors, with the calculations of gas recombination in a medium-excitation nebula performed by Tylenda in 1980, but the nitrogen line intensities are higher than the calculated ones by 10–15%. This is most likely related to the slightly reduced nitrogen abundance adopted in the model. The onset of nebular recombination dates from the end of the 19th century and is consistent with its estimate from the photometric history of the central star.     

The center-to-limb variations of four Ca i lines in the photospheric spectrum at λ6500

We study the center-limb (CL) variation of the average profiles of four Ca i lines near 6500 and compare these observations with synthetic data obtained from several line formation models having different thermal structures, line parameters, LTE and non-LTE conditions, and micro and macroturbulence values, to assess the formation characteristics of our Ca i lines in the solar photosphere.Comparison of numerical results with observations indicates that non-LTE is indispensable to fit the CL variation of the central residual intensity for the line 6493, and anisotropic microturbulence is indispensable to improve the CL behavior of the equivalent widths for all lines. The Ca i line analysis favors a cool photospheric model, but this cannot be disentangled clearly from the effects of non-LTE and small-scale velocity fields on the grounds of the present line formation models.     

Orbital elements of the mild and strong barium stars formed through a wind accretion scenario

Taking account of the metallicity dependence of the s-process nucleosynthesis in the AGB stars, we adopted the wind accretion model with the condition of total angular momentum conservation and used the Monte-Carlo method to study the variations and the distributions of the orbital elements of the mild and strong Ba stars. The calculated results show that the level of heavy-element overabundance in a Ba star depends on the orbital period. Since there is a strong dependence of s-process yields on the initial stellar metallicity of the AGB star and a strong increase of the s-process yields in AGB stars with decreasing metallicity, the calculated results strongly suggest that the initial metallicity of the Ba star systems is another important parameter for the level of heavy-element overabundance in a Ba star. The strong Ba stars generally have lower metallicities than mild Ba stars. The masses of AGB progenitor and Ba star are other two parameters which also have some impact on the heavy-element overabundance in the Ba star.     

Comparison of Fermi-LAT and CTA in the region between 10–100 GeV

The past decade has seen a dramatic improvement in the quality of data available at both high (HE: 100 MeV to 100 GeV) and very high (VHE: 100 GeV to 100 TeV) gamma-ray energies. With three years of data from the Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) and deep pointed observations with arrays of Cherenkov telescope, continuous spectral coverage from 100 MeV to ∼10 TeV exists for the first time for the brightest gamma-ray sources. The Fermi-LAT is likely to continue for several years, resulting in significant improvements in high energy sensitivity. On the same timescale, the Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA) will be constructed providing unprecedented VHE capabilities. The optimisation of CTA must take into account competition and complementarity with Fermi, in particularly in the overlapping energy range 10–100 GeV. Here we compare the performance of Fermi-LAT and the current baseline CTA design for steady and transient, point-like and extended sources.     

Hα profile variabilities in the spectrum of the star WW Vul in 2006–2010

We present the results of our studies of the Hα line in the spectrum of a UX Ori star (WW Vul) based on our spectroscopic observations performed with the 2-m telescope at the Shamakhi Astrophysical Observatory, the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, in 2006–2010. We have detected variability in all the measured parameters of the Hα profile both during each observing season and from season to season. A comparative analysis of our data and published studies has led to the conclusion that the regime of outflow with a variable power in the star WW Vul, on the whole, is preserved for almost 40 years (1972–2010) and the accretion of gas from the circumstellar disk onto the stellar surface is occasionally observed. Changes in the regime of variability in the behavior of the Hα emission line have been revealed in the 2006–2010 observing seasons. In four cases (for July 8, 2006, August 17, 2008, June 13, 2010, and August 2, 2010), we have detected a second emission component in the blue wing of the Hα emission line.