Spectroscopic studies of southern-hemisphere Cepheids: Three Cepheids in Crux (BG Cru,R Cru,and T Cru)

This paper is devoted to spectroscopic studies of three bright Cepheids (BG Cru, R Cru, and T Cru) and continues the series of our works aimed at determining the atmospheric parameters and chemical composition of southern-hemisphere Cepheids. We have studied 12 high-resolution spectra taken with the 1.9-m telescope of the South African Astronomical Observatory and the 8-m VLT telescope of the European Southern Observatory in Chile. The atmospheric parameters and chemical composition have been determined for these stars. The averaged atmospheric parameters are: T _eff = 6253 ± 30 K, log g = 2.15, V _t = 4.30 km s^?1 for BG Cru; T _eff = 5812 ± 22 K, log g = 1.65, V _t = 3.80 km s^?1 for R Cru; and T _eff = 5588 ± 21 K, log g = 1.70, V _t = 4.30 km s^?1 for T Cru. All these Cepheids exhibit a nearly solar metallicity ([Fe/H] = +0.04 dex for BG Cru, +0.06 dex for R Cru, and +0.08 dex for T Cru); the carbon, oxygen, sodium, magnesium, and aluminum abundances suggest that the objects have already passed the first dredge-up. The abundances of other elements are nearly solar. An anomalous behavior of the absorption lines of metals (neutral atoms and ions) in the atmosphere of the small-amplitude Cepheid BG Cru is pointed out. The main components in these lines split up into additional blue and red analogs that are smaller in depth and equivalent width and vary with pulsation phase. Such splitting of the absorption lines of metals (with the hydrogen lines being invariable) is known for the classical Cepheid X Sgr. The calculated nonlinear pulsation model of BG Cru with the parameters L = 2000 L _⊙, T _eff = 6180 K, and M = 4.3M _⊙ shows that this small-amplitude Cepheid pulsates in the first overtone and is close to the blue boundary of the Cepheid instability strip. According to the model, the extent of the Cepheid’s atmosphere is relatively small. Therefore, no spectroscopic manifestations of shock waves through variability are possible in this Cepheid and the observed blue and red components in metal absorption lines can be explained solely by the presence of an extended circumstellar envelope around BG Cru.     

Spectroscopic studies of southern-hemisphere cepheids: WW Car,SX Car,UZ Car,UY Car,GX Car,HW Car,YZ Car

For seven faint southern Cepheids (WW Car, SX Car, UZ Car, UY Car, GX Car, HW Car, YZ Car), we have determined their atmospheric parameters and chemical composition for the first time based on ten high-resolution (R = 50 000) spectra taken with the 1.5-m Hexapod telescope at the Joint Observatory of the Northern Catholic University (Antofagasta, Chile) and the Ruhr University (Bochum, Germany). Six objects from the list demonstrate atmospheric parameters and chemical composition typical of Cepheids that have passed through the first dredge-up phase, while WW Car is probably an anomalous Cepheid. According to our preliminary estimates, it has an overabundance of CNO, a deficit of sodium and aluminum, and a slight deficit of magnesium, with iron and other elements being underabundant relative to the Sun.     

Spectroscopic studies of southern-hemisphere Cepheids: Six objects in Centaurus (V Cen, V737 Cen) and Sagittarius (BB Sgr, W Sgr, X Sgr, Y Sgr)

This paper is the next one in the series of our works aimed at determining the atmospheric parameters and chemical composition of southern-hemisphere Cepheids. We present the results of our study for six bright Cepheids: V Cen, V737 Cen, BB Sgr, W Sgr, X Sgr, and Y Sgr. We have analyzed 14 high-resolution spectra taken with the 1.9-m telescope at the South African Astronomical Observatory. In addition to determining the chemical composition and atmospheric parameters, we point out and discuss several features in the spectra of individual Cepheids. In particular,we have detected emission in the cores of the Hβ and Hα lines forWSgr near its maximum light, while X Sgr shows the splitting of metal absorption lines into individual components without any change of the hydrogen lines. These peculiarities can be explained by different manifestations of shock waves in the Cepheid atmospheres and by the presence of circumstellar envelopes around X Sgr and W Sgr. The chemical composition has been estimated for V737 Cen, BB Sgr, and X Sgr for the first time. On the whole, our abundance estimates for α-elements, iron-peak elements, and r- and s-process elements are close to the solar ones for all objects, carbon is underabundant, the oxygen abundance is nearly solar, the “odd” elements, Na and Al, are overabundant (except X Sgr), magnesium is underabundant for V Cen and X Sgr and overabundant for the remaining objects. Such a chemical composition is typical of yellow supergiants after the first dredge-up. Keywords: Cepheids, spectra, atmospheric parameters, chemical composition.     

Spectroscopic studies of southern-hemisphere Cepheids: XX Sgr,AP Sgr,RV Sco,RY Sco,V482 Sco,and V636 Sco

We present the results obtained by analyzing 20 spectra of six bright Cepheids taken with the 1.9-m telescope at the South African Astronomical Observatory. The chemical composition and atmospheric parameters have been determined for XX Sgr, AP Sgr, RV Sco, RY Sco, V482 Sco, and V636 Sco.     

High-speed photometry of faint cataclysmic variables – II. RS Car, V365 Car, V436 Car, AP Cru, RR Cha, BI Ori, CM Phe and V522 Sgr

Short time-scale photometric properties of eight faint cataclysmic variable (CV) stars are presented. Nova Carinae 1895 (RS Car) has a photometric modulation at 1.977 h that could be either an orbital or a superhump period. Nova Carinae 1948 (V365 Car) shows flickering, but any orbital modulation has a period in excess of 6 h. The nova-like variable and X-ray source V436 Car has an orbital modulation at   P _orb= 4.207 h  , no detectable period near 2.67 h (which had previously given it a possible intermediate polar classification), and dwarf nova oscillations (DNOs) at ∼40 s. Nova Crucis 1936 (AP Cru) has a double-humped ellipsoidal modulation at   P _orb= 5.12 h  and a stable modulation at 1837 s characteristic of an intermediate polar. Nova Chamaeleontis 1953 (RR Cha) is an eclipsing system with   P _orb= 3.362 h  , but at times shows negative superhumps at 3.271 h and positive superhumps at 3.466 h. In addition it has a stable period at 1950 s, characteristic of an intermediate polar. BI Ori is a dwarf nova that we observed at quiescence and outburst without detecting any orbital modulation. CM Phe is a nova-like variable for which we confirm the value of   P _orb= 6.454 h  found by Hoard, Wachter & Kim-Quijano . We have identified the remnant of Nova Sagittarii 1931 (V522 Sgr) with a flickering source ∼2.2 mag fainter than the previously proposed candidate (which we find to be non-variable).     

Revised photometric elements of the eclipsing binary AI Cru

Using Wood's (1972) model we have re-analyzed the photoelectric light curve of the eclipsing binary AI Cru, published and unsatisfactorily discussed by Ollongren (1956), in order to obtain reliable photometric elements. Our photometric solution differs considerably from Ollongren's (1956). For our photometric mass ratio,q=0.8, both components, though detached from their Roche lobes, are fairly close to a contact configuration.AI Cru, composed of a brighter and larger B5 primary and a fainter and smaller (around B9.5) secondary, is probably not a normal Main Sequence system, since the ratios of the secondary's mass and radius over the primary's turn out to be larger than expected for main sequence stars of the same spectral types.     

X-rays from the Symbiotic Star RX Pup

We describe X-ray and optical observations of the symbiotic star RX Pup. From low resolution optical spectra, we obtain a reddening for RX Pup of E(B−V)=0.79. We use the neutral column density corresponding to this reddening as a lower limit for the X-ray spectra fits. The X-ray spectra can be fitted with either a two-temperarure thermal plasma model or a single-temperature plasma plus a narrow line at ≈0.55 keV, each modified by interstellar absorption. The RX Pup X-ray flux is not variable within the observation exposure time, suggesting that unlike in most CVs, an accretion disk boundary layer does not contribute significantly to the X-ray flux. Instead, the X-ray emission may come from shock-heated gas further away from the compact object.     

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.     

Classical cepheids and the local chemical inhomogeneities in the galactic disc

Places of formation have been derived for a sample of 23 Cepheids with well-determined atmospheric abundances in an attempt to study the chemical inhomogeneities in the local interstellar medium. The abundance data available for the sample Cepheids is compiled and critically reviewed to adopt the most reliable esimates. We find that the most conspicuous irregularity in the metallicity is exhibited by stars that are born in the local arm or in the interarm region. We propose a scenario to explain these local variations in terms of supernova-induced star formation in interstellar gas enriched by massive stars formed in the density wave.     

Analysing the New Saturnian Rings, R/2004 S1 and R/2004 S2

The Cassini-Huygens arrival into the Saturnian system brought a large amount of data about the satellites and rings. Two diffuse rings were found in the region between the A ring and Prometheus. R/2004 S1 is coorbital to Atlas and R/2004 S2 is close to Prometheus. In this work we analysed the closest approach between Prometheus and both rings. As a result we found that the satellite removes particles from R/2004 S2 ring. Long-term numerical simulations showed that some particles can cross the F ring region . The well known region of the F ring, where small satellites are present and particles are being taking from the ring, gains a new insight with the presence of particles from R/2004 S2 ring. The computation of the Lyapunov Characteristic Exponent reveled that the R/2004 S2 ring lies in a chaotic region while R/2004 S1 ring and Atlas are in a stable region. Atlas is responsible for the formation of three regimes in the R/2004 S1 ring, as expected for a satellite embedded in a ring.     

Abundance analysis of selected cepheids and the galactic distribution of metallicity

We have determined the atmospheric abundances of selected Cepheids in order to study the large-scale chemical inhomogeneities across the galactic disk. The classical Cepheids were selected as probes to study the variation of metallicity in the galactic disk, because of their high intrinsic luminosity, small age and the existence of period-luminosity and period-age relationships. High dispersion spectra of programme stars WZ Sgr, X Sgr, ? Gem, T Mon and S V Mon were obtained using the 102-cm reflector of Kavalur Observatory. The atmospheric abundances were determined by theoretically synthesizing the selected portions of the stellar spectrum and comparing with the observed spectra. In order to compute the theoretical spectrum, the formal solution of the equation of radiative transfer was numerically evaluated with the simplifying assumptions of local thermodynamical equilibrium, plane-parallel geometry and hydrostatic equilibrium. These assumptions are reasonably good for the metallic lines of F-G supergiants and hence the observations were confined to the phases where Cepheids behave like nonvariable F-G supergiants. The atmospheric abundances of iron-peak elements, Fe, Cr, Ti, Ca and heavier s-process elements Y, Ba, La, Ce, Sm were obtained by synthesizing a selected spectral region in the range 4330 Å — 4650 Å. We derive a radial abundance gradient for iron \(\frac{{d(Fe/H)}}{{dr_{gc} }} = - 0.056 \pm 0.08\) for the region of galactic disk between 6.7 and 10.9 kpc from the galactic centre (assuming r_gc = 8.5 kpc for the Sun). This value agrees with the one obtained from the general sample of Cepheids for which spectroscopic abundances are available, and also with the existing photometric determinations, but is shallower than the one derived by Luck (1982). Abundances of the elements derived in the present investigation do not show any significant correlation with atomic number. Also the abundance ratio of s-process elements does not show any correlation with Fe. This lack of correlation for disk population stars shows the inadequacy of simple models of galactic chemical evolution and favours the infall models. Alternately, the evolution of [s/Fe] may be determined by the ratio of intermediate-mass stars (which contribute s-process nuclei) to high-mass stars (which contribute Fe peak nuclei). Thus the different behaviour of halo and disk population may indicate a difference in the mass spectrum of star formation.     

A detailed abundance analysis of the hot post-AGB star ZNG-1 in M10

We present a model-atmosphere analysis for the bright ( V ∼13) star ZNG-1, in the globular cluster M10. From high-resolution ( R ∼40 000) optical spectra we confirm ZNG-1 to be a post-asymptotic giant branch (post-AGB) star. The derived atmospheric parameters are T _eff=26 500±1000 K and log  g =3.6±0.2 dex . A differential abundance analysis reveals a chemical composition typical of hot post-AGB objects, with ZNG-1 being generally metal poor, although helium is approximately solar. The most interesting feature is the large carbon underabundance of more than 1.3 dex. This carbon deficiency, along with an observed nitrogen enhancement relative to other elements, may suggest that ZNG-1 evolved off the AGB before the third dredge-up occurred. Also, iron depletions observed in other similar stars suggest that gas–dust fractionation in the AGB progenitor could be responsible for the observed composition of these objects. However, we need not invoke either scenario since the chemical composition of ZNG-1 is in good agreement with abundances found for a Population II star of the same metallicity.     

Velocity curve analysis of the spectroscopic binary stars PV Pup,HD 141929, EE Cet and V921 Her by nonlinear regression

We use the method introduced by Karami & Mohebi (2007), and Karami & Teimoorinia (2007) which enable us to derive the orbital parameters of the spectroscopic binary stars by the nonlinear least squares of observed vs. curve fitting (o-c). Using the measured experimental data for radial velocities of the four double-lined spectroscopic binary systems PV Pup, HD 141929, EE Cet and V921 Her, we find both the orbital and the combined spectroscopic elements of these systems. Our numerical results are in good agreement with those obtained using the method of Lehmann-Filhés.     

Physical parameters of the continuum radiating layer of the star L2 Pup

Data from spectrophotometric observations in the 485-1105 nm range at different times are used to determine the basic physical parameters of the continuum radiating layer of L₂ Pup: spectrophotometric temperatures, radii, and velocities of recession from the star's center. The phase dependences of these parameters over a cycle, during which the temperature varied from 2300 to 2900 K and the variations in radius were as high as 60%, are determined. The radius of the radiating layer is seen to vary irregularly, the radius of the layer is found to depend on wavelength, and the variations in the expansion velocity are evaluated. Translated from Astrofizika, Vol. 52, No. 1, pp. 99–115 (February 2009).     

Does Collinder 236 host a Cepheid calibrator?

Photoelectric UBV photometry and star counts are presented for the previously unstudied open cluster Collinder 236, supplemented by observations for stars near the Cepheid WZ Car. Collinder 236 is typical of groups associated with Cepheids, with an evolutionary age of  (3.2 ± 1.1) × 10⁷ yr  , but it is  1944 ± 71  pc distant, only half the predicted distance to WZ Car. The cluster is reddened by   E ( B − V ) ≃ 0.26  , and has nuclear and coronal radii of   r _n≃ 2 arcmin (1.1 pc)  and   R _c≃ 8 arcmin (4.5 pc)  , respectively. The Cepheid is not a member of Collinder 236 on the basis of location beyond the cluster tidal radius and implied distance, but its space reddening can be established as   E ( B − V ) = 0.268 ± 0.006  s.e. from five adjacent stars. Period changes in WZ Car studied with the aid of archival data are revised. The period of WZ Car is increasing, its rate of  +8.27 ± 0.19 s yr⁻¹  being consistent with a third crossing of the instability strip.     

Radii and luminosities of classical cepheids

The radiii of 17 classical Cepheids are determined. The linear surface brightness-colour relationS _v=b(B–V)_o+const is accepted. The present method permits the determination of the coefficientb for each star separately and the obtaining of the absolute magnitude of Cepheids. The coefficientb shows a slight dependence on the periodP of stars. The period-luminosity relation is approximately the same as the one obtained by van den Bergh (1976) for Cepheids in open clusters. The simultaneous radial velocity and photoelectric observation may show the phase shifts between motions of the continuum layer and of the level where the Fe I line is formed. The Cepheidl Car is outside the instability strip, and probably has a red companion as was suggested by Schmidt (1980a). Conclusions about the existence of overtone pulsators cannot probably be drawn only from the scattering in the period-radius relation.     

On the second-overtone stability among Small Magellanic Cloud Cepheids

We present a new set of Cepheid, full amplitude, non-linear, convective models which are pulsationally unstable in the second overtone (SO). Hydrodynamical models were constructed by adopting a chemical composition typical of Cepheids in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) and for stellar masses ranging from 3.25 to 4 M_⊙. Predicted φ ₂₁ Fourier parameters agree, within current uncertainties, with empirical data for pure first- and second-overtone variables as well as for first-/second-overtone (FO/SO) double-mode Cepheids collected by Udalski et al. in the SMC. On the other hand, predicted I -band amplitudes are systematically larger than the observed ones in the short-period range, but attain values that are closer to the empirical ones for log  P _SO≥−0.12 and log  P _FO≥0.1 . We also find, in agreement with empirical evidence, that the region within which both second and first overtones attain a stable limit cycle widens when moving towards lower luminosities. Moreover, predicted P _SO/ P _FO and P _FO/ P _F period ratios agree quite well with empirical period ratios for FO/SO and fundamental/FO double-mode SMC Cepheids.
Interestingly enough, current models support the evidence that pure SO Cepheids and SO components in FO/SO Cepheids are good distance indicators. In fact, we find that the fit of the predicted period–luminosity–colour ( V , V – I ) relation to empirical SMC data supplies a distance modulus ( DM ) of 19.11±0.08 mag . The same outcome applies to pure FO Cepheids and FO components in FO/SO Cepheids, and indeed we find DM =19.16±0.19 mag . Current distance estimates do not account for, within current uncertainties on photometry and reddening, the so-called short distance scale.     

The eclipsing binary system W Cru

PhotoelectricUBV photometry of the long period southern eclipsing binary system W Cru gathered over an 18-mo period in 1984–1985 is presented and examined.The light curve is characterized by continuous Beta Lyrae-like variation: unexpected in such a long period (198.5 days) system; together with peculiar irregularities, of the order of 0.1 mag (or more inU) and time-scales of a few days.A high mass model (total mass 70M ) could be made to be roughly consistent with the data, though alternative models of much lower mass are also possible, and may turn out to be preferable, in terms of goodness-of-fit, as well as for theoretical reasons. The low mass models would require, though, the more massive component to be unseen (as now generally supposed for Lyrae itself).The photometry alone, or even combined with a known spectroscopic mass-function, seems unlikely to be able to furnish a single definitive solution, and more guidelines from reliable theoretical expectation may prove helpful in interpreting the data.     

H110α recombination-line emission and 4.8-GHz continuum emission in the Carina nebula

We present results from observations of H110 α recombination-line emission at 4.874 GHz and the related 4.8-GHz continuum emission towards the Carina nebula using the Australia Telescope Compact Array. These data provide information on the velocity, morphology and excitation parameters of the ionized gas associated with the two bright H  ii regions within the nebula, Car I and Car II. They are consistent with both Car I and Car II being expanding ionization fronts arising from the massive star clusters Trumpler 14 and Trumpler 16, respectively. The overall continuum emission distribution at 4.8 GHz is similar to that at lower frequencies. For Car I, two compact sources are revealed that are likely to be young H  ii regions associated with triggered star formation. These results provide the first evidence of ongoing star formation in the northern region of the nebula. A close association between Car I and the molecular gas is consistent with a scenario in which Car I is currently carving out a cavity within the northern molecular cloud. The complicated kinematics associated with Car II point to expansion from at least two different centres. All that is left of the molecular cloud in this region are clumps of dense gas and dust which are likely to be responsible for shaping the striking morphology of the Car II components.     

Observations of eclipsing dwarf novae

High Speed Photometry of four eclipsing dwarf novae, z Cha, OY Car, HT Cas and IP Peg, is used to determine the orbital parameters and the masses of the two stars in each system. The mass ratio, q, and inclination, i, are found by constraining theoretical stream trajectories (Lubow and Shu 1975) to pass through the observed light centre of the bright spot eclipse. The light centre is defined as the point corresponding to the half flux points in the ingress and egress of the eclipse of the compact part of the bright spot. The theoretical stream width indicates that the centre of the stream must intersect the bright spot close to this point.The length of ingress and egress in the primary eclipse, constrains the radius of the central object relative to the orbital separation. The shape of this eclipse and the temperature of the central objects in z Cha, OY Car and HT Cas imply that the measuredPaper presented at the IAU Colloquium No. 93 on Cataclysmic Variables. Recent Multi-Frequency Observations and Theoretical Developments, held at Dr. Remeis-Sternwarte Bamberg, F.R.G., 16–19 June, 1986.