The binary system 53 Cam

The orbital elements of the spectroscopic binary 53 Cam were revised using 136 radial velocity measurements. The positions in the vicinity of the periastron predicted for the secondary under the assumption of the spectroscopic orbital elements do not agree with those found by speckle interferometric observations. Nevertheless, we try to estimate the mass of the secondary and the dimensions of the binary system.     

Note on the orbit of the magnetic star 53 Cam

Ausgehend von den bekannten spektroskopischen Bahnelementen von 53 Cam wurden die Positionen des Begleiters für die Zeiten der Speckle-Beobachtungen berechnet und mit den beobachteten Positionen verglichen. Bei Berücksichtigung der Doppeldeutigkeit in der Speckle-Interferometrie lassen sich die Beobachtungen mäßig gut darstellen bei einer Neigung von näherungsweise 45° zwischen Bahn- und Tangentialebene.     

The binary nature of the magnetic star β CrB

The radial velocity of the binary star β CrB was reinvestigated to look for the hypothetical third body, suggested by NEUBAUERS results. Under the assumption that a systematic difference of 1.4 km/sec between NEUBAUERS results from 1931–43 and ours from 1971–83 is of instrumental origin, the radial velocities of both epochs can be well represented with the same orbital elements: thus the probability for the existence of a third component in the system is reduced. The eccentricity and the angle of periastron passage of the visual orbit, derived from published speckle interferometric measurements, agree very well with the corresponding elements of the spectroscopic orbit. For the masses of the components those of giant resp. subgiant stars of type A8 and F5 are found. The geometry of the binary β CrB with a magnetic star as the primary component is demonstrated.     

The magnetic field variation of the Ap star HR 465

The magnetic field of HR 465 varies with a period of 23.3 yr. The number and intensity of the absorption lines show their extrema at the times of the cross-over points of the magnetic field in contrast to the phase relation of these quantities known for most short-time magnetic Ap stars. Apart from the variations produced by the binary motion no further general velocity changes were found. The radial velocity determined by lines of the neutral elements differ somewhat significantly from those of the ionized elements. The interpretation causes difficulties in all discussed models; a precession model seems to be a little more favourable than a rigid-rotator or alternating dynamo model.     

Magnetic field of the Ap star 52 Her

We investigate the variability of the magnetic field of a well-known Ap star 52 Her. The 15-year longmagnetic monitoring and analysis of the literature data demonstrates the lack of a long-period variability of the stellar magnetic field, and an absence of precession of the rotation axis of the binary’s main component. We refined the period of variability of the K Ca II line intensity, presumably being the rotation period of the main component. These measurements allowed to specify the parameters of the mean magnetic phase curve, obtained from the lines of metals, and to detect a significant difference from the phase curve, built from the hydrogen lines. Possible causes of the unusual variability of the stellar magnetic field are discussed.     

Spectroscopic investigations of the magnetic Ap star HD 9996

Spectroscopic measurements of the Ap star HD 9996 yielded the radial velocity and the strength of the effective magnetic field. From the reversal of the magnetic field periods smaller than 4.92 years can be excluded. We cannot state an exact period, but a value of 20.60 years seems to be the most probable one. Further we find hints at a short period of about 1.8 days for the variations in the radial velocities as well as in the magnetic field strengths. The elements of the binary motion were derived.     

A search for the age-dependency of Ap star parameters

Some observational data of the sample of the magnetic chemically peculiar stars (MCP stars) are investigated statistically. For the MCP stars of spectral types later than A2 both the frequency distribution and the R ⋅ sin i-values suggest the existence of a linear relation between stellar diameter and rotation period. The MCP stars of spectral types earlier than B9 show an overpopulation of small R ⋅ sin i which may indicate the existence of a second group with smaller radius in this sample. The equatorially symmetric rotator is used as the magnetic model. With respect to its temporal behaviour the effective magnetic field is separated into dipolar and quadrupolar contribution. Both signs of the axisymmetric quadrupole moment appear with equal frequency. The dipole moment which produces the amplitude of the B_eff(t) curve forms for longer periods two groups which are separated by a distinct gap. Both of the groups exhibit magnetic fields which are the stronger the greater the stellar radius is, contrary to what is expected for frozen-in fields. The dominance of magnetic curves without polarity reversal for longer-period stars is in accordance with predictions of the dynamo theory.     

The spectrum of the Ap star HR 465 near the rare-earth minimum phase

Four spectra of the long-period Ap star HR 465 were taken in 1969–70 near its rare-earth minimum phase and analysed. Equivalent widths or upper limits were obtained for lines of 23 elements. Lines of Cr were very strong. The relative abundances of the iron-peak elements were derived by a differential curve-of-growth analysis using Gem as the comparison star. The Sc/Fe, Ti/Fe, V/Fe, and Ni/Fe abundance ratios were found to be abnormally low, while the Cr/Fe ratio was abnormally high (0.08). The equivalent widths in 1969–70 were compared with those measured by Aller on a spectrum taken in 1960 near the rare-earth maximum phase. Ionized lines of Sc, Ti, V, Te, Nb, Mo, and the rare-earths all vary out of phase with the Cri and Crii lines. Although Mo and Cr occupy corresponding positions in the periodic table, the Mo/Cr abundance ratio was apparently at least 180 times higher in 1960 than in 1969–70.     

A model-atmosphere analysis of Ap star HD 26385

An abundance analysis using photographic region spectrograms and fully line-blanketed model atmospheres has been performed for the chemically peculiar (CP) star HD 26385. Model parameters were determined from H-profile and photometric data. Its pattern of abundance shows that HD 26385 is typically Ap Si-star.     

XX Cam—The Inactive R CrB star

Infrared observations obtained six years apart of the R CrB type star XX Cam do not show any infrared excess, unlike all the other members of the class. The observed colours match a 7000 K black body energy distribution quite well. From the year 1898 till todate, apparently XX Cam has undergone only one visual light minimum in 1940. The lack of infrared excess, the abundance peculiarities and further lack of small amplitude light variations with periods of few tens of days, which are characteristic of R CrB type stars, are discussed in terms of theoretical pulsation models of helium stars.     

Photometric and magnetic variability of the Ap star GY And

We present the results of photometric and magnetic monitoring of a well-known long-period Ap star GY And. This research was inspired by the unusual “secular” variability of the B ? V color index. Photometric monitoring was carried out with the 60-cm reflector of the Crimean Laboratory of the Moscow State University, where 420 brightness estimates were obtained during 2011–2014 with the Johnson system broadband U, B, and V filters. Magnetic monitoring was carried out at the 1-m telescope of the Special Astrophysical Observatory. The duration of photometric observations is about 54 years, and the duration of magnetic monitoring is 64 years. As a result, we have refined the period and the parameters of variability of the magnetic field, and the photometric behavior. We demonstrate that the peculiar “secular” color variability is explained by the off-duty factor of the observations.     

Time-series spectroscopy of the rapidly oscillating Ap star HR 3831

We present time-series spectroscopy of the rapidly oscillating Ap (roAp) star HR 3831. This star has a dominant pulsation period of 11.7 min and a rotation period of 2.85 d. We have analysed 1400 intermediate-resolution spectra of the wavelength region 6100–7100 Å obtained over one week, using techniques similar to those we applied to another roAp star, α  Cir.
We confirm that the H α velocity amplitude of HR 3831 is modulated with rotation phase. Such a modulation was predicted by the oblique pulsator model, and rules out the spotted pulsator model. However, further analysis of H α and other lines reveals rotational modulations that cannot easily be explained using the oblique pulsator model. In particular, the phase of the pulsation as measured by the width of the H α line varies with height in the line.
The variation of the H α bisector shows a very similar pattern to that observed in α Cir, which we have previously attributed to a radial node in the stellar atmosphere. However, the striking similarities between the two stars, despite the much shorter period of α Cir (6.8 min), argues against this interpretation unless the structure of the atmosphere is somewhat different between the two stars. Alternatively, the bisector variation is a signature of the degree ℓ of the mode and not the overtone value n .
High-resolution studies of the metal lines in roAp stars are needed to understand fully the form of the pulsation in the atmosphere.     

The true rotational period of the Ap star HD 193722 = V 1584 Cyg

Photometric observations of the Ap star HD 193722 give unambiguous proofs for a rotational period of P=8.5297 days in contradiction to the earlier found value of P=1.13316 days. Spectroscopic measurements yield a line width equivalent to the value v sin i=44.5 km/s. Both findings show convincingly that HD 193722 is an evolved Ap star with a position in the giant region of the HR diagram. This place falls into a domain occupied by the hypothetic Maia sequence.     

Chemical composition and evolutionary status of the Ap star HD 138633

We present the results of our study of the atmospheric chemical composition and evolutionary status for the chemically peculiar Ap star HD 138633. In contrast to ordinary Ap stars that exhibit strong lines of rare-earth elements in their spectra, these elements are represented very poorly in the spectrum of HD 138633. The magnetic field is estimated to be less than 700 G, which is also atypical of peculiar Ap stars. We have detected a stratification of such elements as Fe, Si, Ca, and Y in the atmosphere of HD 138633 whose pattern agrees qualitatively with the predictions of the theory of diffusive separation of elements under the joint action of gravity and radiation pressure forces. The nonuniform distribution obtained by assuming a stepwise distribution of elements in depth agrees qualitatively with the stratification distribution for β CrB. The search for pulsations points to the possible existence of lowamplitude pulsations with a period of about 17 min.     

The near-contact binary star RZ Dra revisited

This paper presents the absolute parameters of RZ Dra. New CCD observations were made at the Mt. Suhora Observatory in 2007. Two photometric data sets (1990 BV and 2007 BVRI) were analysed using modern light-curve synthesis methods. Large asymmetries in the light curves may be explained in terms of a dark starspot on the primary component, an A6 type star. Due to this magnetic activity, the primary component would appear to belong to the class of Ap-stars and would show small amplitude with δ Scuti-type pulsations. With this in mind, a time-series analysis of the residual light curves was made. However, we found no evidence of pulsation behaviour in RZ Dra. Combining the solutions of our light curves and Rucinski et al. (2000)’s radial velocity curves, the following absolute parameters of the components were determined: M₁ = 1.63 ± 0.03 M_⊙, M₂ = 0.70 ± 0.02 M_⊙, R₁ = 1.65 ± 0.02R_⊙, R₂ = 1.15 ± 0.02 R_⊙, L₁ = 9.72 ± 0.30 L_⊙ and L₂ = 0.74 ± 0.10 L_⊙. The distance to RZ Dra was calculated as 400 ± 25 pc, taking into account interstellar extinction. The orbital period of the system was studied using updated O–C information. It was found that the orbital period varied in its long-period sinusoidal form, superimposed on a downward parabola. The parabolic term shows a secular period decrease at a slow rate of 0.06 ± 0.02 s per century and is explained by the mass loss via magnetized wind of the Ap-star primary. The tilted sinusoidal form of the period variation may be considered as an apparent change and may be interpreted in terms of the light-time effect due to the presence of a third body.     

Quantitative analysis and spectral variation of the Ap star HD 151 199

The radial velocity, intensity variations of the Caii line and chemical composition of the suspected magnetic star HD 151 199 have been studied using three 9.6 A/mm and twenty-one 40 A/mm dispersion spectrograms which were taken at St. Michel and Asiago Observatories respectively. The radial velocity and the intensity of the Caii K line suggest a variation with a 6.143 day period. The range is about 40 km/sec for the radial velocity and the K line changes in intensity by 50%. Preliminary results of the photometric data in the Geneva system show a similar trend of variation in (B ₂–B ₁) with the same period. H and H contours and the Balmer discontinuity give _eff=0.50 and logg=4. The most probable microturbulence is found to be 6.4 km/sec. The excitation temperature, _exc=0.50, is derived from the Fe lines and adopted for the other elements as well. A quantitative analysis by curve of growth and weighting function method, using Mihalas and Conti's atmospherical models was made. HD 151 199 shows an overabundance of Ca, Sr, Ba, by factors of 2, 40, and 5 with respect to 30 L Mi. Euii is probably overabundant also but it is not possible to give this element a numerical value. The other elements seem to be normal.     

The GSU/CHARA program of binary star

A new catalog of speckle interferometric measurements of binary stars has recently been compiled; some statistics of the catalog are presented. Capabilities of the technique of speckle interferometry are demonstrated by new orbital elements of four binary star systems.     

The stellar content of binary star clusters in the LMC

The bright stellar content for fifteen binary star clusters and their adjoining fields in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) were studied here. Film copies of plates taken with the 1.2 U.K. Schmidt telescope were used for deriving the spectral types of the stars in the studied regions. All classified stars are brighter thanV=17.5 mag and situated in large areas around each pair and in a neighbouring field. Seven of the pairs, the brightest and most populous are young clusters (located mainly at the north part of the parent galaxy). The derived distributions of spectral types of their stars give strong evidence that each pair consists of similar stellar content with ages 0.6–8×10⁷ yr.Eight more binary star clusters were studied as well, selected among the rest of the binaries in the LMC. It is found that their stars were faint for our limit of detection so the poor statistics did not allow a comparison among the two cluster members of each pair. However the bright limit of their stars implies ages >6×10⁸ yr. Considering that these objects were randomly selected it is unlikely that all are projected pairs. So it seems that binarity in star clusters is a phenomenon (favourable in the LMC) which did not happen only once in the life of this galaxy.     

The rapidly oscillating Ap star HD 99563 and its distorted dipole pulsation mode

We undertook a time-series photometric multisite campaign for the rapidly oscillating Ap (roAp) star HD 99563 and also acquired mean light observations over four seasons. The pulsations of the star, which show flatter light maxima than minima, can be described with a frequency quintuplet centred on 1557.653 μHz and some first harmonics of it. The amplitude of the pulsation is modulated with the rotation period of the star that we determine with 2.91179 ± 0.00007 d from the analysis of the stellar pulsation spectrum and of the mean light data. We break up the distorted oscillation mode into its pure spherical harmonic components and find it is dominated by the ℓ= 1 pulsation, and also has a notable ℓ= 3 contribution, with weak ℓ= 0 and 2 components. The geometrical configuration of the star allows us to see both pulsation poles for about the same amount of time; HD 99563 is only the fourth roAp star for which both pulsation poles are seen and only the third where the distortion of the pulsation modes has been modelled. We point out that HD 99563 is very similar to the well-studied roAp star HR 3831. Finally, we note that the visual companion of HD 99563 is located in the δ Scuti instability strip and may thus show pulsation. We show that if the companion was physical, the roAp star would be a 2.03-M_⊙, object, seen at a rotational inclination of 44°, which then predicts a magnetic obliquity     .