HD 331319: A post-AGB F supergiant with He I lines

Based on CCD spectra taken with an echelle spectrometer attached to the 6-m telescope, we have determined for the first time the fundamental parameters and detailed chemical composition of HD 331319, an optical counterpart of the infrared source IRAS 19475+3119, by the model-atmosphere method. Helium lines were detected in the spectrum of this luminous (Mυm object with the effective temperature T _eff=7200 K. This detection can be interpreted as a significant helium overabundance in the observed atmospheric layers and may be considered as a manifestation of helium synthesis during the preceding evolution. Nitrogen and oxygen were found to be overabundant, [N/Fe]_⊙=+1.30 dex and [O/Fe]_⊙=+0.64 dex, with the carbon overabundance being modest. The metallicity of the stellar atmosphere, [Fe/H]_⊙=+0.25, differs only slightly from its solar value. The s-process metals are not overabundant but most likely underabundant relative to iron: [X/Fe]_⊙=?0.68 for Y and Zr. Barium is also underabundant relative to iron: [Ba/Fe]_⊙=?0.47. The heavier elements La, Ce, Nd, and Eu are slightly enhanced relative to iron: the mean [X/Fe]_⊙=?0.16 for them. In general, the elemental abundances confirm that IRAS 19475+3119 is a post-AGB object. The metallicity in combination with the radial velocity V_r=?3.4 km s^?1 and Galactic latitude $\left| b \right| = 2_.^ \circ 7$ of the object suggest that it belongs to the Galactic disk population. The envelope expansion velocity, V _exp≈21 km s^?1, was determined from the positions of the absorption bands that originate in the circumstellar envelope. A comparison of our results for the comparison star HD 161796=IRAS 17436+5003, a typical post-AGB object, with previously published data revealed an evolutionary increase in the effective temperature of HD 161796 at a mean rate of ≥50° per year.     

The supergiant HD 33579

The brightest star in either Magellanic cloud has been analyzed by the method of model atmospheres using observational data secured at Cerro Tololo. The results from abundance studies are in general accord with the conclusions by Przybylski. We find solar abundances for Fe, Sc, Mg, Si and, probably, Ca. The V, Cr, Si, Ti data suggest lower abundances but the evidence is not conclusive.     

The spectral variations of the O-type runaway supergiant HD 188209

We report spectral time series of the late O-type runaway supergiant HD 188209. Radial velocity variations of photospheric absorption lines with a possible quasi-period of ∼6.4 d have been detected in high-resolution echelle spectra. Night-to-night variations in the position and strength of the central emission reversal of the H α profile occurring over ill-defined time-scales have been observed. The fundamental parameters of the star are derived using state-of-the-art plane-parallel and unified non-LTE model atmospheres, the latter including the mass-loss rate. The derived helium abundance is moderately enhanced with respect to solar, and the stellar masses are lower than those predicted by the evolutionary models. The binary nature of this star is not suggested either from Hipparcos photometry or from radial velocity curves.     

The Lithium‐rich supergiant HD172365

The F‐type supergiant HD172365 was discovered by Luck (1982) to be a high Li abundance star. We find that the lithium abundance in this star is log A(Li) = 2.9 from a careful spectroscopic study. This value is larger than the abundance derived by Luck. We discuss the properties of this supergiant and tentatively conclude that HD172365 may, in fact, be a post‐blue straggler star with a mass ∼2 times greater than the “turn‐off point” mass for the open cluster IC 4756, of which HD172365 is a member. The star is formed by a merger of a close binary system. This conclusion is supported by, for example, its large projected rotational velocity, solar carbon abundance and high lithium content.     

New spectroscopic and polarimetric observations of the A0 supergiant HD 92207

Our recent search for the presence of a magnetic field in the bright early A‐type supergiant HD 92207 using FORS 2 in spectropolarimetric mode revealed the presence of a longitudinal magnetic field of the order of a few hundred Gauss. However, the definite confirmation of the magnetic nature of this object remained pending due to the detection of shortterm spectral variability probably affecting the position of line profiles in left‐ and right‐hand polarized spectra. We present new magnetic field measurements of HD 92207 obtained on three different epochs in 2013 and 2014 using FORS 2 in spectropolarimetric mode. A 3σ detection of the mean longitudinal magnetic field using the entire spectrum, 〈B_z〉_all = 104 ± 34 G, was achieved in observations obtained in 2014 January. At this epoch, the position of the spectral lines appeared stable. Our analysis of spectral line shapes recorded in opposite circularly polarized light, i.e. in light with opposite sense of rotation, reveals that line profiles in the light polarized in a certain direction appear slightly split. The mechanism causing such a behaviour in the circularly polarized light is currently unknown. Trying to settle the issue of short‐term variability, we searched for changes in the spectral line profiles on a time scale of 8–10 min using HARPS polarimetric spectra and on a time scale of 3–4 min using time series obtained with the CORALIE spectrograph. No significant variability was detected on these time scales during the epochs studied. (© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

On mass loss from HD46300, a supergiant of luminosity class Ib

Using archival IUE data we give the results of an analysis of the profile of the Mg II k and h lines for HD46300, an AO1b-supergiant. Evidence of mass loss by the star was detected; its most probable nature is the ejection of matter in a cloud. Estimates are made for certain parameters of this cloud.Translated fromAstrofizika, Vol. 37, No. 4, 1994.In conclusion the author is grateful to G. A. Gurzadyan for collaboration in obtaining archival IUE material and a discussion of the present paper and to M. Perez (NASA) for analysis of the IUE archival records.     

Photometric variability and evolutionary status of the supergiant with an infrared excess HD 179821=V1427 aquilae

We present new results of our UBV photometry for HD 179821=V1427 Aql, an F supergiant with an infrared excess, from 2000 to 2008. The semiregular low-amplitude (ΔV = 0_. ^m 05−0_. ^m 20) photometric variability of the star with a cycle period from 130 to 200 days is caused by pulsations, along with the instability of a variable stellar wind. V1427 Aql also exhibits a long-term trend in the brightness and colors that is probably attributable to a change in the stellar temperature as a result of mass loss episodes, which cause variations in the continuum formation level. We present the results of our JHKLM photometry for V1427 Aql in 1992–2008. We trace the trend in the near-infrared brightness, which agrees with the long-term variability in the V band. Based on broadband photometry, we have determined the color excess for V1427 Aql: E(B−V) = 0.7. Based on low-resolution spectroscopy, we have estimated the stellar temperature and revealed variability of the Hα line caused by a change in the contribution from the emission component. The hypotheses of whether the star belongs to post-AGB objects or to massive yellow hypergiants are discussed.     

Radial velocity and magnetic field measurements of the a-type supergiant ν cep (HD 207260)

On the basis of 55 Zeeman spectrograms obtained at Tautenburg in the years 1975–1979 the effective magnetic fields and the radial velocities of the supergiant ν Cep (HD 207260) were determined. For the effective magnetic field a slow variation occurring on a time scale of years was found. The spectrograms taken at the first time show only moderate effective magnetic field strengths of a few hundred Gauß, but in the year 1978 values of +2000 Gauß were detected. The measured radial velocities show a longtime variability similar to that of the magnetic field as well as more rapid changes. A periodical variation of the radial velocity with a period of ∼ 39.9 days, perhaps produced by the rotation of the star, is indicated. The Balmer absorption lines H_β, H_β, and H_δ have different radial velocities refering to the presence of an expanding envelope. Moreover, there exist significant differences between the velocities of various elements respectively ions of 1–4 km/s.     

Evidence for the pulsational origin of the Long Secondary Periods: The red supergiant star V424 Lac (HD 216946)

The results of a long-term UBV photometric monitoring of the red supergiant (RSG) star V424 Lac are presented. V424 Lac shows multiperiodic brightness variations which can be attributed to pulsational oscillations. A much longer period (P = 1601 d), that allows us to classify this star as a long secondary period variable star (LSPV) has been also detected. The B − V and U − B color variations related to the long secondary period (LSP) are similar to those related to the shorter periods, supporting the pulsational nature of LSP. The long period brightness variation of V424 Lac is accompanied by a near-UV (NUV) excess, which was spectroscopically detected in a previous study [Massey, P., Plez, B., Levesque, E.M., et al., 2005. ApJ 634, 1286] and which is now found to be variable from photometry. On the basis of the results found for V424 Lac, the NUV excess recently found in a number of RSGs may be due not solely to circumstellar dust but may also have a contribution from a still undetected LSP variability.     

The structure of blue supergiant winds and the accretion in supergiant high-mass X-ray binaries

We have developed a stellar wind model for OB supergiants to investigate the effects of accretion from a clumpy wind on the luminosity and variability properties of high-mass X-ray binaries. Assuming that the clumps are confined by ram pressure of the ambient gas and exploring different distributions for their mass and radii, we computed the expected X-ray light curves in the framework of the Bondi–Hoyle accretion theory, modified to take into account the presence of clumps. The resulting variability properties are found to depend not only on the assumed orbital parameters but also on the wind characteristics. We have then applied this model to reproduce the X-ray light curves of three representative high-mass X-ray binaries: two persistent supergiant systems (Vela X−1 and 4U 1700−377) and the supergiant fast X-ray transient IGR J11215−5952. The model can reproduce the observed light curves well, but requiring in all cases an overall mass loss from the supergiant about a factor of 3–10 smaller than the values inferred from ultraviolet lines studies that assume a homogeneous wind.     

Study of the weakly magnetic star HD 116656

Astronomy Letters - We studied the spectroscopic binary HD 116656 (ζ1 UMa) that has previously been suspected to be a Si-type chemically peculiar star. The magnetic field of each individual...     

Spectroscopic study of the supergiant star 6 Cassiopeiae

Twenty-five coudé spectrograms (22 with dispersion 12 Å mm^–1 and three 7 Å mm^–1) of 6 Cassiopeiae (A3 Ia) have been studied. The observations were made at the Haute Provence Observatory. The results of the analysis suggest a correlation between the variations of the equivalent widths, the microturbulence and the radial velocity. The radial velocity and turbulent velocity present a rapid variation with time, even in intervals as short as about an hour. The hydrogen lines are slightly asymmetric but the strongest Feii lines are clearly asymmetric. We found that the amount of asymmetry of the strongest Feii lines (I>6) correlates with the loggf value, with the estimated laboratory intensityI, and with the equivalent widthW .The observations have been made at the Astronomical Observatory of Haute Provence (CNRS). This work has been supported by TUBITAK (Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey), and partially by CNR (Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche) of Italy.     

Magnetic configurations of the fast CP rotators HD3360, HD4778, HD5737, HD112413, and HD215441

The method of “magnetic charges” is used to model magnetic fields of five rapidly rotating stars (P < 25^d) and to find the basic parameters of their magnetic fields. A table containing all the modeling results obtained using the adopted method as well as the parameters obtained for the same stars by other authors is presented. Significant discrepances are found in a number of cases, which can apparently be explained by insufficient accuracy of the estimated inclinations of the stars to the line of sight.     

A Spectrophotometric Study of the Be Star HD 164447

Spectra of the Be star HD 164447 have been studied. The equivalent widths and the intensities of the measured lines are given. No emission is apparent on the plates. Applying the thin layer theory some parameters of the stars atmosphere were derived.     

Spectral variability of the peculiar A-type supergiant 3Pup

Optical spectra taken in 1997–2008 are used to analyze the spectral peculiarities and velocity field in the atmosphere of the peculiar supergiant 3 Pup. The profiles of strong Fe II lines and of the lines of other iron-group ions have a specific shape: the wings are raised by emissions, whereas the core is sharpened by a depression. The latter feature becomes more pronounced with the increasing line strength, and the increasing wavelength. Line profiles are variable: the magnitude and sign of the absorption asymmetry, and the blue-to-red emission intensity ratios vary from one spectrum to another. The temporal V_r variations are minimal for the forbidden emissions and sharp shell cores of the absorption features of FeII(42), and other strong lines of iron-group ions. The average velocity for the above lines can be adopted as the systemic velocity: V_sys = 28.5 ± 0.5 km/s. The weakest photospheric absorptions and photospheric MgII, Si II absorptions exhibit well-defined day-to-day velocity variations of up to 7 km/s. Quantitative spectral classification yields the spectral type of A2.7±0.3 Ib. The equivalent widths and profiles of Hδ and Hγ, and the equivalent width of the OI 7774 Å triplet yield an absolute magnitude estimate of Mv=?5.5^m ± 0.3^m, implying the heliocentric distance of 0.7 kpc.     

Magnetic field models of CP stars. II: HD11503, HD12098, HD12447, HD14437, HD34452, HD40312, HD178892

We model magnetic fields of seven magnetic stars using a program for studying the structure of magnetic fields in CP stars. It appears that five of them clearly manifest the structure of a central dipole, and the remaining two can be explained by a shifted dipole model. Our previous research and the results of this study demonstrate that the dipole orientation inside the stars relative to the rotation axis can vary from 0° to 90°, both for fast and slow rotators. We can not yet solve the question of the existence of a dominant orientation due to lack of statistics. Our modeling results are consistent with those calculated using Preston’s technique in the case of a dipole field configuration.     

Zehnfarbenphotometrie der vier Ap-Sterne HD 27309, HD 119213, HD 170000 und HD 192913

The results of a ten-colour photometry of the four Ap-stars HD 27309, HD 119213, HD 170000 and HD 192913 are given. The periods were determined to 2.7098, 2.433, 1.716 and 16.3 days. The amplitudewavelength relation shows a different behaviour for all of them.