Analysis of the HST ultraviolet spectra for T Tauri stars: RY Tau and HD 115043

The ultraviolet spectra of the stars RY Tau and HD 115043 from the Hubble Space Telescope are analyzed. RY Tau belongs to the classical T Tauri stars, while HD 115043 is a young (t~3×10⁸ years), chromospherically active star. The most intense emission lines were identified, and their fluxes were measured. Low-resolution spectra of RY Tau and HD 115043 in the wavelength range 1160–1760 Å exhibit almost the same set of emission lines. However, first, the luminosity of RY Tau in these lines is approximately a factor of 300 higher than that of HD 115043, and, second, the relative line intensities differ greatly. The intensity ratio of the C IV λ1550, Si IV λ1400, and NV λ1240 doublet components is close to 1: 2 in the spectra of both stars. Judging by the continuum energy distribution, the spectral type of RY Tau is later than that of HD 115043. Synchronous flux variability in the C IV λ1550 and He II λ1640 lines in a time of ~20 min was detected in RY Tau. The flux rise in these lines was accompanied by a redshift of the intensity peak in the profiles by~50 km s^?1. Intermediate-resolution spectra are used to study line profiles in the spectrum of RY Tau. In particular, the profiles of (optically thin) Si III]λ1892 and C III]λ1909 lines were found to be asymmetric and about 300 km s^?1 in width. The (optically thick) C IV λ1550 doublet lines have similar profiles. The Mg II λ2800 doublet lines are also asymmetric, but their shape is different: they consist of a broad (?750 km s^?1 at the base) emission component on which an interstellar absorption line shifted from the line symmetry center by about 20 km s^?1 is superimposed. The intensity ratio of the Mg II λ2800 doublet components is?1.4. Whether there are molecular hydrogen lines in the spectrum of RY Tau is still an open question. It is shown that the emission lines in the ultraviolet spectrum of RY Tau cannot originate in a hydrostatically equilibrium chromosphere. It is argued that quasi-steady accretion of circumstellar matter is responsible for the emission.     

Preliminary results from the spectra of V471 tauri

The findings about this unusual eclipsing variable which possesses a white-dwarf component are reported. It was found that the H and K absorption lines of Caii are strongly pressure-broadened, and exhibit two double-reversal emission components. The radial velocities derived from the central strong emission components of Caii (H and K) are in agreement with the mean radial velocity curve obtained from the metallic absorption lines of the existing elements, whereas H (4340.47 Å) does not conform with the mean radial velocity curve. In certain orbital phases the H (6562.82 Å) line occurs in emission.     

Spot patterns and differential rotation in the eclipsing pre-cataclysmic variable binary, V471 Tau

We present surface spot maps of the K2V primary star in the pre-cataclysmic variable binary system, V471 Tau. The spot maps show the presence of large high-latitude spots located at the sub-white dwarf longitude region. By tracking the relative movement of spot groups over the course of four nights (eight rotation cycles), we measure the surface differential rotation rate of the system. Our results reveal that the star is rotating rigidly with a surface shear rate,  dΩ= 1.6 ± 6 mrad d⁻¹  . The single active star AB Dor has a similar spectral type, rotation period and activity level as the K star in V471 Tau, but displays much stronger surface shear  (46 < dΩ < 58 mrad d⁻¹)  . Our results suggest that tidal locking may inhibit differential rotation; this reduced shear, however, does not affect the overall magnetic activity levels in active K dwarfs.     

Absolute parameters and physical nature of two W-UMa type binaries: V1123 Tau and V1128 Tau

We present high-precision,multi-band CCD photometry of two less-studied close binaries V1123 Tau and V1128 Tau.Complete covered light curves and a number of new times of light minima of the two eclipsing systems were obtained,based on which,revised orbital elements and new ephemerides were given.By adopting the Wilson-Devinney method,the light curves were analyzed.The photometric solutions confirm the W UMa-type nature of the binary systems.With the less-massive secondary slightly cooler than the primary,V1...     

Analysis of HST ultraviolet spectra for T Tauri stars: DR Tau

We analyze the spectra of DR Tau in the wavelength range 1200 to 3100 Å obtained with the GHRS and STIS spectrographs from the Hubble Space Telescope. The profiles for the C IV 1550 and He II 1640 emission lines and for the absorption features of some lines indicate that matter falls to the star at a velocity ～300 km s^?1. At the same time, absorption features were detected in the blue wings of the N I, Mg I, Fe II, Mg II, C II, and Si II lines, suggesting mass outflow at a velocity up to 400 km s^?1. The C II, Si II, and Al II intercombination lines exhibit symmetric profiles whose peaks have the same radial velocity as the star. This is also true for the emission features of the Fe II and H₂ lines. We believe that stellar activity is attributable to disk accretion of circumstellar matter, with matter reaching the star mainly through the disk and the boundary layer. At the time of observations, the accretion luminosity was L_ac ? 2L_⊙ at an accretion rate ?10^?7M_⊙ yr^?1. Concurrently, a small (<10%) fraction of matter falls to the star along magnetospheric magnetic field lines from a height ～R_*. Within a region of size ?3.5R_*, the disk atmosphere has a thickness ～0.1R_* and a temperature ?1.5 × 10⁴ K. We assume that disk rotation in this region significantly differs from Keplerian rotation. The molecular hydrogen lines are formed in the disk at a distance <1.4 AU from the star. Accretion is accompanied by mass outflow from the accretion-disk surface. In a region of size <10R_*, the wind gas has a temperature ～7000 K, but at the same time, almost all iron is singly ionized by H I L _α photons from inner disk regions. Where the warm-wind velocity reaches ?400 km s^?1, the gas moves at an angle of no less than 30° to the disk plane. We found no evidence of regions with a temperature above 10⁴ K in the wind and leave open the question of whether there is outflow in the H₂ line formation region. According to our estimate, the star has the following set of parameters: M_* ? 0.9M_⊙, R_* ? 1.8R_⊙, L_* ? 0.9L_⊙, and \(A_V \simeq 0\mathop .\limits^m 9\). The inclination i of the disk axis to the line of sight cannot be very small; however, i≤60°.     

Analysis of HST and IUE ultraviolet spectra for T Tauri stars: DF Tau

We analyze ultraviolet spectra of DF Tau, a binary system whose primary component is a classical T Tauri star. The spectra were obtained from the Hubble Space Telescope and the IUE satellite. The stellar emission in the wavelength range covered is shown to originate in an accretion shock wave. The gas infall velocity is ～250 km s^?1. The accreted-gas density is typically N ₀≤10¹¹ cm^?3, but it can occasionally be higher by one and a half orders of magnitude. The continuum intensity near λ=1900 Å was found to be virtually constant for such a significant change in N ₀. The star’s photometric variability is probably attributable to variations in accreted-gas density and velocity, as well as to variations in the area of a hot spot on the stellar surface and in its orientation relative to the observer. The mean accretion rate is $\dot M \sim 3 \times 10^{ - 9} M_ \odot yr^{ - 1}$ . The interstellar extinction for DF Tau is $A_V \simeq 0\mathop .\limits^m 5$ , the stellar radius is ≤2R _⊙, and the luminosity of the primary component is most likely no higher than 0.3 L _⊙. We argue that the distance to DF Tau is about 70 pc. Upper limits are placed on the primary’s coronal emission measure: EM(T=10⁷ K)<3×10⁵⁴ cm^?3 and EM(T=1.3×10⁶ K)<3×10⁵⁵ cm^?3. Absorption lines originating in the stellar wind were detected in the star’s spectrum. Molecular hydrogen lines have essentially the same radial velocity as the star, but their full width at half maximum is FWHM ?50 km s^?1. We failed to explain why the intensity ratio of the C IV λ1550 doublet components exceeds 2.     

Extensive photometric study of V471 Tauri

The white-dwarf red-dwarf eclipsing binary V471 Tauri has been observed photoelectrically, in blue and yellow lights, from 1985 to 1989. The behaviour of the mean brightness variation has been re-examined. The mean brightness has decreased from 1982 to 1985 and thereafter it started to increase again. The amount of the variation of the light of the system has reached to 0.19 mag in both colours since 1973. On the other hand, the new timings of mid-eclipse deviate considerably from those linear and light-time effect fittings. Neither the third-body hypothesis, nor any other mechanism can explain the orbital period change of the system.     

Light variations and flares on V471 tauri

Two-colour photometric observations of the white-dwarf and K-dwarf eclipsing binary V471 Tau were made during the last four years. The resulting light curves and thirteen timings of mid-eclipse are presented. During the observations two flares were obtained on September 23 and December23, 1992. Both events occurred just after the fourth contact. The increment in the brightness was measured as 0 _. ^m 067. The energy liberated by the flare was computed to be 5.43 × 10³² erg s^–1 in the JohnsonB band, which amounts 1.13 times that of the total radiation of the K-dwarf.     

Light curve variations in V471 Tauri

The light curves of V471 Tau obtained in four successive years from 1981 to 1984 are presented. The light variations due to the tidally distorted red dwarf have been computed and subtracted out from the light curves obtained so far. A pure shape of the wave-like distortion has therefore been derived. The period of the retrograde migration has been found to be 182.17 days. On the other hand, the mean brightness of the system seems to vary with a period of about 18 years. The amplitude of the variation is greater at longer wavelength. The periodic variation of the mean brightness resembles the solar cycle of about 11.2 years, which depends upon the number of spots or spot groups.     

Photoelectric light and colour variations in V471 Tauri

A new investigation of the variations in the light curves and in the period of the eclipsing binary V471 Tau is presented. The collected observational data have been re-examined and, in addition to old information, it was found that (i) the decrease in the period of the system slows down and (ii) that the mean brightness of the system has been increasing and this is greater at the longer wavelength. For the last seven years the increase in the brightness is estimated to be 0.15 mag inB and 0.18 mag inV bands respectively. Therefore, we conclude that the colour of the system is about 0.03 mag redder in 1980 than in 1973.     

Photometry of the contact binary system V471 Cas

UBV photoelectric observations of the W UMa-type binary V471 Cas were made from September to November 1984. Its colour indices were found to be(B-V)=0 _. ^m 771±0 _. ^m 02 and(U-B)=0 _. ^m 196±0 _. ^m 02. TheU, B, andV light curves of V471 Cas show some photometric fluctuations. We found that its orbital period is not 0.335998 days which was given by GCVS (1986), but 0.405356 days.Photometric orbital elements of V471 Cas were found using the Wilson-Devinney method. V471 Cas is a contact system, in which the overcontact factor is 0.19, its mass ratio of two components is 0.5947, and orbital minclination is in 83.29 degrees.     

Composite spectra paper 2: HD 88021/2

HD 88021/2 (ADS 7662) is a very close visual binary. The accepted visual orbit, which is of very high eccentricity and graded “reliable”, led to the expectation of a periastron passage in 1981, when there should have been a large difference in radial velocity between the components. No such event took place, and there is little indication that it is likely to occur in the near future. A new interpretation of the visual orbital data leads to an orbit of a different character from those hitherto proposed. A decision between the competing orbits should be possible within a very few years. Meanwhile, the method of spectral subtraction developed in Paper 1 has enabled us to separate the spectra of the two components and to show that their spectral types are K0 III and A2m.     

Analysis of IUE spectra for the star V1016 Ori

We analyze IUE spectra of the star 1016 Ori. Together with previously obtained visible spectra, they have allowed the wavelength range from 1150 to 7000 Å to be studied. Atmospheric parameters of the star were refined: logg=4.5(1), T _eff=30000(1000) K, and ξ_t=15(5) km s^?1. We measured the equivalent widths of ～500 lines and used them to compute the chemical composition. It turned out that the He, B, Mg, P, and S abundances were nearly solar; Ne, Ti, and Cr were overabundant; and C, N, O, Al, Si, Mn, Fe, Ni, and Zn were underabundant.     

Period variation and the new light curves of V471 Tauri

The light curve and period variation of the eclipsing system V471 Tau is discussed. The migration period of 191 days obtained recently by Ibanolu agrees well with the new observations. The period decreases by about one second per century, which may correspond to a mass transfer of 1×10^–7 solar mass. Furthermore, the O–C diagram shows a noticeable sine curve super-imposed on the parabolic variation. The period of the sine curve is about 3.1 years.     

Infrared photometry for two RV Tau stars and V1027 Cyg

We present and discuss the results of our long-term JHKLM photometry for two RV Tau stars (R Sge and RV Tau) and the yellow supergiant V1027 Cyg, a candidate for protoplanetary nebulae. The amplitude of the infrared brightness variations in R Sge and RV Tau over fourteen years of observations was 0 _. ^m 9?1 ^m ; the infrared brightness variations in V1027 Cyg over eighteen years did not exceed 0 _. ^m 25. The infrared brightness and color of R Sge fluctuated about their gradually changing mean values; the infrared brightness variations agree with a period of 70.77 days. The periodic J brightness and J-H color variations in R Sge can be explained by temperature pulsations with ΔT ≤ 200 K and radial pulsations with [ΔR/R] ≤ 0.2. From 1995 to 2008, the mean J brightness of RV Tau increased, while its mean J-H color index decreased; the variations in the mean J brightness can be associated mainly with stellar temperature variations; a periodic component with P = 78.73 days is observed in the infrared brightness and color fluctuations. The variations in the mean J brightness and J-H color index of the supergiant V1027 Cyg over eighteen years of observations did not exceed a few hundredths of a magnitude; both temperature and radial pulsations may be present in the observed J brightness variations. The most probable period of the infrared brightness fluctuations in V1027 Cyg is 237 ± 2 days. The dust shell of R Sge may consist of two layers with grain temperatures of ～1000 and ～700 K; the optical depth at 1.25 µm is ～0.02 and ～0.24, respectively. The grain temperatures in the circumstellar dust shells of the supergiants RV Tau and V1027 Cyg are ～600 K (RV Tau) and ～700 K (V1027 Cyg). Their optical depths at 1.25 µm are ～0.24 (RV Tau) and ～0.008 (V1027 Cyg).     

B-V photoelectric photometry of white-dwarf eclipsing binary V471 Tauri

Photoelectric photometry of the unusual binary system, whose light curve shows peculiar light variations, has been done in the two colours. The observations obtained at the Ege University Observatory between 1973 and 1978 and at the Kottamia Observatory in November 1977 show a variable light curve. The observed variations in the light curve show a migrating wave towards a decreasing orbital phase similar to those observed in RS CVn-binaries. The migration period appears to be about 191 days. The times of minima indicate that there has been a decrease on the orbital period of the system. However, since there is not enough material on the observed times of minima, we cannot explain whether the decrease in the orbital period has been sudden or gradual. The radii of the components have been computed from the primary minimum alone. With the available spectroscopic data, the absolute dimensions of the components are also presented. It appears to be difficult to explain the evolution of the system without taking into consideration the mass loss. The proposed models for the evolution of the system and an explanation of the observed light variations are also presented.     

Probing small scale structure in the atmosphere of V471 Tauri

The white dwarf in the eclipsing binary system V471 Tau is viewed through the atmosphere of the active K star prior to ingress and after egress. In the far UV the surface brightness of the hot white dwarf far outshines the K star emission. We can use this to probe the structure of the extended K star atmosphere along one line of sight, in absorption, on spatial scales of the radius of the white dwarf (10,000 km). The time series of HST/STIS spectra which show a hot (>250,000 K) extended (>1 K star radius) atmosphere around the K star. We see discrete structures in the velocity‐resolved spectra, on spatial scales of less than 100,000 km. The mean velocity is that expected of gas in co‐rotation with the K star, but the discrete velocity structures have excursions of up to 70 km/s from the mean. The mean temperature seems to increase with height above the K star photosphere. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Physical parameters of some close binaries: ET Boo,V1123 Tau,V1191 Cyg,V1073 Cyg and V357 Peg

With the aim of providing new and up-to-date absolute parameters of some close binary systems, new BVR CCD photometry was carried out at the Ankara University Observatory (AUG) for five eclipsing binaries, ET Boo, V1123 Tau, V1191 Cyg, V1073 Cyg and V357 Peg between April, 2007 and October, 2008. In this paper, we present the orbital solutions for these systems obtained by simultaneous light and radial velocity curve analyses. Extensive orbital solution and absolute parameters for ET Boo system were given for the first time through this study. According to the analyses, ET Boo is a detached binary while the parameters of four remaining systems are consistent with the nature of contact binaries. The evolutionary status of the components of these systems are also discussed by referring to their absolute parameters found in this study.