Kinematics and metallicity analysis for nearby F,G and K stars

A sample containing 1 026 stars of spectral types F, G, and K, mainly dwarfs, from the solar neighbourhood with available space velocities and metallicities is treated. The treatment comprises a statistical analysis of the metallicity and velocity data and calculation of galactocentric orbits. Sample stars identified as members of the galactic halo are detached from the rest of the sample based on the values of their metallicities, velocity components and galactocentric orbits. In identifying halo stars a new, kinematical, criterion is proposed. Except one, these halo stars are the metal‐poorest ones in the sample. Besides, they have very high velocities with respect to LSR. On the other hand, the separation between the thin disc and thick one is done statistically based on LSR space velocities, membership probability (Schwarzschild distribution with assumed parameters) and galactocentric orbits. In the metallicity these two groups are not much different. For each of the three subsamples the mean motion and velocity ellipsoid are calculated. The elements of the velocity ellipsoids agree well with the values found in the literature, especially for the thin disc. The fractions of the subsystems found for the present sample are: thin disc 93%, thick disc 6%, halo 1%. The sample stars established to be members of the thin disc are examined for existence of star streams. Traces of both, known and unknown, star streams are not found (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

High-resolution optical and infrared spectroscopic observations of Cir X-1

We present new optical and infrared (IR) observations of Cir X-1 taken near apastron. Both sets of spectra show asymmetric emission lines. Archival optical observations show that an asymmetric H α emission line has been in evidence for the past 20 years, although the shape of the line has changed significantly. We present an eccentric ( e ∼0.7–0.9) low-mass binary model, where the system consists of a neutron star orbiting around a (sub)giant companion star of 3–5 M_⊙. We suggest that the broad components of the emission lines arise in a high-velocity, optically thick flow near the neutron star, while the narrow components of the optical and the IR lines arise near the companion star and a heated ejecta shell surrounding the binary respectively. In this model, the velocity of the narrow component reflects the space velocity of the binary; the implied radial velocity (+430 km s⁻¹ after correcting for Galactic rotation) is the highest velocity known for an X-ray binary.     

A General Relativistic Calculation of Boundary Layer and Disc Luminosity for Accreting Non-magnetic Neutron Stars in Rapid Rotation

We calculate the disc and boundary layer luminosities for accreting rapidly rotating neutron stars with low magnetic fields in a fully general relativistic manner. Rotation increases the disc luminosity and decreases the boundary layer luminosity. A rapid rotation of the neutron star substantially modifies these quantities as compared with the static limit. For a neutron star rotating close to the centrifugal mass shed limit, the total luminosity has contribution only from the extended disc. For such maximal rotation rates, we find that well before the maximum stable gravitational mass configuration is reached, there exists a limiting central density, for which particles in the innermost stable orbit will be more tightly bound than those at the surface of the neutron star. We also calculate the angular velocity profiles of particles in Keplerian orbits around the rapidly rotating neutron star. The results are illustrated for a representative set of equation of state models of neutron star matter.     

The masses, radii and luminosities of the components of U Geminorum

We present a phase-resolved spectroscopic study of the secondary star in the cataclysmic variable (CV) U Gem. We use our data to measure the radial velocity semi-amplitude, systemic velocity and rotational velocity of the secondary star. Combining this with literature data allows us to determine masses and radii for both the secondary star and white dwarf, which are independent of any assumptions about their structure. We use these to compare their properties to those of field stars and find that both components follow field mass–radius relationships. The secondary star has the mass, radius, luminosity and photometric temperature of an M2 star, but a spectroscopic temperature of M4. The latter may well be due to a high metallicity. There is a troubling inconsistency between the radius of the white dwarf inferred from its gravitational redshift and inclination and that inferred from its temperature, flux and astrometric distance.
We find that there are two fundamental limits to the accuracy of the parameters we can derive. First, the radial velocity curve of the secondary star deviates from a sinusoid, in part because of its asphericity (which can be modelled) and in part because the line flux is not evenly distributed over its surface. Secondly, we cannot be certain which spectral type is the best match for the lines of the secondary star, and the derived rotational velocity is a function of the spectral type of the template star used.     

Magnetic field and radial velocity of the Ap star 52 Her. I. Observations,measurements, results

Since 1971 the magnetic Ap star 52 Her has been investigated with respect to its magnettic field and radial velocity on the observational basis of 140 photographic Zeeman spectrograms obtained at the 2m-telescope in Tautenburg. Additionally, 47 normal spectrograms were used for the determination of the radial velocity only. The technical foundation for observation and measurement is considered. The main purpose of the paper, however, is the documentation of the observations and the measuring results. Deductions drawn from the material assorted here or taken from other sources are put off to following papers.     

GD-1星流金属丰度与运动特性分析

星流在星系形成与演化过程中扮演了重要的角色,对银河系中星流的研究将有助于进一步探究银河系的合并历史.将LAMOST(Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope)DR6光谱数据以及SDSS(Sloan Digital Sky Survey)DR12光谱数据分别与Gaia(Global Astrometric Interferometer for Astrophysics)DR2天体测量数据交叉匹配,获得恒星自行等数据.对GD-1星流在速度空间、几何空间和金属丰度上进行限制,从LAMOST DR6和SDSS DR12数据中共获得了157颗星流成员星.GD-1星流的平均金属丰度为[Fe/H]=-2.16±0.10 dex,延伸长度超过80°.收集前人给出的GD-1星流高概率成员星,组成较大的成员星样本进行对比分析,发现GD-1星流的金属丰度分布呈现内低外高的特点,沿着星流方向径向速度分布特点是两端大、中间小,?₁=-20°(?₁为GD-1星流坐标系横坐标)和?₁=-60°附近的间隙是因为成员星运动差异形成的.根据成员星分布及其速度分布特性,推测GD-1星流起源位置是在?₁=-40°附近.     

Short period line profile and light variations in the Be star ω Orionis

We present the results of a multisite spectroscopic and photometric campaign on the Be star ω Orionis. From the photometry and radial velocity variation of several spectral lines, we confirm that the star is a variable with period     . Only one period can be extracted from both the photometric and radial velocity observations. We find that the projected rotational velocity from the helium lines     is considerably smaller than from the metal lines     . The line profiles show an excess absorption feature moving from blue to red for half the period and from red to blue for the other half of the period. Another excess absorption feature moves exactly out of phase. The excess absorption features are present in photospheric lines as well as in lines which are significantly affected by circumstellar material, such as H β . From this we conclude that the periodic variations are most probably associated with corotating circumstellar material.     

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)     

β Cephei type variability in the ultraviolet spectrum and radial velocity of PHL 346

International Ultraviolet Explorer low-resolution and optical moderate-resolution spectra are presented for the high galactic latitude β Cephei type star, PHL 346. Variability is identified in both the ultraviolet flux and the radial velocity with periods and phases consistent with those previously deduced from optical photometry. The similarity of both the flux and the radial velocity amplitude to those previously reported for the β Cephei variable, γ Pegasus, is striking and provides evidence for PHL 346 being a young core hydrogen burning star. A distance estimate for PHL 346 of approximately 7 kpc (corresponding to a z -distance of approximately 6 kpc) is obtained by scaling the distance of γ Pegasus obtained from Hipparcos observations.     

First Mapping Observations of Two Possible Cloud Collision Candidates IRAS 02459＋6029 and 05363＋3127

The first mapping observations of the cold infrared sources IRAS 02459 6029 and 05363 3127 in the molecular lines 12CO(1-0), 13CO(1-0) and C18o(1-0) were made using the 13.7 m millimeter wave telescope in Qinghai. Both the integrated intensity maps and position-velocity diagrams show that each has two components adjacent in both space and velocity which means possible cloud-cloud collisions in the two regions. The near-infrared color-color diagram from the 2MASS database reveals that the density of YSOs in the colliding site is much higher than in the surrounding regions. The results appear to indicate that star forming activities have taken place in the two regions due to the cloud-cloud collision. We conclude that both sources are cloud collision candidates.     

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.     

HD 101065, the most peculiar star: First results from precise radial velocity study

In this paper we discuss the prospects for asteroseismology with spatial resolution and motivate studies of the most chemically peculiar roAp star HD 101065. We present the first results from a high-precision radial velocity (RV) study of HD 101065 based on data spanning four nights that were acquired using the HARPS echelle-spectrometer at the ESO 3.6 m telescope. The analysis of individual nights showed the amplitude and phase modulation of the dominant mode. The analysis of the whole data set showed the presence of multi-periodic oscillations with two groups of equally-spaced modes. We find Δυ = 65.2μHz and δυ = 7.3μHz for the large and the small spacing, respectively. HD 101065 is the only roAp star to show the existence of two groups ofl = 0, 2 andl = 1, 3 excited modes.     

Late-type members of young stellar kinematic groups – I. Single stars

This is the first paper of a series aimed at studying the properties of late-type members of young stellar kinematic groups. We concentrate our study on classical young moving groups such as the Local Association (Pleiades moving group,     , IC 2391 supercluster (35 Myr), Ursa Major group (Sirius supercluster, 300 Myr), and Hyades supercluster (600 Myr), as well as on recently identified groups such as the Castor moving group (200 Myr). In this paper we compile a preliminary list of single late-type possible members of some of these young stellar kinematic groups. Stars are selected from previously established members of stellar kinematic groups based on photometric and kinematic properties as well as from candidates based on other criteria such as their level of chromospheric activity, rotation rate and lithium abundance. Precise measurements of proper motions and parallaxes taken from the Hipparcos Catalogue, as well as from the Tycho-2 Catalogue, and published radial velocity measurements are used to calculate the Galactic space motions ( U , V , W ) and to apply Eggen's kinematic criteria in order to determine the membership of the selected stars to the different groups. Additional criteria using age-dating methods for late-type stars will be applied in forthcoming papers of this series. A further study of the list of stars compiled here could lead to a better understanding of the chromospheric activity and their age evolution, as well as of the star formation history in the solar neighbourhood. In addition, these stars are also potential search targets for direct imaging detection of substellar companions.     

The mass of the neutron star in Centaurus X-3

We report new radial velocity observations of V779 Cen, the optical companion to the X-ray pulsar Cen X-3. Two sets of results at two epochs yield very different radial velocity amplitudes. We demonstrate there are problems with the first set, not least that they are incompatible with the observed duration of the X-ray eclipse for all inclination angles. The anomalously high radial velocities are probably a result of changes in the outflow behaviour of the companion star. Although there is no reason to doubt the results from the second epoch when viewed in isolation, given the anomalous radial velocities of the first epoch, they must be treated with caution. Using these data, the semi-amplitude of the resulting radial velocity curve is found to be 24.4±4.1 km s⁻¹. Given the accurately measured semi-amplitude of the orbit of the pulsar, 414.3±0.9 km s⁻¹, the mass ratio of the system is 0.059±0.010. The inclination of the system is found to be 702±27, assuming that the optical component fills its Roche lobe, and that the system is in synchronous rotation. Hence the mass of the neutron star is 1.21±0.21 M_⊙, and the mass of the optical companion is 20.5±0.7 M_⊙. This is a smaller uncertainty than previously reported values, and is consistent with the canonical neutron star mass of 1.4 M_⊙.
In addition, we use our spectra to determine the spectral class of V779 Cen to be O6-7II-III.     

Spectroscopy of the roAp star α Cir — I. Velocities of Hα and metal lines

We present radial velocity measurements of the rapidly oscillating Ap (roAp) star α Cir, obtained from dual-site observations with medium-dispersion spectrographs. The amplitude and phase of the principal pulsation mode vary significantly, depending on which line is being measured. The amplitude is observed to be as high as 1000 m s⁻¹ in some wavelength bands, despite a previous upper limit of 36 m s⁻¹. Furthermore, some lines are apparently pulsating in anti-phase with others. We suggest this indicates a high-overtone standing wave with a velocity node in the atmosphere of the star.     

Supernova kicks and misaligned Be star binaries

Be stars are rapidly spinning B stars surrounded by an outflowing disc of gas in Keplerian rotation. Be star/X-ray binary systems contain a Be star and a neutron star. They are found to have non-zero eccentricities and there is evidence that some systems have a misalignment between the spin axis of the star and the spin axis of the binary orbit. The eccentricities in these systems are caused by a kick to the neutron star during the supernova that formed it. Such kicks would also give rise to misalignments. In this paper, we investigate the extent to which the same kick distribution can give rise to both the observed eccentricity distribution and the observed misalignments. We find that a Maxwellian distribution of velocity kicks with a low velocity dispersion,  σ_k≈ 15 km s⁻¹  , is consistent with the observed eccentricity distribution but is hard to reconcile with the observed misalignments, typically   i ≥ 25°  . Alternatively, a higher velocity kick distribution,  σ_k= 265 km s⁻¹  , is consistent with the observed misalignments but not with the observed eccentricities, unless post-supernova circularization of the binary orbits has taken place. We discuss briefly how this might be achieved.     

Protodiscs around hot magnetic rotator stars

We develop equations and obtain solutions for the structure and evolution of a protodisc region that is initially formed with no radial motion and super-Keplerian rotation speed when wind material from a hot rotating star is channelled towards its equatorial plane by a dipole-type magnetic field. Its temperature is around 10⁷ K because of shock heating and the inflow of wind material causes its equatorial density to increase with time. The centrifugal force and thermal pressure increase relative to the magnetic force and material escapes at its outer edge. The protodisc region of a uniformly rotating star has almost uniform rotation and will shrink radially unless some instability intervenes. In a star with angular velocity increasing along its surface towards the equator, the angular velocity of the protodisc region decreases radially outwards and magnetorotational instability (MRI) can occur within a few hours or days. Viscosity resulting from MRI will readjust the angular velocity distribution of the protodisc material and may assist in the formation of a quasi-steady disc. Thus, the centrifugal breakout found in numerical simulations for uniformly rotating stars does not imply that quasi-steady discs with slow outflow cannot form around magnetic rotator stars with solar-type differential rotation.     

Numerical simulations of downward convective overshooting in giants

An attempt at understanding downward overshooting in the convective envelopes of post-main-sequence stars has been made on the basis of three-dimensional large-eddy simulations, using artificially modified OPAL opacity and taking into account radiation and ionization in the equation of state. Two types of star, an intermediate-mass star and a massive star, were considered. To avoid a long thermal relaxation time of the intermediate-mass star, we increased the stellar energy flux artificially while trying to maintain a structure close to the one given by a 1D stellar model. A parametric study of the flux factor was performed. For the massive star, no such process was necessary. Numerical results were analysed when the system reached the statistical steady state. It was shown that the penetration distance in pressure scaleheights is of the order of unity. The scaling relations between penetration distance, input flux and vertical velocity fluctuations studied by Singh et al. were checked. The anisotropy of the turbulent convection and the diffusion models of the third-order moments representing the non-local transport were also investigated. These models are dramatically affected by the velocity fields and no universal constant parameters seem to exist. The limitations of the numerical results were also discussed.     

On the nature of the radial velocity variability of Aldebaran: a search for spectral line bisector variations

The shape of the Ti  i 6303.8-Å spectral line of Aldebaran as measured by the line bisector was investigated using high signal-to-noise ratio, high-resolution data. The goal of this study was to understand the nature of the 643-d period in the radial velocity for this star reported by Hatzes & Cochran. Variations in the line bisector with the radial velocity period would provide strong evidence in support of rotational modulation or stellar pulsations as the cause of the 643-d period. A lack of any bisector variability at this period would support the planet hypothesis.
Variations in the line asymmetries are found with a period of 49.93 d. These variations are uncorrelated with the 643-d period found previously in the radial velocity measurements. It is demonstrated that this 50-d period is consistent with an m =4 non-radial sectoral g-mode oscillation. The lack of spectral variability with the radial velocity period of 643 d may provide strong evidence in support of the hypothesis that this variability stems from the reflex motion of the central star due to a planetary companion having a mass of 11 Jupiter masses. However, this long-period variability may still be the result of a low-order ( m =2) pulsation mode as these would cause bisector variations of less than the error measurement.