Blueshifted diffuse interstellar bands in the spectrum of HD 34078

In this paper, we report the very first observation of diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) that, in the spectrum of HD 34078 (AE Aur), are blueshifted with respect to the normal position that they have in other objects, where the rest-wavelength velocity frame is determined using very sharp interstellar atomic lines or molecular features. Only reasonably narrow DIBs seemingly show this effect, which is absent in broader ones. The result is confirmed independently using three different spectrographs attached to two different telescopes.     

Observations of structure in the stellar wind of HD 152408

We report on the presence of substantial, low-velocity stellar wind structure in the extreme O supergiant HD 152408, based on optical spectroscopic time-series observations. Systematic variations in the form of migrating optical depth enhancements occur in the absorption trough of the He I 5876 P Cygni profile. These variations start deep in the stellar wind, slowly accelerate bluewards to 0.5v over 1–2 days, and recur at intervals of about 1 day. Sympathetic variations are apparent in the Balmer emission lines. The observations provide constraints on the stability of the low-velocity stellar wind regime, and indicate the presence of large-amplitude perturbations at great depths in the outflow.     

Repetitive structure in the stellar wind of HD 93843: a normal O-type star

We present the results from a 28-day IUE time-series campaign monitoring the stellar wind of the O5-type giant HD 93843. The principal aim was to study variability in the wind of a star with a normal projected rotation velocity. Systematic changes are identified, amidst continuous line-profile variability, in the absorption troughs of the Si  iv and N  v resonance lines. The patterns observed have characteristic time-scales of several days and are mimicked by fluctuations (of several 100 km s⁻¹) in the blue wings of the saturated C  iv P Cygni profile.   Fourier analysis provides support for the repeatability of wind structures in HD 93843 on a 7.1-d 'period'. Power at this frequency is evident only at intermediate and high velocities (i.e., above ∼0.3 of the terminal velocity). The long modulation time-scale suggests that changes in the star itself probably provide the physical source for triggering the onset of wind structure. Unfortunately the rotational, photometric, pulsational and magnetic properties of HD 93843 are too poorly constrained or known to permit a more detailed interpretation of the 7.1-d wind modulation in terms of potential inhomogeneities at the stellar surface. Nevertheless, our study demonstrates that the incidence of cyclic, possibly regular, stellar-wind variability is not restricted to rapid rotators. Comparisons with other OB stars which have exhibited repetitive wind changes on 'periods' of several days suggest that the time-dependent UV properties of HD 93843 are more akin to those of the O4-type supergiant ζ Puppis.     

The interstellar clouds of adams and blaauw revisited: An HI absorption study-I

This investigation is aimed at clarifying the nature of the interstellar gas seen in absorption against bright O and B stars. Towards this end we have obtained for the first time HI absorption spectra towards radio sources very close to the lines of sight towards twenty five bright stars previously studied. In this paper we describe the selection criteria, the details regarding our observations, and finally present the absorption spectra. In the accompanying paper we analyse the results and draw conclusions.     

A peculiar metal-rich star, HD 135485

Local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) absolute and differential abundances are presented for a peculiar metal-rich B-type star, HD 135485. These suggest that HD 135485 has a general enrichment of ∼0.5 dex in all the metals observed (C, N, O, Ne, Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Cl, Ar, Sc, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe and Sr), except for nickel. The helium enhancement and hence hydrogen deficiency can account for ≤ 0.2 dex of this enhancement of metals, with the additional enhancement probably being representative of the progenitor gas. However, some of the metals appear to have greater enhancements, which may have occurred during the star's evolution. The significantly larger nitrogen abundance coupled with a modest helium enhancement observed in HD 135485 indicates that carbon–nitrogen (CN) processed material has possibly contaminated the stellar surface. Neon and carbon enhancements may indicate that helium core flashes have also occurred in HD 135485. Some of the iron-group elements (viz. Mn and Ni) appear to have similar abundance patterns to that of silicon Ap stars, but it is uncertain how these abundance patterns formed if they were not present in the progenitor gas. From a kinematical investigation it is unclear whether this star formed in a metal-rich region as implied by its chemical composition. From its position in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram, HD 135485 would appear to be an evolved star lying close to or on the horizontal branch.     

The massive double-lined O-type binary HD 165052

We present a new optical spectroscopic study of the O-type binary HD 165052 based on high- and intermediate-resolution CCD observations. We re-investigated the spectral classification of the binary components, obtaining spectral types of O6.5 V and O7.5 V for the primary and secondary, respectively, finding that both stars display weak C  iii λ 5696 emission in their spectra. We also determined a radial-velocity orbit for HD 165052 with a period of  2.95510±0.00001 d  , and semi-amplitudes of 94.8 and  104.7±0.5 km s^-1  , resulting in a mass ratio   Q =0.9  . From a comparison with previous radial-velocity determinations, we found evidence of apsidal motion in the system. Several signatures of wind–wind collision, such as phase-locked variability of the X-ray flux and the Struve–Sahade effect, are also considered. It was also found that the reddening in the region should be normal, in contrast with previous determinations.     

Imaging and integral-field spectroscopy of shocked H2 around G25.65+1.05

The results of B -band CCD imaging linear polarimetry obtained for stars from the Hipparcos catalogue are used to re-examine the distribution of the local interstellar medium towards the IRAS 100-μm emission void in the Lupus dark clouds. The analysis of the obtained parallax–polarization diagram assigns to the dark cloud Lupus 1 a distance between 130 and 150 pc and assures the existence of a low column density region coincident with the observed infrared void. Moreover, there are clear indications of the existence of absorbing material at distances closer than 60–100 pc, which may be associated with the interface boundary between the Local Bubble and its neighbourhood Loop I superbubble.     

Optical spectroscopy of X-Mega targets – II. The massive double-lined O-type binary HD 93205

A new high-quality set of orbital parameters for the O-type spectroscopic binary HD 93205 has been obtained combining échelle and coudé CCD observations. The radial velocity orbits derived from the He  ii λ 4686 Å (primary component) and He  i λ 4471 Å (secondary component) absorption lines yield semi-amplitudes of 133±2 and 314±2 km s⁻¹ for each binary component, resulting in minimum masses of 31 and 13 M_⊙ ( q =0.42) . We also confirm for the binary components the spectral classification of O3 V+ O8 V previously assigned. Assuming for the O8 V component a 'normal' mass of 22–25 M_⊙ we would derive for the primary O3 V a mass of 'only' 52–60 M_⊙ and an inclination of about 55° for the orbital plane. We have also determined for the first time a period of apsidal motion for this system, namely 185±16 yr using all available radial velocity data sets of HD 93205 (from 1975 to 1999). Phase-locked variations of the X-ray emission of HD 93205 consisting of a rise of the observed X-ray flux near periastron passage are also discussed.     

A new, efficient stellar evolution code for calculating complete evolutionary tracks

We present a new stellar evolution code and a set of results, demonstrating its capability at calculating full evolutionary tracks for a wide range of masses and metallicities. The code is fast and efficient, and is capable of following through all evolutionary phases, without interruption or human intervention. It is meant to be used also in the context of modelling the evolution of dense stellar systems, for performing live calculations for both normal star models and merger products.
The code is based on a fully implicit, adaptive-grid numerical scheme that solves simultaneously for structure, mesh and chemical composition. Full details are given for the treatment of convection, equation of state, opacity, nuclear reactions and mass loss.
Results of evolutionary calculations are shown for a solar model that matches the characteristics of the present sun to an accuracy of better than 1 per cent; a  1 M_⊙  model for a wide range of metallicities; a series of models of stellar Populations I and II, for the mass range 0.25 to  64 M_⊙  , followed from pre-main-sequence to a cool white dwarf or core collapse. An initial–final mass relationship is derived and compared with previous studies. Finally, we briefly address the evolution of non-canonical configurations, merger products of low-mass main-sequence parents.     

High-resolution spectroscopy of ROSAT-discovered weak-line T Tauri stars near Lupus

We present high-resolution optical echelle spectroscopy for a large fraction of the Li-rich late-type stars recently discovered in the vicinity of the Lupus dark clouds. Our results confirm the high Li  i   λ 6708 equivalent widths previously estimated from medium-resolution spectra, thus adding strength to the conclusion that the large majority of these stars are still in the pre-main-sequence phase of their evolution, contrary to claims from other authors that many of them might be zero-age main-sequence stars. We present a statistical approach to derive a mean distance for the sample, and find that it is consistent with, or slightly lower than, the Hipparcos distance of the Lupus star-forming region. The radial velocities measured for part of these stars are consistent with those observed for the Lupus star-forming region, while stars outside the dark clouds show a mean difference of the order of 3 km s⁻¹. The projected rotational velocities show a lack of slow rotators, which is interpreted as a consequence of the X-ray selection of the sample. The Li-rich stars in Lupus studied in this work yield a fairly 'clean' sample of very young stars, while in other star-forming regions a larger fraction of older zero-age main-sequence stars has been found among ROSAT -discovered Li-rich stars. We argue that this fact reflects the relation of these stars with the Gould Belt.     

Variable interstellar absorption lines: a brief review

I review the recent discoveries of variable interstellar absorption lines, widely taken to imply the existence of very small scale(10–100 AU) structure in the interstellar medium. Possible origins of this structure are discussed, and attention is drawn to the fact that most known examples seem to be associated with interstellar shells and bubbles of various kinds. On the other hand, in at least one case (κ Velorum),the variation appears to occur in the supposedly quiescent cold neutral medium, consistent with earlier studies of small scale structure in atomic hydrogen probed at radio wavelengths. Further work is urgently required to determine the prevalence, mode of formation, and the physical and chemical state of these enigmatic structures. Only then will their implications for our wider understanding of the interstellar medium become apparent. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.