The nature of the unique precataclysmic variable V664 Cas with two-peaked Balmer lines in its spectrum

We analyze photometric and spectroscopic observations of the close binary system V664 Cas. All the characteristics of its radiation are consistent with the star being a cataclysmic variable with powerful reflection effects. The orbital period is refined (P=0.5816475 d) and the ephemerides of the system determined. The U, B, V, R light curves of V664 Cas display sinusoidal variations with similar amplitudes near Δm=1.1^m. This suggests that a hot spot on the surface of the secondary always dominates the optical radiation of the system. The spectra contain emission lines, two-peaked hydrogen lines, and narrow lines of helium and heavy elements in high ionization states, whose intensities vary synchronously with the brightness. The HeII λ4686 Å line has broad absorption wings that form in the atmosphere of the O subdwarf. The mass function, f(m)=0.007M_⊙, is the lowest among all precataclysmic variables: the mass of the secondary exceeds the mass of the primary by more than a factor of 1.6. A full set of fundamental parameters for V664 Cas is determined based on modeling of the spectra and light curves, taking into account reflection effects in the system. Most of the emission lines are formed under conditions of appreciable deviations from local thermodynamic equilibrium. The possibility of carrying out correct modeling of the Balmer-line profiles assuming the stellar radiation is absorbed in a planetary nebula is demonstrated.     

Preliminary results of the alignment and Hartmann tests of the AZT-22 telescope

The AZT-22 telescope installed in Turkey (Antalia) was aligned and tested on stars by the Hartmann method. The rms normal deviation of an equivalent optical system is 0.040±0.016 µm. The circle of confusion is 0.40±0.04 arcsec in diameter at a 50% energy level.     

Non-LTE effects for Na I lines in X-ray illuminated stellar atmospheres

The formation of Na I lines in X-ray illuminated atmospheres is investigated by abandoning the assumption of local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE). Calculations are performed on the basis of a 21-level Na I model atom for the LTE model atmospheres of irradiated F-G stars obtained with allowance for a reflection effect in the first approximation. The state of extreme “overrecombination” is shown to exist for the populations of all Na I levels in the case of external illumination. Absorption features in the profiles of “cool” and “normal” Na I lines have been found to be enhanced compared to the LTE approximation. Effects of the angle of incidence and intensity of the external radiation on the formation of level populations and line profiles when abandoning LTE are analyzed. The existence of overrecombination for Na I is explained by the small X-ray heating function and the large optical cooling function. Na I level populations are shown to depend weakly on the presence of “overionization” for Na II in the atmospheres of irradiated stars.     

On the reconstruction of the surface structure of the spotted stars

We have developed and tested a light-curve inversion technique for photometric mapping of spotted stars. The surface of a spotted star is partitioned into small area elements, over which a search is carried out for the intensity distribution providing the best agreement between the observed and model light curves within a specified uncertainty. We have tested mapping techniques based on the use of both a single light curve and several light curves obtained in different photometric bands. Surface reconstruction artifacts due to the ill-posed nature of the problem have been identified.     

Analysis of fundamental parameters for V477 Lyr

We analyze the photometric and spectroscopic observations of the young pre-cataclysmic variable (pre-CV) V477 Lyr. The masses of both binary components have been corrected by analyzing their radial velocity curves. We show that agreement between the theoretical and observed light curves of the object is possible for several sets of its physical parameters corresponding to the chosen temperature of the primary component. The final parameters of V477 Lyr have been established by comparing observational data with evolutionary tracks for planetary nebula nuclei. The derived effective temperature of the O subdwarf is higher than that estimated by analyzing the object’s ultraviolet spectra by more than 10000 K. This is in agreement with the analogous results obtained previously for the young pre-CVs V664 Cas and UU Sge. The secondary component of V477 Lyr has been proven to have a more than 25-fold luminosity excess compared to main-sequence stars of similar mass. Comparison of the physical parameters for the cool stars in young pre-CVs indicates that their luminosities do not correlate with the masses of the objects. The observed luminosity excesses in such stars show a close correlation with the post-common-envelope lifetime of the systems and should be investigated within the framework of the theory of their relaxation to the state of main-sequence stars.     

CaII line formation in the spectra of irradiated atmospheres

We have studied the effect of external radiation on the formation of LTE and non-LTECaII lines in the spectra of A-M-star atmospheres. Three frequency distributions were chosen for the external radiation: X-ray radiation specified by the power law \(I_v^ + = I_{0^v } ^{ - 0.6} \) at 1–16.5 keV and UV radiation specified by blackbody distributions with the temperatures T_rad=50000 and 15000 K. We analyze the influence of variations in the irradiating flux and its angle of incidence on the profiles and equivalent widths of the λλ3933, 3968 Å resonance doublet and the λλ8498, 8542, 8662 Å infrared triplet. For any type of external radiation, allowing for deviations from LTE decreases the reflection effects for the CaII lines. We conclude that the CaII profiles do not display emission components in the spectra of optically thick stellar atmospheres irradiated by X-rays. Therefore, CaII emission lines observed in the radiation of cataclysmic variables must be formed in an optically thin plasma. CaII emission lines are likely to form in the spectra of stars with UV irradiation if CaII is the dominant ionization state in atmospheric layers close to the depths at which the continuum is formed. As a result, the spectra of symbiotic variables with hot primaries can contain CaII lines originating on the surfaces of the M-giants and supergiant secondaries due to reflection effects. These lines can be used to analyze the reflection effects and the temperature structure in the atmospheres of the secondaries only if non-LTE effects are included. In the spectra of close binaries with cool white dwarfs, CaII emission lines originate in the irradiated atmospheres of the secondaries under conditions close to thermalization. These lines can be used to study the reflection effects and calcium abundances even in an LTE approximation. We calculated the profiles and equivalent widths of CaII lines in the spectra of the four precataclysmic variables BE UMa, EG UMa, MS Peg, and HR Cam. The observed and theoretical reflection effects in the λλ3933, 8542 Å emission lines for the specified parameters of the systems and a solar calcium abundance in the atmospheres of the red dwarfs are in good agreement.     

Assessment of water quality and pollution of the Lake Seyfe basin, Kırşehir, Turkey

Lake Seyfe is located in a closed basin near K?r?ehir in the central Anatolian region, Turkey. The aim of this study is to evaluate the groundwater quality and effects of lithogenic contamination carried out in the Lake Seyfe basin, which is represented by various lithologies and groundwater types. Seyfe, Horla and Akp?nar springs are recharged through marbles at the western and southwestern of the basin are ultimately and discharged into the K?z?l?rmak Formation and Lake Seyfe. The waters of deep wells drilled into the marbles are of bicarbonate type (type I) in the Ca²⁺–Mg²⁺–HCO₃ ^? and Ca²⁺–HCO₃ ^? facies. Özlühüyük spring and waters from most of trenches and shallow wells, which are fed by the K?z?l?rmak Formation, have a mixed (type II) composition in the Ca²⁺–Mg²⁺–HCO₃ ^?–Cl^? facies. Groundwater in the alluvium and K?z?l?rmak Formation along Lake Seyfe has a salty (type III) character in the Na⁺–Cl^? facies. The main reasons of formation and change of the groundwater salinity and hydrochemical facies in the Seyfe basin are causing the various (a) lithogenic pollution and heterogeneity of the K?z?l?rmak Formation, (b) salinity of the upper soil zones, and (c) evaporation of the trench and channel waters open to the atmosphere. Considering parameters such as sodium hazard, specific conductivity, bicarbonate and carbonate hazards, waters in the study area are generally suitable for agricultural usage.     

Distribution of polarization and intensity of radiation across the stellar disk and numberical values of atmospheric characteristics governing this distribution

Computations of polarization and intensity of radiation from a unit stellar surface area are presented, as well as a study of the numerical characteristics of atmospheres — single-scattering albedo and the initial source function(), which define the polarization behaviour of atmospheres. The radiatively stable models of stellar atmospheres presented by Kuruczet al. (1974) and Kurucz (1979) have been used for calculations. Since the versus optical depth dependence is rather weak, it has been assumed that (=cost. With a fixed effective temperatureT _eff maximum values of are characteristic of stars featuring the lowest surface gravity accelerationg. Among stars with radiatively stable atmospheres, maximum values of (=5000 Å) 0.4–0.6 are exhibited by supergiants withT _eff=8000–20 000 K. The plot of () is characterized by discontinuities at the boundaries of spectral series for hydrogen and, sometimes, for helium. Maximum are attained in the Lyman region of =912–1200 Å, where can reach the value 0.7–0.9 for supergiants, this value being 0.3 for Main-Sequence stars. For stars withT _eff 35 000 K, high values of also are attained for <912 Å. Within the infrared region, is always small because of bremsstrahlung absorption.A rapid growth of the source functionB with < typical for ultraviolet range (within the Wien part of spectrum), together with high values of results in the strong polarization of emission from a unit stellar surface element, sometimes exceeding the values for the case of a pure electron scattering. For longer wavelengths, where the limb-darkening coefficient is smaller, the plane of polarization abruptly turns 90° in the central parts of the visible stellar disk.