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Landstreet, J. D.

Publications and source records attributed to Landstreet, J. D..

An Analysis of the Rapidly Rotating Bp star HD 133880

HD 133880 is a rapidly rotating chemically peculiar B-type (Bp) star (nu sin i approx = 103km/s) and is host to one of the strongest magnetic fields of any Ap/Bp star. A member of the Upper Centaurus Lupus association, it is a star with a well-determined age of 16 Myr. 12 new spectra, four of which are polarimetric, obtained from the FEROS, ESPaDOnS and HARPS instruments, provide sufficient material from which to re-evaluate the magnetic field and obtain a first approximation to the atmospheric abundance distributions of He, O, Mg, Si, Ti. Cr, Fe, Ni, Pr and Nd. An abundance analysis was carried out using ZEEMAN, a program which synthesizes spectral line profiles for stars with permeating magnetic fields. The magnetic field structure was characterized by a colinear multipole expansion from the observed variations of the longitudinal and surface fields with rotational phase. Both magnetic hemispheres are clearly visible during the stellar rotation, and thus a three-ring abundance distribution model encompassing both magnetic poles and magnetic equator with equal spans in colatitude was adopted. Using the new magnetic field measurements and optical photometry together with previously published data, we refine the period of HD 133880 to P = 0.877 476 +/- 0.000009 d. Our simple axisymmetric magnetic field model is based on a predominantly quadrupolar component that roughly describes the field variations. Using spectrum synthesis, we derived mean abundances for O, Mg, Si, Ti, Cr, Fe and Pr. All elements; except Mg, are overabundant compared to the Son. Mg appears to be approximately uniform over the stellar surface, while all other elements are more abundant in the negative magnetic hemisphere than in the positive magnetic hemisphere. In contrast to most Ap/Bp stars which show an underabundance in 0, in HD 133880 this element is clearly overabundant compared to the solar abundance ratio. In studying the Ha and Paschen lines in the optical spectra, we could not unambiguously detect information about the magnetosphere of HD 133880. However, radio emission data at both 3 and 6 cm suggest that the magnetospheric plasma is held in rigid rotation with the star by the magnetic field and further supported against collapse by the rapid rotation. Subtle differences in the shapes of the optically thick radio light curves at 3 and 6 cm suggest that the large-scale magnetic field is not fully axisymmetric at large distances from the star.

Bailey, J. D.↗

Magnetospheres and winds of the helium strong stars: Dependence on rotation

Large aperture, low resolution spectra of 24 stars of types 05, 04, and 03 were obtained, and from these the energy distribution between 1200 and 3200 angstrom was derived in absolute units. The energies were combined with energies deduced from uvby and UBV photometry and corrected for interstellar extinction. Angular diameters and effective temperatures are also derived. The effective temperatures range from 24800K to 63000K. There is no correlation between effective temperature and spectral type or luminosity class for the early 0 stars. The size of the expected errors are also studied.

Barker, P. K.↗

New measurements of circular polarization and an ephemeris for the variable white dwarf G195-19.

Observations of the white dwarf G195-19 made for over a year show that the periodic variation in circular polarization continues with constant frequency and amplitude; an accurate value of 1.3309 plus or minus 0.0004 days is obtained for the period. While the variation in blue-green light is sinusoidal, extensive measurements in red light show an asymmetric curve, reaching a minimum about 6 hours earlier than in the blue-green.

Angel, J. R. P.↗

Search for optical circular polarization in quasars and Seyfert nuclei.

A search for optical circular polarization has been made in six quasars, the nuclei of three Seyfert galaxies, BL Lac, and OJ 287. No positive effect was found in any of these objects, several of which have been reported to show circular polarization at radio wavelengths. It thus appears that optical circular polarization in quasars, if there is any, is not as strong as at radio wavelengths, and in the best-measured objects it is definitely less than 0.2%.

Landstreet, J. D.↗

The optical polarization of Scorpius X-1.

The X-ray source Sco X-1 is known to have a slight linear polarization in visible light. An investigation was conducted to determine whether the origin of the polarization is intrinsic to the source or interstellar. No evidence could be found for unusual polarization properties in Sco X-1 that would point to an intrinsically polarized source, although this cannot be excluded. It is pointed out that the case for interstellar polarization would become very strong if stars in the immediate vicinity are found to be polarized with the same position angle.

Landstreet, J. D.↗

The spectral dependence of circular polarization in Grw + 70 deg 8247.

Observation of sharp changes in circular polarization with wavelength in new observations of Grw + 70 deg 8247 made with 80 A resolution. Some of the structure is associated with the Minkowski bands. Continued broadband measurements show that while the polarization below 6000 A appears to remain constant, above this wavelength there have been significant changes in the past year.

Angel, J. R. P.↗

Magnetism in white dwarfs

White dwarf stars broadband circular polarization and normal/quadratic Zeeman effect

Angel, J. R. P.↗

Measurement of the circular polarization of pulsar NP 0532.

The polarizer is briefly described. The polarization of the whole pulse is not significantly different from zero (-0.15 plus or minus 0.70 per cent). Polarization measurements of the leading edge and trailing edge of the main pulse are also given.

Angel, J. R. P.↗