Engineering topics

Peters, Geraldine J.

Publications and source records attributed to Peters, Geraldine J..

6 records

NASA NTRS1993

A giant X-ray flare on Lambda Eridani (B2e)

A 30 ks observation with the ROSAT PSPC distributed over 39 hr shows that the putatively single, mild B2e star Lambda Eri emits at most times a soft X-ray flux at a rate and temperature consistent with other B stars. However, during the middle of our observations, this star's X-ray flux increased by a factor of 6 before returning to the basal level. This brightening, due entirely to photon energies of 0.7 keV or greater, can be fitted well to a Raymond-Smith temperature parameter of 14 MK and luminosity 4 x 10 exp 31 ergs/s; these are characteristics of giant stellar flares. With an estimated duration of about 50,000 s, this event is arguably the strongest X-ray flare yet observed. We consider several possible scenarios for the site of the flare, including several with an active cool secondary or degenerate companion. We find that IUE and optical spectra do not support a binary picture and that it is most probable that the flare site is on or related to Lambda Eri itself. This supports other evidence for violent magnetic activity on some B-type stars.

Smith, Myron A.↗

NASA NTRS1988

Recent unusual activity in the Be star FY Canis Majoris

Unusual activity observed in the circumstelar envelope of FY CMa during April-May, 1987 is reported. Nightly CCD observations from April 16-20 revealed an invariant H-alpha emission feature and a simple absorption profile for He I 6678 with very weak double emission components. Similar observations on May 2, however, showed that the V lobe of the H-alpha feature had increased in strength by 30 percent and that the He I line had developed into a structured inverse P Cygni profile.

Peters, Geraldine J.↗

NASA NTRS1988

An improved photometric analysis of SX Aurigae

A new analysis of existing photometric data on SX Aurigae is presented which changes current conclusions in the literature concerning the star. It is concluded, based on fitting of the continuous spectrum to Kurucz model atmospheres and simplex optimization procedure utilized, that the system consists of two normal main-sequence stars of spectral types B2 and slightly earlier than B5. The components are very close to the inner Roche limiting surface. The secondary component is unevolved, and the primary component is extremely close to contact with its inner Roche lobe. The evidence indicates that mass flow from the primary to the secondary has not yet begun. Allowing the bolometric albedo of the secondary to be a free parameter produces a solution with an excellent fit to the B, V data. The derived value, A2 = 0.40, disagrees with the theoretical value for radiative atmospheres and agrees with the value for convective equilibrium.

Linnel, Albert P.↗

NASA NTRS1988

The loss and reestablishment of the wind in 66 Ophiuchi in 1985

The paper addresses the mass loss in the Be star 66 Oph during the first six months of 1985, when the star temporarily lost its wind. Particular attention is given to IUE observations obtained just before the wind faded, during the hiatus in mass loss, and in the period of reestablishment. During the espisode considered, the wind faded in less than three weeks, but reestablished itself within two months. While the peak intensity of the H-alpha emission feature has been steadily increasing since the mid-1970s, a marked decrease in strength in June 1985 indicates that the wind and Balmer emitting regions are linked.

Peters, Geraldine J.↗

NASA NTRS1987

Pioneer 10 observations of the Beta Cephei stars Gamma Pegasi and Delta Ceti

The results of analyzing broad-band Pioneer 10 photometric observations of the low-amplitude pulsating Beta Cephei stars Gamma Pegasi and Delta Ceti are reported. Periods and light curve amplitudes of 3.649 + or - 0.020 hr, 0.05 + or - 0.02 mag for Gamma Peg and 3.869 + or - 0.020 hr, 0.13 + or - 0.02 mag for Delta Ceti are obtained; a power spectrum analysis of the data reveals no other periods. No evidence is found for a phase shift between the light curve maxima in the UV and visible regions. The observed amplitudes combined with published visual and near-UV data suggest a flux and temperature variability of about 200 solar luminosities and 250 K for Gamma Peg and about 600 solar luminosities and 450 K for Delta Cet. These results are compared with others obtained with satellite and ground-based instrumentation.

Peters, Geraldine J.↗

NASA NTRS1986

Ultraviolet observations of Be stars. II - Superionization in Be stars of different spectral types

The results of an investigation of the dependence of the strength/presence of lines from superionized species (N V, C IV, Si IV) on spectral type and v sin i in the ultraviolet spectra of Be stars are presented. No evidence is found for N V in stars later than B2; this apparent absence may, however, simply reflect problems with the IUE reduction procedure. The C IV and Si IV lines pervade the ultraviolet spectra of all B subtypes, with a trend toward increasing strength with increasing effective temperature. A similar trend in the 'edge velocity' of the feature with spectral type is found. The data also suggest a possible trend toward the presence of stronger C IV and a higher edge velocity in stars with larger values of v sin i. The observed temporal variability in N V, C IV, and Si IV in some Be stars is discussed.

Marlborough, J. M.↗