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At least 127 records · Page 7

A Multiwavelength Study of the Starburst Galaxy NGC 7771

We present a multiwavelength study of the interacting starburst galaxy NGC 7771, including new optical and ultra-violet spectra and a previously unpublished soft X-ray ROSAT image and spectrum. The far-infrared, radio, and X-ray fluxes suggest that a massive burst of star-formation is currently in progress but the small equivalent width of the Balmer emission lines (equivalent width H(alpha approximately equals 100 A), the weak UV flux, the low abundance of ionised oxygen, and the shape of the optical spectrum lead us to conclude that there are few 0 stars. This might normally suggest that star-formation has ceased but the galaxy's barred gravitational potential and large gas reserves imply that this should not be so, and we therefore consider other explanations. We argue that the observations cannot be due to effects of geometry, density bounded nebulae, or dust within the nebulae, and conclude that a truncated IMF is required. The dwarf galaxy NGC 7770 appears to be in the initial stages of a merger with NGC 7771, and the resulting tidal perturbations may have induced the apparent two-armed spiral pattern, and driven a substantial fraction of the disk gas inwards. The presence of a bulge in NGC 7771 may be moderating the starburst so that, while still occuring on a large scale with a supernova rate of 0.8-1/yr, it is less violent and the IMF has a relatively low upper mass limit. We find that there is a cluster of stars obscuring part of the starburst region, and we offer an explanation of its origin.

Davies, Richard I.↗

Anomalous Stellar Populations in Low-surface-brightness Galaxies

We present new Hubble Space Telescope WFC3 near-IR observations of the color–magnitude diagrams (CMDs) in two low-surface-brightness galaxies, F575-3 and F615-1, notable for having no current star formation based on a lack of Hα emission. Key features of the near-IR CMDs are resolved, such as the red giant branch (RGB), the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) region, and the top of the blue main sequence. F575-3 has the bluest RGB of any CMD in the literature, indicating an extremely low mean metallicity. F615-1 has unusually wide RGB and AGB sequences, suggesting multiple episodes of star formation from metal-poor gas, and possibly infalling material. Both galaxies have an unusual population of stars to the red of the RGB and lower in luminosity than typical AGB stars. These stars have normal optical colors but abnormal near-IR colors. We suggest that this population of stars might be analogous to local peculiar stars like Be stars with strong near-IR excesses owing to a surrounding disk of hot gas.

47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION↗

ROSAT survey of emission from Be stars

ROSAT pointed observations of bright, classical Be stars have demonstrated that detection of soft x-rays at a level expected for normal B stars of comparable T(sub eff) and luminosity is anti-correlated with the presence of episodes of enhanced mass ejection and formation of a dense, moderately ionized equatorial circumstellar disk. At epochs of lower than average disk column density, x-ray flaring has been detected in 2 Be stars, lambda Eri and pi Aqr.

Grady, Carol↗

Effective temperatures, angular diameters, distances and linear radii for 160 O and B stars

This paper discusses effective temperatures, angular diameters, distances, and linear diameters that have been determined for 160 O and B stars on the basis of published UV spectrophotometry, visible and near-IR intermediate-band photometry, and model-atmosphere fluxes. The results are compared with previous measurements and calculations for main-sequence and giant O and B stars. It is found that: (1) the flux effective temperatures of O and B supergiants are systematically lower than those of main-sequence and giant stars of the same subtype; (2) the effective temperatures and radii of Beta Cep stars are the same as those of nonvariable stars of the same spectral type; (3) Be stars that do not have two Balmer jumps have effective temperatures very similar to those of normal B stars of the same subtype; (4) O and B stars increase in size from the main sequence to supergiants; and (5) late B supergiants are approximately twice as large as O9 supergiants.

Underhill, A. B.↗

A VLA radio-continuum survey of a sample of confirmed and marginal barium stars

Results are reported from a 6-cm VLA survey of five confirmed Ba II stars and eight mild Ba II stars, undertaken to search for evidence of gyrosynchrotron emission or thermal emission from the primary star's wind that is enhanced or photoionized by a white dwarf companion. Of these 13 stars, only Beta UMi was detected as a possible radio source at a flux level of 0.11 mJy (3sigma). The 6-cm radio luminosities (L6) of the other stars are as small as log L6 less than or equal to 14.0 and are an order of magnitude or more lower than the average levels found in RS CVn systems, but are consistent with the L6 upper limits previously found for stars of spectral type similar to the Ba II stars and normal elemental abundances. The upper limit to the radio luminosity for the possible mild Ba II star 56 Peg, when combined with its previously known X-ray luminosity, may provide useful constraints on the various models that have been proposed for this interesting object, once its orbital period is known.

Drake, Stephen A.↗

A search for X-rays from runaway stars

Enhanced X-ray emission from an early-type runaway star would be direct evidence for the presence of a collapsed companion, and thus for its origin as the result of a supernova explosion in a massive binary. To test this idea, measurements of X-ray fluxes in the 0.5-3 keV energy range from nine O and B type runaway stars were made with the Einstein Observatory. In each case, the X-ray luminosity observed does not exceed that expected from a normal OB star. Therefore we conclude that, if the runaway stars have collapsed companions, the separations of the components must be much greater than those in normal OB binaries.

Kumar, C. K.↗

Vector space methods of photometric analysis. II - Refinement of the MK grid for B stars. III - The two components of ultraviolet reddening

This paper discusses systematic errors which arise from exclusive use of the MK system to determine reddening. It is found that implementation of uvby, beta photometry to refine the qualitative MK grid substantially reduces stellar mismatch error. A working definition of 'identical' ubvy, beta types is investigated and the relationship of uvby to B-V color excesses is determined. A comparison is also made of the hydrogen based uvby, beta types with the MK system based on He and metal lines. A small core correlated effective temperature luminosity error in the MK system for the early B stars is observed along with a breakdown of the MK luminosity criteria for the late B stars. The second part investigates the wavelength dependence of interstellar extinction in the ultraviolet wavelength range observed with the TD-1 satellite. In this study the sets of identical stars employed to find reddening are determined more precisely than in previous studies and consist only of normal, nonsupergiant stars. A multivariate analysis of variance techniques in an unbiased coordinate system is used for determining the wavelength dependence of reddening.

Massa, D.↗

An empirical line-blanketing study of Am stars

Metallic line-blanketing coefficients have been measured over the wavelength range from 3800 to 4700 A in a sample of 20 Am and normal A stars. An expression for the logarithmic iron abundance has been calibrated in terms of effective temperature and a mean line-blocking coefficient. This makes it possible to determine the atmospheric iron abundance in sharp-lined Am and A stars with an accuracy of better than plus or minus 0.1 dex, using only line-blocking measurements and a photometric effective temperature.

Rydgren, A. E.↗

A Hubble Space Telescope planetary camera view of giant H II regions - The Wolf-Rayet content of NGC 595 and NGC 604 in M33

We present images of NGC 595 and NGC 604, the most massive giant H II regions in M33, obtained with the Planetary Camera aboard the HST in order to study their WR population. Fourteen WR and/or Of candidates are detected in NGC 604, and eleven in NGC 595. All previously claimed 'superluminous' WR stars are found to be tight (diameter less than 3 pc) stellar aggregates containing one (or sometimes more) normal WR star. As suspected from ground-based data, the WR/O number ratio is significantly higher in NGC 595 (about 0.3) than in NGC 604 (about 0.1). The WR stars may be major contributors to the output of mechanical power and energy into the interstellar medium in both clusters. Over the observable initial mass range, the initial mass functions (IMFs) have similar slopes. These IMFs are somewhat flatter than those generally derived for massive stars in the Galaxy or the Magellanic Clouds.

Drissen, Laurent↗

The evidence for aspect dependent winds in Be stars

A stellar wind survey in 62 Be and 43 B stars covering 80 III-V to B5 III-V is presented. It is found that the wind absorption seen in C IV in Be stars is due to blended absorption from multiple shortward-shifted discrete components. Such components are not observed in normal B stars, but occur in 63% of the Be stars in the sample. Shortward-shifted discrete components in Be stars are observed only if v sin i is greater than 150 km/sec. Ten Be stars in the sample, including two low v sin i stars, show strong unshifted absorption components, similar to features seen in Beta Cep stars.

Grady, Carol A.↗

'Marginal' BY Draconis stars

Spectroscopic observations of 52 dK-dM stars, obtained at 640-665 nm (with spectral resolution 70-90 pm) using CCD detectors on the coude-feed telescope at KPNO since 1982, are reported. Data for four stars found to have diluted absorption or weak emission above continuum at H-alpha are presented in tables and spectra and discussed in detail. These objects (Gliese numbers 256, 425A, 900, and 907.1) are shown to be 'marginal' BY Dra stars, single objects of age 2.5-3 Gyr with activity and rotational velocity (3-5 km/s) between those of normal dM stars and those of true BY Dra stars. An explanation based on evolution from the BY Dra stage through marginal BY Dra to inactive dM is proposed.

Bopp, Bernard W.↗

A Reconnaissance of the 900-1200 A Spectra of Early O Stars in the Magellanic Clouds

Far-UV spectrograms of ten very hot stars in the Magellanic Clouds were obtained with the Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope during the Astro-2 mission in March 1995. Very few normal OB stars were observed during Astro-1, and the only significant prior sample of such objects in this wavelength range was that obtained by Copernicus of stars near the Sun. The Magellanic Cloud sample offers the advantages of low reddening, a range in metallicity, and more extreme temperatures and luminosities than represented in the near solar neighborhood. Several interesting phenomena were found in the HUT MC sample, including very strong O VI wind profiles in O3 spectra; anomalous CNO wind features corresponding to abundances altered by stellar nucleosynthesis; weak wind features due to the metal deficiency of the Small Magellanic Cloud; and interstellar molecular hydrogen features originating in the MCs. The results were presented and discussed as a small atlas, and they were shown at the Pittsburgh AAS meeting in June 1995. A correlative atlas of Copernicus data was also prepared and published under the auspices of this grant. These publications will serve as resources for the characterization of the FUSE observations of related objects to hopefully be obtained soon. I believe that the large differences among the strong wind features in the HUT data, corresponding to CNO and systemic metallicity effects, are amenable to some relative quantitative analysis, and I shall endeavor to promote such in conjunction with HST data at longer wavelengths for the same stars (which has also not yet been completely analyzed) at a future opportunity.

Walborn, Nolan↗

Observational Effects of Magnetism in O Stars: Surface Nitrogen Abundances

Aims. We investigate the surface nitrogen content of the six magnetic O stars known to date as well as of the early B-type star Tau Sco.. We compare these abundances to predictions of evolutionary models to isolate the effects of magnetic field on the transport of elements in stellar interiors. Methods. We conduct a quantitative spectroscopic analysis of the ample stars with state-of-the-art atmosphere models. We rely on high signal-to-noise ratio, high resolution optical spectra obtained with ESPADONS at CFHT and NARVAL at TBL. Atmosphere models and synthetic spectra are computed with the code CMFGEN. Values of N/H together with their uncertainties are determined and compared to predictions of evolutionary models. Results. We find that the magnetic stars can be divided into two groups: one with stars displaying no N enrichment (one object); and one with stars most likely showing extra N enrichment (5 objects). For one star (Ori C) no robust conclusion can be drawn due to its young age. The star with no N enrichment is the one with the weakest magnetic field, possibly of dynamo origin. It might be a star having experienced strong magnetic braking under the condition of solid body rotation, but its rotational velocity is still relatively large. The five stars with high N content were probably slow rotators on the zero age main sequence, but they have surface N/H typical of normal O stars, indicating that the presence of a (probably fossil) magnetic field leads to extra enrichment. These stars may have a strong differential rotation inducing shear mixing. Our results shOuld be viewed as a basis on which new theoretical simulations can rely to better understand the effect of magnetism on the evolution of massive stars.

Martins, F.↗

A different type of maser star

A systematic survey of short-period, semiregular variable stars has been made resulting in the detection of six new water masers. Of the 14 short-period maser stars now known, nine are classified as SRb variables. All are very late spectral type SRb's, typically M7, while the overwhelming majority of normal SRb stars is M4 to M6. Their 2.2-11 micron color indices are among the lowest of any known maser stars. They are presumably less dusty as well. Four of the SRb stars and two of the remainder do not obey the correlation between period and velocity spread of the emission features that is found for the Mira and long-period, semiregular variables. Finally, high galactic latitudes dominate; 13 of the 14 are in excess of 13 deg, and nine of these are greater than 25 deg. These facts suggest that the short-period semiregular variables - particularly in SRb stars - may be a very different type of maser star than the Mira and long-period semiregular variables.

Dickinson, D. F.↗

New Observational Evidence of Flash Mixing on the White Dwarf Cooling Curve

Blue hook stars are a class of subluminous extreme horizontal branch stars that were discovered in UV images of the massive globular clusters w Cen and NGC 2808. These stars occupy a region of the HR diagram that is unexplained by canonical stellar evolution theory. Using new theoretical evolutionary and atmospheric models, we have shown that the blue hook stars are very likely the progeny of stars that undergo extensive internal mixing during a late helium-core flash on the white dwarf cooling curve. This "flash mixing" produces hotter-than-normal EHB stars with atmospheres significantly enhanced in helium and carbon. The larger bolometric correction, combined with the decrease in hydrogen opacity, makes these stars appear sub luminous in the optical and UV. Flash mixing is more likely to occur in stars born with a high helium abundance, due to their lower mass at the main sequence turnoff. For this reason, the phenomenon is more common in those massive globular clusters that show evidence for secondary populations enhanced in helium. However, a high helium abundance does not, by itself, explain the presence of blue hook stars in massive globular clusters. Here, we present new observational evidence for flash mixing, using recent HST observations. These include UV color-magnitude diagrams of six massive globular clusters and far-UV spectroscopy of hot subdwarfs in one of these clusters (NGC 2808).

Brown, T. M.↗

Further spectrophotometry of the transient X-ray source A0620-00

Observations of the transient X-ray source A0620-00 in November 1976 show that the optical object had an apparent visual magnitude of 18.35. The spectrum is cool and shows that one component of the light comes from a K5 V to K7 V star. The distance is estimated to be 870 pc if the cool star is normal. Some support for the 7.8-day X-ray period recently found is provided by observations made in 1975 during the outburst. In addition to the cool K star, there is a second radiation source which has a flat spectrum. This source can be modeled by a 10,000-K blackbody with a radius (if spherical) of 17,000 km plus a 4000-K blackbody with a radius of 13,400 km and is probably a residual accretion disk. It is very unlikely that the K star can fill its Roche lobe, so that mass transfer to a neutron-star companion by this mechanism is unlikely. It is possible that the K star is losing mass by processes such as those that occur in T Tauri stars.

Oke, J. B.↗

An Infrared Image of the Dust Disc Around Beta Pic

The star, B Pictoris, is a normal main sequence star with a remnant disc of cool dust around it. We present observations of the B pic dust disc in the far infrared, obtained using the photometer (ISOPHOT) on the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) satellite.

photometer↗

Documentation for the machine-readable version of the catalog of 5,268 standard stars, 1950.0 based on the normal system N30

The machine-readable version of the N30 catalog available on magnetic tape from the Astronomical Data Center is described. Numerical representations of some data fields on the original catalog were changed to conform more closely to formats being used for star-catalog data, plus all records having asterisks indicating footnotes in the published catalog now have corresponding remarks entries in a second tape file; i.e. the footnotes in the published catalog were computerized and are contained in a second file of the tape.

Warren, W. H., Jr.↗