Inhomogeneous distribution of mercury on the surfaces of rapidly rotating HgMn stars
Starspots are usually associated with the action of magnetic fields atstellar surfaces. However, an inhomogeneous chemical distribution ofmercury was found recently for the mercury-manganese (HgMn) star αAnd - a well-established member of a non-magnetic subclass of thechemically peculiar stars of the upper main sequence. In this study wepresent first results of the high-resolution survey of the Hg II 3984Å resonance line in the spectra of rapidly rotating HgMn starswith atmospheric parameters similar to those of α And. We usespectrum synthesis modelling and take advantage of the Dopplerresolution of stellar surfaces to probe the horizontal structure ofmercury distribution. Clear signatures of spots are found in the Hg II3984 Å line profiles of HR 1185 and HR 8723. Two observations ofthe latter star separated by two days give evidence for line profilevariability. We conclude that inhomogeneous distribution of Hg is acommon phenomenon for the rapidly rotating HgMn stars in the 13 000-13800 K effective temperature range independent of the stellarevolutionary stage. These results establish the existence of a new classof spectrum variable spotted B-type stars. It is suggested that theobserved Hg inhomogeneities arise from dynamical instabilities in thechemical diffusion processes and are unrelated to magnetic phenomena.
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New periodic variables from the Hipparcos epoch photometry
Two selection statistics are used to extract new candidate periodicvariables from the epoch photometry of the Hipparcos catalogue. Theprimary selection criterion is a signal-to-noise ratio. The dependenceof this statistic on the number of observations is calibrated usingabout 30000 randomly permuted Hipparcos data sets. A significance levelof 0.1 per cent is used to extract a first batch of candidate variables.The second criterion requires that the optimal frequency be unaffectedif the data are de-trended by low-order polynomials. We find 2675 newcandidate periodic variables, of which the majority (2082) are from theHipparcos`unsolved' variables. Potential problems with theinterpretation of the data (e.g. aliasing) are discussed.
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Rotational Velocities of B Stars
We measured the projected rotational velocities of 1092 northern B starslisted in the Bright Star Catalogue (BSC) and calibrated them againstthe 1975 Slettebak et al. system. We found that the published values ofB dwarfs in the BSC average 27% higher than those standards. Only 0.3%of the stars have rotational velocities in excess of two-thirds of thebreakup velocities, and the mean velocity is only 25% of breakup,implying that impending breakup is not a significant factor in reducingrotational velocities. For the B8-B9.5 III-V stars the bimodaldistribution in V can be explained by a set of slowly rotating Ap starsand a set of rapidly rotating normal stars. For the B0-B5 III-V starsthat include very few peculiar stars, the distributions in V are notbimodal. Are the low rotational velocities of B stars due to theoccurrence of frequent low-mass companions, planets, or disks? Therotational velocities of giants originating from late B dwarfs areconsistent with their conservation of angular momentum in shells.However, we are puzzled by why the giants that originate from the earlyB dwarfs, despite having 3 times greater radii, have nearly the samerotational velocities. We find that all B-type primaries in binarieswith periods less than 2.4 days have synchronized rotational and orbitalmotions; those with periods between 2.4 and 5.0 days are rotating withina factor 2 of synchronization or are ``nearly synchronized.'' Thecorresponding period ranges for A-type stars are 4.9 and 10.5 days, ortwice as large. We found that the rotational velocities of the primariesare synchronized earlier than their orbits are circularized. The maximumorbital period for circularized B binaries is 1.5 days and for Abinaries is 2.5 days. For stars of various ages from 107.5 to1010.2 yr the maximum circularized periods are a smoothexponential function of age.
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Research Note Hipparcos photometry: The least variable stars
The data known as the Hipparcos Photometry obtained with the Hipparcossatellite have been investigated to find those stars which are leastvariable. Such stars are excellent candidates to serve as standards forphotometric systems. Their spectral types suggest in which parts of theHR diagrams stars are most constant. In some cases these values stronglyindicate that previous ground based studies claiming photometricvariability are incorrect or that the level of stellar activity haschanged. Table 2 is only available in electronic form at the CDS viaanonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/367/297
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On the Variability of Late B III-V Stars
We investigate the Hipparcos Satellite photometry of luminosity classIII-V B6-B9 stars. Most are relatively non-variable. Candidates forwhich further study is desirable are identified.
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Radial velocities. Measurements of 2800 B2-F5 stars for HIPPARCOS
Radial velocities have been determined for a sample of 2930 B2-F5 stars,95% observed by the Hipparcos satellite in the north hemisphere and 80%without reliable radial velocity up to now. Observations were obtainedat the Observatoire de Haute Provence with a dispersion of 80Ä,mm(-1) with the aim of studying stellar and galactic dynamics.Radial velocities have been measured by correlation with templates ofthe same spectral class. The mean obtained precision is 3.0 km s(-1)with three observations. A new MK spectral classification is estimatedfor all stars. Based on observations made at the Haute ProvenceObservatory, France and on data from The Hipparcos Catalogue, ESA.Tables 4, 5 and 6 are only available in electronic form at the CDS viaanonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.htm
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On the HIPPARCOS photometry of chemically peculiar B, A, and F stars
The Hipparcos photometry of the Chemically Peculiar main sequence B, A,and F stars is examined for variability. Some non-magnetic CP stars,Mercury-Manganese and metallic-line stars, which according to canonicalwisdom should not be variable, may be variable and are identified forfurther study. Some potentially important magnetic CP stars are noted.Tables 1, 2, and 3 are available only in electronic form at the CDS viaanonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html
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An extensive Delta a-photometric survey of southern B and A type bright stars
Photoelectric photometry of 803 southern BS objects in the Deltaa-system as detection tool for magnetic chemically peculiar (=CP2) starshas been carried out and compared to published spectral types. Thestatistical yield of such objects detected by both techniques ispractically the same. We show that there are several factors whichcontaminate the search for these stars, but this contamination is onlyof the order of 10% in both techniques. We find a smooth transition fromnormal to peculiar stars. Our sample exhibits the largest fraction ofCP2 stars at their bluest colour interval, i.e. 10% of all stars in thecolour range -0.19 <= B-V < -0.10 or -0.10 <= b-y < -0.05.No peculiar stars based on the Delta a-criterion were found at bluercolours. Towards the red side the fraction of CP2 stars drops to about3% for positive values of B-V or b-y with red limits roughlycorresponding to normal stars of spectral type A5. The photometricbehaviour of other peculiar stars: Am, HgMn, delta Del, lambda Boo, Heabnormal stars, as well as Be/shell stars and supergiants shows someslight, but definite deviations from normal stars. Spectroscopic andvisual binaries are not distinguished from normal stars in their Delta abehaviour. The results of this work justify larger statistical work(e.g. in open clusters) employing more time-saving photometric methods(CCD). \newpage Based on observations obtained at the European SouthernObservatory, La Silla, Chile. This research has made use of the Simbaddatabase, operated at CDS, Strasbourg, France. Table 2 is only availablein electronic form via anonymous ftp 130.79.128.5 orhttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html
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The ROSAT all-sky survey catalogue of optically bright OB-type stars.
For the detailed statistical analysis of the X-ray emission of hot starswe selected all stars of spectral type O and B listed in the Yale BrightStar Catalogue and searched for them in the ROSAT All-Sky Survey. Inthis paper we describe the selection and preparation of the data andpresent a compilation of the derived X-ray data for a complete sample ofbright OB stars.
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The photoelectric astrolabe catalogue of Yunnan Observatory (YPAC).
The positions of 53 FK5, 70 FK5 Extension and 486 GC stars are given forthe equator and equinox J2000.0 and for the mean observation epoch ofeach star. They are determined with the photoelectric astrolabe ofYunnan Observatory. The internal mean errors in right ascension anddeclination are +/- 0.046" and +/- 0.059", respectively. The meanobservation epoch is 1989.51.
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The Gronbech-Olsen photometry: Transformations to a Hyades-Coma system
In this paper, we consider the zero points of six sets of Stromgren-betaphotometry. The color-index system to which our results are referred isa 'Hyades-Coma' system composed of photometry by Crawford and Perry(1966) and Crawford and Barnes (1969). For V magnitudes, we usemeasurements by Taylor and Joner (1992). Our results are as follows. (1)The zero points of photometry by Gronbech and Olsen (1976, 1977) areoffset from those of the Hyades-Coma system. The offsets can amount toseveral mmag; they appear for V and all color indices except beta, anddepend on right ascension and (usually) declination. (2) These offsetscan be applied to photometry by Stetson (1991), who reduced his resultsto the Gronbech-Olsen system. After correction, Stetson's results for aset of 'transfer stars' differ from comparable data published byCrawford and Barnes (1970). (3) A direct comparison of the transferstars to the Hyades yields consistency between the Hyades-Coma andCrawford-Barnes zero points (for the transfer stars specifically). Thisresult supports a conclusion drawn by Taylor and Joner, and suggeststhat here is some problem with the zero points of Stetson'stransfer-star data. (4) From Stetson's corrected data, one finds thatthe Crawford-Perry zero points for the Hyades are consistent with theCrawford-Barnes zero points for Coma. This result agrees with aconclusion drawn by Taylor and Joner from their own data, and suggeststhat the problem postulated for Stetson's transfer-star data does notextend to his results for the Hyades and Coma.
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Vitesses radiales. Catalogue WEB: Wilson Evans Batten. Subtittle: Radial velocities: The Wilson-Evans-Batten catalogue.
We give a common version of the two catalogues of Mean Radial Velocitiesby Wilson (1963) and Evans (1978) to which we have added the catalogueof spectroscopic binary systems (Batten et al. 1989). For each star,when possible, we give: 1) an acronym to enter SIMBAD (Set ofIdentifications Measurements and Bibliography for Astronomical Data) ofthe CDS (Centre de Donnees Astronomiques de Strasbourg). 2) the numberHIC of the HIPPARCOS catalogue (Turon 1992). 3) the CCDM number(Catalogue des Composantes des etoiles Doubles et Multiples) byDommanget & Nys (1994). For the cluster stars, a precise study hasbeen done, on the identificator numbers. Numerous remarks point out theproblems we have had to deal with.
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The late B-type stars: Refined MK classification, confrontation with stromgren photometry, and the effects of rotation
In the fourth and final of a series of papers on the late B to the earlyF type stars, we refine the Morgan Keenan (MK) spectral classificationsystem for the late B type stars and consider the effect of rotation onboth spectral classification and Stroemgren photometry of these stars.We extend the work of Morgan by establishing self-consistent sequencesof narrow and broadlined standards. We reclassify a number of Bp stars,compare these classifications with Stroemgren photometry and considerthe question of whether all Bp stars are main-sequence objects.
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The distribution of interstellar dust in the solar neighborhood
We surveyed the IRAS data base at the positions of the 1808 O6-B9.5stars in The Bright Star Catalog for extended objects with excessemission at 60 microns, indicating the presence of interstellar dust atthe location of the star. Within 400 pc the filling factor of theinterstellar medium, for dust clouds with a density greater than 0.5/cucm is 14.6 + or - 2.4%. Above a density of 1.0/cu cm, the densitydistribution function appears to follow a power law index - 1.25. Whenthe dust clouds are mapped onto the galactic plane, the sun appears tobe located in a low-density region of the interstellar medium of widthabout 60 pc extending at least 500 pc in the direction of longitudes 80deg - 260 deg, a feature we call the 'local trough'.
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Early type high-velocity stars in the solar neighborhood. IV - Four-color and H-beta photometry
Results are presented from photometric obaservations in the Stromgrenuvby four-color and H-beta systems of early-type high-velocity stars inthe solar neighborhood. Several types of photometrically peculiar starsare selected on the basis of their Stromgren indices and areprovisionally identified as peculiar A stars, field horizontal-branchstars, metal-poor stars near the Population II and old-disk turnoffs,metal-poor blue stragglers, or metallic-line A stars. Numerousphotometrically normal stars were also found.
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Empirical temperature calibrations for early-type stars
Three temperature calibrations of suitable photometric quantities havebeen derived for O and B stars. A sample of 120 stars with reliableT(eff.) determinations has been used for establishing each calibration.The different calibrations have been critically discussed and compared.Temperature determinations for 1009 program stars have been obtainedwith an accuracy of the order of 10 percent.
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Merged log of IUE observations.
Not Available
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The local system of early type stars - Spatial extent and kinematics
Published uvby and H-beta photometric data and proper motions arecompiled and analyzed to characterize the structure and kinematics ofthe bright early-type O-A0 stars in the solar vicinity, with a focus onthe Gould belt. The selection and calibration techniques are explained,and the data are presented in extensive tables and graphs and discussedin detail. The Gould belt stars of age less than 20 Myr are shown togive belt inclination 19 deg to the Galactic plane and node-lineorientation in the direction of Galactic rotation, while the symmetricaldistribution about the Galactic plane and kinematic properties (purecircular differential rotation) of the belt stars over 60 Myr oldresemble those of fainter nonbelt stars of all ages. The unresolveddiscrepancy between the expansion observed in the youngest nearby starsand the predictions of simple models of expansion from a point isattributed to the inhomogeneous distribution of interstellar matter.
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The galactic reddening law - The evidence from uvby-beta photometry of B stars
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1985A&A...142..189T&db_key=AST
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The A0 stars
A photometric grid, standardized on MK spectral standards, has been usedto compare spectral types and luminosity classes obtainedphotometrically with those in two extensive spectral surveys coveringthe entire sky. Major discrepancies include the spectroscopicclassification of B9.5, which may indicate an otherwise unrecognizedspectral peculiarity, a different A0/A1 spectral type boundary in thetwo samples involved, the well-known misclassification of weak heliumstars, and an appreciable percentage of stars which are called dwarfsspectroscopically but are of higher photometric luminosity. The spacemotion vectors of these stars for which radial velocities are available,and excluding the minimum of 25 percent that are spectroscopic binarieswithout orbital elements, show structure in their distribution in the(U, V)-plane, with members of the Local Association and the Hyades andSirius superclusters forming obvious concentrations. The members of theLocal Association in the samples are mainly old (more than 200 millionyears) mode A stars, although a few much younger stars are included. Themembers of the Hyades and Sirius superclusters contain many bluestragglers, including several peculiar stars of the Hg, Mn, and Sivarieties.
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Evidence of decay of the magnetic fields of AP stars
Data obtained in the Geneva photometric system (Rufener, 1981) andappropriate calibrations of this system in terms of surface magneticfield and gravity are used to provide, on the basis of 708 field andcluster Ap stars, observational evidence that these stars undergo decayof their magnetic field on an evolutionary timescale. Justifications aregiven for the application of a photometric gravity calibration topeculiar stars. The dependence of the photometrically estimated surfacemagnetic field on gravity is found to differ markedly from availabletheoretical calculations. HgMn stars are found to show the same trend,strengthening the impression that they might be slightly magnetic.He-weak stars do not.
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Standardization of stellar radial velocities in the presence of stellar rotation
Radial velocity standardization is reinvestigated, with emphasis on thepreviously neglected influence of stellar rotation, on the basis of 340spectrograms of 80 reference stars of spectral types B6-M0. Attention isgiven to the methods presently used to examine the influence of stellarrotation on the radial velocities obtained from individual lines and forthe selection of lines as free as possible from spectral type androtation dependence. This is done on the basis of observations of 68reference stars in the spectral type interval B6-F5, where the problemof rotation is most pronounced. In light of the accuracies achieved forstars of different rotations, a simple, rotation-independent criterionfor velocity variability is defined.
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Beryllium abundances in Hg-Mn stars
The Hg-Mn stars show anomalous line strengths of many chemical elementsincluding Be. The Be II resonance doublet has been observed at 3130,3131 A at 6.7 A/mm in 43 Hg-Mn stars and 10 normal stars in the sametemperature range with the coude spectrograph of the 2.24 m Universityof Hawaii telescope at Mauna Kea. Measured equivalent widths of the twolines and/or the blend of the doublet have been compared with thepredictions from (1) LTE model atmospheres and (2) non-LTE lineformation in non-LTE model atmospheres. Overabundances of factors of20-20,000 relative to solar have been found for 75 percent of the Hg-Mnstars. The 25 percent with little or no Be are typically among thecooler Hg-Mn stars, but for the stars with Be excesses, there is onlymarginal evidence for a correlation of the size of the overabundance andtemperature. It is suggested that diffusion driven by radiation pressureis responsible for the observed Be abundance anomalies.
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Geneva photometric boxes. II - The reddening towards the galactic poles
It is noted that photometric boxes allow a very accurate estimation ofindividual reddenings for B- and early A-type stars. A catalog of 129stars with galactic latitudes higher than 30 deg is given. A small butsignificant reddening is seen in the direction of both the northern andsouthern galactic poles: E(B-V) approximately 0.04.
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Photometric properties of AP stars in the Geneva system
An examination of the properties in some photometric diagrams of morethan 600 Ap stars measured in the Geneva photometric system confirm thatthe Balmer discontinuity is smaller than for normal stars, along withthe link between a proposed peculiarity parameter and both rotationalvelocity and effective magnetic field. It is shown that the peculiarityparameter is sensitive to interstellar reddening, and it is foundthrough examination of the standard deviations for visual magnitudesthat cool CP 2 stars without Eu peculiarity have the greatestamplitudes. Rapid rotators have a mild peculiarity, while positivecorrelation exists for Si and SrCr stars.
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A catalogue and bibliography of Mn-Hg stars
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1981A&AS...44..137S&db_key=AST
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Spectral classification from the ultraviolet line features of S2/68 spectra. V - Supplement series
The paper presents the ultraviolet classification of more than 450 B-Aand F spectra obtained with the sky survey telescope mounted on the TD1satellite. Concerning abnormal objects, attention is given to the Bestars, the binary stars, the helium weak stars, and the lambda Booobjects. With regard to Be stars, it is concluded that the 1930 Awavelength feature is linked to the existence of either shell structuresor Fe II emission lines in the visual spectral range. In addition, it issuggested that stellar spectra at wavelengths of 1410, 1610-20 and 2400A are equivalent to the He-weak group in the classical range.
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The absolute magnitude of the Hg-Mn stars
The absolute magnitude of the Hg-Mn stars has been determined usingstatistical, photometric, spectroscopic, and cluster parallaxes. Theresults of all four procedures are in excellent agreement and give anaverage absolute magnitude of 0.6m plus or minus 0.4m, which locatesthese objects above the main sequence, in agreement with spectroscopicresults.
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Surface gravity of Mn-Hg stars.
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1979PASJ...31..473T&db_key=AST
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Late B-type stars - Rotation and the incidence of HgMn stars
High-dispersion spectrograms for an unbiased sample of 256 late B-typestars are examined in an attempt to determine whether slow rotation isnecessary and sufficient for the appearance of HgMn anomalies innonmagnetic stars. The peculiar stars in the sample are identified,values of v sin i are derived for all the stars observed, and theradial-velocity variations of the identified HgMn stars are analyzed.The distribution of rotational velocities for late B-type stars isobtained, and the role of rotation in producing extended envelopes isevaluated. The binary frequency and mass-ratio distribution are derivedfor systems containing HgMn components, the effect of duplicity on thedistribution of rotational velocities is estimated, and the role of suchfactors as rotation, age, and binary characteristics in determiningwhether HgMn anomalies are present is investigated. The results clearlyshow that HgMn stars occur only within a limited temperature range, thatall such stars rotate slowly, but that rotation, effective temperature,age, surface gravity, and binary properties do not serve to determinewhether a star will exhibit abundance anomalies.
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