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A census of the Wolf-Rayet content in Westerlund 1 from near-infrared imaging and spectroscopy
New Technology Telescope (NTT)/Son of Isaac (SOFI) imaging andspectroscopy of the Wolf-Rayet population in the massive clusterWesterlund 1 are presented. Narrow-band near-infrared (IR) imagingtogether with follow up spectroscopy reveals four new Wolf-Rayet stars,of which three were independently identified recently by Groh et al.,bringing the confirmed Wolf-Rayet content to 24 (23 excluding source S)- representing 8 per cent of the known Galactic Wolf-Rayet population -comprising eight WC stars and 16 (15) WN stars. Revised coordinates andnear-IR photometry are presented, whilst a quantitative near-IR spectralclassification scheme for Wolf-Rayet stars is presented and applied tomembers of Westerlund 1. Late subtypes are dominant, with no subtypesearlier than WN5 or WC8 for the nitrogen and carbon sequences,respectively. A qualitative inspection of the WN stars suggests thatmost (~75 per cent) are highly H deficient. The Wolf-Rayet binaryfraction is high (>=62 per cent), on the basis of dust emission fromWC stars, in addition to a significant WN binary fraction from hardX-ray detections according to Clark et al. We exploit the large WNpopulation of Westerlund 1 to reassess its distance (~5.0kpc) andextinction (AKS ~ 0.96mag), such that it islocated at the edge of the Galactic bar, with an oxygen metallicity ~60per cent higher than Orion. The observed ratio of WR stars to red andyellow hypergiants, N(WR)/N(RSG + YHG) ~3, favours an age of~4.5-5.0Myr, with individual Wolf-Rayet stars descended from progenitorsof initial mass ~40-55Msolar. Qualitative estimates ofcurrent masses for non-dusty, H-free WR stars are presented, revealing10-18Msolar, such that ~75 per cent of the initial stellarmass has been removed via stellar winds or close binary evolution. Wepresent a revision to the cluster turn-off mass for other Milky Wayclusters in which Wolf-Rayet stars are known, based upon the latesttemperature calibration for OB stars. Finally, comparisons between theobserved WR population and subtype distribution in Westerlund 1 andinstantaneous burst evolutionary synthesis models are presented.Based on observations made with ESO telescopes at the La SillaObservatory under programme IDs 073.D-0321 and 075.D-0469.E-mail: Paul.crowther@sheffield.ac.uk
| Early-type stars observed in the ESO UVES Paranal Observatory Project - I. Interstellar NaI UV, TiII and CaII K observations*
We present an analysis of interstellar NaI (λair=3302.37 and 3302.98 Å), TiII(λair= 3383.76Å) and CaII K (λair= 3933.66 Å) absorptionfeatures for 74 sightlines towards O- and B-type stars in the Galacticdisc. The data were obtained from the Ultraviolet and Visual EchelleSpectrograph Paranal Observatory Project, at a spectral resolution of3.75 km s-1 and with mean signal-to-noise ratios per pixel of260, 300 and 430 for the NaI, TiII and CaII observations, respectively.Interstellar features were detected in all but one of the TiIIsightlines and all of the CaII sightlines. The dependence of the columndensity of these three species with distance, height relative to theGalactic plane, HI column density, reddening and depletion relative tothe solar abundance has been investigated. We also examine the accuracyof using the NaI column density as an indicator of that for HI. Ingeneral, we find similar strong correlations for both Ti and Ca, andweaker correlations for Na. Our results confirm the general belief thatTi and Ca occur in the same regions of the interstellar medium (ISM) andalso that the TiII/CaII ratio is constant over all parameters. We henceconclude that the absorption properties of Ti and Ca are essentiallyconstant under the general ISM conditions of the Galactic disc.
| A census of the Carina Nebula - I. Cumulative energy input from massive stars
The Carina Nebula (NGC 3372) is our richest nearby laboratory in whichto study feedback through ultraviolet radiation and stellar winds fromvery massive stars during the formation of an OB association, at anearly phase in the evolution of the surrounding proto-superbubble beforesupernova explosions have influenced the environment. This feedback istriggering successive generations of new star formation around theperiphery of the nebula, while simultaneously evaporating the gas anddust reservoirs out of which young stars are trying to accrete material.This paper takes inventory of the combined effect from all the knownmassive stars that power the Carina Nebula through their total ionizingflux and integrated mechanical energy from their stellar winds. Carinais close enough and accessible enough that spectral types for individualstars are available, and many close binary and multiple systems haverecently been spatially resolved, so that one can simply add them.Adopting values from the literature for corresponding spectral types,the present-day total ionizing photon luminosity produced by the 65 Ostars and three WNL stars in Carina is QH~=1051s-1, the total bolometric luminosity of allstars earlier than B2 is 2.5 × 107Lsolar,and the total mechanical luminosity of stellar winds is LSW~=105Lsolar. The total QH was about 25per cent higher when η Carinae was on the main sequence, before itand its companion were surrounded by its obscuring dust shell; for thefirst 3Myr, the net ionizing flux of the 70 O stars in Carina was about150 times greater than in the Orion Nebula. About400-500Msolar has been contributed to the HII region bystellar wind mass-loss during the past 3Myr. Values for QHand LSW are also given for the individual clusters Tr14, 15and 16, and Bo10 and 11, which are more relevant on smaller spatialscales than the total values for the whole nebula.
| The Galactic WN stars. Spectral analyses with line-blanketed model atmospheres versus stellar evolution models with and without rotation
Context: .Very massive stars pass through the Wolf-Rayet (WR) stagebefore they finally explode. Details of their evolution have not yetbeen safely established, and their physics are not well understood.Their spectral analysis requires adequate model atmospheres, which havebeen developed step by step during the past decades and account in theirrecent version for line blanketing by the millions of lines from ironand iron-group elements. However, only very few WN stars have beenre-analyzed by means of line-blanketed models yet. Aims: .Thequantitative spectral analysis of a large sample of Galactic WN starswith the most advanced generation of model atmospheres should provide anempirical basis for various studies about the origin, evolution, andphysics of the Wolf-Rayet stars and their powerful winds. Methods:.We analyze a large sample of Galactic WN stars by means of the PotsdamWolf-Rayet (PoWR) model atmospheres, which account for iron lineblanketing and clumping. The results are compared with a syntheticpopulation, generated from the Geneva tracks for massive starevolution. Results: .We obtain a homogeneous set of stellar andatmospheric parameters for the Galactic WN stars, partly revisingearlier results. Conclusions: .Comparing the results of ourspectral analyses of the Galactic WN stars with the predictions of theGeneva evolutionary calculations, we conclude that there is roughqualitative agreement. However, the quantitative discrepancies are stillsevere, and there is no preference for the tracks that account for theeffects of rotation. It seems that the evolution of massive stars isstill not satisfactorily understood.
| Anomalous dust-to-gas ratios in the Galaxy
Lines of sight with E(B-V)/N(HI) considerably smaller than the averagevalue for the solar neighbourhood have been selected from the catalogueof Diplas & Savage. In order to develop quantitative considerations,estimates of the molecular hydrogen column density were obtained usingthe relation of Savage et al. extended at E(B-V) > 0.4 with therecent data of Rachford et al. Contrary to the prevailing opinion in theliterature for sightlines with similar behaviour, we found that only 22per cent of our sample was characterized by both an average gas densitylarger than 1 cm-3 and a value of RV larger thanthat in the diffuse interstellar medium. By computing extinction models,we were able to fit the E(B-V)/N(HI) by changing the value ofRV only for some sightlines. For the remaining ones, aρd/ρH ratio different from the averageGalactic value must be invoked. The application of the Kramers-Kronigrelation to the observed extinction curves confirmed this possibility.Moreover, attempts to fit such curves with models having grain volumescorresponding to the standard ρd/ρH ratiofailed.We find a linear relation between ρd/ρHand E(B-V)/N(H) for our sightlines. The average Galactic value marks theseparation into two groups characterized by lower abundances of C and Sitrapped into the grains when E(B-V)/N(H) is smaller than the Galacticvalue, and by larger abundances when E(B-V)/N(H) is greater.
| An Atlas of Far-Ultraviolet Spectra of Wolf-Rayet Stars from the FUSE Satellite
We present an atlas of far-ultraviolet spectra of 21 Wolf-Rayet (WR)stars in the Galaxy and Large and Small Magellanic Clouds, secured withthe Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) satellite. The datacover the wavelength range of 912-1190 Å at a spectral resolutionof 0.1 Å and span examples of most subtypes in the WN and WCsequences. We discuss the FUV spectral morphology of the different WRsequences, emphasizing the wide range of ions and chemical speciesexhibiting well-developed P Cygni profiles and emission lines in thiswavelength range. For WN stars the relative strengths of C IV/C III, NIII/N II, P V/P IV, and Si IV/Si III show a decrease in strength of thehigh ions from WN3 to WN11 complemented by an increase in the lower ionsat later types. The ``super ions'' of O VI and S VI are consideredphotoionized wind features for WN3-WN6 stars, probably the result ofAuger ionization in WN7-WN9 stars, and probably absent at WN10-WN11. TheWN5h star Sk 41 in the SMC shows relatively weaker features, which canbe ascribed to the effects of a global galaxy metal deficiency. For theWC stars, a similar pattern of wind ionization-linked strengths in theemissions and P Cygni profiles is present, particularly evident in therelative strengths of lines in P V, S IV, Si IV, and Si III. O VI, and SVI features are only seen in the earliest WC subtypes. The high carbonabundance in WC stars is reflected by the presence of strong C IV and CIII lines throughout the sequence. We present new estimates of the windterminal velocities from measurements of saturated absorption componentsobserved in a wide range of I.P. species. Considerable revisions tov&infy; for the WN3 and WN5 (SMC) stars in our sample and,in particular for the WN10 and WN11 stars are found. The latter make useof the unique availability of the N II resonance line in the FUSEwaveband.Based on observations made with the NASA-CNES-CSA Far UltravioletSpectroscopic Explorer. FUSE is operated for NASA by The Johns HopkinsUniversity under NASA contract NAS5-32985.
| Kinematical Structure of Wolf-Rayet Winds. II. Internal Velocity Scatter in WN Stars
The shortward edge of the absorption core velocities - v_black asdetermined from low resolution archived IUE spectra from the INESdatabase are presented for three P Cyg profiles of NV 1240, HeII 1640and NIV 1720 for 51 Galactic and 64 LMC Wolf-Rayet stars of the WNsubtype. These data, together with v_black of CIV 1550 line presented inNiedzielski and Skorzynski (2002) are discussed. Evidences are presentedthat v_black of CIV 1550 rarely displays the largest wind velocity amongthe four lines studied in detail and therefore its application as anestimator of the terminal wind velocity in WN stars is questioned. Anaverage v_black of several lines is suggested instead but it is pointedout that v_black of HeII 1640 usually reveals the highest observablewind velocity in Galactic and LMC WN stars. It is shown that thestratification strength decreases from WNL to WNE stars and that for WNLstars there exists a positive relation between v_black and theIonization Potential. The velocity scatter between v_black obtained fromdifferent UV lines is found to correlate well with the X-ray luminosityof single WN stars (correlation coefficient R=0.82 for the data obtainedfrom the high resolution IUE spectra) and therefore two clumpy windmodels of single WN stars are presented that allow the velocity scatterto persist up to very large distances from the stellar surface (r approx500-1000 R_*). These models are used to explain the specific features ofsingle WN stars like broad absorption troughs of strong lines havingdifferent v_black, X-ray fluxes, IR/radio continua and stratificationrelations.
| XMM-Newton X-ray observations of the Carina nebula
We use new XMM-Newton observations to perform a detailed X-ray analysisof the Carina nebula region in the 0.3-12 keV energy range. Our sourcedetection yields 80 discrete X-ray sources, from which about 20 per centseem not to have optical counterparts. To get an idea of the energyspectrum of these sources, we construct an X-ray colour-colour diagramusing the energy bands 0.3-2, 2-4.5 and 4.5-12 keV. We analyse thespectra of the most intense X-ray sources associated with early-typestars, including the luminous blue variable η Carina and WR25. Weshow that the X-ray emission from these sources is well fitted bymultitemperature model spectra. We detect surprisingly intense X-rayemission at energies above 4 keV for some of the observed early-typestars, especially from CPD-59 2629 (Tr16-22) which presents particularlyhard X-ray emission. We detect intense soft X-ray emission, below <2keV, in HDE 303311, which presents an X-ray excess of about 100 timeshigher than has been observed in other O5V stars. We use these data toconstruct the Lx/Lbol relation for the 0.3-12 and3.0-12 keV energy ranges, for all the observed O-type stars, plus ηCarina and WR25. Most of the bright stars seem to agree with lowmetallicity spectral models. The Lx/Lbol ratio forO-type stars in the 0.3-12 keV range is well fitted by a constant~6.07.54.8× 10-7, in fairagreement with the canonical expression Lx/Lbol~ 2× 10-7 formerly estimated for the 0.3-2.4 keV energyband. In contrast, the Lx/Lbol relation for the3.0-12 keV range presents a strong deviation from the canonicalrelation, with a high dispersion of about four orders of magnitude. Wealso detect intrinsic X-ray time variability in seven sources, over thetime-scale of about 50 h covered by the observations. This includes anX-ray flare of about 2-h duration detected in DETWC Tr16J104429.2-594143, a source probably not physically associated with theCarina nebula. We discuss the different underlying physical mechanismsthat can be responsible for the X-ray emission from early-type stars.
| Observed instabilities in OB and Wolf-Rayet stars
A wealth of recent observations confirms that the fast, dense winds ofOB and Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars are highly structured, with the structuresresulting from the inherently unstable nature of a radiatively-drivenwind, as well as being triggered from the underlying photosphere. Thisreview mainly addresses variability patterns observed in the winds andphotospheric regions of presumably single stars. Schematically wedivide the detectable structures into two broad categories: small-scaleand large-scale inhomogeneities, with the former mainly of a stochasticbehavior/origin, and the latter frequently demonstrating a recurrent,even periodic, behavior. We then discuss the nature and nurture ofinstabilities, highlighting phenomenological similarities anddifferences in the variability of OB and WR stars.
| The Carina Spiral Feature: Strömgren-Hβ photometry approach. I. The photometric data-base
A data-base collating all uvbybeta photometry available at present forO-B9 stars brighter than 10th visual magnitude in the field of theCarina Spiral Feature is presented. The completeness and homogeneity ofthe data-base are discussed.Based on CDS data.Table 1 is only available in electronic form at the CDS via anonymousftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/410/523
| XMM-Newton high-resolution X-ray spectroscopy of the Wolf-Rayet object WR 25 in the Carina OB1 association
We report the analysis of the first high-resolution X-ray spectra of theWolf-Rayet (WR) object WR 25 (HD 93162, WN6ha+O4f) obtained with theReflection Grating Spectrometers (RGS) and the European Photon ImagingCameras (EPIC-MOS and PN) CCD spectrometers on board the XMM-Newtonsatellite. The spectrum exhibits bright emission lines of the H- andHe-like ions of Ne, Mg, Si and S, as well as Fe XVII i to Fe XX and FeXXV lines. Line fluxes have been measured. The RGS and EPIC spectrahave been simultaneously fitted to obtain self-consistent temperatures,emission measures, and elemental abundances. Strong absorption by thedense WR stellar wind and the interstellar medium (ISM) is observedequivalent to NH = 7 x 1021 cm-2.Multi-temperature (DEM) fitting yields two dominant components aroundtemperatures of 7.0 and 32 MK, respectively. The XMM intrinsic (i.e.unabsorbed, corrected for the stellar wind absorption and the absorptionof ISM) X-ray luminosity of WR 25 is Lx(0.5-10 keV) = 1.3 x1034 erg s-1, and Lx(0.5-10 keV) = 0.85x 1034 erg s-1, (when correcting for the ISM only)assuming d=3.24 kpc. The obtained chemical abundances are subsolar,except for S. This may be real, but could equally well be due to a weakcoupling to the continuum, which is strongly influenced by theabsorption column density and the subtracted background. The expectedhigh N-abundance, as observed in the optical wavelength region, couldnot be confirmed due to the strong wind absorption, blocking out itsspectral signature. The presence of the Fe XXV emission-line complex at~ 6.7 keV is argued as being indicative for colliding winds inside aWR+O binary system.Based on observations obtained with XMM-Newton, an ESA science missionwith instruments and contributions directly funded by ESA Member Statesand the USA (NASA).
| The behavior of the NIV 5203.2 Å line in stars with Wolf-Rayet and early O-type spectra
Not Available
| Misidentifications of Stars in NGC 4755 (κ Crucis)
Erroneous cross-identifications appearing in the literature and in theSIMBAD database for stars in the Jewel Box cluster, NGC 4755, arecorrected. These errors concern mistaken cross-references for CPD,Bright Star Catalog, and Luminous Stars in the Southern Milky Waynumbers to stars identified in the analysis of this cluster carried outby Arp & van Sant.
| 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.
| A short observational history of X-ray studies of Wolf-Rayet stars.
Not Available
| Kinematical Structure of Wolf-Rayet Winds. I.Terminal Wind Velocity
New terminal wind velocities for 164 Wolf-Rayet stars (from the Galaxyand LMC) based on PCyg profiles of lambda1550 CIV resonance line werederived from the archive high and low resolution IUE spectra availableform the INES database. The high resolution data on 59 WR stars (39 fromthe Galaxy and 20 from LMC) were used to calibrate the empiricalrelation lambda_min^Abs- lambda_peak^Emis vs terminal wind velocity,which was then used for determinations of the terminal wind velocitiesfrom the low resolution IUE data. We almost doubled the previous mostextended sample of such measurements. Our new measurements, based onhigh resolution data, are precise within 5-7%. Measurements, based onthe low resolution spectra have the formal errors of approx 40-60%. Acomparison of the present results with other determinations suggestshigher precision of approx 20%. We found that the terminal windvelocities for the Galactic WC and WN stars correlate with the WRspectral subtype. We also found that the LMC WN stars have winds slowerthan their Galactic counterparts, up to two times in the case of the WNEstars. No influence of binarity on terminal wind velocities was found.Our extended set of measurements allowed us to test application of theradiation driven wind theory to the WR stars. We found that, contrary toOB stars, terminal wind velocities of the WR stars correlate only weaklywith stellar temperature. We also note that the terminal to escapevelocity ratio for the WR stars is relatively low: 2.55 pm 1.14 for theGalactic WN stars and 1.78 pm 0.70 for the Galactic WCs. This ratiodecreases with temperature of WR stars, contrary to what is observed inthe case of OB stars. The presented results show complex influence ofchemical composition on the WR winds driving mechanism efficiency. Ourkinematical data on WR winds suggest evolutionary sequence: WNL -->WNE --> WCE --> WCL.
| The VIIth catalogue of galactic Wolf-Rayet stars
The VIIth catalogue of galactic PopulationI Wolf-Rayet stars providesimproved coordinates, spectral types and /bv photometry of known WRstars and adds 71 new WR stars to the previous WR catalogue. This censusof galactic WR stars reaches 227 stars, comprising 127 WN stars, 87 WCstars, 10 WN/WC stars and 3 WO stars. This includes 15 WNL and 11 WCLstars within 30 pc of the Galactic Center. We compile and discuss WRspectral classification, variability, periodicity, binarity, terminalwind velocities, correlation with open clusters and OB associations, andcorrelation with Hi bubbles, Hii regions and ring nebulae. Intrinsiccolours and absolute visual magnitudes per subtype are re-assessed for are-determination of optical photometric distances and galacticdistribution of WR stars. In the solar neighbourhood we find projectedon the galactic plane a surface density of 3.3 WR stars perkpc2, with a WC/WN number ratio of 1.5, and a WR binaryfrequency (including probable binaries) of 39%. The galactocentricdistance (RWR) distribution per subtype shows RWRincreasing with decreasing WR subtype, both for the WN and WC subtypes.This RWR distribution allows for the possibility ofWNE-->WCE and WNL-->WCL subtype evolution.
| Wolf-Rayet Stars and Relativistic Objects: Distinctions between the Mass Distributions in Close Binary Systems
The observed properties of Wolf-Rayet stars and relativistic objects inclose binary systems are analyzed. The final masses M CO f for thecarbon-oxygen cores of WR stars in WR + O binaries are calculated takinginto account the radial loss of matter via stellar wind, which dependson the mass of the star. The analysis includes new data on the clumpystructure of WR winds, which appreciably decreases the requiredmass-loss rates for the WR stars. The masses M CO f lie in the range (12)M ȯ (20 44)M ȯ and have a continuous distribution. Themasses of the relativistic objects M x are 1 20M ȯ and have abimodal distribution: the mean masses for neutron stars and black holesare 1.35 ± 0.15M ȯ and 8 10M ȯ, respectively, with agap from 2 4M ȯ in which no neutron stars or black holes areobserved in close binaries. The mean final CO-core mass is &$/line M _{CO}(f) = 7.4 - 10.3M_ ȯ$; , close to the mean mass for the black holes. This suggests that it isnot only the mass of the progenitor that determines the nature of therelativistic object, but other parameters as well-rotation, magneticfield, etc. One SB1R Wolf-Rayet binary and 11 suspected WR + C binariesthat may have low-mass companions (main-sequence or subgiant M-A stars)are identified; these could be the progenitors of low-mass X-raybinaries with neutron stars and black holes.
| The Progenitor Masses of Wolf-Rayet Stars and Luminous Blue Variables Determined from Cluster Turnoffs. II. Results from 12 Galactic Clusters and OB Associations
In a previous paper on the Magellanic Clouds, we demonstrated thatcoeval clusters provide a powerful tool for probing the progenitormasses of Wolf-Rayet (W-R) stars and luminous blue variables (LBVs).Here we extend this work to the higher metallicity regions of the MilkyWay, studying 12 Galactic clusters. We present new spectral types forthe unevolved stars and use these, plus data from the literature, toconstruct H-R diagrams. We find that all but two of the clusters arehighly coeval, with the highest mass stars having formed over a periodof less than 1 Myr. The turnoff masses show that at Milky Waymetallicities some W-R stars (of early WN type) come from stars withmasses as low as 20-25 Msolar. Other early-type WN starsappears to have evolved from high masses, suggesting that a large rangeof masses evolve through an early WN stage. On the other hand, WN7 starsare found only in clusters with very high turnoff masses, over 120Msolar. Similarly, the LBVs are only found in clusters withthe highest turnoff masses, as we found in the Magellanic Clouds,providing very strong evidence that LBVs are a normal stage in theevolution of the most massive stars. Although clusters containing WN7stars and LBVs can be as young as 1 Myr, we argue that these objects areevolved, and that the young age simply reflects the very high massesthat characterize the progenitors of such stars. In particular, we showthat the LBV η Car appears to be coeval with the rest of theTrumpler 14/16 complex. Although the WC stars in the Magellanic Cloudswere found in clusters with turnoff masses as low as 45Msolar, the three Galactic WC stars in our sample are allfound in clusters with high turnoff masses (>70 Msolar)whether this difference is significant or due to small number statisticsremains to be seen. The bolometric corrections of Galactic W-R stars arehard to establish using the cluster turnoff method but are consistentwith the ``standard model'' of Hillier.
| Catalogue of Apparent Diameters and Absolute Radii of Stars (CADARS) - Third edition - Comments and statistics
The Catalogue, available at the Centre de Données Stellaires deStrasbourg, consists of 13 573 records concerning the results obtainedfrom different methods for 7778 stars, reported in the literature. Thefollowing data are listed for each star: identifications, apparentmagnitude, spectral type, apparent diameter in arcsec, absolute radiusin solar units, method of determination, reference, remarks. Commentsand statistics obtained from CADARS are given. The Catalogue isavailable in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp tocdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcar?J/A+A/367/521
| The early-type multiple system QZ Carinae
We present an analysis of the early-type quadruple system QZ Car,consisting of an eclipsing and a non-eclipsing binary. The spectroscopicinvestigation is based on new high dispersion echelle and CAT/CESspectra of H and He lines. The elements for the orbit of thenon-eclipsing pair could be refined. Lines of the brighter component ofthe eclipsing binary were detected in near-quadrature spectra, whilesignatures of the fainter component could be identified in only fewspectra. Lines of the primary component of the non-eclipsing pair and ofboth components of the eclipsing pair were found to be variable inposition and strength; in particular, the He ii 4686 emission line ofthe brighter eclipsing component is strongly variable. An ephemeris forthe eclipsing binary QZ Car valid at present was derived Prim. Min. =hel. JD 2448687.16 + 5fd9991 * E. The relative orbit of the two binaryconstituents of the multiple system is discussed. In contrast to earlierinvestigations we found radial velocity changes of the systemicvelocities of both binaries, which were used - together with an O-Canalysis of the expected light-time effect - to derive approximateparameters of the mutual orbit of the two pairs. It is shown that thisorbit and the distance to QZ Car can be further refined by minima timingand interferometry. Based on observations collected at the EuropeanSouthern Observatory, La Silla, Chile.
| X-ray Nova Binary Systems
The physical properties of X-ray novae as close binary systems areanalysed. Observational data in X-ray, UV, optical, IR and radio rangesare summarized. Modern theoretical considerations of the problem ofX-ray novae, taking into account some new ideas and results, aredescribed. Properties of optical stars in X-ray novae are analysed. Dataabout the masses of black holes in X-ray binary systems are summarized.Possible evolutionary links between WR stars in close binary systems andX-ray novae are analysed.
| Further Study of the High-Velocity Interstellar Medium in the Carina Nebula
We present new spectroscopic data for 12 stars in the field of Trumpler16 and for 18 stars in Collinder 228, to analyze the behavior of the CaII and Na I interstellar lines and to study the high radial velocitycomponents. The purpose was to provide a finer map of the small angularscale changes in previously observed high-velocity components. We havefound three striking new high-velocity profiles in Tr 16 and oneprobable case in Cr 228. However, the most important result is that asfainter members of the complex are observed, smaller fractions ofhigh-velocity profiles are found, perhaps indicating that such profilesin the earlier spectral type, more massive stars are formed in theirnear vicinities, in an interaction between their stellar winds andsurrounding interstellar material.
| The OB Zoo: A Digital Atlas of Peculiar Spectra
A digital atlas of 20 high-luminosity, peculiar OB spectra in the3800-4900 Å range is presented. The atlas is organized anddiscussed in terms of the following four categories: WN-A or WNL stars,OB Iape or very late WN (WNVL) stars, iron stars, and B-supergiantluminous blue variables (LBVs). Several objects in the earliercategories are also active or quiescent LBVs. Some (but not all) ofthese objects have been well studied, and extensive references areprovided, as are comprehensive spectral-line identifications. Severalnew morphological relationships among the objects have been recognizedthrough this presentation. In particular, attention is drawn to theoccurrence of spatial pairing between nearly identical, unusual spectra,which may have implications for a particular mode of massive-starformation. This small sample includes one or both members of at leastfive such pairs. Physical explanations of these peculiar, likelytransitional spectra and the relationships among them are essential fora complete understanding of massive stellar evolution.
| Non-thermal emission in Wolf-Rayet stars: are massive companions required?
We examine the radio spectral indices of 23 Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars toidentify the nature of their radio emission. We identify nine systems asnon-thermal emitters. In seven of these systems the non-thermal emissiondominates the radio spectrum, while in the remaining two it is ofcomparable strength to the thermal, stellar wind emission, giving`composite' spectra. Among these nine systems, seven have knownspectroscopic or visual binary companions. The companions are allmassive O or early B-type stars, strongly supporting a connectionbetween the appearance of non-thermal emission in WR stars and thepresence of a massive companion. In three of these binaries, the originof non-thermal emission in a wind-collision region between the stars hasbeen well established in earlier work. The binary systems that exhibitonly thermal emission are all short-period systems where awind-collision zone is deep within the opaque region of the stellar windof the WR star. To detect non-thermal emission in these systems requiresoptically thin lines of sight to the wind-collision region.
| Exospheric models for the X-ray emission from single Wolf-Rayet stars
We review existing ROSAT detections of single Galactic Wolf-Rayet (WR)stars and develop wind models to interpret the X-ray emission. The ROSATdata, consisting of bandpass detections from the ROSAT All-Sky Survey(RASS) and some pointed observations, exhibit no correlations of the WRX-ray luminosity (LX) with any star or wind parameters ofinterest (e.g. bolometric luminosity, mass-loss rate or wind kineticenergy), although the dispersion in the measurements is quite large. Thelack of correlation between X-ray luminosity and wind parameters amongthe WR stars is unlike that of their progenitors, the O stars, whichshow trends with such parameters. In this paper we seek to (i) test byhow much the X-ray properties of the WR stars differ from the O starsand (ii) place limits on the temperature TX and fillingfactor fX of the X-ray-emitting gas in the WR winds. Adoptingempirically derived relationships for TX and fXfrom O-star winds, the predicted X-ray emission from WR stars is muchsmaller than observed with ROSAT. Abandoning the TX relationfrom O stars, we maximize the cooling from a single-temperature hot gasto derive lower limits for the filling factors in WR winds. Althoughthese filling factors are consistently found to be an order of magnitudegreater than those for O stars, we find that the data are consistent(albeit the data are noisy) with a trend of fx ∝(Mν&infy;)-1 in WR stars, as is also the casefor O stars.
| The Structure of Wolf-Rayet Winds. II. Observations of Ionization Stratification in the WN Subtype
Motivated by the question of the importance of ionization stratificationin solving the ``momentum problem'' of Wolf-Rayet stellar winds, we havechosen a sample of 14 WN stars for a systematic study. We performedmeasurements of the emission line widths on ultraviolet, optical, andinfrared spectra to obtain data spanning a large range of ionizationpotentials. We provide extensive tables of these measurements as well asline profile classifications. The presence of ionization stratificationin the wind should result in a correlation between ionization potentialand line width. We find most of the winds to be stratified and discussthe level of stratification found in each star. To test the importanceof ionization stratification to efficient radiation-to-wind momentumtransfer, we compare our empirically measured stratification strengthswith two sets of theoretical performance numbers and give thecorrelation statistics in each case.
| Strömgren and Hβ photometry of O and B type stars in star-forming regions. III. Carina Spiral Feature
Strömgren and Hβ photometry of O and B type stars, generallybrighter than 9.5 mag is reported for the field of the Carina SpiralFeature. The observations are based on the PPM catalogue identificationsand are designed to improve the completeness of the existing uvbybetadata for the bright early-type stars in the field. We present new uvbyphotometry for 283 stars and Hβ photometry for 225 of them. Theseobservations are part of an ongoing effort to study the structure ofselected star-forming regions in the Milky Way by means of uvbybetaphotometry. A comparison of the new data to other uvbybeta data sets forthis field is presented. Based on data from the Strömgren AutomaticTelescope of the Copenhagen University Observatory, La Silla. Tables 1and 2 are only available in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftpto 130.79.128.5 or via http://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html
| Absolute proper motions of open clusters. I. Observational data
Mean proper motions and parallaxes of 205 open clusters were determinedfrom their member stars found in the Hipparcos Catalogue. 360 clusterswere searched for possible members, excluding nearby clusters withdistances D < 200 pc. Members were selected using ground basedinformation (photometry, radial velocity, proper motion, distance fromthe cluster centre) and information provided by Hipparcos (propermotion, parallax). Altogether 630 certain and 100 possible members werefound. A comparison of the Hipparcos parallaxes with photometricdistances of open clusters shows good agreement. The Hipparcos dataconfirm or reject the membership of several Cepheids in the studiedclusters. Tables 1 and 2 are only available in electronic form at theCDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html
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Observation and Astrometry data
| Constellation: | Τρόπις |
| Right ascension: | 10h43m52.26s |
| Declination: | -60°07'04.0" |
| Apparent magnitude: | 6.477 |
| Distance: | 2000 parsecs |
| Proper motion RA: | -7.1 |
| Proper motion Dec: | 1 |
| B-T magnitude: | 6.433 |
| V-T magnitude: | 6.474 |
Catalogs and designations:
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