Effects of rotation on the colours and line indices of stars 1. The alpha Persei cluster

Analysis of the available observational data for the α-Persei cluster members shows that rotation effects on the intermediate-band indices c₁ and (u-b) are considerable. In c₁, rotation produces a reddening of 0.040 magnitudes per 100 km s^-1 In (u-b) the effect for B stars is found to be 0.06 magnitudes per 100 km s^-1 ofV sin i. The binaries and peculiar stars are found to behave differently in the colour excess (due to rotation) versusV sin i diagrams. These empirical effects can be utilised to recalibrate these colour indices and also to separate members that are either chemically peculiar or in binary systems.     

Main-sequence magnetic CP stars: II. Physical parameters and chemical composition of the atmosphere

This paper continues a series of reviews dedicated to magnetic CP stars. The occurrence frequency of CP stars among B5–F0-type main-sequence stars is shown to be equal to about 15–20%. The problems of identification and classification of these objects are addressed. We prefer the classification of Preston, which subdivides chemically peculiar stars into the following groups: Am, λ Boo, Ap/Bp, Hg-Mn, He-weak, and He-strong stars. The main characteristic features of objects of each group are briefly analyzed. The rotation velocities of CP stars are shown to be about three times lower than those of normal stars of the same spectral types (except for λ Boo and He-strong objects). The rotation periods of CP stars range from 0.5 to 100 days, however, there is also a small group of objects with especially long (up to several tens of years) variability periods. All kinds of peculiar stars can be found in visual binaries, with Am-and Hg-Mn-type stars occurring mostly in short-period binaries with P < 10 days, and the binary rate of these stars is close to normal. The percentage of binaries among magnetic stars (20%) is lower than among normal stars. A rather large fraction of CP1-and CP2-type stars was found to occur in young clusters (with ages smaller than 10⁷ years). Photometric and spectral variability of peculiar stars of various types is discussed, and it is shown that only objects possessing magnetic fields exhibit light and spectral variations. The chemical composition of the atmospheres of CP stars of various types is considered. The abundances of various elements are usually determined by comparing the line profiles in the observed spectrum with those of the synthetic spectra computed for various model atmospheres. Different mechanisms are shown to contribute to chemical inhomogeneity at the star’s surface, and the hypothesis of selective diffusion of atoms in a stable atmosphere is developed. Attention is also paid to the problems of the determination of local chemical composition including the stratification of elements. Some of the coolest SrCrEu peculiar stars are found to exhibit fast light variations with periods ranging from 6 to 15 min. These variations are unassociated with rotation, but are due to nonradial pulsations. The final part of the the review considers the fundamental parameters of CP stars. The effective temperatures, luminosities, radii, and masses of these objects are shown to agree with the corresponding physical parameters of normal main-sequence stars of the same spectral types.     

UBV photometry of 262 southern galaxies

Multi-aperture photometry of 262 bright southern galaxies in the JohnsonUBV system is given. Most of these are south of =–30°, although some northward to =–10° are included. A total of 169 objects have published radial velocity determinations. These provide distances, and enable construction of colour-magnitude diagrams for this subset of bbjects through a physical diameter of 2.0 kpc (withH _o=100). The two-colour diagrams for the inner regions of the galaxies differ from those of integrated galaxies due to the colour changes towards their centres. Comparison with theoretical models of Larson and Tinsley (1978) suggest that the colours of the inner portions of most ellipticals and lenticulars are consistent with their having all stars formed at nearly one epoch with little subsequent star formation, while for spirals larger amounts of star formation, either in bursts or continuously, are suggested. This simple picture is complicated by the presence of certain objects having peculiar colours indicative of large amounts of recent star formation.     

Recent progress in CP star detection and classification

Chemically peculiar (CP) stars are mainly found among B and A stars. Present theories are not able to account fully for the observed spectrum anomalies, suggesting that in the atmospheres of stars in the range ofT _e , where mass loss is no longer very large and convection is still not very important, the present theoretical approach needs further refinement. Moreover, the lack of laboratory data is responsible, at least partly, for the discrepancies between observed and computed stellar energy distributions.The choice for quick detection of CP stars among faint objects is reviewed; the measure of the flux depression at 5200 appears to be very powerful, and the identification of this complex feature is urgently needed.The need to separate the various subclasses of the He abnormal stars in a standard way is underlined and further analyses of the characteristics of the Boo stars are required.The problem of the determination ofT _e and consequently of realistic atmospheric abundance anomalies of CP stars is discussed.     

Magnetic fields of chemically peculiar stars. II: Magnetic fields and rotation of stars with strong and weak anomalies in the continuum energy distribution

We make a comparative analysis of magnetic fields and rotation parameters of magnetic CP stars with strong and weak anomalies in the spectral energy distribution. Stars with strong depressions in the continuum at 5200 Å are shown to have significantly stronger fields (the mean longitudinal component of the fields of these stars is 〈B _e〉 = 1341 ± 98 G) compared to objects with weaker depressions (〈B _e〉 = 645 ± 58 G). Stars with stronger depressions are also found to occur more commonly among slow rotators. Their rotation periods are, on the average, about 10 days long, three times longer than these of stars with weak depressions (about three days). This fact is indicative of a decrease of the degree of anomality of the magnetic stars continuum spectrum with increasing rotational velocity. Yet another proof has been obtained suggesting that slow rotation is one of the crucial factors contributing to the development of the phenomenon of magnetic chemically peculiar stars.Magnetic CP stars with weak depressions at 5200 Å are intermediate objects between stars with strong depressions and normal A- and B-type stars both in terms of field strength and rotational velocity.     

Interstellar reddening in the direction of the globular cluster M71

Interstellar reddening as a function of distance in the direction of the globular cluster M71 is determined by two-dimensional quantification of 96 foreground stars observed in the Vilnius photometric system. In concentric areas with the radii 30 and 10 centered on the cluster the reddening shows the same variations ranging fromE _B-V=0.12 to 0.32. The cluster stars are likely to have variable extinction too, at least in the outer regions of the cluster.     

Massive early-type emission-line stars: an attempt to distinguish a new group of stellar objects

A new sample of possibly massive early-type emission-line stars (METELS) based on the previous lists of peculiar Be stars is presented. It consists of 36 objects divided amongst supergiants, possible binaries, and candidates to the list. The central stars are probably more massive than 10M . Two new relations allowing idientification of possible binaries among the objects are proposed.     

Main sequence for rotating stars of intermediate mass

We have investigated the evolutionary behaviour of intermediate mass (2, 3, 4, 5, and 7M ) Population I stars, assuming two different rates of rotation at the threshold of stability.In the first part of the study, stars are assumed to start with a critical rotation (fast rotation model) and to progress to the point of rotational instability. The stars evolve by losing mass and become rotationally unstable before they reach the zero-age Main Sequence. It is argued that multiple star systems might be formed through the evolution of rapidly rotating stars. An expression for the rotational mass loss rate is derived as a function of the physical parameters of stars.In the second part of the study, stars are assumed to rotate at a rate below the critical value (slow rotation model). The evolution of slowly rotating stars is followed as far as zero-age Main Sequence on the theoretical Hertzsprung-Russell diagram and compared with that of normal stars. The evolutionary paths are found to be more or less similar to those of normal stars; but their positions on the Main Sequence are characterized by effective temperatures and luminosities lower than those of normal stars. The zero-age Main-Sequence times of these stars are longer than those of normal stars. The rotational rates obtained for the zero-age Main Sequence are in good agreement with observed values.     

Spectrophotometric investigation of Be stars

The continuum energy distribution data of seven Be and five normal B stars have been presented in the wavelength range 3200–8000 Å. Empirical effective temperatures of these stars have been derived by comparing the observed continuum energy distributions with the computed energy distributions given by Kurucz (1979). The effective temperatures of all observed be stars except KX And found here are in fair agreement with those of normal B stars. The Be stars KY And, EW Lac, and LQ And show normal continuum energy distributions over the whole observed wavelength range. The Be stars ES Vul and 6 Cyg show moderate near-infrared excess emission longward of 6000 Å.o And shows Balmer jump slightly in absorption and 6 Cyg shows slightly in emission. The variable nature of the Be stars has been discussed.The Be star KX And shows a peculiar type of continuum energy distribution. The continuum energy distribution of KX And has been discussed in relation to its binary nature.No excess or deficiency in the mean flux of normal B stars was detected.     

A near-infrared survey of IRAS sources in the South Galactic Cap

The paper describes the JHK colours of late-type stars which were investigated as part of a survey of South Galactic Cap (b < -30°) IRAS sources selected on the basis of their 12/25µm flux ratios as high mass-loss candidates. Near-infrared two-colour diagrams provide an effective technique for distinguishing between various groups of late-type stars. Such diagrams are also useful in indicating which stars are likely to be peculiar and worthy of more detailed study. The late-type stars isolated by this survey comprise: 61 Mira variables (3 of which are carbon stars with very thick shells), 3 young stellar objects, 4 interacting binaries, 2 semi-regular carbon variables and 154 oxygen-rich giants.     

The age determination of young clusters in the large magellanic cloud by means of integrated photometry

The relationt=t(Q), obtained from theoretical integrated colours (B-V)₀ and (U-B)₀ for Pop. I clusters, has been employed to date a group of 13 young clusters in the LMC. The comparison with the ages derived by the t.o.p. method shows that the theoretical integrated colour indices of clusters, with evolved stars in the mass range 5–15M , are systematically bluer than the observed ones.The analysis performed indicate that, in order to reconcile observed and computed colours, the maximum effective temperature of evolved stars should be suitably lowered. The hypothesis has been advanced that such changes can be obtained by the inclusion of the mass loss in the computation of evolutionary tracks.     

Spectres de quelques étoiles Be entre 7000 et 9600 Å

Kodak IM plates have been used in order to extend to 9600 Å the observed wavelength range for 23 O, B, Be Bp and A stars. The spectra are shown in the plate. Several atmospheric absorption bands perturb the continuum and line spectrum. Between 1.45 and 1.20 ^-1, we have measured the parameter d logI /d(1/). The results appear in the table and indicate that Be stars do not exhibit anomalous reddening in this spectral region. On the other hand the above parameter is much more sensitive to the reddening than to the star's effective temperature.

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Le matériel d'observation utilisé pour le présent travail a été obtenu à l'observatoire de Haute-Provence. (CNRS)     

Light-element abundances of peculiar a stars

Light-element abundances are compiled for six peculiar A stars (3 CenA, ² CVn, HR 1732,v For, Cnc, and 112 Her) with Heilines very weak for their colours. The abundances are interpreted on the theory that peculiar A stars were once secondaries in binary systems in which the primaries exploded as type II supernovae. During the explosions of the primaries, protons were accelerated to high energies (>20 MeV) in shock waves at the secondaries, and spallation of He, C, N, and O occurred. This was followed by the arrival of heavier elements from the primaries. Abundances on ² CVn, HR 1732, andv For were subsequently modified by surface nuclear reactions involving protons and -particles accelerated to lower energies (10 MeV), probably by magnetic fields. Successive (, ) reactions formed Si²⁸ from Ne²⁰, and (p, ) reactions acting on A⁴⁰ and Ca⁴⁰ may have contributed to the excesses of Cl observed on ² CVn and HR 1732. These proposals have interesting implications with regard to the relative abundances of the iron-peak elements found on peculiar A stars and in the Solar System.     

Giant elliptical galaxies: The Salpeter initial luminosity function and interstellar matter

It is argued that a Salpeter initial luminosity function is consistent with the observed integral properties of giant elliptical galaxies if the gaseous material lost by evolving stars can be retained in the system for times of the order of 10⁸ yr. One model which emerges is of a highly condensed system consisting mainly of metal-poor population II stars with an admixture (1.5%–15%) of super-metalrich stars born from the gaseous debris, which at the present time constitutes 0.05%–0.5% of the total mass. HighM/L ratios result from obscuration of the starlight, and the missing radiation reappears in the form of a strong I-R flux at wavelengths of the order of 100 . The difference in colour betweengE anddE galaxies is explained in terms of interstellar reddening, and strong interstellar metallic absorption lines are also expected. The model leads to a negligible evolutionary correction to the cosmological deceleration parameterq ₀. An alternative model, in which the stars arenot metal poor, has a more condensed, heavily obscured nucleus, surrounded by the unobscured central bulge of the Galaxy which provides most of the light. In this version a large evolutionary correction would be required.     

Young stars in the disk of M82

We present CCD VI_C photometry in a field 1.9 − 1.3 square arcmin and positioned about 3 arcmin north-east of the centre of M82. More than 100 stars have been identified and measured above the photometric limits V = 23^m.5, I = 22^m. Most of the objects fainter than V ≈︁ 20^m should be members of M82 as expected from the statistics of foreground stars. Starlike as well as 2–3 somewhat diffuse objects - candidates of globular clusters - preferentially occupy yellow colours in the colour-magnitude diagram; extreme blue and red objects are missing. The colour-magnitude diagram indicates continuing star formation in this part of the disk. The absence of blue stars is caused by reddening; no convincing explanation is found for the missing red supergiants. Young stars are distributed throughout the whole field, the youngest being concentrated in associations at the SW edge of the field. To cope with the very irregular background created by the galaxy' s main body and with the low contrast of many of the stars against this background, a modified photometric method is introduced in which the background is estimated using the intensities in a ring drawn very tightly around the star in the wings of the point spread function.     

Magnetic B-type stars of the main sequence. I. Problem formulation and selection of objects for observations

This paper reviews the current state of the problem of magnetism in massive Main Sequence stars. Chemically peculiar Bp stars with enhanced silicon lines and anomalous helium lines in their spectra are shown to be the most promising targets for the observational verification of various mechanisms of the formation and subsequent evolution of magnetic fields in CP stars. A catalog of magnetic Bp stars, containing 125 objects is prepared. Applying different criteria, we compiled a variety of magnetic star samples, which were then used to analyze magnetic fields in objects of different ages. The results of this analysis show that massive stars generally have stronger fields in all the samples studied, and thus confirm earlier results based on smaller star samples. No tight relation is observed and the parameters of individual objects show a very large scatter about the mean relation. The strongest and most complex fields are found in the youngest Bp stars with ages below 30 Myr. Magnetic Bp stars generally rotate slower than normal B-type stars, except for the hottest objects with enhanced helium lines, which have normal rotation velocities. No systematic differences are found between the angular rotation velocities of Bp stars with anomalous helium and silicon lines. We discuss various criteria, which can be used to observationally test the alternative mechanisms of formation and evolution of magnetic fields in CP stars and, in particular, to quantitatively compare not only the magnitudes, but also the topology of fields in objects of different ages.     

A search for unique objects in nearby galaxies

A list of 171 stars in the galaxy M33 is presented. The stars could be considered as candidates for unique objects, such as SS 433, S Dor, P Cyg stars and possibly new kinds of peculiar objects. All these stars have been selected on the basis of the similarity to SS 433, free from interstellar absorption: OB star with strongH emission or with HeII 4686 and CIII, NIII 4630 - 4660 emission lines; a hot star inside a supernovae remnant or radio nebula. The variability of these stars has been used as an additional criterion of the selection. It is important to carry out spectral observations of the presented stars, which will allow us to select stars with intrinsicH emission.     

F stars: Evidence for ‘two-dimensional’ age-metallicity relation and a new light on the enrichment history of the solar neighbourhood

From theuvby photometry and proper motions for about 5500 nearby F stars we have found the following: (i) F stars, taken in narrow ranges of metallicity, show at [Fe/H]<0 rather distinct cut-off in their distribution along the Main Sequence (MS) at the blue side, which is suggested to be an indication for the MS turn-off in stellar groups of fixed metallicity; (ii) the corresponding turn-off age from theoretical isochrones strongly correlates with the mean peculiar velocity of the turn-off stars; (iii) the sub-groups of stars of different colours have essentially the same mean peculiar velocity at low metallicity, but at high metallicity the velocities of the red subgroups are much larger than those of the blue ones. We argue that these properties of F stars lead to a two-dimensional age-metallicity relation with the following main features: (i) a very large spread of metal abundance for old stars, (ii) narrowing of the metallicity range toward younger ages, (iii) increase of mean metallicity toward younger ages. This AMR seems to require a major revision of current models of the chemical evolution of the Galaxy: it suggests that the spatial distribution of metal abundance in the interstellar medium was initially highly inhomogeneous, the inhomogeneities being smoothed out and the mean metallicity being increased as the time went on.We also find an evidence for the evolution of the gaseous matter, from which the open clusters are formed, to be somehow decoupled from the evolution of the overall ISM.     

Metal abundance and helium content of the open cluster NGC 7789: Evidence for mass loss

Interstellar reddening, the ratio [Fe/H], effective temperatures, surface gravities, and masses for twelve clump stars at the blue end of the giant branch and for seven non-clump red giant members in NGC 7789 have been determined from existingUBV andDDO photoelectric data. For the metal abundance and helium content of the clump stars we foundZ0.01 andY0.38, respectively. The masses of the red giants are found to be higher than those of the clump stars. On average, the masses of the clump stars are about half of the turnoff point mass. We conclude that the clump stars could have undergone mass loss before reaching their helium core burning phase of evolution. This conclusion arises from an analysis of the several sources entering our mass determination.     

The production of circumstellar26Al by massive stars

We investigate the production of²⁶Al during hydrogen burning and its ejection by massive single and binary stars. Effects of convection and rotation are studied. We discuss the importance of RSGs, LBVs and WR stars to the total Galactic²⁶Al production, and the detection probability of the²⁶Al decay in individual objects as P Cygni, Velorum and Carinae.