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Our main aim is to test the non-variability of the radial velocity (RV) of a sample of 2351 standard stars used for wavelength calibration of the Radial Velocity Spectrometer (RVS) instrument onboard Gaia. In this paper, we present the spectroscopic analysis of these stars with the determination of their physical parameters by matching observed and synthetic spectra. We estimate the offset between different instruments after determining the shift between measured and archived RVs since the instrument pipelines use various numerical masks. Through the confirmation of the stability of the target RVs, we find 68 stars with a long-term variation having an acceleration that exceeds |$10 \, \rm {m\, s^{-1}\,yr^{-1}}$|⁠. This suggests a barycentric reflex motion caused by a companion. As activity phenomena may be the source of periodic and trend-like RV variations in stars with putative planetary companions, we analysed various activity indicators in order to check their correlations to the RV changes. Among the trend stars, 18 have a trend model scatter greater than |$100 \, \rm {m\, s^{-1}}$| over a time span from 10 to 12 yr. We also confirm that six stars with known substellar companions have a total model scatter, 3σ, exceeding the threshold set by Gaia , that is, |$300 \, \rm {m\, s^{-1}}$|⁠. In addition, TYC8963-01543-1, an SB2 star, has data scatter |$\sigma = 176.6\, \rm {m\, s^{-1}}$|⁠. Four more other stars are revealed to be variable after combining data from different instruments. Despite the presence of low-amplitude changes, a very large fraction of our sample (98.8 per cent) appears suitable as RV calibrators for Gaia RVS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Using an extended set of multi-epoch high-resolution high signal-to-noise ratio optical spectra, we readdress the multiplicity properties of the O-type stars in IC 2944 and in the Cen OB2 association. We present new evidence of binarity for five objects and we confirm the multiple nature of another two. We derive the first orbital solutions for HD 100099, HD 101436 and HD 101190 and we provide additional support for HD 101205 being a quadruple system. The minimal spectroscopic binary fraction in our sample is fmin= 0.57. Using numerical simulations, we show that the detection rate of our observational campaign is close to 90 per cent, leaving thus little room for undetected spectroscopic binary systems. The statistical properties of the O-star population in IC 2944 are similar, within the uncertainties, to the results obtained in the earlier papers in this series despite the fact that sample size effects limit the significance of the comparison. Using newly derived spectroscopic parallaxes, we reassess the distance to IC 2944 and obtained 2.3 ± 0.3 kpc, in agreement with previous studies. We also confirm that, as far as the O stars are concerned, the IC 2944 cluster is most likely a single entity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on a set of over 100 medium- to high-resolution optical spectra collected from 2003 to 2009, we investigate the properties of the O-type star population in NGC 6611 in the core of the Eagle Nebula (M16). Using a much more extended data set than previously available, we revise the spectral classification and multiplicity status of the nine O-type stars in our sample. We confirm two suspected binaries and derive the first SB2 orbital solutions for two systems. We further report that two other objects are displaying a composite spectrum, suggesting possible long-period binaries. Our analysis is supported by a set of Monte Carlo simulations, allowing us to estimate the detection biases of our campaign and showing that the latter do not affect our conclusions. The absolute minimal binary fraction in our sample is but could be as high as 0.67 if all the binary candidates are confirmed. As in NGC 6231 (see Paper I), up to 75 per cent of the O star population in NGC 6611 are found in an O+OB system, thus implicitly excluding random pairing from a classical IMF as a process to describe the companion association in massive binaries. No statistical difference could be further identified in the binary fraction, mass-ratio and period distributions between NGC 6231 and NGC 6611, despite the difference in age and environment of the two clusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the results of a spectroscopic monitoring campaign devoted to three O-type stars in the Carina nebula. We derive the full SB2 orbital solution of the binary system Tr 16-112, an exceptional dissymmetrical system consisting of an O5.5–6 V((f+?p)) primary and a B2 V-III secondary. We also report on low-amplitude brightness variations in Tr 16-112 that are likely due to the ellipsoidal shape of the O5.5–6 primary revolving in an eccentric orbit around the system's centre of mass. We detect for the first time a clear SB2 binary signature in the spectrum of HD 93343 (O8 + O8), although our data are not sufficient to establish an orbital solution. This system also displays low-amplitude photometric modulations. On the other hand, no indication of multiplicity is found in the optical spectra of HD 93250. Finally, we discuss the general properties of multiple massive stars in the Carina OB1 association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the results of a long-term high-resolution spectroscopy campaign on the O-type stars in NGC 6231. We revise the spectral classification and multiplicity of these objects and we constrain the fundamental properties of the O-star population. Almost three quarters of the O-type stars in the cluster are members of a binary system. The minimum binary fraction is 0.63, with half the O-type binaries having an orbital period of the order of a few days. The eccentricities of all the short-period binaries are revised downward, and henceforth match a normal period–eccentricity distribution. The mass ratio distribution shows a large preference for O + OB binaries, ruling out the possibility that, in NGC 6231, the companion of an O-type star is randomly drawn from a standard initial mass function. Obtained from a complete and homogeneous population of O-type stars, our conclusions provide interesting observational constraints to be confronted with the formation and early evolution theories of O-stars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Following the presentation of the XMM-Large Scale Structure ( XMM-LSS) survey X-ray source detection package by Pacaud et al., we provide the source lists for the first surveyed 5.5 deg2. The catalogues pertain to the [0.5–2] and [2–10] keV bands and contain in total 3385 point-like or extended sources above a detection likelihood of 15 in either band. The agreement with deep log N– log S is excellent. The main parameters considered are position, count rate, source extent with associated likelihood values. A set of additional quantities such as astrometric corrections and fluxes are further calculated while errors on the position and count rate are deduced from simulations. We describe the construction of the band-merged catalogue allowing rapid subsample selection and easy cross-correlation with external multiwavelength catalogues. A small optical Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope Legacy Survey multiband subset of objects are associated with each source along with an X-ray/optical overlay. We make the full X-ray images available in FITS format. The data are available at the Centre de Données de Strasbourg and, in a more extended form, at the Milan XMM-LSS survey data base. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We discuss the properties of the X-ray sources with faint optical counterparts in the very young open cluster NGC 6231. From their positions in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram, we find that the bulk of these objects probably consists of low-mass pre-main-sequence (PMS) stars with masses in the range . The age distribution of these objects indicates that low-mass star formation in NGC 6231 started more than 10 Myr ago and culminated in a starburst-like event about 1–4 Myr ago when the bulk of the low-mass PMS stars as well as the massive cluster members formed. We find no evidence for a spatial age gradient that could point towards a sequential star formation process. Only a few X-ray sources have counterparts with a reddening exceeding the average value of the cluster or with infrared colours indicating the presence of a moderate near-IR excess. The X-ray spectra of the brightest PMS sources are best fitted by rather hard thermal plasma models and a significant fraction of these sources display flares in their light curve. The X-ray brightest flaring sources have decay times between 2 and 16 ks. The X-ray selected PMS stars in NGC 6231 have values that increase strongly with decreasing bolometric luminosity and can reach a saturation level for non-flaring sources and even more extreme values during flares. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this second paper of the series, we pursue the analysis of the 180-ks XMM–Newton campaign towards the young open cluster NGC 6231 and we focus on its rich OB star population. We present a literature-based census of the OB stars in the field of view with more than one hundred objects, among which 30 per cent can be associated with an X-ray source. All the O-type stars are detected in the X-ray domain as soft and reasonably strong emitters. In the 0.5–10.0 keV band, their X-ray luminosities scale with their bolometric luminosities as . Such a scaling law holds in the soft (0.5–1.0 keV) and intermediate (1.0–2.5 keV) bands but breaks down in the hard band. While the two colliding wind binaries in our sample clearly deviate from this scheme, the remaining O-type objects show a very limited dispersion (40 or 20 per cent according to whether ‘cool’ dwarfs are included or not), much smaller than that obtained from previous studies. At our detection threshold and with our sample, the sole identified mechanism that produces significant modulations in the O star X-ray emission is related to wind interaction. We thus propose that the intrinsic X-ray emission of non-peculiar O-type stars can be considered as constant for a given star. In addition, the level of X-ray emission is accurately related to the star luminosity or, equivalently, to its wind properties. Among B-type stars, the detection rate is only about 25 per cent in the subtype range B0–B4 and remains mostly uniform throughout the different subpopulations while it drops significantly at later subtypes. The associated X-ray spectra are harder than those of O-type stars. Our analysis points towards the detected emission being associated with a physical (in a multiple system) PMS companion. However, we still observe a correlation between the bolometric luminosity of the B stars and the measured X-ray luminosity. The best-fitting power law in the 0.5–10.0 keV band yields . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the X-ray pipeline developed for the purpose of the cluster search in the XMM Large-Scale Structure ( XMM-LSS) survey. It is based on a two-stage procedure via a dedicated handling of the Poisson nature of the signal: (i) source detection on multiresolution wavelet filtered images and (ii) source analysis by means of a maximum likelihood fit to the photon images. The source detection efficiency and characterization are studied through extensive Monte Carlo simulations. This led us to define two samples of extended sources: the C1 class that is uncontaminated, and the less restrictive C2 class that allows for 50 per cent contamination. The resulting predicted selection function is presented and the comparison to the current XMM-LSS confirmed cluster sample shows very good agreement. We arrive at average predicted source densities of about seven C1 and 12 C2 per deg2, which is higher than any available wide field X-ray survey. We finally note a substantial deviation of the predicted redshift distribution for our samples from the one obtained using the usual assumption of a flux-limited sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyse observations, spanning 15 yr, dedicated to the extreme emission-line object Hen 3-209. Our photometric data indicate that the luminosity of the star undergoes marked variations with a peak-to-peak amplitude of 0.65 mag. These variations are recurrent, with a period of . The spectrum of Hen 3-209 is peculiar with many different lines (H i, He i, Fe ii, ...) showing P Cygni profiles. The line profiles are apparently changing in harmony with the photometry. The spectrum also contains [O iii] lines that display a saddle profile topped by three peaks, with a maximum separation of about 600 km s−1. Hen 3-209 is most likely an evolved luminous object suffering from mass ejection events and maybe belonging to a binary system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the results of an optical spectroscopic campaign on the massive binary HD 152219 located near the core of the NGC 6231 cluster. Though the primary to secondary optical brightness ratio is probably about 10, we clearly detect the secondary spectral signature and we derive the first reliable SB2 orbital solution for the system. The orbital period is close to 4.2403 d and the orbit is slightly eccentric . The system is most probably formed by an O9.5 giant and a B1-2 V-III star. We derive minimal masses of and for the primary and secondary, respectively, and we constrain the stellar radius at values about 11 and . INTEGRAL-Optical Monitoring Camera (OMC) data reveal that HD 152219 is the third O-type eclipsing binary known in NGC 6231. In the Hertzsprung–Russell (HR) diagram, the primary component lies on the blue edge of the β Cep-type instability strip and its spectral lines display clear profile variations that are reminiscent of those expected from non-radial pulsations. Finally, we report the analysis of XMM–Newton observations of the system. The X-ray spectrum is relatively soft and is well reproduced by a two-temperature mekal model with and . The X-ray flux is most probably variable on a time-scale of days. The average X-ray luminosity during our campaign is , but shows fluctuations of about 10 per cent around this value. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present X-ray and optical spectroscopic observations of 12 galaxy groups and clusters identified within the X-ray Multi-Mirror ( XMM) Large-Scale Structure (LSS) survey. Groups and clusters are selected as extended X-ray sources from a 3.5 deg2 XMM image mosaic above a flux limit in the [0.5–2] keV energy band. Deep BVRI images and multi-object spectroscopy confirm each source as a galaxy concentration located within the redshift interval . We combine line-of-sight velocity dispersions with the X-ray properties of each structure computed from a two-dimensional surface brightness model and a single temperature fit to the XMM spectral data. The resulting distribution of X-ray luminosity, temperature and velocity dispersion indicate that the XMM–LSS survey is detecting low-mass clusters and galaxy groups to redshifts . Confirmed systems display little or no evidence for X-ray luminosity evolution at a given X-ray temperature compared to lower-redshift X-ray group and cluster samples. A more complete understanding of these trends will be possible with the compilation of a statistically complete sample of galaxy groups and clusters anticipated within the continuing XMM–LSS survey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the analysis of an extensive set of high-resolution spectroscopic observations of HD 93161, a visual binary with a separation of 2 arcsec. HD 93161 A is a spectroscopic binary, with both components clearly detected throughout the orbit. The primary star is most probably of spectral type O8V, while the secondary is likely an O9V. We obtain the first orbital solution for this system, characterized by a period of. The minimum masses of the primary and secondary stars areand, respectively. These values are quite large, suggesting a high inclination of the orbit. The second object, HD 93161 B, displays an O6.5V(f) spectral type and is thus slightly hotter than its neighbour. This star is at first sight single but presents radial velocity variations. Finally, we study HD 93161 in the X-ray domain. No significant variability is detected. The X-ray spectrum is well described by a 2T model withand. The X-ray luminosity is rather moderate, without any large emission excess imputable to a wind interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report the first results of an XMM–Newton monitoring campaign of the open cluster NGC 6231 in the Sco OB 1 association. This first paper focuses on the massive colliding-wind binary HD 152248, which is the brightest X-ray source of the cluster. The campaign, with a total duration of 180 ks, was split into six separate observations, following the orbital motion of HD 152248. The X-ray flux from this system presents a clear, asymmetric modulation with the phase and ranges from 0.73 to in the 0.5–10.0 keV energy band. The maximum of the emission is reached slightly after apastron. The EPIC spectra are quite soft, and peak around 0.8–0.9 keV. We characterize their shape using several combinations of mekal models and power-law spectra and we detect significant spectral variability in the 0.5–2.5 keV energy band. We also perform 2D hydrodynamical simulations using different sets of parameters that closely reproduce the physical and orbital configuration of the HD 152248 system at the time of the six XMM–Newton pointings. This allows a direct confrontation of the model predictions with the constraints deduced from the X-ray observations of the system. We show that the observed variation of the flux can be explained by a variation of the X-ray emission from the colliding-wind zone, diluted by the softer X-ray contribution of the two O-type stars of the system. Our simulations also reveal that the interaction region of HD 152248 should be highly unstable, giving rise to shells of dense gas that are separated by low-density regions. Finally, we perform a search for short-term variability in the light curves of the system and we show that trends are present within several of the 30-ks exposures of our campaign. Further, most of these trends are in good agreement with the orbital motion and provide a direct constraint on the first-order derivative of the flux. In the same context, we also search for long-range correlations in the X-ray data of the system, but we only marginally detect them in the high-energy tail of the signal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present a detailed, extensive investigation of the photometric and spectroscopic behaviour of WR 30a. This star is definitely a binary system with a period around 4.6 d. We propose the value . The identification of the components as WO4+O5((f)) indicates a massive evolved binary system; the O5 component is a main-sequence or, more likely, a giant star. The radial velocities of the O star yield a circular orbit with an amplitude and a mass function of 0.013 . The spectrum of WR 30a exhibits strong profile variations of the broad emission lines that are phase-locked with the orbital period. We report the detection of the orbital motion of the WO component with , but this should be confirmed by further observations. If correct, it implies a mass ratio . The star exhibits sinusoidal light variations of amplitude 0.024 mag peak-to-peak with the minimum of light occurring slightly after the conjunction with the O star in front. On the basis of the phase-locked profile variations of the C ivλ4658 blend in the spectrum of the WO, we conclude that a wind–wind collision phenomenon is present in the system. We discuss some possibilities for the geometry of the interaction region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We discuss the orbital elements of the multiple system Tr 16-104 which is usually believed to be a member of the open cluster Trumpler 16 in the Carina complex. We show that Tr 16-104 could be a hierarchical triple system consisting of a short-period (2.15 d) eclipsing O7 V+O9.5 V binary bound to a B0.2 IV star. Our preliminary orbital solution of the third body indicates that the B star most probably describes an eccentric orbit with a period of ∼285 or ∼1341 d around the close binary. Folding photometric data from the literature with our new ephemerides, we find that the light curve of the close binary exhibits rather narrow eclipses indicating that the two O stars must be well inside their Roche lobes. Our analysis of the photometric data yields a lower limit on the inclination of the orbit of the close binary of i≥77°. The stellar radii and luminosities of the O7 V and O9.5 V stars are significantly smaller than expected for stars of this spectral type. Our results suggest that Tr 16-104 lies at a distance of the order of 2.5 kpc and support a fainter absolute magnitude for zero-age main-sequence O stars than usually adopted. We find that the dynamical configuration of Tr 16-104 corresponds to a hierarchical system that should remain stable provided that it suffers no strong perturbation. Finally, we also report long-term temporal variations of high-velocity interstellar Ca iiabsorptions in the line of sight towards Tr 16-104. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a correction to the paper "The XMM Large-Scale Structure Survey: An initial sample pf galaxy groups and clusters to a redshift" that was published in 2005 issue.