Search

We present measurements of starspot parameters (temperature and filling factor) on five highly active stars, using absorption bands of TiO, from observations made between 1998 March and 2001 December. We determined starspot parameters by fitting TiO bands using spectra of inactive G and K stars as proxies for the unspotted photospheres of the active stars and spectra of M stars as proxies for the spots. For three evolved RS CVn systems, we find spot filling factors between 0.28 and 0.42 for DM UMa, 0.22 and 0.40 for IN Vir, and 0.31 and 0.35 for XX Tri; these values are similar to those found by other investigators using photometry and Doppler imaging. Among active dwarfs, we measured a lower spot temperature (3350 K) for EQ Vir than found in a previous study of TiO bands, and for EK Dra a lower spot temperature (~3800 K) than found through photometry. For all active stars but XX Tri, we achieved good phase coverage through a stellar rotational period. We also present our final, extensive grid of spot and nonspot proxy stars.

We review the results of the 1988 multi-wavelength campaign on the late-type eclipsing binary YY Geminorum. Observations include: broad-band optical and near infra-red photometry, simultaneous optical and ultraviolet (IUE) spectroscopy, X-ray (Ginga) and radio (VLA) data. From models fitted to the optical light curves, fundamental physical parameters have been determined together with evidence for transient maculations (spots) located near quadrature longitudes and intermediate latitudes. Eclipses were observed at optical, ultraviolet and radio wavelengths. Significant drops in 6cm radio emission near the phases of both primary and secondary eclipse indicate relatively compact radio emitting volumes that may lie between the binary components. IUE observations during secondary eclipse are indicative of a uniform chromosphere saturated with MgII plage-type emission and an extended volume of Ly$\alpha$ emission. Profile fitting of high-dispersion H alpha spectra confirms the chromospheric saturation and indicates significant H$\alpha$ opacity to heights of a few percent of the photospheric radius. There is evidence for an enhanced H alpha emission region visible near phase 0.25-0.35 which may be associated with a large spot on the primary and with two small optical flares which were also observed at other wavelengths: one in microwave radiation and the other in X-rays. For both flares, L_X/L_opt is consistent with energy release in closed magnetic structures., Comment: 17 pages, 10 figures

w Ori (HD 37490, HR 1934) is a Be star known to have presented variations. In order to investigate the nature and origin of its short-term and mid-term variability, a study is performed of several spectral lines (Ha, Hδ, HeI 4471, 4713, 4921, 5876, 6678, CII 4267, 6578, 6583, MgII 4481, SiIII 4553 and Sill 6347), based on 249 high signal-to-noise high-resolution spectra taken with 8 telescopes over 22 consecutive nights during the MuSiCoS (Multi Site Continuous Spectroscopy) campaign in November-December 1998. The stellar parameters are revisited and the projected rotational velocity (v sin i = 179 kms - 1 ) is redetermined using several methods. With the MuSiCoS 98 dataset, a time series analysis of line-profile variations (LPVs) is performed using the Restricted Local Cleanest (RLC) algorithm and a least squares method. The behaviour of the velocity of the centroid of the lines, the equivalent widths and the apparent vsini for several lines, as well as Violet and Red components of photospheric lines affected by emission (red He I lines, Sill 6347, CII 6578, 6583) are analyzed. The non-radial pulsation (NRP) model is examined using phase diagrams and the Fourier-Doppler Imaging (FDI) method. The LPVs are consistent with a NRP mode with l = 2 or 3, ‖m‖ = 2 with frequency 1.03 cd - 1 . It is shown that an emission line outburst occurred in the middle of the campaign. Two scenarios are proposed to explain the behaviour of a dense cloud, temporarily orbiting around the star with a frequency 0.46 cd - 1 , in relation to the outburst.

We present results from a study of starspots on active stars using a pair of vibrational-rotational absorption lines of the OH molecule near 1.563 μm. We detect excess OH absorption due to dark, cool starspots on several active stars of the RS CVn and BY Dra classes. Our results for the single-lined spectroscopic binaries II Pegasi, V1762 Cygni, and λ Andromedae augment those from a previous study that used a less sensitive detector. In this study, we were able for the first time to use molecular absorption features to measure starspot properties on double-lined spectroscopic binaries. Measuring the equivalent widths of these OH lines in inactive giant and dwarf stars of spectral types G, K, and M, we find that the total equivalent width of the line pair increases approximately linearly as effective temperature decreases from 5000 to 3000 K. We measure starspot filling factors by fitting the spectra of active stars with linear combinations of comparison star spectra representing the spot and nonspot regions of the star.

We conducted a multiwavelength campaign observing V824 Ara (HD 155555, G5 IV + K0 IV–V) continuously throughout one complete orbital cycle (~1.7 days) in early May of 1996. At the core of this campaign were observations using the GHRS on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). In all, about 48,000 spectra, many in rapid readout mode, were obtained with the GHRS covering the C IV, Mg II, and Fe XXI wavelength regions at 11–15 separate phases. Simultaneous observations were made with the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE). Radio observations (3.5 and 6 cm) were conducted at the Australian Telescope, while ground-based visual spectroscopic and photometric observations were made at European Southern Observatory, Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, the Anglo-Australian Telescope, and South African Astronomical Observatory. Additional ground-based observations were obtained before, during, and after the campaign. Our primary intent was to obtain a three-dimensional model of the atmosphere extending from the photosphere to the corona. Variability was clearly detected, including several flares observed in the HST, EUVE, and radio data. We present results from modeling the ultraviolet transition region lines using an anisotropic macroturbulence model. Previous studies of transition region lines in late-type active stars have used multiple Gaussians to fit the observed line profiles, adding broad components to account for the extended wings observed in several active systems, including V711 Tau (HR 1099). This broad component has been interpreted as arising from the continuous presence of microflaring. We demonstrate that anisotropic macroturbulence models can also explain the observed Mg II profiles.

We present the results of an extensive observing campaign on the O7.5 III star Persei. The UV obser- vations were obtained with the International Ultraviolet Explorer. Per was monitored continuously in October 1994 during 10 days at ultraviolet and visual wavelengths. The ground-based optical observations include mag- netic eld measurements, H and He i 6678 spectra, and were partially covered by photometry and polarimetry. We describe a method to automatically remove the variable contamination of telluric lines in the groundbased spectra. The aim of this campaign was to search for the origin of the cyclical wind variability in this star. We determined a very accurate period of 2.086(2) d in the resonance lines of Si iv and in the subordinate Niv and H line proles. The epochs of maximum absorption in the UV resonance lines due to discrete absorption com- ponents (DACs) coincide in phase with the maxima in blue-shifted H absorption. This implies that the periodic variability originates close to the stellar surface. The phase velocity relation shows a maximum at 1400 km s 1 . The general trend of these observations can be well explained by the corotating interaction region (CIR) model. In this model the wind is perturbed by one or more xed patches on the stellar surface, which are most probably due to small magnetic eld structures. Our magnetic eld measurements gave, however, only a null-detection with a1 errorbar of 70 G in the longitudinal component. Some observations are more dicult to t into this picture. The 2-day period is not detected in the photospheric/transition region line He i 6678. The dynamic spectrum of this line shows a pattern indicating the presence of non-radial pulsation, consistent with the previously reported period of 3.5 h. The edge variability around 2300 km s 1 in the saturated wind lines of C iv and N v is nearly identical to the edge variability in the unsaturated Si iv line, supporting the view that this type of variability is also due to the moving DACs. A detailed analysis using Fourier reconstructions reveals that each DAC actually consists of 2 dierent components: a \fast" and a \slow" one which merge at higher velocities.

In October 1994 the RS CVn eclipsing binary AR Lacertae was monitored by IUE during two orbital cycles. We have used 59 low resolution spectra, acquired in the range 1150-1950 A, to derive light curves for emission lines formed at different temperatures between about 10 000 and 200 000 K and to study the flare signatures versus temperature of line formation. We have analyzed a sequence of 59 high resolution Mgii k line profiles using multi-Gaussian fits (the spectral imaging technique) to derive information of the spatial structure of the chromospheres of both stars in the AR Lac system. We discuss the quiet chromospheric emission from both stars, and we show that enhanced Mgii emission is present in extended structures corotating with the K0 IV star and close to the system center-of-mass. We also report on evidence for absorbing structures toward both the stars. This study of AR Lac used the new orbital elements of Marino et al. ([CITE]) and spectra reduced and calibrated with NEWSIPS. A comparison between fluxes derived from the analyzed NEWSIPS spectra and from IUESIPS spectra is provided.

We present results from a study of starspot areas (fS) and temperatures (TS), primarily on active, single-lined spectroscopic binaries, determined using molecular absorption bands. Expanding upon our previous studies, we have analyzed multiorder echelle spectra of eight systems to simultaneously measure several different molecular bands and chromospheric emission lines. We determined starspot parameters by fitting the molecular bands of interest, using spectra of inactive G and K stars as proxies for the nonspotted photosphere of the active stars, and using spectra of M stars as proxies for the spots. At least two bands with different Teff sensitivities are required. We found that fitting bands other than the TiO 7055 and 8860 A features does not greatly extend the temperature range or sensitivity of our technique. The 8860 A band is particularly important because of its sharply different temperature sensitivity. We did not find any substantial departures from fS or TS that we have measured previously based on single-order spectra. We refined our derived spot parameters using contemporaneous photometry where available. We found that using M giants as spot proxies for subgiant active stars often underestimates fS needed to fit the photometry; this is presumably due to the increase in strength of the TiO bands with decreasing gravity. We also investigated correlations between fS and chromospheric emission, and we developed a simple method to measure nonspot temperature (TQ) solely from our echelle spectra.

Ultraviolet observations of 2 Andromedae with the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph on board the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) clearly reveal the existence of circumstellar gas, in addition to previously known anomalous interstellar features, in the line of sight toward this nearby star. We also detect varying, redshifted Ca II absorptions, which we interpret as gaseous infalls. These variable Ca II absorption features and the presence of circumstellar absorptions from Al III λλ1854.716 and 1862.790 and from excited fine-structure levels of Fe II near 2600 A seen in 2 And are similar to those observed in spectra of β Pic.

MUSICOS (for MUlti-SIte COntinuous Spectroscopy) is an international project to facilitate and organize world-wide multi-site campaigns in high resolution spectroscopy, in view of obtaining a complete time coverage of various types of variable stellar phenomena.

Since the IRAS discovery of Vega’s large thermal infrared excess over the expected photospheric flux, dust disks have been found around a large fraction of main‐sequence A‐type stars. While dust in debris disks has been studied extensively with Spitzer, relatively little is known about their gas content. We have carried out detailed studies of the circumstellar environments of all nearby A‐type stars. We have studied both thermal emission from their circumstellar dust and absorption from circumstellar gas. With high‐resolution and high signal‐to‐noise visible spectra, we identified about a dozen main‐sequence A‐type stars with circumstellar gas through a volume‐limited survey. Although these spectra confirm the existence of the circumstellar gas and serve as a probe of the gas dynamics, they do not allow us to determine the gas density and temperature. Fortunately, there are many absorption lines in the UV and FUV range that are sensitive to the gas density and temperature. Through our FUSE, IUE, HST, and...

The chromospheric and transition region emission lines of the most active stars have routinely been shown to consist of very broad wings superimposed on the narrower, rotationally‐broadened emission core. If these wings are attributed to a single emission mechanism in the stellar atmosphere, the implied thermal broadening often strains credibility. If they are due to active regions or loops rotating into and out of view, they should be present only for a small range of rotational phase. They have also been attributed to continuous flaring and to circumstellar material (loops, disks, etc.). We have been analyzing spectra of very active stars in the FUSE continuous viewing zone, allowing them to be observed continuously over one or more complete rotations. This helps to distinguish between spatial (repeatable, phase‐dependent) and temporal variations and provides further insight into the mechanism(s) responsible for the broad wing emission.

If magnetic activity in outer stellar atmospheres is due to an interplay between rotation and subsurface convection, as is generally presumed, then one would not expect to observe indicators of activity in stars with T_eff > 8300 K. Any X-ray or ultraviolet line emission from hotter stars must be due either to a different mechanism or to an unresolved, active, binary companion. Due to their poor spatial resolution, X-ray instruments have been especially susceptible to source confusion. At wavelengths longward of 1216 Angstroms, the near ultraviolet spectra of stars hotter than this putative dividing line are dominated by photospheric continuum. We have used FUSE to obtain spectra of the subcoronal O VI emission lines, which lie at a wavelength where the photospheric continuum of the mid- and early-A stars is relatively weak. We observed 14 stars spanning a range in T_eff from 7720 to 10,000 K. Eleven of the 14 stars showed O VI emission lines, including 6 of the 8 targets with T_eff > 8300 K. At face value, this suggests that activity does not fall off with increasing temperature. However, the emission lines are narrower than expected from the projected rotational velocities of these rapidly-rotating stars, suggesting that the emission could come from unresolved late-type companions. Furthermore, the strength of the O VI emission is consistent with that expected from an unseen active K or M dwarf binary companinon, and the high x-ray to far uv luminosity ratios observed indicate that this must be the case. Our results are therefore consistent with earlier studies that have shown a rapid drop-off in activity at the radiative/convective boundary expected at T_eff about 8300 K, in agreement with conventional stellar structure models.

We present the first results of the MUSICOS campaign on the 07.5III star ξ Persei, held in November 1996, which was aimed to study its wind variability, rotation, pulsation and magnetic field in order to study their mutual effects. During 10 days at 8 observatories around the globe we obtained more than 300 high-resolution optical spectra between 4100 and 8000 A, as well as magnetic field measurements from Hawaii and La Palma. So far we analysed the spectral lines of Hα, He i λ5875 and O iii λ5592. CLEANed Fourier transforms of the three studied lines yield a complicated multiperiod behaviour and indicate that the most likely rotation period is about 4 days. Combining these data with data from earlier campaigns, we find strong evidence in the photospheric lines for prograde non-radial pulsations with a period of 3.5 h. Since the pulsation period is much shorter than the dominant cyclic period in the stellar wind features (as found in the UV lines, recorded in an earlier campaign including the IUE satellite), we can conclude that pulsation is very unlikely the driving agent for the cyclic wind variations, at least for ξ Per. The analysis of the magnetic field measurements is still in progress. Whether magnetic fields are responsible for the observed wind modulation can therefore not be answered at the present stage, but remains still the most likely option.

The eclipsing RS CVn-type system AR Lacertae (K0 IV-G2 IV) has been observed with IUE satellite approximately every two years from 1981 to 1994. The principal purpose of these observations was to obtain systematic series of high-resolution (Δ ⋍ 0.24 A) Mg II h & k line spectra suitable for Spectral Imaging analysis and long-term activity study (Walter et al. 1987, Neff et al. 1989).

I present preliminary results from the analysis of a series of ultraviolet spectra AR Lac obtained in 1987. These spectra are being used to image the spatial structure of the chromosphere and to study the dynamics of flaring regions. Comparing these results with previous results, I will discuss the evolution of the chromospheric structure from 1983 to 1987.

Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph (GHRS) observations of the RS CVn-type binary V711 Tau (Kl IV+G5 IV) were obtained at several phases over two consecutive stellar orbital cycles in order to study ultraviolet emission-line profile and flux variability. Spectra cover the Mg II h and k lines, C IV doublet, and Si IV region, as well as the density-sensitive lines of C III] (1909 A) and Si III] (1892 A). IUE spectra, Extreme Ultra Violet (EUV) data, and Ultraviolet, Blue, Visual (UBV) photometry were obtained contemporaneously with the GHRS data. Variable extended wings were detected in the Mg II lines. We discuss the Mg II line profile variability using various Gaussian emission profile models. No rotational modulation of the line profiles was observed, but there were several large flares. These flares produced enhanced emission in the extended line wings, radial velocity shifts, and asymmetries in some line profiles. Nearly continuous flaring for more than 24 hr, as indicated in the IUE data, represents the most energetic and long-lived chromospheric and transition region flare ever observed with a total energy much greater than 5 x 10(exp 35) ergs. The C III] to Si III] line ratio is used to estimate the plasma density during the flares.

We have isolated Mg II k emission line profiles arising solely from the flaring region during flares on AR Lac and V 711 Tau. From several high-resolution spectra obtained during the lifetime of the flare, we have determined the size and position of the flaring regions and studied the decay of the emission line width, radial velocity, and integrated line flux.