Search

The Global Astronomical Telescope System is a project managed by the Astronomical Observatory Institute of Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań (Poland) and it is primarily intended for stellar medium/high resolution spectroscopy. The system will be operating as a global network of robotic telescopes. The GATS consists of two telescopes: PST 1 in Poland (near Poznań) and PST 2 in the USA (Arizona). The GATS project is also intended to cooperate with the BRITE satellites and supplement their photometry with spectroscopic observations. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Eclipsing binaries can in principle provide additional constraints to facilitate asteroseismology of one or more pulsating components. We have identified 94 possible eclipsing binary systems in a sample of over 1800 stars observed in long cadence as part of the Kepler Guest Observer Program to search for γ Doradus and δ Scuti star candidates. We show the results of a procedure to fold the light curve to identify the potential binary period, subtract a fit to the binary light curve, and perform a Fourier analysis on the residuals to search for pulsation frequencies that may arise in one or both of the stellar components. From this sample, we have found a large variety of light curve types; about a dozen stars show frequencies consistent with δ Sct or γ Dor pulsations, or light curve features possibly produced by stellar activity (rotating spots). For several stars, the folded candidate ‘binary’ light curve resembles more closely that of an RR Lyr, Cepheid, or high-amplitude δ Sct star. We show highlights of our results and discuss the potential for asteroseismology of the most interesting objects. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We present preliminary results from two parallel programs to search for new substellar companions to nearby, young M-stars and to characterize the atmospheres of known planetary mass and temperature substellar companions. For the M-star survey, we are analyzing high angular resolution archival data on systems within 15pc, complementing a subset with well-determined young ages based on measurements of several age indicators. The results include stellar and substellar companion candidates, which we are currently pursuing with follow-up second epoch images. The characterization component of the project involves using LBT LMIRCam and MMT ARIES direct imaging and spectroscopy data to investigate the atmospheres of known young substellar companions with masses overlapping the planetary regime. These atmospheric studies will represent an analogous comparison to the atmospheres of young imaged planets, and provide a means to fundamentally test evolutionary models, enhancing our understanding of the overall substellar population. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

V393 Scorpii is a bright Galactic Double Periodic Variable showing a long photometric cycle of ≈253 days. The ASAS V-band light curve has been disentangled into an orbital and long cycle component. The orbital light curve was modeled with two stellar components and a circumprimary accretion disk. Based on this model, and the careful choice of a template spectrum for the donor, the contribution of the donor to the line+continuum spectrum was removed at every orbital phase. The remaining residual spectra were analyzed. Notable findings are the larger line emissivity observed during the long cycle maximum that is concentrated to low velocities and the presence of discrete absorption components in the wings of the OI 7773 line, whose visibility strongly depends on the orbital phase. In addition, weak emission is observed in donor metallic absorption lines. Finally, we present the first Hα Doppler map for V 393 Scorpii. A modulated wind explains many observational features. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We summarize recent efforts from our group to constrain the nature of both stars in the Eta Carinae binary system and its orbital parameters by studying the influence of the companion star on the spectrum of the primary star. We find that the cavity in the dense wind of the primary star strongly affects multi-wavelength diagnostics such as the ultraviolet spectrum, the optical hydrogen lines, and the shape of the near-infrared continuum region. These diagnostics have been previously interpreted as requiring a latitude-dependent wind generated by a fast-rotating primary star, but the effects of the companion on them provide tenuous evidence that the primary star is a rapid rotator. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We present our on-going project to unveil the post-nova population by re-discovering old novae that have been lost after the initial outburst and in which the binary itself is unobserved. We take UBVR photometry for candidate selection, long-slit spectroscopy to confirm these candidates, and time-resolved spectroscopy to measure the orbital period of the newly confirmed post-novae. Some preliminary results are shown as examples. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Many astrophysical problems in the theory of formation and evolution of stars and stellar groups require knowledge of the mass or age of individual stars. Stellar masses and ages are not directly observable parameters, and most of the methods used to determine them are based on the calibrating relations obtained from observations or from theoretical considerations. In most cases, the mass-luminosity relation, based on the masses of approximately two hundred well-studied binaries, is the only way to estimate the mass of single stars. Unfortunately, the statistical nature of the mass-luminosity relation means that the stellar masses determined with it may only be considered as approximate. The establishment of methods for estimating stellar masses and ages of stars with accuracy comparable to direct methods remains a challenging task. This work proposes a way to use the location of a star in the HR diagram to estimate its mass and age based on modern stellar models. The method is based on the geometric similarity of evolutionary tracks for the stars at the same evolutionary stage. To examine the proposed approach and involved assumptions, it has been applied to various test data sets. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We discuss the possible angular momentum loss mechanisms in AM Her type cataclysmic variables and their corresponding mass loss rates using the observed physical parameters of them. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Spectroscopic abundances of s- and r-process enriched very metal-poor stars are interpreted as the result of mass transfer in a binary system from an AGB companion assuming an initial composition of the parental cloud pre-enriched in r elements. The spectroscopic determination of [Na/Fe], [Mg/Fe] and [ls/Fe] permits an estimate of the initial AGB stellar mass, while a value [Zr/Nb] H 0 is a nuclear indicator of an extrinsic AGB in a binary system. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We report the confirmation of the binary nature of the nearby, very low-mass system NLTT 33370 with adaptive optics imaging and present resolved near-infrared photometry and integrated light optical and near-infrared spectroscopy to characterize the system. VLT-NaCo and LBTI-LMIRCam images show significant orbital motion between 2013 February and 2013 April. Optical spectra reveal weak, gravity sensitive alkali lines and strong lithium 6708 ˚A absorption that indicate the system is younger than field age. VLT-SINFONI near-IR spectra also show weak, gravity sensitive features and spectral morphology that is consistent with other young, very low-mass dwarfs. We combine the constraints from all age diagnostics to estimate a system age of ∼30-200 Myr. The 1.2-4.7 µm spectral energy distribution of the components point toward Teff = 3200 ± 500 K and Teff = 3100 ± 500 K for NLTT 33370 A and B, respectively. The observed spectra, derived temperatures, and estimated age combine to constrain the component spectral types to the range M6-M8. Evolutionary models predict masses of 113 ±8 MJup and 106±7 MJup from the estimated luminosities of the components. KPNO-Phoenix spectra allow us to estimate the systemic radial velocity of the binary. The Galactic kinematics of NLTT 33370AB are broadly consistent with other young stars in the Solar neighborhood. However, definitive membership in a young, kinematic group cannot be assigned at this time and further follow-up observations are necessary to fully constrain the system’s kinematics. The proximity, age, and late-spectral type of this binary make it very novel and an ideal target for rapid, complete orbit determination. The system is one of only a few model calibration benchmarks at young ages and very low-masses., Astronomy