Search

Aims. To explore the chemical pattern of early-type stars with planets, searching for a possible signature of planet formation. In particular, we study a likely relation between the lambda Bootis chemical pattern and the presence of giant planets. Methods. We performed a detailed abundance determination in a sample of early-type stars with and without planets via spectral synthesis. Results. We compared the chemical pattern of the stars in our sample (13 stars with planets and 24 stars without detected planets) with those of lambda Bootis and other chemically peculiar stars. We have found four lambda Bootis stars in our sample, two of which present planets and circumstellar disks (HR 8799 and HD 169142) and one without planets detected (HD 110058). We have also identified the first lambda Bootis star orbited by a brown dwarf (zeta Del). This interesting pair lambda Bootis star + brown dwarf could help to test stellar formation scenarios. We found no unique chemical pattern for the group of early-type stars bearing giant planets. However, our results support, in principle, a suggested scenario in which giant planets orbiting pre-main-sequence stars possibly block the dust of the disk and result in a lambda Bootis-like pattern. On the other hand, we do not find a lambda Bootis pattern in different hot-Jupiter planet host stars, which do not support the idea of possible accretion from the winds of hot-Jupiters, recently proposed in the literature. Then, other mechanisms should account for the presence of the lambda Bootis pattern between main-sequence stars. Finally, we suggest that the formation of planets around lambda Bootis stars such as HR 8799 and HD 169142 is also possible through the core accretion process and not only gravitational instability [abridged], Comment: 21 pages, 12 figures, 4 tables, A&A accepted

We present spectroscopic and photometric observations of the emission-line star MWC 930 (V446 Sct) during its long-term optical brightening in 2006--2013. Based on our earlier data we suggested that the object has features found in Luminous Blue Variables (LBV), such as a high luminosity (~3 10^5 Lsun, a low wind terminal velocity (~ 140 km/s), and a tendency to show strong brightness variations (~1 mag over 20 years). For the last ~7 years it has been exhibiting a continuous optical and near-IR brightening along with a change of the emission-line spectrum appearance and cooling of the star's photosphere. We present the object's $V$--band light curve, analyze the spectral variations, and compare the observed properties with those of other recognized Galactic LBVs, such as AG Car and HR Car. Overall we conclude the MWC 930 is a bona fide Galactic LBV that is currently in the middle of an S Dor cycle., Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures

We propose a method for measuring the projected rotational velocity $v sin i$ with high-precision even in spectra with blended lines. Though not automatic, our method is designed to be applied systematically to large numbers of objects without excessive computational requirement. We calculate the cross correlation function (CCF) of the object spectrum against a zero-rotation template and use the Fourier transform (FT) of the CCF central maximum to measure the parameter $v sin i$ taking the limb darkening effect and its wavelength dependence into account. The procedure also improves the definition of the CCF base line resulting in errors related to the continuum position under 1 % even for $vsin i$ = 280 km/s. Tests with high-resolution spectra of F-type stars indicate that an accuracy well below 1 % can be attained even for spectra where most lines are blended. We have applied the method to measure $v sin i$ in 251 A-type stars. For stars with $vsin i$ over 30 km/s (2-3 times our spectra resolution) our measurement errors are below 2.5 % with a typical value of 1%. We compare our results with Royer et al. (2002a) using 155 stars in common, finding systematic differences of about 5 % for rapidly rotating stars., Comment: Replaced by the version accepted in Astronomy and Astrophysics. 14 pages, 11 figures (5 new figures), new section 3.1, Table 1 added to the printer version

A full description of the 5.5-yr low excitation events in Eta Carinae is presented. We show that they are not as simple and brief as previously thought, but a combination of two components. The first, the 'slow variation' component, is revealed by slow changes in the ionization level of circumstellar matter across the whole cycle and is caused by gradual changes in the wind-wind collision shock-cone orientation, angular opening and gaseous content. The second, the 'collapse' component, is restricted to around the minimum, and is due to a temporary global collapse of the wind-wind collision shock. High energy photons (E > 16 eV) from the companion star are strongly shielded, leaving the Weigelt objects at low ionization state for >6 months. High energy phenomena are sensitive only to the 'collapse', low energy only to the 'slow variation' and intermediate energies to both components. Simple eclipses and mechanisms effective only near periastron (e.g., shell ejection or accretion onto the secondary star) cannot account for the whole 5.5-yr cycle. We find anti-correlated changes in the intensity and the radial velocity of P Cygni absorption profiles in FeII 6455 and HeI 7065 lines, indicating that the former is associated to the primary and the latter to the secondary star. We present a set of light curves representative of the whole spectrum, useful for monitoring the next event (2009 January 11)., Comment: 16 pages, 7 EPS figures, accepted for publication on MNRAS

Extensive spectral observations of eta Carinae over the last cycle, and particularly around the 2003.5 low excitation event, have been obtained. The variability of both narrow and broad lines, when combined with data taken from two earlier cycles, reveal a common and well defined period. We have combined the cycle lengths derived from the many lines in the optical spectrum with those from broad-band X-rays, optical and near-infrared observations, and obtained a period length of 2022.7+-1.3 d. Spectroscopic data collected during the last 60 years yield an average period of 2020+-4 d, consistent with the present day period. The period cannot have changed by more than $\Delta$P/P=0.0007 since 1948. This confirms the previous claims of a true, stable periodicity, and gives strong support to the binary scenario. We have used the disappearance of the narrow component of HeI 6678 to define the epoch of the Cycle 11 minimum, T_0=JD 2,452,819.8. The next event is predicted to occur on 2009 January 11 (+-2 days). The dates for the start of the minimum in other spectral features and broad-bands is very close to this date, and have well determined time delays from the HeI epoch., Comment: 9 pages, 4 EPS figures, submitted to MNRAS

We present the results of optical and near-IR spectroscopic and near-IR photometric observations of the emission-line stars Hen3-298 and Hen3-303. Strong emission in the H-alpha line is found in both objects. The presence of Fe II and [O I] emission lines in the spectrum of Hen3-298 indicates that it is a B[e] star. The double-peaked CO line profiles, found in the infrared spectrum of Hen3-298, along with the optical line profiles suggest that the star is surrounded by a rotating circumstellar disk. Both objects also show infrared excesses, similar to those of B[e] stars. The radial velocities of the absorption and emission lines as well as a high reddening level suggest that the objects are located in the Norma spiral arm at a distance of 3-4.5 kpc. We estimated a luminosity of log (L/L_sun) ~ 5.1 and a spectral type of no earlier than B3 for Hen3-298. Hen3-303 seems to be a less luminous B-type object (log (L/L_sun) ~ 4.3), located in the same spiral arm., Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, accepted by Astronomy and Astrophysics

We have recalculated the orbits of 3 binary systems, members of the open cluster Trumpler 16 in the Carina region. We have added new observations to those available in the literature. Also, we have also tried to find the orbital periods for two suspected binary systems in the same cluster. We have improved considerably the precision of some of the orbital parameters., Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures

We present a new optical spectroscopic study of the O-type binary HD 165052 based on high- and intermediate-resolution CCD observations. We re-investigated the spectral classification of the binary components, obtaining spectral types of O6.5 V and O7.5 V for the primary and secondary, respectively, finding that both stars display weak C {\sc iii} $\lambda5696$ emission in their spectra. We also determined a radial-velocity orbit for HD 165052 with a period of 2.95510 $\pm$ 0.00001 d, and semiamplitudes of 94.8 and 104.7 $\pm$ 0.5 km s$^{-1}$, resulting in a mass ratio $Q = 0.9$. From a comparison with previous radial-velocity determinations, we found evidence of apsidal motion in the system. Several signatures of wind-wind collision, such as phase-locked variability of the X-ray flux and the Struve-Sahade effect, are also considered. It was also found that the reddening in the region should be normal, in contrast with previous determinations., Comment: 9 pages, 5 tables, 9 figures. Accepted by Monthly Notices