Search

We present the results of our analysis on V1481 Ori (JW 239), a young SB2 in the Orion Nebula Cluster with a circumbinary disc accreting on the lower-mass component. The analysis is based on high-resolution spectroscopic data and high-quality photometric time series about 20-yr long. Thanks to the spectroscopy, we confirm the binary nature of this system consisting of M3 + M4 components and derive the mass ratio M_B/M_A = 0.54, a variable luminosity ratio L_B/L_A = 0.68--0.94, and an orbital period P_orb = 4.433d. The photometric data allowed us to measure the rotation periods of the two components P_phot = 4.4351d and they are found to be synchronized with the orbital period. The simultaneous modeling of V-, I-band, and radial velocity curves in the 2005 season suggests that the variability is dominated by one hot spot on the secondary component covering at least about 3.5% of the stellar surface and about 420K hotter than the unperturbed photosphere. Such a spot may originate from the material of the circumbinary disc accreting onto the secondary component. We also detect an apparent 6-yr periodic variation in the position of this hot spot, which is inferred from the phase migration of the light curve maximum, which we interpret as due to either the presence of surface differential rotation as large as 0.065%, a value compatible with the fully convective components, or to a periodic exchange of angular momentum between the disc and the star, which implies a minimum magnetic field strength of 650G at the stellar surface., Comment: 13 pages, 8 figures, 6 tables, 1 online table, Accepted by MNRAS

A significant population of stars with ages younger than the Pleiades exists in the solar neighborhood. They are grouped in loose young associations, sharing similar kinematical and physical properties, but, due to their vicinity to the Sun, they are dispersed in the sky, and hard to identify. Their strong stellar coronal activity, causing enhanced X-ray emission, allows them to be identified as counterparts of X-ray sources. The analysis presented here is based mainly on the SACY project, aimed to survey in a systematic way counterparts of ROSAT all-sky X-ray sources in the Southern Hemisphere for which proper motions are known. We give the definition, main properties, and lists of high-probability members of nine confirmed loose young associations that do not belong directly to the well-known Oph-Sco-Cen complex. The youth and vicinity of many members of these new associations make them ideal targets for follow-up studies, specifically geared towards the understanding of planetary system formation. Searches for very low-mass and brown dwarf companions are ongoing, and it will be promising to search for planetary companions with next generation instruments., Comment: To appear in the Handbook of Star Forming Regions Vol. II. Astronomical Society of the Pacific, 2008. Bo Reipurth, ed

In the SACY (Search for Associations Containing Young-stars) project we try to identify associations of stars younger than the Local Association among HIPPARCOS and/or TYCHO-2 stars later than G0 which are counterparts of the ROSAT X-ray bright sources. High-resolution spectra for the possible optical counterparts were obtained in order to assess both the youth and the spatial motion of each target. More than 1000 ROSAT sources were observed, covering a large area in the Southern Hemisphere. Associations are characterized mainly by the similarity in UVW velocity space of their proposed member, but other parameters, as evolutionary age, Li abundance and distribution in space must also be taken into account. We proposed a method to identify associations when proper motions and radial velocities are available, but no parallaxes. Using the method we found eleven associations in the SACY data., Comment: 19 pages, 33 figures, to appear in the Proceedings of Open Issues in Local Formation and Early Stellar Evolution, Ouro Preto, Brazil

The scientific goal of the SACY (Search for Associations Containing Young-stars) was to identify possible associations of stars younger than the Pleiades Association among optical counterparts of the ROSAT X-ray bright sources. High-resolution spectra for possible optical counterparts later than G0 belonging to HIPPARCOS and/or TYCHO-2 catalogs were obtained in order to assess both the youth and the spatial motion of each target. More than 1000 ROSAT sources were observed, covering a large area in the Southern Hemisphere. The newly identified young stars present a patchy distribution in UVW and XYZ, revealing the existence of huge nearby young associations. Here we present the associations identified in this survey., Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, to appear in the Proceedings of Open Issues in Local Formation and Early Stellar Evolution, Ouro Preto, Brazil