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First Surface-resolved Results with the Infrared Optical Telescope Array Imaging Interferometer: Detection of Asymmetries in Asymptotic Giant Branch Stars
We have measured nonzero closure phases for about 29% of our sample of56 nearby asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars, using the three-telescopeInfrared Optical Telescope Array (IOTA) interferometer at near-infraredwavelengths (H band) and with angular resolutions in the range 5-10 mas.These nonzero closure phases can only be generated by asymmetricbrightness distributions of the target stars or their surroundings. Wediscuss how these results were obtained and how they might beinterpreted in terms of structures on or near the target stars. We alsoreport measured angular sizes and hypothesize that most Mira stars wouldshow detectable asymmetry if observed with adequate angular resolution.
| Ubernahme der AFOEV Daten in die Einzelbeobachtungsdatenbank der BAV.
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| Searches for OH masers in the circumstellar envelopes of red giant irregular variable stars
Irregular variables of type Lb share many characteristics withasymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars such as Miras and semiregulars(SRs). Despite their large number, irregulars are poorly understood.Using the large Nançay radio telescope, we searched for 18-cm OHmaser emission from these stars. We selected two samples of Lbs thatpresent a noticeable circumstellar envelope. In the first one, 44high-latitude objects with infrared colours of dusty mass-losing starswere observed in a wide-bandwidth velocity-search mode. In addition, 16objects (including six from the first sample), in which othercircumstellar molecular lines had recently been found, were observedwith higher resolution and sensitivity. We did not detect any new OHmaser emission from these samples down to 3σ sensitivity limitsranging from 30 to 200 mJy. We derived upper limits for the efficiencyof a typical pump using far-infrared photons. When compared with knownOH masers in AGB stars, we show that a significant gap is leftunexplored below the threshold that we determined for Lbs. Lowerefficiencies exist in some OH Miras and in the OH SRs. We cannot discardthe possibility of faint OH emission from certain Lbs, based on the sameprocesses as encountered in those sources. We briefly discuss physicalconditions allowing OH emission in the envelope, and the evolutionarystage of objects classified as Lb variables with respect to the AGB.
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| Fibonacci Sequences and the Multiperiodicity of the Variable Star UW Herculis
We present an application of the methods recently developed for thestudy of quasicrystal structures to the analysis of multiperiodicity ofsemiregular variables. A light curve analysis of UW Her showsfrequencies that can be included within the general schemecharacterizing the Fourier spectra of Fibonacci quasiperiodic sequences.The analysed data come from the BAA Variable Star Section computerisedarchive.
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| Technetium and the third dredge up in AGB stars. I. Field stars
We searched for Tc in a sample of long period variables selected bystellar luminosity derived from Hipparcos parallaxes. Tc, as an unstables-process element, is a good indicator for the evolutionary status ofstars on the asymptotic giant branch (AGB). In this paper we study theoccurrence of Tc as a function of luminosity to provide constraints onthe minimum luminosity for the third dredge up as estimated from recentstellar evolution models.A large number of AGB stars above the estimated theoretical limit forthe third dredge up are found not to show Tc. We confirm previousfindings that only a small fraction of the semiregular variables show Tclines in their spectra. Contrary to earlier results by Little et al.(\cite{llmb87}) we find also a significant number of Miras without Tc.The presence and absence of Tc is discussed in relation to the massdistribution of AGB stars. We find that a large fraction of the stars ofour sample must have current masses of less than 1.5 Msun .Combining our findings with stellar evolution scenarios we conclude thatthe fraction of time a star is observed as a SRV or a Mira is dependenton its mass.Partly based on observations collected at the European SouthernObservatory, Paranal, Chile (ESO-Programme 65.L-0317(A)).
| Reprocessing the Hipparcos data of evolved stars. III. Revised Hipparcos period-luminosity relationship for galactic long-period variable stars
We analyze the K band luminosities of a sample of galactic long-periodvariables using parallaxes measured by the Hipparcos mission. Theparallaxes are in most cases re-computed from the Hipparcos IntermediateAstrometric Data using improved astrometric fits and chromaticitycorrections. The K band magnitudes are taken from the literature andfrom measurements by COBE, and are corrected for interstellar andcircumstellar extinction. The sample contains stars of several spectraltypes: M, S and C, and of several variability classes: Mira, semiregularSRa, and SRb. We find that the distribution of stars in theperiod-luminosity plane is independent of circumstellar chemistry, butthat the different variability types have different P-L distributions.Both the Mira variables and the SRb variables have reasonablywell-defined period-luminosity relationships, but with very differentslopes. The SRa variables are distributed between the two classes,suggesting that they are a mixture of Miras and SRb, rather than aseparate class of stars. New period-luminosity relationships are derivedbased on our revised Hipparcos parallaxes. The Miras show a similarperiod-luminosity relationship to that found for Large Magellanic CloudMiras by Feast et al. (\cite{Feast-1989:a}). The maximum absolute Kmagnitude of the sample is about -8.2 for both Miras and semi-regularstars, only slightly fainter than the expected AGB limit. We show thatthe stars with the longest periods (P>400 d) have high mass lossrates and are almost all Mira variables.Based on observations from the Hipparcos astrometric satellite operatedby the European Space Agency (ESA \cite{Hipparcos}).Table \ref{Tab:data1} is only available in electronic form at the CDSvia anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/403/993
| How many Hipparcos Variability-Induced Movers are genuine binaries?
Hipparcos observations of some variable stars, and especially oflong-period (e.g. Mira) variables, reveal a motion of the photocentercorrelated with the brightness variation (variability-induced mover -VIM), suggesting the presence of a binary companion. A re-analysis ofthe Hipparcos photometric and astrometric data does not confirm the VIMsolution for 62 among the 288 VIM objects (21%) in the Hipparcoscatalogue. Most of these 288 VIMs are long-period (e.g. Mira) variables(LPV). The effect of a revised chromaticity correction, which accountsfor the color variations along the light cycle, was then investigated.It is based on ``instantaneous'' V-I color indices derived fromHipparcos and Tycho-2 epoch photometry. Among the 188 LPVs flagged asVIM in the Hipparcos catalogue, 89 (47%) are not confirmed as VIM afterthis improved chromaticity correction is applied. This dramatic decreasein the number of VIM solutions is not surprising, since the chromaticitycorrection applied by the Hipparcos reduction consortia was based on afixed V-I color. Astrophysical considerations lead us to adopt a morestringent criterion for accepting a VIM solution (first-kind risk of0.27% instead of 10% as in the Hipparcos catalogue). With this moresevere criterion, only 27 LPV stars remain VIM, thus rejecting 161 ofthe 188 (86%) of the LPVs defined as VIMs in the Hipparcos catalogue.Based on observations from the Hipparcos astrometric satellite operatedby the European Space Agency (ESA 1997).Table 1 is also available in electronic form at the CDS, via anonymousftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/399/1167
| Hipparcos red stars in the HpV_T2 and V I_C systems
For Hipparcos M, S, and C spectral type stars, we provide calibratedinstantaneous (epoch) Cousins V - I color indices using newly derivedHpV_T2 photometry. Three new sets of ground-based Cousins V I data havebeen obtained for more than 170 carbon and red M giants. These datasetsin combination with the published sources of V I photometry served toobtain the calibration curves linking Hipparcos/Tycho Hp-V_T2 with theCousins V - I index. In total, 321 carbon stars and 4464 M- and S-typestars have new V - I indices. The standard error of the mean V - I isabout 0.1 mag or better down to Hp~9 although it deteriorates rapidly atfainter magnitudes. These V - I indices can be used to verify thepublished Hipparcos V - I color indices. Thus, we have identified ahandful of new cases where, instead of the real target, a random fieldstar has been observed. A considerable fraction of the DMSA/C and DMSA/Vsolutions for red stars appear not to be warranted. Most likely suchspurious solutions may originate from usage of a heavily biased color inthe astrometric processing.Based on observations from the Hipparcos astrometric satellite operatedby the European Space Agency (ESA 1997).}\fnmsep\thanks{Table 7 is onlyavailable in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp tocdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/397/997
| The evolution of the Mira variable R Hydrae
The Mira variable R Hydrae is well known for its declining period, whichWood & Zarro attributed to a possible recent thermal pulse. Here weinvestigate the long-term period evolution, covering 340 years, goingback to its discovery in AD 1662. The data include photometricmonitoring by amateur and other astronomers over the last century, andrecorded dates of maximum for earlier times. Wavelets are used todetermine both the period and the semi-amplitude. We show that theperiod decreased linearly between 1770 and 1950; since 1950 the periodhas stabilized at 385d. The semi-amplitude is shown to follow the periodevolution closely. Analysis of the oldest data shows that before 1770the period was about 495d. We find no evidence for an increasing periodduring this time as found by Wood & Zarro. We discuss the mass-losshistory of R Hya: the IRAS data show that the mass loss droppeddramatically around AD 1750. The evolution of the mass loss as functionof period agrees with the mass-loss formalism from Vassiliadis &Wood; it is much larger than predicted by the Blöcker law. An outerdetached IRAS shell suggests that R Hya has experienced mass-lossinterruptions before. The period evolution can be explained by twomodels: a thermal pulse occurring around AD 1600, or a non-linearinstability leading to an internal relaxation of the stellar structure.The elapsed time between the mass-loss decline giving rise to the outerdetached shell and the recent event, of approximately 5000yr, suggeststhat only one of these events could be due to a thermal pulse. Furthermonitoring of R Hya is recommended, as both models make strongpredictions for the future period evolution. We argue that R Hya-typeevents could provide part of the explanation for the rings seen aroundsome asymptotic giant branch (AGB) and post-AGB stars. Changes in Miraproperties were already known on a cycle-to-cycle basis, and on thethermal pulse time-scale of ~104yr. R Hya shows thatsignificant evolution can also occur on intermediate time-scales of theorder of 102-103yr.
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| R Centauri: An Unusual Mira Variable in a He-Shell Flash
We present an analysis of AAVSO visual observations of the Mira variableR Cen from 1918 to 2000. The period of the dominant mode has beensteadily decreasing from 550 days at JD 2,434,000 (1951) to its presentvalue of 505-510 days. In the same interval, the pulsational amplitudehas decreased by 3 mag, from 5.5-11.8 V to 6.3-9.1 V. We suggest thatboth are caused by a He-shell flash, as the period decrease is similarto that of other He-shell flash stars such as R Hya, R Aql, and T UMi.The period change is consistent with the luminosity drop expectedimmediately after the flash, as predicted by He-shell flash models forstars of 2-3 Msolar or less. The light curve shows thefamiliar pattern of alternating deep and shallow minima, giving theappearance of double maxima. While the amplitude of the main mode hasdecreased 3 mag in the last 50 years, the amplitude of the secondarymode near 274 days has remained almost constant, so that the doublemaxima have nearly vanished from the light curve in recent years. Thepower spectrum between 1930 and 1966 shows harmonics up to 8 times themain frequency at 1/548 cycle day-1. The most likelyexplanation for the double-peaked light curve is a resonance between twomodes.
| ST Camelopardalis: A doubly periodic semiregular variable star
The BAAVSS data for the semiregular variable ST Camelopardalis isanalysed showing periods of 201.0 and 368.6 days (ratio of approximately1.8). This star was not previously known to be doubly periodic. Theamplitudes of the periods tend to vary inversely, the variate itselfhaving a period of about 2200 days. Pulsational mode switching isdiscussed as a possible mechanism for these effects.
| The periodicities of U Boötis
The BAA Variable Star Section (BAAVSS) computerised archive for theclass SRb semiregular variable U Boötis spans an interval of over80 years. Upon analysis the observations yield periods of 201.5 and100.35 days (in a ratio close to 2:1). Contrary to the existingliterature, the data do not imply that mode-switching is taking place.
| The Amplitude Decrease of V Bootis
We Explain the amplitude decrease in V Bootis by interference betweentwo close peiods. We also discuss V Bootis in comparison withtheoretical predictions and with other stars that have undergoneamplitude decrease.
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| Stars with the Largest Hipparcos Photometric Amplitudes
A list of the 2027 stars that have the largest photometric amplitudes inHipparcos Photometry shows that most variable stars are all Miras. Thepercentage of variable types change as a function of amplitude. Thiscompilation should also be of value to photometrists looking forrelatively unstudied, but large amplitude stars.
| Long period variable stars: galactic populations and infrared luminosity calibrations
In this paper HIPPARCOS astrometric and kinematic data are used tocalibrate both infrared luminosities and kinematical parameters of LongPeriod Variable stars (LPVs). Individual absolute K and IRAS 12 and 25luminosities of 800 LPVs are determined and made available in electronicform. The estimated mean kinematics is analyzed in terms of galacticpopulations. LPVs are found to belong to galactic populations rangingfrom the thin disk to the extended disk. An age range and a lower limitof the initial mass is given for stars of each population. A differenceof 1.3 mag in K for the upper limit of the Asymptotic Giant Branch isfound between the disk and old disk galactic populations, confirming itsdependence on the mass in the main sequence. LPVs with a thin envelopeare distinguished using the estimated mean IRAS luminosities. The levelof attraction (in the classification sense) of each group for the usualclassifying parameters of LPVs (variability and spectral types) isexamined. Table only available in electronic form at the CDS viaanonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/374/968 or via ASTRIDdatabase (http://astrid.graal.univ-montp2.fr).
| Mira kinematics from Hipparcos data: a Galactic bar to beyond the Solar circle
The space motions of Mira variables are derived from radial velocities,Hipparcos proper motions and a period-luminosity relation. Thepreviously known dependence of Mira kinematics on the period ofpulsation is confirmed and refined. In addition, it is found that Miraswith periods in the range 145-200d in the general Solar neighbourhoodhave a net radial outward motion from the Galactic Centre of75+/-18kms-1. This, together with a lag behind the circularvelocity of Galactic rotation of 98+/-19kms-1, is interpretedas evidence for an elongation of their orbits, with their major axesaligned at an angle of ~17° with the Sun-Galactic Centre line,towards positive Galactic longitudes. This concentration seems to be acontinuation to the Solar circle and beyond of the bar-like structure ofthe Galactic bulge, with the orbits of some local Miras probablypenetrating into the bulge. These conclusions are not sensitive to thedistance scale adopted. A further analysis is given of the short-period(SP) red group of Miras discussed in companion papers in this series. InAppendix A the mean radial velocities and other data for 842 oxygen-richMira-like variables are tabulated. These velocities were derived frompublished optical and radio observations.
| V Boötis, a semiregular variable of declining amplitude
The AMPSCAN procedure is used to investigate the declining amplitude ofthe semiregular variable star V Boötis, using data from the BAAVSSarchive.
| Processing of Amateur Observations of Mira-Type Stars from Large Databases: Problems and Results
The problems of finding light curve characteristics of long-periodvariables and methods of light curve fit are discussed. A new``asymptotic parabolae" method is proposed for this task. The catalogueof individual cycle characteristics of LPVs is compiled. The resultsconcerning long-term variability of these stars and their classificationare listed.
| Phase-dependent Spectroscopy of Mira Variable Stars
Spectroscopic measurements of Mira variable stars as a function of phaseprobe the stellar atmospheres and underlying pulsation mechanisms. Forexample, measuring variations in TiO, VO, and ZrO with phase can be usedto help determine whether these molecular species are produced in anextended region above the layers where Balmer line emission occurs orbelow this shocked region. Using the same methods, the Balmer lineincrement, where the strongest Balmer line at phase zero is Hδ andnot Hα, can be measured and explanations tested, along withanother peculiarity, the absence of the Hɛ line in the spectra ofMira variables when the other Balmer lines are strong. We present newspectra covering the spectral range from 6200 to 9000 Å of 20 Miravariables. A relationship between variations in the Ca II IR triplet andHα as a function of phase support the hypothesis that Hɛ'sobservational characteristics result from an interaction of Hɛphotons with the Ca II H line. New periods and epochs of variability arealso presented for each star.
| Multiperiodicity in semiregular variables. II. Systematic amplitude variations
We present a detailed lightcurve analysis for a sample of brightsemiregular variables based on long-term (70-90 years) visual magnitudeestimates carried out by amateur astronomers. Fundamental changes of thephysical state (amplitude and/or frequency modulations, mode change andswitching) are studied with the conventional Fourier and waveletanalysis. The light curve of the carbon Mira Y Per showing a gradualamplitude decrease has been re-analysed after collecting and addingcurrent data to earlier ones. The time scales of the sudden change andconvection are compared and their similar order of magnitude isinterpreted to be a possible hint for strong coupling between pulsationand convection. The periods of the biperiodic low-amplitude light curveand their ratios suggest a pulsation in the first and third overtonemodes. An alternative explanation of the observed behaviour could be aperiod halving due to the presence of weak chaos. Beside two examples ofrepetitive mode changes (AF Cyg and W Cyg) we report three stars withsignificant amplitude modulations (RY Leo, RX UMa and RY UMa). A simplegeometric model of a rotationally induced amplitude modulation in RY UMais outlined assuming low-order nonradial oscillation, while the observedbehaviour of RX UMa and RY Leo is explained as a beating of two closelyseparated modes of pulsation. This phenomenon is detected unambiguouslyin V CVn, too. The period ratios found in these stars (1.03-1.10)suggest either high-order overtone or radial+non-radial oscillation.
| Period-Luminosity-Colour distribution and classification of Galactic oxygen-rich LPVs. I. Luminosity calibrations
The absolute K magnitudes and kinematic parameters of about 350oxygen-rich Long-Period Variable stars are calibrated, by means of anup-to-date maximum-likelihood method, using Hipparcos parallaxes andproper motions together with radial velocities and, as additional data,periods and V-K colour indices. Four groups, differing by theirkinematics and mean magnitudes, are found. For each of them, we alsoobtain the distributions of magnitude, period and de-reddened colour ofthe base population, as well as de-biased period-luminosity-colourrelations and their two-dimensional projections. The SRa semiregulars donot seem to constitute a separate class of LPVs. The SRb appear tobelong to two populations of different ages. In a PL diagram, theyconstitute two evolutionary sequences towards the Mira stage. The Mirasof the disk appear to pulsate on a lower-order mode. The slopes of theirde-biased PL and PC relations are found to be very different from theones of the Oxygen Miras of the LMC. This suggests that a significantnumber of so-called Miras of the LMC are misclassified. This alsosuggests that the Miras of the LMC do not constitute a homogeneousgroup, but include a significant proportion of metal-deficient stars,suggesting a relatively smooth star formation history. As a consequence,one may not trivially transpose the LMC period-luminosity relation fromone galaxy to the other Based on data from the Hipparcos astrometrysatellite. Appendix B is only available in electronic form at the CDSvia anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html
| A search for Technetium in semiregular variables
We searched for the lines of Tc in the spectra of Semiregular variables(SRVs) in the wavelength region from 4180 to 4300 Å using highresolution spectroscopy. Tc as an s-process element is produced on thethermally pulsing AGB and is therefore a good indicator for theevolutionary status of Semiregular variables. Combining our results withprevious investigations we get a database large enough for a statisticalstudy. Tc is not found in SRVs with periods below 100 days, spectraltypes earlier than M5 and photospheric IRAS colours. These objects are`blue' SRVs in the classification system of Kerschbaum & Hron(\cite{KH94}). Among the `red' SRVs (periods longer than 100 days) thefraction of stars showing Tc in their spectra is about 15 % with aprobably lower fraction among the stars with periods above 150 days.This is significantly lower than for the typical Miras. Taking intoaccount the probable conditions for the occurence of the third dredge-upand the expected behavior of the Tc abundance along an evolutionarytrack on the AGB, our results support an evolutionary scenario from`blue' SRVs (early AGB) to `red' SRVs (early TP-AGB) and on to longperiod Miras. Only the most massive (masses above 2M_ȯ) stars showTc during the SRV stage. The luminosities of the Tc-rich SRVs and Mirasare compatible with theoretical estimates of the minimum core massrequired for the third dredge-up. Based on observations collected at theEuropean Southern Observatory, La Silla, Chile (ESO No.54.E-0350), theGerman Spanish Astronomical Centre, Calar Alto, operated by theMax-Planck-Institute for Astronomy, Heidelberg, jointly with the SpanishNational Commission for Astronomy, and Kitt Peak National Observatory,USA.
| Multiperiodicity in semiregular variables. I. General properties
We present a detailed period analysis for 93 red semiregular variablesby means of Fourier and wavelet analyses of long-term visualobservations carried out by amateur astronomers. The results of thisanalysis yield insights into the mode structure of semiregular variablesand help to clarify the relationship between them and Mira variables.After collecting all available data from various international databases(AFOEV, VSOLJ, HAA/VSS and AAVSO) we test the accuracy and reliabilityof data. We compare the averaged and noise-filtered visual light curveswith simultaneous photoelectric V-measurements, the effect of the lengthversus the relatively low signal-to-noise ratio is illustrated by periodanalysis of artificial data, while binning effects are tested bycomparing results of frequency analyses of the unbinned and averagedlight curves. The overwhelming majority of the stars studied showmultiperiodic behaviour. We found two significant periods in 44variables, while there are definite signs of three periods in 12 stars.29 stars turned out to be monoperiodic with small instabilities in theperiod. Since this study deals with the general trends, we wanted tofind only the most dominant periods. The distribution of periods andperiod ratios is examined through the use of the (log P_0, log P_1) and(log P_1, log P_0/P_1) plots. Three significant and two less obvioussequences are present which could be explained as the direct consequenceof different pulsational modes. This hypothesis is supported by theresults for multiperiodic variables with three periods. Finally, thesespace methods are illustrated by several interesting case studies thatshow the best examples of different special phenomena such as long-termamplitude modulation, amplitude decrease and mode switching.
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Observation and Astrometry data
| Constellation: | Bärenhüter |
| Right ascension: | 14h29m45.27s |
| Declination: | +38°51'40.7" |
| Apparent magnitude: | 8.475 |
| Distance: | 246.305 parsecs |
| Proper motion RA: | 13.9 |
| Proper motion Dec: | -16.5 |
| B-T magnitude: | 10.1 |
| V-T magnitude: | 8.61 |
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