B Star Rotational Velocities in h and χ Persei: A Probe of Initial Conditions during the Star Formation Epoch?
Projected rotational velocities (vsini) have been measured for 216 B0-B9stars in the rich, dense h and χ Persei double cluster and comparedwith the distribution of rotational velocities for a sample of fieldstars having comparable ages (t~12-15 Myr) and masses (M~4-15Msolar). For stars that are relatively little evolved fromtheir initial locations on the zero-age main sequence (ZAMS) (those withmasses M~4-5 Msolar), the mean vsini measured for the h andχ Per sample is slightly more than 2 times larger than the meandetermined for field stars of comparable mass, and the cluster and fieldvsini distributions differ with a high degree of significance. Forsomewhat more evolved stars with masses in the range 5-9Msolar, the mean vsini in h and χ Per is 1.5 times thatof the field; the vsini distributions differ as well, but with a lowerdegree of statistical significance. For stars that have evolvedsignificantly from the ZAMS and are approaching the hydrogen exhaustionphase (those with masses in the range 9-15 Msolar), thecluster and field star means and distributions are only slightlydifferent. We argue that both the higher rotation rates and the patternof rotation speeds as a function of mass that differentiatemain-sequence B stars in h and χ Per from their field analogs werelikely imprinted during the star formation process rather than a resultof angular momentum evolution over the 12-15 Myr cluster lifetime. Wespeculate that these differences may reflect the effects of the higheraccretion rates that theory suggests are characteristic of regions thatgive birth to dense clusters, namely, (1) higher initial rotationspeeds; (2) higher initial radii along the stellar birth line, resultingin greater spin-up between the birth line and the ZAMS; and (3) a morepronounced maximum in the birth line radius-mass relationship thatresults in differentially greater spin-up for stars that become mid- tolate-B stars on the ZAMS.
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Quantitative Stellar Spectral Classification. II. Early Type Stars
The method developed by Stock & Stock (1999) for stars of spectraltypes A to K to derive absolute magnitudes and intrinsic colors from theequivalent widths of absorption lines in stellar spectra is extended toB-type stars. Spectra of this type of stars for which the Hipparcoscatalogue gives parallaxes with an error of less than 20% were observedwith the CIDA one-meter reflector equipped with a Richardsonspectrograph with a Thompson 576×384 CCD detector. The dispersionis 1.753 Å/pixel using a 600 lines/mm grating in the first order.In order to cover the spectral range 3850 Å to 5750 Å thegrating had to be used in two different positions, with an overlap inthe region from 4800 Å to 4900 Å . A total of 116 stars wasobserved, but not all with both grating positions. A total of 12measurable absorption lines were identified in the spectra and theirequivalent widths were measured. These were related to the absolutemagnitudes derived from the Hipparcos catalogue and to the intrinsiccolors (deduced from the MK spectral types) using linear and secondorder polynomials and two or three lines as independent variables. Thebest solutions were obtained with polynomials of three lines,reproducing the absolute magnitudes with an average residual of about0.40 magnitudes and the intrinsic colors with an average residual of0.016 magnitudes.
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Rotational Velocities of B Stars
We measured the projected rotational velocities of 1092 northern B starslisted in the Bright Star Catalogue (BSC) and calibrated them againstthe 1975 Slettebak et al. system. We found that the published values ofB dwarfs in the BSC average 27% higher than those standards. Only 0.3%of the stars have rotational velocities in excess of two-thirds of thebreakup velocities, and the mean velocity is only 25% of breakup,implying that impending breakup is not a significant factor in reducingrotational velocities. For the B8-B9.5 III-V stars the bimodaldistribution in V can be explained by a set of slowly rotating Ap starsand a set of rapidly rotating normal stars. For the B0-B5 III-V starsthat include very few peculiar stars, the distributions in V are notbimodal. Are the low rotational velocities of B stars due to theoccurrence of frequent low-mass companions, planets, or disks? Therotational velocities of giants originating from late B dwarfs areconsistent with their conservation of angular momentum in shells.However, we are puzzled by why the giants that originate from the earlyB dwarfs, despite having 3 times greater radii, have nearly the samerotational velocities. We find that all B-type primaries in binarieswith periods less than 2.4 days have synchronized rotational and orbitalmotions; those with periods between 2.4 and 5.0 days are rotating withina factor 2 of synchronization or are ``nearly synchronized.'' Thecorresponding period ranges for A-type stars are 4.9 and 10.5 days, ortwice as large. We found that the rotational velocities of the primariesare synchronized earlier than their orbits are circularized. The maximumorbital period for circularized B binaries is 1.5 days and for Abinaries is 2.5 days. For stars of various ages from 107.5 to1010.2 yr the maximum circularized periods are a smoothexponential function of age.
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A Search for High-Velocity Be Stars
We present an analysis of the kinematics of Be stars based uponHipparcos proper motions and published radial velocities. We findapproximately 23 of the 344 stars in our sample have peculiar spacemotions greater than 40 km s-1 and up to 102 kms-1. We argue that these high-velocity stars are the resultof either a supernova that disrupted a binary or ejection by closeencounters of binaries in young clusters. Be stars spun up by binarymass transfer will appear as high-velocity objects if there wassignificant mass loss during the supernova explosion of the initiallymore massive star, but the generally moderate peculiar velocities of BeX-ray binaries indicate that the progenitors lose most of their massprior to the supernova (in accordance with model predictions). Binaryformation models for Be stars predict that most systems bypass thesupernova stage (and do not receive runaway velocities) to createultimately Be+white dwarf binaries. The fraction of Be stars spun up bybinary mass transfer remains unknown, since the post-mass transfercompanions are difficult to detect.
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Statistical analysis of intrinsic polarization, IR excess and projected rotational velocity distributions of classical Be stars
We present the results of statistical analyses of a sample of 627 Bestars. The parameters of intrinsic polarization (p*),projected rotational velocity (v sin i), and near IR excesses have beeninvestigated. The values of p* have been estimated for a muchlarger and more representative sample of Be stars (~490 objects) thanpreviously. We have confirmed that most Be stars of early spectral typehave statistically larger values of polarization and IR excesses incomparison with the late spectral type stars. It is found that thedistributions of p* diverge considerably for the differentspectral subgroups. In contrast to late spectral types (B5-B9.5), thedistribution of p* for B0-B2 stars does not peak at the valuep*=0%. Statistically significant differences in the meanprojected rotational velocities (/line{vsin i}) are found for differentspectral subgroups of Be stars in the sense that late spectral typestars (V luminosity class) generally rotate faster than early types, inagreement with previously published results. This behaviour is, however,not obvious for the III-IV luminosity class stars. Nevertheless, thecalculated values of the ratio vt/vc of the truerotational velocity, vt, to the critical velocity forbreak-up, vc, is larger for late spectral type stars of allluminosity classes. Thus, late spectral type stars appear to rotatecloser to their break-up rotational velocity. The distribution of nearIR excesses for early spectral subgroups is bi-modal, the position ofthe second peak displaying a maximum value E(V-L)~ 1 . m 3for O-B1.5 stars, decreasing to E(V-L)~0. m8 for intermediatespectral types (B3-B5). It is shown that bi-modality disappears for latespectral types (B6-B9.5). No correlations were found betweenp* and near IR excesses and between E(V-L) and vsin i for thedifferent subgroups of Be stars. In contrast to near IR excesses, arelation between p* and far IR excesses at 12 mu m is clearlyseen. A clear relation between p* and vsin i (as well asbetween p* and /line{vsin i}/vc) is found by thefact that plots of these parameters are bounded by a ``triangular"distribution of p*: vsin i, with a decrease of p*towards very small and very large vsin i (and /line{vsini}/vc) values. The latter behaviour can be understood in thecontext of a larger oblateness of circumstellar disks for the stars witha rapid rotation. From the analysis of correlations between differentobservational parameters we conclude that circumstellar envelopes forthe majority of Be stars are optically thin disks with the range of thehalf-opening angle of 10degr
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Hα observations of Be stars
We present here the Hα spectra of 44 Be stars taken at aresolution of 0.5 Å. From the spectra, different emission lineparameters have been deduced. A study of the correlations betweendifferent pairs of these parameters has been made with a view tounderstanding the mechanisms of line formation and shaping in Be stars.
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ICCD Speckle Observations of Binary Stars.XVIII.An Investigation of Be =
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1997AJ....114.2112M&db_key=AST
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Rotational Velocity Determinations for 164 Be and B Stars
Rotational velocities, v sin i, have been obtained for 96 Be and 68normal B stars by measurements of the FWHM of the He I lambda-4471 line(for spectral types B0-B4.5) and Mg II lambda-4481 (for types B5-B9.5).The consistency of various published sources is examined. (SECTION:Stars)
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The ROSAT all-sky survey catalogue of optically bright OB-type stars.
For the detailed statistical analysis of the X-ray emission of hot starswe selected all stars of spectral type O and B listed in the Yale BrightStar Catalogue and searched for them in the ROSAT All-Sky Survey. Inthis paper we describe the selection and preparation of the data andpresent a compilation of the derived X-ray data for a complete sample ofbright OB stars.
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Tests of the Pulsation and Starspot Models for the Periodic Be-Stars
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1995MNRAS.277.1547B&db_key=AST
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Vitesses radiales. Catalogue WEB: Wilson Evans Batten. Subtittle: Radial velocities: The Wilson-Evans-Batten catalogue.
We give a common version of the two catalogues of Mean Radial Velocitiesby Wilson (1963) and Evans (1978) to which we have added the catalogueof spectroscopic binary systems (Batten et al. 1989). For each star,when possible, we give: 1) an acronym to enter SIMBAD (Set ofIdentifications Measurements and Bibliography for Astronomical Data) ofthe CDS (Centre de Donnees Astronomiques de Strasbourg). 2) the numberHIC of the HIPPARCOS catalogue (Turon 1992). 3) the CCDM number(Catalogue des Composantes des etoiles Doubles et Multiples) byDommanget & Nys (1994). For the cluster stars, a precise study hasbeen done, on the identificator numbers. Numerous remarks point out theproblems we have had to deal with.
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Binary Be-Stars and Be-Binaries
Not Available
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Intensive photometry of southern Be variables. II - Summer objects
Results are presented of photometric campaign on some bright southern Bestars to search for periodic light variations. In order to obtain goodphase coverage, many observations were conducted from two sites withdifferent longitudes: ESO and SAAO. A large fraction of early-Be starsare found to be variable with periods close to or equal to theirrotational periods. Particular attention is devoted to the late-Bestars. Unlike the hotter members of this class, the late-Be stars do notseem to have detectable periodic light variations except for one or twostars of very small amplitude.
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A search for rapid photometric variations in southern Be and BN stars
Fifteen Be, 5 Bn, and 1 B stars were monitored during 10 nights inMarch-April 1988 by means of photoelectric ubvy photometry. At least 80percent of the Be stars were found variable. Tentative periods between0.3 and 4.3 days were derived for 13 stars of this entire sample. In allcases, the stars are bluest when brightest. Variations in B0-B5e starsare, in average, of larger amplitude than in B5-B9e stars. Bn starsshow, in general, variations of smaller amplitude than Be stars. Theseresults are discussed in terms of the current models on short-termphotometric variability. In addition, from the observed perioddistribution the existence of intrinsically slow Be rotators arededuced. The rotation of slightly displaced poles of a weak globaldipolar magnetic field is proposed as being responsible for the rapidperiodic light variations.
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Near-IR observations of 101 Be stars
Observations of 101 Be stars taken over a two year period in the near-IRbetween 1 and 5 microns are presented and discussed. The near-IR colorexcess of all program stars is derived, and found to increase withwavelength for all these stars. The fraction of stars with color excessdoubles between 1.25 and 3.6 microns. There appears to be an upper limitto the magnitude of the color excess as a function of stellar type, withearly-type stars having a higher upper limit than later spectral types.No correlation of the presence or magnitude of color excess withprojected rotational velocity is evident. The spectral index of theexcess emission spectra is calculated for stars having color excess. Onaverage, the spectral index through the near-IR and far-IR IRASwavelength regimes is constant. There is evidence that some stars haveexcess emission with spectral index values outside the range expectedfor free-free and bound-free emission. This is attributed to either dustemission or the effect of absorption of photospheric emission by coolcircumstellar material along the line of sight to the star.
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Effects of stellar rotation on the Geneva photometric system
The effects of stellar rotation on colors and parameters of the Genevaphotometric system are considered, using homogeneous material. Attentionis focused on these parameters useful for deriving physical propertiesof B- and A-type stars. Two major photometric planes in this respect,the (X, Y) plane and the (d, Delta) plane, are not discernibly affectedby rotation. The temperature parameter, B(2) - V(1) is reddened byrotation to an extent that is in agreement with model calculations foruniformly rotating stars.
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Spectroscopy of southern Be stars 1984-1987
The 93-cm Manuel Foster Observatory telescope in Chile has been used toobtain 919 spectrograms of 85 southern Be III-V stars. Balmeremission-lines (mainly H-beta) were noted in 74 percent of the stars,and Fe-II emission in 48 percent of them. Variations noted include rapidV/R variations of HR 1956, a primary shell phase of HR 2142, a shellphase of HR 2356, a transitory emission state of HR 2745, and thedisappearance of the H-beta emission of HR 5193.
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A photometric survey of the bright southern Be stars
Repeated UBV photometric measurements were made of the 86 bright Bestars south of declination -20 deg, and a network of comparison starswas set up. From a statistical study of the differential photometry itwas found that short- or intermediate-term variability seems to beoccurring in about half of the Be stars, and to be more evident in thestars of earlier spectral type. It was also possible to identify 11individual short- or intermediate-term variables. Four of these (all ofearly B spectral type) appear to exhibit significant variability on atime-scale of a day or less. More intensive observations of one of thesestars, 28 Omega CMA, indicate short-term variations consistent with thepublished spectroscopic period of 1.37 day.
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Variable Nature of Be Stars
Not Available
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A study of visual double stars with early type primaries. IV Astrophysical data
Astrophysical parameters (MK class, color excess, absolute magnitude,distance, effective temperature, mass, and age) are derived fromcalibrations of the uvby-beta indices for the members of 253 doublestars with O or B type primaries and faint secondaries. The photometricspectral classification is compared to the MK classes, and the agreementis very good. The derived data together with spectroscopic and JHKL dataare used for deciding which pairs are likely to be physical and whichare optical, and it is shown that 98 (34 percent) of the secondaries arelikely to be members of physical systems. For 90 percent of the physicalpairs the projected separation between the components is less than25,000 AU. A majority of the physical secondaries are late-type stars,and 50 percent of them are contracting towards the zero-agemain-sequence. Also presented are new uvby-beta data for 43 secondariesand a computer program for determining astrophysical parameters fromuvby-beta data.
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The local system of early type stars - Spatial extent and kinematics
Published uvby and H-beta photometric data and proper motions arecompiled and analyzed to characterize the structure and kinematics ofthe bright early-type O-A0 stars in the solar vicinity, with a focus onthe Gould belt. The selection and calibration techniques are explained,and the data are presented in extensive tables and graphs and discussedin detail. The Gould belt stars of age less than 20 Myr are shown togive belt inclination 19 deg to the Galactic plane and node-lineorientation in the direction of Galactic rotation, while the symmetricaldistribution about the Galactic plane and kinematic properties (purecircular differential rotation) of the belt stars over 60 Myr oldresemble those of fainter nonbelt stars of all ages. The unresolveddiscrepancy between the expansion observed in the youngest nearby starsand the predictions of simple models of expansion from a point isattributed to the inhomogeneous distribution of interstellar matter.
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The galactic reddening law - The evidence from uvby-beta photometry of B stars
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1985A&A...142..189T&db_key=AST
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A study of visual double stars with early type primaries. II - Photometric results
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1983A&AS...51..161L&db_key=AST
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A study of visual double stars with early type primaries. I - Spectroscopic results
Attention is given to spectral peculiarities found in data on thespectral classes of 486 stars in 254 visual doublet or multiplet systemswith O or B type primaries, in order to isolate a group of very youngstars that may serve for the study of early stellar evolutioncharacteristics. It is noted that the material contains a substantialfraction of secondaries that are likely to be physical, and that severalof these may be in the premain-sequence phase of stellar evolution, orhave reached the zero-age main sequence.
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Spectral types and rotational velocities of the brighter Be stars and A-F type shell stars
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1982ApJS...50...55S&db_key=AST
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Geneva photometric boxes. II - The reddening towards the galactic poles
It is noted that photometric boxes allow a very accurate estimation ofindividual reddenings for B- and early A-type stars. A catalog of 129stars with galactic latitudes higher than 30 deg is given. A small butsignificant reddening is seen in the direction of both the northern andsouthern galactic poles: E(B-V) approximately 0.04.
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Narrow-band photometry of bright Be stars
Narrow-band photometry centered at the H-alpha and H-beta Balmer linesis used to separate emission from nonemission stars in a sample ofearly-type stars, and to examine possible variations in the hydrogenemission-line strengths of some bright Be stars. In the sample of 36bright early-type stars having previously shown Balmer emission lines,five are found to satisfy a relation between the alpha and beta indicesin the Porto Alegre and Crawford and Mander systems, respectively,characteristic of normal B stars, indicating a lack of emission, atleast at the time of the present observations. The nonemission status ofthese stars is also confirmed by the variation of their Balmer decrementwith alpha index. Comparison of the present alpha indices of 26 programstars with those recorded eight years previously by Feinstein (1974)reveal variations greater than 0.05 in the alpha indices, very likelydue to changes in emission line strength.
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Intrinsic polarization of Be stars
Intermediate-band linear-polarization observations of 70 Be stars arepresented. The intrinsic polarization and the interstellar polarizationof these stars are determined. About half the stars observed have someintrinsic polarization. For about 25% of the sample the intrinsicpolarization may be determined with reasonable accuracy from theavailable data; for another 25% of the sample intrinsic polarizationseems to be present, but its magnitude is uncertain. The intrinsicpolarization of Be stars is found to decrease abruptly across the Balmerseries limit, in agreement with theoretical expectations, and a smallerdecrease across the Paschen series limit is also found. The slope in thePaschen continuum polarization is found to vary from star to star,possibly indicating differences in envelope density or temperature.Time-variable polarization is seen in many Be stars, and in one case(Omicron And) the change in polarization appears to be correlated withspectroscopic changes.
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Spectral classification from the ultraviolet line features of S2/68 spectra. II - Late B-type stars
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1977A&AS...30...71C&db_key=AST
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Near infrared magnitudes of 248 early-type emission-line stars and related objects.
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1973MNRAS.161..145A&db_key=AST
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