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Proper-motion binaries in the Hipparcos catalogue. Comparison with radial velocity data
Context: .This paper is the last in a series devoted to the analysis ofthe binary content of the Hipparcos Catalogue. Aims: .Thecomparison of the proper motions constructed from positions spanning ashort (Hipparcos) or long time (Tycho-2) makes it possible to uncoverbinaries with periods of the order of or somewhat larger than the shorttime span (in this case, the 3 yr duration of the Hipparcos mission),since the unrecognised orbital motion will then add to the propermotion. Methods: .A list of candidate proper motion binaries isconstructed from a carefully designed χ2 test evaluatingthe statistical significance of the difference between the Tycho-2 andHipparcos proper motions for 103 134 stars in common between the twocatalogues (excluding components of visual systems). Since similar listsof proper-motion binaries have already been constructed, the presentpaper focuses on the evaluation of the detection efficiency ofproper-motion binaries, using different kinds of control data (mostlyradial velocities). The detection rate for entries from the NinthCatalogue of Spectroscopic Binary Orbits (S_B^9) is evaluated, as wellas for stars like barium stars, which are known to be all binaries, andfinally for spectroscopic binaries identified from radial velocity datain the Geneva-Copenhagen survey of F and G dwarfs in the solarneighbourhood. Results: .Proper motion binaries are efficientlydetected for systems with parallaxes in excess of ~20 mas, and periodsin the range 1000-30 000 d. The shortest periods in this range(1000-2000 d, i.e., once to twice the duration of the Hipparcos mission)may appear only as DMSA/G binaries (accelerated proper motion in theHipparcos Double and Multiple System Annex). Proper motion binariesdetected among S_B9 systems having periods shorter than about400 d hint at triple systems, the proper-motion binary involving acomponent with a longer orbital period. A list of 19 candidate triplesystems is provided. Binaries suspected of having low-mass(brown-dwarf-like) companions are listed as well. Among the 37 bariumstars with parallaxes larger than 5 mas, only 7 exhibit no evidence forduplicity whatsoever (be it spectroscopic or astrometric). Finally, thefraction of proper-motion binaries shows no significant variation amongthe various (regular) spectral classes, when due account is taken forthe detection biases.Full Table [see full textsee full text] is only available in electronicform at the CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5)or via http://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/464/377
| HD 131861, a Double-Line Spectroscopic Triple System
Our red-wavelength spectroscopic observations of HD 131861, a previouslyknown single-line multiple system, span 20 years. Now lines of twocomponents, the short-period F5 V primary and G8 V secondary, have beendetected. The inner orbit is circular with a period of 3.5507439 days,while the outer orbit of the system has a period of 1642 days or 4.496yr and a relatively low eccentricity of 0.10. Analysis of the Hipparcosdata produces a well-determined astrometric orbit for the long-periodsystem that has an inclination of 52°. Our photometric observationsshow shallow primary and secondary eclipses of the short-period pair,and eclipse solutions result in an inclination of 81°. Thus, thelong- and short-period orbits are not coplanar. The mass of the unseenthird component is 0.7 Msolar, corresponding to a mid-Kdwarf. The total mass of the system, 3.08 Msolar, leads to asemimajor axis of 4 AU for the outer orbit. The F5 V primary is rotatingmore slowly than it would if it were synchronously rotating, while theG8 V secondary may be synchronously rotating. The lithium abundance ofthe F5 V primary is similar to the initial lithium abundance found forPopulation I dwarfs and so indicates no significant dilution.
| Unconstrained Astrometric Orbits for Hipparcos Stars with Stochastic Solutions
A considerable number of astrometric binaries whose positions on the skydo not obey the standard model of mean position, parallax, and linearproper motion were observed by the Hipparcos satellite. Some of themremain undiscovered, and their observational data have not been properlyprocessed with the more adequate astrometric model that includesnonlinear orbital motion. We develop an automated algorithm, based on``genetic optimization,'' to solve the orbital fitting problem in themost difficult setup, when no prior information about the orbitalelements is available (from, e.g., spectroscopic data or radial velocitymonitoring). We also offer a technique to accurately compute theprobability that an orbital fit is bogus, that is, that an orbitalsolution is obtained for a single star, and to estimate the probabilitydistributions for the fitting orbital parameters. We test this method onHipparcos stars with known orbital solutions in the catalog and furtherapply it to 1561 stars with stochastic solutions, which may beunresolved binaries. At a confidence level of 99%, orbital fits areobtained for 65 stars, most of which have not been known as binary. Itis found that reliable astrometric fits can be obtained even if theperiod is somewhat longer than the time span of the Hipparcos mission,that is, if the orbit is not closed. A few of the new probable binarieswith A-type primaries with periods 444-2015 days are chemically peculiarstars, including Ap and λ Bootis types. The anomalous spectra ofthese stars are explained by admixtures of light from the unresolved,sufficiently bright and massive companions. We estimate the apparentorbits of four stars that have been identified as members of the ~300Myr old Ursa Major kinematic group. Another four new nearby binaries mayinclude low-mass M-type or brown dwarf companions. Follow-upspectroscopic observations in conjunction with more accurate inclinationestimates will lead to better estimates of the secondary mass. Similarastrometric models and algorithms can be used for binary stars andplanet hosts observed by SIM and Gaia.
| Tertiary companions to close spectroscopic binaries
We have surveyed a sample of 165 solar-type spectroscopic binaries (SB)with periods from 1 to 30 days for higher-order multiplicity. Asubsample of 62 targets were observed with the NACO adaptive opticssystem and 13 new physical tertiary companions were detected. Anadditional 12 new wide companions (5 still tentative) were found usingthe 2MASS all-sky survey. The binaries belong to 161 stellar systems; ofthese 64 are triple, 11 quadruple and 7 quintuple. After correction forincompleteness, the fraction of SBs with additional companions is foundto be 63% ± 5%. We find that this fraction is a strong functionof the SB period P, reaching 96% for P<3d and dropping to34% for P>12^d. Period distributions of SBs with and withouttertiaries are significantly different, but their mass ratiodistributions are identical. The statistical data on the multiplicity ofclose SBs presented in this paper indicates that the periods and massratios of SBs were established very early, but the periods of SB systemswith triples were further shortened by angular momentum exchange withcompanions.
| Statistical Constraints for Astrometric Binaries with Nonlinear Motion
Useful constraints on the orbits and mass ratios of astrometric binariesin the Hipparcos catalog are derived from the measured proper motiondifferences of Hipparcos and Tycho-2 (Δμ), accelerations ofproper motions (μ˙), and second derivatives of proper motions(μ̈). It is shown how, in some cases, statistical bounds can beestimated for the masses of the secondary components. Two catalogs ofastrometric binaries are generated, one of binaries with significantproper motion differences and the other of binaries with significantaccelerations of their proper motions. Mathematical relations betweenthe astrometric observables Δμ, μ˙, and μ̈ andthe orbital elements are derived in the appendices. We find a remarkabledifference between the distribution of spectral types of stars withlarge accelerations but small proper motion differences and that ofstars with large proper motion differences but insignificantaccelerations. The spectral type distribution for the former sample ofbinaries is the same as the general distribution of all stars in theHipparcos catalog, whereas the latter sample is clearly dominated bysolar-type stars, with an obvious dearth of blue stars. We point outthat the latter set includes mostly binaries with long periods (longerthan about 6 yr).
| HD 166181 = V815 Herculis, a Single-lined Spectroscopic Multiple System
We have obtained extensive spectroscopic and velocity spectrometerobservations of HD 166181, a previously known single-lined spectroscopicbinary. Our improved orbit for the G6 V primary has a period of1.8098343 days and is circular. Although the lines of additionalcomponents have not been detected, radial velocity measurements confirmthat the system has additional velocity variations with a period of 2092days, or 5.73 yr. This long-period orbit has an eccentricity of 0.76. Ananalysis of the Hipparcos observations produces a well-determinedastrometric orbit for the long-period system that has an inclination of78°. Mass estimates of the components in this zero-age main-sequencemultiple system indicate that the unseen secondary in the 5.73 yr orbitmay also be a binary. Thus, HD 166181 is at least a triple system andpossibly quadruple.
| Increased Multiplicity of 77 Cygni, V815 Herculis, and HD 140122
High-dispersion spectroscopic observations of 77 Cygni, V815 Herculis,and HD 140122 have resulted in the detection of at least one additionalcomponent in each system. The newly identified component of 77 Cyg has aperiod of 35.48 days. V815 Her is a triple system with periods of 1.810and 2300 days or 6.3 yr. The two visual binary components of HD 140122are short-period spectroscopic binaries with periods of 10.879 and15.770 days.
| The Geneva-Copenhagen survey of the Solar neighbourhood. Ages, metallicities, and kinematic properties of 14 000 F and G dwarfs
We present and discuss new determinations of metallicity, rotation, age,kinematics, and Galactic orbits for a complete, magnitude-limited, andkinematically unbiased sample of 16 682 nearby F and G dwarf stars. Our63 000 new, accurate radial-velocity observations for nearly 13 500stars allow identification of most of the binary stars in the sampleand, together with published uvbyβ photometry, Hipparcosparallaxes, Tycho-2 proper motions, and a few earlier radial velocities,complete the kinematic information for 14 139 stars. These high-qualityvelocity data are supplemented by effective temperatures andmetallicities newly derived from recent and/or revised calibrations. Theremaining stars either lack Hipparcos data or have fast rotation. Amajor effort has been devoted to the determination of new isochrone agesfor all stars for which this is possible. Particular attention has beengiven to a realistic treatment of statistical biases and errorestimates, as standard techniques tend to underestimate these effectsand introduce spurious features in the age distributions. Our ages agreewell with those by Edvardsson et al. (\cite{edv93}), despite severalastrophysical and computational improvements since then. We demonstrate,however, how strong observational and theoretical biases cause thedistribution of the observed ages to be very different from that of thetrue age distribution of the sample. Among the many basic relations ofthe Galactic disk that can be reinvestigated from the data presentedhere, we revisit the metallicity distribution of the G dwarfs and theage-metallicity, age-velocity, and metallicity-velocity relations of theSolar neighbourhood. Our first results confirm the lack of metal-poor Gdwarfs relative to closed-box model predictions (the ``G dwarfproblem''), the existence of radial metallicity gradients in the disk,the small change in mean metallicity of the thin disk since itsformation and the substantial scatter in metallicity at all ages, andthe continuing kinematic heating of the thin disk with an efficiencyconsistent with that expected for a combination of spiral arms and giantmolecular clouds. Distinct features in the distribution of the Vcomponent of the space motion are extended in age and metallicity,corresponding to the effects of stochastic spiral waves rather thanclassical moving groups, and may complicate the identification ofthick-disk stars from kinematic criteria. More advanced analyses of thisrich material will require careful simulations of the selection criteriafor the sample and the distribution of observational errors.Based on observations made with the Danish 1.5-m telescope at ESO, LaSilla, Chile, and with the Swiss 1-m telescope at Observatoire deHaute-Provence, France.Complete Tables 1 and 2 are 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/418/989
| Kinematics of chromospherically active binaries and evidence of an orbital period decrease in binary evolution
The kinematics of 237 chromospherically active binaries (CABs) werestudied. The sample is heterogeneous with different orbits andphysically different components from F to M spectral-type main-sequencestars to G and K giants and supergiants. The computed U, V, W spacevelocities indicate that the sample is also heterogeneous in velocityspace. That is, both kinematically younger and older systems exist amongthe non-evolved main sequence and the evolved binaries containing giantsand subgiants. The kinematically young (0.95 Gyr) subsample (N= 95),which is formed according to the kinematical criteria of moving groups,was compared with the rest (N= 142) of the sample (3.86 Gyr) toinvestigate any observational clues of binary evolution. Comparing theorbital period histograms between the younger and older subsamples,evidence was found supporting the finding of Demircan that the CABs losemass (and angular momentum) and evolve towards shorter orbital periods.The evidence of mass loss is noticeable on the histograms of the totalmass (Mh+Mc), which is compared between theyounger (only N= 53 systems available) and older subsamples (only N= 66systems available). The orbital period decrease during binary evolutionis found to be clearly indicated by the kinematical ages of 6.69, 5.19and 3.02 Gyr which were found in the subsamples according to the periodranges of logP<= 0.8, 0.8 < logP<= 1.7 and 1.7 < logP<=3, respectively, among the binaries in the older subsample.
| The 100 Brightest X-Ray Stars within 50 Parsecs of the Sun
Based on the Hipparcos and Tycho-2 astrometric catalogs and the ROSATsurveys, a sample of 100 stars most luminous in X-rays within or arounda distance of 50 pc is culled. The smallest X-ray luminosity in thesample, in units of 1029 ergs s-1, isLX=9.8 the strongest source in the solar neighborhood is IIPeg, a RS CVn star, at LX=175.8. With respect to the originof X-ray emission, the sample is divided into partly overlapping classesof pre-main-sequence, post-T Tauri, and very young ZAMS objects (typeXY), RS CVn-type binary stars (type RS), other active short-periodbinaries, including binary BY Dra-type objects (type XO), apparentlysingle or long-period binary active evolved stars (type XG), contactbinaries of WU UMa kind (type WU), apparently single or long-periodbinary variable stars of BY Dra kind (type BY), and objects of unknownnature (type X?). Chromospherically active, short-period binaries (RSand XO) make up 40% of the brightest X-ray emitters, followed by youngstars (XY) at 30% and unknown sources (X?) at 15%. The fraction ofspectroscopically single evolved X-ray emitters of spectral classes IVand III is quite large (10%). The sources identified as RS CVn-typestars (RS, 23 objects) are considerably stronger in X-ray than theXY-objects and the other active binaries (XO and WU, 20 objects). Sevenobjects have LX>100, all RS except one XY, viz., BO Mic. Onlyfive (22%) RS objects have LX<25, while only three (10%)XY stars have LX>25. Formally, the limit of LX=25could serve as a statistical criterion to differentiate RS and XY stars.However, the other short-period binaries (including eclipsing stars ofAlgol and β Lyr type) have a distribution of LX verysimilar to the XY objects. The contact binaries (WU) appear to be muchweaker in X-rays than their detached counterparts of RS type, but thesample of the former is too small (three objects) to reach a firmconclusion. Sources matched with giants (either single or in binaries)are found to be significantly harder, with only 7% of hardness ratiosbelow 0, than subgiants (66% of HR1<0) and dwarfs (59% of HR1<0).Almost all objects in the sample are binary or multiple stars; thefraction of components (FC), defined as the total number of componentsin all binary and multiple systems divided by the sum of the totalnumber of components and single stars, is at least 0.90. The FC for theXY objects reaches 0.81, and for the unknown type 0.89. About 70% of RSobjects have also visual or astrometric companions, which makes themhierarchical multiple systems. The RS objects (mostly old, evolvedstars) and the XY stars have quite different kinematics. While the RSobjects move at considerable velocities in apparently random directionswith respect to the local standard of rest, the young stars have smallerand orderly velocities and tend to comprise expanding mini-associationssuch as the β Pic and the Tucana groups. The majority of the youngX-ray active stars belong to the Pleiades stream with the meanheliocentric velocity (U,V,W)=(-9.6,-21.8,-7.7) km s-1.
| A study of the Mg II 2796.34 Å emission line in late-type normal and RS CVn stars
We carry out an analysis of the Mg II 2796.34 Å emission line inRS CVn stars and make a comparison with the normal stars studied in aprevious paper (Paper I). The sample of RS CVn stars consists of 34objects with known HIPPARCOS parallaxes and observed at high resolutionwith IUE. We confirm that RS CVn stars tend to possess wider Mg II linesthan normal stars having the same absolute visual magnitude. However, wecould not find any correlation between the logarithmic line width logWdeg and the absolute visual magnitude MV (theWilson-Bappu relationship) for these active stars, contrary to the caseof normal stars addressed in Paper I. On the contrary, we find that astrong correlation exists in the (MV, log LMg II)plane (LMg II is the absolute flux in the line). In thisplane, normal and RS CVn stars are distributed along two nearly parallelstraight lines with RS CVn stars being systematically brighter by ~1dex. Such a diagram provides an interesting tool to discriminate activefrom normal stars. We finally analyse the distribution of RS CVn and ofnormal stars in the (log LMg II, log Wdeg) plane,and find a strong linear correlation for normal stars, which can be usedfor distance determinations.
| A systematic study of X-ray variability in the ROSAT all-sky survey
We present a systematic search for variability among the ROSAT All-SkySurvey (RASS) X-ray sources. We generated lightcurves for about 30 000X-ray point sources detected sufficiently high above background. For ourvariability study different search algorithms were developed in order torecognize flares, periods and trends, respectively. The variable X-raysources were optically identified with counterparts in the SIMBAD, theUSNO-A2.0 and NED data bases, but a significant part of the X-raysources remains without cataloged optical counterparts. Out of the 1207sources classified as variable 767 (63.5%) were identified with stars,118 (9.8%) are of extragalactic origin, 10 (0.8%) are identified withother sources and 312 (25.8%) could not uniquely be identified withentries in optical catalogs. We give a statistical analysis of thevariable X-ray population and present some outstanding examples of X-rayvariability detected in the ROSAT all-sky survey. Most prominent amongthese sources are white dwarfs, apparently single, yet neverthelessshowing periodic variability. Many flares from hitherto unrecognisedflare stars have been detected as well as long term variability in theBL Lac 1E1757.7+7034.The complete version of Table 7 is only available in electronic form atthe CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/403/247
| Nearby young stars
We present the results of an extensive all-sky survey of nearby stars ofspectral type F8 or later in a systematic search of young (zero-age mainsequence) objects. Our sample has been derived by cross-correlating theROSAT All-Sky Survey and the TYCHO catalogue, yielding a total of 754candidates distributed more or less randomly over the sky. Follow-upspectroscopy of these candidate objects has been performed on 748 ofthem. We have discovered a tight kinematic group of ten stars withextremely high lithium equivalent widths that are presumably youngerthan the Pleiades, but again distributed rather uniformly over the sky.Furthermore, about 43 per cent of our candidates have detectable levelsof lithium, thus indicating that these are relatively young objects withages not significantly above the Pleiades age.Based on observations collected at the European Southern Observatory,Chile (ESO No. 62.I-0650, 66.D-0159(A), 67.D-0236(A)).
| Time series analysis of V511 Lyrae photometry
Our time series analysis of sixteen BV light curves of thechromospherically active binary V511 Lyr confirmed the 2fd7 rotationperiod uniquely. The seasonal periodicity changes of 3.8% indicated thepresence of detectable surface differential rotation. The significant2fd67455 periodicity in the light curve minimum epochs suggested thatthe strongest starspot formation in V511 Lyr was concentrated on onestable active longitude. Table 2 is only available in electronic form atthe CDS via anonymous ftp to cdarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A&A/383/197. Thephotometric data are also available athttp://schwab.tsuniv.edu/t3/v511lyr/v511lyr.html
| The Catania Automatic Photoelectric Telescope on Mt. Etna: a systematic study of magnetically active stars
A photometric monitoring of about 50 magnetically active stars, that arespread almost all over the H-R diagram, was initiated at the mountainstation of Catania Observatory on Mt. Etna (1750-m a.s.l.) in 1992 withan 80-cm robotic telescope (APT-80) built by AutoScope Co. (USA). Thissystematic survey is now approaching its 10th year anniversary. For mostof the stars, quite well defined solar-like spot maps have been derivedfrom UBV data obtained in different epochs. These data have allowed usto investigate some relevant characteristics of spot activity andvariability on stars, and to obtain clear evidence of long-term activitycycles, in the range from a few to about 10 years, on some of theobserved targets. Starspot maps are constructed by using advanced tools,such as massive parallel computing and are based on Maximum Entropy andTikhonov regularization criteria. Selected results are here presented.Our systematic observation program is still underway and a secondAPT80/2, equipped with a CCD camera, will pair the APT80/1 on the samesite. Its operation is foreseen for mid 2002.
| Time series analysis of V815 Herculis photometry between 1984 and 1998
As a case study of the solar-stellar connection, we have analysed aprolonged time series of BV photometry of the chromospherically activebinary V815 Her . The surface differential rotation in the rapidlyrotating G5{v} primary caused changes of 4.6% in the seasonalphotometric rotation periods. This would imply a differential rotationcoefficient of k = 0.184, if the rotation of the starspots follows thesolar law of differential rotation and the activity is confined withinthe same latitudinal range as in the Sun, having k = 0.189 and thespectral-type of G2{v}. Our analysis of the primary and secondary minimaof the seasonal light curves indicated that the regions of strongeractivity have concentrated on one active longitude, which has maintaineda constant rotation period of 1.d79244 for about 14 years. Noregular activity cycle was detected in the mean brightness changes ofV815 Her. Table~1 is available only in electronic form at CDS viaanonymous ftp to edarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.1285) or via http://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html. These data are also available athttp: //schwab.tsuniv.edu/t3/v815her/v815her.html
| An IUE Atlas of Pre-Main-Sequence Stars. II. Far-Ultraviolet Accretion Diagnostics in T Tauri Stars
We use our ultraviolet (UV) atlas of pre-main-sequence stars constructedfrom all useful, short-wavelength, low-resolution spectra in theInternational Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) satellite Final Archive toanalyze the short-wavelength UV properties of 49 T Tauri stars (TTSs).We compare the line and continuum fluxes in these TTSs with each otherand with previously published parameters of these systems, includingrotation rate, infrared excess, and mass accretion rate. Theshort-wavelength continuum in the classical TTSs (CTTSs) appears tooriginate in a ~10,000 K optically thick plasma, while in the naked TTSs(NTTSs-stars without dusty disks) the continuum appears to originate inthe stellar atmosphere. We show that all of the TTSs in our sample liein the regime of ``saturated'' magnetic activity due to their smallRossby numbers. However, while some of the TTSs show emission linesurface fluxes consistent with this saturation level, many CTTSs showsignificantly stronger emission than predicted by saturation. In thesestars, the emission line luminosity in the high ionization lines presentin the spectrum between 1200 and 2000 Å correlates well with themass accretion rate. Therefore, we conclude that the bulk of theshort-wavelength emission seen in CTTSs results from accretion relatedprocesses and not from dynamo-driven magnetic activity. Using CTTSs withknown mass accretion rates, we calibrate the relationship between M andLC IV to derive the mass accretion rate for some CTTSs whichfor various reasons have never had their mass accretion rates measured.Finally, several of the CTTSs show strong emission from molecularhydrogen. While emission from H2 cannot form in gas at atemperature of ~105 K, the strength of the molecular hydrogenemission is nevertheless well correlated with all the other emissionsdisplayed in the IUE short-wavelength bandpass. This suggests that theH2 emission is in fact fluorescent emission pumped by theemission (likely Lyα) from hotter gas.
| On X-Ray Variability in Active Binary Stars
We have compared the X-ray emissions of active binary stars observed atvarious epochs by the Einstein and ROSAT satellites in order toinvestigate the nature of their X-ray variability. The primary aim ofthis work is to determine whether or not active binaries exhibitlong-term variations in X-ray emission, perhaps analogous to theobserved cyclic behavior of solar magnetic activity. We find that, whilethe mean level of emission of the sample remains steady, comparison ofdifferent ROSAT observations of the same stars shows significantvariation on timescales <~2 yr, with an ``effective variability''ΔI/I=0.32+/-0.04, where I and ΔI represent the mean emissionand variation from the mean emission, respectively. A comparison of theROSAT All-Sky Survey and later pointed observations with earlierobservations of the same stars carried out with Einstein yields onlymarginal evidence for a larger variation (ΔI/I=0.38+/-0.04 forEinstein vs. ROSAT All-Sky Survey and 0.46+/-0.05 for Einstein vs. ROSATpointed) at these longer timescales (~10 yr), thus indicating thepossible presence of a long-term component to the variability. Whetheror not this long-term component is due to the presence of cyclicvariability cannot be decided on the basis of existing data. However,assuming that this component is analogous to the observed cyclicvariability of the Sun, we find that the relative magnitude of thecyclic component in the ROSAT passband can, at most, be a factor of 4,i.e., I_cyc/I_min<4. This is to be compared with the correspondingbut significantly higher solar value of ~10-10^2 derived from GOES,Yohkoh, and Solrad data. These results are consistent with thesuggestions of earlier studies that a turbulent or distributive dynamomight be responsible for the observed magnetic activity on the mostactive, rapidly rotating stars.
| The Wilson-Bappu relation for RS CVn stars
We investigate the extent to which the Wilson-Bappu relationship holdsfor chromospherically active binaries using the Mg ii h&k lines of41 RS CVn stars observed with IUE. The resulting fits are different fromthe relationships obtained for single, less active stars. The parallaxused were those from the hipparcos catalogue, these give a much bettercorrelation than the magnitudes taken from CABS. Within a particularluminosity class the relationship is good, however it tends to breakdown when we incorporate objects ranging in luminosity from class i tov. From model calculations there is very little dependence of the Mg iiline width on effective temperature. The line width does however dependon the column mass at the transition region boundary showing increasedline width at lower column mass. There is also a dependence on thecolumn mass adopted for the temperature minimum, however, the major anddominant parameter is the surface gravity scaling as g(-1/4) . Within aluminosity class more active objects will show larger lines widthsreflecting a higher column mass deeper in the atmosphere, e.g. at thetemperature minimum level.
| The Second Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer Right Angle Program Catalog
We present the detection of 235 extreme ultraviolet sources, of which169 are new detections, using the Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer's (EUVE)Right Angle Program (RAP) data. This catalog includes observations sincethe first EUVE RAP catalog (1994 January) and covers 17% of the sky. TheEUVE RAP uses the all-sky survey telescopes (also known as``scanners''), mounted at right angles to the Deep Survey andspectrometer instruments, to obtain photometric data in four wavelengthbands centered at ~100 Å (Lexan/B), ~200 Å (Al/Ti/C), ~400Å (Ti/Sb/Al), and ~550 Å (Sn/SiO). This allows the RAP toaccumulate data serendipitously during pointed spectroscopicobservations. The long exposure times possible with RAP observationsprovide much greater sensitivity than the all-sky survey. We presentEUVE source count rates and probable source identifications from theavailable catalogs and literature. The source distribution is similar toprevious extreme ultraviolet (EUV) catalogs with 2% early-type stars,45% late-type stars, 8% white dwarfs, 6% extragalactic, 24% with no firmclassification, and 15% with no optical identification. We also present36 detections of early-type stars that are probably the result ofnon-EUV radiation. We have detected stellar flares from approximately 12sources, including: EUVE J0008+208, M4 star G32-6 (EUVE J0016+198), anew source EUVE J0202+105, EUVE J0213+368, RS CVn V711 Tau (EUVEJ0336+005), BY Draconis type variable V837 Tau (EUVE J0336+259), the newK5 binary EUVE J0725-004, EUVE J1147+050, EUVE J1148-374, EUVE J1334-083(EQ Vir), EUVE J1438-432 (WT 486/487), EUVE J1808+297, and the M5.5estar G208-45 (EUVE J1953+444). We present sample light curves for thebrighter sources.
| Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer Photometry of RS Canum Venaticorum Systems: Four Flaring Megaseconds
We present an analysis of 12.2 Ms of Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE)photometry of 16 RS CVn systems (including four flaring megaseconds).Our study attempts a systematic categorization of stellar coronalemission in RS CVn binary systems. The temporal resolution of the EUVEsatellite and the opportunity for long observations enables us to studyseparately the quiescent and flaring states of RS CVn systems. Thirty of31 observations are statistically variable. We examine light curves,characterizing both phase-dependent variations and large- andsmall-scale flaring. There is evidence for small-scale stochasticvariability on the one short-period (P_orb<1 day) system in oursample (ER Vul), which we interpret as small-scale flaring. CF Tuc isthe only system for which phase-dependent variations over multipleorbital periods are seen. We analyze 30 flares on nine systems, fittingrise and decay times. Several flares have durations >0.5P_orb andthus cannot originate from compact emission regions close to the stellarsurfaces. Many flares have unusual flare morphologies, with rise timescomparable to or greater than the decay time, and emission plateaus. Inaddition, eight flares have decay phases that are fit better by a brokenpower law than a single power law. The decay times for the second powerlaw are statistically different than the single decay times and arecorrelated with the flare rise times. This observed connection points tothe potential importance of the change in decay rate as a means ofexamining the physical processes operating during the flare. Thedistribution of orbital phases of flare onsets on V711 Tau (HR 1099),the best-studied RS CVn in our sample, is consistent with a Poissondistribution that is random in time. In two systems that are partiallyeclipsing (CF Tuc and ER Vul), we find no evidence for an eclipse in thelight curve, indicating that the emission region is large compared tothe stellar radius. We parameterize the distribution of flare energiesas a power law, finding a cut-off energy of ~10^33 ergs and a slope of-0.6. Flare energy increases with flare duration as E~Deltat^1.42,confirming the long-duration nature of high-energy flares on RS CVnsystems. The integrated flare luminosity depends on the quiescentluminosity as L_flare~L^1.05_quiescent. Flare frequencies range from 0.1day^-1 to 1.5 day^-1. For observations not affected by the dead spot onthe Deep Survey detector, 40% of the observed time was spent in aflaring state, indicating that flaring is a ``normal'' state for thecoronae of these systems. We note the presence of a quasi-periodicity inEUVE photometric data on the order of 1 day, which is not corrected forin the standard reduction and analysis software.
| Identification of soft high galactic latitude RASS X-ray sources. I. A complete count-rate limited sample
We present a summary of spectroscopic identifications for a completesample of bright soft high galactic latitude X-ray sources drawn fromthe ROSAT All-Sky Survey which have PSPC count-rates CR > 0.5 {ctss}(-1) and hardness ratios HR1 < 0. Of a total of 397 sources, 270had catalogued counterparts although most of these were not previouslyknown as X-ray sources; of the remaining 127 sources neither X-ray noroptical properties were previously known. Of the whole sample of verysoft X-ray sources 155 were also discovered by the Wide-Field-Camera onboard ROSAT. We present spectroscopic identifications of 108 sources andother identifications for further 18 sources; 1 source remainsunidentified so far. In practically all cases a unique opticalcounterpart exists facilitating identification. The largest sourceclasses are AGN, magnetic cataclysmic variables, and hot white dwarfs.Based in part on observations with the ESO/MPI 2.2m telescope at LaSilla, Chile
| On the rotation-activity correlation for active binary stars
We present an investigation of rotation-activity correlations usingInternational Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) SWP measurements of the Civemission line at 1550Angstroms for 72 active binary systems. We use astandard stellar evolution code to derive non-empirical Rossby numbers,R_0, for each star in our sample and compare the resulting Civrotation-activity correlation to that found for empirically derivedvalues of the Rossby number and that based on rotation alone. For dwarfstars our values of R_0 do not differ greatly from empirical ones and wefind a corresponding lack of improvement in correlation. Only a marginalimprovement in correlation is found for evolved components in oursample. We discuss possible additional factors, other than rotation orconvection, that may influence the activity levels in active binaries.Our observational data imply, in contrast to the theoretical predictionsof convective motions, that activity is only weakly related to mass inevolved stars. We conclude that current dynamo theory is limited in itsapplication to the study of active stars because of the uncertainty inthe angular velocity-depth profile in stellar interiors and the unknowneffects of binarity and surface gravity.
| Multiwavelength optical observations of chromospherically active binary systems. I. Simultaneous H alpha, NA i D1, D2, and He i D3 observations
This is the first paper of a series aimed at studying the chromosphereof active binary systems using the information provided for severaloptical spectroscopic features. Simultaneous H alpha, Na iD1, D2, and He i D3 spectroscopicobservations are reported here for 18 systems. The chromosphericcontribution in these lines have been determined using the spectralsubtraction technique. Very broad wings have been found in thesubtracted H alpha profile of some of the more active stars. Theseprofiles are well matched using a two-components Gaussian fit (narrowand broad) and the broad component could be interpreted as arising frommicroflaring. Prominence-like extended material have been detected in anear-eclipse H alpha observation of the system AR Lac. The excessemission found in the Na i D1 and D2 lines byapplication of the spectral subtraction technique and the behaviour ofthe H alpha line in the corresponding simultaneous observations indicatethat the filling-in of the core of these lines is a chromosphericactivity indicator. For giant stars of the sample the He i D3line has been detected in absorption in the subtracted spectra. Anoptical flare has been detected in UX Ari and II Peg through thepresence of the He i D3 in emission in coincidence with theenhancement of the H alpha emission. Based on observations made with theIsaac Newton telescope operated on the island of La Palma by the RoyalGreenwich Observatory at the Spanish Observatorio del Roque de LosMuchachos of the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias.
| The age-mass relation for chromospherically active binaries. II. Lithium depletion in dwarf components.
We present an extensive study of lithium abundances in dwarf componentsof chromospherically active binary stars (CABS). Since most of thesebinaries have known radii, masses and ages, this kind of data isespecially useful for comparisons with theoretical models which try toexplain the Li depletion phenomenon. We show that a significant part ofthese stars have clear Li overabundances with respect to the typicalvalues for stars of the same mass and evolutionary stage. These excessesare evident when comparing our sample of CABS with binary and singlestars belonging to open clusters of different ages, namely Pleiades,Hyades, NGC 752, M 67 and NGC 188, which have ages ranging from 7x10^7^to 10^10^yr. The Li excesses are more conspicuous for masses in therange 0.75-0.95Msun_, indicating that the rate of Lidepletion has been less pronounced in CABS than in single stars. Thisphenomenon is interpreted in the context of transport of angularmomentum from the orbit to the stellar rotation due to tidal effects.This angular momentum transfer would avoid the radial differentialrotation and the associated turbulent mixing of material in the stellarinterior. Other explanations, however, can not be ruled out. This is thecase of transport of material induced by internal gravity waves, whichcould be inhibited due to the presence of strong magnetic fieldsassociated with the effective dynamo in CABS. The confirmed existence ofa relation between Li abundances and the fluxes in CaII H&K linescan also be accommodated within both scenarios.
| An Optical Atlas of Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE) Sources
The Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer (EUVE) has been detecting EUV sourcessince its launch in June 1992. Positions of 540 sources have been madeavailable to the community by the EUVE team. We have extracted 7' X 7'images centered on these 540 EUVE sources from the Space TelescopeScience Institute digitized sky archives. We present these images asmosaic finder charts to aid observers trying to identify EUVE sources,or to characterize known sources. (SECTION: Atlases)
| Radio-loud active galaxies in the northern ROSAT All-Sky Survey. II. Multi-frequency properties of unidentified sources.
We present the broad band, radio - to - X-ray, properties of a largesample of mostly previously optically unidentified radio-loud X-raysources from the correlation of a ROSAT All-Sky Survey source list withthe 5GHz Green Bank Survey of the northern sky (RGB sample) which is oneof the largest well-defined flux-limited surveys of AGN ever obtained.Further, the RGB pushes 1-2 orders of magnitude deeper in both X-ray andradio flux compared to previous unbiased wide-area AGN surveys. Followup VLA observations of the candidate objects yielded positions witharcsec accuracy which were used to find optical counterparts to thesources from digitized POSS plates. The sources are divided into threeclasses according to the positional offset between the X-ray and radiocandidates and the spatial resolution of the radio observations,reflecting the various degrees of confidence about the correctness ofthe proposed association. Although the nature of the sources as well astheir redshifts remain to be determined in spectroscopic follow upobservations, the derived flux ratios lead to the conclusion that themajority of them are quasars. Hardly any correlations could be foundbetween different source parameters, possibly due to the fact that mostof the objects are found in a relatively small flux range near thesensitivity limit of the radio catalogue. The majority of the new RGBsources have broad-band properties between those of traditionalradio-selected and X-ray selected AGN. There is no bimodal distributionin the radio-loudness distribution, and the traditional division betweenradio-quiet and radio-loud AGN may not be warranted.
| Rotational Velocities of Late-Type Stars
A calibration based on the results of Gray has been used to determineprojected rotational velocities for 133 bright stars with spectral typesof F, G, or K, most of which appear in {\it The Bright Star Catalogue}.The vast majority have {\it v} sin {\it i} $\leq$ 10 km s$^{-1}$ and,thus, are slow rotators. With the new calibration, projected rotationalvelocities have been determined for a sample of 111 late-type stars,most of which are chromospherically active. Some of the stars have hadtheir rotational velocities measured for the first time. (SECTION:Stars)
| An All-Sky Catalog of Faint Extreme Ultraviolet Sources
We present a list of 534 objects detected jointly in the ExtremeUltraviolet Explorer (EUVE) 100 Angstroms all-sky survey and in theROSAT X-Ray Telescope 0.25 keV band. The joint selection criterionpermits use of a low count rate threshold in each survey. This lowthreshold is roughly 60% of the threshold used in the previous EUVEall-sky surveys, and 166 of the objects listed here are new EUV sources,appearing in neither the Second EUVE Source Catalog nor the ROSAT WideField Camera Second Catalog. The spatial distribution of this all-skycatalog shows three features: an enhanced concentration of objects inUrsa Major, where the Galactic integrated H I column reaches its globalminimum; an enhanced concentration in the third quadrant of the Galaxy(lII from 180 deg to 270 deg) including the Canis Major tunnel, whereparticularly low H I columns are found to distances beyond 200 pc; and aparticularly low number of faint objects in the direction of the fourthquadrant of the Galaxy, where nearby intervening H I columns areappreciable. Of particular interest is the composition of the 166detections not previously reported in any EUV catalog. We offerpreliminary identifications for 105 of these sources. By far the mostnumerous (81) of the identifications are late-type stars (F, G, K, M),while 18 are other stellar types, only five are white dwarfs (WDs), andnone are extragalactic. The paucity of WDs and extragalactic objects maybe explained by a strong horizon effect wherein interstellar absorptionstrongly limits the effective new-source search volume and, thereby,selectively favors low-luminosity nearby sources over more luminous butdistant objects.
| EUV Emission from RS Canum Venaticorum binaries.
We performed a study of 104 RS CVn systems in the extreme ultraviolet(EUV) using the all-sky survey data obtained by the Extreme UltravioletExplorer (EUVE). The present sample includes several new RS CVndetections; 11 more than in the published EUVE catalogs, and 8 more thanin the ROSAT Wide Field Camera catalog. The ratio of detections tonon-detections remained constant throughout the sky, implying that ourdetections are not limited by the exposure time but are most likelylimited by absorption from the interstellar medium. A general trend ofincreasing Lex/B (50-180Å) flux with decreasing rotational periodis clear. The dwarf systems exhibit a leveling-off for the fasterrotators. In contrast, the evolved systems exhibit no such effect. Forthe RS CVn systems the losses in the EUV represent a smaller fraction ofthe coronal radiative losses, as compared to active late-type dwarfs.
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Observation and Astrometry data
| Constellation: | Hercule |
| Right ascension: | 18h08m16.03s |
| Declination: | +29°41'28.1" |
| Apparent magnitude: | 7.703 |
| Distance: | 32.584 parsecs |
| Proper motion RA: | 108.5 |
| Proper motion Dec: | -25.4 |
| B-T magnitude: | 8.593 |
| V-T magnitude: | 7.777 |
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