| 1. |
- Snodgrass, C., et al.
(author)
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The 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko observation campaign in support of the Rosetta mission
- 2017
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In: Philosophical Transactions. Series A. - : The Royal Society. - 1364-503X .- 1471-2962. ; 375:2097
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present a summary of the campaign of remote observations that supported the European Space Agency's Rosetta mission. Telescopes across the globe (and in space) followed comet 67P/ Churyumov-Gerasimenko from before Rosetta's arrival until nearly the end of the mission in September 2016. These provided essential data for mission planning, large-scale context information for the coma and tails beyond the spacecraft and a way to directly compare 67P with other comets. The observations revealed 67P to be a relatively 'well-behaved' comet, typical of Jupiter family comets and with activity patterns that repeat from orbit to orbit. Comparison between this large collection of telescopic observations and the in situ results from Rosetta will allow us to better understand comet coma chemistry and structure. This work is just beginning as the mission ends-in this paper, we present a summary of the ground-based observations and early results, and point to many questions that will be addressed in future studies. This article is part of the themed issue 'Cometary science after Rosetta'.
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| 2. |
- Kupfer, T., et al.
(author)
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The OmegaWhite Survey for Short-period Variable Stars. V. Discovery of an Ultracompact Hot Subdwarf Binary with a Compact Companion in a 44-minute Orbit
- 2017
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In: Astrophysical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 851:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We report the discovery of the ultracompact hot subdwarf (sdOB) binary OW J074106.0-294811.0 with an orbital period of P-orb = 44.66279 +/- 1.16 x 10(-4) minutes, making it the most compact hot subdwarf binary known. Spectroscopic observations using the VLT, Gemini and Keck telescopes revealed a He-sdOB primary with an intermediate helium abundance, T-eff = 39 400 +/- 500 K and log g = 5.74 +/- 0.09. High signal-to-noise ratio light curves show strong ellipsoidal modulation resulting in a derived sdOB mass M-sdOB= 0.23 +/- 0.12 M-circle dot with a WD companion (M-WD = 0.72 +/- 0.17 M-circle dot). The mass ratio was found to be q = M-sdOB/M-WD = 0.32 +/- 0.10. The derived mass for the He-sdOB is inconsistent with the canonical mass for hot subdwarfs of approximate to 0.47 M-circle dot. To put constraints on the structure and evolutionary history of the sdOB star we compared the derived T-eff, log g, and sdOB mass to evolutionary tracks of helium stars and helium white dwarfs calculated with Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics (MESA). We find that the best-fitting model is a helium white dwarf with a mass of 0.320 M-circle dot, which left the common envelope approximate to 1.1 Myr ago, which is consistent with the observations. As a helium white dwarf with a massive white dwarf companion, the object will reach contact in 17.6 Myr at an orbital period of 5 minutes. Depending on the spin-orbit synchronization timescale the object will either merge to form an R CrB star or end up as a stably accreting AM CVn-type system with a helium white dwarf donor.
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| 3. |
- Nicholls, Christine P, et al.
(author)
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CRIRES-POP : a library of high resolution spectra in the near-infrared II. Data reduction and the spectrum of the K giant 10 Leonis
- 2017
-
In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 598
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Context. High resolution stellar spectral atlases are valuable resources to astronomy. They are rare in the 1 − 5 μm region for historical reasons, but once available, high resolution atlases in this part of the spectrum will aid the study of a wide range of astrophysical phenomena. Aims. The aim of the CRIRES-POP project is to produce a high resolution near-infrared spectral library of stars across the H-R diagram. The aim of this paper is to present the fully reduced spectrum of the K giant 10 Leo that will form the basis of the first atlas within the CRIRES-POP library, to provide a full description of the data reduction processes involved, and to provide an update on the CRIRES-POP project. Methods. All CRIRES-POP targets were observed with almost 200 different observational settings of CRIRES on the ESO Very Large Telescope, resulting in a basically complete coverage of its spectral range as accessible from the ground. We reduced the spectra of 10 Leo with the CRIRES pipeline, corrected the wavelength solution and removed telluric absorption with Molecfit, then resampled the spectra to a common wavelength scale, shifted them to rest wavelengths, flux normalised, and median combined them into one final data product. Results. We present the fully reduced, high resolution, near-infrared spectrum of 10 Leo. This is also the first complete spectrum from the CRIRES instrument. The spectrum is available online. Conclusions. The first CRIRES-POP spectrum has exceeded our quality expectations and will form the centre of a state-of-the-art stellar atlas. This first CRIRES-POP atlas will soon be available, and further atlases will follow. All CRIRES-POP data products will be freely and publicly available online.
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| 4. |
- Wade, G. A., et al.
(author)
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The MiMeS survey of magnetism in massive stars : introduction and overview
- 2016
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In: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 456:1, s. 2-22
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Journal article (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The MiMeS (Magnetism in Massive Stars) project is a large-scale, high-resolution, sensitive spectropolarimetric investigation of the magnetic properties of O- and early B-type stars. Initiated in 2008 and completed in 2013, the project was supported by three Large Program allocations, as well as various programmes initiated by independent principal investigators, and archival resources. Ultimately, over 4800 circularly polarized spectra of 560 O and B stars were collected with the instruments ESPaDOnS (Echelle SpectroPolarimetric Device for the Observation of Stars) at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, Narval at the Telescope Bernard Lyot and HARPSpol at the European Southern Observatory La Silla 3.6 m telescope, making MiMeS by far the largest systematic investigation of massive star magnetism ever undertaken. In this paper, the first in a series reporting the general results of the survey, we introduce the scientific motivation and goals, describe the sample of targets, review the instrumentation and observational techniques used, explain the exposure time calculation designed to provide sensitivity to surface dipole fields above approximately 100 G, discuss the polarimetric performance, stability and uncertainty of the instrumentation, and summarize the previous and forthcoming publications.
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| 5. |
- Fossati, L., et al.
(author)
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A detailed spectropolarimetric analysis of the planet-hosting star WASP-12
- 2010
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In: Astrophysical Journal. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 720:1, s. 872-886
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The knowledge of accurate stellar parameters is paramount in several fields of stellar astrophysics, particularly in the study of extrasolar planets, where often the star is the only visible component and therefore used to infer the planet's fundamental parameters. Another important aspect of the analysis of planetary systems is the stellar activity and the possible star planet interaction. Here, we present a self-consistent abundance analysis of the planet-hosting star WASP-12 and a high-precision search for a structured stellar magnetic field on the basis of spectropolarimetric observations obtained with the ESPaDOnS spectropolarimeter. Our results show that the star does not have a structured magnetic field, and that the obtained fundamental parameters are in good agreement with what was previously published. In addition, we derive improved constraints on the stellar age (1.0-2.65 Gyr), mass (1.23-1.49 M/M-circle dot), and distance (295-465 pc). WASP-12 is an ideal object in which to look for pollution signatures in the stellar atmosphere. We analyze the WASP-12 abundances as a function of the condensation temperature and compare them with those published by several other authors on planet-hosting and non-planet-hosting stars. We find hints of atmospheric pollution in WASP-12's photosphere but are unable to reach firm conclusions with our present data. We conclude that a differential analysis based on WASP-12 twins will probably clarify whether an atmospheric pollution is present as well as the nature of this pollution and its implications in planet formation and evolution. We also attempt the direct detection of the circumstellar disk through infrared excess, but without success.
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| 6. |
- Fossati, L., et al.
(author)
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Chemical evolution of A- and B-type stars in open clusters : observed abundances vs. diffusion models
- 2008
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In: Contributions of the Astronomical Observatory Skalnaté Pleso. - 1335-1842. ; 38:2, s. 123-128
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We have decided to address the problem of how abundances and peculiarities change during main sequence evolution. We have setup a program to measure the atmospheric abundance patterns from tens of A-type star members of clusters of different ages, and compare the results with theory predictions. In this paper we present the overall project and we focus on the results obtained for a sample of Am stars of the Praesepe cluster (log t = 8.85 +/- 0.15; Gonzalez-Garcia et al., 2006). We have obtained spectra for eight Am stars, two normal A-type stars and one blue straggler, that are probable members of the Praesepe cluster. For all of these stars we have determined fundamental parameters and photospheric abundances for a large number of chemical elements. For seven stars we also obtained spectra in circular polarisation and applied the LSD technique to measure the mean longitudinal magnetic field. We have found good agreement between abundance predictions of diffusion models and measured abundances, except for Na and S. Li appears to be overabundant in three stars of our sample. No magnetic field was detected in any of the analysed stars.
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| 7. |
- Fossati, L., et al.
(author)
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Late stages of the evolution of A-type stars on the main sequence : Comparison between observed chemical abundances and diffusion models for 8 Am stars of the Praesepe cluster
- 2007
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 476:2, s. 911-925
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Aims. We aim to provide observational constraints on diffusion models that predict peculiar chemical abundances in the atmospheres of Am stars. We also intend to check if chemical peculiarities and slow rotation can be explained by the presence of a weak magnetic field. Methods. We have obtained high resolution, high signal-to-noise ratio spectra of eight previously-classified Am stars, two normal A-type stars and one Blue Straggler, considered to be members of the Praesepe cluster. For all of these stars we have determined fundamental parameters and photospheric abundances for a large number of chemical elements, with a higher precision than was ever obtained before for this cluster. For seven of these stars we also obtained spectra in circular polarization and applied the LSD technique to constrain the longitudinal magnetic field. Results. No magnetic field was detected in any of the analysed stars. HD 73666, a Blue Straggler previously considered as an Ap (Si) star, turns out to have the abundances of a normal A-type star. Am classification is not confirmed for HD 72942. For HD 73709 we have also calculated synthetic Aa photometry that is in good agreement with the observations. There is a generally good agreement between abundance predictions of diffusion models and values that we have obtained for the remaining Am stars. However, the observed Na and S abundances deviate from the predictions by 0.6 dex and ≥0.25 dex respectively. Li appears to be overabundant in three stars of our sample.
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| 8. |
- Bagnulo, S., et al.
(author)
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Magnetic field measurements and their uncertainties : the FORS1 legacy
- 2012
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 538, s. A129-
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Context. During the last decade, the FORS1 instrument of the ESO Very Large Telescope has been extensively used to study stellar magnetism. A number of interesting discoveries of magnetic fields in several classes of stars have been announced, many of which obtained at a similar to 3 sigma level; some of the discoveries are confirmed by measurements obtained with other instruments, some are not.Aims. We investigate the reasons for the discrepancies between the results obtained with FORS1 and those obtained with other instruments.Methods. Using the ESO FORS pipeline, we have developed a semi-automatic procedure for magnetic field determination. We have applied this procedure to the full content of circular spectropolarimetric measurements of the FORS1 archive (except for most of the observations obtained in multi-object spectropolarimetric mode). We have devised and applied a number of consistency checks to our field determinations, and we have compared our results to those previously published in the literature.Results. We find that for high signal-to-noise ratio measurements, photon noise does not account for the full error bars. We discuss how field measurements depend on the specific algorithm adopted for data reduction, and we show that very small instrument flexures, negligible in most of the instrument applications, may be responsible for some spurious field detections in the null profiles. Finally, we find that we are unable to reproduce some results previously published in the literature. Consequently, we do not confirm some important discoveries of magnetic fields obtained with FORS1 and reported in previous publications.Conclusions. Our revised field measurements show that there is no contradiction between the results obtained with the low-resolution spectropolarimeter FORS1 and those obtained with high-resolution spectropolarimeters. FORS1 is an instrument capable of performing reliable magnetic field measurements, provided that the various sources of uncertainties are properly taken into account.
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
- Bagnulo, S., et al.
(author)
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The importance of non-photon noise in astronomical spectropolarimetry
- 2015
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In: Polarimetry. - : CAMBRIDGE UNIV PRESS. - 9781107078550 ; , s. 181-185
-
Conference paper (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Stellar spectropolarimetry has become an extremely popular technique during the last decade or two, and has led to major advances in the studies of stellar magnetic fields. Many important discoveries have been made thanks to ultra-precise measurements of very small polarimetric signals, which require very stable instruments and special observing strategies. The so called beam-swapping technique is a well-known polarimetric technique capable of suppressing many spurious signals due to various instrumental effects. However, when one is interested in ultra-high signal-to-noise ratio measurements, observers start to hit various limitations introduced by the instrument, by the atmosphere, and even by the software for data-reduction. These limitations cannot be overcome by the observing strategies, and sources of errors other than photon-noise must be taken into account. Here we discuss the advantages of the beam-swapping technique, and the impact of small instrument and atmospheric instabilities, and how these issues offer an explanation for the origin of the apparently significant observed polarisation signals produced by effects other than those intrinsic to the observed target.
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