| 1. |
- Brown, A., et al.
(författare)
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Kepler Observations of Starspot Evolution, Differential Rotation, and Flares on Late-Type Stars
- 2011
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Ingår i: American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #218.
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Kepler satellite is providing spectacular optical photometric light-curves of unprecedented precision and duration that routinely allow detailed studies of stellar magnetic activity on late-type stars that were difficult, if not impossible, to attempt previously. Rotational modulation due to starspots is commonly seen in the Kepler light-curves of late-type stars, allowing detailed study of the surface distribution of their photospheric magnetic activity. Kepler is providing multi-year duration light-curves that allow us to investigate how activity phenomena – such as the growth, migration, and decay of starspots, differential rotation, activity cycles, and flaring – operate on single and binary stars with a wide range of mass and convection zone depth. We present the first results from detailed starspot modeling using newly-developed light-curve inversion codes for a range of GALEX-selected stars with typical rotation periods of a few days, that we have observed as part of our 200 target Kepler Cycle 1/2 Guest Observer programs. The physical properties of the stars have been measured using high resolution optical spectroscopy, which allows the Kepler results to be placed within the existing framework of knowledge regarding stellar magnetic activity. These results demonstrate the powerful diagnostic capability provided by tracking starspot evolution essentially continuously for more than 16 months. The starspots are clearly sampling the stellar rotation rate at different latitudes, enabling us to measure the differential rotation and starspot lifetimes. As would be expected, stars with few day rotation show frequent flaring that is easily seen as ”white-light” flares in Kepler light-curves. We compare the observed flare rates and occurrence with the starspot properties. This work contains results obtained using the NASA Kepler satellite and from the Apache Point Observatory, the MMT (using NOAO community access time), and the Hobby-Eberly Telescope. Funding is provided by NASA Kepler grants NNX10AC51G and NNX11AC79G.
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| 2. |
- Brown, A., et al.
(författare)
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Starspot variability and evolution from modeling Kepler photometry of active late-type stars
- 2011
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Ingår i: IAU Symposium 273 (The Physics of Sun and Star Spots). ; , s. 78-82
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Kepler satellite provides a unique opportunity to study the detailed optical photometric variability of late-type stars with unprecedentedly long (several year) continuous monitoring and sensitivity to very small-scale variations. We are studying a sample of over two hundred cool (mid-A - late-K spectral type) stars using Kepler long-cadence (30 minute sampling) observations. These stars show a remarkable range of photometric variability, but in this paper we concentrate on rotational modulation due to starspots and flaring. Modulation at the 0.1% level is readily discernable. We highlight the rapid timescales of starspot evolution seen on solar-like stars with rotational periods between 2 and 7 days.
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| 3. |
- Fischer, Debra A., et al.
(författare)
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M2K. II. A Triple-Planet System Orbiting Hip 57274
- 2012
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 745:1, s. 21-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Doppler observations from Keck Observatory have revealed a triple-planet system orbiting the nearby K4V star, HIP 57274. The inner planet, HIP 57274b, is a super-Earth with M sin i = 11.6 M-circle plus (0.036 M-Jup), an orbital period of 8.135 +/- 0.004 days, and slightly eccentric orbit e = 0.19 +/- 0.1. We calculate a transit probability of 6.5% for the inner planet. The second planet has M sin i = 0.4 M-Jup with an orbital period of 32.0 +/- 0.02 days in a nearly circular orbit (e = 0.05 +/- 0.03). The third planet has M sin i = 0.53 M-Jup with an orbital period of 432 +/- 8 days (1.18 years) and an eccentricity e = 0.23 +/- 0.03. This discovery adds to the number of super-Earth mass planets with M sin i < 12 M-circle plus that have been detected with Doppler surveys. We find that 56% +/- 18% of super-Earths are members of multi-planet systems. This is certainly a lower limit because of observational detectability limits, yet significantly higher than the fraction of Jupiter mass exoplanets, 20% +/- 8%, that are members of Doppler-detected, multi-planet systems.
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| 4. |
- Follert, R., et al.
(författare)
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CRIRES plus : a cross-dispersed high-resolution infrared spectrograph for the ESO VLT
- 2014
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Ingår i: GROUND-BASED AND AIRBORNE INSTRUMENTATION FOR ASTRONOMY V. - : SPIE. - 9780819496157
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- High-resolution infrared spectroscopy plays an important role in astrophysics from the search for exoplanets to cosmology. Yet, many existing infrared spectrographs are limited by a rather small simultaneous wavelength coverage. The AO assisted CRIRES instrument, installed at the ESO VLT on Paranal, is one of the few IR (0.92-5.2 mu m) high-resolution spectrographs in operation since 2006. However it has a limitation that hampers its efficient use: the wavelength range covered in a single exposure is limited to similar to 15 nanometers. The CRIRES Upgrade project (CRIRES+) will transform CRIRES into a cross-dispersed spectrograph and will also add new capabilities. By introducing cross-dispersion elements the simultaneously covered wavelength range will be increased by at least a factor of 10 with respect to the present configuration, while the operational wavelength range will be preserved. For advanced wavelength calibration, new custom made absorption gas cells and etalons will be added. A spectro-polarimetric unit will allow one for the first time to record circularly polarized spectra at the highest spectral resolution. This will be all supported by a new data reduction software which will allow the community to take full advantage of the new capabilities of CRIRES+.
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| 5. |
- Hackman, T., et al.
(författare)
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Doppler images of II Pegasi for 2004-2010
- 2012
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 538, s. A126-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims. We study the spot activity of II Peg during the years 2004-2010 to determine long- and short-term changes in the magnetic activity. In a previous study, we detected a persistent active longitude, as well as major changes in the spot configuration occurring on a timescale of shorter than a year. The main objective of this study is to determine whether the same phenomena persist in the star during these six years of spectroscopic monitoring. Methods. The observations were collected with the high-resolution SOFIN spectrograph at the Nordic Optical Telescope. The temperature maps were calculated using a Doppler imaging code based on Tikhonov regularization. Results. We present 12 new temperature maps that show spots distributed mainly over high and intermediate latitudes. In each image, 1-3 main active regions can be identified. The activity level of the star is clearly lower than during our previous study for the years 1994-2002. In contrast to the previous observations, we detect no clear drift of the active regions with respect to the rotation of the star. Conclusions. Having shown a systematic longitudinal drift of the spot-generating mechanism during 1994-2002, the star has clearly switched to a low-activity state for 2004-2010, during which the spot locations appear more random over phase space. It could be that the star is near to a minimum of its activity cycle.
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| 6. |
- Hackman, T., et al.
(författare)
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Spot activity of II Peg
- 2011
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Ingår i: Astronomical Notes - Astronomische Nachrichten. - : Wiley. - 0004-6337 .- 1521-3994. ; 332:9-10, s. 859-865
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We have studied the long-term spot activity of the RS CVn star II Peg by means of Doppler imaging based on spectroscopy and time series analysis of photometry. We present 28 Doppler imaging temperature maps spanning the years 1994-2010, of which 14 were calculated for the present study. The longitudinal spot distribution, derived from the surface temperature maps, is compared with epochs of the light curve minima, derived from photometric observations. We detect a longitudinal drift in the major spot structure during 1995-2003. After this there is a clear decrease in the activity level and no clear drift can be seen. We conclude that the variations could be caused by a cyclic behaviour of the underlying magnetic dynamo.
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| 7. |
- Howard, Andrew W., et al.
(författare)
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The California planet survey. I. four new giant exoplanets
- 2010
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 721:2, s. 1467-1481
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present precise Doppler measurements of four stars obtained during the past decade at Keck Observatory by the California Planet Survey (CPS). These stars, namely, HD 34445, HD 126614, HD 13931, and Gl 179, all show evidence for a single planet in Keplerian motion. We also present Doppler measurements from the Hobby-Eberly Telescope (HET) for two of the stars, HD 34445 and Gl 179, that confirm the Keck detections and significantly refine the orbital parameters. These planets add to the statistical properties of giant planets orbiting near or beyond the ice line, and merit follow-up by astrometry, imaging, and space-borne spectroscopy. Their orbital parameters span wide ranges of planetary minimum mass (M sin i = 0.38-1.9 M-Jup), orbital period (P = 2.87-11.5 yr), semimajor axis (a = 2.1-5.2 AU), and eccentricity (e = 0.02-0.41). HD 34445 b (P = 2.87 yr, M sin i = 0.79 MJup, e = 0.27) is a massive planet orbiting an old, G-type star. We announce a planet, HD 126614 Ab, and an M dwarf, HD 126614 B, orbiting the metal-rich star HD 126614 (which we now refer to as HD 126614 A). The planet, HD 126614 Ab, has minimum mass M sin i = 0.38 MJup and orbits the stellar primary with period P = 3.41 yr and orbital separation a = 2.3 AU. The faint M dwarf companion, HD 126614 B, is separated from the stellar primary by 489 mas (33 AU) and was discovered with direct observations using adaptive optics and the PHARO camera at Palomar Observatory. The stellar primary in this new system, HD 126614 A, has the highest measured metallicity ([ Fe/ H] = + 0.56) of any known planet-bearing star. HD 13931 b (P = 11.5 yr, M sin i = 1.88 MJup, e = 0.02) is a Jupiter analog orbiting a near solar twin. Gl 179 b (P = 6.3 yr, M sin i = 0.82 M-Jup, e = 0.21) is a massive planet orbiting a faint M dwarf. The high metallicity of Gl 179 is consistent with the planet-metallicity correlation among M dwarfs, as documented recently by Johnson & Apps.
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| 8. |
- Howard, Andrew W., et al.
(författare)
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The NASA-UC Eia-earth program. II. a planet orbiting HD 156668 with a minimum mass of four earth masses
- 2011
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 726:2, s. 73-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We report the discovery of HD 156668 b, an extrasolar planet with a minimum mass of M-P sin i = 4.15 M-circle plus. This planet was discovered through Keplerian modeling of precise radial velocities from Keck-HIRES and is the second super-Earth to emerge from the NASA-UC Eta-Earth Survey. The best-fit orbit is consistent with circular and has a period of P = 4.6455 days. The Doppler semi-amplitude of this planet, K = 1.89 m s(-1), is among the lowest ever detected, on par with the detection of GJ 581 e using HARPS. A longer period (P approximate to 2.3 years), low-amplitude signal of unknown origin was also detected in the radial velocities and was filtered out of the data while fitting the short-period planet. Additional data are required to determine if the long-period signal is due to a second planet, stellar activity, or another source. Photometric observations using the Automated Photometric Telescopes at Fairborn Observatory show that HD 156668 (an old, quiet K3 dwarf) is photometrically constant over the radial velocity period to 0.1 mmag, supporting the existence of the planet. No transits were detected down to a photometric limit of similar to 3 mmag, ruling out transiting planets dominated by extremely bloated atmospheres, but not precluding a transiting solid/liquid planet with a modest atmosphere.
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| 9. |
- Howard, Andrew W., et al.
(författare)
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THE NASA-UC ETA-EARTH PROGRAM. III. A SUPER-EARTH ORBITING HD 97658 AND A NEPTUNE-MASS PLANET ORBITING G1 785
- 2011
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 730:1, s. 10-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We report the discovery of planets orbiting two bright, nearby early K dwarf stars, HD 97658 and G1 785. These planets were detected by Keplerian modeling of radial velocities measured with Keck-HIRES for the NASA-UC Eta-Earth Survey. HD 97658 b is a close-in super-Earth with minimum mass M sin i = 8.2 +/- 1.2 M-circle plus, orbital period P = 9.494 +/- 0.005 days, and an orbit that is consistent with circular. G1 785 b is a Neptune-mass planet with M sin i = 21.6 +/- 2.0 M-circle plus, P = 74.39 +/- 0.12 days, and orbital eccentricity e = 0.30 +/- 0.09. Photometric observations with the T12 0.8 m automatic photometric telescope at Fairborn Observatory show that HD 97658 is photometrically constant at the radial velocity period to 0.09 mmag, supporting the existence of the planet.
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| 10. |
- Johns-Krull, Christopher M., et al.
(författare)
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Magnetically Controlled Accretion on the Classical T Tauri Stars GQ Lupi and TW Hydrae
- 2013
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal. - 0004-637X .- 1538-4357. ; 765:1, s. 11-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present high spectral resolution (R approximate to 108,000) Stokes V polarimetry of the classical T Tauri stars (CTTSs) GQ Lup and TW Hya obtained with the polarimetric upgrade to the HARPS spectrometer on the ESO 3.6 m telescope. We present data on both photospheric lines and emission lines, concentrating our discussion on the polarization properties of the He I emission lines at 5876 angstrom and 6678 angstrom. The He I lines in these CTTSs contain both narrow emission cores, believed to come from near the accretion shock region on these stars, and broad emission components which may come from either a wind or the large-scale magnetospheric accretion flow. We detect strong polarization in the narrow component of the two He I emission lines in both stars. We observe a maximum implied field strength of 6.05 +/- 0.24 kG in the 5876 angstrom line of GQ Lup, making it the star with the highest field strength measured in this line for a CTTS. We find field strengths in the two He I lines that are consistent with each other, in contrast to what has been reported in the literature on at least one star. We do not detect any polarization in the broad component of the He I lines on these stars, strengthening the conclusion that they form over a substantially different volume relative to the formation region of the narrow component of the He I lines.
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| 11. |
- Joshi, S., et al.
(författare)
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Time-resolved photometric and spectroscopic analysis of the luminous Ap star HD 103498
- 2010
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Ingår i: Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 401:2, s. 1299-1307
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We present the results of the photometric and spectroscopic monitoring of the luminous Ap star HD 103498. The time-series photometric observations were carried out on 17 nights using a three-channel fast photometer attached to the 1.04-m optical telescope at the Aryabhatta Research Institute of Observational Sciences (ARIES), Nainital. The photometric data from five nights in 2007 show a clear signature of 15-min periodicity. However, the follow-up observations during 2007-2009 did not reproduce any such periodicity. To confirm the photometric light variations, time-series spectroscopic observations were carried out with the 2.56-m Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT) at La Palma on 2009 February 2. No radial velocity variations were present in this data set, which is in full agreement with the photometric observations taken around the same date. Model atmosphere and abundance analysis of HD 103498 show that the star is evolved from the main sequence and its atmospheric abundances are similar to those of two other evolved Ap stars, HD 133792 and HD 204411: large overabundances of Si, Cr and Fe and moderate overabundances of the rare-earth elements. These chemical properties and a higher effective temperature distinguish HD 103498 from any known roAp star.
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| 12. |
- Kochukhov, Oleg, et al.
(författare)
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Are there tangled magnetic fields on HgMn stars?
- 2013
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 554, s. A61-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. Several recent spectrophotometric studies failed to detect significant global magnetic fields in late-B HgMn chemically peculiar stars, but some investigations have suggested the presence of strong unstructured or tangled fields in these objects. Aims. We used detailed spectrum synthesis analysis to search for evidence of tangled magnetic fields in high-quality observed spectra of eight slowly rotating HgMn stars and one normal late-B star. We also evaluated recent sporadic detections of weak longitudinal magnetic fields in HgMn stars based on the moment technique. Methods. Our spectrum synthesis code calculated the Zeeman broadening of metal lines in HARPS spectra, assuming an unstructured, turbulent magnetic field. A simple line formation model with a homogeneous radial field distribution was applied to assess compatibility between previous longitudinal field measurements and the observed mean circular polarization signatures. Results. Our analysis of the Zeeman broadening of magnetically sensitive spectral lines reveals no evidence of tangled magnetic fields in any of the studied HgMn or normal stars. We infer upper limits of 200-700 G for the mean magnetic field modulus - much smaller than the field strengths implied by studies based on differential magnetic line intensification and quadratic field diagnostics. The new HARPSpol longitudinal field measurements for the extreme HgMn star HD65949 and the normal late-B star 21 Peg are consistent with zero at a precision of 3-6 G. Re-analysis of our Stokes V spectra of the spotted HgMn star HD11753 shows that the recent moment technique measurements retrieved from the same data are incompatible with the lack of circular polarization signatures in the spectrum of this star. Conclusions. We conclude that there is no evidence for substantial tangled magnetic fields on the surfaces of studied HgMn stars. We cannot independently confirm the presence of very strong quadratic or marginal longitudinal fields for these stars, so results from the moment technique are likely to be spurious.
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| 13. |
- Kochukhov, Oleg, et al.
(författare)
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First detection of linear polarization in the line profiles of active cool stars
- 2011
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Ingår i: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - 2041-8205. ; 732:2, s. L19-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The application of high-resolution spectropolarimetry has led to major progress in understanding the magnetism and activity of late-type stars. During the last decade, magnetic fields have been discovered and mapped for many types of active cool stars using spectropolarimetric data. However, these observations and modeling attempts are fundamentally incomplete since they are based on the interpretation of the circular polarization alone. Taking advantage of the newly built HARPS polarimeter, we have obtained the first systematic observations of several cool active stars in all four Stokes parameters. Here we report the detection of magnetically induced linear polarization for the primary component of the very active RS CVn binary HR 1099 and for the moderately active K dwarf epsilon Eri. For both stars the amplitude of linear polarization signatures is measured to be similar to 10(-4) of the unpolarized continuum, which is approximately a factor of 10 lower than for circular polarization. This is the first detection of the linear polarization in line profiles of cool active stars. Our observations of the inactive solar-like star alpha Cen A show neither circular nor linear polarization above the level of similar to 10(-5), indicating the absence of a net longitudinal magnetic field stronger than 0.2 G.
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| 14. |
- Kochukhov, Oleg, et al.
(författare)
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Least-squares deconvolution of the stellar intensity and polarization spectra
- 2010
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 524:1, s. A5-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. Least-squares deconvolution (LSD) is a powerful method of extracting high-precision average line profiles from the stellar intensity and polarization spectra. This technique is widely used for detection, characterization, and detailed mapping of the temperature, magnetic, and chemical abundance structures on the surfaces of stars. Aims. Despite its common usage, the LSD method is poorly documented and has never been tested with realistic synthetic spectra. In this study we revisit the key assumptions of the LSD technique, clarify its numerical implementation, discuss possible improvements and give recommendations of how to make LSD results understandable and reproducible. We also address the problem of interpretation of the moments and shapes of the LSD profiles in terms of physical parameters. Methods. We have developed an improved, multiprofile version of LSD (iLSD) and have extended the deconvolution procedure to linear polarization analysis taking into account anomalous Zeeman splitting of spectral lines. The iLSD method is applied to the theoretical Stokes parameter spectra computed for a wide wavelength interval containing all relevant spectral lines. We test various methods of interpreting the mean profiles, investigating how coarse approximations of the multiline technique translate into errors of the derived parameters. Results. We find that, generally, the Stokes parameter LSD profiles do not behave as a real spectral line with respect to the variation of magnetic field and elemental abundance. This problem is especially prominent for the Stokes I (intensity) variation with abundance and Stokes Q (linear polarization) variation with magnetic field. At the same time, the Stokes V (circular polarization) LSD spectra closely resemble the profile of a properly chosen synthetic line for the magnetic field strength up to 1 kG. The longitudinal field estimated from the Stokes V LSD profile is accurate to within 10% for the field strength below 5 kG and to within a few percent for the fields weaker than 1 kG. Our iLSD technique offers clear advantages over the standard LSD method in the individual analysis of different chemical elements. Conclusions. We conclude that the usual method of interpreting the LSD profiles by assuming that they are equivalent to a real spectral line gives satisfactory results only in a limited parameter range and thus should be applied with caution. A more trustworthy approach is to abandon the single-line approximation of the average profiles and apply LSD consistently to observations and synthetic spectra.
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| 15. |
- Kochukhov, Oleg, et al.
(författare)
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No magnetic field in the spotted HgMn star mu Leporis
- 2011
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 534, s. L13-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. Chemically peculiar stars of the mercury-manganese (HgMn) type represent a new class of spotted late-B stars, in which evolving surface chemical inhomogeneities are apparently unrelated to the presence of strong magnetic fields but are produced by some hitherto unknown astrophysical mechanism.Aims. The goal of this study is to perform a detailed line profile variability analysis and carry out a sensitive magnetic field search for one of the brightest HgMn stars -mu Lep.Methods. We acquired a set of very high-quality intensity and polarization spectra of mu Lep with the HARPSpol polarimeter. These data were analyzed with the multiline technique of least-squares deconvolution in order to extract information on the magnetic field and line profile variability.Results. Our spectra show very weak but definite variability in the lines of Sc, all Fe-peak elements represented in the spectrum of mu Lep, as well as Y, Sr, and Hg. Variability might also be present in the lines of Si and Mg. Anomalous profile shapes of Ti II and YII lines suggest a dominant axisymmetric distribution of these elements. At the same time, we found no evidence of the magnetic field in mu Lep, with the 3 sigma upper limit of only 3 G for the mean longitudinal magnetic field. This is the most stringent upper limit on the possible magnetic field derived for a spotted HgMn star.Conclusions. The very weak variability detected for many elements in the spectrum mu Lep suggests that low-contrast chemical inhomogeneities may be common in HgMn stars and that they have not been recognized until now due to the limited precision of previous spectroscopic observations and a lack of time-series data. The null result of the magnetic field search reinforces the conclusion that formation of chemical spots in HgMn stars is not magnetically driven.
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| 16. |
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| 17. |
- Lindborg, M., et al.
(författare)
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Doppler images of DI Piscium during 2004-2006
- 2014
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 562, s. A139-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims. DI Psc (HD 217352) is a Li-rich, rapidly rotating single K giant. We set out to study the spot configuration and activity level by calculating surface temperature maps of the star. Methods. We apply the Doppler imaging method on high-resolution optical spectroscopy obtained during 2004-2006. Results. In July-August 2004, no clear spot structures were visible, but the spot coverage increased in July 2005, and cool spots emerged, especially at intermediate latitudes. Later on in September 2006, the spot coverage increased and cool spots were visible on both sides of the equator. However, the map of 2006 suffers from bad phase coverage, meaning it is not possible to draw definite conclusions on the spot locations during that season. Conclusions. Compared with earlier Doppler maps of DI Psc and temperature maps obtained for other late-type stars with similar rotation rates, DI Psc seems to be in a low activity state especially during the observing season of July-August 2004. During the 2005 and 2006 observing seasons, the spot activity seen in the spectral line profiles and inferred from Doppler images increases, and the temperature contrast in our last map is more comparable to what was reported in an earlier study. Therefore, it can be concluded that the spot activity level of the star is variable over time. However, the present and previous Doppler images form too short a time series to draw conclusions about a possible activity cycle in DI Psc.
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| 18. |
- Lindborg, M., et al.
(författare)
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Doppler images of the RS CVn binary II Pegasi during the years 1994-2002
- 2011
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 526:6, s. A44-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims. We publish 16 Doppler imaging temperature maps for the years 1994-2002 of the active RS CVn star II Peg. The six maps from 1999-2002 are based on previously unpublished observations. Through Doppler imaging we want to study the spot evolution of the star and in particular compare this with previous results showing a cyclic spot behaviour and persistent, active longitudes. Methods. The observations were collected with the SOFIN spectrograph at the Nordic Optical Telescope. The temperature maps were calculated using a Doppler imaging code based on Tikhonov regularization. Results. During 1994-2001, our results show a consistent trend in the derived longitudes of the principal and secondary temperature minima over time such that the magnetic structure appears to rotate somewhat more rapidly than the orbital period of this close binary. A sudden phase jump in the active region occurred between the observing seasons of 2001 and 2002. No clear trend over time is detected in the derived latitudes of the spots, indicating that the systematic motion could be related to the drift of the spot-generating mechanism rather than to differential rotation. The derived temperature maps are quite similar to the ones obtained earlier with different methods and the main differences occur in the spot latitudes and relative strength of the spot structures. Conclusions. We observe both longitude and latitude shifts in the spot activity of II Peg. However, our results are not consistent with the periodic behaviour presented in previous studies.
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| 19. |
- Lizon, Jean Louis, et al.
(författare)
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Opto-mechanical design of a new Cross Dispersion Unit for the CRIRES plus high resolution spectrograph for the VLT
- 2014
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Ingår i: GROUND-BASED AND AIRBORNE INSTRUMENTATION FOR ASTRONOMY V. - : SPIE. - 9780819496157
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- CRIRES is one of the few IR (0.92-5.2 mu m) high-resolution spectrographs in operation at the VLT since 2006. Despite good performance it suffers a limitation that significantly hampers its ability: a small spectral coverage per exposure. The CRIRES upgrade (CRIRES+) proposes to transform CRIRES into a cross-dispersed spectrograph while maintaining the high resolution (100000) and increasing the wavelength coverage by a factor 10 compared to the current capabilities. A major part of the upgrade is the exchange of the actual cryogenic pre-disperser module by a new cross disperser unit. In addition to a completely new optical design, a number of important changes are required on key components and functions like the slit unit and detectors units. We will outline the design of these new units fitting inside a predefined and restricted space. The mechanical design of the new functions including a description and analysis will be presented. Finally we will present the strategy for the implementation of the changes.
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| 20. |
- Lockhart, Matthew, et al.
(författare)
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Novel infrared polarimeter for the ESO CRIRES plus instrument
- 2014
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Ingår i: GROUND-BASED AND AIRBORNE INSTRUMENTATION FOR ASTRONOMY V. - : SPIE. - 9780819496157
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- The CRIRES infrared spectrograph at the European Southern Observatory (ESO) Very Large Telescope (VLT) facility will soon receive an upgrade. This upgrade will include the addition of a module for performing high-resolution spectropolarimetry. The polarimetry module will incorporate a novel infrared beamsplitter based on polarization gratings (PGs). The beamsplitter produces a pair of infrared output beams, with opposite circular polarizations, which are then fed into the spectrograph. Visible light passes through the module virtually unaltered and is then available for use by the CRIRES adaptive optics system. We present the design of the polarimetry module and measurements of PG behavior in the 1 to 2.7 mu m wavelength range.
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| 21. |
- Lueftinger, T., et al.
(författare)
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Magnetic Doppler imaging of the roAp star HD 24712
- 2010
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 509:1, s. A71-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims. We present the first magnetic Doppler images of a rapidly oscillating Ap (roAp) star. Methods. We deduce information about magnetic field geometry and abundance distributions of a number of chemical elements on the surface of the hitherto best studied roAp star, HD24712, using the magnetic Doppler imaging (MDI) code, INVERS10, which allows us to reconstruct simultaneously and consistently the magnetic field geometry and elemental abundance distributions on a stellar surface. For this purpose we analyse time series spectra obtained in Stokes I and V parameters with the SOFIN polarimeter at the Nordic Optical Telescope and recover surface abundance structures of sixteen different chemical elements, respectively ions, including Mg, Ca, Sc, Ti, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Gd, Tb, and Dy. For the rare earth elements (REE) Pr and Nd separate maps were obtained using lines of the first and the second ionization stage. Results. We find and confirm a clear dipolar structure of the surface magnetic field and an unexpected correlation of elemental abundance with respect to this field: one group of elements accumulates solely where the positive magnetic pole is visible, whereas the other group avoids this region and is enhanced where the magnetic equatorial region dominates the visible stellar surface. We also observe relative shifts of abundance enhancement- or depletion regions between the various elements exhibiting otherwise similar behaviour.
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| 22. |
- Lueftinger, T., et al.
(författare)
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Surface structure of the CoRoT CP2 target star HD50773
- 2010
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 509:1, s. A43-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Aims. We compare surface maps of the chemically peculiar star HD50773 produced with a Bayesian technique and based on high quality CoRoT photometry with those derived from rotation phase resolved spectropolarimetry. The goal is to investigate the correlation of surface brightness with surface chemical abundance distribution and the stellar magnetic surface field. Methods. The rotational period of the star was determined from a nearly 60 days long continuous light curve obtained during the initial run of CoRoT. Using a Bayesian approach to star-spot modelling, which in this work is applied for the first time for the photometric mapping of a CP star, we derived longitudes, latitudes and radii of four different spot areas. Additional parameters like stellar inclination and the spot's intensities were also determined. The CoRoT observations triggered an extensive ground-based spectroscopic and spectropolarimetric observing campaign and enabled us to obtain 19 different high resolution spectra in Stokes parameters I and V with NARVAL, ESPaDOnS, and SemelPol spectropolarimeters. Doppler and Magnetic Doppler imaging techniques allowed us to derive the magnetic field geometry of the star and the surface abundance distributions of Mg, Si, Ca, Ti, Cr, Fe, Ni, Y, and Cu. Results. We find a dominant dipolar structure of the surface magnetic field. The CoRoT light curve variations and abundances of most elements mapped are correlated with the aforementioned geometry: Cr, Fe, and Si are enhanced around the magnetic poles and coincide with the bright regions on the surface of HD50773 as predicted by our light curve synthesis and confirmed by photometric imaging.
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| 23. |
- Makaganiuk, Vitalii, et al.
(författare)
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Chemical spots in the absence of magnetic field in the binary HgMn star 66 Eridani
- 2011
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 529, s. A160-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. According to our current understanding, a subclass of the upper main-sequence chemically peculiar stars, called mercury-manganese (HgMn), is non-magnetic. Nevertheless, chemical inhomogeneities were recently discovered on their surfaces. At the same time, no global magnetic fields stronger than 1-100 G are detected by systematic studies. Aims. The goals of our study are to search for a magnetic field in the HgMn binary system 66 Eri and to investigate chemical spots on the stellar surfaces of both components.Methods. Our analysis is based on high-quality spectropolarimetric time-series observations obtained during 10 consecutive nights with the HARPSpol instrument at the ESO 3.6-m telescope. To increase the sensitivity of the magnetic field search we employed a least-squares deconvolution (LSD). We used spectral disentangling to measure radial velocities and study the line profile variability. Chemical spot geometry was reconstructed using multi-line Doppler imaging.Results. We report a non-detection of magnetic field in 66 Eri, with error bars 10-24 G for the longitudinal field. Circular polarization profiles also do not indicate any signatures of complex surface magnetic fields. For a simple dipolar field configuration we estimated an upper limit of the polar field strength to be 60-70 G. For the HgMn component we found variability in spectral lines of Ti, Ba, Y, and Sr with the rotational period equal to the orbital one. The surface maps of these elements reconstructed with the Doppler imaging technique show a relative underabundance on the hemisphere facing the secondary component. The contrast of chemical inhomogeneities ranges from 0.4 for Ti to 0.8 for Ba.
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| 24. |
- Makaganiuk, Vitalii
(författare)
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Magnetic Fields and Chemical Spots in HgMn Stars
- 2011
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Mercury-manganese (HgMn) stars belong to the class of chemically peculiar (CP) stars. It was recently discovered that some HgMn stars have spots of chemical elements on their surfaces. According to conventional picture of CP stars, magnetic field facilitates the formation and long term stability of chemical spots by controlling stratification of elements in stellar atmosphere. However, previous attempts to find magnetic field in HgMn stars set an upper limit on its strength at the level of about 20-100 Gauss. Observational evidence suggested that even weaker magnetic fields can be responsible for the formation of chemical spots. The main goal of our work was to verify this possibility.The search for weak magnetic fields requires the use of least-squares deconvolution (LSD) technique. This method combines information from many spectral lines providing a mean line profile with increased signal-to-noise ratio. Up to now there was no extensive comparison of the LSD profile with real spectral lines. We showed that the LSD profile of the intensity spectrum does not behave like a real spectral line as a function of chemical composition. However, for circular polarization, LSD profile resembles the profile of a spectral line with mean atomic parameters.We performed a comprehensive search for magnetic field in 47 HgMn stars and their companions, based on high-quality spectropolarimetric data obtained with the HARPSpol polarimeter at the ESO 3.6-m telescope. With the help of LSD technique, an upper limit on the mean longitudinal magnetic field was brought down to 2-10 G for most stars. We concluded that magnetic field is not responsible for the spot formation in HgMn stars.We obtained full rotational phase coverage for the HgMn stars φ Phe and 66 Eri. This enabled us to investigate line profile variability, reconstruct surface maps of chemical elements, and perform a search for magnetic field with very high sensitivity. For φ Phe we derived surface maps of Y, Sr, Ti, Cr, and obtained an upper limit of 4 G on the field strength. We also found marginal indication of vertical stratification of Y and Ti. No magnetic field was detected in both components of 66 Eri, with an upper limit of 10-24 G. We discovered chemical spots of Y, Sr, Ba, and Ti, in the primary star. We demonstrated a relation between the binary orbit and the morphology of these spots.
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| 25. |
- Makaganiuk, Vitalii, et al.
(författare)
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Magnetism, chemical spots, and stratification in the HgMn star ϕ Phoenicis
- 2012
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Ingår i: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 539, s. A142-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Context. Mercury-manganese (HgMn) stars have been considered as non-magnetic and non-variable chemically peculiar (CP) starsfor a long time. However, recent discoveries of the variability in spectral line profiles have suggested an inhomogeneous surfacedistribution of chemical elements in some HgMn stars. From the studies of other CP stars it is known that magnetic field plays a keyrole in the formation of surface spots. All attempts to find magnetic fields in HgMn stars have yielded negative results.Aims. In this study, we investigate the possible presence of a magnetic field in ϕ Phe (HD 11753) and reconstruct surface distributionof chemical elements that show variability in spectral lines.We also test a hypothesis that a magnetic field is concentrated in chemicalspots and look into the possibility that some chemical elements are stratified with depth in the stellar atmosphere.Methods. Our analysis is based on high-quality spectropolarimetric time-series observations, covering a full rotational period ofthe star. Spectra were obtained with the HARPSpol at the ESO 3.6-m telescope. To increase the sensitivity of the magnetic fieldsearch, we employed the least-squares deconvolution (LSD) technique. Using Doppler imaging code INVERS10, we reconstructedsurface chemical distributions by utilising information from multiple spectral lines. The vertical stratification of chemical elementswas calculated with the DDAFit program.Results. Combining information from all suitable spectral lines, we set an upper limit of 4 G on the mean longitudinal magnetic field.For chemical spots, an upper limit on the longitudinal field varies between 8 and 15 G. We confirmed the variability of Y, Sr, and Tiand detected variability in Cr lines. Stratification analysis showed that Y and Ti are not concentrated in the uppermost atmosphericlayers.Conclusions. Our spectropolarimetric observations rule out the presence of a strong, globally-organised magnetic field in ϕ Phe.This implies an alternative mechanism of spot formation, which could be related to a non-equilibrium atomic diffusion. However, thetypical time scales of the variation in stratification predicted by the recent time-dependent diffusion models exceed significantly thespot evolution time-scale reported for ϕ Phe.
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