Searcharxiv⌕ Search

arXiv subjects

E. Paunzen

Publications and source records attributed to E. Paunzen.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
arXiv2018

The search for roAp stars: null results and new candidates from Stroemgren-Crawford photometry

The rapidly oscillating Ap (roAp) stars exhibit pulsational photometric and/or radial velocity variations on time scales of several minutes, which are essential to test current pulsation models as well as our assumptions of atmospheric structure characteristics. In addition, their chemical peculiarity makes them very interesting for probing stellar formation and evolution in the presence of a global magnetic field. To date, a limited number of only 61 roAp stars are known to show photometric variability. On the other hand, a literature survey yields 619 unique stars that have unsuccessfully been searched for variability of this kind. Stroemgren-Crawford uvbybeta photometry of stars from both subgroups were used to investigate whether there is a selection bias of the investigated stars. We also present new photometric measurements (202 hours in 59 different nights) of 55 roAp candidates.We did not detect any new roAp star. Although our detection limits are comparable to other surveys, we also did not find pulsations in the known roAp star HD 12098, which may be a consequence of temporal amplitude changes. On the other hand, we do find some evidence for photometric variability of beta CrB at its spectroscopically derived pulsation period. From the uvbybeta photometry we conclude that the blue border of the roAp instability strip appears observationally well defined, whereas the red border is rather poorly known and studied. Within these boundaries, a total of 4646 candidates were identified which appear worthwhile to be investigated for short-term pulsational variability.

astro-ph.GA↗
arXiv2018

Breaking the habit - the peculiar 2016 eruption of the unique recurrent nova M31N 2008-12a

Since its discovery in 2008, the Andromeda galaxy nova M31N 2008-12a has been observed in eruption every single year. This unprecedented frequency indicates an extreme object, with a massive white dwarf and a high accretion rate, which is the most promising candidate for the single-degenerate progenitor of a type-Ia supernova known to date. The previous three eruptions of M31N 2008-12a have displayed remarkably homogeneous multi-wavelength properties: (i) From a faint peak, the optical light curve declined rapidly by two magnitudes in less than two days; (ii) Early spectra showed initial high velocities that slowed down significantly within days and displayed clear He/N lines throughout; (iii) The supersoft X-ray source (SSS) phase of the nova began extremely early, six days after eruption, and only lasted for about two weeks. In contrast, the peculiar 2016 eruption was clearly different. Here we report (i) the considerable delay in the 2016 eruption date, (ii) the significantly shorter SSS phase, and (iii) the brighter optical peak magnitude (with a hitherto unobserved cusp shape). Early theoretical models suggest that these three different effects can be consistently understood as caused by a lower quiescence mass-accretion rate. The corresponding higher ignition mass caused a brighter peak in the free-free emission model. The less-massive accretion disk experienced greater disruption, consequently delaying re-establishment of effective accretion. Without the early refueling, the SSS phase was shortened. Observing the next few eruptions will determine whether the properties of the 2016 outburst make it a genuine outlier in the evolution of M31N 2008-12a.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2018

Orbital parameters and evolutionary status of the highly peculiar binary system HD 66051

The spectroscopic binary system HD 66051 (V414 Pup) consists of a highly peculiar CP3 (HgMn) star and an A-type component. It also shows out-of-eclipse variability that is due to chemical spots. This combination allows the derivation of tight constraints for the testing of time-dependent diffusion models. We analysed radial velocity and photometric data using two different methods to determine astrophysical parameters and the orbit of the system. Appropriate isochrones were used to derive the age of the system. The orbital solution and the estimates from the isochrones are in excellent agreement with the estimates from a prior spectroscopic study. The system is very close to the zero-age main sequence and younger than 120 Myr. HD 66051 is a most important spectroscopic binary system that can be used to test the predictions of the diffusion theory explaining the peculiar surface abundances of CP3 stars.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2018

Observing and modelling magnetic fields in white dwarfs

Our ongoing spectroscopic survey of high proper motion stars is a rich source of new magnetic white dwarfs. We present a few examples among cool white dwarfs showing the effect of field strength and geometry on the observed optical spectrum. Modelling of hydrogen and heavy element spectral lines reveals a range of uniform or markedly offset dipole fields in these objects.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2017

New inclination changing eclipsing binaries in the Magellanic Clouds

Context: Multiple stellar systems are unique laboratories for astrophysics. Analysis of their orbital dynamics may reveal invaluable information about the physical properties of the participating stars. Unfortunately, there are only a few known and well described multiple systems, this is even more so for systems located outside the Milky Way galaxy. A particularly interesting situation occurs when the inner binary in a compact triple system is eclipsing. This is because the stellar interaction, typically resulting in precession of orbital planes, may be observable as a variation of depth of the eclipses on a long timescale. Aims: We aim to present a novel method to determine compact triples using publicly available photometric data from large surveys. Here we apply it to eclipsing binaries (EBs) in Magellanic Clouds from OGLE III database. Methods: We analyzed light curves (LCs) of 26121 LMC and 6138 SMC EBs with the goal to identify those for which the orbital inclination varies in time. Archival LCs of the selected systems, when complemented by our own observations with Danish 1.54m telescope, were thoroughly analyzed using the PHOEBE program. Time dependence of the EB's inclination was described using the theory of orbital-plane precession. By observing the parameter-dependence of the precession rate, we were able to constrain the third companion mass and its orbital period around EB. Results: We identified 58 candidates of new compact triples in Magellanic Clouds. This is the largest published sample of such systems so far. Eight of them were analyzed thoroughly and physical parameters of inner binary were determined together with an estimation of basic characteristics of the third star. These data may provide important clues about stellar formation mechanisms for objects with different metalicity than found in our galactic neighborhood.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2016

CCD UBV Photometry and Kinematics of the Open Cluster NGC 225

We present the results of CCD $UBV$ photometric and spectroscopic observations of the open cluster NGC 225. In order to determine the structural parameters of NGC 225, we calculated the stellar density profile in the cluster's field. We estimated the probabilities of the stars being physical members of the cluster using the existing astrometric data. The most likely members of the cluster were used in the determination of the astrophysical parameters of the cluster. We calculated the mean radial velocity of the cluster as $V_{r}=-8.3\pm 5.0$ km s$^{-1}$ from the optical spectra of eight stars in the cluster's field. Using the U-B vs B-V two-colour diagram and UV excesses of the F-G type main-sequence stars, the reddening and metallicity of NGC 225 were inferred as $E(B-V)=0.151\pm 0.047$ mag and $[Fe/H]=-0.11\pm 0.01$ dex, respectively. We fitted the colour-magnitude diagrams of NGC 225 with the PARSEC isochrones and derived the distance modulus, distance and age of the cluster as $μ_{V}=9.3\pm 0.07$ mag, d=585$\pm$20 pc and $t=900\pm 100$ Myr, respectively. We also estimated the galactic orbital parameters and space velocity components of the cluster and found that the cluster has a slightly eccentric orbit of $e=0.07\pm 0.01$ and an orbital period of $P_{orb}= 255\pm 5$ Myr.

astro-ph.GA↗
arXiv2016

CCD UBV photometry of the open cluster NGC 6819

We present the results of CCD UBV observations of the open cluster NGC 6819. We calculated the stellar density profile in the cluster's field to determine the structural parameters of NGC 6819. Using the existing astrometric data, we calculated the probabilities of the stars being physical members of the cluster, and used these objects in the determination of the astrophysical parameters of NGC 6819. We inferred the reddening and metallicity of the cluster as $E(B-V)=0.130\pm0.035$ mag and $[Fe/H]=+0.051\pm 0.020$ dex, respectively, using the U-B vs B-V two-colour diagram and UV excesses of the F-G type main-sequence stars. We fit the colour-magnitude diagrams of NGC6819 with the PARSEC isochrones and derived the distance modula, distance and age of the cluster as $μ_{V}=12.22\pm 0.10$ mag, $d=2309\pm106$ pc and $t=2.4\pm0.2$ Gyr, respectively. The parameters of the galactic orbit estimated for NGC 6819 indicate that the cluster is orbiting in a slightly eccentric orbit of $e=0.06$ with a period of $P_{orb}=142$ Myr. The slope of the mass function estimated for the cluster is close to the one found for the stars in the solar neighbourhood.

astro-ph.GA↗
arXiv2016

Peranso - Light Curve and Period Analysis Software

A time series is a sample of observations of well-defined data points obtained through repeated measurements over a certain time range. The analysis of such data samples has become increasingly important not only in natural science but also in many other fields of research. Peranso offers a complete set of powerful light curve and period analysis functions to work with large, astronomical data sets. Substantial attention has been given to ease-of-use and data accuracy, making it one of the most productive time series analysis software available. In this paper, we give an introduction to Peranso and its functionality.

astro-ph.IM↗
arXiv2015

Magnetic, chemically peculiar (CP2) stars in the SuperWASP survey

The magnetic chemically peculiar (CP2) stars of the upper main sequence are well-suited for investigating the impact of magnetic fields on the surface layers of stars, which leads to abundance inhomogeneities (spots) resulting in photometric variability. The light changes are explained in terms of the oblique rotator model; the derived photometric periods thus correlate with the rotational periods of the stars. CP2 stars exhibiting this kind of variability are classified as alpha2 Canum Venaticorum (ACV) variables. We have analysed around 3 850 000 individual photometric WASP measurements of magnetic chemically peculiar (CP2) stars and candidates selected from the Catalogue of Ap, HgMn, and Am stars, with the ultimate goal of detecting new ACV variables. In total, we found 80 variables, from which 74 are reported here for the first time. The data allowed us to establish variability for 23 stars which had been reported as probably constant in the literature before. Light curve parameters were obtained for all stars by a least-squares fit with the fundamental sine wave and its first harmonic. Because of the scarcity of Stroemgren uvbybeta measurements and the lack of parallax measurements with an accuracy better than 20%, we are not able to give reliable astrophysical parameters for the investigated objects.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2015

On the metallicity of open clusters. III. Homogenised sample

Open clusters are known as excellent tools for various topics in Galactic research. For example, they allow accurately tracing the chemical structure of the Galactic disc. However, the metallicity is known only for a rather low percentage of the open cluster population, and these values are based on a variety of methods and data. Therefore, a large and homogeneous sample is highly desirable. In the third part of our series we compile a large sample of homogenised open cluster metallicities using a wide variety of different sources. These data and a sample of Cepheids are used to investigate the radial metallicity gradient, age effects, and to test current models. We used photometric and spectroscopic data to derive cluster metallicities. The different sources were checked and tested for possible offsets and correlations. In total, metallicities for 172 open cluster were derived. We used the spectroscopic data of 100 objects for a study of the radial metallicity distribution and the age-metallicity relation. We found a possible increase of metallicity with age, which, if confirmed, would provide observational evidence for radial migration. Although a statistical significance is given, more studies are certainly needed to exclude selection effects, for example. The comparison of open clusters and Cepheids with recent Galactic models agrees well in general. However, the models do not reproduce the flat gradient of the open clusters in the outer disc. Thus, the effect of radial migration is either underestimated in the models, or an additional mechanism is at work. [abridged]

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2015

Chemically peculiar stars as seen with 2MASS

The chemically peculiar (CP) stars of the upper main sequence are well suited for investigating the impact of magnetic fields and diffusion on the surface layers of slowly rotating stars. They can even be traced in the Magellanic Clouds and are important to the understanding of the stellar formation and evolution. A systematic investigation of the near-infrared (NIR), 2MASS JHKs, photometry for the group of CP stars has never been performed. Nowadays, there is a great deal of data available in the NIR that reach very large distances. It is therefore very important for CP stars to be unambiguously detected in the NIR region and for these detections to be used to derive astrophysical parameters (age and mass) by applying isochrone fitting. Furthermore, we investigated whether the CP stars behave in a different way to normal-type stars in the various photometric diagrams. For our analysis, we carefully compiled a sample of CP and apparently normal (non-peculiar) type stars. Only stars for which high-quality (i.e. with low error levels), astrometric, and photometric data are available were chosen. In total, 639 normal and 622 CP stars were selected and further analysed. All stars were dereddened and calibrated in terms of the effective temperature and absolute magnitude (luminosity). Finally, isochrone fitting was applied. No differences in the astrophysical parameters derived from 2MASS and Johnson UBV photometry were found. Furthermore, no statistical significant deviations from the normal type stars within several colour-colour and colour-magnitude diagrams were discovered. Therefore, it is not possible to detect new CP stars with the help of the photometric 2MASS colours only. A new effective temperature calibration, valid for all CP stars, using the (V-Ks)0 colour was derived.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2015

A comparative study on the reliability of open cluster parameters

Open clusters are known as excellent tracers of the structure and chemical evolution of the Galactic disk, however, the accuracy and reliability of open cluster parameters is poorly known. In recent years, several studies aimed to present homogeneous open cluster parameter compilations, which are based on some different approaches and photometric data. These catalogues are excellent sources to facilitate testing of the actual accuracy of open cluster parameters. We compare seven cluster parameter compilations statistically and with an external sample, which comprises the mean results of individual studies. Furthermore, we selected the objects IC 4651, NGC 2158, NGC 2383, NGC 2489, NGC 2627, NGC 6603, and Trumpler 14, with the main aim to highlight differences in the fitting solutions. We derived correction terms for each cluster parameter, using the external calibration sample. Most results by the compilations are reasonable scaled, but there are trends or constant offsets of different degree. We also identified one data set, which appears too erroneous to allow adjustments. After the correction, the mean intrinsic errors amount to about 0.2 dex for the age, 0.08 mag for the reddening, and 0.35 mag for the distance modulus. However, there is no study that characterises the cluster morphologies of all test cases in a correct and consistent manner. Furthermore, we found that the largest compilations probably include at least 20 percent of problematic objects, for which the parameters differ significantly. These could be among others doubtful or unlikely open clusters that do not facilitate an unambiguous fitting solution.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2015

A comprehensive study of the open cluster NGC 6866

We present CCD $UBVRI$ photometry of the field of the open cluster NGC 6866. Structural parameters of the cluster are determined utilizing the stellar density profile of the stars in the field. We calculate the probabilities of the stars being a physical member of the cluster using their astrometric data and perform further analyses using only the most probable members. The reddening and metallicity of the cluster were determined by independent methods. The LAMOST spectra and the ultraviolet excess of the F and G type main-sequence stars in the cluster indicate that the metallicity of the cluster is about the solar value. We estimated the reddening $E(B-V)=0.074 \pm 0.050$ mag using the $U-B$ vs $B-V$ two-colour diagram. The distance modula, the distance and the age of NGC 6866 were derived as $μ= 10.60 \pm 0.10$ mag, $d=1189 \pm 75$ pc and $t = 813 \pm 50$ Myr, respectively, by fitting colour-magnitude diagrams of the cluster with the PARSEC isochrones. The Galactic orbit of NGC 6866 indicates that the cluster is orbiting in a slightly eccentric orbit with $e=0.12$. The mass function slope $x=1.35 \pm 0.08$ was derived by using the most probable members of the cluster.

astro-ph.GA↗
arXiv2015

Lambda Bootis stars in the SuperWASP survey

We have analysed around 170 000 individual photometric WASP measurements of 15 well established lambda Bootis stars to search for variability. The lambda Bootis stars are a small group of late-B to early-F, Pop. I, stars that show moderate to extreme (surface) underabundances (up to a factor 100) of most Fe-peak elements, but solar abundances of lighter elements (C, N, O and S). They are excellent laboratories for the study of fundamental astrophysical processes such as diffusion, meridional circulation, stellar winds, and accretion in the presence of pulsation. From the 15 targets, eight are variable and seven are apparently constant with upper limits between 0.8 and 3.0 mmag. We present a detailed time series analysis and a comparison with previously published results. From an asteroseismologic study we conclude that the found chemical peculiarities are most probably restricted to the surface.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2015

A search for photometric variability in magnetic chemically peculiar stars using ASAS-3 data

The (magnetic) chemically peculiar (CP) stars of the upper main sequence are well-suited laboratories for investigating the influence of magnetic fields on the stellar surface because they produce abundance inhomogeneities (spots), which results in photometric variability that is explained in terms of the oblique rotator model. CP stars exhibiting this phenomenon are normally classified as alpha2 Canum Venaticorum (ACV) variables. It is important to increase the sample of known rotational periods among CP stars by discovering new ACV variables. The ASAS-3 data were cross-correlated with the Catalogue of Ap, HgMn, and Am stars in order to analyse the light curves of bona fide CP and related stars. The light curves were downloaded and cleaned of outliers and data points with a flag indicating bad quality. Promising candidates showing a larger scatter than observed for constant stars in the corresponding magnitude range were searched for periodic signals using a standard Fourier technique. In total, we found 323 variables, from which 246 are reported here for the first time, and 77 were probably wrongly classified before. The observed variability pattern of most stars is in accordance with an ACV classification. For some cases, it is difficult to distinguish between the light curves of double-waved ACVs and the variability induced by orbital motion (ellipsoidal variables/eclipsing variables), especially for objects exhibiting very small amplitudes and/or significant scatter in their light curves. Thus, some eclipsing or rotating ellipsoidal variables might be present. However, we are confident that the given periods are the correct ones. There seems to be a possible weak correlation between the rotational period and colour, in the sense that cooler magnetic CP stars rotate more slowly. However, this correlation seems to disappear when correcting for the interstellar reddening.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2015

The Hvar survey for roAp stars: II. Final results (Research Note)

The 60 known rapidly oscillating Ap (roAp) stars are excellent laboratories to test pulsation models in the presence of stellar magnetic fields. Our survey is dedicated to search for new group members in the Northern Hemisphere. We attempt to increase the number of known chemically peculiar stars that are known to be pulsationally unstable. About 40 h of new CCD photometric data of 21 roAp candidates, observed at the 1m Austrian-Croatian Telescope (Hvar Observatory) are presented. We carefully analysed these to search for pulsations in the frequency range of up to 10mHz. No new roAp star was detected among the observed targets. The distribution of the upper limits for roAp-like variations is similar to that of previoius similar efforts using photomultipliers and comparable telescope sizes. In addition to photometric observations, we need to consolidate spectroscopic information to select suitable targets.

astro-ph.SR↗
arXiv2014

CCD UBVRI photometry of NGC 6811

We present the results of CCD UBVRI observations of the open cluster NGC 6811 obtained on 18th July 2012 with the 1m telescope at the TÜBİTAK National Observatory (TUG). Using these photometric results, we determine the structural and astrophysical parameters of the cluster. The mean photometric uncertainties are better than 0.02 mag in the V magnitude and B-V, V-R, and V-I colour indices to about 0.03 mag for U-B among stars brighter than magnitude V=18. Cluster member stars were separated from the field stars using the Galaxia model of Sharma et al. (2011) together with other techniques. The core radius of the cluster is found to be $r_{c}$=3.60 arcmin. The astrophysical parameters were determined simultaneously via Bayesian statistics using the colour-magnitude diagrams V versus B-V, V versus V-I, V versus V-R, and V versus R-I of the cluster. The resulting most likely parameters were further confirmed using independent methods, removing any possible degeneracies. The colour excess, distance modulus, metallicity and the age of the cluster are determined simultaneously as E(B-V)=0.05$\pm$0.01 mag, $μ=10.06\pm0.08$ mag, [M/H]=-0.10$\pm$0.01 dex and t=1.00$\pm$0.05 Gyr, respectively. Distances of five red clump stars which were found to be members of the cluster further confirm our distance estimation.

astro-ph.GA↗