arXiv subjects

Ernst Paunzen

Publications and source records attributed to Ernst Paunzen.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2021

Updated parameters of 1743 open clusters based on Gaia DR2

In this study we follow up our recent paper (Monteiro et al. 2020) and present a homogeneous sample of fundamental parameters of open clusters in our Galaxy, entirely based on Gaia DR2 data. We used published membership probability of the stars derived from Gaia DR2 data and applied our isochrone fitting code, updated as in Monteiro et al. (2020), to GB and GR Gaia DR2 data for member stars. In doing this we take into account the nominal errors in the data and derive distance, age, and extinction of each cluster. This work therefore provides parameters for 1743 open clusters and, as a byproduct, a list of likely not physical or dubious open clusters is provided as well for future investigations. Furthermore, it was possible to estimate the mean radial velocity of 831 clusters (198 of which are new and unpublished so far) using stellar radial velocities from Gaia DR2 catalog. By comparing the open cluster distances obtained from isochrone fitting with those obtained from a maximum likelihood estimate of individual member parallaxes, we found a systematic offset of $(-0.05\pm0.04)$mas.

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arXiv2020

Low-mass and sub-stellar eclipsing binaries in stellar clusters

We highlight the importance of eclipsing double-line binaries in our understanding on star formation and evolution. We review the recent discoveries of low-mass and sub-stellar eclipsing binaries belonging to star-forming regions, open clusters, and globular clusters identified by ground-based surveys and space missions with high-resolution spectroscopic follow-up. These discoveries provide benchmark systems with known distances, metallicities, and ages to calibrate masses and radii predicted by state-of-the-art evolutionary models to a few percent. We report their density and discuss current limitations on the accuracy of the physical parameters. We discuss future opportunities and highlight future guidelines to fill gaps in age and metallicity to improve further our knowledge of low-mass stars and brown dwarfs.

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arXiv2020

A plethora of new, magnetic chemically peculiar stars from LAMOST DR4

Magnetic chemically peculiar (mCP) stars are important to astrophysics because their complex atmospheres lend themselves perfectly to the investigation of the interplay between such diverse phenomena as atomic diffusion, magnetic fields, and stellar rotation. The present work is aimed at identifying new mCP stars using spectra collected by the Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope (LAMOST). Suitable candidates were selected by searching LAMOST DR4 spectra for the presence of the characteristic 5200A flux depression. Spectral classification was carried out with a modified version of the MKCLASS code and the accuracy of the classifications was estimated by comparison with results from manual classification and the literature. Using parallax data and photometry from Gaia DR2, we investigated the space distribution of our sample stars and their properties in the colour-magnitude diagram. Our final sample consists of 1002 mCP stars, most of which are new discoveries (only 59 previously known). Traditional mCP star peculiarities have been identified in all but 36 stars, highlighting the efficiency of the code's peculiarity identification capabilities. The derived temperature and peculiarity types are in agreement with manually derived classifications and the literature. Our sample stars are between 100 Myr and 1 Gyr old, with the majority having masses between 2M(Sun) and 3M(Sun). Our results could be considered as strong evidence for an inhomogeneous age distribution among low-mass (M < 3M(Sun)) mCP stars. We identified several astrophysically interesting objects: two mCP stars have distances and kinematical properties in agreement with halo stars; an eclipsing binary system hosting an mCP star component; and an SB2 system likely comprising of an mCP star and a supergiant component.

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arXiv2020

High-Amplitude gamma Doradus Variables

According to most literature sources, the amplitude of the pulsational variability observed in gamma Doradus stars does not exceed 0.1 mag in Johnson V. We have analyzed fifteen high-amplitude gamma Doradus stars with photometric peak-to-peak amplitudes well beyond this limit, with the aim of unraveling the mechanisms behind the observed high amplitudes and investigating whether these objects are in any way physically distinct from their low-amplitude counterparts. We have calculated astrophysical parameters and investigated the location of the high-amplitude gamma Doradus stars and a control sample of fifteen low-amplitude objects in the log Teff versus log L diagram. Employing survey data and our own observations, we analyzed the photometric variability of our target stars using discrete Fourier transform. Correlations between the observed primary frequencies, amplitudes and other parameters like effective temperature and luminosity were investigated. The unusually high amplitudes of the high-amplitude gamma Doradus stars can be explained by the superposition of several base frequencies in interaction with their combination and overtone frequencies. Although the maximum amplitude of the primary frequencies does not exceed an amplitude of 0.1 mag, total light variability amplitudes of over 0.3 mag (V) can be attained in this way. Low- and high-amplitude gamma Doradus stars do not appear to be physically distinct in any other respect than their total variability amplitudes but merely represent two ends of the same, uniform group of variables.

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arXiv2020

Mapping Local Interstellar Medium With Diffuse Interstellar Bands

With the use of the data from archives, we studied the correlations between the equivalent widths of four diffuse interstellar bands (4430$Å$, 5780$Å$, 5797$Å$, 6284$Å$) and properties of the target stars (colour excess values, distances and Galactic coordinates). Many different plots of the diffuse interstellar bands and their maps were produced and further analysed. There appears to be a structure in the plot of equivalent widths of 5780$Å$ DIB (and 6284$Å$ DIB) against the Galactic $x$-coordinate. The structure is well defined below $\sim150$ m$Å$ and within $|x|<250$ pc, peaking around $x=170$ pc. We argue that the origin of this structure is not a statistical fluctuation. Splitting the data in the Galactic longitude into several subregions improves or lowers the well known linear relation between the equivalent widths and the colour excess, which was expected. However, some of the lines of sight display drastically different behaviour. The region within $150^\circ<l<200^\circ$ shows scatter in the correlation plots with the colour excess for all of the four bands with correlation coefficients $\textrm{R}<0.58$. We suspect that the variation of physical conditions in the nearby molecular clouds could be responsible. Finally, the area $250^\circ<l<300^\circ$ displays (from the statistical point of view) significantly lower values of equivalent widths than the other regions -- this tells us that there is either a significant underabundance of carriers (when compared with the other regions) or that this has to be a result of an observational bias.

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arXiv2020

New and improved rotational periods of magnetic CP stars from ASAS-3, KELT and MASCARA data

Magnetic chemically peculiar (mCP) stars allow the investigation of such diverse phenomena as atomic diffusion, magnetic fields and stellar rotation. The aim of the present investigation is to enhance our knowledge of the rotational properties of mCP stars by increasing the sample of objects with accurately determined rotational periods. To this end, archival photometric time-series data from the ASAS-3, KELT and MASCARA surveys were employed to improve existing rotational period information and derive rotational periods for mCP stars hitherto not known to be photometric variables. Our final sample consists of 294 mCP stars, a considerable amount of which (more than 40%) are presented here as photometric variables for the first time. In addition, we identified 24 mCP star candidates that show light variability in agreement with rotational modulation but lack spectroscopic confirmation. The rotational period distribution of our sample agrees well with the literature.Most stars are between 100Myr and 1Gyr old, with an apparent lack of very young stars. No objects were found on the zero age main sequence; several stars seem to have evolved to the subgiant stage, albeit well before the first dredge-up. We identified four eclipsing binaries (HD 244391, HD 247441, HD 248784 and HD 252519), which potentially host an mCP star. This is of great interest because mCP stars are very rarely found in close binary systems, particularly eclipsing ones. Using archival spectra, we find strong evidence that the HD 252519 system indeed harbours an mCP star component.

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arXiv2019

A revisit to the enigmatic variable star 21 Comae

The magnetic chemically peculiar (Ap/CP2) star 21 Com has been extensively studied in the past, albeit with widely differing and sometimes contradictory results, in particular concerning the occurrence of short term variability between about 5 to 90 minutes. We have performed a new investigation of 21 Com using MOST satellite and high-cadence ground-based photometry, time series spectroscopy, and evolutionary and pulsational modeling. Our analysis confirms that 21 Com is a classical CP2 star showing increased abundances of, in particular, Cr and Sr. From spectroscopic analysis, we have derived Teff = 8900(200) K, log g = 3.9(2), and vsini = 63(2) km/s. Our modeling efforts suggest that 21 Com is a main sequence (MS) star seen equator-on with a mass of 2.29(10) M(Sun) and a radius of R = 2.6(2) R(Sun). Our extensive photometric data confirm the existence of rotational light variability with a period of 2.05219(2) d. However, no significant frequencies with a semi-amplitude exceeding 0.2 mmag were found in the frequency range from 5 to 399 c/d. Our RV data also do not indicate short-term variability. We calculated pulsational models assuming different metallicities and ages, which do not predict the occurrence of unstable modes. The star 18 Com, often employed as comparison star for 21 Com in the past, has been identified as a periodic variable (P = 1.41645 d). While it is impossible to assess whether 21 Com has exhibited short-term variability in the past, the new observational data and several issues/inconsistencies identified in previous studies strongly suggest that 21 Com is neither a delta Scuti nor a roAp pulsator but a "well-behaved" CP2 star exhibiting its trademark rotational variability.

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arXiv2019

An overview of the properties of a sample of newly-identified magnetic chemically peculiar stars in the Kepler field

We present a comprehensive overview of the properties of a sample of 41 magnetic chemically peculiar stars that have been recently identified in the Kepler field by our team (Hümmerich et al. 2018). The stars populate the whole age range from zero-age to terminal-age main sequence in the mass interval from 1.5 to 4 Ms. Several of the studied objects exhibit a hitherto unobserved wealth of detail in their light curves indicative of persisting complex surface structures. Monoperiodic variability and light curve stability were identified as cardinal criteria for selecting mCP star candidates among early-type objects in photometric surveys. Subsequent studies will be concerned with an exhaustive follow-up analysis of the new mCP stars, which we expect to lead to new insights on the physics of the CP star phenomenon.

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arXiv2018

T Tauri stars in the SuperWASP and NSVS surveys

We present a study of the long-term optical variability of young T Tauri stars using previously unpublished data from the SuperWASP project. Other publicly available photometry from NSVS and the NASA K2 mission were used to check and supplement our results. Our sample includes twenty weak-lined T Tauri stars in the Taurus-Auriga star-forming region. We have performed a period search on the long time-series photometry and derived the mean periods of stars in our sample. We have found new periods for the stars V1334 Tau (HD 283782) and V1349 Tau (HD 31281) without any estimation of the period in literature. The rotation period was found for the primary star in the binary V773 Tau (HD 283447). Several earlier results were updated. For the star V410 Tau (HD 283518), we have compared the light curve changes found in previous studies to the new measurements and attributed the evolution of spots to a ~15-year cycle similar to the solar 11-year cycle. We have also derived luminosities and effective temperatures for our targets, in order to locate them in the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram and to calibrate the masses and ages of the target stars.

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arXiv2018

TYC 3637-1152-1 - a High Amplitude delta Scuti star with peculiar pulsational properties

In some delta Scuti stars, only one or two radial modes are excited (usually the fundamental mode and/or first overtone mode) and the observed peak-to-peak amplitudes exceed 0.3 mag (V). These stars are known as High Amplitude Delta Scuti (HADS) variables. We here present a detailed photometric and spectroscopic analysis of the HADS star TYC 3637-1152-1. We have derived a metallicity close to solar, a spectral type of F4V and an age of log t = 9.1. Employing archival time series data from different sources, two frequencies f0 =10.034 c/d and f1 =12.681 c/d and their harmonics and linear combinations were identified. The period ratio of f0/f1 = 0.791 puts this star into a peculiar position in the Petersen diagram, from which we conclude that TYC 3637-1152-1 is a unique object with peculiar pulsational properties that indicate a transitional state between HADS stars pulsating in the fundamental and first overtone modes and stars pulsating in higher overtones.

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arXiv2018

Evidence of enhanced magnetism in cool, polluted white dwarfs

We report the discovery of a new, polluted, magnetic white dwarf in the Luyten survey of high-proper motion stars. High-dispersion spectra of NLTT 7547 reveal a complex heavy element line spectrum in a cool (~5 200 K) hydrogen-dominated atmosphere showing the effect of a surface averaged field of 163 kG, consistent with a 240 kG centred dipole, although the actual field structure remains uncertain. The abundance pattern shows the effect of accreted material with a distinct magnesium-rich flavour. Combined with earlier identifications, this discovery supports a correlation between the incidence of magnetism in cool white dwarfs and their contamination by heavy elements.

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arXiv2018

The Kepler view of magnetic chemically peculiar stars

Magnetic chemically peculiar (mCP) stars exhibit complex atmospheres that allow the investigation of such diverse phenomena as atomic diffusion, magnetic fields, and stellar rotation. The advent of space-based photometry provides the opportunity for the first precise characterizations of the photometric variability properties of these stars. We carried out a search for new mCP stars in the Kepler field with the ultimate aim of investigating their photometric variability properties using Kepler data. As an aside, we describe criteria for selecting mCP star candidates based on light curve properties, and assess the accuracy of the spectral classifications provided by the MKCLASS code. As only very few known mCP stars are situated in the Kepler field, we had to depend largely on alternative (nonspectroscopic) means of identifying suitable candidates that rely mostly on light curve properties; in particular we relied on monoperiodic variability and light curve stability. Newly acquired and archival spectra were used to confirm most of our mCP star candidates. Linear ephemeris parameters and effective amplitudes were derived from detrended Kepler data. Our final sample consists of 41 spectroscopically confirmed mCP stars of which 39 are new discoveries, 5 candidate mCP stars, and 7 stars in which no chemical peculiarities could be established. Our targets populate the whole age range from zero-age main sequence to terminal-age main sequence and are distributed in the mass interval from 1.5 M_sun to 4 M_sun. About 25% of the mCP stars show a hitherto unobserved wealth of detail in their light curves indicative of complex surface structures. We identified light curve stability as a primary criterion for identifying mCP star candidates among early-type stars in large photometric surveys, and prove the reliability of the spectral classifications provided by the MKCLASS code.

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arXiv2018

An investigation of the photometric variability of confirmed and candidate Galactic Be stars using ASAS-3 data

We present an investigation of a large sample of confirmed (N=233) and candidate (N=54) Galactic classical Be stars (mean V magnitude range of 6.4 to 12.6 mag), with the main aim of characterizing their photometric variability. Our sample stars were preselected among early-type variables using light curve morphology criteria. Spectroscopic information was gleaned from the literature, and archival and newly-acquired spectra. Photometric variability was analyzed using archival ASAS-3 time series data. To enable a comparison of results, we have largely adopted the methodology of Labadie-Bartz et al. (2017), who carried out a similar investigation based on KELT data. Complex photometric variations were established in most stars: outbursts on different time-scales (in 73$\pm$5% of stars), long-term variations (36$\pm$6%), periodic variations on intermediate time-scales (1$\pm$1%) and short-term periodic variations (6$\pm$3%). 24$\pm$6% of the outbursting stars exhibit (semi)periodic outbursts. We close the apparent void of rare outbursters reported by Labadie-Bartz et al. (2017) and show that Be stars with infrequent outbursts are not rare. While we do not find a significant difference in the percentage of stars showing outbursts among early-type, mid-type and late-type Be stars, we show that early-type Be stars exhibit much more frequent outbursts. We have measured rising and falling times for well-covered and well-defined outbursts. Nearly all outburst events are characterized by falling times that exceed the rising times. No differences were found between early-, mid- and late-type stars; a single non-linear function adequately describes the ratio of falling time to rising time across all spectral subtypes, with the ratio being larger for short events.

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arXiv2018

$τ$ Ori and $τ$ Lib: Two new massive heartbeat binaries

We report the discovery of two massive eccentric systems with BRITE data, $τ$ Ori and $τ$ Lib, showing heartbeat effects close to the periastron passage. $τ$ Lib exhibits shallow eclipses that will soon vanish due to the apsidal motion in the system. In neither system, tidally excited oscillations were detected.

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arXiv2017

A Spectroscopic and Photometric Investigation of the Mercury-Manganese Star KIC 6128830

The advent of space-based photometry provides the opportunity for the first precise characterizations of variability in Mercury-Manganese (HgMn/CP3) stars, which might advance our understanding of their internal structure. We have carried out a spectroscopic and photometric investigation of the candidate CP3 star KIC 6128830. A detailed abundance analysis based on newly-acquired high-resolution spectra was performed, which confirms that the star's abundance pattern is fully consistent with its proposed classification. Photometric variability was investigated using four years of archival Kepler data. In agreement with results from the literature, we have identified a single significant and independent frequency $f_1$=0.2065424 d$^{-1}$ with a peak-to-peak amplitude of $\sim$3.4 mmag and harmonic frequencies up to $5f_1$. Drawing on the predictions of state-of-the-art pulsation models and information on evolutionary status, we discuss the origin of the observed light changes. Our calculations predict the occurrence of g-mode pulsations at the observed variability frequency. On the other hand, the strictly mono-periodic nature of the variability strongly suggests a rotational origin. While we prefer the rotational explanation, the present data leave some uncertainty.

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arXiv2017

HD66051, an eclipsing binary hosting a highly peculiar, HgMn-related star

HD66051 is an eclipsing system with an orbital period of about 4.75 d that exhibits out-of-eclipse variability with the same period. New multicolour photometric observations confirm the longevity of the secondary variations, which we interpret as a signature of surface inhomogeneities on one of the components. Using archival and newly acquired high-resolution spectra, we have performed a detailed abundance analysis. The primary component is a slowly rotating late B-type star ($T_{\rm eff} = 12500\pm200$ K; $\log g = 4.0$, $v\sin i = 27\pm2$ km s$^{-1}$) with a highly peculiar composition reminiscent of the singular HgMn-related star HD 65949, which seems to be its closest analogue. Some light elements as He, C, Mg, Al are depleted, while Si and P are enhanced. Except for Ni, all the iron-group elements, as well as most of the heavy elements, and in particular the REE elements, are overabundant. The secondary component was estimated to be a slowly rotating A-type star ($T_{\rm eff} \sim 8000$ K; $\log g = 4.0$, $v\sin i \sim 18$ km s$^{-1}$). The unique configuration of HD\,66051 opens up intriguing possibilities for future research, which might eventually and significantly contribute to the understanding of such diverse phenomena as atmospheric structure, mass transfer, magnetic fields, photometric variability and the origin of chemical anomalies observed in HgMn stars and related objects.

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arXiv2017

A search for peculiar stars in the open cluster Hogg 16

The study of chemically peculiar (CP) stars in open clusters provides valuable information about their evolutionary status. Their detection can be performed using the $Δa$ photometric system, which maps a characteristic flux depression at $λ\sim 5200$ Å. This paper aims at studying the occurrence of CP stars in the earliest stages of evolution of a stellar population by applying this technique to Hogg 16, a very young Galactic open cluster (about 25 Myr). We identified several peculiar candidates: two B-type stars with a negative $Δa$ index (CD-60 4701, CPD-60 4706) are likely emission-line (Be) stars, even though spectral measurements are necessary for a proper classification of the second one; a third object (CD-60 4703), identified as a Be candidate in literature, appears to be a background B-type supergiant with no significant $Δa$ index, which does not rule out the possibility that it is indeed peculiar as the normality line of $Δa$ for supergiants has not been studied in detail yet. A fourth object (CD-60 4699) appears to be a magnetic CP star of 8 M$_\odot$, but obtained spectral data seem to rule out this hypothesis. Three more magnetic CP star candidates are found in the domain of early F-type stars. One is a probable nonmember and close to the border of significance, but the other two are probably pre-main sequence cluster objects. This is very promising, as it can lead to very strong constraints to the diffusion theory. Finally, we derived the fundamental parameters of Hogg 16 and provide for the first time an estimate of its metal content.

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arXiv2017

An Investigation of the Rotational Properties of Magnetic Chemically Peculiar Stars

The magnetic chemically peculiar (mCP) stars of the upper main sequence exhibit strong, globally-organised magnetic fields which are inclined to the rotational axis and facilitate the development of surface abundance inhomogeneities resulting in photometric and spectroscopic variability. Therefore, mCP stars are perfectly suited for a direct measurement of the rotational period without the need for any additional calibrations. We have investigated the rotational properties of mCP stars based on an unprecedentedly large sample consisting of more than 500 objects with known rotational periods. Using precise parallaxes from the Hipparcos and Gaia satellite missions, well-established photometric calibrations and state-of-the-art evolutionary models, we have determined the location of our sample stars in the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram and derived astrophysical parameters such as stellar masses, effective temperature, radii, inclinations and critical rotational velocities. We have confirmed the conservation of angular momentum during the main sequence evolution; no signs of additional magnetic braking were found. The inclination angles of the rotational axes are randomly distributed, although an apparent excess of fast rotators with comparable inclination angles has been observed. We have found a rotation rate of $\upsilon/\upsilon_{\rm crit} \geq 0.5$ for several stars, whose characteristics cannot be explained by current models. For the first time, we have derived the relationship between mass and rotation rate of mCP stars, and provide an analysis that links mass and rotation with magnetic field strength. Our sample is unique and offers crucial input for forthcoming evolutionary models that include the effects of magnetic fields for upper main sequence stars.

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