arXiv subjects

J. F. González

Publications and source records attributed to J. F. González.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2021

Fundamental parameters of the eclipsing binary DD CMa and evidence for mass exchange

We present a detailed photometric and spectroscopic analysis of DD CMa, based on published survey photometry and new spectroscopic data. We find an improved orbital period of $P_\mathrm{o}= 2.0084530 \pm 0.0000006 ~\mathrm{d}$. Our spectra reveal H$β$ and H$α$ absorptions with weak emission shoulders and we also find color excess in the WISE multiband photometry, interpreted as signatures of circumstellar matter. We model the $V$-band orbital light curve derived from the ASAS and ASAS-SN surveys, assuming a semidetached configuration and using the mass ratio and temperature of the hotter star derived from our spectroscopic analysis. Our model indicates that the system consists of a B 2.5 dwarf and a B 9 giant of radii 3.2 and 3.7 $\mathrm{R_{\odot}}$, respectively, orbiting in a circular orbit of radius 6.75 $\mathrm{R_{\odot}}$. We also found $M_{\mathrm{c}} = 1.7 \pm 0.1 ~\mathrm{M_{\odot}}$, $T_{\mathrm{c}} = 11350 \pm 100 ~\mathrm{K}$ and $M_{\mathrm{h}} = 6.4 \pm 0.1 ~\mathrm{M_{\odot}}$, $T_{\mathrm{h}} = 20000 \pm 500 ~\mathrm{K}$, for the cooler and hotter star, respectively. We find broad single emission peaks in H$α$ and H$β$ after subtracting the synthetic stellar spectra. Our results are consistent with mass exchange between the stars, and suggest the existence of a stream of gas being accreted onto the early B-type star.

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arXiv2019

The active RS CVn-type system SZ Pictoris

We study the short and long-term variability of the spectroscopic binary SZ Pictoris, a southern RS CVn-type system. We used mid-resolution echelle spectra obtained at CASLEO spanning 18 years, and photometric data from the ASAS database V-band and from the Optical Robotic Observatory (BVRI-bands) for similar time lapses. We separated the composite spectra into those corresponding to both components, and we were able to determine accurate orbital parameters, in particular an orbital period of 4.95 days. We also observed a photometric modulation with half the orbital period, due to the ellipticity of the stars. We also found cyclic activity with a period of ~ 2030 days, both in the photometry and in the Ca II flux of the secondary star of the system.

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arXiv2018

HD 38858: a solar type star with a $\sim$10.8 yr activity cycle. Searching for Balmer and metallic line variations

Context. The detection of chromospheric activity cycles in solar-analogue and twin stars, can be used to put in context the solar cycle. However, there is a relatively low percentage of these stars with activity cycles detected. It is well known that the cores of Ca II H&K lines are modulated by stellar activity. The behaviour of Balmer and other optical lines with stellar activity is not yet completely understood. Aims. To search for Ca II H&K, Balmer and Fe II line variations modulated by the stellar activity. In particular, we apply a novel strategy to detect possible shape variations in the Hα line. Methods. We analyse activity signatures in HD 38858 by using HARPS and CASLEO spectra obtained between 2003 and 2017. We calculate the Mount Wilson index (S$_{MW}$), log($\mathrm{R}'_\mathrm{HK}$) and the statistical moments of Ca II H&K, Balmer and other optical lines. We search for periodicities by using the generalized Lomb-Scargle periodogram. Results. We detect a long-term activity cycle of 10.8 yr in Ca II H&K and Hα, being HD 38858 one of the most similar stars to the Sun for which a cycle has been detected. In contrast, this cycle is marginally detected in the Fe II lines. Also, we detect a noticeable radial velocity variation, which seems to be produced by stellar activity. Conclusions. HD 38858 is the second solar-analogue star where we find a clear activity cycle which is replicated by Balmer lines. Spectral indexes based on the shape of Hα seems to be more realiable than the fluxes in the same line to detect activity variations. On the other hand, the cyclic modulation detected gives place to a radial velocity variation, previously associated to a super-Earth planet. Finally, due to the similarity of HD 38858 with the Sun, we recommend to continue monitoring this star.

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arXiv2018

HD 149277: a rare short-period SB2 system with a subsynchronously rotating magnetic He-rich primary

HD 149277 is a rare SB2 system with a slowly rotating magnetic He-rich primary with $P_{\rm rot}=25.4$ d. The CFHT/ESPaDOnS archive spectra revealed $P_{\rm orb}=11.5192 \pm 0.0005$ d indicating strong subsynchronous rotation of the primary component. Such a strong subsynchronous rotation was not detected in any other SB2 system with a magnetic chemically peculiar component. Our inspection of the spectra revealed the presence of resolved Zeeman split spectral lines allowing us to determine the variability of the mean magnetic field modulus over the rotation period. The maximum of the magnetic field modulus concides roughly with the positive extremum of the longitudinal field, whereas the minimum of the modulus with the negative extremum of the longitudinal field. No evidence for a longitudinal magnetic field was seen in the circularly polarized spectra of the secondary component. Using archival data from the ASAS3 survey, we find in the frequency spectrum only one significant peak, corresponding to the period $P_{\rm phot}=25.390 \pm 0.014$ d. This value is in good agreements with the previous determination of the rotation period, $P_{\rm rot}=25.380\pm0.007$ d, which was based on longitudinal magnetic field measurements.

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arXiv2018

$ζ^{1} + ζ^{2}$ Reticuli binary system: A puzzling chromospheric activity pattern

We perform, for the first time, a detailed long-term activity study of the binary system $ζ$ Ret. We use all available HARPS spectra obtained between the years 2003 and 2016. We built a time series of the Mount Wilson $S$ index for both stars, then we analyse these series by using Lomb-Scargle periodograms. The components $ζ^{1}$ Ret and $ζ^{2}$ Ret that belong to this binary system are physically very similar to each other and also similar to our Sun, which makes it a remarkable system. We detect in the solar-analogue star $ζ^{2}$ Ret a long-term activity cycle with a period of $\sim$10 yr, similar to the solar one ($\sim$11 yr). It is worthwhile to mention that this object satisfies previous criteria for a flat star and for a cycling star simultaneously. Another interesting feature of this binary system, is a high $\sim$0.220 dex difference between the averages log($\mathrm{R}'_\mathrm{HK}$) activity levels of both stars. Our study clearly shows that $ζ^{1}$ Ret is significantly more active than $ζ^{2}$ Ret. In addition, $ζ^{1}$ Ret shows an erratic variability in its stellar activity. In this work, we explore different scenarios trying to explain this rare behaviour in a pair of coeval stars, which could help to explain the difference in this and other binary systems. From these results, we also warn that for the development of activity-age calibrations (which commonly use binary systems and/or stellar clusters as calibrators) it should be taken into account the whole history of activity available of the stars involved.

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arXiv2016

Discovery of an activity cycle in the solar-analog HD 45184. Exploring Balmer and metallic lines as activity proxy candidates

(Abridged) Most stellar activity cycles similar to that found in the Sun have been detected by using the chromospheric Ca II H&K lines as stellar activity proxies. However, it is unclear if such activity cycles could be identified using other optical lines. Aims. To detect activity cycles in solar-analog stars and determine if these can be identified through other optical lines, such as Fe II and Balmer lines. We study the solar-analog star HD 45184. Methods. We analyse the activity signatures of HD 45184 by using 291 HARPS spectra obtained between 2003 and 2014. In order to search for line-core fluxes variations, we focus on Ca II H&K and Balmer H$α$, H$β$ lines, which are usually used as optical chromospheric activity indicators. We calculate the HARPS-S index from Ca II H&K lines and convert it to the Mount-Wilson scale. In addition, we also consider as activity indicators the equivalent widths of Balmer lines. Moreover, we analyse the possible variability of Fe II and other metallic lines in the optical spectra. Results. We report for the first time a long-term 5.14-yr activity cycle in the solar-analog star HD 45184. This makes HD 45184 one of most similar stars to the Sun with known activity cycle. Such variation is also evident in the first lines of the Balmer series, which not always show a correlation with activity in solar-type stars. Notably, unlike the solar case, we also found that the equivalent widths of the high photospheric Fe II lines (4924 Å, 5018 Å and 5169 Å) are modulated ($\pm$ 2 mÅ) by the chromospheric cycle of the star. From short-term modulation of the S index we calculate a rotational period of 19.98 days, which agrees with its mean chromospheric activity level.

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arXiv2014

Spectroscopic study of early-type multiple stellar systems II. New binary subsystems

Context. This work is part of a long-term spectroscopic study of a sample of 30 multiple stars with early-type components. In this second paper we present the results of six multiple systems in which new stellar components have been detected. Aims. The main aim is to increase the knowledge of stellar properties and dynamical structure of early-type multiple stellar systems. Methods. Using spectroscopic observations taken over a time baseline of more than 5 years we measured RVs by cross-correlations and applied a spectral disentangling method to double-lined systems. Besides the discovery of objects with double-lined spectra, the existence of new spectroscopic subsystems have been inferred from the radial velocity variations of single-lined components and through the variation of the barycentric velocity of double-lined subsystems. Orbital elements have been calculated when possible. Results. Seven new stellar components and two members that we expect to confirm with new observations have been discovered in the six studied multiples. We present orbital parameters for two double-lined binaries and preliminary orbits for three single-lined spectroscopic binaries. Five of the six analysed systems are quadruples, while the remaining has five components distributed in four hierarchical levels. These multiplicity orders are in fact lower limits, since these systems lack high-resolution visual observations and additional hierarchical level might exist in that separation range. Conclusions. The six analysed systems have greater multiplicity degree and a more complex hierarchical structure than previously known, which suggests that high-order multiple systems are significantly more frequent that it is currently estimated. The long term spectroscopic monitoring of multiple systems has shown to be useful for the detection of companions in intermediate hierarchical levels.

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arXiv2011

He II 4686 in eta Carinae: collapse of the wind-wind collision region during periastron passage

The periodic spectroscopic events in eta Carinae are now well established and occur near the periastron passage of two massive stars in a very eccentric orbit. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the variations of different spectral features, such as an eclipse by the wind-wind collision boundary, a shell ejection from the primary star or accretion of its wind onto the secondary. All of them have problems explaining all the observed phenomena. To better understand the nature of the cyclic events, we performed a dense monitoring of eta Carinae with 5 Southern telescopes during the 2009 low excitation event, resulting in a set of data of unprecedented quality and sampling. The intrinsic luminosity of the He II 4686 emission line (L~310 Lsun) just before periastron reveals the presence of a very luminous transient source of extreme UV radiation emitted in the wind-wind collision (WWC) region. Clumps in the primary's wind probably explain the flare-like behavior of both the X-ray and He II 4686 light-curves. After a short-lived minimum, He II 4686 emission rises again to a ne

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arXiv2011

Accurate stellar rotational velocities using the Fourier transform of the cross correlation maximum

We propose a method for measuring the projected rotational velocity $v sin i$ with high-precision even in spectra with blended lines. Though not automatic, our method is designed to be applied systematically to large numbers of objects without excessive computational requirement. We calculate the cross correlation function (CCF) of the object spectrum against a zero-rotation template and use the Fourier transform (FT) of the CCF central maximum to measure the parameter $v sin i$ taking the limb darkening effect and its wavelength dependence into account. The procedure also improves the definition of the CCF base line resulting in errors related to the continuum position under 1 % even for $vsin i$ = 280 km/s. Tests with high-resolution spectra of F-type stars indicate that an accuracy well below 1 % can be attained even for spectra where most lines are blended. We have applied the method to measure $v sin i$ in 251 A-type stars. For stars with $vsin i$ over 30 km/s (2-3 times our spectra resolution) our measurement errors are below 2.5 % with a typical value of 1%. We compare our results with Royer et al. (2002a) using 155 stars in common, finding systematic differences of about 5 % for rapidly rotating stars.

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arXiv2010

Abundances in the Herbig Ae star HD 101412: Abundance anomalies; Lambda Boo-Vega characteristics?

Context: Recent attention has been directed to abundance variations among very young stars. Aims: To perform a detailed abundance study of the Herbig Ae star HD 101412, taking advantage of its unusually sharp spectral lines. Methods: High-resolution spectra are measured for accurate wavelengths and equivalent widths. Balmer-line fits and ionization equlibria give a relation between Teff, and log(g). Abundance anomalies and uncertain reddening preclude the use of spectral type or photometry to fix Teff. Excitation temperatures are used to break the degeneracy between Teff and log(g). Results: Strong lines are subject to an anomalous saturation that cannot be removed by assuming a low microturbulence. By restricting the analysis to weak (<= 20 m[A]) lines, we find consistent results for neutral and ionized species, based on a model with Teff = 8300K, and log(g)=3.8. The photosphere is depleted in the most refractory elements, while volatiles are normal or, in the case of nitrogen, overabundant with respect to the sun. The anomalies are unlike those of Ap or Am stars. Conclusions: We suggest the anomalous saturation of strong lines arises from heating of the upper atmospheric layers by infalling material from a disk. The overall abundance pattern may be related to those found for the Lambda Boo stars, though the depletions of the refractory elements are milder, more like those of Vega. However, the intermediate volatile zinc is depleted, precluding a straightforward interpretation of the abundance pattern in terms of gas-grain separation.

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arXiv2010

HD 65949: Rosetta Stone or Red Herring

HD 65949 is a late B star with exceptionally strong Hg II at 3984[A], but it is not a typical HgMn star. The Re II spectrum is of extraordinary strength. Abundances, or upper limits are derived here for 58 elements based on a model with Teff = 13100K, and log(g) = 4.0. Even-Z elements through nickel show minor deviations from solar abundances. Anomalies among the odd-Z elements through copper are mostly small. Beyond the iron peak, a huge scatter is found. The abundance pattern of the heaviest elements resembles the N=126 r-process peak of solar material, though not in detail. We find a significant correlation of the abundance excesses with second ionization potentials for elements with Z > 30. This indicates the relevance of photospheric or near-photospheric processes. We explore a model with mass accretion of exotic material followed by the more commonly accepted differentiation by diffusion. That model leads to a number of predictions which challenge future work. Likely primary and secondary masses are near 3.3 and 1.6 M(solar), with a separation of ca. 0.25 AU. New atomic structure calculations are presented in two appendices.

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arXiv2010

AO Vel: The role of multiplicity in the development of chemical peculiarities in late B-type stars

We present high-resolution, high signal-to-noise UVES spectra of AO Vel, a quadruple system containing an eclipsing BpSi star. From these observations we reconstruct the spectra of the individual components and perform an abundance analysis of all four stellar members. We found that all components are chemically peculiar with different abundances patters. In particular, the two less massive stars show typical characteristics of HgMn stars. The two most massive stars in the system show variable line profiles indicating the presence of chemical spots. Given the youth of the system and the notable chemical peculiarities of their components, this system could give important insights in the origin of chemical anomalies.

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