arXiv subjects

J. Kubát

Publications and source records attributed to J. Kubát.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Multiplicity of Massive Stars at Low Metallicity: Early Results from the BLOeM Campaign

Massive stars at low metallicity (Z) play a central role in shaping the high-redshift Universe, yet their multiplicity remains poorly constrained. The Binarity at Low Metallicity (BLOeM) campaign is a two-year survey of 929 stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud with the Fibre Large Array Multi Element Spectrograph (FLAMES) instrument at ESO's Very Large Telescope, providing the first large-scale spectroscopic monitoring of massive stars at low Z (1/5 solar). Analysis of the initial nine epochs reveals high intrinsic binary fractions (>70%) on the main sequence and a steep decline in evolved objects. Analysis of the full dataset will yield orbital solutions, identify black-hole companions, and allow a derivation of the initial mass function for single and binary stars at low Z.

physics.gen-ph↗

arXiv2025

Revisiting the Evolutionary Status of Massive Stars at the central parsec of the Milky Way

Massive stars and their winds have a large influence in their environment, e.g, determining the accretion rate on to the Galactic Centre (GC) super-massive black hole Sgr A*. The winds of those stars collide and are accreted, at a rate that depends on their chemical composition. Here we aim to revisit the evolutionary status of the evolved massive stars at the GC, by means of new tracks based on updated mass-loss rate recipes for the earlier stages of massive stars. We use the Geneva-evolution-code for initial stellar masses ranging from 20 to 60 $M_\odot$, for metallicity $Z=0.020$. We adopt a new mass-loss rate recipe for the line-driven winds of O-type stars and B-supergiants, plus a new recipe for the dust-driven winds of red supergiants (RSG). Additionally, we set up initial rotation $Ω/Ω_\text{crit}=0.4$, and we adopt the Ledoux criterion for the treatment of convection in inner layers. We found that evolution models adopting new mass-loss rate prescriptions predict that stars will lose less of their outer layers during their initial phases, while a big reduction of mass happens at the RSG phase. As a consequence, the resulting Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars are less radially homogeneous in their inner structure from the core to the surface. Also, these new evolution models predict the absence of hydrogen-free WN stars. These evolutionary predictions agree better with the observed chemical abundances of the WR stars at the GC. We provide a table with the chemical H, He, and CNO abundances calculated for the different subtypes of WR stars. We propose a different re-arrangement of the WR subtypes to be used for the modelling of the collision of their winds. We discuss the potential implications of these changes for the colliding winds generated from the massive stars at the GC, which are accreting onto the supermassive black hole Sgr A*.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2025

Binarity at LOw Metallicity (BLOeM): a spectroscopic VLT monitoring survey of massive stars in the SMC

Surveys in the Milky Way and Large Magellanic Cloud revealed that the majority of massive stars will interact with companions during their lives. However, knowledge of the binary properties of massive stars at low metallicity, which approaches the conditions of the Early Universe, remains sparse. We present the Binarity at LOw Metallicity (BLOeM) campaign - an ESO large programme designed to obtain 25 epochs of spectroscopy for 929 massive stars in the SMC - the lowest metallicity conditions in which multiplicity is probed to date (Z = 0.2 Zsun). BLOeM will provide (i) the binary fraction, (ii) the orbital configurations of systems with periods P < 3 yr, (iii) dormant OB+BH binaries, and (iv) a legacy database of physical parameters of massive stars at low metallicity. The stars are observed with the LR02 setup of the giraffe instrument of the Very Large Telescope (3960-4570A, resolving power R=6200; typical signal-to-noise ratio S/N=70-100). This paper utilises the first 9 epochs obtained over a three-month time. We describe the survey and data reduction, perform a spectral classification of the stacked spectra, and construct a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram of the sample via spectral-type and photometric calibrations. The sample covers spectral types from O4 to F5, spanning the effective temperature and luminosity ranges 6.5<Teff/kK<45 and 3.7<log L/Lsun<6.1 and initial masses 8<Mini/Msun<80. It comprises 159 O-type stars, 331 early B-type (B0-3) dwarfs and giants (luminosity classes V-III), 303 early B-type supergiants (II-I), and 136 late-type supergiants. At least 82 stars are Oe/Be stars: 20 O-type and 62 B-type (13% and 11% of the respective samples). In addition, it includes 4 high-mass X-ray binaries, 3 stars resembling luminous blue variables, 2 bloated stripped-star candidates, 2 candidate magnetic stars, and 74 eclipsing binaries.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2025

The twin red giant branch system BD+20 5391 A case study of low-mass double-core evolution

Understanding interactions of binary systems on the red giant branch is crucial to understanding the formation of compact stellar remnants such as helium-core white dwarfs (He-WDs) and hot subdwarfs. However, the detailed evolution of such systems, particularly those with nearly identical components, remains under-explored. We aim to analyse the double-lined spectroscopic binary system BD+20 5391, composed of two red giant stars, in order to characterise its orbital and stellar parameters and to constrain its evolution. Spectroscopic data were collected between 2020 and 2025 using the Ondřejov Echelle Spectrograph and the Mercator Échelle Spectrograph. The time-resolved spectra were fitted with models to determine the radial velocity curve and derive the system's parameters. We then used the position of both stars in the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram to constrain the system's current evolutionary state, and we discuss potential outcomes of future interactions between the binary components. We find that the two stars in BD+20 5391 will likely initiate Roche lobe overflow (RLOF) simultaneously, leading to a double-core evolution scenario. The stars' helium core masses at RLOF onset will be almost identical, at 0.33 $\mathrm{M}_{\odot}$. This synchronised evolution suggests two possible outcomes: common envelope ejection, resulting in a short-period double He-WD binary, or a merger without envelope ejection. In the former case, the resulting double He-WD may merge later and form a hot subdwarf star. This study provides a valuable benchmark example for understanding the evolution of interacting red giant binaries, which will be discovered in substantial numbers in upcoming large-scale spectroscopic surveys.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2025

Where are the binaries? -- Searching for blue horizontal-branch stars in binary systems in the inner Galactic Halo

Blue horizontal-branch (BHB) stars are evolved low-mass objects that have completed their core hydrogen burning main-sequence (MS) stage and have lost significant mass during the red giant phase culminating in the helium flash. We determine the fraction of BHBs in binary systems over a wide range of separations in the inner Galactic Halo to constrain mass-loss mechanisms and evolutionary pathways. Using a catalog of 22,336 BHB candidates from Gaia DR3, we analysed radial velocity variations found in spectra (263 spectra of 89 targets) acquired using the Ondrejov Echelle spectrograph at the Astronomical Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences together with archival spectra from the Ultraviolet and Visual Echelle Spectrograph (UVES) and Fiber-fed Extended Range Optical Spectrograph (FEROS). We searched for wide common proper motion pairs, binary candidates with enhanced astrometric noise, and binaries with astrometric orbital solutions in Gaia DR3. Archival light curves from Gaia DR3 and the Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) were checked for binary induced variations. Synthetic SEDs and binary detection probabilities were modelled to account for selection effects. We find a binary fraction of <2.2%, far lower than the rates for their main-sequence (MS) and red-giant branch (RGB) progenitors (30-50%). This suggests that BHBs are either not descendants of binary systems, or that existing companions do not survive the BHB formation process. The negligible binary fraction implies single-star evolution could dominate BHB formation, contrasting with EHB stars where binarity is critical. Our results challenge models of mass loss on the RGB and highlight the need for alternative mechanisms.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2025

Binarity at Low Metallicity (BLOeM) -- Multiplicity properties of Oe and Be stars

Rapidly rotating classical OBe stars have been proposed as the products of binary interactions, and the fraction of Be stars with compact companions implies that at least some are. However, to constrain the interaction physics spinning up the OBe stars, a large sample of homogeneously analysed OBe stars with well-determined binary characteristics and orbital parameters are required. We investigate the multiplicity properties of a sample of 18 Oe, 62 Be, and two Of?p stars observed within the BLOeM survey in the Small Magellanic Cloud. We analyse the first nine epochs of spectroscopic observations obtained over approximately three months in 2023. Radial velocities (RVs) of all stars are measured. Applying commonly-used binarity criteria we classify objects as binaries, binary candidates, and apparently single (RV stable) objects. We further inspect the spectra for double-lined spectroscopic binaries and cross-match with catalogues of X-ray sources and photometric binaries. We classify 14 OBe stars as binaries, and an additional 11 as binary candidates. The two Of?p stars are apparently single. Two more objects are most likely currently interacting binaries. Without those, the observed binary fraction for the OBe sample (78 stars) is f_OBe_obs=0.18+/-0.04 (f_obs_cand=0.32+/-0.05 including candidates). This fraction is less than half of that measured for OB stars in BLOeM. Combined with the lower fraction of SB2s, this suggests that OBe stars have indeed fundamentally different binary properties than OB stars. We find no evidence for OBe binaries with massive compact companions, in contrast to expectations from binary population synthesis. Our results support the binary scenario as an important formation channel for OBe stars, as post-interaction binaries may have been disrupted or the stripped companions of OBe stars are harder to detect.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2024

Science with a small two-band UV-photometry mission II: Observations of stars and stellar systems

We outline the impact of a small two-band UV-photometry satellite mission on the field of stellar physics, magnetospheres of stars, binaries, stellar clusters, interstellar matter, and exoplanets. On specific examples of different types of stars and stellar systems, we discuss particular requirements for such satellite missions in terms of specific mission parameters such as bandpass, precision, cadence, and mission duration. We show that such a mission may provide crucial data not only for hot stars that emit most of their light in UV, but also for cool stars, where UV traces their activity. This is important, for instance, for exoplanetary studies, because the level of stellar activity influences habitability. While the main asset of the two-band UV mission rests in time-domain astronomy, an example of open clusters proves that such a mission would be important also for the study of stellar populations. Properties of the interstellar dust are best explored when combining optical and IR information with observations in UV. It is well known that dust absorbs UV radiation efficiently. Consequently, we outline how such a UV mission can be used to detect eclipses of sufficiently hot stars by various dusty objects and study disks, rings, clouds, disintegrating exoplanets or exoasteroids. Furthermore, UV radiation can be used to study the cooling of neutron stars providing information about the extreme states of matter in the interiors of neutron stars and used for mapping heated spots on their surfaces.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2022

Quick Ultra-VIolet Kilonova surveyor (QUVIK)

We present a near-UV space telescope on a ~70kg micro-satellite with a moderately fast repointing capability and a near real-time alert communication system that has been proposed in response to a call for an ambitious Czech national mission. The mission, which has recently been approved for Phase 0, A, and B1 study shall measure the brightness evolution of kilonovae, resulting from mergers of neutron stars in the near-UV band and thus it shall distinguish between different explosion scenarios. Between the observations of transient sources, the satellite shall perform observations of other targets of interest, a large part of which will be chosen in open competition.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2019

Low-metallicity massive single stars with rotation. II. Predicting spectra and spectral classes of chemically-homogeneously evolving stars

Context. Metal-poor massive stars are supposed to be progenitors of certain supernovae, gamma-ray bursts and compact object mergers, potentially contributing to the early epochs of the Universe with their strong ionizing radiation. However, they remain mainly theoretical as individual spectroscopic observations of such objects have rarely been carried out below the metallicity of the SMC. Aims. This work aims at exploring what our state-of-the-art theories of stellar evolution combined with those of stellar atmospheres predict about a certain type of metal-poor (0.02 Z$_{\odot}$) hot massive stars, the chemically homogeneously evolving ones, called TWUIN stars. Methods. Synthetic spectra corresponding to a broad range in masses (20-130 M$_{\odot}$) and covering several evolutionary phases from the zero-age main-sequence up to the core helium-burning stage were computed. Results. We find that TWUIN stars show almost no emission lines during most of their {core hydrogen-burning} lifetimes. Most metal lines are completely absent, including nitrogen. During their core helium-burning stage, lines switch to emission and even some metal lines (oxygen and carbon, but still almost no nitrogen) show up. Mass loss and clumping play a significant role in line-formation in later evolutionary phases, particularly during core helium-burning. Most of our spectra are classified as an early O type giant or supergiant, and we find Wolf-Rayet stars of type WO in the core helium-burning phase. Conclusions. An extremely hot, early O type star observed in a low-metallicity galaxy could be the outcome of chemically homogeneous evolution $-$ and therefore the progenitor of a long-duration gamma-ray burst or a type Ic supernova. TWUIN stars may play an important role in reionizing the Universe due to their being hot without showing prominent emission lines during the majority of their lifetimes.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2019

The effect of horizontal plasma inhomogeneities in 3D NLTE radiation transfer in stellar atmospheres

{We aim to demonstrate the effect of atmospheric inhomogeneities on the emergent specific intensity and radiation flux of a spectral line radiation.} {We self-consistently solve the NLTE problem for a two-level atom in a 3D atmosphere using the Cartesian grid. For that purpose, we use the 3D radiative transfer code PORTA. By examining simple examples, we study cases where the temperature inhomogeneities in the atmosphere models lead to the modification of the emergent radiation.} {We show that specific temperature inhomogeneities in the model atmospheres influence the emerging radiation, and that interpretation of the stellar spectra based on a plane-parallel atmosphere models can lead to erroneous conclusions about the atmospheric structure.}

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2017

Eclipsing binary stars with a $δ$ Scuti component

Eclipsing binaries with a $δ$ Sct component are powerful tools to derive the fundamental parameters and probe the internal structure of stars. In this study, spectral analysis of 6 primary $δ$ Sct components in eclipsing binaries has been performed. Values of $T_{\rm eff}$, $v \sin i$, and metallicity for the stars have been derived from medium-resolution spectroscopy. Additionally, a revised list of $δ$ Sct stars in eclipsing binaries is presented. In this list, we have only given the $δ$ Sct stars in eclipsing binaries to show the effects of the secondary components and tidal-locking on the pulsations of primary $δ$ Sct components. The stellar pulsation, atmospheric and fundamental parameters (e.g., mass, radius) of 92 $δ$ Sct stars in eclipsing binaries have been gathered. Comparison of the properties of single and eclipsing binary member $δ$ Sct stars has been made. We find that single $δ$ Sct stars pulsate in longer periods and with higher amplitudes than the primary $δ$ Sct components in eclipsing binaries. The $v \sin i$ of $δ$ Sct components is found to be significantly lower than that of single $δ$ Sct stars. Relationships between the pulsation periods, amplitudes, and stellar parameters in our list have been examined. Significant correlations between the pulsation periods and the orbital periods, $T_{\rm eff}$, $\log g$, radius, mass ratio, $v \sin i$, and the filling factor have been found.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2016

An extensive spectroscopic time-series of three Wolf-Rayet stars. I. The lifetime of large-scale structures in the wind of WR 134

During the summer of 2013, a 4-month spectroscopic campaign took place to observe the variabilities in three Wolf-Rayet stars. The spectroscopic data have been analyzed for WR 134 (WN6b), to better understand its behaviour and long-term periodicity, which we interpret as arising from corotating interaction regions (CIRs) in the wind. By analyzing the variability of the He II $λ$5411 emission line, the previously identified period was refined to P = 2.255 $\pm$ 0.008 (s.d.) days. The coherency time of the variability, which we associate with the lifetime of the CIRs in the wind, was deduced to be 40 $\pm$ 6 days, or $\sim$ 18 cycles, by cross-correlating the variability patterns as a function of time. When comparing the phased observational grayscale difference images with theoretical grayscales previously calculated from models including CIRs in an optically thin stellar wind, we find that two CIRs were likely present. A separation in longitude of $Δϕ\simeq$ 90$^{\circ}$ was determined between the two CIRs and we suggest that the different maximum velocities that they reach indicate that they emerge from different latitudes. We have also been able to detect observational signatures of the CIRs in other spectral lines (C IV $λλ$5802,5812 and He I $λ$5876). Furthermore, a DAC was found to be present simultaneously with the CIR signatures detected in the He I $λ$5876 emission line which is consistent with the proposed geometry of the large-scale structures in the wind. Small-scale structures also show a presence in the wind, simultaneously with the larger scale structures, showing that they do in fact co-exist.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2013

Macroclumping as solution of the discrepancy between Hα and P v mass loss diagnostics for O-type stars

Recent studies of O-type stars demonstrated that discrepant mass-loss rates are obtained when different diagnostic methods are employed - fitting the unsaturated UV resonance lines (e.g. P v) gives drastically lower values than obtained from the Hα emission. Wind clumping may be the main cause for this discrepancy. In a previous paper, we have presented 3-D Monte-Carlo calculations for the formation of scattering lines in a clumped stellar wind. In the present paper we select five O-type supergiants (from O4 to O7) and test whether the reported discrepancies can be resolved this way. In the first step, the analyses start with simulating the observed spectra with Potsdam Wolf-Rayet (PoWR) non-LTE model atmospheres. The mass-loss rates are adjusted to fit best to the observed Hα emission lines. For the unsaturated UV resonance lines (i.e. P v) we then apply our 3-D Monte-Carlo code, which can account for wind clumps of any optical depths, a non-void inter-clump medium, and a velocity dispersion inside the clumps. The ionization stratifications and underlying photospheric spectra are adopted from the PoWR models. From fitting the observed resonance line profiles, the properties of the wind clumps are constrained. Our results show that with the mass-loss rates that fit Hα (and other Balmer and He II lines), the UV resonance lines (especially the unsaturated doublet of P v) can also be reproduced without problem when macroclumping is taken into account. There is no need to artificially reduce the mass-loss rates, nor to assume a sub-solar phosphorus abundance or an extremely high clumping factor, contrary to what was claimed by other authors. These consistent mass-loss rates are lower by a factor of 1.3 to 2.6, compared to the mass-loss rate recipe from Vink et al. Macroclumping resolves the previously reported discrepancy between Hα and P v mass-loss diagnostics.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2010

Spectroscopic analysis of the B/Be visual binary HR 1847

We studied both components of a slightly overlooked visual binary HR 1847 spectroscopically to determine its basic physical and orbital parameters. Basic stellar parameters were determined by comparing synthetic spectra to the observed echelle spectra, which cover both the optical and near-IR regions. New observations of this system used the Ondřejov and Rozhen 2-m telescopes and their coudé spectrographs. Radial velocities from individual spectra were measured and then analysed with the code {\FOTEL} to determine orbital parameters. The spectroscopic orbit of HR 1847A is presented for the first time. It is a single-lined spectroscopic binary with a B-type primary, a period of 719.79 days, and a highly eccentric orbit with e=0.7. We confirmed that HR 1847B is a Be star. Its Hαemission significantly decreased from 2003 to 2008. Both components have a spectral type B7-8 and luminosity class IV-V.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2010

Properties and nature of Be stars: 27. Orbital and recent long-term variations of the Pleiades Be star Pleione = BU Tauri

Radial-velocity variations of the H-alpha emission measured on the steep wings of the H-alpha line, prewhitened for the long-time changes, vary periodically with a period of (218.025 +/- 0.022)d, confirming the suspected binary nature of the bright Be star Pleione, a member of the Pleiades cluster. The orbit seems to have a high eccentricity over 0.7, but we also briefly discuss the possibility that the true orbit is circular and that the eccentricity is spurious owing to the phase-dependent effects of the circumstellar matter. The projected angular separation of the spectroscopic orbit is large enough to allow the detection of the binary with large optical interferometers, provided the magnitude difference primary - secondary is not too large. Since our data cover the onset of a new shell phase up to development of a metallic shell spectrum, we also briefly discuss the recent long-term changes. We confirm the formation of a new envelope, coexisting with the previous one, at the onset of the new shell phase. We find that the full width at half maximum of the H-alpha profile has been decreasing with time for both envelopes. In this connection, we briefly discuss Hirata's hypothesis of precessing gaseous disk and possible alternative scenarios of the observed long-term changes.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2007

A hydrodynamic scheme for two-component winds from hot stars

We have developed a time-dependent two-component hydrodynamics code to simulate radiatively-driven stellar winds from hot stars. We use a time-explicit van Leer scheme to solve the hydrodynamic equations of a two-component stellar wind. Dynamical friction due to Coulomb collisions between the passive bulk plasma and the line-scattering ions is treated by a time-implicit, semi-analytic method using a polynomial fit to the Chandrasekhar function. This gives stable results despite the stiffness of the problem. This method was applied to model stars with winds that are both poorly and well-coupled. While for the former case we reproduce the mCAK solution, for the latter case our solution leads to wind decoupling.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

Radiative transfer in moving media II. Solution of the radiative transfer equation in axial symmetry

A new method for the formal solution of the 2D radiative transfer equation in axial symmetry in the presence of arbitrary velocity fields is presented. The combination of long and short characteristics methods is used to solve the radiative transfer equation. We include the velocity field in detail using the Local Lorentz Transformation. This allows us to obtain a significantly better description of the photospheric region, where the gradient of the global velocity is too small for the Sobolev approximation to be valid. Sample test calculations for the case of a stellar wind and a rotating atmosphere are presented.

astro-ph↗