arXiv subjects

John B. Lester

Publications and source records attributed to John B. Lester.

22 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2008

Modeling Stellar Atmospheres with a Spherically Symmetric Version of the Atlas Code: Testing the Code by Comparisons to Interferometric Observations and PHOENIX Models

One of the current opportunities for stellar atmospheric modeling is the interpretation of optical interferometric data of stars. Starting from the robust, open source ATLAS atmospheric code (Kurucz, 1979), we have developed a spherically symmetric code, SATLAS, as a new option for modeling stellar atmospheres of low gravity stars. The SATLAS code is tested against both interferometric observations of M giants by Wittkowski and collaborators, and spherically symmetric M giant NextGen models from the PHOENIX code. The SATLAS models predict interferometric visibilities that agree with the observed visibilities and with predicted visibilities, and the SATLAS atmospheric structures also agree with those from spherical PHOENIX models, with just small differences in temperature and pressure at large depths in the atmospheres.

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arXiv2008

Modeling Mass-Loss and Infrared Excess in Large Magellanic Cloud Cepheids

The purpose of this preliminary work is to determine if Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) Cepheids have stellar winds. If a Cepheid undergoes mass loss then at some distance from the star, a fraction of the gas becomes dust, which causes an infrared excess. Mass loss is tested using OGLE II optical observations and SAGE infrared observations for a sample of 488 Cepheids. The resultant mass-loss rates range from $10^{-12}$ to $10^{-7}$ $M_\odot/yr$. Using the mass--loss model we compute infrared stellar luminosities for the sample of Cepheids and compare predicted infrared PL relations with observed relations. The predicted relations not only vary from the observed relations, implying mass loss plays a significant role, but also show evidence for non-linearity. It is determined that mass loss is important for LMC Cepheids.

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arXiv2008

On the Enhancement of Mass Loss in Cepheids Due to Radial Pulsation

An analytical derivation is presented for computing mass-loss rates of Cepheids by using the method of Castor, Abbott, & Klein (1975) modified to include a term for momentum input from pulsation and shocks generated in the atmosphere. Using this derivation, mass-loss rates of Cepheids are determined as a function of stellar parameters. When applied to a set of known Cepheids, the calculated mass-loss rates range from 10^{-10} to 10^{-7}M_{Sun}/yr, larger than if the winds were driven by radiation alone. Infrared excesses based on the predicted mass-loss rates are compared to observations from optical interferometry and IRAS, and predictions are made for Spitzer observations. The mass-loss rates are consistent with the observations, within the uncertainties of each. The rate of period change of Cepheids is discussed and shown to relate to mass loss, albeit the dependence is very weak. There is also a correlation between the large mass-loss rates and the Cepheids with slowest absolute rate of period change due to evolution through the instability strip. The enhanced mass loss helps illuminate the issue of infrared excess and the mass discrepancy found in Cepheids.

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arXiv2005

Properties of the H-alpha-emitting Circumstellar Regions of Be Stars

Long-baseline interferometric observations obtained with the Navy Prototype Optical Interferometer of the H-alpha-emitting envelopes of the Be stars eta Tauri and beta Canis Minoris are presented. For compatibility with the previously published interferometric results in the literature of other Be stars, circularly symmetric and elliptical Gaussian models were fitted to the calibrated H-alpha observations. The models are sufficient in characterizing the angular distribution of the H-alpha-emitting circumstellar material associated with these Be stars. To study the correlations between the various model parameters and the stellar properties, the model parameters for eta Tau and beta CMi were combined with data for other Be stars from the literature. After accounting for the different distances to the sources and stellar continuum flux levels, it was possible to study the relationship between the net H-alpha emission and the physical extent of the H-alpha-emitting circumstellar region. A clear dependence of the net H-alpha emission on the linear size of the emitting region is demonstrated and these results are consistent with an optically thick line emission that is directly proportional to the effective area of the emitting disk. Within the small sample of stars considered in this analysis, no clear dependence on the spectral type or stellar rotation is found, although the results do suggest that hotter stars might have more extended H-alpha-emitting regions.

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