arXiv subjects

K. Werner

Publications and source records attributed to K. Werner.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2015

Stellar laboratories. VI. New Mo IV - VII oscillator strengths and the molybdenum abundance in the hot white dwarfs G191-B2B and RE0503-289

For the spectral analysis of high-resolution and high-signal-to-noise (S/N) spectra of hot stars, state-of-the-art non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE) model atmospheres are mandatory. These are strongly dependent on the reliability of the atomic data that is used for their calculation. To identify molybdenum lines in the ultraviolet (UV) spectra of the DA-type white dwarf G191-B2B and the DO-type white dwarf RE0503-289 and to determine their photospheric Mo abundances, newly calculated Mo IV - VII oscillator strengths are used. We identified twelve Mo V and nine Mo VI lines in the UV spectrum of RE0503-289 and measured a photospheric Mo abundance of 1.2 - 3.0 x 10**-4 (mass fraction, 22500 - 56400 times the solar abundance). In addition, from the As V and Sn IV resonance lines, we measured mass fractions of arsenic (0.5 - 1.3 x 10**-5, about 300 - 1200 times solar) and tin (1.3 - 3.2 x 10**-4, about 14300 35200 times solar). For G191-B2B, upper limits were determined for the abundances of Mo (5.3 x 10**-7, 100 times solar) and, in addition, for Kr (1.1 x 10**-6, 10 times solar) and Xe (1.7 x 10**-7, 10 times solar). The arsenic abundance was determined (2.3 - 5.9 x 10**-7, about 21 - 53 times solar). A new, registered German Astrophysical Virtual Observatory (GAVO) service, TOSS, has been constructed to provide weighted oscillator strengths and transition probabilities. Reliable measurements and calculations of atomic data are a prerequisite for stellar-atmosphere modeling. Observed Mo V - VI line profiles in the UV spectrum of the white dwarf RE0503-289 were well reproduced with our newly calculated oscillator strengths. For the first time, this allowed to determine the photospheric Mo abundance in a white dwarf.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2015

Measuring the basic parameters of neutron stars using model atmospheres

Model spectra of neutron star atmospheres are nowadays widely used to fit the observed thermal X-ray spectra of neutron stars. This fitting is the key element in the method of the neutronstar radius determination. Here, we present the basic assumptions used for the neutron star atmosphere modeling as well as the main qualitative features of the stellar atmospheres leading to the deviations of the emergent model spectrum from blackbody. We describe the properties of two of our model atmosphere grids: (i) pure carbon atmospheres for relatively cool neutron stars (1--4 MK) and (ii) hot atmospheres with Compton scattering taken into account. The results obtained by applying these grids to model the X-ray spectra of the central compact object in supernova remnant HESS 1731-347, and two X-ray bursting neutron stars in low-mass X-ray binaries, 4U 1724-307 and 4U 1608-52, are presented. Possible systematic uncertainties associated with the obtained neutron star radii are discussed.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2015

Hubble Space Telescope ultraviolet spectroscopy of the hottest known helium-rich pre-white dwarf KPD0005+5106

We present a model-atmosphere analysis of ultraviolet echelle spectra of KPD0005+5106 taken with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph aboard the Hubble Space Telescope. The star is the hottest known pre-white dwarf (Teff = 200,000+-20,000 K, log g = 6.7+-0.3; Wassermann et al. 2010). Its atmosphere is composed of helium with trace amounts of metals. It is of the so-called O(He) spectral type that comprises very hot helium-rich pre-white dwarfs whose origin is debated. From neon and silicon ionisation balances, we derive tighter constraints on the effective temperature (195,000+-15,000 K) and improve previous abundance determinations of these elements. We confirm the idea that KPD0005+5106 is the descendant of an R Coronae Borealis (RCB) star and, hence, is the outcome of a binary-white dwarf merger. We discuss the relation of KPD0005+5106 to other O(He) and RCB stars.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2015

Analysis of HST/COS spectra of the bare C-O stellar core H1504+65 and a high-velocity twin in the Galactic halo

H1504+65 is an extremely hot white dwarf (effective temperature Teff = 200,000 K) with a carbon-oxygen dominated atmosphere devoid of hydrogen and helium. This atmospheric composition was hitherto unique among hot white dwarfs (WDs), and it could be related to recently detected cooler WDs with C or O dominated spectra. The origin of the H and He deficiency in H1504+65 is unclear. To further assess this problem, we performed ultraviolet spectroscopy with the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) aboard the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). In accordance with previous far-ultraviolet spectroscopy performed with the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer, the most prominent lines stem from C IV, O V-VI, and Ne VI-VIII. Archival HST/COS spectra are utilized to prove that the supersoft X-ray source RX J0439.8-6809 is, considering the exotic composition, a twin of H1504+65 that is even hotter (Teff = 250,000 K). In contrast to earlier claims, we find that the star is not located in the Large Magellanic Cloud but a foreground object in the Galactic halo at a distance of 9.2 kpc, 5.6 kpc below the Galactic plane, receding with vrad = +220 km/s.

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arXiv2015

The far-ultraviolet spectra of "cool" PG1159 stars

We present a comprehensive study of Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) spectra (912-1190 A) of two members of the PG1159 spectral class, which consists of hydrogen-deficient (pre-) white dwarfs with effective temperatures in the range Teff = 75,000-200,000 K. As two representatives of the cooler objects, we have selected PG1707+427 (Teff = 85,000 K) and PG1424+535 (Teff = 110,000 K), complementing a previous study of the hotter prototype PG1159-035 (Teff = 140,000 K). The helium-dominated atmospheres are strongly enriched in carbon and oxygen, therefore, their spectra are dominated by lines from C III-IV and O III-VI, many of which were never observed before in hot stars. In addition, lines of many other metals (N, F, Ne, Si, P, S, Ar, Fe) are detectable, demonstrating that observations in this spectral region are most rewarding when compared to the near-ultraviolet and optical wavelength bands. We perform abundance analyses of these species and derive upper limits for several undetected light and heavy metals including iron-group and trans-iron elements. The results are compared to predictions of stellar evolution models for neutron-capture nucleosynthesis and good agreement is found.

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arXiv2015

High-velocity gas towards the LMC resides in the Milky Way halo

To explore the origin of high-velocity gas in the direction of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) we analyze absorption lines in the ultraviolet spectrum of a Galactic halo star that is located in front of the LMC at d=9.2 kpc distance. We study the velocity-component structure of low and intermediate metal ions in the spectrum of RXJ0439.8-6809, as obtained with the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) onboard HST, and measure equivalent widths and column densities for these ions. We supplement our COS data with a Far-Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer spectrum of the nearby LMC star Sk-69 59 and with HI 21cm data from the Leiden-Argentina-Bonn (LAB) survey. Metal absorption towards RXJ0439.8-6809 is unambiguously detected in three different velocity components near v_LSR=0,+60, and +150 km/s. The presence of absorption proves that all three gas components are situated in front of the star, thus being located in the disk and inner halo of the Milky Way. For the high-velocity cloud (HVC) at v_LSR=+150 km/s we derive an oxygen abundance of [O/H]=-0.63 (~0.2 solar) from the neighbouring Sk-69 59 sightline, in accordance with previous abundance measurements for this HVC. From the observed kinematics we infer that the HVC hardly participates in the Galactic rotation. Our study shows that the HVC towards the LMC represents a Milky Way halo cloud that traces low-column density gas with relatively low metallicity. It rules out scenarios in which the HVC represents material close to the LMC that stems from a LMC outflow.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2015

Hadronic resonance production and interaction in partonic and hadronic matter in EPOS3 with and without the hadronic afterburner UrQMD

We study the production of hadronic resonances and their interaction in the partonic and hadronic medium using the EPOS3 model, which employs the UrQMD model for the description of the hadronic phase. We investigate the centrality dependence of the yields and momentum distributions for various resonances (rho(770),K(892),phi(1020),Delta(1232),Sigma(1385),Lambda(1520),Xi(1530) and their antiparticles) in Pb-Pb collisions at sNN= 2.76 TeV. The predictions for K(892) and phi(1020) will be compared with the experimental data from the ALICE collaboration. The observed signal suppression of the K(892) with increasing centrality will be discussed with respect to the resonance interaction in the hadronic medium. The mean transverse momentum and other particle ratios such as phi(1020)/p and Omega/phi(1020) will be discussed with respect to additional contributions from the hadronic medium interactions.

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arXiv2015

Ground-based transit observations of the HAT-P-18, HAT-P-19, HAT-P-27/WASP-40 and WASP-21 systems

As part of our ongoing effort to investigate transit timing variations (TTVs) of known exoplanets, we monitored transits of the four exoplanets HAT-P-18b, HAT-P-19b, HAT-P-27b/WASP-40b and WASP-21b. All of them are suspected to show TTVs due to the known properties of their host systems based on the respective discovery papers. During the past three years 46 transit observations were carried out, mostly using telescopes of the Young Exoplanet Transit Initiative. The analyses are used to refine the systems orbital parameters. In all cases we found no hints for significant TTVs, or changes in the system parameters inclination, fractional stellar radius and planet to star radius ratio. However, comparing our results with those available in the literature shows that we can confirm the already published values.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2015

Search with UVES and XSHOOTER for signatures of the low-mass secondary in the post common-envelope binary AA Dor

AA Dor is a close, totally eclipsing, post common-envelope binary with an sdOB-type primary and an extremely low-mass secondary, located close to the mass limit of stable central hydrogen burning. Within error limits, it may either be a brown dwarf or a late M-type dwarf. We aim to extract the secondary's contribution to the phase-dependent composite spectra. The spectrum and identified lines of the secondary decide on its nature. In January 2014, we measured the phase-dependent spectrum of AA Dor with XSHOOTER over one complete orbital period. Since the secondary's rotation is presumable synchronized with the orbital period, its surface strictly divides into a day and night side. Therefore, we may obtain the spectrum of its cool side during its transit and of its hot, irradiated side close to its occultation. We developed the Virtual Observatory (VO) tool TLISA to search for weak lines of a faint companion in a binary system. We identified 53 spectral lines of the secondary in the ultraviolet-blue, visual, and near-infrared XSHOOTER spectra that are strongest close to its occultation. We identified 57 (20 additional) lines in available UVES (Ultraviolet and Visual Echelle Spectrograph) spectra from 2001. The lines are mostly from C II-III and O II, typical for a low-mass star that is irradiated and heated by the primary. We verified the orbital period of P = 22597.033201 +/- 0.00007 s and determined the orbital velocity Ksec = 232.9 (+16.6 / -6.5) km/s of the secondary. The mass of the secondary is Msec = 0.081 (+0.018 / -0.010) Msun and, hence, it is not possible to reliably determine a brown dwarf or an M-type dwarf nature. Although we identified many emission lines of the secondary's irradiated surface, the resolution and signal-to-noise ratio of our UVES and XSHOOTER spectra are not good enough to extract a good spectrum of the secondary's nonirradiated hemisphere.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2015

Stellar laboratories IV. New Ga IV, Ga V, and Ga VI oscillator strengths and the gallium abundance in the hot white dwarfs G191-B2B and RE0503-289

For the spectral analysis of high-resolution and high-signal-to-noise (S/N) spectra of hot stars, advanced non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE) model atmospheres are mandatory. These atmospheres are strongly dependent on the reliability of the atomic data that are used to calculate them. Reliable Ga IV - VI oscillator strengths are used to identify Ga lines in the spectra of the DA-type white dwarf G191-B2B and the DO-type white dwarf RE0503-289 and to determine their photospheric Ga abundances. We newly calculated Ga IV - VI oscillator strengths to consider their radiative and collisional bound-bound transitions in detail in our NLTE stellar-atmosphere models for analyzing of Ga lines exhibited in high-resolution and high-S/N UV observations of G191-B2B and RE0503-289. We unambiguously detected 20 isolated and 6 blended (with lines of other species) Ga V lines in the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) spectrum of RE0503-289. The identification of Ga IV and Ga VI lines is uncertain because they are weak and partly blended by other lines. The determined Ga abundance is 3.5 +/- 0.5 x 10**-5 (mass fraction, about 625 times solar). The Ga IV / GA V ionization equilibrium, which is a very sensitive indicator for the effective temperature, is well reproduced in RE0503-289. We identified the strongest Ga IV lines (1258.801, 1338.129 A) in the HST/STIS (Hubble Space Telescope / Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph) spectrum of G191-B2B and measured a Ga abundance of 2.0 +/- 0.5 x 10**-6 (about 22 times solar). Reliable measurements and calculations of atomic data are a prerequisite for stellar-atmosphere modeling. Observed Ga IV - V line profiles in two white dwarf (G191-B2B and RE0503-289) ultraviolet spectra were well reproduced with our newly calculated oscillator strengths. For the first time, this allowed us to determine the photospheric Ga abundance in white dwarfs.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2014

Non-LTE spectral models for the gaseous debris-disk component of Ton 345

For a fraction of single white dwarfs with debris disks, an additional gaseous disk was discovered. Both dust and gas are thought to be created by the disruption of planetary bodies. The composition of the extrasolar planetary material can directly be analyzed in the gaseous disk component, and the disk dynamics might be accessible by investigating the temporal behavior of the Ca II infrared emission triplet, hallmark of the gas disk. We obtained new optical spectra for the first helium-dominated white dwarf for which a gas disk was discovered (Ton 345) and modeled the non-LTE spectra of viscous gas disks composed of carbon, oxygen, magnesium, silicon, sulfur, and calcium with chemical abundances typical for solar system asteroids. Iron and its possible line-blanketing effects on the model structure and spectral energy distribution was still neglected. A set of models with different radii, effective temperatures, and surface densities as well as chondritic and bulk-Earth abundances was computed and compared with the observed line profiles of the Ca II infrared triplet. Our models suggest that the Ca II emission stems from a rather narrow gas ring with a radial extent of R=0.44-0.94 Rsol, a uniform surface density Sigma=0.3 g/cm2, and an effective temperature of Teff=6000 K. The often assumed chemical mixtures derived from photospheric abundances in polluted white dwarfs - similar to a chondritic or bulk-Earth composition - produce unobserved emission lines in the model and therefore have to be altered. We do not detect any line-profile variability on timescales of hours, but we confirm the long-term trend over the past decade for the red-blue asymmetry of the double-peaked lines.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2014

A unified description of the reaction dynamics from pp to pA to AA collisions

There is little doubt that in heavy ion collisions at the LHC and RHIC, we observe a hydrodynamically expanding system, providing strong evidence for the formation of a Quark Gluon Plasma (QGP) in the early stage of such collisions. These observations are mainly based on results on azimuthal anisotropies, but also on particle spectra of identified particles, perfectly compatible with a hydrodynamic evolution. Surprisingly, in p-Pb collisions one observes a very similar behavior, and to some extent even in p-p. We take these experimental observations as a strong support for a unified approach to describe proton-proton (p-p), proton-nucleus (p-A), and nucleus-nucleus (A-A) collisions, with a plasma formation even in tiny systems as in p-p scatterings.

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arXiv2014

Analysis of cool DO-type white dwarfs from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 10

We report on the identification of 22 new cool DO-type white dwarfs (WD) detected in Data Release 10 (DR10) of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). Among them, we found one more member of the so-called hot-wind DO WDs, which show ultrahigh excitation absorption lines. Our non-LTE model atmosphere analyses of these objects and two not previously analyzed hot-wind DO WDs, revealed effective temperatures and gravities in the ranges Teff=45-80kK and log g= 7.50-8.75. In eight of the spectra we found traces of C (0.001-0.01, by mass). Two of these are the coolest DO WDs ever discovered that still show a considerable amount of C in their atmospheres. This is in strong contradiction with diffusion calculations, and probably, similar to what is proposed for DB WDs, a weak mass-loss is present in DO WDs. One object is the most massive DO WD discovered so far with a mass of 1.07 M_sun if it is an ONe-WD or 1.09 M_sun if it is a CO-WD. We furthermore present the mass distribution of all known hot non-DA (pre-) WDs and derive the hot DA to non-DA ratio for the SDSS DR7 spectroscopic sample. The mass distribution of DO WDs beyond the wind limit strongly deviates from the mass distribution of the objects before the wind limit. We address this phenomenon by applying different evolutionary input channels. We argue that the DO WD channel may be fed by about 13% by post-extreme-horizontal branch stars and that PG1159 stars and O(He) stars may contribute in a similar extent to the non-DA WD channel.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2014

The neutron star in HESS J1731-347: CCOs as laboratories to study the equation of state of superdense matter

Context: Central Compact Objects (CCOs) in supernova remnants are isolated thermally emitting neutron stars (NSs). They are most probably characterized by a magnetic field strength that is roughly two orders of magnitude lower than that of most of the radio and accreting pulsars. The thermal emission of CCOs can be modeled to obtain constraints on the physical parameters of the star such as its mass, radius, effective temperature, and chemical composition. Aims: The CCO in HESS, J1731-347 is one of the brightest objects of this class. We present our analysis of two new XMM-Newton observations of the source which increase the total exposure time of the by a factor of five compared to the analyses presented before. Methods: We use our numerical spectral models for carbon and hydrogen atmospheres to fit the spectrum of the CCO. From our fits, we derive constraints on the physical parameters of the emitting star. We also use the new data to derive new upper limits on pulsations and to confirm the absence of a long-term variability. Results: The analysis shows that atmosphere spectral models are clearly preferred by the fit over the blackbody function. Under the assumption that the X-ray emission is uniformly produced by the entire star surface, hydrogen atmosphere models lead to uncomfortably large distances of the CCO, above 7-8 kpc. On the other hand, the carbon atmosphere model formally excludes distances above 5-6 kpc and is compatible with the source located in the Scutum-Crux (3 kpc) or Norma-Cygnus (4.5 kpc) Galactic spiral arm. We provide and discuss the corresponding confidence contours in the NS mass-radius plane. The measured effective temperature indicates that the NS is exceptionally hot for the estimated age of 30 kyr. We discuss possible cooling scenarios to explain this property, as well as possible additional constraints on the star mass and radius from cooling theory.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2014

Modeling the EUV spectra of optically thick boundary layers of dwarf novae in outburst

Here we compute detailed model spectra of recently published optically thick one-dimensional radial baundary layer (BL) models in cataclysmic variables and compare them with observed soft X-ray/extreme ultraviolet (EUV) spectra of dwarf novae in outburst. Every considered BL model is divided into a number of rings, and for each ring, a structure model along the vertical direction is computed using the stellar-atmosphere method. The ring spectra are then combined into a BL spectrum taking Doppler broadening and limb darkening into account. Two sets of model BL spectra are computed, the first of them consists of BL models with fixed white dwarf (WD) mass (1 M_sun) and various relative WD angular velocities (0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 break-up velocities), while the other deals with a fixed relative angular velocity (0.8 break-up velocity) and various WD masses (0.8, 1, and 1.2 M_sun). The model spectra show broad absorption features because of blending of numerous absorption lines, and emission-like features at spectral regions with only a few strong absorption lines. The model spectra are very similar to observed soft X-ray/EUV spectra of SS Cyg and U Gem in outburst. The observed SS Cyg spectrum could be fitted by BL model spectra with WD masses 0.8 - 1 M_sun and relative angular velocities 0.6 - 0.8 break up velocities. These BL models also reproduce the observed ratio of BL luminosity and disk luminosity. The difference between the observed and the BL model spectra is similar to a hot optically thin plasma spectrum and could be associated with the spectrum of outflowing plasma with a mass loss rate compatible with the BL mass accretion rate. The suggested method of computing BL spectra seems very promising and can be applied to other BL models for comparison with EUV spectra of dwarf novae in outburst.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2014

On helium-dominated stellar evolution: the mysterious role of the O(He)-type stars

About a quarter of all post-asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars are hydrogen-deficient. Stellar evolutionary models explain the carbon-dominated H-deficient stars by a (very) late thermal pulse scenario where the hydrogen-rich envelope is mixed with the helium-rich intershell layer. Depending on the particular time at which the final flash occurs, the entire hydrogen envelope may be burned. In contrast, helium-dominated post-AGB stars and their evolution are yet not understood. A small group of very hot, helium-dominated stars is formed by O(He)-type stars. We performed a detailed spectral analysis of ultraviolet and optical spectra of four O(He) stars by means of state-of-the-art non-LTE model-atmosphere techniques. We determined effective temperatures, surface gravities, and the abundances of H, He, C, N, O, F, Ne, Si, P, S, Ar, and Fe. By deriving upper limits for the mass-loss rates of the O(He) stars, we found that they do not exhibit enhanced mass-loss. The comparison with evolutionary models shows that the status of the O(He) stars remains uncertain. Their abundances match predictions of a double helium white dwarf merger scenario, suggesting that they might be the progeny of the compact and of the luminous helium-rich sdO-type stars. The existence of planetary nebulae that do not show helium enrichment around every other O(He) star, precludes a merger origin for these stars. These stars must have formed in a different way, for instance via enhanced mass-loss during their post-AGB evolution or a merger within a common-envelope (CE) of a CO-WD and a red giant or AGB star. A helium-dominated stellar evolutionary sequence exists, that may be fed by different types of mergers or CE scenarios. It appears likely, that all these pass through the O(He) phase just before they become white dwarfs.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2014

Flow in pPb collisions at 5 TeV?

There is little doubt that hydrodynamic flow has been observed in heavy ion collisions at the LHC and RHIC, mainly based on results on azimuthal anisotropies, but also on particle spectra of identified particles, perfectly compatible with hydrodynamic expansions. Surprisingly, in p-Pb collisions one observes a very similar behavior. So do we see flow even in p-Pb? We will try to answer this question.

nucl-th↗

arXiv2014

Stellar laboratories III. New Ba V, Ba VI, and Ba VII oscillator strengths and the barium abundance in the hot white dwarfs G191-B2B and RE0503-289

For the spectral analysis of high-resolution and high-signal-to-noise (S/N) spectra of hot stars, state-of-the-art non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE) model atmospheres are mandatory. These are strongly dependent on the reliability of the atomic data that is used for their calculation. Reliable Ba V - VII oscillator strengths are used to identify Ba lines in the spectra of the DA-type white dwarf G191-B2B and the DO-type white dwarf RE0503-289 and to determine their photospheric Ba abundances. We newly calculated Ba V - VII oscillator strengths to consider their radiative and collisional bound-bound transitions in detail in our NLTE stellar-atmosphere models for the analysis of Ba lines exhibited in high-resolution and high-S/N UV observations of G191-B2B and RE0503-289. For the first time, we identified highly ionized Ba in the spectra of hot white dwarfs. We detected Ba VI and Ba VII lines in the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) spectrum of RE0503-289. The Ba VI / Ba VII ionization equilibrium is well reproduced with the previously determined effective temperature of 70000 K and surface gravity of $\log g = 7.5$. The Ba abundance is $3.5 \pm 0.5 \times 10^{-4}$ (mass fraction, about 23000 times the solar value). In the FUSE spectrum of G191-B2B, we identified the strongest Ba VII line (at 993.41 Å) only, and determined a Ba abundance of $4.0 \pm 0.5 \times 10^{-6}$ (about 265 times solar). Reliable measurements and calculations of atomic data are a pre-requisite for stellar-atmosphere modeling. Observed Ba VI - VII line profiles in two white dwarfs' (G191-B2B and RE0503-289) far-ultraviolet spectra were well reproduced with our newly calculated oscillator strengths. This allowed to determine the photospheric Ba abundance of these two stars precisely.

astro-ph.SR↗