arXiv subjects

M. L. Arias

Publications and source records attributed to M. L. Arias.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

New constraints on the binary system HD 327083 and its gaseous and dusty environments

Binary systems with circumbinary molecular and dust rings are of great interest because they provide insights into the dynamics and evolution of stellar systems and the chemistry of the surrounding material. We aim to elucidate the nature of the B[e] binary system HD 327083 and the physical properties of its circumstellar and circumbinary envelopes. We combined multi-epoch high-spectral resolution optical and near-IR observations with VLTI/MIDI observations and ASAS-3 photometry. The data were analysed to obtain the orbital parameters, study individual members of the system, and derive the properties of the atomic and molecular gas and the dusty components of the complex environment of HD 327083. We improved the orbital solution of HD 327083 and derived a period of P = 107.699 d. Most optical lines display variations in shape and intensity when folded with the orbital motion. We assigned F6 II-III and B1 spectral types respectively to the cool and hot components. A ring of molecular gas revolves around the system and varies with the orbital phase. The MIDI data show a silicate band in absorption at 9.7 micron and indicate that the dust distribution has an elliptical shape, with its inner edge varying with orbital phase between 12.5 and 44 AU. We conclude that the B[e] binary system HD 327083 comprises a B-type massive accreting star, and an F-type companion filling over 60% of its Roche lobe and evolving towards the red supergiant stage. The deformed shape of the F-type star causes a broad minimum in the light curve. The hot companion (26 000 K, log g = 3.0) is hidden by a compact disc and shows a bi-polar outflow. The entire binary system presents an O-rich environment. It is surrounded by warm CO and SiO molecular rings, which are enclosed by an elliptical dust structure. All these components were formed by the evolved donor star during its evolution towards the red supergiant phase.

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arXiv2026

High-resolution near-IR spectroscopy of the B[e] supergiant LHA 115-S 18: discovery of hot water vapor emission

The post-main-sequence evolution of massive stars involves phases of intense, often eruptive mass loss, including the B[e] supergiant phase. These hot stars are surrounded by cool, dense circumstellar disks that host complex chemistry, producing both molecules and dust. Understanding the mass-loss history of B[e] supergiants is essential for constraining stellar evolution models, particularly regarding their final stages. Near-infrared CO band emission serves as a key tracer of disk dynamics, typically arising from the inner edge of the molecular disk or ring. However, the oxygen-rich environments of these stars also favor the presence of other molecules which trace regions complementary to those probed by CO. In this work, we present high-resolution near-infrared spectra of the Small Magellanic Cloud B[e] supergiant LHA 115-S 18. Our analysis reveals rotationally broadened CO emission consistent with a Keplerian molecular ring, alongside strong hydrogen wind features in both H and K bands and numerous metallic emission lines. Notably, we report the first detection of hot water vapor emission in a B[e] supergiant. This finding indicates the existence of extended cool and dense regions in a harsh environment. A radial velocity offset between molecular and Pfund line emission further supports a binary system, with the molecular gas potentially being circumbinary. The discovery of hot H2 O around the B[e] supergiant star LHA 115-S 18 challenges classical models on evolution and chemistry of massive binary stars and provides critical insight into mass-loss processes and molecular enrichment of the ISM.

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arXiv2023

BCD spectrophotometry for massive stars in transition phases

Context. Stars in transition phases, like those showing the B[e] phenomenon and luminous blue variables (LBVs), undergo strong, often irregular mass ejection events. The prediction of these phases in stellar evolution models is therefore extremely difficult if not impossible. As a result, their effective temperatures, their luminosities and even their true nature are not fully known. Aims. A suitable procedure to derive the stellar parameters of these types of objects is to use the BCD spectrophotometric classification system, based on the analysis of the Balmer discontinuity. The BCD parameters (λ_1, D) are independent of interstellar extinction and circumstellar contributions. Methods. We obtained low-resolution spectra for 14 stars with the B[e] phenomenon and LBVs. Using the BCD method, we derived the stellar and physical parameters. The study was complemented with the information provided by the JHK colour-colour diagram. Results. For each star, the BCD system gives a complete set of fundamental parameters and related quantities such as luminosity and distance. We confirmed HK Ori, HD 323771 and HD 52721 as pre-main sequence HAe/B[e], AS 202 and HD 85567 as FS CMa-type, and HD 62623 as sgB[e] stars. We classified Hen 3-847, CD-24 5721, and HD 53367 as young B[e] stars or FS CMa-type candidates, and HD 58647 as a slightly evolved B[e] star. In addition, Hen 3-1398 is an sgB[e] and MWC 877, CPD-59 2854 and LHA 120-S 65 are LBV candidates. The stellar parameters of the latter two LBVs are determined for the first time. Conclusions. Our results emphasise that the BCD system is a highly valuable tool to derive stellar parameters and physical properties of B-type stars in transition phases. This method can be combined with near-IR colour-colour diagrams to determine or confirm the evolutionary stage of emission-line stars with dust disks.

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arXiv2022

Simultaneous J-, H-, K- and L-band spectroscopic observations of galactic Be stars. I. IR atlas

It is already accepted that Be stars are surrounded by circumstellar envelopes, which are mostly compatible with a disc geometry in Keplerian rotation. We aim to obtain a more complete characterisation of the properties of the circumstellar environment of Be stars that helps to constrain the theoretical models of the Be phenomenon. We present near-infrared, medium-resolution spectra of a sample of galactic Be stars with different spectral subtypes and luminosity classes. We measure different parameters of the hydrogen recombination lines from the Paschen, Brackett, Pfund, and Humphreys series, and use them to diagnose physical conditions in the circumstellar environment. We analysed the equivalent-width (EW) ratio between Br$α$ and Br$γ$ lines and different diagrams of flux ratios. We also identify lines from He I, C I, N I, O I, Na I, Mg I, Mg II, Si I, Fe I, and Fe II. Analysing the EW measurements of particular He I, Mg II, Fe I, Fe II and O I lines, we find that for some lines they correlate with the spectral type of the star. Particularly, the emission of the O I~$λ\,1.3168\,μ$m line decreases towards the later spectral types. We present an atlas of 22 Be stars, that covers a wide infrared (IR) spectral range with quasi-simultaneous observations. From a detailed analysis, we define new complementary criteria to Mennickent's classification of Be stars according to their disc opacity. Some objects in our sample present compact thick envelopes, while in others the envelope is extended and optically thin. The correlation between the full widths at half maximum (FWHM) and the peak separation ($Δ\mathrm{V}$) versus $V\,\sin\,i$ for the Br10, Br$δ$, and Hu14 lines reveals that the broadening mechanism is rotational. The Ly$β$ fluorescence is a key mechanism to explain the intensity of the emission of Mg II and O I lines.

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arXiv2021

Intriguing detection of $^{12}$CO molecular emission in a classical Be star

In the group of B stars with spectroscopic peculiarities, we can find the Be and the B[e] stars. The Be stars are early-type rapid rotators that present, as their principal characteristic, emission lines of hydrogen and singly ionized metals due to the presence of a gaseous envelope. The B[e] stars present in their spectra heterogeneous features that reveal the presence of regions with very different properties in a gaseous and dusty envelope. Our goal is to study the evolution of the disks around peculiar B stars through the variability of their physical properties and dynamical structure, as well as to set constraints on different models and disk forming mechanisms. Throughout the last decade, we have carried out temporal monitoring of a sample of objects in the near infrared using spectroscopic facilities at the Gemini and Las Campanas Observatories. In the present work, we focus on the classical Be star 12 Vul, for which also optical spectra have been collected quasi-simultaneously. We observed variability in the hydrogen line profiles of 12 Vul, attributed to dissipating and building-up processes of the circumstellar envelope. Also, we found that this Be star presented the $^{12}$CO band heads in emission in one observation. The emission of this molecule has not been previously reported in a Be star, while it is a common feature among B[e] stars. We obtained parameters to describe the $^{12}$CO emitting region and propose different scenarios to explain this intriguing emission.

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arXiv2019

Be and Bn stars: Balmer discontinuity and stellar-class relationship

A significant number of Be stars show a second Balmer discontinuity (sBD) attributed to an extended circumstellar envelope (CE). The fast rotational velocity of Be stars undoubtedly plays a significant role in the formation of the CE. However, Bn stars, which are also B-type rapidly rotating stars, do not all present clear evidence of being surrounded by circumstellar material. We aim to characterize the populations of Be and Bn stars, and discuss the appearance of the sBD as a function of the stellar parameters. We expect to find new indices characterizing the properties of CEs in Be stars and properties relating Be and Bn stars. Correlations of the aspect and intensity of the sBD and the emission in the H$α$ line with the stellar parameters and the $V\!\sin i$ are presented. Some Bn stars exhibit the sBD in absorption, which may indicate the presence of rather dense CEs. Six Bn stars show emission in the H$α$ line, so they are reclassified as Be stars. The sBD in emission appears in Be stars with $V\!\sin i \lesssim 250$ km\,s$^{-1}$, and in absorption in both Be and Bn stars with \mbox{$V\!\sin i \gtrsim 50$ km\,s$^{-1}$}. Low-mass Be and Bn stars share the same region in the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram. The distributions of rotational to critical velocity ratios of Be and Bn stars corresponding to the current stellar evolutionary stage are similar, while distributions inferred for the zero-age main sequence have different skewness. We found emission in the H$α$ line and signs of a CE in some Bn stars, which motivated us to think that Bn and Be stars probably belong to the same population. It should be noted that some of the most massive Bn stars could display the Be phenomenon at any time. The similarities found among Be and Bn stars deserve to be more deeply pursued.

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arXiv2018

On the evolutionary state of massive stars in transition phases in M33

The advanced stages of several high-mass stars are characterized by episodic mass loss shed during phases of instability. Key for assigning these stars a proper evolutionary state is to assess the composition and geometry of their ejecta alongside the stellar properties. We selected five hot LBV candidates in M33 to refine their classification, investigate their circumstellar environments and explore their evolutionary properties. Being accessible targets in the near-infrared, we conducted medium-resolution spectroscopy with GNIRS/GEMINI in the $K-$band to investigate their molecular circumstellar environments. Two stars were found to display CO emission, which was modeled to emerge from a circumstellar or circumbinary Keplerian disk/ring. The identification of the carbon isotope $^{13}$C and, for one of the two stars, a significantly low $^{12}$CO/$^{13}$CO ratio, implies an evolved stellar state. As both CO emission stars are highly luminous and hence do not undergo a red supergiant phase, we suggest that stripping processes and equatorial high-density ejecta due to fast rotation are responsible for the enrichment of the stellar surface with processed material from the core. A candidate B[e]SG displays an absorption CO profile, which may be attributed to a jet or stellar pulsations. The featureless infrared spectra of two stars suggest a low-density gas shell or dissipation of the molecule due to the ionizing temperature of the star. We propose spectroscopic monitoring of our targets to evaluate the stability of the CO molecule and assess the time-dependent dynamics of the circumstellar gas structures.

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arXiv2017

Critical study of the distribution of rotational velocities of Be stars; II: Differential rotation and some hidden effects interfering with the interpretation of the Vsin i parameter

We assume that stars may undergo surface differential rotation to study its impact on the interpretation of $V\!\sin i$ and on the observed distribution $Φ(u)$ of ratios of true rotational velocities $u=V/V_\rm c$ ($V_\rm c$ is the equatorial critical velocity). We discuss some phenomena affecting the formation of spectral lines and their broadening, which can obliterate the information carried by $V\!\sin i$ concerning the actual stellar rotation. We studied the line broadening produced by several differential rotational laws, but adopted Maunder's expression $Ω(θ)=Ω_o(1+α\cos^2θ)$ as an attempt to account for all of these laws with the lowest possible number of free parameters. We studied the effect of the differential rotation parameter $α$ on the measured $V\!\sin i$ parameter and on the distribution $Φ(u)$ of ratios $u=V/V_\rm c$. We conclude that the inferred $V\!\sin i$ is smaller than implied by the actual equatorial linear rotation velocity $V_\rm eq$ if the stars rotate with $α<0$, but is larger if the stars have $α>0$. For a given $|α|$ the deviations of $V\!\sin i$ are larger when $α<0$. If the studied Be stars have on average $α<0$, the number of rotators with $V_\rm eq\simeq0.9V_\rm c$ is larger than expected from the observed distribution $Φ(u)$; if these stars have on average $α>0$, this number is lower than expected. We discuss seven phenomena that contribute either to narrow or broaden spectral lines, which blur the information on the rotation carried by $V\!\sin i$ and, in particular, to decide whether the Be phenomenon mostly rely on the critical rotation. We show that two-dimensional radiation transfer calculations are needed in rapid rotators to diagnose the stellar rotation more reliably.

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arXiv2016

Clumpy molecular structures revolving the B[e] supergiant MWC 137

The peculiar emission-line star MWC 137 with its extended optical nebula was recently classified as B[e] supergiant. To study the spatial distribution of its circumstellar molecular gas on small and large scales, we obtained near-infrared and radio observations using SINFONI and APEX, respectively. We find that the hot CO gas is arranged in moving clumpy ring and shell structures close to the star, while a cold CO envelope is encircling the borders of the optical nebula from the south to the west.

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arXiv2016

B[e] Supergiants' circumstellar environment: disks or rings?

B[e] Supergiants are a phase in the evolution of some massive stars for which we have observational evidence but no predictions by any stellar evolution model. The mass-loss during this phase creates a complex circumstellar environment with atomic, molecular, and dust regions usually found in rings or disk-like structures. However, the detailed structure and the formation of the circumstellar environment are not well-understood, requiring further investigation. To address that we initiated an observing campaign to obtain a homogeneous set of high-resolution spectra in both the optical and NIR (using MPG-ESO/FEROS, GEMINI/Phoenix and VLT/CRIRES, respectively). We monitor a number of Galactic B[e] Supergiants, for which we examined the [OI] and [CaII] emission lines and the bandheads of the CO and SiO molecules to probe the structure and the kinematics of their formation regions. We find that the emission from each tracer forms either in a single or in multiple equatorial rings.

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arXiv2016

Inhomogeneous molecular ring around the B[e] supergiant LHA 120-S 73

We aim to improve our knowledge on the structure and dynamics of the circumstellar disk of the LMC B[e] supergiant LHA 120-S 73. High-resolution optical and near-IR spectroscopic data were obtained over a period of 16 and 7 years, respectively. The spectra cover the diagnostic emission lines from [CaII] and [OI], as well as the CO bands. These features trace the disk at different distances from the star. We analyzed the kinematics of the individual emission regions by modeling their emission profiles. A low-resolution mid-infrared spectrum was obtained as well, which provides information on the composition of the dusty disk. All diagnostic emission features display double-peaked line profiles, which we interpret as due to Keplerian rotation. We find that LHA 120-S 73 is surrounded by at least four individual rings of material with alternating densities (or by a disk with strongly non-monotonic radial density distribution). Moreover, we find that the molecular ring must have gaps or at least strong density inhomogeneities, or in other words, a clumpy structure. The mid-infrared spectrum displays features of oxygen- and carbon-rich grain species, which indicates a long-lived, stable dusty disk. We cannot confirm the previously reported high value for the stellar rotation velocity. The line profile of HeI 5876 A is strongly variable in both width and shape and resembles of those seen in non-radially pulsating stars. A proper determination of the real underlying stellar rotation velocity is hence not possible. The existence of multiple stable and clumpy rings of alternating density recalls ring structures around planets. Although there is currently insufficient observational evidence, it is tempting to propose a scenario with one (or more) minor bodies or planets revolving around LHA 120-S 73 and stabilizing the ring system, in analogy to the shepherd moons in planetary systems.

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arXiv2014

Evidence of the Evolved Nature of the B[e] Star MWC 137

The evolutionary phase of B[e] stars is difficult to establish due to the uncertainties in their fundamental parameters. For instance, possible classifications for the Galactic B[e] star MWC 137 include pre-main-sequence and post-main-sequence phases, with a large range in luminosity. Our goal is to clarify the evolutionary stage of this peculiar object, and to study the CO molecular component of its circumstellar medium. To this purpose, we modeled the CO molecular bands using high-resolution K-band spectra. We find that MWC 137 is surrounded by a detached cool (T = 1900 +-100 K) and dense (N = (3 +- 1) x 10^21 cm^(-2)) ring of CO gas orbiting the star with a rotational velocity, projected to the line of sight, of 84 +- 2 km/s. We also find that the molecular gas is enriched in the isotope 13C, excluding the classification of the star as a Herbig Be. The observed isotopic abundance ratio (12C / 13C = 25 +- 2) derived from our modeling is compatible with a proto-PN, main-sequence or supergiant evolutionary phase. However, based on some observable characteristics of MWC 137, we propose that the supergiant scenario seems to be the most plausible. Hence, we suggest that MWC 137 could be in an extremely short-lived phase, evolving from a B[e] supergiant to a blue supergiant with a bipolar ring nebula.

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arXiv2014

A K-band spectral mini-survey of Galactic B[e] stars

We present a mini-survey of Galactic B[e] stars mainly undertaken with the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT). B[e] stars show morphological features with hydrogen emission lines and an infrared excess, attributed to warm circumstellar dust. In general, these features are assumed to arise from dense, non-spherical, disk-forming circumstellar material in which molecules and dust can condensate. Due to the lack of reliable luminosities, the class of Galactic B[e] stars contains stars at very different stellar evolutionary phases like Herbig AeBe, supergiants or planetary nebulae. We took near-infrared long-slit K-band spectra for a sample of Galactic B[e] stars with the LBT-Luci I. Prominent spectral features, such as the Brackett gamma line and CO band heads are identified in the spectra. The analysis shows that the stars can be characterized as evolved objects. Among others we find one LBV candidate (MWC314), one supergiant B[e] candidate with 13CO (MWC137) and in two cases (MWC623 and AS 381) indications for the existence of a late-type binary companion, complementary to previous studies. For MWC84, IR spectra were taken at different epochs with LBT-Luci I and the GNIRS spectrograph at the Gemini North telescope. The new data show the disappearance of the circumstellar CO emission around this star, previously detectable over decades. Also no signs of a recent prominent eruption leading to the formation of new CO disk emission are found during 2010 and 2013.

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arXiv2012

The sudden appearance of CO emission in LHA 115-S 65

Molecular emission has been detected in several Magellanic Cloud B[e] supergiants. In this Letter, we report on the detection of CO band head emission in the B[e] supergiant LHA 115-S 65, and present a K-band near-infrared spectrum obtained with the Spectrograph for INtegral Field Observation in the Near-Infrared (SINFONI; R=4500) on the ESO VLT UT4 telescope. The observed molecular band head emission in S 65 is quite surprising in light of a previous non-detection by McGregor et al. 1989, as well as a high resolution (R=50000) Gemini/Phoenix spectrum of this star taken nine months earlier showing no emission. Based on analysis of the optical spectrum by Kraus et al. 2010, we suspect that the sudden appearance of molecular emission could be due to density build up in an outflowing viscous disk, as seen for Be stars. This new discovery, combined with variability in two other similar evolved massive stars, indicates an evolutionary link between B[e] supergiants and LBVs.

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arXiv2009

Fundamental parameters of B Supergiants from the BCD System

Effective temperatures of early-type supergiants are important to test stellar atmosphere- and internal structure-models of massive and intermediate mass objects at different evolutionary phases. However, these Teff values are more or less discrepant depending on the method used to determine them. We aim to obtain a new calibration of the Teff parameter for early-type supergiants as a function of observational quantities that are highly sensitive to the ionization balance in the photosphere and its gas pressure, independent of the interstellar extinction, and as much as possible model-independent. The observational quantities that best address our aims are the (lambda1, D) parameters of the BCD spectrophotometric system. They describe the energy distribution around the Balmer discontinuity, which is highly sensitive to Teff and logg. We perform a calibration of the (lambda1, D) parameters into Teff using effective temperatures derived with the bolometric-flux method for 217 program stars, whose individual absolute relative uncertainties are on average 0.05. The final comparison of calculated with obtained Teff values in the (lambda1,D) calibration further show that the latter have total relative uncertainties, which on average are of the order of 0.05 for all spectral types and luminosity classes. The effective temperatures of OB supergiants derived in this work agree on average within some 2000 K with other determinations found in the literature, except those issued from wind-free non-LTE plane-parallel models of stellar atmospheres, which produce effective temperatures that can be overestimated by up to more than 5000 K near Teff = 25000 K.

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arXiv2007

Fundamental Parameters of He-Weak and He-Strong Stars

We carried out low resolution spectroscopic observations in the wavelength range 3400-4700 A of 20 He-weak and 8 He-strong stars to determine their fundamental parameters by means of the Divan-Chalonge-Barbier (BCD) spectrophotometric system. For a few He-weak stars we also estimate the effective temperatures and the angular diameters by integrating absolute fluxes observed over a wide spectral range. Non-LTE model calculations are carried out to study the influence of the He/H abundance ratio on the emergent radiation of He-strong stars and on their Teff determination. We find that the effective temperatures, surface gravities and bolometric absolute magnitudes of He-weak stars estimated with the BCD system and the integrated flux method are in good agreement between each other, and they also agree with previous determinations based on several different methods. The mean discrepancy between the visual absolute magnitudes derived using the Hipparcos parallaxes and the BCD values is on average 0.3 mag for He-weak stars, while it is 0.5 mag for He-strong stars. For He-strong stars, we note that the BCD calibration, based on stars in the solar environment, leads to overestimated values of Teff. By means of model atmosphere calculations with enhanced He/H abundance ratios we show that larger He/H ratios produce smaller BD which naturally explains the Teff overestimation. We take advantage of these calculations to introduce a method to estimate the He/H abundance ratio in He-strong stars. The BD of HD 37479 suggests that the Teff of this star remains fairly constant as the star spectrum undergoes changes in the intensity of H and He absorption lines. Data for the He-strong star HD 66765 are reported for the first time.

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arXiv2006

Circumstellar rings, flat and flaring discs

Emission lines formed in the circumstellar envelopes of several type of stars can be modeled using first principles of line formation. We present simple ways of calculating line emission profiles formed in circumstellar envelopes having different geometrical configurations. The fit of the observed line profiles with the calculated ones may give first order estimates of the physical parameters characterizing the line formation regions: opacity, size, particle density distribution, velocity fields, excitation temperature.

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