arXiv subjects

N. Manset

Publications and source records attributed to N. Manset.

27 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2008

Magnetospheric accretion on the T Tauri star BP Tauri

From observations collected with the ESPaDOnS and NARVAL spectropolarimeters, we report the detection of Zeeman signatures on the classical T Tauri star BP Tau. Circular polarisation signatures in photospheric lines and in narrow emission lines tracing magnetospheric accretion are monitored throughout most of the rotation cycle of BP Tau at two different epochs in 2006. We observe that rotational modulation dominates the temporal variations of both unpolarised and circularly polarised spectral proxies tracing the photosphere and the footpoints of accretion funnels. From the complete data sets at each epoch, we reconstruct the large-scale magnetic topology and the location of accretion spots at the surface of BP Tau using tomographic imaging. We find that the field of BP Tau involves a 1.2 kG dipole and 1.6 kG octupole, both slightly tilted with respect to the rotation axis. Accretion spots coincide with the two main magnetic poles at high latitudes and overlap with dark photospheric spots; they cover about 2% of the stellar surface. The strong mainly-axisymmetric poloidal field of BP Tau is very reminiscent of magnetic topologies of fully-convective dwarfs. It suggests that magnetic fields of fully-convective cTTSs such as BP Tau are likely not fossil remants, but rather result from vigorous dynamo action operating within the bulk of their convective zones. Preliminary modelling suggests that the magnetosphere of BP Tau extends to distances of at least 4 R* to ensure that accretion spots are located at high latitudes, and is not blown open close to the surface by a putative stellar wind. It apparently succeeds in coupling to the accretion disc as far out as the corotation radius, and could possibly explain the slow rotation of BP Tau.

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arXiv2007

Rotation and Macroturbulence in Metal-poor Field Red Giant and Red Horizontal Branch Stars

We report the results for rotational velocities, Vrot sin i, and macroturbulence dispersion, zeta(RT), for 12 metal-poor field red giant branch stars and 7 metal-poor field red horizontal branch stars. The results are based on Fourier transform analyses of absorption line profiles from high-resolution (R ~ 120,000), high-S/N (~ 215 per pixel) spectra obtained with the Gecko spectrograph at CFHT. We find that the zeta(RT) values for the metal-poor RGB stars are very similar to those for metal-rich disk giants studied earlier by Gray and his collaborators. Six of the RGB stars have small rotational values, less than 2.0 km/sec, while five show significant rotation, over 3 km/sec. The fraction of rapidly rotating RHB stars is somewhat lower than found among BHB stars. We devise two empirical methods to translate the line-broadening results obtained by Carney et al. (2003, 2008) into Vrot sin i for all the RGB and RHB stars they studied. Binning the RGB stars by luminosity, we find that most metal-poor field RGB stars show no detectable sign, on average, of rotation. However, the most luminous stars, with M(V) <= -1.5, do show net rotation, with mean values of 2 to 4 km/sec, depending on the algorithm employed, and these stars also show signs of radial velocity jitter and mass loss.

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arXiv2007

The stable magnetic field of the fullly-convective star V374 Peg

We report in this paper phase-resolved spectropolarimetric observations of the rapidly-rotating fully-convective M4 dwarf V374 Peg, on which a strong, mainly axisymmetric, large-scale poloidal magnetic field was recently detected. In addition to the original data set secured in 2005 August, we present here new data collected in 2005 September and 2006 August. From the rotational modulation of unpolarised line profiles, we conclude that starspots are present at the surface of the star, but their contrast and fractional coverage are much lower than those of non-fully convective active stars with similar rotation rate. Applying tomographic imaging on each set of circularly polarised profiles separately, we find that the large-scale magnetic topology is remarkably stable on a timescale of 1 yr; repeating the analysis on the complete data set suggests that the magnetic configuration is sheared by very weak differential rotation (about 1/10th of the solar surface shear) and only slightly distorted by intrinsic variability. This result is at odds with various theoretical predictions, suggesting that dynamo fields of fully-convective stars should be mostly non-axisymmetric unless they succeed at triggering significant differential rotation.

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arXiv2005

Polarimetry of binary stars

Astronomical polarimetry is a powerful technique that can provide physical information sometimes difficult or impossible to obtain by any other type of observation. Almost every class of binary star can benefit from polarimetric observations: pre-main-sequence objects, close or contact binaries, mass-transfer systems, evolved binaries, cataclysmic variables, eclipsing binaries, etc. In these systems, polarimetry can help determine the geometry of the circumstellar or circumbinary matter distribution, yield information on asymmetries and anisotropies, identify obscured sources, map starspots, detect magnetic fields, and establish orbital parameters, to name just a few examples. The orbital inclination in particular is a very important piece of information for a binary system because it can lead to the determination of the components' masses, the fundamental parameter that determines a star's initial structure and subsequent evolution. This review will illustrate the usefulness of polarimetric techniques for the study of binary stars, with examples of results obtained for a variety of binary systems, and an overview of models, including those used to retrieve the orbital inclination.

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arXiv2004

Polarimetric variations of binary stars. VI. Orbit-induced variations in the pre-main-sequence binary AK Sco

We present simultaneous UBV polarimetric and photometric observations of the pre-main-sequence binary AK Sco, obtained over 12 nights, slightly less than the orbital period of 13.6 days. The polarization is a sum of interstellar and intrinsic polarization, with a significant intrinsic polarization of 1% at 5250A, indicating the presence of circumstellar matter distributed in an asymmetric geometry. The polarization and its position angle are clearly variable on time scales of hours and nights, in all 3 wavelengths, with a behavior related to the orbital motion. The variations have the highest amplitudes seen so far for pre-main-sequence binaries (~1%, ~30deg) and are sinusoidal with periods similar to the orbital period and half of it. The polarization variations are generally correlated with the photometric ones: when the star gets fainter, it also gets redder and its polarization increases. The color-magnitude diagram B-V, V exhibits a ratio of total to selective absorption R=4.3 higher than in normal interstellar clouds (R=3.1). The interpretation of the simultaneous photometric and polarimetric observations is that a cloud of circumstellar matter passes in front of the star, decreasing the amount of direct, unpolarized light, and hence increasing the contribution of scattered (blue) light. We show that the large amplitude of the polarization variations can not be reproduced with a single scattering model and axially symmetric circumbinary or circumstellar disks.

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arXiv2003

Polarimetric variations of binary stars. V. Pre-main-sequence spectroscopic binaries located in Ophiuchus and Scorpius

We present polarimetric observations of 7 pre-main-sequence (PMS) spectroscopic binaries located in the rho Oph and Upper Sco star forming regions (SFRs). The average observed polarizations at 7660A are between 0.5% and 3.5%. After estimates of the interstellar polarization are removed, all binaries have an intrinsic polarization above 0.4%. Two binaries, NTTS162814-2427 and NTTS162819-2423S, present high levels of intrinsic polarization between 1.5% and 2.1%. All 7 PMS binaries have a statistically variable or possibly variable polarization. Combining these results with our previous sample of binaries located in the Tau, Aur and Ori SFRs, 68% of the binaries have an intrinsic polarization above 0.5%, and 90% of the binaries are polarimetrically variable or possibly variable. NTTS160814-1857, NTTS162814-2427, and NTTS162819-2423S are clearly polarimetrically variable. The first two also exhibit phase-locked variations over ~10 and ~40 orbits respectively. NTTS160905-1859 shows periodic variations that are not phased-locked and only present for short intervals of time. The amplitudes of the variations reach a few tenths of a percent. The high-eccentricity system NTTS162814-2427 shows single-periodic variations, in agreement with our previous numerical simulations. Non-periodic events introduce stochastic noise that partially masks the periodic variations and prevents the Brown, McLean, & Emslie (1978) formalism from finding a reasonable estimate of the inclination.

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arXiv2002

Polarimetric variations of binary stars. IV. Pre-main-sequence spectroscopic binaries located in Taurus, Auriga, and Orion

We present polarimetric observations of 14 pre-main-sequence (PMS) binaries located in the Taurus, Auriga, and Orion star forming regions. The majority of the average observed polarizations are below 0.5%, and none are above 0.9%. After removal of estimates of the interstellar polarization, about half the binaries have an intrinsic polarization above 0.5%, even though most of them do not present other evidences for the presence of circumstellar dust. Various tests reveal that 77% of the PMS binaries have or possibly have a variable polarization. LkCa3, Par1540, and Par2494 present detectable periodic and phase-locked variations. The periodic polarimetric variations are noisier and of a lesser amplitude (~0.1%) than for other types of binaries, such as hot stars. This could be due to stochastic events that produce deviations in the average polarization, a non-favorable geometry (circumbinary envelope), or the nature of the scatterers (dust grains are less efficient polarizers than electrons). Par1540 is a Weak-line TTauri Star, but nonetheless has enough dust in its environment to produce detectable levels of polarization and variations. A fourth interesting case is W134, which displays rapid changes in polarization that could be due to eclipses. We compare the observations with some of our numerical simulations, and also show that an analysis of the periodic polarimetric variations with the Brown, McLean, & Emslie (BME) formalism to find the orbital inclination is for the moment premature: non-periodic events introduce stochastic noise that partially masks the periodic low-amplitude variations and prevents the BME formalism from finding a reasonable estimate of the orbital inclination.

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arXiv2001

Polarimetric variations of binary stars. III Periodic polarimetric variations of the Herbig Ae/Be star MWC 1080

We present polarimetric observations of a massive pre-main sequence short-period binary star of the Herbig Ae/Be type, MWC 1080. The mean polarization at 7660 A is 1.60% at 81.6 deg, or 0.6% at 139 deg if an estimate of the interstellar polarization is subtracted. The intrinsic polarization points to an asymmetric geometry of the circumstellar or circumbinary environment while the 139 deg intrinsic position angle traces the axis of symmetry of the system and is perpendicular to the position angle of the outflow cavity. The polarization and its position angle are clearly variable, at all wavelengths, and on time scales of hours, days, months, and years. Stochastic variability is accompanied by periodic variations caused by the orbital motion of the stars in their dusty environment. These periodic polarimetric variations are the first phased-locked ones detected for a pre-main sequence binary. The variations are not simply double-periodic (seen twice per orbit) but include single-periodic (seen once per orbit) and higher-order variations. The presence of single-periodic variations could be due to non equal mass stars, the presence of dust grains, an asymmetric configuration of the circumstellar or circumbinary material, or the eccentricity of the orbit. MWC 1080 is an eclipsing binary with primary and secondary eclipses occurring at phases 0.0 and 0.55. The signatures of the eclipses are seen in the polarimetric observations.

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arXiv2001

Polarimetric variations of binary stars. II. Numerical simulations for circular and eccentric binaries in Mie scattering envelopes

We present numerical simulations of the periodic polarimetric variations produced by a binary star placed at the center of an empty spherical cavity inside a circumbinary ellipsoidal and optically thin envelope made of dust grains. Mie single-scattering is considered along with pre- and post-scattering extinction factors which produce a time-varying optical depth and affect the morphology of the periodic variations. We are interested in the effects that various parameters will have on the average polarization, the amplitude of the polarimetric variations, and the morphology of the variability. We show that the absolute amplitudes of the variations are smaller for Mie scattering than for Thomson scattering. Among the four grain types that we have studied, the highest polarizations are produced by grains with sizes in the range 0.1-0.2 micron. In general, the variations are seen twice per orbit. In some cases, because spherical dust grains have an asymmetric scattering function, the polarimetric curves produced also show variations seen once per orbit. Circumstellar disks produce polarimetric variations of greater amplitude than circumbinary envelopes. Another goal of these simulations is to see if the 1978 BME (Brown, McLean, & Emslie, ApJ, 68, 415) formalism, which uses a Fourier analysis of the polarimetric variations to find the orbital inclination for Thomson-scattering envelopes, can still be used for Mie scattering. We find that this is the case, if the amplitude of the variations is sufficient and the true inclinations is i_true > 45 deg. For eccentric orbits, the first-order coefficients of the Fourier fit, instead of second-order ones, can be used to find almost all inclinations.

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