arXiv subjects

Olga Maryeva

Publications and source records attributed to Olga Maryeva.

17 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2024

M dwarfs quasi-periodic pulsations at a time resolution of 1 s

Quasi-periodic pulsations (QPPs) of Sun and stars are challenging for stellar flare models. The white light stellar QPPs in the periodicity region of tens of second are unexplored yet. On the basis of observations with the 6-m telescope BTA in U-band of flaring dM-stars EV Lac, Wolf 359, Wolf 424, V577 Mon and UV Ceti we found 13 new QPPs. This composes 30% occurrence among 44 worked flares. These QPPs were found to have periods ranging from 6 to 107 seconds and were detected using both Fourier transform and empirical mode decomposition methods. The observed QPPs were categorized by the evolution of their oscillation envelope and fractional flux amplitudes. There are shown the statistically significant correlations of the QPP period with the duration, the equivalent duration and the amplitude of a flare, and the correlation between the QPP amplitude and flare amplitude.

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arXiv2024

Wolf-Rayet stars -- what we know and what we don't

Today, we have a sufficiently complete picture of what the Wolf--Rayet (WR) stars are. Predictions of stellar evolution theory are in a good agreement with their parameters, estimated from observational data using stellar atmospheres codes; predictions of population synthesis also agree well with number of known WR stars. This article provides an overview of the main historical milestones in the studies of WR stars, showing how we came to this understanding, and what questions are still unanswered.

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arXiv2024

An IXPE-Led X-ray Spectro-Polarimetric Campaign on the Soft State of Cygnus X-1: X-ray Polarimetric Evidence for Strong Gravitational Lensing

We present the first X-ray spectropolarimetric results for Cygnus X-1 in its soft state from a campaign of five IXPE observations conducted during 2023 May-June. Companion multiwavelength data during the campaign are likewise shown. The 2-8 keV X-rays exhibit a net polarization degree PD=1.99%+/-0.13% (68% confidence). The polarization signal is found to increase with energy across IXPE's 2-8 keV bandpass. The polarized X-rays exhibit an energy-independent polarization angle of PA=-25.7+/-1.8 deg. East of North (68% confidence). This is consistent with being aligned to Cyg X-1's AU-scale compact radio jet and its pc-scale radio lobes. In comparison to earlier hard-state observations, the soft state exhibits a factor of 2 lower polarization degree, but a similar trend with energy and a similar (also energy-independent) position angle. When scaling by the natural unit of the disk temperature, we find the appearance of a consistent trendline in the polarization degree between soft and hard states. Our favored polarimetric model indicates Cyg X-1's spin is likely high (a* above ~0.96). The substantial X-ray polarization in Cyg X-1's soft state is most readily explained as resulting from a large portion of X-rays emitted from the disk returning and reflecting off the disk surface, generating a high polarization degree and a polarization direction parallel to the black hole spin axis and radio jet. In IXPE's bandpass, the polarization signal is dominated by the returning reflection emission. This constitutes polarimetric evidence for strong gravitational lensing of X-rays close to the black hole.

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arXiv2023

LAMOST J040901.83+329355.6 -- a new Galactic star with Wolf--Rayet characteristics on a post-AGB to CSPN transitional stage

The similarity in physical conditions in winds of low-mass post-asymptotic giant branch stars and evolved massive stars leads to the appearance of an interesting phenomenon of spectral mimicry. Due to that the discovery of every new star with Wolf--Rayet spectrum requires special study of its evolutionary status before it may be included in the list of Galactic Wolf--Rayet (WR) stars. A couple of years ago LAMOST J040901.83+323955.6 (hereafter J0409+3239) was selected as a WR star in LAMOST spectroscopic database by machine learning methods. In this work we investigated its evolutionary status. Analyzing the spatial location of J0409+3239, in the Galaxy and its position in the color-magnitude diagram we concluded what J0409+3239, is instead a low mass object with WR phenomenon. Its luminosity is $L*=1000 L_\odot$ and effective temperature $T_{\rm eff}$=40,000 K. Using new and archival photometric data we detected irregular variability on time scales from hours to tens of days with amplitude up to $\approx0.2$ mag. Comparison of the spectrum obtained in 2022 with the one from 2014 also shows an evidence of spectral variability. The absence of clearly detected circumstellar nebula does not allow to classify J0409+3239, as [WR], i.e. a central star of planetary nebula (CSPN). However, its position in Hertzsprung--Russell diagram suggests that J0409+3239, is a low mass star caught in rare transitional phase to CSPN. Estimation of J0409+3239, mass based on evolutionary tracks shows that it is less than $0.9~M_\odot$, and thus the age of the Galaxy is barely enough for the star to evolve to its current stage.

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arXiv2023

Revealing the Binarity of HD 36030 -- One of the Hottest Flare Stars

The Kepler and TESS space missions significantly expanded our knowledge of what types of stars display flaring activity by recording a vast amount of super-flares from solar-like stars, as well as detecting flares from hotter stars of A-F spectral types. Currently, we know that flaring occurs in the stars as hot as B-type ones. However, the structures of atmospheres of hot B-A stars crucially differ from the ones of late types, and thus the occurrence of flaring in B-A type stars requires some extension of our theoretical views of flare formation and therefore a detailed study of individual objects. Here we present the results of our spectral and photometric study of HD 36030, which is a B9 V star with flares detected by the TESS satellite. The spectra we acquired suggest that the star is in a binary system with a low-mass secondary component, but the light curve lacks any signs of periodic variability related to orbital motion or surface magnetic fields. Because of that, we argue that the flares originate due to magnetic interaction between the components of the system.

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arXiv2022

How long can LBVs sleep? A long-term photometric vaiability and spectral study of the Galactic candidate luminous blue variable MN112

Luminous Blue Variables (LBVs) are massive stars that show strong spectral and photometric variability. The question of what evolutionary stages they represent and what exactly drives their instability is still open, and thus is it important to understand whether LBVs without significant ongoing activity exist, and for how long such dormant LBVs may ``sleep''. In this article we investigate the long-term variability properties of the LBV candidate MN112, by combining its optical and infrared spectral data covering 12 years with photometric data covering nearly a century acquired by both modern time-domain sky surveys and historical photographic plates. We analyze the spectra, derive physical properties of the star by modelling its atmosphere and use a new distance estimate from Gaia data release 3 (DR3) to determine the position of MN112 both inside the Galaxy and in the Hertzsprung--Russell diagram. Distance estimation increased in almost two times in comparison with Gaia DR2. Due to that MN112 moved in upper part of the diagram and according to our modeling it lies on evolutionary track for star with initial mass $M_*=70 M_\odot$ near Humphreys--Davidson limit. Given the absence of any significant variability we conclude that the star is a dormant LBV that has been inactive for at least a century now.

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arXiv2022

Revisiting the evolved hypergiants in the Magellanic Clouds

The massive stars that survive the phase of red supergiants (RSGs) spend the rest of their life in extremity. Their unstable atmospheres facilitate the formation and episodic ejection of shells that alter the stellar appearance and surroundings. In the present study, we revise the evolutionary state of eight hypergiants in the Magellanic Clouds, four of early-A type and four of FG type, and complement the short list of the eruptive post-RSGs termed as yellow hypergiants (YHGs). We refine the outdated temperatures and luminosities of the stars by means of high-resolution spectroscopy with FEROS. The A-type stars are suggested to be in their early, post-main sequence phase, showing spectrophotometric characteristics of redward evolving supergiants. On the other hand, the FG-type stars manifest themselves through the enhanced atmospheric activity that is traced by emission filling in H$α$ and the dynamical modulation of the low-excitation BaII line. Of these stars, the dusty HD269723 is suggested to have recently departed from a cool phase. We identify double-peaked emission in the FEROS data of HD269953 that emerges from an orbiting disk-hosting companion. The highlight of the study is an episode of enhanced mass loss of HD271182 that manifests as a dimming event in the lightcurve and renders the star "modest" analogue to $ρ$ Cas. The luminosity $\log(L/L_{\odot})= 5.6$ of HD271182 can serve as an updated threshold for the luminosity of stars exhibiting a post-RSG evolution in the Large Magellanic Cloud.

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arXiv2019

The History Goes On: Century Long Study of Romano's Star

GR 290 (M 33 V0532 = Romano's Star) is a unique variable star in the M33 galaxy, which simultaneously displays variability typical for luminous blue variable (LBV) stars and physical parameters typical for nitrogen-rich Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars (WN). As of now, GR 290 is the first object which is confidently classified as a post-LBV star. In this paper, we outline the main results achieved from extensive photometric and spectroscopic observations of the star: the structure and chemical composition of its wind and its evolution over time, the systematic increase of the bolometric luminosity during the light maxima, the circumstellar environment. These results show that the current state of Romano's Star constitutes a fundamental link in the evolutionary path of very massive stars.

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arXiv2018

Wind and nebula of the M33 variable GR290 (WR/LBV)

Context: GR290 (M33/V532=Romano's Star) is a suspected post-LBV star located in M33 galaxy that shows a rare Wolf-Rayet spectrum during its minimum light phase. In spite of many studies, its atmospheric structure, its circumstellar environment and its place in the general context of massive stars evolution is poorly known. Aims: Detailed study of its wind and mass loss, and study of the circumstellar environment associated to the star. Methods: Long-slit spectra of GR290 were obtained during its present minimum luminosity phase with the GTC together with contemporaneous BVRI photometry. The data were compared with non-LTE model atmosphere synthetic spectra computed with CMFGEN and with CLOUDY models for ionized interstellar medium regions. Results: The current $m_V=18.8$ mag, is the faintest at which this source has ever been observed. The non-LTE models indicate effective temperature $T_{eff}$=27-30 kK at radius $R_{2/3}$=27-21 Rsun and mass loss rate $\dot{M}=1.5\times10^{-5}$ Msun yr$^{-1}$. The terminal wind speed $V_\infty$=620 ${\rm km~s^{-1}}$ is faster than ever before recorded while the current luminosity $L_*=(3.1-3.7)\times 10^5$ Lsun is the lowest ever deduced. It is overabundant in He and N and underabundant in C and O. It is surrounded by an unresolved compact HII region with dimensions $\leq$4 pc, from where H-Balmer, HeI lines and [OIII] and [NII] are detected. In addition, we find emission from a more extended interstellar medium (ISM) region which appears to be asymmetric, with a larger extent to the East (16-40 pc) than to the West. Conclusions: In the present long lasting visual minimum, GR290 is in a lower bolometric luminosity state with higher mass loss rate. The nearby nebular emission seems to suggest that the star has undergone significant mass loss over the past $10^4-10^5$ years and is nearing the end stages of its evolution.

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arXiv2016

The study of massive stars with 50 Msun initial mass at different evolutionary stages

We will present results of studies of several massive stars at different evolutionary stages, but with similar values of the initial mass: O-supergiants belonging to association Cyg OB2, unique LBV/post-LBV - Romano's star and two Wolf-Rayet stars - WR156 and FSZ35. All these stars have similar initial mass of about 50 Msun. It allows us to consider them a single star at different moments of life, and it gives an opportunity to track changes in the physical parameters (such as effective temperature, luminosity, mass loss rate, wind velocity) and chemical abundances during the life of a massive star. It is important to test the current evolution theories of such objects.

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arXiv2014

The half-century history of studies of Romano's star

Luminous blue variables (LBVs) are rare objects of very high luminosity and mass loss rates, low wind velocities, exhibiting strong irregular photometric and spectral variability. They are generally believed to be a relatively short evolutionary stage in the life of a massive star, marking the transition from the Main Sequence toward Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars. However, recent studies indicate that progenitors of several supernovae underwent LBV-like eruptions. These studies support the view that at least some LBV stars are the end point of the evolution but not a transition phase. LBVs are rare objects, observations of whose in the Galaxy are inevitably connected with difficulties in determination of the distance and interstellar extinction. Hence, studying these rare objects in nearby galaxies is potentially more prospective. Therefore, investigation of the extragalactic star Romano's star (V532 or GR290) which is now classified as LBV/post-LBV star and shows late-WN spectrum, is very important for our understanding of evolution of massive stars in general.

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arXiv2014

Investigation of CygOB2 #11 (O5 Ifc) by modeling its atmosphere

We continue the study of O-supergiants belonging to the association Cyg OB2 using moderate-resolution spectra. In this paper we present results of the modeling of the stellar atmosphere of Cyg OB2 #11. This object belongs to the spectral class Ofc, which was recently introduced and yet small in numbers. Ofc class consists of stars with normal spectra with CIII λλ4647,4650,4652 emission lines of comparable intensity to those of the Of-defining lines NIII λλ4634,4640,4642. We combined new spectral data obtained by the 1.5-m Russian-Turkish telescope with spectra from MAST and CASU archives and determined physical parameters of the wind and chemical composition of the stellar atmosphere using CMFGEN code. The estimated nitrogen abundance is lower than one in atmospheres of normal O-supergiants (i.e. O4-6 supergiants without additional spectral index "n" or "c") and carbon abundance is solar. Also we find an excess in silicon. We present an illustrative comparison of our modeling results with current Geneva evolutionary models for rotating massive stars. The position on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram corresponds to the star mass of about 50M\sun and age about 4.5 Myr. Moreover, we carried out the high angular resolution (about 0.02'') observations on the Russian 6-meter telescope aiming to find weaker companions of this star, which did not reveal any.

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arXiv2013

Modeling of atmospheres of the brightest stars belonging to the Cyg OB2 association

We present the results of modeling of the spectrum of the brightest stars belonging to the Cyg OB2 association - #7 (O3If*) and #11 (O5Ifc). #7 is one of the hottest stars in our Galaxy, while #11 belongs to the spectral class Ofc, which was recently introduced and yet small in numbers (Walborn et al., 2010). We determine the physical properties and chemical composition of their atmosphere using CMFGEN code. The atmosphere of #7 reveals an excess of nitrogen X(N*)/X(Nsun) = 3.2 and the carbon and oxygen deficiency X(C*)/X(Csun) = 0.08, X(O*)/X(Osun) = 0.09, while the atmosphere of #11 is enriched with carbon X(C*)/X(Csun)=1 and silicon X(Si *)/X(Si sun)=2.

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arXiv2013

Modeling Hydrogen-Rich Wolf-Rayet Stars in M33

We present the results of a spectral variability study of two very luminous stars in the M33 galaxy -- LBV V532 and late WN star (possibly, dormant LBV) FSZ35. We studied spectral variability of V532, derived its atmosphere parameters and showed that the bolometric luminosity varies between the two states by a factor of $\sim$1.5. Using the non-LTE radiative transfer code CMFGEN, we determined wind parameters for both objects. Since both stars are located at distances of about 100 pc from the nearest association, we supposed that they may be massive runaway stars with velocities of the order 100 km/s.

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arXiv2012

Medium resolution spectroscopy of the supergiant O3If* Cyg OB2 No7

We examine the feasibility of using medium resolution spectra for determining the parameters of atmospheres of hot stars by means of numerical simulations. We chose the star Cyg OB2 No7 as a test object and obtained its spectrum (λ/Δλ=2500) with Russian-Turkish RTT150 telescope. The CMFGEN code was used to construct a model of the atmosphere of Cyg OB2 No7. For the first time we have detected the NIV λλ7103.2-7129.2 lines in the spectrum of this star and used them to determine the physical parameters of the wind. The rate of mass loss measured using the H$α$ line exceeds the loss rate measured using lines formed in the wind. This indicates that the wind is nonuniform, apparently due to rotation.

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arXiv2011

Modelling the optical spectrum of Romano's star

We consider the luminous blue variable (LBV) star V532 in M33, also known as Romano's star, in two different spectral states: in the optical minimum of 2007/2008 and during a local brightening in 2005. Optical spectra of low and moderate resolution are modelled using the non-LTE model atmosphere code CMFGEN. All the observed properties of the object in the minimum are well described by a late nitrogen-sequence Wolf-Rayet (WN) star model with relatively high hydrogen abundance (H/He=1.9), while the spectrum during the outburst corresponds to the spectral class WN11 and is similar to the spectrum of P Cyg. The atmosphere is enriched in nitrogen by about a factor of 6 in both states. Most of the heavy element abundances are consistent with the chemical composition of M33. Bolometric luminosity is shown to vary between the two states by a factor of ~1.5. This makes V532 another example of an LBV that shows variations in its bolometric luminosity during an outburst.

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arXiv2011

Spectral Study of the WNL Star FSZ35 in the M33 Galaxy

We study and analyse low-resolution spectra of the unordinary late WN star FSZ35 in M33. We classify the object as a hydrogen-rich WN8 star. Using the radiative transfer code CMFGEN, we determine the physical parameters of this object and compare them to the parameters of other WN8 stars including the LBV star Romano's star during the minimum of brightness. Unlike Romano's star, the object is fairly stable both spectrally and photometrically, that may be attributed to its more advanced evolutionary stage or lower luminosity. FSZ35 is shown to possess a compact nebula producing faint but detectable [OIII]emission. Location of this object at a large distance (about 100 pc) from the nearest association suggests the object may be one more example of a massive runaway star.

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