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Thomas Rauch

Publications and source records attributed to Thomas Rauch.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Spectral evolution of hot hybrid white dwarfs: II. Photometry

We present a photometric analysis of 19 DA and 13 DAO white dwarfs (WDs) with effective temperatures exceeding 60 kK, building on the spectral analysis reported in the first paper of this two-part study. By examining archival light curves for periodic signals, we identify that four of the 32 objects ($13^{+8}_{-4}$%) exhibit photometric variability. Spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting allowed us to derive radii, luminosities, and gravity masses, as well as to characterise the infrared excesses observed in six sources. A notable discovery is the identification of a 1.87 d period in the ZTF light curves of WD1342+443 and weak emission lines in the optical spectra of this star, which strongly indicate an irradiation effect system. Our SED fit indicates the presence of cool dust, which must be located farther from the star, and that any companion with a spectral type earlier than L2.0 would appear in the SED. This leads us to speculate that WD1342+443 might have an irradiated, sub-stellar companion. We also highlight that we uncovered, for the first time, a 4.23 d photometric period in the well-known, close DA+dM binary WD0232+035, based on TESS data. We find that the phase and amplitude of the light curve variations are consistent with expectations from an irradiation effect. Intriguingly, we detected an additional, mysterious period at 1.39 d, which is approximately one-third of the orbital period. Moreover, we revisited the longstanding discrepancy between Kiel and gravity masses for the hottest WDs. To address this, we explored fully metal line blanketed model atmospheres as a potential solution, contrasting them with the results from pure H and H+He models. Our results show that including metal opacities does not resolve the discrepancy - in fact, it slightly deteriorates the agreement. Finally, we reaffirm the previously observed correlation between He abundance and luminosity.

astro-ph.SR

Spectral analysis of HD 49798, a bright, hydrogen-deficient sdO-type donor star in an accreting X-ray binary

Context: HD 49798 is a bright ($m_{\rm V} = 8.287$), hot (effective temperature $T_{\rm eff} = 45000$ K) subdwarf star of the spectral type O (sdO). It is the only confirmed sdO-type mass-donor star of an X-ray binary that has a high-mass (1.28 $M_\odot$) white-dwarf or neutron-star primary with a spin period of only 13.2 s. Aims: Since a high-quality spectrum of HD 49798, obtained with the Tübingen Ultraviolet Echelle Spectrometer (TUES), that has never been analyzed before is available in the database of the Orbiting and Retrievable Far and Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrometer (ORFEUS), we performed a spectral analysis based on observations from the far ultraviolet (FUV) to the optical wavelength range. Methods: We used advanced non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE) model atmospheres of the Tuebingen Model-Atmosphere Package (TMAP) to determine the effective temperature, the surface gravity ($\log g$), and the abundances of those elements that exhibit lines in the available observed spectra. Results: We determined $T_{\rm eff} = 45000 \pm 1000$ K, log (g / cm/s$^2$) = $4.46 \pm 0.10$, and re-analyzed the previously determined photospheric abundances of H, He, N, O, Mg, Al, Si, Fe, and Ni. For the first time, we measured the abundances of C, Ne, P, S, Cr, and Mn. Conclusons: Our panchromatic spectral analysis of HD 49798 -- from the FUV to the optical -- allowed to reduce the error limits of the photospheric parameters and to precisely measure the metal abundances. HD 49798 is a stripped, intermediate-mass (zero-age main sequence mass of about 7.15 $M_\odot$) He star with a mass of 1.14(+0.30/-0.24) $M_\odot$. At its surface it exhibits abundances that are the result of CNO-cycle and 3 alpha burning nucleosynthesis as well as enhanced Cr, Mn, Fe, and Ni abundances.

astro-ph.SR

Spectral evolution of hot hybrid white dwarfs I. Spectral analysis

Hydrogen-rich white dwarfs (WDs) comprise the majority of the WD population, but are only rarely found at the very hot end of the WD cooling sequence. A small subgroup that exhibits both hydrogen and helium lines in their spectra, the so-called hybrid (or DAO) WDs, represents the majority of hydrogen-rich WDs at effective temperatures $T_{eff}$ $\approx$ 100 kK. We aim to understand the spectral evolution of hot hybrid WDs. Although small in number, they represent an evolutionary phase for most ($\approx$ 75 %) WDs. We conducted a nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE) analysis with fully metal line blanketed model atmospheres for the ultraviolet (UV) and optical spectra of a sample of 19 DA and 13 DAO WDs with $T_{eff}$ $>$ 60 kK. The UV spectra allow us to precisely measure the temperature through model fits to metal lines in different ionization stages. This enables us to place the WDs accurately on the cooling sequence. In contrast to earlier studies that typically relied on temperature measurements made from hydrogen lines alone, all DAOs in our sample are clearly hotter than the DAs. DAOs transform into DAs when they cool to $T_{eff}$ $\approx$ 75$-$85 kK, depending on their mass. Along the cooling sequence, we witness a gradual decrease in the abundance of helium and the CNO elements in the DAOs due to gravitational settling. Simultaneously, iron and nickel abundances increase up to the transition region because radiative forces act more efficiently on them. This is followed by a steady decline. We discuss the implications of our results on atomic diffusion theory and on the role of weak radiation-driven winds in hot hydrogen-rich WDs.

astro-ph.SR

Novel Constraints on Companions to the Helix Nebula Central Star

The Helix is a visually striking and the nearest planetary nebula, yet any companions responsible for its asymmetric morphology have yet to be identified. In 2020, low-amplitude photometric variations with a periodicity of 2.8 d were reported based on Cycle 1 TESS observations. In this work, with the inclusion of two additional sectors, these periodic light curves are compared with lcurve simulations of irradiated companions in such an orbit. Based on the light curve modelling, there are two representative solutions: i) a Jupiter-sized body with 0.102 Rsol and an arbitrarily small orbital inclination i=1 deg, and ii) a 0.021 Rsol exoplanet with i approx. 25 deg, essentially aligned with the Helix Nebular inclination. Irradiated substellar companion models with equilibrium temperature 4970 K are constructed and compared with existing optical spectra and infrared photometry, where Jupiter-sized bodies can be ruled out, but companions modestly larger than Neptune are still allowed. Additionally, any spatially-unresolved companions are constrained based on the multi-wavelength, photometric spectral energy distribution of the central star. No ultracool dwarf companion earlier than around L5 is permitted within roughly 1200 au, leaving only faint white dwarfs and cold brown dwarfs as possible surviving architects of the nebular asymmetries. While a planetary survivor is a tantalizing possibility, it cannot be ruled out that the light curve modulation is stellar in nature, where any substellar companion requires confirmation and may be possible with JWST observations.

astro-ph.SR

The photospheres of the hottest fastest stars in the Galaxy

We perform nonlocal thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE) model atmosphere analyses of the three hottest hypervelocity stars (space velocities between $\approx$ 1500-2800 km s$^{-1}$) known to date, which were recently discovered spectroscopically and identified as runaways from Type Ia supernovae. The hottest of the three (J0546$+$0836, effective temperature $T_\mathrm{eff}$ = 95,000 $\pm$ 15,000 K, surface gravity log g = $5.5 \pm 0.5$) has an oxygen-dominated atmosphere with a significant amount of carbon (C = $0.10 \pm 0.05$, O = $0.90 \pm 0.05$, mass fractions). Its mixed absorption+emission line spectrum exhibits photospheric absorption lines from O V and O VI as well as O III and O IV emission lines that are formed in a radiation-driven wind with a mass-loss rate of the order of $10^{-8}$ $M_\odot$ yr$^{-1}$. Spectroscopically, J0546$+$0836 is a [WC]-PG1159 transition-type pre-white dwarf. The second object (J0927$-$6335) is a PG1159-type white dwarf with a pure absorption-line spectrum dominated by C III/C IV and O III/O IV. We find $T_\mathrm{eff}$ = 60,000 $\pm$ 5000 K, log g = $7.0 \pm 0.5$, and a carbon- and oxygen-dominated atmosphere with C = $0.47 \pm 0.25$, O = $0.48 \pm 0.25$, and possibly a minute amount of helium (He = $0.05 \pm 0.05$). Comparison with post-AGB evolutionary tracks suggests a mass of $M\approx0.5$ $M_\odot$ for both objects, if such tracks can safely be applied to these stars. We find the third object (J1332$-$3541) to be a relatively massive ($M=0.89 M_\odot$) hydrogen-rich (DAO) white dwarf with $T_\mathrm{eff}$ = 65,657 $\pm$ 2390 K, log g = $8.38 \pm 0.08$, and abundances H = $0.65 \pm 0.04$ and He = $0.35 \pm 0.04$. We discuss our results in the context of the "dynamically driven double-degenerate double-detonation" (D$^6$) scenario proposed for the origin of these stars.

astro-ph.SR

X-ray detection of a nova in the fireball phase

Novae are caused by runaway thermonuclear burning in the hydrogen-rich envelopes of accreting white dwarfs, which results in the envelope to expand rapidly and to eject most of its mass. For more than 30 years, nova theory has predicted the existence of a "fireball" phase following directly the runaway fusion, which should be observable as a short, bright, and soft X-ray flash before the nova becomes visible in the optical. Here we present the unequivocal detection of an extremely bright and very soft X-ray flash of the classical Galactic nova YZ Reticuli 11 hours prior to its 9 mag optical brightening. No X-ray source was detected 4 hours before and after the event, constraining the duration of the flash to shorter than 8 hours. In agreement with theoretical predictions, the source's spectral shape is consistent with a black body of $3.27^{+0.11}_{-0.33}\times 10^5$ K ($28.2^{+0.9}_{-2.8}$ eV), or a white dwarf atmosphere, radiating at the Eddington luminosity, with a photosphere that is only slightly larger than a typical white dwarf. This detection of the expanding white dwarf photosphere before the ejection of the envelope provides the last link of the predicted photospheric lightcurve evolution and opens a new window to measure the total nova energetics.

astro-ph.HE

Stratospheric balloons as a platform for the next large far infrared observatory

Observations that require large physical instrument dimensions and/or a considerable amount of cryogens, as it is the case for high spatial resolution far infrared (FIR) astronomy, currently still face technological limits for their execution from space. Angular resolution and available observational capabilities are particularly affected. Balloon-based platforms promise to complement the existing observational capabilities by offering means to deploy comparatively large telescopes with comparatively little effort, including other advantages such as the possibility to regularly refill cryogens and to change and/or update instruments. The planned European Stratospheric Balloon Observatory (ESBO) aims at providing these additional large aperture FIR capabilities, exceeding the spatial resolution of Herschel, in the long term. The plans focus on reusable platforms performing regular flights and an operations concept that provides researchers with proposal-based access to observations. It thereby aims at offering a complement to other airborne, ground-based and space-based observatories in terms of access to wavelength regions, spatial resolution capability, and photometric stability. While the FIR capabilities are a main long-term objective, ESBO will offer benefits in other wavelength regimes along the way. Within the ESBO Design Study (ESBO DS), a prototype platform carrying a 0.5 m telescope for ultraviolet and visible light observations is being built and a platform concept for a next-generation FIR telescope is being studied. A flight of the UV/VIS prototype platform is estimated for 2021. In this paper we will outline the scientific and technical motivation for a large aperture balloon-based FIR observatory and the ESBO DS approach towards such an infrastructure. Secondly, we will present the technical motivation, science case, and instrumentation of the 0.5 m UV/VIS platform.

astro-ph.IM

Stratospheric Balloons as a Complement to the Next Generation of Astronomy Missions

Observations that require large physical instrument dimensions and/or a considerable amount of cryogens, as it is for example the case for high spatial resolution far infrared astronomy, currently still face technological limits for their execution from space. The high cost and finality of space missions furthermore call for a very low risk approach and entail long development times. For certain spectral regions, prominently including the mid- to far-infrared as well as parts of the ultraviolet, stratospheric balloons offer a flexible and affordable complement to space telescopes, with short development times and comparatively good observing conditions. Yet, the entry burden to use balloon-borne telescopes is high, with research groups typically having to shoulder part of the infrastructure development as well. Aiming to ease access to balloon-based observations, we present the efforts towards a community-accessible balloon-based observatory, the European Stratospheric Balloon Observatory (ESBO). ESBO aims at complementing space-based and airborne capabilities over the next 10-15 years and at adding to the current landscape of scientific ballooning activities by providing a service-centered infrastructure for broader astronomical use, performing regular flights and offering an operations concept that provides researchers with a similar proposal-based access to observation time as practiced on ground-based observatories. We present details on the activities planned towards the goal of ESBO, the current status of the STUDIO (Stratospheric UV Demonstrator of an Imaging Observatory) prototype platform and mission, as well as selected technology developments with extensibility potential to space missions undertaken for STUDIO.

astro-ph.IM

Towards a European Stratospheric Balloon Observatory -- The ESBO Design Study

This paper presents the concept of a community-accessible stratospheric balloon-based observatory that is currently under preparation by a consortium of European research institutes and industry. The planned European Stratospheric Balloon Observatory (ESBO) aims at complementing the current landscape of scientific ballooning activities by providing a service-centered infrastructure tailored towards broad astronomical use. In particular, the concept focuses on reusable platforms with exchangeable instruments and telescopes performing regular flights and an operations concept that provides researchers with options to test and operate own instruments, but later on also a proposal-based access to observations. It thereby aims at providing a complement to ground-, space-based, and airborne observatories in terms of access to wavelength regimes - particularly the ultraviolet (UV) and far infrared (FIR) regimes -, spatial resolution capability, and photometric stability. Within the currently ongoing ESBO Design Study (ESBO DS), financed within the European Union's Horizon 2020 Programme, a prototype platform carrying a 0.5-m telescope for UV and visible light observations is being built and concepts for larger following platforms, leading up to a next-generation FIR telescope are being studied. A flight of the UV/visible prototype platform is currently foreseen for 2021. We present the technical motivation, science case, instrumentation, and a two-stage image stabilization approach of the 0.5-m UV/visible platform. In addition, we briefly describe the novel mid-sized stabilized balloon gondola under design to carry telescopes in the 0.5 to 0.6 m range as well as the currently considered flight option for this platform. Secondly, we outline the scientific and technical motivation for a large balloon-based FIR telescope and the ESBO DS approach towards such an infrastructure.

astro-ph.IM

Microchannel-Plate Detector Development for Ultraviolet Missions

The Institute for Astronomy and Astrophysics in Tübingen (IAAT) has a long-term experience in developing and building space-qualified imaging and photon counting microchannel-plate (MCP) detectors, which are sensitive in the ultraviolet wavelength range. Our goal is to achieve high quantum efficiency and spatial resolution, while maintaining solar blindness and low-noise characteristics. Our flexible detector design is currently tailored to the specific needs of three missions: For the ESBO DS (European Stratospheric Balloon Observatory Design Study) we provide a sealed detector to the STUDIO instrument (Stratospheric Ultraviolet Demonstrator of an Imaging Observatory), a 50 cm telescope with a UV imager for operation at an altitude of 37-41 km. In collaboration with the Indian Institute of Astrophysics we plan a space mission with a CubeSat-sized far-ultraviolet spectroscopic imaging instrument, featuring an open version of our detector. A Chinese mission, led by the Purple Mountain Observatory, comprises a multi-channel imager using open and sealed detector versions. Our MCP detector has a cesium activated p-doped gallium-nitride photocathode. Other photocathode materials like cesium-telluride or potassium-bromide could be used as an alternative. For the sealed version, the photocathode is operated in semi-transparent mode on a MgF$_2$ window with a cut-off wavelength of about 118 nm. For missions requiring sensitivity below this cut-off, we are planning an open version. We employ a coplanar cross-strip anode and advanced low-power readout electronics with a 128-channel charge-amplifier chip. This publication focuses on the progress concerning the main development challenges: the optimization of the photocathode parameters and the sophisticated detector electronics.

astro-ph.IM

Mapping Diffuse Emission in Lyman UV band

The CAFE (Census of warm-hot intergalactic medium, Accretion, and Feedback Explorer) and LyRIC (Lyman UV Radiation from Interstellar medium and Circum-galactic medium) have been proposed to the space agencies in China respectively. CAFE was first proposed in 2015 as a joint scientific CAS-ESA small space mission. LyRIC was proposed in 2019 as an independent external payload operating on the Chinese Space Station. Both missions are dedicated to mapping the Lyman UV emission (ionized oxygen (O VI) resonance lines at 103.2 and 103.8 nm, and Lyman series) for the diffuse sources in our Galaxy and the circum-galactic mediums of the nearby galaxies. We present the primary science objectives, mission concepts, the enabling technologies, as well as the current status.

astro-ph.IM

New Grids of Pure-Hydrogen White-Dwarf NLTE Model Atmospheres \newline and the HST/STIS Flux Calibration

Non-local Thermodynamic Equilibrium (NLTE) calculations of hot white dwarf (WD) model atmospheres are the cornerstone of modern flux calibrations for the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and for the CALSPEC database. These theoretical spectral energy distributions (SEDs) provide the relative flux vs. wavelength, and only the absolute flux level remains to be set by reconciling the measured absolute flux of Vega in the visible with the Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX) values for Sirius in the mid-IR. The most recent SEDs calculated by the \textsc{tlusty} and \textsc{tmap} NLTE model atmosphere codes for the primary WDs G191-B2B, GD153, and GD71 show improved agreement to 1\% from 1500~Å to 30~\micron, in comparison to the previous 1\% consistency only from 2000~Å to 5~\micron. These new NLTE models of hot WDs now provide consistent flux standards from the FUV to the mid-IR.

astro-ph.SR

MCP detector development for UV space missions

We are developing imaging and photon counting UV-MCP detectors, which are sensitive in the wavelength range from far ultraviolet to near ultraviolet. A good quantum efficiency, solar blindness and high spatial resolution is the aim of our development. The sealed detector has a Cs-activated photoactive layer of GaN (or similarly advanced photocathode), which is operated in semitransparent mode on (001)-MgF 2 . The detector comprises a stack of two long-life MCPs and a coplanar cross strip anode with advanced readout electronics. The main challenge is the flawless growth of the GaN photocathode layer as well as the requirements for the sealing of the detector, to prevent a degradation of the photocathode. We present here the detector concept and the experimental setup, examine in detail the status in the production and describe the current status of the readout electronics development.

physics.ins-det

Dusty Disks Around Central Stars of Planetary Nebulae

Only a few percent of cool, old white dwarfs (WDs) have infrared excesses interpreted as originating in small hot disks due to the infall and destruction of single asteroids that come within the star's Roche limit. Infrared excesses at 24 micron were also found to derive from the immediate vicinity of younger, hot WDs, most of which are still central stars of planetary nebulae (CSPN). The incidence of CSPN with this excess is 18%. The Helix CSPN, with a 24 micron excess, has been suggested to have a disk formed from collisions of Kuiper belt-like objects (KBOs). In this paper, we have analyzed an additional sample of CSPN to look for similar infrared excesses. These CSPN are all members of the PG 1159 class and were chosen because their immediate progenitors are known to often have dusty environments consistent with large dusty disks. We find that, overall, PG 1159 stars do not present such disks more often than other CSPN, although the statistics (5 objects) are poor. We then consider the entire sample of CSPN with infrared excesses, and compare it to the infrared properties of old WDs, as well as cooler post-AGB stars. We conclude with the suggestion that the infrared properties of CSPN more plausibly derive from AGB-formed disks rather than disks formed via the collision of KBOs, although the latter scenario cannot be ruled out. We finally remark that there seems to be an association between CSPN with a 24 micron excess and confirmed or possible binarity of the central star.

astro-ph.SR

An Interacting Binary System Powers Precessing Outflows of an Evolved Star

Stars are generally spherical, yet their gaseous envelopes often appear non-spherical when ejected near the end of their lives. This quirk is most notable during the planetary nebula phase when these envelopes become ionized. Interactions among stars in a binary system are suspected to cause the asymmetry. In particular, a precessing accretion disk around a companion is believed to launch point-symmetric jets, as seen in the prototype Fleming 1. Our discovery of a post common-envelope binary nucleus in Fleming 1 confirms that this scenario is highly favorable. Similar binary interactions are therefore likely to explain these kinds of outflows in a large variety of systems.

astro-ph.GA

Quality Control for Theoretical Data in the Virtual Observatory: Establishing Benchmark Tests for Synthetic Spectra

The Virtual Observatory (VO) provides access to both, data and theory. Quality control is a general problem and the VO user needs partly some experience to judge the reliability of the VO products. As far as spectral analysis is concerned, many different areas are involved, from atomic data to stellar model-atmosphere codes. Within the framework of the German Astrophysical Virtual Observatory (GAVO) project, the service TheoSSA is developed. It allows the VO user an easy access to synthetic spectral energy distributions (SEDs). We discuss quality control problems and the reliability of SEDs provided by TheoSSA.

astro-ph.SR

Spectral Analysis via the Virtual Observatory: The Service Theossa

In the framework of the Virtual Observatory, the newly developed service TheoSSA provides access to theoretical stellar spectral-energy distributions. In a pilot phase, this service is based on the well established Tuebingen NLTE Model-Atmosphere Package for hot, compact stars. We demonstrate its present capabilities and future extensions.

astro-ph.SR

Recent Investigations on AA Doradus

AA Dor is an eclipsing, post common-envelope binary with an sdOB-type primary and an unseen low-mass secondary, believed to be a brown dwarf. Eleven years ago, a NLTE spectral analysis of the primary showed a discrepancy with the surface gravity that was derived by radial-velocity and light-curve analysis that could not be explained. Since then, emission lines of the secondary were identified in optical spectra and its orbital-velocity amplitude was measured. Thus, the masses of both components are known, however, within relatively large error ranges. The secondary's mass was found to be around the stellar hydrogen-burning mass limit and, thus, it may be a brown dwarf or a late M-type dwarf. In addition, a precise determination of the primary's rotational velocity showed recently, that it rotates at about 65% of bound rotation - much slower than previously assumed. A new spectral analysis by means of metal-line blanketed, state-of-the-art, non-LTE model atmospheres solves the so-called gravity problem in AA Dor - our result for the surface gravity is, within the error limits, in agreement with the value from light-curve analysis. We present details of our recent investigations on AA Dor.

astro-ph.SR