arXiv subjects

Y. Nazé

Publications and source records attributed to Y. Nazé.

41 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2011

Confirmation of the magnetic oblique rotator model for the Of?p star HD 191612

This paper reports high-precision Stokes V spectra of HD 191612 acquired using the ESPaDOnS spectropolarimeter at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, in the context of the Magnetism in Massive stars (MiMeS) Project. Using measurements of the equivalent width of the Halpha line and radial velocities of various metallic lines, we have updated both the spectroscopic and orbital ephemerides of this star. We confirm the presence of a strong magnetic field in the photosphere of HD 191612, and detect its variability. We establish that the longitudinal field varies in a manner consistent with the spectroscopic period of 537.6 d, in an approximately sinusoidal fashion. This demonstrates a firm connection between the magnetic field and the processes responsible for the line and continuum variability. Interpreting the variation of the longitudinal magnetic field within the context of the dipole oblique rotator model we obtain a best-fit surface magnetic field model with obliquity beta=67\pm 5 deg and polar strength Bd=2450\pm 400 G . The inferred magnetic field strength implies an equatorial wind magnetic confinement parameter eta*~50, supporting a picture in which the Halpha emission and photometric variability have their origin in an oblique, rigidly rotating magnetospheric structure resulting from a magnetically channeled wind. This interpretation is supported by our successful Monte Carlo radiative transfer modeling of the photometric variation, which assumes the enhanced plasma densities in the magnetic equatorial plane above the star implied by such a picture. Predictions of the continuum linear polarisation resulting from Thompson scattering from the magnetospheric material indicate that the Stokes Q and U variations are highly sensitive to the magnetospheric geometry, and that expected amplitudes are in the range of current instrumentation. (abridged)

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2010

MESS (Mass-loss of Evolved StarS), a Herschel Key Program

MESS (Mass-loss of Evolved StarS) is a Guaranteed Time Key Program that uses the PACS and SPIRE instruments on board the Herschel Space Observatory to observe a representative sample of evolved stars, that include asymptotic giant branch (AGB) and post-AGB stars, planetary nebulae and red supergiants, as well as luminous blue variables, Wolf-Rayet stars and supernova remnants. In total, of order 150 objects are observed in imaging and about 50 objects in spectroscopy. This paper describes the target selection and target list, and the observing strategy. Key science projects are described, and illustrated using results obtained during Herschel's science demonstration phase. Aperture photometry is given for the 70 AGB and post-AGB stars observed up to October 17, 2010, which constitutes the largest single uniform database of far-IR and sub-mm fluxes for late-type stars.

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arXiv2010

Of?p stars: a class of slowly rotating magnetic massive stars

Only 5 Of?p stars have been identified in the Galaxy. Of these, 3 have been studied in detail, and within the past 5 years magnetic fields have been detected in each of them. The observed magnetic and spectral characteristics are indicative of organised magnetic fields, likely of fossil origin, confining their supersonic stellar winds into dense, structured magnetospheres. The systematic detection of magnetic fields in these stars strongly suggests that the Of?p stars represent a general class of magnetic O-type stars.

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arXiv2009

Optical spectroscopy of X-Mega targets in the Carina nebula - VII On the multiplicity of Tr 16-112, HD 93343 and HD 93250

We present the results of a spectroscopic monitoring campaign devoted to three O-type stars in the Carina nebula. We derive the full SB2 orbital solution of the binary system Tr 16-112, an exceptional dissymmetrical system consisting of an O5.5-6V((f$^+$?p)) primary and a B2V-III secondary. We also report on low-amplitude brightness variations in Tr 16-112 that are likely due to the ellipsoidal shape of the O5.5-6 primary revolving in an eccentric orbit around the system's centre of mass. We detect for the first time a clear SB2 binary signature in the spectrum of HD 93343 (O8 + O8), although our data are not sufficient to establish an orbital solution. This system also displays low amplitude photometric modulations. On the other hand, no indication of multiplicity is found in the optical spectra of HD 93250. Finally, we discuss the general properties of multiple massive stars in the Carina OB1 association.

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arXiv2008

The massive binary HD 152218 revisited: A new colliding wind system in NGC 6231

We present the results of an optical and X-ray monitoring campaign on the short-period massive SB2 binary HD 152218. Combining our HiRes spectroscopic data with previous observations, we unveil the contradictions between the published orbital solutions. In particular, we solve the aliasing on the period and derive a value close to 5.604 d. Our eccentricity e = 0.259 +/- 0.006 is slightly lower than previously admitted. We show that HD 152218 is probably undergoing a relatively rapid apsidal motion of about 3deg/yr and we confirm the O9IV + O9.7V classification. We derive minimal masses of 15.82 +/- 0.26 Msol operator and 12.00 +/- 0.19 Msol operator and constrain the radius of the components to R1 = 10.3 +/- 1.3 Rsol and R2 = 7.8 +/- 1.7 Rsol. We also report the results of an XMM-Newton monitoring of the HD 152218 X-ray emission throughout its orbital motion. The averaged X-ray spectrum is relatively soft and it is well reproduced by a 2-T optically thin thermal plasma model with component temperatures about 0.3 and 0.7 keV. The system presents an increase of its X-ray flux by about 30% near apastron compared to periastron, which is interpreted as the signature of an ongoing wind-wind interaction process occurring within the wind acceleration region.

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