No Arabic abstract
We develop a new method to determine oscillator strength values of atomic absorption lines with state-of-the-art detailed spectral synthesis calculations of the optical spectrum of the Sun and of standard spectral reference stars. We update the log(gf)-values of 911 neutral lines observed in the KPNO-FTS flux spectrum of the Sun and high-resolution echelle spectra (R=80,000) of Procyon (F5 IV-V) and {epsilon} Eri (K2 V) observed with large signal-to-noise (S/N) ratios of ~2,000 using the new Mercator-Hermes spectrograph at La Palma Observatory (Spain). We find for 483 Fe I, 85 Ni I, and 51 Si I absorption lines in the sample a systematic over-estimation of the literature log(gf)-values with central line depths below 15 %. We employ a curve-of-growth analysis technique to test the accuracy of the new oscillator strength values and compare calculated equivalent line widths to the Moore, Minnaert, & Houtgast atlas of the Sun. The online SpectroWeb database at http://spectra.freeshell.org interactively displays the observed and synthetic spectra and provides the new log(gf)-values together with important atomic line data. The graphical database is under development for stellar reference spectra of every spectral sub-class observed with large spectral resolution and S/N ratios.
As part of the SLUGGS survey, we stack 1137 Keck DEIMOS spectra of globular clusters from 10 galaxies to study their stellar populations in detail. The stacked spectra have median signal to noise ratios of $sim 90$ AA$^{-1}$. Besides the calcium triplet, we study weaker sodium, magnesium, titanium and iron lines as well as the H$alpha$ and higher order Paschen hydrogen lines. In general, the stacked spectra are consistent with old ages and a Milky Way-like initial mass function. However, we see different metal line index strengths at fixed colour and magnitude, and differences in the calcium triplet--colour relation from galaxy to galaxy. We interpret this as strong evidence for variations in the globular cluster colour--metallicity relation between galaxies. Two possible explanations for the colour--metallicity relation variations are that the average ages of globular clusters vary from galaxy to galaxy or that the average abundances of light elements (i.e. He, C, N and O) differ between galaxies. Stacking spectra by magnitude, we see that the colours become redder and metal line indices stronger with brighter magnitudes. These trends are consistent with the previously reported `blue tilts being mass--metallicity relations.
The role of optical Fe III absorption lines in B-type stars as iron abundance diagnostics is considered. To date, ultraviolet Fe lines have been widely used in B-type stars, although line blending can severely hinder their diagnostic power. Using optical spectra, covering a wavelength range ~ 3560 - 9200 A, a sample of Galactic B-type main-sequence and supergiant stars of spectral types B0.5 to B7 are investigated. A comparison of the observed Fe III spectra of supergiants, and those predicted from the model atmosphere codes TLUSTY (plane-parallel, non-LTE), with spectra generated using SYNSPEC (LTE), and CMFGEN (spherical, non-LTE), reveal that non-LTE effects appear small. In addition, a sample of main-sequence and supergiant objects, observed with FEROS, reveal LTE abundance estimates consistent with the Galactic environment and previous optical studies. Based on the present study, we list a number of Fe III transitions which we recommend for estimating the iron abundance from early B-type stellar spectra.
Fundamental atomic transition parameters, such as oscillator strengths and wavelengths, play a key role in modelling and understanding the chemical composition of stars in the universe. Despite the significant work under way to produce these parameters for many ions, uncertainties in these parameters remain large and can limit the accuracy of chemical abundance determinations. The Belgian repository of fundamental atomic data and stellar spectra (BRASS) aims to provide a large systematic and homogeneous quality assessment of the atomic data available for quantitative spectroscopy. BRASS shall compare synthetic spectra against extremely high quality observed spectra, at a resolution of ~85000 and signal-noise ratios of ~1000, for around 20 bright BAFGK spectral type stars, in order to evaluate the atomic data available for over a thousand potentially useful spectral lines. A large-scale homogeneous selection of atomic lines is performed by synthesising theoretical spectra of literature atomic lines, for FGK-type stars including the Sun, resulting in a selection of 1091 theoretically deep and unblended lines, in the wavelength range 4200-6800~AA, which may be suitable for quality assessment. Astrophysical log(gf) values are determined for the 1091 transitions using two commonly employed methods. The agreement of these log(gf) values are used to select well-behaving lines for quality assessment. 845 atomic lines were found to be suitable for quality assessment, of which 408 were found to be robust against systematic differences between analysis methods. Around 54% of the quality-assessed lines were found to have at least one literature log(gf) value in agreement with our derived values, though the remaining values can disagree by as much as 0.5 dex. Only 38% of FeI lines were found to have sufficiently accurate log(gf) values, increasing to ~70-75% for the remaining Fe-group lines.
From an analysis of absorption lines in the high resolution spectra we have derived the radial velocities, stellar parameters (Teff, gravity, wind-strength parameter logQ and projected rotational velocity) and abundances (C, N, O, and Si ) of IRAS 17460-3114, IRAS 18131-3008, IRAS 19336-0400, LSE 45 and LSE 163. Abundances are found to be solar, except for a low Si abundance in IRAS 19336-0400 and a mild CNO pattern in LSE 163, that rotates at an unusual large rotational velocity for its spectral classification. Combining the stellar parameters information with Gaia DR2 data we are able to derive absolute magnitudes, radii and luminosities and clarify the possible post-AGB nature of the objects. IRAS 17460-3114 and IRAS 18131-3008 are found to be massive OB stars, whereas IRAS 19336-0400 is found to be a post-AGB star, already showing nebular lines in the spectrum. However, we could not confirm the nature of LSE 45 and LSE 163 as post-AGB stars, although their parameters are much more inconsistent with those of massive stars. In both cases, we find a discrepancy between the spectroscopic mass and that derived from the predictions of post-AGB evolutionary tracks. In addition, LSE 45 lacks nebular lines, that are present in IRAS 19336-0400 at a similar temperature. In the case of LSE 163 the rotational velocity (259+/-15 km/s) would be extremely large for a star evolving to CSPN. The combination of this rotational velocity, the high Galactic latitude, slightly large radial velocity and mild CNO enhancement suggests a history of binary interaction.
We have monitored 12 intrinsic narrow absorption lines (NALs) in five quasars and seven mini-broad absorption lines (mini-BALs) in six quasars for a period of 4-12 years (1-3.5 years in the quasar rest-frame). We present the observational data and the conclusions that follow immediately from them, as a prelude to a more detailed analysis. We found clear variability in the equivalent widths (EWs) of the mini-BAL systems but no easily discernible changes in their profiles. We did not detect any variability in the NAL systems nor in narrow components that are often located at the center of mini-BAL profiles. Variations in mini-BAL EWs are larger at longer time intervals, reminiscent of the trend seen in variable broad absorption lines. If we assume that the observed variations result from changes in the ionization state of the mini-BAL gas, we infer lower limits to the gas density $sim$ 10$^3$-10$^5$ cm$^{-3}$ and upper limits on the distance of the absorbers from the central engine of order a few kpc. Motivated by the observed variability properties, we suggest that mini-BALs can vary because of fluctuations of the ionizing continuum or changes in partial coverage while NALs can vary primarily because of changes in partial coverage.