We fit a sample of 49 R=6000 NIR (0.9 - 2.5 micron) T dwarf spectra obtained with Magellans FIRE spectrograph with two different atmospheric model sets to compare the derived physical parameters such as Teff, log g, cloud opacity, and rotational velo
city between the models, as well as their reliability. Many of our T dwarfs have distance measurements, which allows us to calculate their radii during the fitting, which can be compared to evolutionary models to determine age, mass and potentially the presence of unseen companions. We present our spectral sample and model fits, and comment on the measured fundamental properties of these T dwarfs. Our analysis allows us to identify global deviations between models and observed spectra, and hence provides important feedback for the next generation of substellar atmospheric models.
We present mid-IR photometry and spectra of the merged binary V1309 Sco taken between 18 and 23 months after outburst. Strong mid-IR emission and a solid state absorption feature indicate the presence of a significant amount of dust in the circumstel
lar environment. The absence of detectable mid-IR emission before the outburst suggests this dust was produced in the eruptive merger event. Model fits to the solid state absorption feature constrain the constituent species and column density of the dust around V1309 Sco. We find the absorption feature can be reproduced by large (3 micron) amorphous pyroxene grains at a temperature of 800 K. This grain size, if confirmed with longer wavelength spectroscopy and modelling, would be suggestive of dust processing in the circumstellar environment. The data in hand do not allow us to discriminate between disk or shell configurations for the dusty material.
Roughly 30% of variable AGB stars show a Long Secondary Period, or LSP. These LSPs have posed something of a problem in recent years and their cause remains a mystery. By combining VLT-derived velocity curves with MACHO and OGLE light curves we were
able to examine many properties of these stars and test the theory that LSPs are caused by binarity. We show why we concluded that the binary model for LSPs is unlikely. Examining mid-infrared SAGE observations for stars with LSPs shows that these stars are surrounded by a significant amount of cool dust in a nonspherical distribution, e.g. a disk or clumps. The unlikeliness of binarity in these stars forces us to conclude that the dust is not in a disk. We are left without an acceptable explanation for Long Secondary Periods in AGB stars.
Modelling ellipsoidal variables with known distances can lead to exact determination of the masses of both components, even in the absence of eclipses. We present such modelling using light and radial velocity curves of ellipsoidal red giant binaries
in the LMC, where they are also known as sequence E stars. Stars were selected as likely eccentric systems on the basis of light curve shape alone. We have confirmed their eccentric nature and obtained system parameters using the Wilson-Devinney code. Most stars in our sample exhibit unequal light maxima as well as minima, a phenomenon not observed in sequence E variables with circular orbits. We find evidence that the shape of the red giant changes throughout the orbit due to the high eccentricity and the varying influence of the companion. Brief intervals of pulsation are apparent in two of the red giants. We determine pulsation modes and comment on their placement in the period-luminosity plane. Defining the parameters of these systems paves the way for modelling to determine by what mechanism eccentricity is maintained in evolved binaries.
We present a study of a sample of LMC red giants exhibiting Long Secondary Periods (LSPs). We use radial velocities obtained from VLT spectral observations and MACHO and OGLE light curves to examine properties of the stars and to evaluate models for
the cause of LSPs. This sample is much larger than the combined previous studies of Hinkle et al. (2002) and Wood, Olivier & Kawaler (2004). Binary and pulsation models have enjoyed much support in recent years. Assuming stellar pulsation, we calculate from the velocity curves that the typical fractional radius change over an LSP cycle is greater than 30 per cent. This should lead to large changes in Teff that are not observed. Also, the small light amplitude of these stars seems inconsistent with the radius amplitude. We conclude that pulsation is not a likely explanation for the LSPs. The main alternative, physical movement of the star -- binary motion -- also has severe problems. If the velocity variations are due to binary motion, the distribution of the angle of periastron in our large sample of stars has a probability of 1.4e-3 that it comes from randomly aligned binary orbits. In addition, we calculate a typical companion mass of 0.09 Msun. Less than 1 per cent of low mass main sequence stars have companions near this mass (0.06 to 0.12 Msun) whereas ~25 to 50 per cent of low mass red giants end up with LSPs. We are unable to find a suitable model for the LSPs and conclude by listing their known properties.
