NGC288 is a globular cluster with a well-developed blue horizontal branch covering the u-jump that indicates the onset of diffusion. It is therefore well suited to study the effects of diffusion in blue horizontal branch (HB) stars. We compare observ
ed abundances with predictions from stellar evolution models calculated with diffusion and from stratified atmospheric models. We verify the effect of using stratified model spectra to derive atmospheric parameters. In addition, we investigate the nature of the overluminous blue HB stars around the u-jump. We defined a new photometric index sz from uvby measurements that is gravity-sensitive between 8000K and 12000K. Using medium-resolution spectra and Stroemgren photometry, we determined atmospheric parameters (T_eff, log g) and abundances for the blue HB stars. We used both homogeneous and stratified model spectra for our spectroscopic analyses. The atmospheric parameters and masses of the hot HB stars in NGC288 show a behaviour seen also in other clusters for temperatures between 9000K and 14000K. Outside this temperature range, however, they instead follow the results found for such stars in omega Cen. The abundances derived from our observations are for most elements (except He and P) within the abundance range expected from evolutionary models that include the effects of atomic diffusion and assume a surface mixed mass of 10^-7 M0. The abundances predicted by stratified model atmospheres are generally significantly more extreme than observed, except for Mg. When effective temperatures, surface gravities, and masses are determined with stratified model spectra, the hotter stars agree better with canonical evolutionary predictions. Our results show definite promise towards solving the long-standing problem of surface gravity and mass discrepancies for hot HB stars, but much work is still needed to arrive at a self-consistent solution.
From 1979 to 2001, the magnetic axis of the white dwarf in the polar DP Leo slowly rotated by 50 deg in azimuth, possibly indicating a small asynchronism between the rotational and orbital periods of the magnetic white dwarf. We have obtained phase-r
esolved orbital light curves between 2009 and 2013, which show that this trend has not continued in recent years. Our data are consistent with the theoretically predicted oscillation of the magnetic axis of the white dwarf about an equilibrium orientation, which is defined by the competition between the accretion torque and the magnetostatic interaction of the primary and secondary star. Our data indicate an oscillation period of ~60 yr, an amplitude of about 25 deg, and an equilibrium orientation leading the connecting line of the two stars by about 7 deg.
We report new mid-eclipse times of the short-period sdB/dM binary HW Vir, which differ substantially from the times predicted by a previous model. The proposed orbits of the two planets in that model are found to be unstable. We present a new secular
ly stable solution, which involves two companions orbiting HW VIr with periods of 12.7 yr and 55 +/-15 yr. For orbits coplanar with the binary, the inner companion is a giant planet with mass M_3 sin i_3 = 14 M_Jup and the outer one a brown dwarf or low-mass star with a mass of M_4 sin i_4 = 30-120 M_Jup. Using the mercury6 code, we find that such a system would be stable over more than 10^7 yr, in spite of the sizeable interaction. Our model fits the observed eclipse-time variations by the light-travel time effect alone, without invoking any additional process, thereby providing support for the planetary hypothesis of the eclipse-time variations in close binaries. The signature of non-Keplerian orbits may be visible in the data.
KIC 4247791 is an eclipsing binary observed by the Kepler satellite mission. We wish to determine the nature of its components and in particular the origin of a shallow dip in its Kepler light curve that previous investigations have been unable to ex
plain in a unique way. We analyze newly obtained high-resolution spectra of the star using synthetic spectra based on atmosphere models, derive the radial velocities of the stellar components from cross-correlation with a synthetic template, and calculate the orbital solution. We use the JKTEBOP program to model the Kepler light curve of KIC 4247791. We find KIC 4247791 to be a SB4 star. The radial velocity variations of its four components can be explained by two separate eclipsing binaries. In contradiction to previous photometric findings, we show that the observed composite spectrum as well as the derived masses of all four of its components correspond to spectral type F. The observed small dip in the light curve is not caused by a transit-like phenomenon but by the eclipses of the second binary system. We find evidence that KIC 4247791 might belong to the very rare hierarchical SB4 systems with two eclipsing binaries.
Planets orbiting post-common envelope binaries provide fundamental information on planet formation and evolution. We searched for such planets in NN Ser ab, an eclipsing short-period binary that shows long-term eclipse time variations. Using publishe
d, reanalysed, and new mid-eclipse times of NN Ser ab obtained between 1988 and 2010, we find excellent agreement with the light-travel-time effect by two additional bodies superposed on the linear ephemeris of the binary. Our multi-parameter fits accompanied by N-body simulations yield a best fit for the objects NN Ser (ab)c and d locked in a 2:1 mean motion resonance, with orbital periods P_c=15.5 yrs and P_d=7.7 yrs, masses M_c sin i_c = 6.9 M_Jup and M_d sin i_d = 2.2 M_Jup, and eccentricities e_c=0 and e_d=0.20. A secondary chi**2 minimum corresponds to an alternative solution with a period ratio of 5:2. We estimate that the progenitor binary consisted of an A star with ~2 M_Sun and the present M dwarf secondary at an orbital separation of ~1.5 AU. The survival of two planets through the common-envelope phase that created the present white dwarf requires fine tuning between the gravitational force and the drag force experienced by them in the expanding envelope. The alternative is a second-generation origin in a circumbinary disk created at the end of this phase. In that case, the planets would be extremely young with ages not exceeding the cooling age of the white dwarf of 10**6 yrs.
UV observations of some massive globular clusters have revealed a significant population of stars hotter and fainter than the hot end of the horizontal branch (HB), the so-called blue hook stars. This feature might be explained either by the late hot
flasher scenario where stars experience the helium flash while on the white dwarf cooling curve or by the progeny of the helium-enriched sub-population postulated to exist in some clusters. Previous spectroscopic analyses of blue hook stars in omega Cen and NGC 2808 support the late hot flasher scenario, but the stars contain much less helium than expected and the predicted C and N enrichment cannot be verified. We compare the observed effective temperatures, surface gravities, helium abundances, and carbon line strengths (where detectable) of our targets stars with the predictions of the two aforementioned scenarios. Moderately high resolution spectra of hot HB stars in the globular cluster omega Cen were analysed for radial velocity variations, atmospheric parameters, and abundances using LTE and non-LTE model atmospheres. We find no evidence of close binaries among our target stars. All stars below 30,000K are helium-poor and very similar to HB stars observed in that temperature range in other globular clusters. In the temperature range 30,000K to 50,000K, we find that 28% of our stars are helium-poor (log(He/H) < -1.6), while 72% have roughly solar or super-solar helium abundance (log(He/H) >= -1.5). We also find that carbon enrichment is strongly correlated with helium enrichment, with a maximum carbon enrichment of 3% by mass. A strong carbon enrichment in tandem with helium enrichment is predicted by the late hot flasher scenario, but not by the helium-enrichment scenario. We conclude that the helium-rich HB stars in omega Cen cannot be explained solely by the helium-enrichment scenario invoked to explain the blue main sequence.
We present ground-based optical observations of the September 2009 and January 2010 transits of HD 80606b. Based on 3 partial light curves of the September 2009 event, we derive a midtransit time of T_c [HJD] = 2455099.196 +- 0.026, which is about 1
sigma away from the previously predicted time. We observed the January 2010 event from 9 different locations, with most phases of the transit being observed by at least 3 different teams. We determine a midtransit time of T_c [HJD] = 2455210.6502 +- 0.0064, which is within 1.3 sigma of the time derived from a Spitzer observation of the same event.
We investigate the chance of detecting proto-planetary or debris disks in stars that induce microlensing events (lenses). The modification of the light curves shapes due to occultation and extinction by the disks as well as the additional gravitation
al deflection caused by the additional mass is considered. The magnification of gravitational microlensing events is calculated using the ray shooting method. The occultation is taken into account by neglecting or weighting the images on the lens plane according to a transmission map of the corresponding disk for a point source point lens (PSPL) model. The estimated frequency of events is obtained by taking the possible inclinations and optical depths of the disk into account. We conclude that gravitational microlensing can be used, in principle, as a tool for detecting debris disks beyond 1 kpc, but estimate that each year of the order of 1 debris disk is expected for lens stars of F, G, or K spectral type and of the order of 10 debris disks might have shown signatures in existing datasets.
Context: Planets outside our solar system transiting their host star, i. e. those with an orbital inclination near 90 degree, are of special interest to derive physical properties of extrasolar planets. With the knowledge of the host stars physical p
arameters, the planetary radius can be determined. Combined with spectroscopic observations the mass and therefore the density can be derived from Doppler-measurements. Depending on the brightness of the host star, additional information, e. g. about the spin-orbit alignment between the host star and planetary orbit, can be obtained. Aims: The last few years have witnessed a growing success of transit surveys. Among other surveys, the MACHO project provided nine potential transiting planets, several of them with relatively bright parent stars. The photometric signature of a transit event is, however, insufficient to confirm the planetary nature of the faint companion. The aim of this paper therefore is a determination of the spectroscopic parameters of the host stars as well as a dynamical mass determination through Doppler-measurements. Methods: We have obtained follow-up high-resolution spectra for five stars selected from the MACHO sample, which are consistent with transits of low-luminosity objects. Radial velocities have been determined by means of cross-correlation with model spectra. The MACHO light curves have been compared to simulations based on the physical parameters of the system derived from the radial velocities and spectral analyses. Aims: We show that all transit light curves of the exoplanet candidates analysed in this work can be explained by eclipses of stellar objects, hence none of the five transiting objects is a planet.
