D. S. Leckrone

Very high resolution ultraviolet spectroscopy of a chemically peculiar star: Results of the chi Lupi Pathfinder project

We summarize here the results of a major eight-year investigation of the extraordinarily detailed UV spectrum of the sharp-lined, nonmagnetic, main-sequence, chemically peculiar star chi Lupi (B9.5p HgMn + A2 Vm). The UV observations are composed of 345 Angstrom of the spectrum acquired with the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph (GHRS) on board the Hubble Space Telescope at an average resolution of 0.023 Angstrom. The complete set of echelle spectrograms is presented as an atlas in a companion paper. These data were supplemented by optical-wavelength spectra obtained at the Angle-Australian Telescope. Quantitatively accurate analysis and theoretical interpretation of these data required major improvements in the accuracy and completeness of available atomic data-wavelengths, transition probabilities, hyperfine structure, and isotope shifts-for the lowest ionization states of many elements. A large, international group of theoretical and experimental atomic physicists has collaborated in this investigation, and their results are summarized or referenced in this paper. In turn, the GHRS observations of chi Lupi have become a useful source of data for atomic spectroscopy, displaying many transitions that are difficult to observe in a laboratory setting. Measured abundances or upper limits are presented for 72 ions of 51 chemical elements, spanning the periodic table. We have confirmed and refined previously identified isotopic abundance anomalies in mercury and platinum and have discovered similar isotopic anomalies in thallium and, tentatively, in lead. Large discrepancies among the LTE abundances derived, using a chemically homogeneous model atmosphere, from two or three ionization states of the same element are found to be common. In some cases these are due to departures from LTE in the ionization equilibria, but the largest such discrepancies probably result from chemical stratification within the photosphere. We find qualitative trends in the abundances of the elements that clearly signify radiatively driven diffusion and gravitational settling as the primary mechanism producing abundance anomalies. However, detailed non-LTE diffusion calculations for mercury and thallium show that there is insufficient unsaturated radiative force within the chemically enriched atmosphere to sustain the observed huge overabundances of these elements in equilibrium with gravity. Either other hydrodynamic processes, such as slow mass motions or unexpectedly strong stellar winds must assist radiation pressure in supporting the enriched material, or the observed abundance patterns simply provide a snapshot in time of a nonequilibrium, time-variable phenomenon. (Less)

The Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph: In-orbit performance

The in-orbit performance of the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph onboard the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) is presented. This report covers the pre-COSTAR period, when instrument performance was limited by the effects of spherical aberration of the telescopes primary mirror. The digicon detectors provide a linear response to count rates spanning over six orders of magnitude, ranging from the normal background flux of 0.01 counts diode -1 s-1 to values larger than 104 counts diode-1 s-1. Scattered light from the first-order gratings is small and can be removed by standard background subtraction techniques. Scattered light in the echelle mode is more complex in origin, but it also can be accurately removed. Data have been obtained over a wavelength range from below 1100 A to 3300 A, at spectral resolutions as high as R = lambda/delta-lambda = 90,000. The wavelength scale is influenced by spectrograph temperature, outgassing of the optical bench, and interaction of the magnetic field within the detector with the earths magnetic field. Models of these effects lead to a default wavelength scale with an accuracy better than 1 diode, corresponding to 3 km s-1 in the echelle mode. With care, the wavelength scale can be determined to an accuracy of 0.2 diodes. Calibration of the instrument sensitivity functions is tied into the HST flux calibration through observations of spectrophotometric standard stars. The measurements of vignetting and the echelle blaze function provide relative photometric precision to about 5% or better. The effects of fixed-pattern noise have been investigated, and techniques have been devised for recognizing and removing it from the data. The ultimate signal-to-noise ratio achievable with the spectrograph is essentially limited only by counting statistics, and values approaching 1000:1 have been obtained.

Mercury in the HgMn stars chi Lupi and HR 7775

Observations of mercury lines in the HgMn stars chi Lupi and HR 7775 made with the Hubble Space Telescope Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph are presented and analyzed. In chi Lupi we find that all observed lines are consistent with the same isotopic mixture (essentially pure (204)Hg). Strong ionization anomalies are present, with UV Hg I lines being too weak and Hg III lines too strong for the abundance derived from lines of the majority ionization state, Hg rr. Observations of mercury in I;IR 7775 show less extreme isotope and ionization anomalies. We find that the ionization anomaly in the Hg I resonance lines can be plausibly explained as a non-LTE effect, but the same non-LTE calculations show that the Hg III ionization anomaly in chi Lupi cannot be explained in this way. Radiative force calculations show that the observed mercury abundance cannot be supported in the atmosphere by the radiative forces alone. We suggest that weak mixing brings mercury into the line-forming region from below the photosphere, while a wind of order 10(-14) M. yr(-1) supports a cloud of Hg III at very small optical depths. (Less)

The Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph: Instrument, goals, and science results

The Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph (GHRS), currently in Earth orbit on the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), operates in the wavelength range of 1150-3200A with spectral resolutions (lambda/delta-lambda) of approximately 2 X 103, 2 X 104, and 1 X 105. This paper describes the instrument and its development from inception, its current status, the approach to operations, representative results in the major areas of the scientific goals, and prospects for the future.

First results from the Goddard High-Resolution spectrograph - High-resolution observations of the 1942 A resonance line of HG II in the chemically peculiar B star, Chi Lupi

The Goddard High-Resolution Spectrograph on the HST has been used to obtain high S/N observations of the sharp-lined, Hg- and Pt-rich B-type star, Chi Lupi, with a resolving power of 87,000. The observations reveal a level of spectroscopic detail never before observed at ultraviolet wavelengths for any star other than the sun. Concentrating on the region around the resonance line of Hg II at 1942 A, the profile and central position of this line confirm beyond doubt that the Hg isotope anomaly in Chi Lupi is real and extreme, with Hg being heavily concentrated in the form of Hg-204. The problems in atomic physics which impair the accurate analysis of spectra of this quality are emphasized. 23 refs.

Theoretical oscillator strengths for Sr II and Y III, with application to abundances in the HgMn-type star chi Lupi

Oscillator strengths for selected transitions of Sr II and Y III have been determined using ab initio multiconfiguration Hartree-Fock techniques. The importance of including an accurate treatment of the core-valence correlation is emphasized. The results are used to determine the abundances of Sr and Y in the chemically peculiar star chi Lupi from HST/GHRS Echelle spectra. Overabundances of 2.09 dex for Sr and 2.8 dex for Y relative to the solar abundance are derived, and an ionization imbalance of +1.1 dex is evident from abundance determinations using Y III and Y II.

The abundances of Pt, Au, and HG in the chemically peculiar HgMn-type stars kappa CANCRI and chi LUPI

Echelle mode spectra obtained with the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph onboard the Hubble Space Telescope have been used to determine the abundances of the heavy elements Pt, Au, and Hg in the chemically peculiar HgMn-type stars kappa Cancri and chi Lupi. The abundances were determined by fitting observed line profiles with synthetically generated spectra and are found to be enhanced relative to solar system values by between three and five orders of magnitude in both stars. The Hg isotope mixture in kappa Cancri is found to resemble the terrestrial mixture while that of chi Lupi is dominated by the heaviest isotope. As determined from multiple ionization states, the abundances place constraints upon theories attempting to explain the large surficial abundances of heavy elements. (Less)

A Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph Atlas of Echelle Observations of the HgMn Star χ Lupi

Observations of the ultra-sharp-lined, chemically peculiar star chi Lupi taken by the Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph in echelle mode are presented. Thirty-six intervals of the spectral region between 1249 and 2688 Angstrom are covered with resolving powers in the range 75,000-93,000. Line identifications are provided, and the observed spectra are compared with synthetic spectra calculated using the SYNTHE program and associated line lists with changes to the line lists. The significance of these spectra for the chi Lupi Pathfinder Project and the closely related atomic physics effort is discussed in a companion paper.

An Optical Region Elemental Abundance Analysis of the HgMn Type Star HR 7775

Optical region spectra of the chemically peculiar HgMn type star HR 7775 have been analyzed for the determination of elemental abundances and spectral line identification as a complementary study to the analysis of Hubble Space Telescope Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph spectra. The spectra were obtained with the SOFIN echelle spectrograph on the Nordic Optical Telescope at nominal resolving powers of R = 25,000, 80,000, and 170,000 and signal-to-noise ratios typically in excess of 100 : 1. The overall nature of the elemental abundance distribution is similar to other cool, HgMn stars; somewhat enhanced abundances for the iron-group elements, with progressively stronger enhancements for heavier elements. Of particular note are the presence of lines from the rare-earth spectra Nd III and Pr III, and the heavy elements Pt, Au, Hg, Tl, and Bi. The isotopic mixture for several lines of mercury and platinum has been investigated. For mercury a possible difference is found between the mixtures as derived from lines of Hg I and Hg II. Three lines of Pt II display the same mixture, which is different from that found from lower excitation lines at ultraviolet wavelengths. We present new laboratory Fourier Transform spectrometer measurements for isotopic and hyperfine structure components of Hg I λ4046 and 4358 and Hg II λ3984 A.

Atomic Data for the Re II UV 1 Multiplet and the Rhenium Abundance in the HgMn-type Star χ Lupi*

We report new laboratory spectroscopic analyses that have been conducted to acquire wavelength and oscillator strength data for lines of the Re II UV 1 multiplet. Wavelengths were determined to a sub-milliangstrom accuracy for the hyperfine and isotopic structure components from laboratory spectra obtained with the Lund VUV Fourier Transform Spectrometer. An absolute atomic transition probability is reported for Re II 2275.253 A, obtained from its upper level lifetime and an experimentally determined branching fraction. The radiative lifetime of the z 7Po2 level was found to be 4.47 ± 0.22 ns by the method of laser-induced fluorescence. With the new atomic data, synthetic spectra were generated to fit a Hubble Space Telescope Goddard High Resolution Spectrograph echelle mode spectrum of the chemically peculiar HgMn-type star χ Lupi. The weakness of the λ2275.253 A feature only allowed for the determination of an upper limit to the rhenium abundance, which was found to be consistent with the meteoritic value. Thus, in χ Lupi, rhenium appears to be several orders of magnitude less abundant than the apparent surficial abundances of the slightly heavier elements Pt, Au, Hg, and Tl.