Francis C. Fekel

A survey of chromospherically active stars

Photometric and/or spectroscopic observations have been obtained of 52 late-type stars which are suspected or known to be chromospherically active. Although not all types of observations were obtained for each star, these observations include all-sky BVRI Johnson photometry, ultraviolet spectrograms, low-dispersion blue-wavelength spectrograms, and high-dispersion red-wavelength spectrograms. From the spectroscopic observations v sin is, radial velocities, and the appearance of the Ca II H and K emission lines have been determined as well as the H-alpha line. The photometric observations indicate that chromospherically active stars have V - R and V - I color excesses. Such excesses will affect the surface fluxes determined with the surface brightness-color relationship. On the other hand all-sky BVRI photometry appears to be an excellent way to identify chromospherically active stars. A small group of moderately rapidly rotating, possibly single G8-K2 giants has been found. These stars have very modest chromospheric activity and so are not FK comae stars. A number of other unusual chromospherically active stars are identified.

HD 8801: A Unique Single Am Star with γ Doradus and δ Scuti Pulsations

We have discovered the first example of a star pulsating intrinsically with both γxa0Doradus and δxa0Scuti frequencies. The star, HDxa08801, is an Am metallic-line star that appears to be single. Since the vast majority of Am stars are members of binary systems with periods less than 1000 days and also do not pulsate, HDxa08801 possesses a very unusual, if not unique, combination of physical properties. Our photometry, acquired with an automatic telescope at Fairborn Observatory, resolves six independent pulsation periods between 0.048 and 0.404 days. The two longest periods lie within the range of γxa0Dor variables, while the four shorter periods are within the range of δxa0Sct stars. Eleven radial velocities, obtained over an 11 month period, have a mean of 0.8 ± 0.3 kmxa0s-1, providing no evidence for a spectroscopic companion. The star is on the main sequence and lies within both the γxa0Dor and δxa0Sct instability strips. Pulsation constants computed for the six periods agree with pulsation constants computed for other γxa0Dor and δxa0Sct variables. HDxa08801 is also the first confirmed case of a metallic-line star pulsating with γxa0Dor frequencies. Its projected rotational velocity of 55 kmxa0s-1 is typical for Am stars, which, as a group, rotate more slowly than normal A stars. HDxa08801s slow rotation compared to normal A stars does not appear to arise from either a binary companion or evolutionary expansion and thus remains a puzzle. The coexistence of metallicism and pulsation in several main-sequence stars near the red edge of the δxa0Sct strip contradicts recent models that predict pulsations only in more evolved stars.

Eleven New γ Doradus Stars

We present new high-dispersion spectroscopic and precise photometric observations to identify 11 new γ Doradus variables. Seven of these new γ Doradus stars appear to be single, three are primaries of single-lined binaries, and one has two distant visual companions; none are double-lined or close visual binaries. Several of the stars show spectroscopic line-profile and low-amplitude radial velocity variability indicative of pulsation. All 11 stars are photometrically variable with amplitudes between 8 and 93 mmag in Johnson B and periods between 0.398 and 2.454 days. One star is monoperiodic; the rest have between two and five independent periods. The variability at all periods approximates a sinusoid, although three of the stars exhibit cycle-to-cycle variation in the level of maximum brightness, similar to the Blazhko effect observed in some RR Lyrae stars. We provide a new tabulation of all 54 γ Doradus stars confirmed to date and list some of their properties. All are dwarfs or subgiants and lie within a well-defined region of the H-R diagram that overlaps the cool edge of the δ Scuti instability strip. Four of the new γ Doradus variables from this paper also lie within the δ Scuti instability strip but do not exhibit the additional higher frequency variability typical of δ Scuti stars. The variability type of several of these stars given in the General Catalog of Variable Stars and in SIMBAD should now be revised.

A DOZEN NEW DORADUS STARS

We use new high-dispersion spectroscopic and precise photometric observations to identify 12 new γ Doradus stars. Two of the 12 systems are double-lined binaries that show obvious velocity variability. Five other stars have metallic lines with composite profiles characterized by a narrow feature near the center of each broad component. Spectrograms of the Hα line indicate that all five stars are binaries rather than shell stars. The remaining five stars in our sample are probably single. All 12 stars are photometrically variable with amplitudes between 6 and 87 mmag in Johnson B and periods between 0.3 and 1.2 days. Four stars are monoperiodic; the rest have between two and five independent periods. The variability at all periods approximates a sinusoid. Although many of the stars lie within the δ Scuti instability strip, none exhibit the higher frequency variability seen in δ Scuti stars. We have increased the sample of known γ Doradus stars by 40% and revised the positions of a number of variables in the H-R diagram by accounting for duplicity. Our list of 42 confirmed γ Doradus variables gives some of their properties. All are dwarfs or subgiants and lie within a well-defined region of the H-R diagram that overlaps the cool edge of the δ Scuti instability strip. We compare the observed location of the γ Doradus variables with a recently published theoretical γ Doradus instability strip and find good agreement.

CHROMOSPHERICALLY ACTIVE STARS. XXIV. THE GIANT, SINGLE-LINED BINARIES HD 37824, HD 181809, AND HD 217188

We have obtained spectroscopy and photometry of three chromospherically active, single-lined spectroscopic binaries, HD 37824 (V1149 Ori), HD 181809 (V4138 Sgr), and HD 217188 (AZ Psc). HD 37824 has a circular orbit with a period of 53.57 days. Its primary is a K0 III star, while the secondary is likely a G or K dwarf. HD 181809 has an orbit with a period of 13.04667 days and a low eccentricity of 0.040. The primary has a spectral type of K0 III–IV, and its secondary is probably an M dwarf. The orbit of HD 217188 has a period of 47.1209 days and a moderately high eccentricity of 0.470. The spectral type of the primary is K0 III, while the secondary is likely an M dwarf. All three systems are estimated to have near solar iron abundances. Photometric observations spanning 15–16 years for all three stars yield mean photometric periods of 53.12, 59.85, and 90.89 days for HD 37824, HD 181809, and HD 217188, respectively. Thus, HD 37824 is rotating synchronously with the orbital period, while HD 181809 and HD 217188 are both rotating considerably slower than synchronously. All three stars show long-term variations in mean brightness and photometric amplitude, but no correlations are observed between the seasonal mean brightness, photometric amplitude, and seasonal photometric period in any of the stars. No clear evidence for long-term periodic variations in any of these parameters is present. The circular orbit of HD 37824 and the synchronous rotation of its K giant argue that the star is in the core helium-burning phase of its evolution. The giant components of HD 181809 and HD 217188 are asynchronous rotators, and both systems have eccentric orbits. Thus, those two stars are likely first-ascent giants.

The Spectroscopic Orbits of Five Solar-type, Single-lined Binaries

We have determined spectroscopic orbits for five single-lined spectroscopic binaries, HD 100167, HD 135991, HD 140667, HD 158222, HD 217924. Their periods range from 60.6 to 2403 days and the eccentricities from 0.20 to 0.84. Our spectral classes for the stars confirm that they are of solar type, F9-G5, and all are dwarfs. Their [Fe/H] abundances, determined spectroscopically, are close to the solar value and on average are 0.12 greater than abundances from a photometric calibration. Four of the five stars are rotating faster than their predicted pseudosynchronous rotational velocities.

HD 207651: A TRIPLE SYSTEM WITH SCUTI AND ELLIPSOIDAL VARIATIONS BUT NO DORADUS PULSATIONS

We examine HD 207651 as a possible example of a star exhibiting both γ Doradus and δ Scuti type pulsations. We find photometric periods of 0.06479 and 0.06337 days with peak-to-peak amplitudes in Johnson B of 21 and 13 mmag, respectively, clearly indicating δ Scuti pulsations. Additional light variation with a period of 0.73540 days and an even larger amplitude of 31 mmag is within the range of γ Doradus pulsation periods but results instead from the ellipticity effect. HD 207651 has a composite spectrum with a weak, narrow absorption line superposed near the center of each broad metal line. The broad-lined component is the primary of a short-period, single-lined binary, which has a period of 1.4708 days, twice the period of the ellipsoidal variations seen in the photometry. We determine the primary to be an A8 giant and estimate the unseen secondary of the short-period binary to be a mid-M dwarf. The narrow-lined star, an F7: dwarf, shows velocity variability with a period of months or perhaps years. It is thus a more distant companion to the binary, making HD 207651 a triple system. All light variations come from the A8 giant primary star. Since the 0.73540 day variation results from the ellipticity effect, HD 207651 is not an example of a star that exhibits both δ Scuti and γ Doradus pulsations. The growing number of confirmed γ Doradus stars that also occur within the δ Scuti instability strip but fail to show additional δ Scuti variability makes it increasingly unlikely that the two types of pulsation can coexist in the same star.

NEW PRECISION ORBITS OF BRIGHT DOUBLE-LINED SPECTROSCOPIC BINARIES. VI. HD 24623 AND V923 SCORPII

Using new radial velocities obtained at KPNO and Fairborn Observatory, we have determined improved spectroscopic orbits for two double-lined F-type binaries, HD 24623 and V923 Sco. The orbital periods are 19.66304 and 34.8386 days, respectively, so it is not surprising that their orbits have relatively high eccentricities of nearly 0.5. The orbital dimensions (a1 sin i and a2 sin i) and minimum masses (m1 sin 3 i and m2 sin 3 i )h ave accuracies of 0.2% or better. Extensive photometry of HD 24623 with the T4 0.75 m automatic photometric telescope at Fairborn Observatory shows no evidence of eclipses. Instead, a very weak reflection effect is seen, making the system a new variable star. Our spectroscopic ephemeris for V923 Sco indicates that the eclipse detected by Bolton and Herbst is a partial eclipse of the primary but detection of the secondary eclipse is uncertain. For HD 24623, we have determined spectral types of F2 dwarf and F4 dwarf for the primary and secondary, respectively. Our spectral types are F4 dwarf for the two components of V923 Sco. Both components of HD 24623 are rotating more slowly than their pseudosynchronous velocities, as is the primary of V923 Sco. However, the secondary of V923 Sco is likely rotating pseudosynchronously.

HD 185151 - A new active-chromosphere binary

The results of an extensive study of the eighth-magnitude G star HD 8358 employing optical photometry and spectroscopy, as well as UV observations with the IUE satellite, are presented. The star is found to be an active chromosphere binary with orbital and photometric period of 0.516 days. It exhibits photometric variability of 0.1-0.2 mg in V, due to starspots. At times the light curve is stable for several months, indicating that the spots persist essentially unchanged for more than 200 rotations. At other times, the spot configuration changes in a month or less. HD 8358 is an unusual member of the short-period group of active chromosphere binaries due to its high space velocity and its very broad and highly variable H-alpha emission.

NEW PRECISION ORBITS OF BRIGHT DOUBLE-LINED SPECTROSCOPIC BINARIES. V. THE AM STARS HD 434 AND 41 SEXTANTIS

We have detected the secondary component in two previously known spectroscopic binaries, HD 434 and 41 Sex, and for the first time determined double-lined orbits for them. Despite the relatively long period of 34.26 days and a moderate eccentricity of 0.32, combined with the components rotationally broadened lines, measurement of the primary and secondary radial velocities of HD 434 has enabled us to obtain significantly improved orbital elements. While the 41 Sex system has a much shorter period of 6.167 days and a circular orbit, the estimated V mag difference of 3.2 between its components also makes this a challenging system. The new orbital dimensions (a{sub 1} sin i and a{sub 2} sin i) and minimum masses (m{sub 1} sin{sup 3} i and m{sub 2} sin{sup 3} i) of HD 434 have accuracies of 0.8% or better, while the same quantities for 41 Sex are good to 0.5% or better. Both components of HD 434 are Am stars while the Am star primary of 41 Sex has a late-F or early-G companion. All four stars are on the main sequence. The two components of HD 434 are rotating much faster than their predicted pseudosynchronous velocities, while both components of 41morexa0» Sex are synchronously rotating. For the primary of 41 Sex, the spectrum line depth changes noted by Sreedhar Rao et al. were not detected.«xa0less