K. D. Abhyankar

Intensity and polarization line profiles in a semi-infinite Rayleigh-scattering planetary atmosphere. I. Integrated flux

Absorption and polarization line profiles as well as the curves of growth in the integrated light of a planet over the whole range of phase angles have been computed assuming a semi-infinite atmosphere scattering according to Rayleigh’s phase-matrix which takes polarization into account. The relative change in line depth and equivalent widths qualitatively agree with the observations of the CO2 bands in Venus reported by Young, Schorn and Young (1980). It is pointed out that the bands might be formed in a part of the atmosphere which is different from that where continuum polarization originates.

Intensity and polarization line profiles in a semi-infinite Rayleigh-scattering planetary atmosphere. II. Variations of equivalent width over the disk

The study of the variation of equivalent width in a Rayleighscattering planetary atmosphere along the intensity equator and along the mirror meridian on whichμ =μ0 shows that the equivalent widths decrease monotonically towards the poles, the limb and the terminator with the following characteristics: (i) the weakest lines exhibit the maximum change; (ii) theIer component shows more change than theIer component; (iii) the decrease towards the limb or the terminator is not as sharp as that towards the poles; (iv)Ier component shows more decrease towards the limb whileIer component shows more decrease towards the terminator; and (v) the relationW (μ, φ;μ0,φ0)= W (μ0,φ0;μ, φ) holds for the total intensity. These results are qualitatively in agreement with the observations of absorption bands in the spectra of Venus, Jupiter and Saturn.

MK morphological study of Am stars at 66 Å/mm

The pseudo-luminosity effect in the metallic line A-type stars found by Abt & Morgan (1976) is confirmed in a random sample of 27 Am stars. From a morphological study of their spectra in the wavelength interval 3850-4400 Å at a reciprocal dispersion of 66 Å/mm, revised spectral types are given on the MK system for their K-line and metallic-line spectra. This shows that: (a) our segregation of weak Am from the Am stars largely agrees with that by Cowleyet al. (1969); (b) all the stars in the sample are dwarfs according to their K-line classification; (c) more than 80 per cent exhibit the pseudo-luminosity effect significantly, with their metallic-line spectra resembling a giant or even a supergiant in the violet (3850-4100 Å), and a giant rather than a dwarf in the blue region (4260-4400 Å); (d) in two-thirds of the stars under (c), the Sr n 4077 Å line is found to have a markedly brighter luminosity class compared to any region, and in more than one-third of the sample it is comparable to that in Ap stars; (e) at least five stars exhibit characteristics which might suggest a spectrum variability: among these, the most striking example is 41 Sex A which was found to show a phase-modulated spectrum variation hitherto unknown in Am stars; (f) the metallic-line spectra of another five stars appear to be similar to A-shell type in differing degrees; (g) less than 20 per cent of the sample comprises stars which do not show any significant differential luminosity effect; these stars might have been misclassified or perhaps they are in a quiescent state.We also confirm the conclusion arrived at by Böhm-Vitense & Johnson (1978) that all Am stars may vary and our observations suggest that groups may exist among them.

Analysis of theU B V light curves of TT hydrae by Kopal’s frequency domain method

The light curves of the totally eclipsing system TT Hya inUBV colours observed by Kulkarni and Abhyankar during 1973–77 have been analysed by Kopal’s frequency domain method with slight modification. We find ys (primary) = 0.104 ± 0.005, yg (secondary) = 0.215 ± 0.008 and i = 89‡ ± 1‡. The value of yg obtained in this study is smaller than that determined earlier by Kulkarni and Abhyankar by the method of Russell and Merrill; this confirms the undersized nature of the secondary component.The ultraviolet colour excess of the secondary is also confirmed.

A Model of the Algol Type Close Binary TT Hydrae

UBV photometric observations and elements of TT Hydrae obtained by Kulkarni and Abhyankar (1980) are combined with the radial velocity curve of Popper (1979, personal communication) to derive the absolute dimensions and. a model of this important Algol system. While the photometric ratios of radii inV andB are in agreement givingk = 0.3812 for a limb darkening coefficient ofx = 0.6, application of Irwin’s (1947) method givesx = 0.4 forU. The primary is found to be a main sequence Al V star of mass 2.61M⊙ and radius 2.01 R⊙, and the secondary is classified as a Kl III star of mass 0.70M⊙ and radius 5.33R⊙. The observed Fourier coefficients for the light outside the eclipse agree with those calculated from theory for the reflection and ellipticity effects. The system shows an ultraviolet excess of 0.5 to 0.6 magnitudes during primary eclipse, which is attributed to an asymmetric circumstellar distribution of matter around the primary. The evolutionary status of the secondary, which does not appear to fill its Roche lobe completely, is discussed.

An analysis of the orbital periods of some eclipsing binaries suspected to be in the pre-main sequence contraction phase of evolution

An analysis of the available photoelectric times of minima of KO Aql, TV Cas and Z Her, which are suspected to be in pre-main sequence phase of evolution, reveals that KO Aql shows a secular increase in its orbital period at the rate of 4·34 × 10−8 day per cycle while the period of TV Cas has been decreasing at the rate of 4·08 × 10−9 day per cycle. Z Her does not show any period change at all. The orbital period of any binary system which is in the pre-main sequence phase will be systematically affected because of ′ shrinking′ dimensions of the components. A simple formula for the characteristic period change, defined by (P/P), is derived from a consideration of the conservation of total energy and total angular momentum for a binary system whose components are still in the process of contraction or expansion. The derived formula is applied to the above systems to see whether theoretical characteristic period changes agree with the observed values. The systems are assumed to evolve independently in the pre-main sequence phase in accordance with the model calculations of Iben (1965). It is found that there is no agreement between theoretical and observed characteristic period changes. This suggests that KO Aql and TV Cas may not be in the pre-main sequence phase. We do not have sufficient data for Z Her to judge its evolutionary status by the present procedure; this is also true of TT Hya. We suspect that the period changes observed in KO Aql and TV Cas may be due to light-time effect.

α2 CVn: A comparison between spot and oblate spheroid models

A comparison is made between a hot-spot model and a recently proposed oblate spheroid model (Böhm-Vitense & Van Dyk 1987) to explain the spectroscopic and photometric variations of α2 CVn. It is found that the spot model gives a better fit to the spectroscopic and photometric variations. The spot model requires five high temperature circular patches over the surface of the star. The positions of these patches agree well with those derived spectroscopically by Pyper (1969).

Intensity and polarization line profiles in a semi-infinite Rayleigh-scattering planetary atmosphere. III. Variation of polarization profiles and the Stokes parameter Q over the disk

The variation of the polarization profiles, the Stokes parameters Q andU, and the angle defining the plane of polarization along the intensity equator and along the mirror meridian, on whichμ = μ0, in a Rayleighscattering atmosphere is studied. It is found that these variations are more complex than thought hitherto, particularly at large phase angles.