Rosanna Faraggiana

Rotational velocities of A-type stars ?;?? I. Measurement of v sini in the southern hemisphere

Within the scope of a Key Programme determining fundamental parameters of stars observed by HIPPARCOS, spectra of 525 B8 to F2-type stars brighter than V = 8 have been collected at ESO. Fourier transforms of several line proles in the range 4200{4500 A are used to derive v sini from the frequency of the rst zero. Statistical analysis of the sample indicates that measurement error is a function of v sini and this relative error of the rotational velocity is found to be about 6% on average. The results obtained are compared with data from the literature. There is a systematic shift from standard values from Slettebak et al. (1975), which are 10 to 12% lower than our ndings. Comparisons with other independent v sini values tend to prove that those from Slettebak et al. are underestimated. This eect is attributed to the presence of binaries in the standard sample of Slettebak et al., and to the model atmosphere they used.

The solar photospheric nitrogen abundance - Analysis of atomic transitions with 3D and 1D model atmospheres

Context. In recent years, the solar chemical abundances have been studied in considerable detail because of discrepant values of solar metallicity inferred from different indicators, i.e., on the one hand, the “sub-solar” photospheric abundances resulting from spectroscopic chemical composition analyses with the aid of 3D hydrodynamical models of the solar atmosphere, and, on the other hand, the high metallicity inferred by helioseismology. Aims. After investigating the solar oxygen abundance using a CO 5 BOLD 3D hydrodynamical solar model in previous work, we undertake a similar approach studying the solar abundance of nitrogen, since this element accounts for a significant fraction of the overall solar metallicity, Z. Methods. We used a selection of atomic spectral lines to determine the solar nitrogen abundance, relying mainly on equivalent width measurements in the literature. We investigate the influence on the abundance analysis, of both deviations from local thermodynamic equilibrium (“NLTE effects”) and photospheric inhomogeneities (“granulation effects”). Results. We recommend use of a solar nitrogen abundance of A(N) = 7.86 ± 0.12 � , whose error bar reflects the line-to-line scatter. Conclusions. The solar metallicity implied by the CO 5 BOLD-based nitrogen and oxygen abundances is in the range 0.0145 ≤ Z ≤ 0.0167. This result is a step towards reconciling photospheric abundances with helioseismic constraints on Z. Our most suitable estimates are Z = 0.0156 and Z/X = 0.0213.

The solar photospheric abundance of carbon - Analysis of atomic carbon lines with the CO5BOLD solar model

Context. The analysis of the solar spectra using hydrodynamical simulations, with a specific selection of lines, atomic data, and method for computing deviations from local thermodynamical equilibrium, has led to a downward revision of the solar metallicity, Z. We are using the latest simulations computed with the CO5BOLD code to reassess the solar chemical composition. Our previous analyses of the key elements, oxygen and nitrogen, have not confirmed any extreme downward revision of Z, as derived in other works based on hydrodynamical models. Aims. We determine the solar photospheric carbon abundance with a radiation-hydrodynamical CO5BOLD model and compute the departures from local thermodynamical equilibrium by using the Kiel code. Methods. We measured equivalent widths of atomic C i lines on high-resolution, high signal-to-noise ratio solar atlases of disccentre intensity and integrated disc flux. These equivalent widths were analysed with our latest solar 3D hydrodynamical simulation computed with CO5BOLD. Deviations from local thermodynamic equilibrium we computed in 1D with the Kiel code, using the average temperature structure of the hydrodynamical simulation as a background model. Results. Our recommended value for the solar carbon abundance relies on 98 independent measurements of observed lines and is A(C) = 8.50 ± 0.06. The quoted error is the sum of statistical and systematic errors. Combined with our recent results for the solar oxygen and nitrogen abundances, this implies a solar metallicity of Z = 0.0154 and Z/X = 0.0211. Conclusions. Our analysis implies a solar carbon abundance that is about 0.1 dex higher than what was found in previous analyses based on different 3D hydrodynamical computations. The difference is partly driven by our equivalent width measurements (we measure, on average, larger equivalent widths than the other work based on a 3D model), in part because of the different properties of the hydrodynamical simulations and the spectrum synthesis code. The solar metallicity we obtain from the CO5BOLD analyses is in slightly better agreement with the constraints of helioseismology than the previous 3D abundance results.

Sulphur abundance in Galactic stars

We investigate sulphur abundance in 74 Galactic stars by using high resolution spectra obtained at ESO VLT and NTT telescopes. For the first time the abundances are derived, where possible, from three optical multiplets: Mult. 1, 6, and 8. By combining our own measurements with data in the literature we assemble a sample of 253 stars in the metallicity range -3.2 < [Fe/H] < +0.5. Two important features, which could hardly be detected in smaller samples, are obvious from this large sample: 1) a sizeable scatter in [S/Fe] ratios around [Fe/H] ~ -1 ; 2) at low metallicities we observe stars with [S/Fe] ~ 0.4, as well as stars with higher [S/Fe] ratios. The latter do not seem to be kinematically different from the former ones. Whether the latter finding stems from a distinct population of metal-poor stars or simply from an increased scatter in sulphur abundances remains an open question.

The heterogeneous class of Lambda Bootis stars

We demonstrate that it is arduous to define the Boo stars as a class of objects exhibiting uniform abundance peculiarities which would be generated by a mechanism altering the structure of their atmospheric layers. We collected the stars classified as Boo up to now and discuss their properties, in particular the important percentage of confirmed binaries producing composite spectra (including our adaptive optics observations) and of misclassified objects. The unexplained RV variables (and thus suspected binaries), the known SB for which we lack information on the companion, the stars with an UV flux inconsistent with their classification, and the fast rotating stars for which no accurate abundance analysis can be performed, are also reviewed.

Sulphur abundances from the S i near-infrared triplet at 1045 nm ?

Context. Unlike silicon and calcium, sulphur is an -element which does not form dust. Some of the available observations of the evolution of sulphur with metallicity indicate an increased scatter of sulphur to iron ratios at low metallicities or even a bimodal distribution, with some stars showing constant S/Fe at all metallicities and others showing an increasing S/Fe ratio with decreasing metallicity. In metal-poor stars S i lines of Multiplet 1 at 920 nm are not yet too weak to permit to measure the sulfur abundance A(S), however in ground-based observations they are severely a ected by telluric lines. Aims. We investigate the possibility to measure sulphur abundances from S i Mult. 3 at 1045 nm lines, which lie in the near infra-red. These are slightly weaker than those of Mult. 1, but lie in a range not a ected by telluric lines. Methods. We investigate the lines of Mult. 3 in the Sun (G2V), Procyon (F5V), HD 33256 (F5V), HD 25069 (G9V) and Eri (HD 22049, K2V). For the Sun and Procyon the analysis has been performed with CO 5 BOLD 3D hydrodynamical model atmospheres, for the other three stars, for which hydrodynamical simulations are not available, the analysis has been performed using 1D model atmospheres. Results. For our sample of stars we find a global agreement of A(S) from lines of di erent multiplets. Conclusions. Our results suggest that the infrared lines of Mult. 3 are a viable indicator of the sulphur abundance which, because of the intrinsic strength of this multiplet, should be suitable to study the trend of [S/Fe] at low metallicities.

The Galactic evolution of phosphorus

Context. As a galaxy evolves, its chemical composition changes and the abundance ratios of different elements are powerful probes of the underlying evolutionary processes. Phosphorous is an element whose evolution has remained quite elusive until now, because it is difficult to detect in cool stars. The infrared weak P i lines of the multiplet 1, at 1050−1082 nm, are the most reliable indicators of the presence of phosphorus. The availability of CRIRES at VLT has permitted access to this wavelength range in stellar spectra. Aims. We attempt to measure the phosphorus abundance of twenty cool stars in the Galactic disk. Methods. The spectra are analysed with one-dimensional model-atmospheres computed in local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE). The line formation computations are performed assuming LTE. Results. The ratio of phosphorus to iron behaves similarly to sulphur, increasing towards lower metallicity stars. Its ratio with respect to sulphur is roughly constant and slightly larger than solar, [P/S] = 0.10 ± 0.10. Conclusions. We succeed in taking an important step towards the understanding of the chemical evolution of phosphorus in the Galaxy. However, the observed rise in the P/Fe abundance ratio is steeper than predicted by Galactic chemical evolution model developed by Kobayashi and collaborators. Phosphorus appears to evolve differently from the light odd-Z elements sodium and aluminium. The constant value of [P/S] with metallicity implies that P production is insensitive to the neutron excess, thus processes other than neutron captures operate. We suggest that proton captures on 30 Si and α captures on 27 Al are possibilities to investigate. We see no clear distinction between our results for stars with planets and stars without any detected planet.

λ Bootis stars with composite spectra

We examine the large sample ofλ Boo candidates collected in Table 1 of Gerbaldi et al. (2003) to see how many of them show composite spectra. Of the 132 λ Boo candidates we identify 22 which definitely show composite spectra and 15 more for which there are good reasons to suspect a composite spectrum. The percentage of λ Boo candidates with composite spectra is therefore >17% and possibly considerably higher. For such stars the λ Boo classification should be reconsidered taking into account the fact that their spectra are composite. We argue that some of the underabundances reported in the literature may simply be the result of the failure to consider the composite nature of the spectra. This leads to the legitimate suspicion that some, if not all, the λ Boo candidates are not chemically peculiar at all. A thorough analysis of even a single one of the λ Boo candidates with composite spectra, in which the composite nature of the spectrum is duly considered, which would demonstrate that the chemical peculiarities persist, would clear the doubt we presently have that the stars with composite spectra may not be λ Boo stars at all.

Sulphur abundances in Terzan 7

We present here the first measurements of sulphur abundances in extragalactic stars. We make use of high resolution spectra, obtained with UVES at the ESO 8.2 m Kueyen telescope, of three giants of the Globular Cluster Terzan 7, which belongs to the Sagittarius dwarf galaxy. We measure the sulphur abundances using the lines of

Spectra of binaries classified as

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