CoRoT photometry and high-resolution spectroscopy of the interacting eclipsing binary AU Monocerotis

in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (2010), 401

Analyses of very accurate CoRoT space photometry, past Johnson V photoelectric photometry and high-resolution echelle spectra led to the determination of improved and consistent fundamental stellar ... [more ▼]

Analyses of very accurate CoRoT space photometry, past Johnson V photoelectric photometry and high-resolution echelle spectra led to the determination of improved and consistent fundamental stellar properties of both components of AU Monocerotis. We derived new, accurate ephemerides for both the orbital motion (with a period of ) and the long-term, overall brightness variation (with a period of ) of this strongly interacting Be + G semi-detached binary. It is shown that this long-term variation must be due to attenuation of the total light by some variable circumbinary material. We derived the binary mass ratio M[SUB]G[/SUB]/M[SUB]B[/SUB] = 0.17 +/- 0.03 based on the assumption that the G-type secondary fills its Roche lobe and rotates synchronously. Using this value of the mass ratio as well as the radial velocities of the G-star, we obtained a consistent light curve model and improved estimates of the stellar masses, radii, luminosities and effective temperatures. We demonstrate that the observed lines of the B-type primary may not be of photospheric origin. We also discover rapid and periodic light changes visible in the high-quality residual CoRoT light curves. AU Mon is put into perspective by a comparison with known binaries exhibiting long-term cyclic light changes. Based on photometry collected by the CoRoT space mission as well as spectroscopy obtained with the FEROS spectrograph attached to the 2.2-m telescope at European Southern Observatory (ESO), La Silla, Chile, under the ESO Large Programme LP178.D-0361, and with the SOPHIE spectrograph of the Observatoire de Haute-Provence (France). The CoRoT space mission was developed and is operated by the French space agency CNES, with the participation of ESA's RSSD and Science Programmes, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Germany and Spain. Based on observations collected at the Centro Astronómico Hispano Alemán (CAHA) at Calar Alto, operated jointly by the Max-Planck-Institut für Astronomie and the Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía (CSIC). E-mail: maarten.desmet@ster.kuleuven.be [less ▲]

The field high-amplitude SX Phoenicis variable BL Camelopardalis: results from a multisite photometric campaign. I. Pulsation

in Astronomy and Astrophysics (2007), 471

Context: BL Cam is an extreme metal-deficient field high-amplitude SX Phe-type variable where a very complex frequency spectrum is detected, with a number of independent nonradial modes excited, unusual ... [more ▼]

Context: BL Cam is an extreme metal-deficient field high-amplitude SX Phe-type variable where a very complex frequency spectrum is detected, with a number of independent nonradial modes excited, unusual among the high-amplitude pulsators in the Lower Classical Instability Strip. Aims: An extensive and detailed study has been carried out to investigate the pulsational content and properties of this object. Methods: The analysis is based on 283 h of CCD observations obtained in the Johnson V filter, during a long multisite photometric campaign carried out along the Northern autumn-winter of 2005-2006. Additionally, multicolour BI photometry was also collected to study the phase shifts and amplitude ratios, between light curves obtained in different filters, for modal discrimination of the main excited modes. Results: The detailed frequency analysis revealed a very rich and dense pulsational content consisting of 25 significant peaks, 22 of them corresponding to independent modes: one is the already known main periodicity f[SUB]0[/SUB] = 25.5765 cd[SUP]-1[/SUP] (Delta V = 153 mmag) and the other 21 are excited modes showing very small amplitudes. Some additional periodicities are probably still remaining in the residuals. This represents the most complex spectrum ever detected in a high-amplitude pulsator of this type. The majority of the secondary modes suspected from earlier works are confirmed here and, additionally, a large number of new peaks are detected. The amplitude of the main periodicity f[SUB]0[/SUB] seems to be stable during decades, but the majority of the secondary modes show strong amplitude changes from one epoch to another. The suspected fundamental radial nature of the main periodicity of BL Cam is confirmed, while the secondary peak f[SUB]1[/SUB] = 25.2523 cd[SUP]-1[/SUP] is identified as a nonradial mixed mode g[SUB]4[/SUB] with l = 1. The radial double-mode nature, claimed by some authors for the main two frequencies of BL Cam, is not confirmed. Nevertheless, the frequency f[SUB]6[/SUB] = 32.6464 cd[SUP]-1[/SUP] could correspond to the first radial overtone. [less ▲]

The 4m international liquid mirror telescope (ILMT)

in Stepp, Larry (Ed.) Ground-based and Airborne Telescopes (2006, July 01)

The entire funding has recently been obtained in Belgium for the construction of a 4m Liquid Mirror Telescope. Its prime focus will be equipped with a semi-conventional glass corrector allowing to correct ... [more ▼]

The entire funding has recently been obtained in Belgium for the construction of a 4m Liquid Mirror Telescope. Its prime focus will be equipped with a semi-conventional glass corrector allowing to correct for the TDI effect and a thinned, high quantum efficiency, 4K × 4K pixel equivalent CCD camera. It will be capable of subarcsecond imaging in the i'(760 nm) and possibly r', g' band(s) over a field of ~ 30' in diameter. This facility will be entirely dedicated to a deep photometric and astrometric variability survey over a period of ~ 5 years. In this paper, the working principle of liquid mirror telescopes is first recalled, along with the advantages and disadvantages of the latter over classical telescopes. Several science cases are described. For a good access to one of the galactic poles, the best image quality sites for the ILMT are located either in Northern Chile (latitude near -29°30') or in North-East India (Nainital Hills, latitude near +29°30'). At those geographic latitudes, a deep (i' = 22.5 mag.) survey will approximately cover 90 square degrees at high galactic latitude, which is very useful for gravitational lensing studies as well as for the identification of various classes of interesting galactic and extragalactic objects (cf. microlensed stars, supernovae, clusters, etc.). A description of the telescope, its instrumentation and the handling of the data is also presented. [less ▲]