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A new low-mass eclipsing binary: NSVS 02502726
We present optical spectroscopy and extensive RI differential photometryof the double-lined eclipsing binary NSVS 02502726 (2MASSJ08441103+5423473). Simultaneous solution of two-band light curves andradial velocities permits determination of precise empirical masses andradii for both components of the system. The analysis indicates that theprimary and secondary components of NSVS 02502726 are in a circularorbit with 0.56-day orbital period and have stellar masses ofM1=0.714±0.019Mȯ, andM2=0.347±0.012Mȯ. Both of thecomponents have large radii, beingR1=0.645±0.006Rȯ, andR2=0.501±0.005Rȯ. The principalparameters of the mass and radius of the component stars are found withan accuracy of 3% and 1%, respectively. The secondary component’sradius is significantly larger than model predictions for its mass,similar to what is seen in almost all of the other well-studied low-massstars which belong to double-lined eclipsing binaries. StrongHα emission cores and considerable distortion atout-of-eclipse light curve in both R and I bandpasses, presumably due todark spots on both stars, have been taken as an evidence of strongstellar activity. The distance to system was calculated as 173±8pc from the BVRIJHK magnitudes. The absolute parameters of thecomponents indicate that both components are close to the zero-agemain-sequence. Comparison with current stellar evolution models gives anage of 126±30 Myr, indicating the stars are in the final stagesof pre-main-sequence contraction.
| Tracers of Chromospheric Structure. I. Observations of Ca II K and Hα in M Dwarfs
We report on our observing program4This paper is based onobservations obtained with the Apache Point Observatory 3.5 m telescope,which is owned and operated by the Astrophysical Research Consortium.Some of the data presented herein were obtained at the W. M. KeckObservatory, which is operated as a scientific partnership among theCalifornia Institute of Technology, the University of California and theNational Aeronautics and Space Administration. The Observatory was madepossible by the generous financial support of the W. M. Keck Foundation.to capture simultaneous spectra of Ca II and Balmer lines in a sample ofnearby M3 dwarfs. Our goal is to investigate the chromospherictemperature structure required to produce these lines at the observedlevels. We find a strong positive correlation between instantaneousmeasurements of Ca II K and the Balmer lines in active stars, althoughthese lines may not be positively correlated in time-resolvedmeasurements. The relationship between Hα and Ca II K remainsambiguous for weak and intermediate activity stars, with Hαabsorption corresponding to a range of Ca II K emission. A similarrelationship is also observed between Ca II K and the higher-orderBalmer lines. As our sample consists of a single spectral type,correlations between these important chromospheric tracers cannot beascribed to continuum effects, as suggested by other authors. These dataconfirm prior nonsimultaneous observations of the Hα line behaviorwith increasing activity, showing an initial increase in the Hαabsorption with increasing Ca II K emission, prior to Hα fillingin and eventually becoming a pure emission line in the most activestars. We also compare our optical measurements with archival UV andX-ray measurements, finding a positive correlation between thechromospheric and coronal emission for both high and intermediateactivity stars. We compare our results with previous determinations ofthe active fraction of low-mass stars, and discuss them in the contextof surface inhomogeneity. Lastly, we discuss the application of thesedata as empirical constraints on new static models of quiescent M dwarfatmospheres.
| The effect of activity on stellar temperatures and radii
Context: Recent analyses of low-mass eclipsing binary stars haveunveiled a significant disagreement between the observations andpredictions of stellar structure models. Results show that theoreticalmodels underestimate the radii and overestimate the effectivetemperatures of low-mass stars but yield luminosities that accord withobservations. A hypothesis based upon the effects of stellar activitywas put forward to explain the discrepancies. Aims: In this paper westudy the existence of the same trend in single active stars and providea consistent scenario to explain systematic differences between activeand inactive stars in the H-R diagram reported earlier. Methods: Theanalysis is done using single field stars of spectral types late-K and Mand computing their bolometric magnitudes and temperatures throughinfrared colours and spectral indices. The properties of the stars insamples of active and inactive stars are compared statistically toreveal systematic differences. Results: After accounting for a numberof possible bias effects, active stars are shown to be cooler thaninactive stars of similar luminosity therefore implying a larger radiusas well, in proportions that are in excellent agreement with those foundfrom eclipsing binaries. Conclusions: The present results generalisethe existence of strong radius and temperature dependences on stellaractivity to the entire population of low-mass stars, regardless of theirmembership in close binary systems.Tables 1 and 2 are only available in electronic form at the CDS viaanonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/478/507
| Pulkovo compilation of radial velocities for 35495 stars in a common system.
Not Available
| Ca II H and K Chromospheric Emission Lines in Late-K and M Dwarfs
We have measured the profiles of the Ca II H and K chromosphericemission lines in 147 main-sequence stars of spectral type M5-K7 (masses0.30-0.55 Msolar) using multiple high-resolution spectraobtained during 6 years with the HIRES spectrometer on the Keck Itelescope. Remarkably, the average FWHM, equivalent widths, and lineluminosities of Ca II H and K increase by a factor of 3 with increasingstellar mass over this small range of stellar masses. We fit the Ca II Hand K lines with a double-Gaussian model to represent both thechromospheric emission and the non-LTE central absorption. Most of thesample stars display a central absorption that is typically redshiftedby ~0.1 km s-1 relative to the emission. This implies thatthe higher level, lower density chromospheric material has a smalleroutward velocity (or higher inward velocity) by 0.1 km s-1than the lower level material in the chromosphere, but the nature ofthis velocity gradient remains unknown. The FWHM of the Ca II H and Kemission lines increase with stellar luminosity, reminiscent of theWilson-Bappu effect in FGK-type stars. Both the equivalent widths andFWHM exhibit modest temporal variability in individual stars. At a givenvalue of MV, stars exhibit a spread in both the equivalentwidth and FWHM of Ca II H and K, due both to a spread in fundamentalstellar parameters, including rotation rate, age, and possiblymetallicity, and to the spread in stellar mass at a given MV.The K line is consistently wider than the H line, as expected, and itscentral absorption is more redshifted, indicating that the H and K linesform at slightly different heights in the chromosphere where thevelocities are slightly different. The equivalent width of Hαcorrelates with Ca II H and K only for stars having Ca II equivalentwidths above ~2 Å, suggesting the existence of a magneticthreshold above which the lower and upper chromospheres become thermallycoupled.Based on observations obtained at the W. M. Keck Observatory, which isoperated jointly by the University of California and the CaliforniaInstitute of Technology. Keck time has been granted by both NASA and theUniversity of California.
| GU Bootis: A New 0.6 Msolar Detached Eclipsing Binary
We have found a new low-mass, double-lined, detached eclipsing binary,GU Boo, among a sample of new variables from the ROTSE-I database. Thebinary has an orbital period of 0.488728+/-0.000002 days and estimatedapparent magnitudes Vrotse~=13.7 and I~=11.8. Our analysis ofthe light and radial velocity curves of the system yields individualmasses and radii of M1=0.610+/-0.007 Msolar,M2=0.599+/-0.006 Msolar,R1=0.623+/-0.016 Rsolar, andR2=0.620+/-0.020 Rsolar. The stars in GU Boo aretherefore very similar to the components of the eclipsing binary YY Gem.For this study we have adopted a mean effective temperature for thebinary of Teff=3870+/-130 K. Based on its space velocities wesuggest that GU Boo is a main-sequence binary, possibly with an age ofseveral Gyr. The metallicity of the binary is not well constrained atthis point, but we speculate that it should not be very different fromsolar. We have compared the physical parameters of GU Boo with currentlow-mass stellar models, accounting for uncertainties in age andmetallicity by considering a wide range of values for those parameters.Our comparisons reveal that all the models underestimate the radii ofthe components of GU Boo by at least 10%-15%. This result is inagreement with the recent studies of YY Gem and CU Cnc.
| A Catalog of Northern Stars with Annual Proper Motions Larger than 0.15" (LSPM-NORTH Catalog)
The LSPM catalog is a comprehensive list of 61,977 stars north of theJ2000 celestial equator that have proper motions larger than 0.15"yr-1 (local-background-stars frame). The catalog has beengenerated primarily as a result of our systematic search for high propermotion stars in the Digitized Sky Surveys using our SUPERBLINK software.At brighter magnitudes, the catalog incorporates stars and data from theTycho-2 Catalogue and also, to a lesser extent, from the All-SkyCompiled Catalogue of 2.5 million stars. The LSPM catalog considerablyexpands over the old Luyten (Luyten Half-Second [LHS] and New LuytenTwo-Tenths [NLTT]) catalogs, superseding them for northern declinations.Positions are given with an accuracy of <~100 mas at the 2000.0epoch, and absolute proper motions are given with an accuracy of ~8 masyr-1. Corrections to the local-background-stars propermotions have been calculated, and absolute proper motions in theextragalactic frame are given. Whenever available, we also give opticalBT and VT magnitudes (from Tycho-2, ASCC-2.5),photographic BJ, RF, and IN magnitudes(from USNO-B1 catalog), and infrared J, H, and Ks magnitudes(from 2MASS). We also provide an estimated V magnitude and V-J color fornearly all catalog entries, useful for initial classification of thestars. The catalog is estimated to be over 99% complete at high Galacticlatitudes (|b|>15deg) and over 90% complete at lowGalactic latitudes (|b|>15deg), down to a magnitudeV=19.0, and has a limiting magnitude V=21.0. All the northern starslisted in the LHS and NLTT catalogs have been reidentified, and theirpositions, proper motions, and magnitudes reevaluated. The catalog alsolists a large number of completely new objects, which promise to expandvery significantly the census of red dwarfs, subdwarfs, and white dwarfsin the vicinity of the Sun.Based on data mining of the Digitized Sky Surveys (DSSs), developed andoperated by the Catalogs and Surveys Branch of the Space TelescopeScience Institute (STScI), Baltimore.Developed with support from the National Science Foundation (NSF), aspart of the NASA/NSF NStars program.
| Chromospheric Ca II Emission in Nearby F, G, K, and M Stars
We present chromospheric Ca II H and K activity measurements, rotationperiods, and ages for ~1200 F, G, K, and M type main-sequence stars from~18,000 archival spectra taken at Keck and Lick Observatories as a partof the California and Carnegie Planet Search Project. We have calibratedour chromospheric S-values against the Mount Wilson chromosphericactivity data. From these measurements we have calculated medianactivity levels and derived R'HK, stellar ages,and rotation periods from general parameterizations for 1228 stars,~1000 of which have no previously published S-values. We also presentprecise time series of activity measurements for these stars.Based on observations obtained at Lick Observatory, which is operated bythe University of California, and on observations obtained at the W. M.Keck Observatory, which is operated jointly by the University ofCalifornia and the California Institute of Technology. The KeckObservatory was made possible by the generous financial support of theW. M. Keck Foundation.
| Improved Astrometry and Photometry for the Luyten Catalog. II. Faint Stars and the Revised Catalog
We complete construction of a catalog containing improved astrometry andnew optical/infrared photometry for the vast majority of NLTT starslying in the overlap of regions covered by POSS I and by the secondincremental Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) release, approximately 44%of the sky. The epoch 2000 positions are typically accurate to 130 mas,the proper motions to 5.5 mas yr-1, and the V-J colors to0.25 mag. Relative proper motions of binary components are measured to 3mas yr-1. The false-identification rate is ~1% for11<~V<~18 and substantially less at brighter magnitudes. Theseimprovements permit the construction of a reduced proper-motion diagramthat, for the first time, allows one to classify NLTT stars intomain-sequence (MS) stars, subdwarfs (SDs), and white dwarfs (WDs). We inturn use this diagram to analyze the properties of both our catalog andthe NLTT catalog on which it is based. In sharp contrast to popularbelief, we find that NLTT incompleteness in the plane is almostcompletely concentrated in MS stars, and that SDs and WDs are detectedalmost uniformly over the sky δ>-33deg. Our catalogwill therefore provide a powerful tool to probe these populationsstatistically, as well as to reliably identify individual SDs and WDs.
| Hipparcos red stars in the HpV_T2 and V I_C systems
For Hipparcos M, S, and C spectral type stars, we provide calibratedinstantaneous (epoch) Cousins V - I color indices using newly derivedHpV_T2 photometry. Three new sets of ground-based Cousins V I data havebeen obtained for more than 170 carbon and red M giants. These datasetsin combination with the published sources of V I photometry served toobtain the calibration curves linking Hipparcos/Tycho Hp-V_T2 with theCousins V - I index. In total, 321 carbon stars and 4464 M- and S-typestars have new V - I indices. The standard error of the mean V - I isabout 0.1 mag or better down to Hp~9 although it deteriorates rapidly atfainter magnitudes. These V - I indices can be used to verify thepublished Hipparcos V - I color indices. Thus, we have identified ahandful of new cases where, instead of the real target, a random fieldstar has been observed. A considerable fraction of the DMSA/C and DMSA/Vsolutions for red stars appear not to be warranted. Most likely suchspurious solutions may originate from usage of a heavily biased color inthe astrometric processing.Based on observations from the Hipparcos astrometric satellite operatedby the European Space Agency (ESA 1997).}\fnmsep\thanks{Table 7 is onlyavailable in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp tocdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/397/997
| Radial Velocities for 889 Late-Type Stars
We report radial velocities for 844 FGKM-type main-sequence and subgiantstars and 45 K giants, most of which had either low-precision velocitymeasurements or none at all. These velocities differ from the standardstars of Udry et al. by 0.035 km s-1 (rms) for the 26 FGKstandard stars in common. The zero point of our velocities differs fromthat of Udry et al.: =+0.053km s-1. Thus, these new velocities agree with the best knownstandard stars both in precision and zero point, to well within 0.1 kms-1. Nonetheless, both these velocities and the standardssuffer from three sources of systematic error, namely, convectiveblueshift, gravitational redshift, and spectral type mismatch of thereference spectrum. These systematic errors are here forced to be zerofor G2 V stars by using the Sun as reference, with Vesta and day sky asproxies. But for spectral types departing from solar, the systematicerrors reach 0.3 km s-1 in the F and K stars and 0.4 kms-1 in M dwarfs. Multiple spectra were obtained for all 889stars during 4 years, and 782 of them exhibit velocity scatter less than0.1 km s-1. These stars may serve as radial velocitystandards if they remain constant in velocity. We found 11 newspectroscopic binaries and report orbital parameters for them. Based onobservations obtained at the W. M. Keck Observatory, which is operatedjointly by the University of California and the California Institute ofTechnology, and on observations obtained at the Lick Observatory, whichis operated by the University of California.
| Revised Coordinates and Proper Motions of the Stars in the Luyten Half-Second Catalog
We present refined coordinates and proper-motion data for the highproper-motion (HPM) stars in the Luyten Half-Second (LHS) catalog. Thepositional uncertainty in the original Luyten catalog is typicallygreater than 10" and is often greater than 30". We have used the digitalscans of the POSS I and POSS II plates to derive more accurate positionsand proper motions of the objects. Out of the 4470 candidates in the LHScatalog, 4323 objects were manually reidentified in the POSS I and POSSII scans. A small fraction of the stars were not found because of thelack of finder charts and digitized POSS II scans. The uncertainties inthe revised positions are typically ~2" but can be as high as ~8" in afew cases, which is a large improvement over the original data.Cross-correlation with the Tycho-2 and Hipparcos catalogs yielded 819candidates (with mR<~12). For these brighter sources, theposition and proper-motion data were replaced with the more accurateTycho-2/Hipparcos data. In total, we have revised proper-motionmeasurements and coordinates for 4040 stars and revised coordinates for4330 stars. The electronic version of the paper5 contains the updated information on all 4470stars in the LHS catalog.
| The Palomar/MSU Nearby Star Spectroscopic Survey. III. Chromospheric Activity, M Dwarf Ages, and the Local Star Formation History
We present high-resolution echelle spectroscopy of 676 nearby M dwarfs.Our measurements include radial velocities, equivalent widths ofimportant chromospheric emission lines, and rotational velocities forrapidly rotating stars. We identify several distinct groups by theirHα properties and investigate variations in chromospheric activityamong early (M0-M2.5) and mid (M3-M6) dwarfs. Using a volume-limitedsample together with a relationship between age and chromosphericactivity, we show that the rate of star formation in the immediate solarneighborhood has been relatively constant over the last 4 Gyr. Inparticular, our results are inconsistent with recent large bursts ofstar formation. We use the correlation between Hα activity and ageas a function of color to set constraints on the properties of L and Tdwarf secondary components in binary systems. We also identify a numberof interesting stars, including rapid rotators, radial velocityvariables, and spectroscopic binaries. Observations were made at the 60inch telescope at Palomar Mountain, which is jointly owned by theCalifornia Institute of Technology and the Carnegie Institution ofWashington.
| Late-type members of young stellar kinematic groups - I. Single stars
This is the first paper of a series aimed at studying the properties oflate-type members of young stellar kinematic groups. We concentrate ourstudy on classical young moving groups such as the Local Association(Pleiades moving group, 20-150Myr), IC 2391 supercluster (35Myr), UrsaMajor group (Sirius supercluster, 300Myr), and Hyades supercluster(600Myr), as well as on recently identified groups such as the Castormoving group (200Myr). In this paper we compile a preliminary list ofsingle late-type possible members of some of these young stellarkinematic groups. Stars are selected from previously established membersof stellar kinematic groups based on photometric and kinematicproperties as well as from candidates based on other criteria such astheir level of chromospheric activity, rotation rate and lithiumabundance. Precise measurements of proper motions and parallaxes takenfrom the Hipparcos Catalogue, as well as from the Tycho-2 Catalogue, andpublished radial velocity measurements are used to calculate theGalactic space motions (U, V, W) and to apply Eggen's kinematic criteriain order to determine the membership of the selected stars to thedifferent groups. Additional criteria using age-dating methods forlate-type stars will be applied in forthcoming papers of this series. Afurther study of the list of stars compiled here could lead to a betterunderstanding of the chromospheric activity and their age evolution, aswell as of the star formation history in the solar neighbourhood. Inaddition, these stars are also potential search targets for directimaging detection of substellar companions.
| The Halo Black Hole X-Ray Transient XTE J1118+480
Optical spectra were obtained of the optical counterpart of thehigh-latitude (b~=62deg) soft X-ray transient XTE J1118+480near its quiescent state (R~=18.3) with the new 6.5 m Multiple MirrorTelescope and the 4.2 m William Herschel Telescope. The spectrumexhibits broad, double-peaked emission lines of hydrogen (FWHM~=2400 kms-1) arising from an accretion disk superposed withabsorption lines of a late-type secondary star. Cross-correlation of the27 individual spectra with late-type stellar template spectra reveals asinusoidal variation in radial velocity with amplitude K=701+/-10 kms-1 and orbital period P=0.169930+/-0.000004 days. The massfunction, 6.1+/-0.3 Msolar, is a firm lower limit on the massof the compact object and strongly implies that it is a black hole. Weestimate the spectral type of the secondary to be K7 V-M0 V, and that itcontributes 28%+/-2% of the light in the 5800-6400 Å region on2000 November 20, increasing to 36%+/-2% by 2001 January 4 as the diskfaded. Photometric observations (R-band) with the Instituto deAstrofísica de Canarias 0.8 m telescope reveal ellipsoidal lightvariations of full amplitude 0.2 mag. Modeling of the light curve givesa large mass ratio (M1/M2~20) and a high orbitalinclination (i=81deg+/-2deg). Our combined fitsyield a mass of the black hole in the range M1=6.0-7.7Msolar (90% confidence) for plausible secondary star massesof M2=0.09-0.5 Msolar. The photometric periodmeasured during the outburst is 0.5% longer than our orbital period andprobably reflects superhump modulations, as observed in some other softX-ray transients. The estimated distance is d=1.9+/-0.4 kpc,corresponding to a height of 1.7+/-0.4 kpc above the Galactic plane. Thespectroscopic, photometric, and dynamical results indicate that XTEJ1118+480 is the first firmly identified black hole X-ray system in theGalactic halo. Based in part on observations obtained at the MMTObservatory, a joint facility of the University of Arizona and theSmithsonian Institution.
| A TiO study of the black hole binary GRO J0422+32 in a very low state
We present 53 simultaneous photometric (I band) and spectroscopic(6900-9500Å) observations of GRO J0422+32, taken during 1997December. From these we determine that J0422+32 was in its lowest stateyet observed, at I=20.44+/-0.08. Using relative spectrophotometry, weshow that it is possible to correct very accurately for telluricabsorption. Following this, we use the TiO bands at 7055 and 7589Åfor a radial velocity study and thereby obtain a semi-amplitude of378+/-16kms-1, which yieldsf(M)=1.191+/-0.021Msolar andq9.0+2.2-2.7, consistent with previousobservations. We further demonstrate that this little-explored method isvery powerful for such systems. We also determine a new orbitalephemeris of HJD=2450274.4156+/-0.0009+0.2121600+/-0.0000002E. We seesome evidence for an ellipsoidal modulation, from which we determine theorbital inclination of J0422+32 to be less than 45°. We thereforecalculate a minimum mass for the primary of 2.22Msolar,consistent with a black hole, but not necessarily the supermassive oneproposed recently (1997) by Beekman et al. We obtain an M4-5 spectraltype for the secondary star, and determine that the secondarycontributes 38+/-2per cent of the flux that we observe from J0422+32over the range 6950-8400Å. From this we calculate the distance tothe system to be 1.39+/-0.15kpc.
| The ROSAT all-sky survey catalogue of the nearby stars
We present X-ray data for all entries of the Third Catalogue of NearbyStars \cite[(Gliese & Jahreiss 1991)]{gli91} that have been detectedas X-ray sources in the ROSAT all-sky survey. The catalogue contains1252 entries yielding an average detection rate of 32.9 percent. Inaddition to count rates, source detection parameters, hardness ratios,and X-ray fluxes we also list X-ray luminosities derived from Hipparcosparallaxes. Catalogue also available at CDS via anonymous ftp tocdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html
| The Palomar/MSU Nearby Star Spectroscopic Survey.II.The Southern M Dwarfs and Investigation of Magnetic Activity
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1996AJ....112.2799H&db_key=AST
| Photometry of Stars with Large Proper Motion
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1996AJ....112.2300W&db_key=AST
| Vitesses radiales. Catalogue WEB: Wilson Evans Batten. Subtittle: Radial velocities: The Wilson-Evans-Batten catalogue.
We give a common version of the two catalogues of Mean Radial Velocitiesby Wilson (1963) and Evans (1978) to which we have added the catalogueof spectroscopic binary systems (Batten et al. 1989). For each star,when possible, we give: 1) an acronym to enter SIMBAD (Set ofIdentifications Measurements and Bibliography for Astronomical Data) ofthe CDS (Centre de Donnees Astronomiques de Strasbourg). 2) the numberHIC of the HIPPARCOS catalogue (Turon 1992). 3) the CCDM number(Catalogue des Composantes des etoiles Doubles et Multiples) byDommanget & Nys (1994). For the cluster stars, a precise study hasbeen done, on the identificator numbers. Numerous remarks point out theproblems we have had to deal with.
| On the mass of the compact object in GRO J0422+32
We report the detection of the secondary star spectrum in the hard X-raytransient GRO J0422+32 during its lowest quiescent state. From theamplitude of the radial velocity curve we derive a mass functionf(M)=0.85+/-0.30M_solar. We classify the companion star as type M2+/-2Vwhich contributes 35+/-6 per cent of the total flux in the spectralrange lambdalambda6000-6500 and 52+/-8 per cent in the rangelambdalambda6700-7500. Ellipsoidal modulation fits to the I-band lightcurves constrain the inclination to be between 41 deg+/-6 deg and 43deg+/-6 deg for mass ratios q(=M_x/M_c)=10-5. We show that the primaryis likely to be a low-mass black hole with a probable mass of~=2.5-5M_solar.
| The Palomar/MSU Nearby-Star Spectroscopic Survey. I. The Northern M Dwarfs -Bandstrengths and Kinematics
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1995AJ....110.1838R&db_key=AST
| Far infrared properties of late type dwarfs. Infrared fluxes of K & M dwarfs
IRAS fluxes/upper limits are presented for a large sample of K and Mdwarfs. Good agreement is found between the 12 micrometer fluxes andthose derived from the photospheric models of Mould (1976).Relationships between the optical and infrared colors are derived. Theactive dMe/dKe stars appear systematically brighter in the infraredcompared with the less active dM/dK stars, which could be attributed tomore efficient nonradiative heating in their atmosphere. Any systematicdifferences found in our results when compared with those obtained fromprevious studies are attributed to the different analysis packages used.
| The importance of surface inhomogeneities for K and M dwarf chromospheric fluxes
We present published and archived spectroscopic and spectrophotometricdata of H-alpha, Ca II, Mg II, and X-rays for a large sample of K and Mdwarfs. The data set points to the importance that surfaceinhomogeneities have in the flux luminosity diagrams in these late-typedwarfs, irrespective of whether the Balmer lines are in emission orabsorption. Although supporting the fact that cooler stars exhibitincreasing levels of surface activity, evident through an increasingincidence of Balmer emission, surface inhomogeneities, or variations inthe local temperature and density structure, at the chromospheric level,dominate the total Ca II and Mg II fluxes. We show that the flux-fluxand luminosity-luminosity relations indicate differing extents ofinhomogeneity from the chromosphere through to the corona. A goodcorrelation between Ca II and Mg II fluxes indicates that they areformed in overlapping regions of the chromosphere, so that thecontribution of surface inhomogeneities is not evident from thisparticular flux-flux diagram. In the region of the upper chromospherethrough to the transition and corona, the correlation between Ly-alphaand X-ray fluxes indicates regions with similar levels of arealinhomogeneity. This appears to be uncorrelated with that at thechromospheric level.
| Photometry of dwarf K and M stars
An observational program using UBVRI photometry is presented for 688stars from among the dwarf K and M stars already found spectroscopicallyby Vyssotsky (1958). Of these, 211 have not been observedphotometrically. These observations were obtained over a period ofseveral years at the Kitt Peak National Observatory using a GaAsphotomultiplier with an 0.9 m reflector. Based on night-to-nightvariations in the measures of individual stars, the internal errors maybe estimated to be roughly 0.01 mag for the colors and 0.015 for the Vmagnitudes. The photometric parallaxes reported for each star werecomputed in the manner discussed by Weis (1986).
| Infrared colors of low-mass stars
A total of 322 red dwarf stars are studied in a review of IR IJHKphotometry to discern chromospheric activity and kinematic dataregarding metallicity effects in the IR color:color diagrams. Themetallicity variations are employed to assess changes in the H(-)continuum opacity and water-vapor characterizations. The stars areclassified in terms of metal-richness with five categories includingyoung disk, old disk, and halo types with attention given to the inverserelationship between metallicity and water-band absorption strength. Theresults include IR photometric parallax relations for each metallicitygroup and absolute magnitudes for single stars as well as temperatures,intrinsic colors, and spectral types. The body of data is useful forconstraining models of the interiors and atmospheres of this class ofstars.
| Multiplicity among M dwarfs
Surveys of M dwarfs within 20 pc are examined to determine the incidenceof stellar companions. Observational data are drawn from high-qualitysurveys, including IR-array imaging, precise velocities, IR speckleinterferometry, and visual imaging, and their respective incompletenessis determined. The number of companions per AU of semimajor axis iscomputed and found to decline monotonically toward larger semimajoraxes. The period distribution exhibits a unimodal broad maximum with apeak in the range 9-220 yr, corresponding to separations of 3-30 AU,similar to that for G dwarf binaries. Fifty-eight percent of nearby Mdwarf primaries are found to be single, and 42 +/- 9 percent havecompanions. The M-dwarf binary frequency is lower than that for G dwarfs(about 57 percent), owing partly to the smaller range of companionmasses included, i.e., companions less massive than the M- or G-typeprimary.
| The dynamical evolution of the nearby multiple stellar systems ADS 48, ADS 6175 (Alpha Geminorum = Castor), Alpha Centauri, and ADS 9909 (Xi Scorpii)
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1991A&A...252..123A&db_key=AST
| Photographic astrometry of binary and proper-motion stars.
In the study of dwarf star distances and of binary-star masses at the61-cm Swarthmore refractor, parallaxes of 69 stars and systems wereobtained by processing some 5000 astrometric plates from April 1988 toJuly 1989. These results are listed along with 11 binary-star massratios and three unresolved pairs.
| The CA II resonance lines in M dwarf stars without H-alpha emission
Spectra of the Ca II H and K lines in a sample of 31 M dwarf starswithout H-alpha emission are used to calculate chromospheric K lineradiative losses, F(k), and to study the joint response of Ca II K andH-alpha to chromospheric heating in dwarf M stars. It is suggested thatthe poor correlation found in the equivalent width - log F(K) diagrammay be due either to radial segregation of the H-alpha and K lineforming regions or to lateral inhomogeneities in the chromospheres. Theresults confirm the existence of dM stars with weak H-alpha absorptionand K line emission only slightly weaker than that of the dMe stars, andshow that dM stars with weak H-alpha but kinematics and metallicitiesrepresentative of the young disk population belong to a classcharacterized by a comparatively high degree of chromospheric activity.
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Observation and Astrometry data
| Constellation: | Leo |
| Right ascension: | 09h41m10.36s |
| Declination: | +13°12'34.4" |
| Apparent magnitude: | 10.534 |
| Distance: | 11.356 parsecs |
| Proper motion RA: | -658.7 |
| Proper motion Dec: | -144.7 |
| B-T magnitude: | 11.977 |
| V-T magnitude: | 10.654 |
Catalogs and designations:
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