• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
• /
• 제29권2호
• /
• pp.141-143
• /
• 2012

Some Algol-type interacting binary stars exhibit strange photometric variations that can be phase-dependent and/or secular. This paper discusses the possibility of explaining these observed variations as resulting from an accretion structure eclipsing one or both of the stars. Some previous studies are reviewed and suggestions for future work are made, including the prospective of incorporating data from the Kepler Observatory.

• 천문학회보
• /
• 제42권2호
• /
• pp.38.1-38.1
• /
• 2017

Symbiotic stars are long-orbital-period interacting binaries characterized by extended emission over the whole electromagnetic range and by complex photometric and spectroscopic variability. In this contribution, I will present some high-cadence, long-term optical light curves of confirmed and candidate symbiotic stars in the Magellanic Clouds. By careful visual inspection and combined time series analysis techniques, we investigate for the first time in a systematic way the photometric properties of these astrophysical objects, trying in particular to distinguish the evolutionary status of the cool component, to provide its first-order pulsation ephemeris and to link all this information with the physical parameters of the binary system as a whole. Finally, I will discuss a new, promising photometric technique, potentially able to discover Symbiotic Stars in the Local Group of Galaxies without the recourse to costly spectroscopic follow-up.

• Journal of Astronomy and Space Sciences
• /
• 제29권1호
• /
• pp.47-49
• /
• 2012

Massive binary stars lose mass by two mechanisms: jet-driven mass loss during periods of active mass transfer and by wind-driven mass loss. Beta Lyrae is an eclipsing, semi-detached binary whose state of active mass transfer provides a unique opportunity to study how the evolution of binary systems is affected by jet-driven mass loss. Roche lobe overflow from the primary star feeds the thick accretion disk which almost completely obscures the mass-gaining star. A hot spot predicted to be on the edge of the accretion disk may be the source of beta Lyrae's bipolar outflows. I present results from spectropolarimetric data taken with the University of Wisconsin's Half-Wave Spectropolarimeter and the Flower and Cook Observatory's photoelastic modulating polarimeter instrument which have implications for our current understanding of the system's disk geometry. Using broadband polarimetric analysis, I derive new information about the structure of the disk and the presence and location of a hot spot. These results place constraints on the geometrical distribution of material in beta Lyrae and can help quantify the amount of mass lost from massive interacting binary systems during phases of mass transfer and jet-driven mass loss.

• 천문학회보
• /
• 제44권1호
• /
• pp.46.3-46.3
• /
• 2019

We present our observational and theoretical investigation of Raman-scattered features in symbiotic stars (SySts). SySts are long interacting binaries, consisting of a hot compact star and an evolved giant, whose interaction via accretion process is at the origin of a tangled network of gas and dust nebulae. These systems are ideal objects to study a variety of important astrophysical problems, and have also been proposed as possible progenitors of type Ia supernova. In this talk, we emphasize that Raman-scattered features are exclusive spectroscopic tools to probe the stellar wind accretion processes in SySts. We studied mass transfer and mass loss processes in SySts using high resolution spectra obtained with 1.8m telescope at Mt. Bohyun and the 6.5m Magellan-Clay telescope combining with the theoretical modeling of radiative transfer of Raman-scattered features. We also note that there are a much smaller number of SySts known in our Galaxy, implying the necessity of systematic search programs. In view of the fact that Raman O VI features at $6830{\AA}$ are found in only bona fide SySts, we will carry out a photometric search of objects with Raman O VI features using a narrow band filter centered at $6830{\AA}$ in Local group galaxies.

• 천문학회지
• /
• 제47권6호
• /
• pp.235-253
• /
• 2014

Intensity interferometry, based on the Hanbury Brown-Twiss effect, is a simple and inexpensive method for optical interferometry at microarcsecond angular resolutions; its use in astronomy was abandoned in the 1970s because of low sensitivity. Motivated by recent technical developments, we argue that the sensitivity of large modern intensity interferometers can be improved by factors up to approximately 25 000, corresponding to 11 photometric magnitudes, compared to the pioneering Narrabri Stellar Interferometer. This is made possible by (i) using avalanche photodiodes (APD) as light detectors, (ii) distributing the light received from the source over multiple independent spectral channels, and (iii) use of arrays composed of multiple large light collectors. Our approach permits the construction of large (with baselines ranging from few kilometers to intercontinental distances) optical interferometers at the cost of (very) long-baseline radio interferometers. Realistic intensity interferometer designs are able to achieve limiting R-band magnitudes as good as $m_R{\approx}14$, sufficient for spatially resolved observations of main-sequence O-type stars in the Magellanic Clouds. Multi-channel intensity interferometers can address a wide variety of science cases: (i) linear radii, effective temperatures, and luminosities of stars, via direct measurements of stellar angular sizes; (ii) mass-radius relationships of compact stellar remnants, via direct measurements of the angular sizes of white dwarfs; (iii) stellar rotation, via observations of rotation flattening and surface gravity darkening; (iv) stellar convection and the interaction of stellar photospheres and magnetic fields, via observations of dark and bright starspots; (v) the structure and evolution of multiple stars, via mapping of the companion stars and of accretion flows in interacting binaries; (vi) direct measurements of interstellar distances, derived from angular diameters of stars or via the interferometric Baade-Wesselink method; (vii) the physics of gas accretion onto supermassive black holes, via resolved observations of the central engines of luminous active galactic nuclei; and (viii) calibration of amplitude interferometers by providing a sample of calibrator stars.