Comparative statistics and origin of triple and quadruple stars
The statistics of catalogued quadruple stars consisting of two binaries(hierarchy 2 + 2), is studied in comparison with triple stars, withrespective sample sizes of 81 and 724. Seven representative quadruplesystems are discussed in greater detail. The main conclusions are asfollows. (i) Quadruple systems of ? Lyr type with similar massesand inner periods are common, in 42 per cent of the sample the outermass ratio is above 0.5 and the inner periods differ by less than 10times. (ii) The distributions of the inner periods in triple andquadruple stars are similar and bimodal. The inner mass ratios do notcorrelate with the inner periods. (iii) The statistics of outer periodsand mass ratios in triples and quadruples are different. The medianouter mass ratio in triples is 0.39 independently of the outer period,which has a smooth distribution. In contrast, the outer periods of 25per cent quadruples concentrate in the narrow range from 10 to 100yr,the outer mass ratios of these tight quadruples are above 0.6 and theirtwo inner periods are similar to each other. (iv) The outer and innermass ratios in triple and quadruple stars are not mutually correlated.In 13 per cent of quadruples both inner mass ratios are above 0.85(double twins). (v) The inner and outer orbital angular momenta andperiods in triple and quadruple systems with inner periods above 30dshow some correlation, the ratio of outer-to-inner periods is mostlycomprised between 5 and 104. In the systems with small periodratios the directions of the orbital spins are correlated, while in thesystems with large ratios they are not. The properties of multiple starsdo not correspond to the products of dynamical decay of small clusters,hence the N-body dynamics is not the dominant process of theirformation. On the other hand, rotationally driven (cascade)fragmentation possibly followed by migration of inner and/or outerorbits to shorter periods is a promising scenario to explain the originof triple and quadruple stars.
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SB9: The ninth catalogue of spectroscopic binary orbits
The Ninth Catalogue of Spectroscopic Binary Orbits(http://sb9.astro.ulb.ac.be) continues the series of compilations ofspectroscopic orbits carried out over the past 35 years by Batten andcollaborators. As of 2004 May 1st, the new Catalogue holds orbits for2386 systems. Some essential differences between this catalogue and itspredecessors are outlined and three straightforward applications arepresented: (1) completeness assessment: period distribution of SB1s andSB2s; (2) shortest periods across the H-R diagram; (3)period-eccentricity relation.
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The long-period companions of multiple stars tend to have moderate eccentricities
We examined the statistics of an angle gamma between the radius vectorof a visual companion of a multiple star and the vector of its apparentrelative motion in the system. Its distribution f(gamma ) is related tothe orbital eccentricity distribution in the investigated sample. Wefound that for the wide physical subsystems of the 174 objects from theMultiple Star Catalogue f(gamma ) is bell-shaped. The Monte-Carlosimulations have shown that our f(gamma ) corresponds to the populationof the moderate-eccentricity orbits and is not compatible with thelinear distribution f(e)=2e which follows from stellar dynamics andseems to hold for wide binaries. This points to the absence of highlyelongated orbits among the outer subsystems of multiple stars. Theconstraint of dynamical stability of triple systems is not sufficient toexplain the ``rounded-off'' outer orbits; instead, we speculate that itcan result from the angular momentum exchange in multiple systems duringtheir early evolution.
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The Naini Tal - Cape survey for pulsations in chemically peculiar A-type stars. I. Methods and preliminary results
A new survey for pulsating, chemically peculiar A- and F-type stars inthe northern hemisphere has been initiated using the 1-m telescope atUttar Pradesh State Observatory in Naini Tal. The survey is primarilystructured to reveal high-overtone pulsations in chemically peculiar A-Fstars, but it is also revealing low-overtone delta Scuti-type pulsationsin stars with peculiar colours. This paper describes the scope andmethods of the survey. Preliminary observations of 28 candidate starsare presented and the discovery of three new pulsators, HD 12098, HD13038 and HD 13079, is announced. Null results for the remaining 25stars are also discussed.
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On the nature of the AM phenomenon or on a stabilization and the tidal mixing in binaries. II. Metallicity and pseudo-synchronization.
We reveal sufficient evidences that for Am binaries the metallicitymight depend on their orbital periods, P_orb_, rather than on vsini. Inparticular, δm_1_ index seems to decrease with increasing orbitalperiod up to at least P_orb_=~50d, probably even up to P_orb_=~200d.This gives further support to our "tidal mixing + stabilization"hypothesis formulated in Part I. Moreover, while the most metallic Amstars seem to have rather large periods the slowest rotators are foundto exhibit substantially shorter P_orb_. A questioning eye is thus caston the generally adopted view that Am peculiarity is caused by asuppressed rotationally induced mixing in slowly rotating `single'stars. The observed anticorrelation between rotation and metallicity mayhave also other than the `textbook' explanation, namely being the resultof the correlation between metallicity and orbital period, as themajority of Am binaries are possibly synchronized. We further argue thatthere is a tendency in Am binaries towards pseudo-synchronization up toP_orb_=~35d. This has, however, no serious impact on our conclusionsfrom Part I; on the contrary, they still hold even if this effect istaken into account.
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On the nature of the AM phenomenon or on a stabilization and the tidal mixing in binaries. I. Orbital periods and rotation.
The paper casts a questioning eye on the unique role of the diffusiveparticle transport mechanism in explaining the Am phenomenon and arguesthat the so-called tidal effects might be of great importance incontrolling diffusion processes. A short period cutoff at =~1.2d as wellas a 180-800d gap were found in the orbital period distribution (OPD) ofAm binaries. The existence of the former can be ascribed to the state ofthe primaries with the almost-filled Roche lobes. The latter couldresult from the combined effects of the diffusion, tidal mixing andstabilization processes. Because the tidal mixing might surpassdiffusion in the binaries with the orbital periods P_orb_ less thanseveral hundred days and might thus sustain the He convection zone,which would otherwise disappear, no Am stars should lie below thisboundary. The fact that they are nevertheless seen there implies theexistence of some stabilization mechanism (as, e.g., that recentlyproposed by Tassoul & Tassoul 1992) for the binaries with orbitalperiods less than 180d. Further evidence is given to the fact that theOPD for the Am and the normal binaries with an A4-F1 primary arecomplementary to each other, from which it stems that Am stars are closeto the main sequence. There are, however, indications that they haveslightly larger radii (2.1-3 Rsun_) than expected for theirspectral type. The generally accepted rotational velocity cutoff at=~100km/s is shown to be of little value when applied on Am binaries ashere it is not a single quantity but, in fact, a function of P_orb_whose shape is strikingly similar to that of the curves of constantmetallicity as ascertained from observations. This also leads to thewell known overlap in rotational velocities of the normal and Am starsfor 402.5d.We have exploited this empirical cutoff function to calibrate thecorresponding turbulent diffusion coefficient associated with tidalmixing, having found out that the computed form of the lines of constantturbulence fits qualitatively the empirical shape of the curves ofconstant metallicity. As for larger orbital periods(20d55km/s found by Burkhart(1979) would then be nothing but a manifestation of insufficientlypopulated corresponding area of larger P_orb_.
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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.
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The period distribution of unevolved close binary systems
Period distributions have been examined for various spectral types ofabout 600 (eclipsing and spectroscopic) close binaries, which are likelyto be substantially unevolved. The comparison with the previouscorresponding analyses of extensive (but heterogeneous) binary samplesallows a clarification of the extent of the evolutionary andobservational selection effects. Remarkably, this analysis reveals agreat deficiency of short period binaries (with periods corresponding tocase A mass transfer) in the whole spectral range. For the late spectraltypes, this result may be connected with postformation angular momentumloss caused by stellar wind magnetic braking; at least for the late Band A spectral range, a ready interpretation of this finding is thatclose binaries of corresponding periods and spectral types are rarelyformed.
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Lists of photometric AM candidates
The Geneva photometric m parameter (Nicolet and Cramer, 1982) is used inorder to select Am photometric candidates from the Rufener (1981)catalogue. Two lists are given, the first containing field stars and thesecond cluster stars. According to the photometric criteria thediffusion process probably responsible for the Am phenomenon takes placerather quickly as Am candidates are present in young clusters. It isconfirmed that the phenomenon is enhanced by low rotational velocity andhigh metallicity. The age seems to slightly affect the Am phenomenon.
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The absolute magnitude of the AM stars
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1981A&A....93..155G&db_key=AST
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Properties of AM stars in the Geneva photometric system
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1980A&A....92..289H&db_key=AST
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The significance of binaries with nearly identical components
The distribution of the mass ratios of double-lined spectroscopicbinaries is investigated, and a narrow peak at q of about 0.97 is foundafter observational errors have been corrected for. A variety ofobservational and theoretical arguments are then used to demonstratethat this peak cannot be explained as being due to the effects of eitherevolution or selection. The peak is therefore interpreted as implyingthat many close binaries (P less than about 25 days) with intermediateand small total masses are formed by a mechanism that, in its idealform, would create binaries with identical components. Recentcalculations suggest that this mechanism be identified with binaryformation by fragmentation during the final dynamical-collapse phase ofa rotating protostar's pre-main-sequence evolution.
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Statistical study of AM stars in spectroscopic binary systems
Statistics of spectroscopic binaries with Am spectra are analyzed. Thesystems considered include six double-line eclipsing binaries with knownphotometric elements, five single-line eclipsing binaries with knownmass functions, and 12 noneclipsing spectroscopic binaries with knowntrigonometric parallaxes larger than 0.020 arcsec. It is found that: (1)Am characteristics appear to be pronounced for a slightly evolved stagewith log g in the range from 3.8 to 4.2 and radii of 1.5 to 2.7 solarradii; (2) the helium content and mixing length are not uniform foratmospheres of Am stars; (3) synchronization between rotation andrevolution is characteristic of almost all Am binaries with orbitalperiods less than six days but depends on the stellar evolutionary agesfor Am binaries with orbital periods of six to ten days; and (4) themetallicity excess for Am spectroscopic binaries (including the effectof the secondary components) decreases significantly with the rotationalvelocity of the Am (primary) components.
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Seventh catalogue of the orbital elements of spectroscopic binary systems.
Not Available
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UVBY beta study of A-and F-type visual binaries. I.
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1976AJ.....81..107M&db_key=AST
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Rotational velocities and spectral types for a sample of binary systems.
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1975A&AS...19...91L&db_key=AST
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Multicolor photometry of metallic-line stars. III. A photometric catalogue
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1974RMxAA...1..175M&db_key=AST
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Catalogue of AM stars with known spectral types
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1973A&AS...10..385H&db_key=AST
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Catalogue et bibliographie des étoiles A à spectre particulier - Deuxième supplément
Not Available
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The Spectra and Axial Rotational Velocities of the Components of 116 Visual Double-Star Systems.
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?1963ApJ...138..118S&db_key=AST
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Radial Velocities of Three Metallic-Line Stars.
Abstract image available at:http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1961ApJ...133..910A
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Yerkes actinometry. Zone +73deg to +90deg.
Not Available
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INHABITED SKY
