Engineering topics

Borkovits, T.

Publications and source records attributed to Borkovits, T..

5 records

DOE OSTI2016

EXTENSIVE SPECTROSCOPY AND PHOTOMETRY OF THE TYPE IIP SUPERNOVA 2013ej

We present extensive optical (UBV RI, g{sup ′}r{sup ′}i{sup ′}z{sup ′}, and open CCD) and near-infrared (ZY JH) photometry for the very nearby Type IIP SN 2013ej extending from +1 to +461 days after shock breakout, estimated to be MJD 56496.9 ± 0.3. Substantial time series ultraviolet and optical spectroscopy obtained from +8 to +135 days are also presented. Considering well-observed SNe IIP from the literature, we derive UBV RIJHK bolometric calibrations from UBV RI and unfiltered measurements that potentially reach 2% precision with a B − V color-dependent correction. We observe moderately strong Si ii λ6355 as early as +8 days. The photospheric velocity (v{sub ph}) is determined by modeling the spectra in the vicinity of Fe ii λ5169 whenever observed, and interpolating at photometric epochs based on a semianalytic method. This gives v{sub ph}=4500±500 km s{sup −1} at +50 days. We also observe spectral homogeneity of ultraviolet spectra at +10–12 days for SNe IIP, while variations are evident a week after explosion. Using the expanding photosphere method, from combined analysis of SN 2013ej and SN 2002ap, we estimate the distance to the host galaxy to be 9.0{sub −0.6}{sup +0.4} Mpc, consistent with distance estimates from other methods. Photometric and spectroscopic analysis during the plateau phase, which we estimated to be 94 ± 7 days long, yields an explosion energy of 0.9±0.3×10{sup 51} erg, a final pre-explosion progenitor mass of 15.2 ± 4.2 M{sub ⊙} and a radius of 250 ± 70 R{sub ⊙}. We observe a broken exponential profile beyond +120 days, with a break point at +183 ± 16 days. Measurements beyond this break time yield a {sup 56}Ni mass of 0.013 ± 0.001 M {sub ⊙}.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2016

KIC 7177553: A QUADRUPLE SYSTEM OF TWO CLOSE BINARIES

KIC 7177553 was observed by the Kepler satellite to be an eclipsing eccentric binary star system with an 18-day orbital period. Recently, an eclipse timing study of the Kepler binaries has revealed eclipse timing variations (ETVs) in this object with an amplitude of ∼100 s and an outer period of 529 days. The implied mass of the third body is that of a super-Jupiter, but below the mass of a brown dwarf. We therefore embarked on a radial velocity (RV) study of this binary to determine its system configuration and to check the hypothesis that it hosts a giant planet. From the RV measurements, it became immediately obvious that the same Kepler target contains another eccentric binary, this one with a 16.5-day orbital period. Direct imaging using adaptive optics reveals that the two binaries are separated by 0.″4 (∼167 AU) and have nearly the same magnitude (to within 2%). The close angular proximity of the two binaries and very similar γ velocities strongly suggest that KIC 7177553 is one of the rare SB4 systems consisting of two eccentric binaries where at least one system is eclipsing. Both systems consist of slowly rotating, nonevolved, solar-like stars of comparable masses. From the orbital separation and the small difference in γ velocity, we infer that the period of the outer orbit most likely lies in the range of 1000–3000 yr. New images taken over the next few years, as well as the high-precision astrometry of the Gaia satellite mission, will allow us to set much narrower constraints on the system geometry. Finally, we note that the observed ETVs in the Kepler data cannot be produced by the second binary. Further spectroscopic observations on a longer timescale will be required to prove the existence of the massive planet.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2015

A new sdO+dM binary with extreme eclipses and reflection effect

We report the discovery of a new totally eclipsing binary (R.A. = 06{sup h}40{sup m}29{sup s}11; decl. = +38°56′52″2; J = 2000.0; R{sub max} = 17.2 mag) with an sdO primary and a strongly irradiated red dwarf companion. It has an orbital period of P{sub orb} = 0.187284394(11) day and an optical eclipse depth in excess of 5 mag. We obtained 2 low-resolution classification spectra with GTC/OSIRIS and 10 medium-resolution spectra with WHT/ISIS to constrain the properties of the binary members. The spectra are dominated by H Balmer and He ii absorption lines from the sdO star, and phase-dependent emission lines from the irradiated companion. A combined spectroscopic and light curve analysis implies a hot subdwarf temperature of T{sub eff}(spec) = 55,000 ± 3000 K, surface gravity of log g (phot) = 6.2 ± 0.04 (cgs), and a He abundance of log(nHe/nH)=−2.24±0.40. The hot sdO star irradiates the red dwarf companion, heating its substellar point to about 22,500 K. Surface parameters for the companion are difficult to constrain from the currently available data: the most remarkable features are the strong H Balmer and C ii-iii lines in emission. Radial velocity estimates are consistent with the sdO+dM classification. The photometric data do not show any indication of sdO pulsations with amplitudes greater than 7 mmag, and Hα-filter images do not provide evidence for the presence of a planetary nebula associated with the sdO star.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2013

THE ANTICORRELATED NATURE OF THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY ECLIPSE TIMING VARIATIONS FOR THE KEPLER CONTACT BINARIES

We report a study of the eclipse timing variations in contact binary systems, using long-cadence lightcurves from the Kepler archive. As a first step, observed minus calculated (O - C) curves were produced for both the primary and secondary eclipses of some 2000 Kepler binaries. We find {approx}390 short-period binaries with O - C curves that exhibit (1) random walk-like variations or quasi-periodicities, with typical amplitudes of {+-}200-300 s, and (2) anticorrelations between the primary and secondary eclipse timing variations. We present a detailed analysis and results for 32 of these binaries with orbital periods in the range of 0.35 {+-} 0.05 days. The anticorrelations observed in their O - C curves cannot be explained by a model involving mass transfer, which, among other things, requires implausibly high rates of {approx}0.01 M{sub Sun} yr{sup -1}. We show that the anticorrelated behavior, the amplitude of the O - C delays, and the overall random walk-like behavior can be explained by the presence of a starspot that is continuously visible around the orbit and slowly changes its longitude on timescales of weeks to months. The quasi-periods of {approx}50-200 days observed in the O - C curves suggest values for k, the coefficient of the latitude dependence of the stellar differential rotation, of {approx}0.003-0.013.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

DOE OSTI2013

TRIPLE-STAR CANDIDATES AMONG THE KEPLER BINARIES

We present the results of a search through the photometric database of Kepler eclipsing binaries looking for evidence of hierarchical triple-star systems. The presence of a third star orbiting the binary can be inferred from eclipse timing variations. We apply a simple algorithm in an automated determination of the eclipse times for all 2157 binaries. The ''calculated'' eclipse times, based on a constant period model, are subtracted from those observed. The resulting O - C (observed minus calculated times) curves are then visually inspected for periodicities in order to find triple-star candidates. After eliminating false positives due to the beat frequency between the {approx}1/2 hr Kepler cadence and the binary period, 39 candidate triple systems were identified. The periodic O - C curves for these candidates were then fit for contributions from both the classical Roemer delay and so-called physical delay, in an attempt to extract a number of the system parameters of the triple. We discuss the limitations of the information that can be inferred from these O - C curves without further supplemental input, e.g., ground-based spectroscopy. Based on the limited range of orbital periods for the triple-star systems to which this search is sensitive, we can extrapolate to estimate that at least 20% of all close binaries have tertiary companions.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗