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Conti, P. S.

Publications and source records attributed to Conti, P. S..

27 records · Page 2
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1979

Variable outflow in the O6ef star Lambda Cephei

The paper analyzes spectroscopic data from the UV region using the Copernicus satellite on six consecutive days in September, 1975. It is found that the P Cygni lines of C III at 1175 A and of N V at 1238 and 1242 A show little or no variation in their profiles. The results indicate that the changes in the 4686-A H II and H-alpha can be interpreted as a variable outflow near the surface of the star, either due to random density inhomogeneities propagating outward, or the effects of rotation of a nonspherical star, or both. Insufficient data exist at present to distinguish between periodic and random fluctuations.

Leep, E. M.↗
NASA NTRS1979

Preliminary estimates of mass loss from O-type stars

P Cygni profiles of C IV resonance lines (observed for O-type stars) taken with the high resolution spectrograph on IUE are presented, and data indicate that terminal velocity is proportional to photospheric escape velocity. Parameters determining these line profiles are stellar radius, mass loss rate, the velocity law, the abundance (assumed to be solar) of the absorbing ion, and atomic parameters such as wavelength and oscillator strength, while the ionization fraction is assumed to be the same as that of Zeta Pup (Lamers and Morton, 1976). Thus an electron temperature of 200,000 K, a radiation temperature of 30,000 K and an electron density of 10 to the 10th are adopted. It is concluded that mass loss rates are considerably lower in O stars than in Of stars, but that if mass loss is really proportional to luminosity, the earliest O stars should have rates at least a factor of 10 higher than were found.

Conti, P. S.↗
NASA NTRS1978

A study of mass flow in the massive spectroscopic binary HD47129

HD 47129 is a double-lined spectroscopic binary with a period 14.3961 days and a visual magnitude of V = 6.06. Using the Copernicus U2 spectrometer, observations were obtained of the system on eight occasions, starting March 2, 1977. Some results are presented and discussed.

Barlow, M. J.↗
NASA NTRS1977

Spectroscopic studies of O-type stars. VIII - Radial velocities and the K-term

Radial velocities are measured on coude spectrograms of over 200 O-type stars in both hemispheres. The selection of effective wavelengths for the stellar lines to be measured is reviewed, and the measured velocities are compared with those available in a catalog of O stars. The Trumpler (1935) effect (a reported anomalous redshift in certain O stars) is inconclusively reinvestigated, atmospheric motions in Of stars are examined, and some kinematic properties of O stars are discussed statistically. It is found that 58% of all O stars and 41% of all the Of stars considered are certain or probable binaries. A K-term in the range from 1 to 2 km/s is derived for the O stars, but the Of stars are shown to have a highly significant negative K-term. It is suggested that the systematically negative peculiar velocities of the Of stars are due to outflow of material beginning at the photospheric level.

Conti, P. S.↗
NASA NTRS1973

Spectroscopic observations of the Cygnus X-1 optical candidate.

Data from nine high-dispersion spectra of HDE 226868, the optical candidate for Cyg X-1, are presented. The line profiles at He II (4686 A) show marked changes from night to night. Our data are not compatible with models where the emission line arises from the unseen secondary component of the system, as has been suggested by other observers. We propose that the emission originates in a gas stream falling toward the secondary; this provides observational evidence that the X-ray source is powered by accretion. We also see changes in spectral type and luminosity class with phase, further complicating attempts to make mass estimates for the system.

Smith, H. E.↗
NASA NTRS1972

The absolute magnitudes and spectral types of the stars in the gamma Velorum system.

The ratio of the visual luminosities of the O and WC components of the binary system gamma (2) Vel has been derived by comparison of the emission-line strengths in the spectrum with those in the spectrum of a single WC8 star, HD 192103. The result is 1.4 mag, with the O star being brighter; the classification of the O star was found to be 09 I, so that the classification of gamma (2) Vel is WC8+09 I.

Conti, P. S.↗