Engineering topics

Klimke, A.

Publications and source records attributed to Klimke, A..

4 records

NASA NTRS1983

Observations of active chromosphere stars

It is pointed out that spectroscopic signatures of stellar chromospheric activity are readily observable. The present study is concerned with new photometric and spectroscopic observations of active-chromosphere RS CVn, BY Dra, and FK Com stars. Attention is given to the first results of a synoptic monitoring program of many active chromosphere stars. During the time from 1980 to 1982, photometric and spectroscopic observations of 10 known or suspected active-chromosphere objects were made. The results regarding the individual stars are discussed. Seven stars observed with the International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) are all spectroscopic binaries.

Africano, J. L.↗

NASA NTRS1983

Detection of flare like events and their relationship to presumed spot regions on V471 Tau - A solar-stellar connection

Since its discovery as an eclipsing binary with a white dwarf companion by Nelson and Young (1970), V471 Tau (BD + 16 deg 516) has been an object of considerable importance. The K dwarf companion has been the subject of intensive studies because it demonstrates many of the properties normally attributed to classical RS CVn stars. In the present investigation, it is demonstrated that the K dwarf companion exhibits also flaring properties which characterize the BY Dra stars. In a sense, V471 Tau may be the critical link by providing information that the distinctions between RS CVn phenomena and BY Dra phenomena are artificial and misleading, arising entirely from historical processes. Observations in the optical and the X-ray wavelength regions are reported. A study of the occurrence times of flare events in terms of the ephemeris of the photometric wave which is known to migrate through the light curve of V471 Tau reveals a strong correlation, suggesting that the flares occur near regions of the K dwarf where spot groups are inferred.

Klimke, A.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Discovery and observation of BY Draconis variables

The discovery of BY Draconis variables was efficiently accomplished by a spectroscopic survey of dK-M stars for weak H-alpha emissions, using 1-2 A resolution. The four BY Dra variables discovered are all spectroscopic binaries with P values lower than about 10 d, in light of which, it is noted that the onset of high surface activity and appearance of H-alpha emission occur sharply at v(equator) of approximately 5 km/sec. At v(equator) of about 3 km/sec, dK-M stars have low levels of surface activity. It is found that while there is a range of Ca II emission strength, and only the strongest emitters of this line are BY Dra and/or flare stars, the H-alpha feature changes abruptly to an emission feature signaling the onset of flaring and/or the BY Dra syndrome. An increase of the rotation rate above v(equator) 5 km/sec does not appear to increase the level of surface activity.

Bopp, B. W.↗

NASA NTRS1981

Photometry of HD 45088 - A new bright BY Draconis variable

The K-dwarf SB2 system HD 45088, predicted to be a BY Dra variable on the basis of its orbital period and emission-line characteristics, is found to be photometrically variable. The amplitude is significantly variable, having ranged between 0.02m during February-April 1980 to 0.045m during September-October 1980. The photometric period, shown to be 7.36 days, differs appreciably from the 6.99-day orbital period. Possible explanations for this difference are (1) nonsynchronization in a young binary, (2) spot development at high latitudes on a differentially rotating star, and (3) imperfect synchronization in a binary with an eccentric orbit.

Bopp, B. W.↗