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Slettebak, A.

Publications and source records attributed to Slettebak, A..

The chemical composition of the Lambda Bootis stars

Measurements of the equivalent widths of 24 ultraviolet lines from IUE spectra of 10 Lambda Bootis or suspected Lambda Bootis stars and 19 normal standard stars of spectral types B8-A7 have been compared with line strengths determined using model atmospheres. Abundance differences are estimated via a differential analysis technique. It is found that the ratio of C, N, and O to the heavier elements Mg to Ni is significantly larger than that for solar composition stars.

Baschek, B.↗

Continued ultraviolet studies of some Be stars of later type

Anomalous ionization (C IV and Si IV) is seen in IUE spectra of Be stars as late as B8, and occurs also in standard stars of similar spectral type. Asymmetrical lines suggesting mass loss are present in all the Be stars and several of the standard stars as well, with no obvious correlation with v sin i. Emission shoulders are present in the Mg II lines of two B5e stars but not in Be stars of later type. Again there is no correlation with v sin i. The A-F shell stars show rich Fe II absorption spectra in the ultraviolet, in one case with velocity structure.

Slettebak, A.↗

Rotational velocities of later B type and A type stars as determined from ultraviolet versus visual line profiles

Theoretical line profiles of the Si III 1299 and Fe II 2756 lines are computed for rotating B5-A7 model stars, and compared with observed profiles from IUE spectra to derive rotational velocities. Real differences in widths for ultraviolet as compared with visual line profiles exist in the sample of B type stars (but not for the A type rapidly rotating stars), although these are not as large as previously reported in the literature. Comparison with the theoretical line profiles gives rotational velocities that are in good agreement with visually determined v sin i values for the same stars, which suggests that the shape-distorted, gravity-darkened models are reasonable.

Carpenter, K. G.↗

Ultraviolet spectroscopic observations of some Be stars of later type and A-F type shell stars

High-dispersion IUE spectra of 18 later type Be and A-F type shell stars as well as eight standard nonemission line stars have been analyzed for anomalous ionization and mass loss effects. It is found that superionization in the Be stars extends to the latest spectral subtypes but does not seem to be present in the A-F type stars. The superionized lines in the Be stars appear to be correlated with v sin i. Asymmetrical or violet-displaced resonance lines suggesting mass loss are observed in all the Be stars except one, in some of the standard stars, but not in the A-F stars. Lower limits to the mass loss rates computed from Si IV lines range between 5.3 x 10 to the -12th and 3.5 x 10 to the -11th solar masses/yr, with Be shell stars showing the largest values. Mass loss is correlated with luminosity and effective temperature but not with rotation.

Carpenter, K. G.↗

Ultraviolet spectra of some bright later type Be stars and A-F shell stars

Anomalous ionization (C IV and Si IV is seen in IUE spectra of Be stars as late as B8, and occurs also in standard stars of similar spectral type. Asymmetrical lines suggesting mass loass are present in all the Be stars and several of the standard stars as well, with no obvious correlation with v sin i. Emission shoulders are present in the Mg II lines of two B5e stars but not in Be stars of later type. No correlation is found with v sin i. The A-F shell stars show rich Fe iI absorption spectra in the ultraviolet, in one case with velocity structure.

Slettebak, A.↗

Spectrophotometric variability in the Be star Gamma Cassiopeiae - Simultaneous ultraviolet and H-alpha observations

Simultaneous scans of the ultraviolet Si IV and Mg II resonance doublets in the spectrum of Gamma Cas with the Copernicus satellite during 64 continuous hours of observation, and H-alpha scans from a ground station, are described. No evidence is found for a rotation period of Gamma Cas, but narrow emission components in both ultraviolet doublets are reported along with a sudden emission increase on January 29.1, 1977 UT which appeared to be present in both H-alpha and the ultraviolet lines.

Slettebak, A.↗

Ultraviolet and optical spectral variability in the Be star Gamma Cassiopeiae - A coronal model for the emission

This paper reports the presence of Mg II emission, the probable presence of Si IV emission, and the possible presence of N V absorption in the UV spectrum of the B0.5 IVe star Gamma Cas. Changes in these features on time scales of several months are described. The detached-ring and mass-exchange binary models are briefly discussed and shown to be inadequate for Gamma Cas. An ad hoc generalization of the detailed stellar-wind model of Poeckert and Marlborough (1978) is presented and suggested as being qualitatively compatible with the UV data as well as with photoelectric H-alpha observations and the X-ray outburst observed in 1976. The presence of a 1-solar-mass neutron star companion with an orbital period of about 4 yr is hypothesized.

Marlborough, J. M.↗