@article{SchaffenrothCasewellSchneideretal.2020,
  author    = {Schaffenroth, Veronika and Casewell, Sarah L. and Schneider, D. and Kilkenny, David and Geier, Stephan and Heber, Ulrich and Irrgang, Andreas and Przybilla, Norbert and Marsh, Thomas R. and Littlefair, Stuart P. and Dhillon, Vik S.},
  title     = {A quantitative in-depth analysis of the prototype sdB plus BD system SDSS J08205+0008 revisited in the Gaia era},
  series = {Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society},
  volume    = {501},
  journal   = {Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society},
  number    = {3},
  publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press},
  address   = {Oxford},
  issn      = {0035-8711},
  doi       = {10.1093/mnras/staa3661},
  pages     = {3847 -- 3870},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Subdwarf B stars are core-helium-burning stars located on the extreme horizontal branch (EHB). Extensive mass loss on the red giant branch is necessary to form them. It has been proposed that substellar companions could lead to the required mass loss when they are engulfed in the envelope of the red giant star. J08205+0008 was the first example of a hot subdwarf star with a close, substellar companion candidate to be found. Here, we perform an in-depth re-analysis of this important system with much higher quality data allowing additional analysis methods. From the higher resolution spectra obtained with ESO-VLT/XSHOOTER, we derive the chemical abundances of the hot subdwarf as well as its rotational velocity. Using the Gaia parallax and a fit to the spectral energy distribution in the secondary eclipse, tight constraints to the radius of the hot subdwarf are derived. From a long-term photometric campaign, we detected a significant period decrease of -3.2(8) x 10(-12) dd(-1). This can be explained by the non-synchronized hot subdwarf star being spun up by tidal interactions forcing it to become synchronized. From the rate of period decrease we could derive the synchronization time-scale to be 4 Myr, much smaller than the lifetime on EHB. By combining all different methods, we could constrain the hot subdwarf to a mass of 0.39-0.50 M-circle dot and a radius of R-sdB = 0.194 +/- 0.008 R-circle dot, and the companion to 0.061-0.071 M-circle dot with a radius of R-comp = 0.092 +/- 0.005 R-circle dot, below the hydrogen-burning limit. We therefore confirm that the companion is most likely a massive brown dwarf.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{Poppenhaeger2022,
  author    = {Poppenh{\"a}ger, Katja},
  title     = {Helium absorption in exoplanet atmospheres is connected to stellar coronal abundances},
  series = {Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society},
  volume    = {512},
  journal   = {Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society},
  number    = {2},
  publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press},
  address   = {Oxford},
  issn      = {0035-8711},
  doi       = {10.1093/mnras/stac507},
  pages     = {1751 -- 1764},
  year      = {2022},
  abstract  = {Transit observations in the helium triplet around 10 830 Angstrom are a successful tool to study exoplanetary atmospheres and their mass loss. Forming those lines requires ionization and recombination of helium in the exoplanetary atmosphere. This ionization is caused by stellar photons at extreme ultraviolet (EUV) wavelengths; however, no currently active telescopes can observe this part of the stellar spectrum. The relevant part of the stellar EUV spectrum consists of individual emission lines, many of them being formed by iron at coronal temperatures. The stellar iron abundance in the corona is often observed to be depleted for high-activity low-mass stars due to the first ionization potential (FIP) effect. I show that stars with high versus low coronal iron abundances follow different scaling laws that tie together their X-ray emission and the narrow-band EUV flux that causes helium ionization. I also show that the stellar iron to oxygen abundance ratio in the corona can be measured reasonably well from X-ray CCD spectra, yielding similar results to high-resolution X-ray observations. Taking coronal iron abundance into account, the currently observed large scatter in the relationship of EUV irradiation with exoplanetary helium transit depths can be reduced, improving the target selection criteria for exoplanet transmission spectroscopy. In particular, previously puzzling non-detections of helium for Neptunic exoplanets are now in line with expectations from the revised scaling laws.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{ChougulePrzybillaDimitrijevicetal.2020,
  author    = {Chougule, Abhishek and Przybilla, Norbert and Dimitrijevic, Milan S. and Schaffenroth, Veronika},
  title     = {The impact of improved Stark-broadening widths on the modeling of double-ionized chromium lines in hot stars},
  series = {Contributions of the Astronomical Observatory Skalnate Pleso = Pr{\´a}ce Astronomick{\´e}ho Observat{\´o}ria na Skalnatom Plese},
  volume    = {50},
  journal   = {Contributions of the Astronomical Observatory Skalnate Pleso = Pr{\´a}ce Astronomick{\´e}ho Observat{\´o}ria na Skalnatom Plese},
  number    = {1},
  publisher = {Astronomick{\´y} {\´U}stav SAV},
  address   = {Tatransk{\´a} Lomnica},
  issn      = {1335-1842},
  doi       = {10.31577/caosp.2020.50.1.139},
  pages     = {139 -- 146},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Stellar atmosphere modeling and chemical abundance determinations require the knowledge of spectral line shapes. Spectral lines of chromium in various ionization stages are common in stellar spectra but detailed data on Stark broadening for them is scarce. Recently we reported on the first calculations of Stark widths for several 4s-4p transitions of double-ionized chromium, employing the Modified Semi-Empirical approach (MSE). In this work we present applications of the data to spectrum synthesis of Cr III lines in the ultraviolet region of hot stars. The Atlas9 model atmosphere code and the line-formation code Surface were used with the assumption of local thermodynamic equilibrium. The improvements of adopting the MSE broadening tables instead of approximate Stark broadening coefficients are investigated for a total of 56 Cr III lines visible in HST/STIS spectra of the B3 subgiant star Iota Herculis and the subdwarf B-star Feige 66.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{IrrgangGeierKreuzeretal.2020,
  author    = {Irrgang, Andreas and Geier, Stephan and Kreuzer, Simon and Pelisoli, Ingrid Domingos and Heber, Ulrich},
  title     = {A stripped helium star in the potential black hole binary LB-1},
  series = {Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal},
  volume    = {633},
  journal   = {Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal},
  publisher = {EDP Sciences},
  address   = {Les Ulis},
  issn      = {0004-6361},
  doi       = {10.1051/0004-6361/201937343},
  pages     = {9},
  year      = {2020},
  abstract  = {Context The recently claimed discovery of a massive (M-BH = 68(-13)(+11) M-circle dot) black hole in the Galactic solar neighborhood has led to controversial discussions because it severely challenges our current view of stellar evolution. Aims A crucial aspect for the determination of the mass of the unseen black hole is the precise nature of its visible companion, the B-type star LSV +22 25. Because stars of different mass can exhibit B-type spectra during the course of their evolution, it is essential to obtain a comprehensive picture of the star to unravel its nature and, thus, its mass. Methods To this end, we study the spectral energy distribution of LSV +22 25 and perform a quantitative spectroscopic analysis that includes the determination of chemical abundances for He, C, N, O, Ne, Mg, Al, Si, S, Ar, and Fe. Results Our analysis clearly shows that LSV +22 25 is not an ordinary main sequence B-type star. The derived abundance pattern exhibits heavy imprints of the CNO bi-cycle of hydrogen burning, that is, He and N are strongly enriched at the expense of C and O. Moreover, the elements Mg, Al, Si, S, Ar, and Fe are systematically underabundant when compared to normal main-sequence B-type stars. We suggest that LSV +22 25 is a stripped helium star and discuss two possible formation scenarios. Combining our photometric and spectroscopic results with the Gaia parallax, we infer a stellar mass of 1.1 +/- 0.5 M-circle dot. Based on the binary system's mass function, this yields a minimum mass of 2-3 M-circle dot for the compact companion, which implies that it may not necessarily be a black hole but a massive neutron- or main sequence star. Conclusions The star LSV +22 25 has become famous for possibly having a very massive black hole companion. However, a closer look reveals that the star itself is a very intriguing object. Further investigations are necessary for complete characterization of this object.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{RamachandranOskinovaHamann2021,
  author    = {Ramachandran, Varsha and Oskinova, Lida and Hamann, Wolf-Rainer},
  title     = {Discovery of O stars in the tidal Magellanic Bridge},
  series = {Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal / European Southern Observatory (ESO). Section: Galactic structure, stellar clusters and populations},
  volume    = {646},
  journal   = {Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal / European Southern Observatory (ESO). Section: Galactic structure, stellar clusters and populations},
  publisher = {EDP Sciences},
  address   = {Les Ulis},
  issn      = {1432-0746},
  doi       = {10.1051/0004-6361/202039486},
  pages     = {16},
  year      = {2021},
  abstract  = {The Magellanic Bridge, stretching between the Small and the Large Magellanic Cloud (SMC and LMC), is the nearest tidally stripped intergalactic environment. The Bridge has a significantly low average metallicity of Z less than or similar to 0.1 Z(circle dot). Here we report the first discovery of O-type stars in the Magellanic Bridge. Three massive O stars were identified thanks to the archival spectra obtained by the ESO's Very Large Telescope FLAMES instrument. We analyze the spectra of each star using the Potsdam Wolf-Rayet (PoWR) non-local thermodynamic equilibrium model atmosphere code, which provides the physical parameters, ionizing photon fluxes, and surface abundances. The ages of the newly discovered O stars suggest that star formation in the Bridge is ongoing. Furthermore, the discovery of O stars in the Bridge implies that tidally stripped galactic tails containing low-density but highly dynamical gas are capable of producing massive O stars. The multi-epoch spectra indicate that all three O stars are binaries. Despite their spatial proximity to one another, these O stars are chemically distinct. One of them is a fast-rotating giant with nearly LMC-like abundances. The other two are main-sequence stars that rotate extremely slowly and are strongly metal depleted. We discover the most nitrogen-poor O star known to date. Taking into account the previous analyses of B stars in the Bridge, we interpret the various metal abundances as the signature of a chemically inhomogeneous interstellar medium (ISM), suggesting that the Bridge gas might have accreted during multiple episodes of tidal interaction between the Clouds. Attributing the lowest derived metal content to the primordial gas, the time of the initial formation of the Bridge may date back several billion years. Using the Gaia and Galex color-magnitude diagrams, we roughly estimate the total number of O stars in the Bridge and their total ionizing radiation. Comparing this with the energetics of the diffuse ISM, we find that the contribution of the hot stars to the ionizing radiation field in the Bridge is less than 10\% and conclude that the main sources of ionizing photons are leaks from the LMC and SMC. We estimate a lower limit for the fraction of ionizing radiation that escapes from these two dwarf galaxies.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{ReindlGeierOstensen2018,
  author    = {Reindl, Nicole and Geier, Stephan Alfred and Ostensen, R. H.},
  title     = {Discovery of two bright DO-type white dwarfs},
  series = {Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society},
  volume    = {480},
  journal   = {Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society},
  number    = {1},
  publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press},
  address   = {Oxford},
  issn      = {0035-8711},
  doi       = {10.1093/mnras/sty1875},
  pages     = {1211 -- 1217},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {We discovered two bright DO-type white dwarfs, GALEXJ053628.3+544854 (J0536+5448) and GALEXJ231128.0+292935(J2311+2929), which rank among the eight brightest DO-type white dwarfs known. Our non-LTE model atmosphere analysis reveals effective temperatures and surface gravities of T-eff = 80000 +/- 4600K and log g = 8.25 +/- 0.15 for J0536+5448 and T-eff = 69400 +/- 900K and log g = 7.80 +/- 0.06 for J2311+2929. The latter shows a significant amount of carbon in its atmosphere (C = 0.003(-0.002)(+0.005), by mass), while for J0536+5448 we could derive only an upper limit of C < 0.003. Furthermore, we calculated spectroscopic distances for the two stars and found a good agreement with the distances derived from the Gaia parallaxes.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{ReindlFinchSchaffenrothetal.2018,
  author    = {Reindl, Nicole and Finch, Nicolle L. and Schaffenroth, Veronika and Barstow, Martin A. and Casewell, Sarah L. and Geier, Stephan Alfred and Bertolami Miller, Marcelo Miguel and Taubenberger, Stefan},
  title     = {Revealing the true nature of Hen 2-428},
  series = {Galaxies},
  volume    = {6},
  journal   = {Galaxies},
  number    = {3},
  issn      = {2075-4434},
  doi       = {10.3390/galaxies6030088},
  pages     = {7},
  year      = {2018},
  abstract  = {The nucleus of Hen 2-428 is a short orbital period (4.2 h) spectroscopic binary, whose status as potential supernovae type Ia progenitor has raised some controversy in the literature. We present preliminary results of a thorough analysis of this interesting system, which combines quantitative non-local thermodynamic (non-LTE) equilibrium spectral modelling, radial velocity analysis, multi-band light curve fitting, and state-of-the art stellar evolutionary calculations. Importantly, we find that the dynamical system mass that is derived by using all available He II lines does not exceed the Chandrasekhar mass limit. Furthermore, the individual masses of the two central stars are too small to lead to an SN Ia in case of a dynamical explosion during the merger process.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{IrrgangGeierHeberetal.2019,
  author    = {Irrgang, Andreas and Geier, Stephan Alfred and Heber, Ulrich and Kupfer, Thomas and F{\"u}rst, F.},
  title     = {PG 1610+062: a runaway B star challenging classical ejection mechanisms},
  series = {Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal},
  volume    = {628},
  journal   = {Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal},
  publisher = {EDP Sciences},
  address   = {Les Ulis},
  issn      = {1432-0746},
  doi       = {10.1051/0004-6361/201935429},
  pages     = {17},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {Hypervelocity stars are rare objects, mostly main-sequence (MS) B stars, traveling so fast that they will eventually escape from the Milky Way. Recently, it has been shown that the popular Hills mechanism, in which a binary system is disrupted via a close encounter with the supermassive black hole at the Galactic center, may not be their only ejection mechanism. The analyses of Gaia data ruled out a Galactic center origin for some of them, and instead indicated that they are extreme disk runaway stars ejected at velocities exceeding the predicted limits of classical scenarios (dynamical ejection from star clusters or binary supernova ejection). We present the discovery of a new extreme disk runaway star, PG 1610+062, which is a slowly pulsating B star bright enough to be studied in detail. A quantitative analysis of spectra taken with ESI at the Keck Observatory revealed that PG 1610+062 is a late B-type MS star of 4-5 M⊙ with low projected rotational velocity. Abundances (C, N, O, Ne, Mg, Al, Si, S, Ar, and Fe) were derived differentially with respect to the normal B star HD 137366 and indicate that PG 1610+062 is somewhat metal rich. A kinematic analysis, based on our spectrophotometric distance (17.3 kpc) and on proper motions from Gaia's second data release, shows that PG 1610+062 was probably ejected from the Carina-Sagittarius spiral arm at a velocity of 550 ± 40 km s-1, which is beyond the classical limits. Accordingly, the star is in the top five of the most extreme MS disk runaway stars and is only the second among the five for which the chemical composition is known.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{LatourDorschHeber2019,
  author    = {Latour, Marilyn and Dorsch, Matti and Heber, Ulrich},
  title     = {Heavy metal enrichment in the intermediate He-sdOB pulsator Feige 46},
  series = {Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal},
  volume    = {629},
  journal   = {Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal},
  publisher = {EDP Sciences},
  address   = {Les Ulis},
  issn      = {1432-0746},
  doi       = {10.1051/0004-6361/201936247},
  pages     = {12},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {The intermediate He-enriched hot subdwarf star Feige 46 was recently reported as the second member of the V366 Aqr (or He-sdOBV) pulsating class. Feige 46 is very similar to the prototype of the class, LS IV-14 degrees 116, not only in terms of pulsational properties, but also in terms of atmospheric parameters and kinematic properties. LS IV-14 degrees 116 is additionally characterized by a very peculiar chemical composition, with extreme overabundances of the trans-iron elements Ge, Sr, Y, and Zr. We investigate the possibility that the similarity between the two pulsators extends to their chemical composition. We retrieved archived optical and UV spectroscopic observations of Feige 46 and performed an abundance analysis using model atmospheres and synthetic spectra computed with TLUSTY and SYNSPEC. In total, we derived abundances for 16 elements and provide upper limits for four additional elements. Using absorption lines in the optical spectrum of the star we measure an enrichment of more than 10 000x solar for yttrium and zirconium. The UV spectrum revealed that strontium is equally enriched. Our results confirm that Feige 46 is not only a member of the now growing group of heavy metal subdwarfs, but also has an abundance pattern that is remarkably similar to that of LS IV-14 degrees 116.},
  language  = {en}
}
@article{LoeblingRauchBertolamiMilleretal.2019,
  author    = {L{\"o}bling, Lisa and Rauch, Thomas and Bertolami Miller, Marcelo Miguel and Todt, Helge Tobias and Friederich, F. and Ziegler, M. and Werner, Klaus and Kruk, J. W.},
  title     = {Spectral analysis of the hybrid PG 1159-type central stars of the planetary nebulae Abell 43 and NGC7094},
  series = {Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society},
  volume    = {489},
  journal   = {Monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society},
  number    = {1},
  publisher = {Oxford Univ. Press},
  address   = {Oxford},
  issn      = {0035-8711},
  doi       = {10.1093/mnras/stz1994},
  pages     = {1054 -- 1071},
  year      = {2019},
  abstract  = {Stellar post asymptotic giant branch (post-AGB) evolution can be completely altered by a final thermal pulse (FTP) which may occur when the star is still leaving the AGB (AFTP), at the departure from the AGB at still constant luminosity (late TP, LTP) or after the entry to the white-dwarf cooling sequence (very late TP, VLTP). Then convection mixes the Herich material with the H-rich envelope. According to stellar evolution models the result is a star with a surface composition of H approximate to 20 per cent by mass (AFTP), approximate to 1 per cent (LTP), or (almost) no H (VLTP). Since FTP stars exhibit intershell material at their surface, spectral analyses establish constraints for AGB nucleosynthesis and stellar evolution. We performed a spectral analysis of the so-called hybrid PG 1159-type central stars (CS) of the planetary nebulae Abell 43 and NGC7094 by means of non-local thermodynamical equilibrium models. We confirm the previously determined effective temperatures of T-eff = 115 000 +/- 5 000K and determine surface gravities of log (g /(cm s(-2))) = 5.6 +/- 0.1 for both. From a comparison with AFTP evolutionary tracks, we derive stellar masses of 0.57(-0.04)(+0.07)M(circle dot) and determine the abundances of H, He, and metals up to Xe. Both CS are likely AFTP stars with a surface H mass fraction of 0.25 +/- 0.03 and 0.15 +/- 0.03, respectively, and an Fe deficiency indicating subsolar initial metallicities. The light metals show typical PG 1159-type abundances and the elemental composition is in good agreement with predictions from AFTP evolutionary models. However, the expansion ages do not agree with evolution time-scales expected from the AFTP scenario and alternatives should be explored.},
  language  = {en}
}