@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{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{WernerDreizlerRauchetal.1999, author = {Werner, Klaus and Dreizler, S. and Rauch, Thomas and Koesterke, Lars and Heber, Ulrich}, title = {Born-again AGB stars : staring point of the H-deficient post-AGB evolutionary sequence?}, year = {1999}, language = {en} } @article{WernerRauchDreizleretal.1995, author = {Werner, Klaus and Rauch, Thomas and Dreizler, S. and Heber, Ulrich}, title = {Confining the edges of the GW Vir Instability Strip}, year = {1995}, language = {en} } @article{WernerDreizlerHeberetal.1995, author = {Werner, Klaus and Dreizler, S. and Heber, Ulrich and Rauch, Thomas}, title = {Confining the edges of the GW Vir instability strip}, year = {1995}, language = {en} } @article{WernerDreizlerHeberetal.1995, author = {Werner, Klaus and Dreizler, S. and Heber, Ulrich and Rauch, Thomas and Wisotzki, Lutz and Hagen, H.-J.}, title = {Discovery of two hot DO white dwarfs exhibiting ultrahigh-excitation absorption lines}, year = {1995}, language = {en} } @article{DorschJefferyIrrgangetal.2021, author = {Dorsch, Matti and Jeffery, C. Simon and Irrgang, Andreas and Woolf, Vincent and Heber, Ulrich}, title = {EC 22536-5304}, series = {Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal}, volume = {653}, journal = {Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal}, publisher = {EDP Sciences}, address = {Les Ulis}, issn = {1432-0746}, doi = {10.1051/0004-6361/202141381}, pages = {22}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Helium-burning hot subdwarf stars of spectral types O and B (sdO/B) are thought to be produced through various types of binary interactions. The helium-rich hot subdwarf star EC 22536-5304 was recently found to be extremely enriched in lead. Here, we show that EC 22536-5304 is a binary star with a metal-poor subdwarf F-type (sdF) companion. We performed a detailed analysis of high-resolution SALT/HRS and VLT/UVES spectra, deriving metal abundances for the hot subdwarf, as well as atmospheric parameters for both components. Because we consider the contribution of the sdF star, the derived lead abundance for the sdOB, + 6.3 +/- 0.3 dex relative to solar, is even higher than previously thought. We derive T-eff = 6210 +/- 70 K, log g = 4.64 +/- 0.10, [FE/H] = - 1.95 +/- 0.04, and [alpha/Fe] = + 0.40 +/- 0.04 for the sdF component. Radial velocity variations, although poorly sampled at present, indicate that the binary system has a long orbital period of about 457 days. This suggests that the system was likely formed through stable Roche lobe overflow (RLOF). A kinematic analysis shows that EC 22536-5304 is on an eccentric orbit around the Galactic centre. This, as well as the low metallicity and strong alpha enhancement of the sdF-type companion, indicate that EC 22536-5304 is part of the Galactic halo or metal-weak thick disc. As the first long-period hot subdwarf binary at [FE/H] less than or similar to- 1, EC 22536-5304 may help to constrain the RLOF mechanism for mass transfer from low-mass, low-metallicity red giant branch (RGB) stars to main-sequence companions.}, language = {en} } @article{WernerDreizlerRauchetal.1999, author = {Werner, Klaus and Dreizler, S. and Rauch, Thomas and Barnstedt, J{\"u}rgen and G{\"o}z, M. and Gringel, W. and Kappelmann, N. and Kr{\"a}mer, G. and Widmann, H. and Koesterke, Lars and Haas, S. and Heber, Ulrich and Appenzeller, Immo}, title = {FUV spectroscpy of DO an PG 1159 stars with ORFEUS}, year = {1999}, 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{WernerDreizlerHeberetal.1996, author = {Werner, Klaus and Dreizler, S. and Heber, Ulrich and Rauch, Thomas and Fleming, T. A. and Sion, E. M. and Vauclair, G.}, title = {High resolution spectroscopy of two hot (pre-) white dwarfs with the Hubble space telescope : KPD 0005+5106 and RXJ 2117+3412}, year = {1996}, language = {en} }