TY - JOUR A1 - Castro, Norberto A1 - Fossati, Luca A1 - Hubrig, Swetlana A1 - Simon Díaz, Sergio A1 - Schoeller, Markus A1 - Ilyin, Ilya A1 - Carrol, Thorsten A. A1 - Langer, Norbert A1 - Morel, Thierry A1 - Schneider, Fabian R. N. A1 - Przybilla, Norbert A1 - Herrero, Artemio A1 - de Koter, Alex A1 - Oskinova, Lida A1 - Reisenegger, Andreas A1 - Sana, Hugues T1 - B fields in OB stars (BOB) Detection of a strong magnetic field in the O9.7 V star HD 54879 JF - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal N2 - The number of magnetic stars detected among massive stars is small; nevertheless, the role played by the magnetic field in stellar evolution cannot be disregarded. Links between line profile variability, enhancements/depletions of surface chemical abundances, and magnetic fields have been identified for low-mass B-stars, but for the O-type domain this is almost unexplored. Based on FORS 2 and HARPS spectropolarimetric data, we present the first detection of a magnetic field in HD54879, a single slowly rotating O9.7 V star. Using two independent and different techniques we obtained the firm detection of a surface average longitudinal magnetic field with a maximum amplitude of about 600 G, in modulus. A quantitative spectroscopic analysis of the star with the stellar atmosphere code FASTWIND results in an effective temperature and a surface gravity of 33 000 +/- 1000K and 4.0 +/- 0.1 dex. The abundances of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, silicon, and magnesium are found to be slightly lower than solar, but compatible within the errors. We investigate line-profile variability in HD54879 by complementing our spectra with spectroscopic data from other recent OB-star surveys. The photospheric lines remain constant in shape between 2009 and 2014, although H alpha shows a variable emission. The H alpha emission is too strong for a standard O9.7 V and is probably linked to the magnetic field and the presence of circumstellar material. Its normal chemical composition and the absence of photospheric line profile variations make HD54879 the most strongly magnetic, non-variable single O-star detected to date. KW - stars: atmospheres KW - stars: evolution KW - stars: magnetic field KW - stars: massive KW - stars: individual: HD 54879 Y1 - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201425354 SN - 1432-0746 VL - 581 PB - EDP Sciences CY - Les Ulis ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Evans, C. J. A1 - Smartt, S. J. A1 - Lee, J. K. A1 - Lennon, D. J. A1 - Kaufer, A. A1 - Dufton, P. L. A1 - Trundle, C. A1 - Herrero, A. A1 - Simon Díaz, Sergio A1 - de Koter, A. A1 - Hamann, Wolf-Rainer A1 - Hendry, M. A. A1 - Hunter, I. A1 - Irwin, M. J. A1 - Korn, A. J. A1 - Kudritzki, R. P. A1 - Langer, Norbert A1 - Mokiem, M. R. A1 - Najarro, F. A1 - Pauldrach, A. W. A. A1 - Przybilla, Norbert A1 - Puls, J. A1 - Ryans, R. S. I. A1 - Urbaneja, M. A. A1 - Venn, K. A. A1 - Villamariz, M. R. T1 - The VLT-FLAMES survey of massive stars : Observations in the Galactic clusters NGC3293, NGC4755 and NGC6611 N2 - We introduce a new survey of massive stars in the Galaxy and the Magellanic Clouds using the Fibre Large Array Multi- Element Spectrograph ( FLAMES) instrument at the Very Large Telescope ( VLT). Here we present observations of 269 Galactic stars with the FLAMES- Giraffe Spectrograph ( R similar or equal to 25 000), in fields centered on the open clusters NGC3293, NGC4755 and NGC6611. These data are supplemented by a further 50 targets observed with the Fibre- Fed Extended Range Optical Spectrograph ( FEROS, R = 48 000). Following a description of our scientific motivations and target selection criteria, the data reduction methods are described; of critical importance the FLAMES reduction pipeline is found to yield spectra that are in excellent agreement with less automated methods. Spectral classifications and radial velocity measurements are presented for each star, with particular attention paid to morphological peculiarities and evidence of binarity. These observations represent a significant increase in the known spectral content of NGC3293 and NGC4755, and will serve as standards against which our subsequent FLAMES observations in the Magellanic Clouds will be compared Y1 - 2005 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Fossati, Luca A1 - Castro, Norberto A1 - Morel, Thierry A1 - Langer, Norbert A1 - Briquet, Maryline A1 - Carroll, Thorsten Anthony A1 - Hubrig, Swetlana A1 - Nieva, Maria-Fernanda A1 - Oskinova, Lida A1 - Przybilla, Norbert A1 - Schneider, Fabian R. N. A1 - Schoeller, Magnus A1 - Simon Díaz, Sergio A1 - Ilyin, Ilya A1 - de Koter, Alex A1 - Reisenegger, Andreas A1 - Sana, Hugues T1 - B fields in OB stars (BOB): on the detection of weak magnetic fields in the two early B-type stars beta CMa and epsilon CMa Possible lack of a "magnetic desert" in massive stars JF - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal N2 - Only a small fraction of massive stars seem to host a measurable structured magnetic field, whose origin is still unknown and whose implications for stellar evolution still need to be assessed. Within the context of the "B fields in OB stars (BOB)" collaboration, we used the HARPSpol spectropolarimeter to observe the early B-type stars beta CMa (HD 44743; B1 II/III) and epsilon CMa (HD 52089; B1.5II) in December 2013 and April 2014. For both stars, we consistently detected the signature of a weak (<30 G in absolute value) longitudinal magnetic field, approximately constant with time. We determined the physical parameters of both stars and characterise their X-ray spectrum. For the beta Cep star beta CMa, our mode identification analysis led to determining a rotation period of 13.6 +/- 1.2 days and of an inclination angle of the rotation axis of 57.6 +/- 1.7 degrees, with respect to the line of sight. On the basis of these measurements and assuming a dipolar field geometry, we derived a best fitting obliquity of about 22 degrees and a dipolar magnetic field strength (B-d) of about 100 G (60 < B-d < 230 G within the 1 sigma level), below what is typically found for other magnetic massive stars. This conclusion is strengthened further by considerations of the star's X-ray spectrum. For epsilon CMa we could only determine a lower limit on the dipolar magnetic field strength of 13 G. For this star, we determine that the rotation period ranges between 1.3 and 24 days. Our results imply that both stars are expected to have a dynamical magnetosphere, so the magnetic field is not able to support a circumstellar disk. We also conclude that both stars are most likely core hydrogen burning and that they have spent more than 2/3 of their main sequence lifetime. A histogram of the distribution of the dipolar magnetic field strength for the magnetic massive stars known to date does not show the magnetic field "desert" observed instead for intermediate-mass stars. The biases involved in the detection of (weak) magnetic fields in massive stars with the currently available instrumentation and techniques imply that weak fields might be more common than currently observed. Our results show that, if present, even relatively weak magnetic fields are detectable in massive stars and that more observational effort is probably still needed to properly access the magnetic field incidence. KW - stars: atmospheres KW - stars: evolution KW - stars: magnetic field KW - stars: individual: epsilon CMa KW - stars: individual: beta CMa KW - stars: massive Y1 - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201424986 SN - 0004-6361 SN - 1432-0746 VL - 574 PB - EDP Sciences CY - Les Ulis ER - TY - JOUR A1 - van Loon, J. Th. A1 - Bailey, M. A1 - Tatton, B. L. A1 - Apellaniz, Jesus Maiz A1 - Crowther, P. A. A1 - de Koter, A. A1 - Evans, C. J. A1 - Henault-Brunet, V. A1 - Howarth, I. D. A1 - Richter, Philipp A1 - Sana, Hugues A1 - Simon Díaz, Sergio A1 - Taylor, W. A1 - Walborn, N. R. T1 - The VLT-FLAMES tarantula survey IX. - the interstellar medium seen through diffuse interstellar bands and neutral sodium JF - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal N2 - Context. The Tarantula Nebula (a.k.a. 30 Dor) is a spectacular star-forming region in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), seen through gas in the Galactic disc and halo. Diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) offer a unique probe of the diffuse, cool-warm gas in these regions. Aims. The aim is to use DIBs as diagnostics of the local interstellar conditions, whilst at the same time deriving properties of the yet-unknown carriers of these enigmatic spectral features. Methods. Spectra of over 800 early-type stars from the Very Large Telescope Flames Tarantula Survey (VFTS) were analysed. Maps were created, separately, for the Galactic and LMC absorption in the DIBs at 4428 and 6614 angstrom and - in a smaller region near the central cluster R 136 - neutral sodium (the Na ID doublet); we also measured the DIBs at 5780 and 5797 angstrom. Results. The maps show strong 4428 and 6614 angstrom DIBs in the quiescent cloud complex to the south of 30 Dor but weak absorption in the harsher environments to the north (bubbles) and near the OB associations. The Na maps show at least five kinematic components in the LMC and a shell-like structure surrounding R 136, and small-scale structure in the Milky Way. The strengths of the 4428, 5780, 5797 and 6614 angstrom DIBs are correlated, also with Na absorption and visual extinction. The strong 4428 angstrom DIB is present already at low Na column density but the 6614, 5780 and 5797 angstrom DIBs start to be detectable at subsequently larger Na column densities. Conclusions. The carriers of the 4428, 6614, 5780 and 5797 angstrom DIBs are increasingly prone to removal from irradiated gas. The relative strength of the 5780 and 5797 angstrom DIBs clearly confirm the Tarantula Nebula as well as Galactic high-latitude gas to represent a harsh radiation environment. The resilience of the 4428 angstrom DIB suggests its carrier is large, compact and neutral. Structure is detected in the distribution of cool-warm gas on scales between one and > 100 pc in the LMC and as little as 0.01 pc in the Sun's vicinity. Stellar winds from the central cluster R 136 have created an expanding shell; some infalling gas is also detected, reminiscent of a galactic "fountain". KW - ISM: individual objects: Tarantula Nebula (30 Doradus Nebula) KW - ISM: molecules KW - ISM: kinematics and dynamics KW - ISM: lines and bands KW - ISM: structure KW - local insterstellar matter Y1 - 2013 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201220210 SN - 0004-6361 VL - 550 IS - 9 PB - EDP Sciences CY - Les Ulis ER -