TY - JOUR A1 - Pillitteri, Ignazio A1 - Fossati, Luca A1 - Rodriguez, N. Castro A1 - Oskinova, Lida A1 - Wolk, Scott J. T1 - Detection of magnetic field in the B2 star rho Ophiuchi A with ESO FORS2 JF - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal N2 - Circumstantial evidence suggests that magnetism and enhanced X-ray emission are likely correlated in early B-type stars: similar fractions of them (similar to 10%) are strong and hard X-ray sources and possess strong magnetic fields. It is also known that some B-type stars have spots on their surface. Yet up to now no X-ray activity associated with spots on early-type stars was detected. In this Letter we report the detection of a magnetic field on the B2V star rho Oph A. Previously, we assessed that the X-ray activity of this star is associated with a surface spot, herewith we establish its magnetic origin. We analyze spectra of rho Oph A obtained with the FORS2 spectrograph at ESO Very Large Telescope (VLT) at two epochs, and detect a longitudinal component of the magnetic field of the order of similar to 500 G in one of the datasets. The detection of the magnetic field only at one epoch can be explained by stellar rotation which is also invoked to explain observed periodic X-ray activity. From archival HARPS ESO VLT high resolution spectra we derived the fundamental stellar parameters of rho Oph A and further constrained its age. We conclude that rho Oph A provides strong evidence for the presence of active X-ray emitting regions on young magnetized early type stars. KW - stars: activity KW - stars: early-type KW - stars: magnetic field KW - pulsars: individual: rho Ophiuchi A Y1 - 2017 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201732078 SN - 1432-0746 VL - 610 PB - EDP Sciences CY - Les Ulis ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Grassitelli, L. A1 - Langer, N. A1 - Sanyal, D. A1 - Fossati, Luca A1 - Bestenlehner, J. M. T1 - Instabilities in the envelope of Wolf-Rayet stars JF - Wolf-Rayet Stars : Proceedings of an International Workshop held in Potsdam, Germany, 1.–5. June 2015 N2 - Wolf-Rayet stars are very hot stars close to the Eddington limit. In the conditions encountered in their radiation pressure dominated outer layers several instabilities are expected to arise. These instabilities could influence both the dynamic of their optically thick winds and the observed spectral lines introducing small and large scale variability. We investigate the conditions in the convective envelopes of our helium star models and relate them to the appearance of a high number of stochastic density inhomogeneities, i.e. clumping in the optically thick wind. We also investigate the pulsational stability of these envelope, considering the effect of the high stellar wind mass loss rates. Y1 - 2015 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-88024 SP - 201 EP - 204 ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Keles, Engin A1 - Kitzmann, Daniel A1 - Mallonn, Matthias A1 - Alexoudi, Xanthippi A1 - Fossati, Luca A1 - Pino, Lorenzo A1 - Seidel, Julia Victoria A1 - Caroll, Thorsten A. A1 - Steffen, M. A1 - Ilyin, Ilya A1 - Poppenhäger, Katja A1 - Strassmeier, Klaus G. A1 - von Essen, Carolina A1 - Nascimbeni, Valerio A1 - Turner, Jake D. T1 - Probing the atmosphere of HD189733b with the Na i and K i lines JF - Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society N2 - High spectral resolution transmission spectroscopy is a powerful tool to characterize exoplanet atmospheres. Especially for hot Jupiters, this technique is highly relevant, due to their high-altitude absorption, e.g. from resonant sodium (Na i) and potassium (K i) lines. We resolve the atmospheric K i absorption on HD189733b with the aim to compare the resolved K i line and previously obtained high-resolution Na i-D line observations with synthetic transmission spectra. The line profiles suggest atmospheric processes leading to a line broadening of the order of ∼10 km/s for the Na i-D lines and only a few km/s for the K i line. The investigation hints that either the atmosphere of HD189733b lacks a significant amount of K i or the alkali lines probe different atmospheric regions with different temperature, which could explain the differences we see in the resolved absorption lines. Y1 - 2020 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1093/mnras/staa2435 VL - 498 IS - 1 SP - 1033 PB - Oxford Univ. Press CY - Oxford ER - 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 - 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 - Hubrig, Swetlana A1 - Schoeller, Markus A1 - Fossati, Luca A1 - Morel, Thierry A1 - Castro, Neves A1 - Oskinova, Lida A1 - Przybilla, Norbert A1 - Eikenberry, Stephen S. A1 - Nieva, Maria Fernanda A1 - Langer, Norbert T1 - B fields in OB stars (BOB): FORS2 spectropolarimetric follow-up of the two rare rigidly rotating magnetosphere stars HD 23478 and HD 345439 JF - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal N2 - Aims. Massive B-type stars with strong magnetic fields and fast rotation are very rare and pose a mystery for theories of star formation and magnetic field evolution. Only two such stars, called sigma Ori E analogues, were known until recently. A team involved in APOGEE, one of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey III programs, announced the discovery of two additional rigidly rotating magnetosphere stars, HD 23478 and HD 345439. The magnetic fields in these newly discovered sOri E analogues have not been investigated so far. Methods. In the framework of our ESO Large Programme and one normal ESO programme, we carried out low-resolution FORS 2 spectropolarimetric observations of HD 23478 and HD 345439. Results. In the measurements of hydrogen lines, we discover a rather strong longitudinal magnetic field of up to 1.5 kG in HD 23478 and up to 1.3 kG using the entire spectrum. The analysis of HD 345439 using four subsequent spectropolarimetric subexposures does not reveal a magnetic field at a significance level of 3 sigma. On the other hand, individual subexposures indicate that HD 345439 may host a strong magnetic field that rapidly varies over 88 min. The fast rotation of HD 345439 is also indicated by the behaviour of several metallic and He I lines in the low-resolution FORS 2 spectra that show profile variations already on this short time-scale. KW - stars: early-type KW - stars: fundamental parameters KW - stars: variables: general KW - stars: magnetic field KW - stars: individual: HD 23478 KW - stars: individual: HD 345439 Y1 - 2015 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201526262 SN - 0004-6361 SN - 1432-0746 VL - 578 PB - EDP Sciences CY - Les Ulis ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Hubrig, Swetlana A1 - Fossati, Luca A1 - Carroll, Thorsten Anthony A1 - Castro, Norberto A1 - Gonzalez, J. F. A1 - Ilyin, Ilya A1 - Przybilla, Norbert A1 - Schoeller, M. A1 - Oskinova, Lida A1 - Morel, T. A1 - Langer, N. A1 - Scholz, Ralf-Dieter A1 - Kharchenko, N. V. A1 - Nieva, M. -F. T1 - B fields in OB stars (BOB): The discovery of a magnetic field in a multiple system in the Trifid nebula, one of the youngest star forming regions JF - Astronomy and astrophysics : an international weekly journal N2 - Aims. Recent magnetic field surveys in O- and B-type stars revealed that about 10% of the core-hydrogen-burning massive stars host large-scale magnetic fields. The physical origin of these fields is highly debated. To identify and model the physical processes responsible for the generation of magnetic fields in massive stars, it is important to establish whether magnetic massive stars are found in very young star-forming regions or whether they are formed in close interacting binary systems. Methods. In the framework of our ESO Large Program, we carried out low-resolution spectropolarimetric observations with FORS 2 in 2013 April of the three most massive central stars in the Trifid nebula, HD 164492A, HD 164492C, and HD 164492D. These observations indicated a strong longitudinal magnetic field of about 500-600 G in the poorly studied component HD 164492C. To confirm this detection, we used HARPS in spectropolarimetric mode on two consecutive nights in 2013 June. Results. Our HARPS observations confirmed the longitudinal magnetic field in HD 164492C. Furthermore, the HARPS observations revealed that HD 164492C cannot be considered as a single star as it possesses one or two companions. The spectral appearance indicates that the primary is most likely of spectral type B1-B1.5 V. Since in both observing nights most spectral lines appear blended, it is currently unclear which components are magnetic. Long-term monitoring using high-resolution spectropolarimetry is necessary to separate the contribution of each component to the magnetic signal. Given the location of the system HD 164492C in one of the youngest star formation regions, this system can be considered as a Rosetta Stone for our understanding of the origin of magnetic fields in massive stars. KW - binaries: close KW - stars: early-type KW - stars: fundamental parameters KW - stars: magnetic field KW - stars: variables: general KW - stars: individual: HD 164492C Y1 - 2014 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201423490 SN - 0004-6361 SN - 1432-0746 VL - 564 PB - EDP Sciences CY - Les Ulis ER - TY - JOUR A1 - Przybilla, Norbert A1 - Fossati, Luca A1 - Hubrig, Swetlana A1 - Nieva, M. -F. A1 - Jaervinen, S. P. A1 - Castro, Norberto A1 - Schoeller, M. A1 - Ilyin, Ilya A1 - Butler, Keith A1 - Schneider, F. R. N. A1 - Oskinova, Lida A1 - Morel, T. A1 - Langer, N. A1 - de Koter, A. T1 - B fields in OB stars (BOB): Detection of a magnetic field in the He-strong star CPD-57 degrees 3509 JF - Organic letters N2 - Methods. Spectropolarimetric observations with FORS2 and HARPSpol are analysed using two independent approaches to quantify the magnetic field strength. A high-S/N FLAMES/GIRAFFE spectrum is analysed using a hybrid non-LTE model atmosphere technique. Comparison with stellar evolution models constrains the fundamental parameters of the star. Results. We obtain a firm detection of a surface averaged longitudinal magnetic field with a maximum amplitude of about 1 kG. Assuming a dipolar configuration of the magnetic field, this implies a dipolar field strength larger than 3.3 kG. Moreover, the large amplitude and fast variation (within about 1 day) of the longitudinal magnetic field implies that CPD-57 degrees 3509 is spinning very fast despite its apparently slow projected rotational velocity. The star should be able to support a centrifugal magnetosphere, yet the spectrum shows no sign of magnetically confined material; in particular, emission in H alpha is not observed. Apparently, the wind is either not strong enough for enough material to accumulate in the magnetosphere to become observable or, alternatively, some leakage process leads to loss of material from the magnetosphere. The quantitative spectroscopic analysis of the star yields an effective temperature and a logarithmic surface gravity of 23 750 +/- 250 K and 4.05 +/- 0.10, respectively, and a surface helium fraction of 0.28 +/- 0.02 by number. The surface abundances of C, N, O, Ne, S, and Ar are compatible with the cosmic abundance standard, whereas Mg, Al, Si, and Fe are depleted by about a factor of 2. This abundance pattern can be understood as the consequence of a fractionated stellar wind. CPD-57 degrees 3509 is one of the most evolved He-strong stars known with an independent age constraint due to its cluster membership. KW - stars: abundances KW - stars: atmospheres KW - stars: evolution KW - stars: magnetic field KW - stars: individual: CPD-57 degrees 3509 KW - stars: massive Y1 - 2016 U6 - https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201527646 SN - 1432-0746 VL - 587 PB - EDP Sciences CY - Les Ulis ER - TY - GEN A1 - Morel, T. A1 - Castro, Norberto A1 - Fossati, Luca A1 - Hubrig, Swetlana A1 - Langer, N. A1 - Przybilla, Norbert A1 - Schöller, Markus A1 - Carroll, Thorsten Anthony A1 - Ilyin, Ilya A1 - Irrgang, Andreas A1 - Oskinova, Lida A1 - Schneider, Fabian R. N. A1 - Simon Díaz, Sergio A1 - Briquet, Maryline A1 - González, Jean-Francois A1 - Kharchenko, Nina A1 - Nieva, M.-F. A1 - Scholz, Ralf-Dieter A1 - de Koter, Alexander A1 - Hamann, Wolf-Rainer A1 - Herrero, Artemio A1 - Maíz Apellániz, Jesus A1 - Sana, Hugues A1 - Arlt, Rainer A1 - Barbá, Rodolfo H. A1 - Dufton, Polly A1 - Kholtygin, Alexander A1 - Mathys, Gautier A1 - Piskunov, Anatoly E. A1 - Reisenegger, Andreas A1 - Spruit, H. A1 - Yoon, S.-C. T1 - The B fields in OB stars (BOB) survey T2 - Postprints der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe N2 - The B fields in OB stars (BOB) survey is an ESO large programme collecting spectropolarimetric observations for a large number of early-type stars in order to study the occurrence rate, properties, and ultimately the origin of magnetic fields in massive stars. As of July 2014, a total of 98 objects were observed over 20 nights with FORS2 and HARPSpol. Our preliminary results indicate that the fraction of magnetic OB stars with an organised, detectable field is low. This conclusion, now independently reached by two different surveys, has profound implications for any theoretical model attempting to explain the field formation in these objects. We discuss in this contribution some important issues addressed by our observations (e.g., the lower bound of the field strength) and the discovery of some remarkable objects. T3 - Zweitveröffentlichungen der Universität Potsdam : Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Reihe - 821 KW - magnetic fields KW - stars: early-type KW - stars: magnetic fields KW - stars: individual (HD 164492C, CPD –57 ◦ 3509, HD 54879, β CMa, ε CMa) Y1 - 2020 U6 - http://nbn-resolving.de/urn/resolver.pl?urn:nbn:de:kobv:517-opus4-415238 SN - 1866-8372 IS - 821 ER -