Bibliography: pages 155-165. / The unusual spectra of the spatially-resolved nova shells of DQ Her, T Aur and CP Pup are reviewed. Because calculations for these conditions have not been made, recombination models of HI, HeI and CNO from a neutral to a doubly ionized state were constructed. The models are described and the results presented for densities at various temperatures. A photoionization model is also described. The effects of non-uniform density distributions in nova shells have been investigated and the observational consequences discussed. A model of the CP Pup shell is described and the evolution of this plasma during the nova's constant luminosity phase traced. The properties of neon novae are summarized and compared with the features seen in the optical spectra of old classical novae. Enhanced neon abundances are used in the model of the CP Pup Shell to investigate its effect on the evolution of the shell. Finally, the results of some near-infrared observations made on the shells of CP Pup, RR Pic and T Pyx are reported.

We present photoelectric photometry of λ And never before published, obtained between February 1982 and December 1990 at 29 different observatories. Then we combine it with all other photometry available to us (previously published, contained in the I.A.U. Commission 27 Archives, and obtained with the Vanderbilt 16-inch automatic telescope but not yet published), to yield a 14.8-year data base. Analysis reveals a long-term cycle in mean brightness, with a full range of 0m.15 and a period of 11.4 ± 0.4 years. Because most of our new photometry was concentrated in the 1983-84 observing season, we analyze that one well-defined light curve with a two-spot model. Spot A keeps a 0m.04 amplitude throughout four rotation cycles whereas the amplitude of spot B diminishes from 0m.09 down almost to 0m.03. The spot rotation periods were 55d.9 ± 0d.6 and 520d.8 ± 1d.0, respectively.

Thesis. 1976. B.S.--Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Earth and Planetary Sciences. / Microfiche copy available in Archives and Science. / Bibliography: leaves 34-35. / B.S.

W Ursae Majoris-type (W UMa-type) variable stars are contact eclipsing binary stars whose evolution is unknown. Modelling to determine the physical parameters of as many W UMa-type variable stars as possible might provide some insight as to how these contact binaries form and evolve. The All Sky Automated Survey (ASAS) has discovered over ve thousand of these systems. Using data from the ASAS and from the Wide Angle Search for Planets (SuperWASP) project, models of selected ASAS contact binaries are being created to determine their physical parameters. Some W UMa-type variable stars are known to undergo changes in orbital period. For selected ASAS contact binaries, a period analysis has been performed using SuperWASP data to determine if the systems are undergoing changes in orbital period. Results of the modelling and period analyses of selected systems are presented. / Thesis (M. Sc. (Astronomy))

No description available.

Magnetic fields are present throughout the universe and are very important for many astrophysical processes. Magnetic field influences a star throughout its life and affects nearby objects such as planets. Stellar magnetic field can be detected by measuring the Zeeman splitting of spectral lines in the intensity spectra (Stokes I) if the field is strong, or by analyzing polarization spectra if the field is weak. Magnetic fields in stars similar to the Sun are ubiquitous but, in general, relatively weak. Until recently these fields were detected through circular polarization (Stokes V) only since linear polarization (Stokes QU) is significantly weaker. The information embedded in different Stokes spectra is used for reconstruction of the surface magnetic field topology with Zeeman Doppler imaging (ZDI) technique. However, cool stars often have complex field geometries and this, combined with a low field strength, partial Stokes parameter observations and the presence of cool spots, makes accurate magnetic mapping difficult. We have performed numerical tests of ZDI to investigate some of the problems of magnetic inversions and ways to overcome them. The most reliable results were found when magnetic field and temperature inhomogeneities were modelled simultaneously and all four Stokes parameters were included in the reconstruction process. We carried out observations of active cool stars in all four Stokes parameters trying to find an object with linear polarization signatures suitable for ZDI. The RS CVn star II Peg was identified as a promising target, showing exceptionally strong linear polarization signatures. We reconstructed the magnetic field in II Peg using full Stokes vector observations for the first time in a cool star. Compared to the magnetic maps recovered from the Stokes IV spectra, the four Stokes parameter results reveal a significantly stronger and more complex surface magnetic field and a more compact stellar magnetosphere. Spectropolarimetric observations and magnetic inversions can also be used to investigate magnetic activity of the young Sun and its implications for the solar system past. To this end, we studied a sample of six stars with parameters very similar to the present Sun, but with ages of only 100-650 Myr. Magnetic field maps of these young solar analogues suggest a significant decrease of the field strength in the age interval 100-250 Myr and a possible change in the magnetic field topology for stars older than about 600 Myr.

Stars with spectral type `A' (also called A-type stars or just A-stars) are bright intermediate mass stars (∼1.5-2.5 M⊙) that make up ∼1% of stars within 25 parsecs, and ∼20% of the brightest stars in the night sky (V < 3 mag). Most A-stars rotate rapidly with rotational velocities that range from ∼100 to ∼200 km/s in most cases, but can exceed 300 km/s. Such rapid rotation not only causes a star's observed properties (flux, temperature, and radius) to be inclination dependent, but also changes how the star evolves both chemically and structurally. Herein we conduct an interferometric survey of nearby A-stars using the CHARA Array. The long baselines of this optical/infrared interferometer enable us to measure the angular sizes of stars as small as ∼0.2 mas, and directly map the oblate shapes of rotationally distorted stars. This in turn allows us to more accurately determine their photospheric properties and estimate their ages and masses by comparing to evolution models that account for rotation. To facilitate this survey, we construct a census of all 232 A-stars within 50 parsecs (the 50PASS) and from that construct a sample of A-stars (the OSESNA) that lend themselves to interferometric observations with the CHARA Array (i.e., are in the northern hemisphere and have no known, bright, and nearby companions - 108 stars in total). The observations are interpreted by constructing a physical model of a rapidly rotating star from which we generate both photometric and interferometric model observations for comparison with actual observations. The stellar properties of the best fitting model are then compared to the MESA evolution models to estimate an age and a mass. To validate this physical model and the adopted MESA code, we first determine the ages of seven members of the Ursa Major moving group, which are expected to be coeval. With the exception of one star with questionable membership, these stars show a 1-σ spread in age of 56 Myr. This agreement validates our technique and provides a new estimate of the age for the group of 414 ± 23 Myr. We apply this validated technique to the directly-imaged `planet' host star κ Andromedae and determine its age to be 47+27-40 Myr. This implies the companion has a mass of 22+8-9 MJup and is thus more likely a brown dwarf than a giant planet. In total, we present new age and mass estimates for 55 nearby A-stars including six members of the Hyades open cluster, five stars with the λ Boötis chemical peculiarity, nine stars which have an infrared excess, possibly from a debris disk, and nine pulsating stars.

This thesis presents both a study of the cluster-scale environments in which massive stars form, investigating in particular how the ionized gas in these regions relates to the molecular star-forming material, as well as detailed studies of two luminous forming stars, AFGL 2591 and IRAS 20126+4104, to determine whether they are forming similarly to their low-mass counterparts. The results of this work include the identification of 35 HII regions (20 newly discovered) via a radio continuum survey of ionized gas towards 31 molecular cluster-forming clumps. The observed ionized gas was found to be preferentially associated with the clumps, which were shown to have a range of evolutionary stages. The massive star formation efficiency was determined for the clumps with associated ionized gas, and a relationship was found between the mass of the clumps and the mass of their embedded massive stars. By modelling the SEDs and images of AFGL 2591 and IRAS 20126+4104, it was found that the geometry of their circumstellar material was generally consistent with an envelope plus disk, similar to that expected for low-mass protostars. However, within the central ~1800 AU, the mid-IR images of IRAS 20126+4104 were better described by only a flattened envelope, suggesting that the radiation from IRAS 20126+4104 may be affecting the regions closest to the star. Observations of the ionized and molecular gas towards AFGL 2591 were carried out, and a photoionization code was developed to interpret these observations. The results showed that the observed 3.6 cm emission is likely to be produced by both a shock-ionized jet and a hypercompact HII region that does not appear to have disrupted the jet or the large-scale circumstellar environment. In addition, the C¹⁸O(1-0) emission observed towards AFGL2591 traces the densest parts of the outflow, with the blue-shifted emission exhibiting many of the properties of the outflows from low-mass protostars.

The Best PhD Thesis in the Faculties of Dentistry, Engineering, Medicine and Science (University of Hong Kong), Li Ka Shing Prize,1991-1993 / published_or_final_version / Physics / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / Physics / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy