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 Fundamental properties of pre-main sequence stars in young, southern star forming regions: metallicitiesAims. The primary motivation for this project is to search formetal-rich star forming regions, in which, stars of super-solarmetallicity will be created, as hopefully, will be extra-solar planetsorbiting them! The two aims of this project are: 1) to show that oursample stars are young, lithium rich, magnetically active andnon-accreting kinematic members of their respective regions. 2) Tomeasure the metallicity for such members. Methods. The feroséchelle spectrograph together with eso's 2.2 m telescope, wasused to obtain high resolution (R = 32 000) spectra for each of ourweak-lined T-Tauri target stars. The wavelength range of the spectra is≃4000{-}8000 Å. Results. We find (pre-main sequence)model-dependent isochronal ages of the Lupus, Chamaeleon and CrA targetsto be 9.1 ± 2.1 Myr, 4.5 ± 1.6 Myr and 9.0 ± 3.9Myr respectively. The majority of the stars have Li i 6707.8 Åequivalent widths similar to, or above those of, their similar massPleiades counterparts, confirming their youthfulness. Most stars arekinematic members, either single or binary, of their regions. We find amean radial velocity for objects in the Lupus cloud to be RV=+2.6± 1.8 km s-1, for the Chamaeleon i & ii clouds,RV=+12.8 ± 3.6 km s-1 whereas for the CrA cloud, wefind RV=-1.1 ± 0.5 km s-1. All stars are coronally andchromospherically active, exhibiting X-ray and Hα emission levelsmarginally less, approximately equal or superior to that of their olderIC 2602/2391 and/or Pleiades counterparts. All bar three of the targetsshow little or no signature of accretion from a circumstellarenvironment, according to their positions in a J-K/H-K'diagram. For the higher quality spectra, we have performed an iron-linemetallicity analysis for five (5) stars in Chamaeleon, four (4) stars inLupus and three (3) stars in the CrA star forming regions. These resultsshow that all three regions are slightly metal-poor, with marginallysub-solar metallicities, with <[Fe/H]> = -0.11 ± 0.14,-0.10 ± 0.04 and -0.04 ± 0.05 respectively. Conclusions. Asample of stars in several nearby, young star-forming regions has beenestablished, the majority of which is young, lithium rich, magneticallyactive and are non-accreting kinematic members of their respectiveclouds. Within the errors, each region is essentially of solarmetallicity. First results from the ESO VLTI calibrators programThe ESO Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) is one of the leadinginterferometric facilities. It is equipped with several 8.2 and 1.8 mtelescopes, a large number of baselines up to 200 m, and with severalsubsystems designed to enable high quality measurements and to improvesignificantly the limits of sensitivities currently available tolong-baseline interferometry. The full scientific potential of the VLTIcan be exploited only if a consistent set of good quality calibrators isavailable. For this, a large number of observations of potentialcalibrators have been obtained during the commissioning phase of theVLTI. These data are publicly available. We briefly describe theinterferometer, the VINCI instrument used for the observations, the dataflow from acquisition to processed results, and we present and commenton the volume of observations gathered and scrutinized. The result is alist of 191 calibrator candidates, for which a total of 12 066observations can be deemed of satisfactory quality. We present a generalstatistical analysis of this sample, using as a starting point theangular diameters previously available in the literature. We derive thegeneral characteristics of the VLTI transfer function, and its trendwith time in the period 2001 through mid-2004. A second paper will bedevoted to a detailed investigation of a selected sample, aimed atestablishing a VLTI-based homogeneous system of calibrators. CHARM2: An updated Catalog of High Angular Resolution MeasurementsWe present an update of the Catalog of High Angular ResolutionMeasurements (CHARM, Richichi & Percheron \cite{CHARM}, A&A,386, 492), which includes results available until July 2004. CHARM2 is acompilation of direct measurements by high angular resolution methods,as well as indirect estimates of stellar diameters. Its main goal is toprovide a reference list of sources which can be used for calibrationand verification observations with long-baseline optical and near-IRinterferometers. Single and binary stars are included, as are complexobjects from circumstellar shells to extragalactic sources. The presentupdate provides an increase of almost a factor of two over the previousedition. Additionally, it includes several corrections and improvements,as well as a cross-check with the valuable public release observationsof the ESO Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI). A total of 8231entries for 3238 unique sources are now present in CHARM2. Thisrepresents an increase of a factor of 3.4 and 2.0, respectively, overthe contents of the previous version of CHARM.The catalog is only available in electronic form at the CDS viaanonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/431/773 The orbits of southern binary CepheidsHigh-resolution spectroscopic observations have been made of a number ofsouthern Cepheids. The stars studied were part of a long-term programmeto observe southern variable stars and to complete a data base of radialvelocities over a long time interval. The radial velocities have aprecision of ~300 m s-1, allowing the detection of velocitydifferences of ~1 km s-1 with confidence. Our new dataprovide a consistent set of data against which other sources of data canbe compared.Masses were determined for two systems, the 9-d Cepheid S Mus (6.2 +/-0.2 Msolar) and the 5-d Cepheid V350 Sgr (6.0 +/- 0.9Msolar). For another seven Cepheids (Y Car, YZ Car, AX Cir,BP Cir, V636 Sco, W Sgr and T Mon), new or improved orbital solutionswere found.New results presented here include the first orbital solution for AXCir, a completely revised orbital solution for YZ Car, which establishedits eccentricity and orbital motion, and a new pulsation period (2.39819 d) for BP Cir. The pulsational mass determinations provide furtherconfirmation of the convergence of mass determinations between dynamicaland evolutionary methods. Membership, rotation, and lithium abundances in the open clusters NGC 2451 A and BHigh-resolution spectra of 30 late-type and 9 early-type candidatemembers of the young (50-80 Myr) open clusters NGC 2451 A and Bhave been analyzed in order to complement our previous photometric andX-ray study. Cluster membership of these X-ray selected stars has beenconfirmed or rejected on the basis of radial velocity and Hαchromospheric emission. The metallicity of both clusters seems to beabout solar - contrary to previous investigations. Lithium abundanceshave been determined by two different methods, namely curve-of-growthtechniques and spectrum synthesis, yielding quite consistent results.The pattern of Li abundances versus effective temperature resembles thatof the equally-old Alpha Per cluster, i.e., little Li depletion is seenfor solar-type and earlier-type stars, while towards cooler stars Li ismore and more depleted, possibly showing a star-to-star scatter below 5200 K. The hottest star in our sample shows a Li abundance0.5 dex higher than the meteoritic value. Rotational velocitieshave been determined in order to investigate the supposed dependence ofactivity and Li depletion on rotation.Based on observations performed at the European Southern Observatory, LaSilla/Chile. Empirical calibration of the near-infrared CaII triplet - IV. The stellar population synthesis modelsWe present a new evolutionary stellar population synthesis model, whichpredicts spectral energy distributions for single-age single-metallicitystellar populations (SSPs) at resolution 1.5 Å (FWHM) in thespectral region of the near-infrared CaII triplet feature. The mainingredient of the model is a new extensive empirical stellar spectrallibrary that has been recently presented by Cenarro et al., which iscomposed of more than 600 stars with an unprecedented coverage of thestellar atmospheric parameters.Two main products of interest for stellar population analysis arepresented. The first is a spectral library for SSPs with metallicities-1.7 < [Fe/H] < +0.2, a large range of ages (0.1-18 Gyr) andinitial mass function (IMF) types. They are well suited to modellinggalaxy data, since the SSP spectra, with flux-calibrated responsecurves, can be smoothed to the resolution of the observational data,taking into account the internal velocity dispersion of the galaxy,allowing the user to analyse the observed spectrum in its own system. Wealso produce integrated absorption-line indices (namely CaT*, CaT andPaT) for the same SSPs in the form of equivalent widths.We find the following behaviour for the CaII triplet feature in old-agedSSPs: (i) the strength of the CaT* index does not change much with timefor all metallicities for ages larger than ~3 Gyr; (ii) this index showsa strong dependence on metallicity for values below [M/H]~-0.5 and (iii)for larger metallicities this feature does not show a significantdependence either on age or on the metallicity, being more sensitive tochanges in the slope of power-like IMF shapes.The SSP spectra have been calibrated with measurements for globularclusters by Armandroff & Zinn, which are well reproduced, probingthe validity of using the integrated CaII triplet feature fordetermining the metallicities of these systems. Fitting the models totwo early-type galaxies of different luminosities (NGC 4478 and 4365),we find that the CaII triplet measurements cannot be fitted unless avery dwarf-dominated IMF is imposed, or if the Ca abundance is evenlower than the Fe abundance. More details can be found in work byCenarro et al. Lithium and rotation in F and G dwarfs and subgiantsLithium abundances have been determined in 127 F and G Pop I stars basedon new measurements of the equivalent width of the lambda 6707 ÅLi I line from their high resolution CCD spectra. Distances and absolutemagnitudes of these stars have been obtained from the HipparcosCatalogue and their masses and ages derived, enabling us to investigatethe behaviour of lithium as a function of these parameters. Based ontheir location on the HR diagram superposed on theoretical evolutionarytracks, the sample of the stars has been chosen to ensure that they havemore or less completed their Li depletion on the main sequence. A largespread in the Li abundances is found at any given effective temperatureespecially in the already spun down late F and early G stars. Thisspread persists even if the Li-dip'' stars that have evolved from themain sequence temperature interval 6500-6800 K are excluded. Stars inthe mass range up to 2 M/Msun when divided into threemetallicity groups show a linear correlation between Li abundance andmass, albeit with a large dispersion around it which is not fullyaccounted for by age either. The large depletions and the observedspread in Li are in contrast to the predictions of the standard stellarmodel calculations and suggest that they are aided by non-standardprocesses depending upon variables besides mass, age and metallicity.The present study was undertaken to examine, in particular, the effectsof rotation on the depletion of Li. No one-to-one correlation is foundbetween the Li abundance and the present projected rotational velocity.Instead the observed abundances seem to be dictated by the rotationalhistory of the star. However, it is noted that even this interpretationis subject to the inherent limitation in the measurement of the observedLi EQW for large rotational velocities.Table 1 is only available in electronic form at the CDS via anonymousftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/409/251 Doppler images of the RS CVn binary HR 1099 (V711 Tau) from the MUSICOS 1998 campaignWe present Doppler Images of the RS CVn binary system HR 1099 (V711 Tau)from spectra taken in two different sites, KPNO and MSO, during theMUSICOS 1998 campaign. Contemporaneous APT photometry is used toconstrain the Doppler Images. The resulting maximum entropyreconstructions based on the least-squares deconvolved profiles, derivedfrom ~ 2000 photospheric absorption lines, reveal the presence ofstarspots at medium-high latitudes. We have obtained maps for bothcomponents of the binary system for the first time. The predominantstructure in the primary component is an off-centered polar spot,confirming previous works on the same target by using independent codes.The result is verified by using both data sets independently. The lowerspectral resolution data set gives a less detailed map for the MSO dataset. The images obtained for the secondary component show a low latitudespot around orbital phase 0.7. This spot seems to mirror the structureseen on the primary. It might suggest that tidal forces may influencethe spot distribution on this binary system.Based on observations obtained during the MUSICOS 98 MUlti-SIteCOntinuous Spectroscopic campaign from Kitt Peak National Observatory,USA, and Mt. Stromlo Observatory, Australia. The Wilson-Bappu effect: A tool to determine stellar distancesWilson & Bappu (\cite{orig}) have shown the existence of aremarkable correlation between the width of the emission in the core ofthe K line of Ca II and the absolute visual magnitude of late-typestars.Here we present a new calibration of the Wilson-Bappu effect based on asample of 119 nearby stars. We use, for the first time, widthmeasurements based on high resolution and high signal to noise ratio CCDspectra and absolute visual magnitudes from the Hipparcos database.Our primary goal is to investigate the possibility of using theWilson-Bappu effect to determine accurate distances to single stars andgroups.The result of our calibration fitting of the Wilson-Bappu relationshipis MV=33.2-18.0 log W0, and the determinationseems free of systematic effects. The root mean square error of thefitting is 0.6 mag. This error is mostly accounted for by measurementerrors and intrinsic variability of W0, but in addition apossible dependence on the metallicity is found, which becomes clearlynoticeable for metallicities below [Fe/H] ~ -0.4. This detection ispossible because in our sample [Fe/H] ranges from -1.5 to 0.4.The Wilson-Bappu effect can be used confidently for all metallicitiesnot lower than ~ -0.4, including the LMC. While it does not provideaccurate distances to single stars, it is a useful tool to determineaccurate distances to clusters and aggregates, where a sufficient numberof stars can be observed.We apply the Wilson-Bappu effect to published data of the open cluster M67; the retrieved distance modulus is of 9.65 mag, in very goodagreement with the best distance estimations for this cluster, based onmain sequence fitting.Observations collected at ESO, La Silla. The mass of the neutron star in Vela X-1 and tidally induced non-radial oscillations in GP VelWe report new radial velocity observations of GP Vel / HD 77581, theoptical companion to the eclipsing X-ray pulsar Vela X-1. Using dataspanning more than two complete orbits of the system, we detect evidencefor tidally induced non-radial oscillations on the surface of GP Vel,apparent as peaks in the power spectrum of the residuals to the radialvelocity curve fit. By removing the effect of these oscillations (tofirst order) and binning the radial velocities, we have determined thesemi-amplitude of the radial velocity curve of GP Vel to beKo = 22.6 +/- 1.5 km s-1. Given the accuratelymeasured semi-amplitude of the pulsar's orbit, the mass ratio of thesystem is 0.081 +/- 0.005. We are able to set upper and lower limits onthe masses of the component stars as follows. Assuming GP Vel fills itsRoche lobe then the inclination angle of the system, i, is70.1deg +/- 2.6deg. In this case we obtain themasses of the two stars as Mx = 2.27 +/- 0.17 Msunfor the neutron star and Mo = 27.9 +/- 1.3 Msunfor GP Vel. Conversely, assuming the inclination angle isi=90deg, the ratio of the radius of GP Vel to the radius ofits Roche lobe is beta = 0.89 +/- 0.03 and the masses of the two starsare Mx = 1.88 +/- 0.13 Msun and Mo =23.1 +/- 0.2 Msun. A range of solutions between these twosets of limits is also possible, corresponding to other combinations ofi and beta . In addition, we note that if the zero phase of the radialvelocity curve is allowed as a free parameter, rather than constrainedby the X-ray ephemeris, a significantly improved fit is obtained with anamplitude of 21.2 +/- 0.7 km s-1 and a phase shift of 0.033+/- 0.007 in true anomaly. The apparent shift in the zero phase of theradial velocity curve may indicate the presence of an additional radialvelocity component at the orbital period. This may be anothermanifestation of the tidally induced non-radial oscillations andprovides an additional source of uncertainty in the determination of theorbital radial velocity amplitude. Rotation and Activity in the Solar-Metallicity Open Cluster NGC 2516We report new measures of radial velocities and rotation rates (vsini)for 51 F and early G stars in the open cluster NGC 2516 and combinethese with previously published data. From high signal-to-noise ratiospectra of two stars, we show that NGC 2516 has a relative ironabundance with respect to the Pleiades of Δ[Fe/H]=+0.04+/-0.07 atthe canonical reddening of E(B-V)=0.12, in contrast to previousphotometric studies that placed the cluster 0.2-0.4 dex below solar. Weconstruct a color-magnitude diagram based on radial velocity members andexplore the sensitivity of photometric determinations of the metallicityand distance to assumed values of the reddening. For a metal abundancenear solar, the Hipparcos distance to NGC 2516 is probablyunderestimated. Finally, we show that the distribution of rotation ratesand X-ray emission does not differ greatly from that of the Pleiades,when allowance is made for the somewhat older age of NGC 2516. Based onobservations obtained at the Anglo-Australian Telescope and onobservations obtained at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory,NOAO, which is operated by the Associated Universities for Research inAstronomy (AURA), Inc., under cooperative agreement with the NationalScience Foundation. Polaris: Amplitude, Period Change, and CompanionsPolaris has presented us with the rare phenomenon of a Cepheid with apulsation amplitude that has decreased over the last 50 yr. In thisstudy we have used this property to see whether the amplitude decreaseduring the last 15 yr has had any effect on upper atmosphere heating. Weobtained IUE high- and low-resolution spectra but found no change ineither the Mg II chromospheric emission or the flux at 1800 Åbetween 1978 and 1993 when the pulsation amplitude dropped by 50% (from2.8 to 1.6 km s-1). The energy distribution from 1700 Åthrough V, B, R(KC), and I(KC) is like that of a nonvariable supergiantof the same color rather than a full amplitude Cepheid in that it hasmore flux at 1800 Å than the full amplitude Cepheid δ Cep.Polaris also has a rapidly changing period (3.2 s yr-1), incommon with other overtone pulsators. We argue that this is a naturalconsequence of the different envelope locations that dominate pulsationgrowth rates in fundamental and overtone pulsation. In fundamental modepulsators, the deeper envelope is more important in determining growthrates than for overtone pulsators. For fundamental mode pulsators,evolutionary changes in the radius produce approximately linear changesin period. In overtone pulsators, pulsation reacts to small evolutionarychanges in a more unstable way because the modes are more sensitive tohigh envelope features such as opacity bumps, and the growth rates forthe many closely spaced overtone modes change easily. Finally, the upperlimit to the X-ray flux from an Einstein observation implies that thecompanion in the astrometric orbit is earlier than F4 V. The combinationof upper and lower limits on the companion from IUE and Einsteinrespectively catch the companion mass between 1.7 and 1.4Msolar. The X-ray limit is consistent with the more distantcompanion α UMi B being a physical companion in a hierarchaltriple system. However the X-ray limits require that the even moredistant companions α UMi C and D are too old to be physicallyassociated with Polaris. The Henize sample of S stars. IV. New symbiotic starsThe properties of the few symbiotic stars detected among the 66 binary Sstars from the Henize sample are discussed. Two stars (Hen 18 and Hen121) exhibit both a strong blue-violet continuum and strongHalpha emission (FWHM of 70 km s-1), whereas Hen134 and 137 exhibit weak Halpha emission. TheHalpha profiles are typical of non-dusty symbiotic starsbelonging to class S-3 as defined by Van Winckel et al. (1993, A&AS102, 401). In that class as in the Henize symbiotic S stars, He I, [NII] or [S II] emission lines are absent, suggesting that the nebulardensity is high but the excitation rather low. The radial velocity ofthe centre of the Halpha emission is identical to that of thecompanion star (at least for Hen 121 where this can be checked from theavailable orbital elements), thus suggesting that the Halphaemission originates in gas moving with the companion star. For Hen 121,this is further confirmed by the disappearance of the ultraviolet Balmercontinuum when the companion is eclipsed by the S star. Hen 121 is thusthe second eclipsing binary star discovered among extrinsic S stars (thefirst one is HD 35155). A comparison of the available data on orbitalperiods and Halpha emission leads to the conclusion thatHalpha emission in s stars seems to be restricted to binarysystems with periods in the range 600-1000 d, in agreement with thesituation prevailing for red symbiotic stars (excluding symbioticnovae). Symbiotic S stars are found among the most evolved extrinsic Sstars. Based on observations carried out at the European SouthernObservatory (ESO, La Silla, Chile; program 60.E-0805) and at the Swiss70 cm telescope (La Silla, Chile). Non-radial pulsation, rotation and outburst in the Be star omega Orionis from the MuSiCoS 1998 campaignomega Ori (HD 37490, HR1934) is a Be star known to have presented variations. Inorder to investigate the nature and origin of its short-term andmid-term variability, a study is performed of several spectral lines(Hα , Hdelta , ion {He}i 4471, 4713, 4921, 5876, 6678, ion {C}{ii}4267, 6578, 6583, ion {Mg}{ii} 4481, ion {Si}{iii} 4553 and ion {Si}{ii}6347), based on 249 high signal-to-noise high-resolution spectra takenwith 8 telescopes over 22 consecutive nights during the MuSiCoS (MultiSIte COntinuous Spectroscopy) campaign in November-December 1998. Thestellar parameters are revisited and the projected rotational velocity(vsin i = 179 km s-1) is redetermined using several methods.With the MuSiCoS 98 dataset, a time series analysis of line-profilevariations (LPVs) is performed using the Restricted Local Cleanest (RLC)algorithm and a least squares method. The behaviour of the velocity ofthe centroid of the lines, the equivalent widths and the apparent vsinifor several lines, as well as Violet and Red components of photosphericlines affected by emission (red ion {He}i lines, ion {Si}{ii} 6347, ion{C}{ii} 6578, 6583) are analyzed. The non-radial pulsation (NRP) modelis examined using phase diagrams and the Fourier-Doppler Imaging (FDI)method. The LPVs are consistent with a NRP mode with l = 2 or 3, |m| = 2with frequency 1.03 c d-1. It is shown that an emission lineoutburst occurred in the middle of the campaign. Two scenarios areproposed to explain the behaviour of a dense cloud, temporarily orbitingaround the star with a frequency 0.46 c d-1, in relation tothe outburst. Based on observations taken during the MuSiCoS 98 campaignat OHP (France), La Silla (ESO, Chile, ID 62.H-0270), Mount Stromlo(Australia), Xinglong Station (China), Kitt Peak (USA), MCT/LNA (Brazil)and INT (Isaac Newton Group, La Palma Island). A study of the chromospherically active binaries UX Fornacis and AG DoradusThis paper presents a time-series spectrum analysis of the twochromospherically active binary stars, UX Fornacis and AG Doradus. Toinvestigate the rotational behaviour, in combination with activity inthe Hα line, we obtained almost 40 high-resolution, high-S/Nspectra for each system. Both binaries, UX For and AG Dor, show Hαof the primary star in absorption but filled in by chromosphericemission while the Hα line of the secondaries appear in pureemission. Line variations are seen and are approximately 5-sigmadetections but are not linked to the orbital nor the rotational periodsand seem to be erratic. We obtained new orbital elements for bothsystems and used them in combination with Hipparcos parallaxes and ourHα -spectrum synthesis to determine absolute parameters. Wepresent the first Doppler image of the AG Dor primary using line-profilevariations of the Fe i lambda 6546 line. The image reveals a cool polarfeature and three equatorial spots with an average surface temperaturedifference, photosphere minus spots, of up to 1500 K for the polar spotand ~800 K for the equatorial spots. Since AG Dor is one of the slowestrotators (vsin i=18 km s-1 ) that has ever been Dopplerimaged, we present several tests to demonstrate the external consistencyof our map. Based on observations obtained at the European SouthernObservatory, La Silla, Chile. Catalogue of Apparent Diameters and Absolute Radii of Stars (CADARS) - Third edition - Comments and statisticsThe Catalogue, available at the Centre de Données Stellaires deStrasbourg, consists of 13 573 records concerning the results obtainedfrom different methods for 7778 stars, reported in the literature. Thefollowing data are listed for each star: identifications, apparentmagnitude, spectral type, apparent diameter in arcsec, absolute radiusin solar units, method of determination, reference, remarks. Commentsand statistics obtained from CADARS are given. The Catalogue isavailable in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp tocdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcar?J/A+A/367/521 Research Note Hipparcos photometry: The least variable starsThe data known as the Hipparcos Photometry obtained with the Hipparcossatellite have been investigated to find those stars which are leastvariable. Such stars are excellent candidates to serve as standards forphotometric systems. Their spectral types suggest in which parts of theHR diagrams stars are most constant. In some cases these values stronglyindicate that previous ground based studies claiming photometricvariability are incorrect or that the level of stellar activity haschanged. Table 2 is only available in electronic form at the CDS viaanonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/367/297 The proper motions of fundamental stars. I. 1535 stars from the Basic FK5A direct combination of the positions given in the HIPPARCOS cataloguewith astrometric ground-based catalogues having epochs later than 1939allows us to obtain new proper motions for the 1535 stars of the BasicFK5. The results are presented as the catalogue Proper Motions ofFundamental Stars (PMFS), Part I. The median precision of the propermotions is 0.5 mas/year for mu alpha cos delta and 0.7mas/year for mu delta . The non-linear motions of thephotocentres of a few hundred astrometric binaries are separated intotheir linear and elliptic motions. Since the PMFS proper motions do notinclude the information given by the proper motions from othercatalogues (HIPPARCOS, FK5, FK6, etc.) this catalogue can be used as anindependent source of the proper motions of the fundamental stars.Catalogue (Table 3) is only available at the CDS via anonymous ftp tocdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strastg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/365/222 High-Precision Radial Velocity Measurements of Some Southern StarsPrecise absolute radial velocities have been obtained at Mount JohnUniversity Observatory for a number of southern stars, using the 1 mtelescope and fiber-fed echelle spectrograph. Only the stars that havebeen observed three or more times are presented, including 14 IAUstandards and 11 program stars. Six echelle orders in the green(5000-5600 Å) are used. Many delicate steps have been undertakenin order to maintain the same conditions in both recording and reducingthe spectra over a period of 27 months. The Th-Ar lamp has been used forthe wavelength calibration. The absolute radial velocities have beendetermined by cross-correlation with synthetic spectra computed by R. L.Kurucz. The zero point has been adjusted using blue-sky spectra. Anadditional strong correlation, between the measured velocities andphoton counts in stellar and Th-Ar spectra, has been detected for thePM3000 CCD camera and has been eliminated. A resulting precision ofabout 20-30 m s-1 has been obtained. The overall uncertaintyof the absolute radial velocities was estimated to be about 100-200 ms-1. The present paper is a continuation of our recentprevious work, including more details on the reduction process and thepresentation of the radial velocities for more stars. Ca II activity and rotation in F-K evolved starsCa II H and K high resolution observations for 60 evolved stars in thefield and in 5 open clusters are presented. From these spectrachromospheric fluxes are derived, and a homogeneous sample of more than100 giants is built adding data from the literature. In addition, formost stars, rotational velocities were derived from CORAVELobservations. By comparing chromospheric emission in the cluster starswe confirm the results of Pasquini & Brocato (1992): chromosphericactivity depends on the stellar effective temperature, and mass, whenintermediate mass stars (M ~ 4 Msun) are considered. TheHyades and the Praesepe clump giants show the same level of activity, asexpected from stars with similar masses and effective temperatures. Adifference of up to 0.4 dex in the chromospheric fluxes among the Hyadesgiants is recorded and this sets a clear limit to the intrinsic spreadof stellar activity in evolved giants. These differences in otherwisevery similar stars are likely due to stellar cycles and/or differencesin the stellar initial angular momentum. Among the field stars none ofthe giants with (V-R)o < 0.4 and Ia supergiants observedshows a signature of Ca II activity; this can be due either to the realabsence of a chromosphere, but also to other causes which preclude theappearance of Ca II reversal. By analyzing the whole sample we find thatchromospheric activity scales linearly with stellar rotational velocityand a high power of stellar effective temperature: F'k ~Teff7.7 (Vsini)0.9. This result can beinterpreted as the effect of two chromospheric components of differentnature: one mechanical and one magnetic. Alternatively, by using theHipparcos parallaxes and evolutionary tracks, we divide the sampleaccording to the stellar masses, and we follow the objects along anevolutionary track. For each range of masses activity can simply beexpressed as a function of only one parameter: either theTeff or the angular rotation Omega , with laws F'k~ Omega alpha , because angular velocity decreases witheffective temperature along an evolutionary track. By using theevolutionary tracks and the observed Vsini we investigate the evolutionof the angular momentum for evolved stars in the range 1-5Msun. For the 1.6-3 solar mass stars the data are consistentwith the IOmega =const law while lower and higher masses follow a lawsimilar to IOmega 2=const, where I is the computed stellarmomentum of inertia. We find it intriguing that Vsini remains almostconstant for 1Msun stars along their evolution; if a similarbehavior is shared by Pop II stars, this could explain the relativelyhigh degree of activity observed in Pop II giants. Finally, through theuse of models, we have verified the consistency of the F'k ~Omega alpha and the IOmega beta = Const lawsderived, finding an excellent agreement. This representation, albeitcrude (the models do not consider, for instance, mass losses) representsthe evolution of Ca II activity and of the angular momentum in asatisfactory way in most of the portion of HR diagram analyzed.Different predictions could be tested with observations in selectedclusters. Based on observations collected at ESO, La Silla. Tables 1-3are only available in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp tocdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html Revision and Calibration of MK Luminosity Classes for Cool Giants by HIPPARCOS ParallaxesThe Hipparcos parallaxes of cool giants are utilized in two ways in thispaper. First, a plot of reduced parallaxes of stars brighter than 6.5,as a function of spectral type, for the first time separates members ofthe clump from stars in the main giant ridge. A slight modification ofthe MK luminosity standards has been made so that luminosity class IIIbdefines members of the clump, and nearly all of the class III stars fallwithin the main giant ridge. Second, a new calibration of MK luminosityclasses III and IIIb in terms of visual absolute magnitudes has beenmade. Red supergiants in the LMC - III: luminous F and G starsNew BVRI observations for 40 and spectrophotometric measurements for 23F to G LMC supergiant candidates (and 3 galactic F to G supergiants) arepresented. The errors of the BVRI data are 0.01 to 0.03 mag in mostcases. The wavelength range of the spectra is 3400 to 6400 Angstroms,their resolution 10 Angstroms. The mean error of the fluxes is 0.03 mag.Spectral indices measuring the strengths of the Hβ , Hγ ,Hdelta , NaD and CaII H+K lines, the CHα_ {0} and CNbeta_ {0}bands, of the Balmer jump and the slope of the continuum redwards arediscussed as measures of effective temperature and luminosity on thebasis of galactic stars with accurate MK types and parallaxes. TheHγ line and the continuum gradient are very good temperaturecriteria, the CHα_ {0} band and especially the Balmer jump forluminosity. The luminosity classification given for F to G supergiantcandidates in the LMC in the literature is often doubtful. 5 of the 23stars observed spectrophotometrically turn out to be probably galacticforeground dwarfs on the basis both of the Balmer jump and thecomparison of their flux distributions with synthetic ones based on theKurucz model atmospheres. Surface gravities derived purely on the basisof flux distributions and such ones given by models of stellar evolutionagree with each other for dwarfs and giants only. For supergiants theformer are about 1.0 dex higher than the latter. As a consequenceeffective temperatures and metallicities given by these two methodsdeviate from each other for such stars, too. The intrinsic colours andtemperatures of galactic and LMC supergiants do not differ. Withabsolute magnitudes up to -9.6 mag the upper luminosity limit in the LMCdoes not exceed that in the Galaxy, where Ia-0 supergiants haveMV of up to -9.5 mag. The metallicities of the supergiantsshow a rather large scatter. Nevertheless the mean metallicities of 0.02+/- 0.09 dex for the Galaxy and -0.26 +/- 0.10 dex for the LMC agreewell with other observations. A catalog of rotational and radial velocities for evolved starsRotational and radial velocities have been measured for about 2000evolved stars of luminosity classes IV, III, II and Ib covering thespectral region F, G and K. The survey was carried out with the CORAVELspectrometer. The precision for the radial velocities is better than0.30 km s-1, whereas for the rotational velocity measurementsthe uncertainties are typically 1.0 km s-1 for subgiants andgiants and 2.0 km s-1 for class II giants and Ib supergiants.These data will add constraints to studies of the rotational behaviourof evolved stars as well as solid informations concerning the presenceof external rotational brakes, tidal interactions in evolved binarysystems and on the link between rotation, chemical abundance and stellaractivity. In this paper we present the rotational velocity v sin i andthe mean radial velocity for the stars of luminosity classes IV, III andII. Based on observations collected at the Haute--Provence Observatory,Saint--Michel, France and at the European Southern Observatory, LaSilla, Chile. Table \ref{tab5} also available in electronic form at CDSvia anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html Radial velocities of HIPPARCOS southern B8-F2 type starsRadial velocities have been determined for a sample of B8-F2 type starsobserved by the Hipparcos satellite. Observations were obtained withinthe framework of an ESO key-program. Radial velocities have beenmeasured using a cross-correlation method, the templates being a grid ofsynthetic spectra. The obtained precision depends on effectivetemperature and projected rotational velocity of the star as well as ona possible asymmetry of the correlation peak generally due to secondarycomponents. New spectroscopic binaries have been detected from theseasymmetries and the variability of the measured radial velocity.Simulations of binary and triple systems have been performed. Forbinaries our results have been compared with Hipparcos binary data.Adding the variable radial velocities, the minimum binary fraction hasbeen found 60% for physical systems. Radial velocities have beendetermined for 581 B8-F2 stars, 159 being new. Taking into accountpublished radial velocities, 39% south A-type stars with V magnitudelower than 7.5 have a radial velocity. Based on observations obtained atthe European Southern Observatory (ESO, La Silla, Chile) and on datafrom the ESA Hipparcos astrometry satellite.}\fnmsep \thanks{Tables 7, 8and 9 are only available in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftpto cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html Catalogs of temperatures and [Fe/H] averages for evolved G and K starsA catalog of mean values of [Fe/H] for evolved G and K stars isdescribed. The zero point for the catalog entries has been establishedby using differential analyses. Literature sources for those entries areincluded in the catalog. The mean values are given with rms errors andnumbers of degrees of freedom, and a simple example of the use of thesestatistical data is given. For a number of the stars with entries in thecatalog, temperatures have been determined. A separate catalogcontaining those data is briefly described. Catalog only available atthe CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html Lithium abundance and massObservations of cool giants have shown that there exists a large rangein their lithium abundances even for apparently similar stars. Thedepletions are large in a majority of them, far in excess of thepredictions of the standard stellar evolution models. In order toexplore whether the large spread in Li abundances observed in giants canbe interpreted in terms of mass, moderately high resolution CCD spectraof the Li I line at 6707.8 Ä have been obtained in 65 subgiants,giants and supergiants and the lithium abundances derived. Theirabsolute magnitudes have been estimated from the Hipparcos data.Absolute magnitudes have also been determined for another 802 starswhose lithium abundances are already known from the availableliterature. All these stars have been plotted on the HR diagram andcompared with the theoretical evolutionary tracks of Bressan et al.(1993) with initial masses ranging from 1 M_sun to 9 M_sun for achemical composition typical of the solar neighbourhood: X=0.70, Y=0.28,Z=0.02. The stars of low mass of this sample, (<2M_sun), span a widerange in evolution (unmixed warm subgiants and mixed giants) andtherefore, show a correspondingly wide range of Li abundances, perhapsreminiscent of the large range in abundances observed on the mainsequence. The spread is further augmented by the effects of increasingdilution and mixing as the stars evolve to the right and up the redgiant branch. Higher mass stars show a different behaviour. Many of thegiants of masses between 2.5 and 4.0 M_sun observed in the present studyhave Li abundances close to what is predicted by the standard stellarmodels. On the other hand, there are several high mass giants (>2.5M_sun) cooler than Teff = 5000 K with Li abundances as low asthose of low mass stars of similar effective temperature. There must beparameters other than mass and evolutionary status, as implied by thestandard evolution model of a star, that control its Li abundance. Non-LTE Analysis of the Oxygen lambda lambda 7771--5 Triplet in Mid-G through Early-K GiantsAn extensive spectral-synthesis analysis in the neighborhood of the O I7771--5 lines (including also the lines of Fe I, Nd II, and CN) wascarried out for thirty-two giant stars at the spectral type of mid-Gthrough early-K, and their photospheric oxygen abundances were derivedfrom these triplet lines based on detailed statistical-equilibriumcalculations, aiming to assess the importance of the non-LTE effectquantitatively as well as to examine the reliability of the abundancesderived from this near-IR triplet compared to those obtained from theforbidden line widely invoked. It turned out that the expected(negative) non-LTE correction ranges from 0.1 to 0.2 dex, the extent ofwhich is somewhat smaller than has been reported by Eriksson and Toft(1979, AAA 25.114.007). The resulting non-LTE abundances were found toagree in most cases with those determined from the published equivalentwidths of the forbidden O I 6300 line with no serious systematicdescrepancy, though some showing appreciable scatters. The possiblesources of uncertainties in oxygen-abundance determination are furtherexamined, and the relevant characteristics of the resulting abundances,such as the [O/Fe] ratio in G--K giants, are discussed. The central depth of the Ca II triplet lines as a discriminant of chromospheric activity in late type starsNot Available Far-Ultraviolet Continuum of G-Type Stars: A Signature of the Temperature Minimum RegionThe main results of a program of systematic comparison between observedand computed UV spectral energy distributions of field G-type stars areillustrated. We constructed the UV observed energy distributions for 53G stars, starting from the IUE Uniform Low Dispersion Archive (ULDA) andcomputed the corresponding theoretical fluxes by using the atmosphericparameters from the Catalogue of [Fe/H] Determinations (1996 edition)and a Kurucz grid of model fluxes. From the comparison betweenobservations and classical models, a UV excess shortward of 2000 Åis evident for all the program stars. The UV continuum in the region1600-2000 Å can be described by synthetic fluxes computed fromsemiempirical models based on the temperature minimum concept. Valuesfor the T_min/T_eff ratio on the order of 0.80 are suitable for theinterpretation of the observed fluxes. The residual discrepanciesshortward of 1600 Å are suggested to be effects of thechromosphere, on the basis of a comparison with the Maltby et al.semiempirical model of the Sun. Magellanic Cloud Cepheids - AbundancesWe have determined parameters and abundances for three SMC and nine LMCCepheids that have not been previously studied spectroscopically formetallicity, as well as three SMC and one LMC Cepheids observedpreviously by Luck and Lambert. This work nearly doubles the number ofCepheids with spectroscopic metallicities in the SMC and triples thenumber in the LMC. For Galactic reference stars we have determined theabundances of 11 supergiants of spectral type F0 to K1. These abundancesare used herein to examine the dispersion in cosmic (Fe/H) values foundin LMC Cepheids by Luck and Lambert. The Magellanic Cloud Cepheids tendto be longer-period Cepheids, and thus have physical gravities that are1.0 dex and lower. Spectroscopic gravities are even lower. Fortunately,the (Fe/H) content as determined from Fe I is not strongly dependent ongravity and is thus well determined. We combine our abundances withother published high-resolution spectroscopic results, deriving a mean(Fe/H) for the SMC of -0.68. The total range seen in the (Fe/H) ratiosderived herein is -0.84 to -0.65. This result is in agreement withprevious studies showing a small intrinsic range in the metallicities inthe SMC. For the LMC, from the Cepheids studied here we obtain -0.30,with a range of -0.55 to -0.19. Combining all available data, we obtaina mean (Fe/H) of -0.34. From this analysis, there is little evidence fora significant metallicity dispersion in the LMC.
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