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# HD 16210

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 Full polarization study of SiO masers at 86 GHzAims.We study the polarization of the SiO maser emission in arepresentative sample of evolved stars in order to derive an estimate ofthe strength of the magnetic field, and thus determine the influence ofthis magnetic field on evolved stars. Methods: .We madesimultaneous spectroscopic measurements of the 4 Stokes parameters, fromwhich we derived the circular and linear polarization levels. Theobservations were made with the IF polarimeter installed at the IRAM 30m telescope. Results: . A discussion of the existing SiO masermodels is developed in the light of our observations. Under the Zeemansplitting hypothesis, we derive an estimate of the strength of themagnetic field. The averaged magnetic field varies between 0 and 20Gauss, with a mean value of 3.5 Gauss, and follows a 1/r law throughoutthe circumstellar envelope. As a consequence, the magnetic field mayplay the role of a shaping, or perhaps collimating, agent of thecircumstellar envelopes in evolved objects. Ubernahme der AFOEV Daten in die Einzelbeobachtungsdatenbank der BAV.Not Available Beobachtungssergebnisse Bundesdeutsche Arbeitsgemeinschaft fuer Veraenderliche Sterne e.V.Not Available Evidence of asymmetry in Mira variable U OriNear simultaneous, two high angular resolution observations by lunaroccultation technique at the same wavelength (2.2mu m) but at differentposition angles (PA) result in two unique Uniform Disk (UD) angulardiameters of Mira variable U Ori. UD angular diameter obtained fromobservations at Mt. Abu observatory is 11.9(+/-)0.3 milliarcsecond (mas)at PA 136o while from observations at TIRGO observatory UDvalue obtained is 15.14(+/-)0.05 mas at PA 75o. The sourcebrightness profile derived from a model independent analysis shows anasymmetric spatial structure in both cases. Asymmetric structure of thesource at higher spatial scale was also reported by several authors fromOH and H2O maser distribution at radio wavelengths; thesource is more extended at PA of 30 - 60o. Furthermore,moderate level maximum optical intrinsic polarization of ~1-2% at PAapprox 20o - 40o is also detected. All theevidences bring out the spatial asymmetry in U Ori. Secular Evolution in Mira Variable PulsationsStellar evolution theory predicts that asymptotic giant branch (AGB)stars undergo a series of short thermal pulses that significantly changetheir luminosity and mass on timescales of hundreds to thousands ofyears. These pulses are confirmed observationally by the existence ofthe short-lived radioisotope technetium in the spectra of some of thesestars, but other observational consequences of thermal pulses are subtleand may only be detected over many years of observations. Secularchanges in these stars resulting from thermal pulses can be detected asmeasurable changes in period if the star is undergoing Mira pulsations.It is known that a small fraction of Mira variables exhibit largesecular period changes, and the detection of these changes among alarger sample of stars could therefore be useful in evolutionary studiesof these stars. The American Association of Variable Star Observers(AAVSO) International Database currently contains visual data for over1500 Mira variables. Light curves for these stars span nearly a centuryin some cases, making it possible to study the secular evolution of thepulsation behavior on these timescales. In this paper we present theresults of our study of period change in 547 Mira variables using datafrom the AAVSO. We use wavelet analysis to measure the period changes inindividual Mira stars over the span of available data. By making linearfits to the period versus time measurements, we determine the averagerates of period change, dlnP/dt, for each of these stars. We findnonzero dlnP/dt at the 2 σ significance level in 57 of the 547stars, at the 3 σ level in 21 stars, and at the level of 6 σor greater in eight stars. The latter eight stars have been previouslynoted in the literature, and our derived rates of period change largelyagree with published values. The largest and most statisticallysignificant dlnP/dt are consistent with the rates of period changeexpected during thermal pulses on the AGB. A number of other starsexhibit nonmonotonic period change on decades-long timescales, the causeof which is not yet known. In the majority of stars, the periodvariations are smaller than our detection threshold, meaning theavailable data are not sufficient to unambiguously measure slowevolutionary changes in the pulsation period. It is unlikely that morestars with large period changes will be found among heretoforewell-observed Mira stars in the short term, but continued monitoring ofthese and other Mira stars may reveal new and serendipitous candidatesin the future. 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 Evidence of asymmetric structure in the atmosphere of Mira variable U Orionis from lunar occultation observations in the near-infraredWe present the infrared angular diameter of Mira variable U Ori,obtained from lunar occultation observations at 2.2 μm. The uniformdisc (UD) angular diameter is determined to be 11.9 +/- 0.3 mas atvariability phase 0.28. The source brightness profile derived from amodel-independent analysis shows an asymmetric spatial structure. Thedispersion in UD angular diameter measurements in comparison with othersimilar measurements at the same phase in the near-infrared can beexplained by a spatial asymmetry of the source, being elongated in thedirection northeast - southwest, at position angle of 50°-70°.Several corollary evidences for the spatial asymmetry of the source arepresented. Letter to the Editor: Brighter Maxima of 30 Selected Mira-Type Variable Stars for the Period 1978-1977Letter to the Editor Beobachtungsergebnisse Bundesdeutsche Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Veranderlichen Serne e.V.Not Available Unveiling Mira stars behind the molecules. Confirmation of the molecular layer model with narrow band near-infrared interferometryWe have observed Mira stars with the FLUOR beamcombiner on the IOTAinterferometer in narrow bands around 2.2 μm wavelength. We findsystematically larger diameters in bands contaminated by water vapor andCO. The visibility measurements can be interpreted with a modelcomprising a photosphere surrounded by a thin spherical molecular layer.The high quality of the fits we obtain demonstrates that this simplemodel accounts for most of the star's spatial structure. For each starand each period we were able to derive the radius and temperature of thestar and of the molecular layer as well as the optical depth of thelayer in absorption and continuum bands. The typical radius of themolecular layer is 2.2 R* with a temperature ranging between1500 and 2100 K. The photospheric temperatures we find are in agreementwith spectral types of Mira stars. Our photospheric diameters are foundsmaller than in previous studies by several tens of percent. We believeprevious diameters were biased by the use of unsuited geometrical modelsto explain visibilities. The conclusions of this work are various.First, we offer a consistent view of Mira stars over a wide range ofwavelengths. Second, the parameters of the molecular layer we find areconsistent with spectroscopic studies. Third, from our diametermeasurements we deduce that all Mira stars are fundamental modepulsators and that previous studies leading to the conclusion of thefirst-overtone mode were biased by too large diameter estimates.Based on observations collected at the IOTA interferometer, WhippleObservatory, Mount Hopkins, Arizona.Table 3 is only available in electronic form athttp://www.edpsciences.org Long periodic variable starsThe information on Mira-type stars and stars adjacent to them at theHertzsprung -- Russel diagram is presented. A detailed description oftheir observational characteristics is given. We give a survey ofimportant observational works concerning: multicolor photometry withspecial attention to the IR emission, maser emission, shock waves, massloss, binarity, the problem of the pulsational mode, direct measurementsof angular and linear dimensions, statistic investigations, study ofkinematic characteristics etc. The most interesting problems regardinglong periodic variable stars are specified. Some attention is given tothe classification and evolutionary stage of these objects. Reprocessing the Hipparcos data of evolved stars. III. Revised Hipparcos period-luminosity relationship for galactic long-period variable starsWe analyze the K band luminosities of a sample of galactic long-periodvariables using parallaxes measured by the Hipparcos mission. Theparallaxes are in most cases re-computed from the Hipparcos IntermediateAstrometric Data using improved astrometric fits and chromaticitycorrections. The K band magnitudes are taken from the literature andfrom measurements by COBE, and are corrected for interstellar andcircumstellar extinction. The sample contains stars of several spectraltypes: M, S and C, and of several variability classes: Mira, semiregularSRa, and SRb. We find that the distribution of stars in theperiod-luminosity plane is independent of circumstellar chemistry, butthat the different variability types have different P-L distributions.Both the Mira variables and the SRb variables have reasonablywell-defined period-luminosity relationships, but with very differentslopes. The SRa variables are distributed between the two classes,suggesting that they are a mixture of Miras and SRb, rather than aseparate class of stars. New period-luminosity relationships are derivedbased on our revised Hipparcos parallaxes. The Miras show a similarperiod-luminosity relationship to that found for Large Magellanic CloudMiras by Feast et al. (\cite{Feast-1989:a}). The maximum absolute Kmagnitude of the sample is about -8.2 for both Miras and semi-regularstars, only slightly fainter than the expected AGB limit. We show thatthe stars with the longest periods (P>400 d) have high mass lossrates and are almost all Mira variables.Based on observations from the Hipparcos astrometric satellite operatedby the European Space Agency (ESA \cite{Hipparcos}).Table \ref{Tab:data1} is only available in electronic form at the CDSvia anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/403/993 How many Hipparcos Variability-Induced Movers are genuine binaries?Hipparcos observations of some variable stars, and especially oflong-period (e.g. Mira) variables, reveal a motion of the photocentercorrelated with the brightness variation (variability-induced mover -VIM), suggesting the presence of a binary companion. A re-analysis ofthe Hipparcos photometric and astrometric data does not confirm the VIMsolution for 62 among the 288 VIM objects (21%) in the Hipparcoscatalogue. Most of these 288 VIMs are long-period (e.g. Mira) variables(LPV). The effect of a revised chromaticity correction, which accountsfor the color variations along the light cycle, was then investigated.It is based on instantaneous'' V-I color indices derived fromHipparcos and Tycho-2 epoch photometry. Among the 188 LPVs flagged asVIM in the Hipparcos catalogue, 89 (47%) are not confirmed as VIM afterthis improved chromaticity correction is applied. This dramatic decreasein the number of VIM solutions is not surprising, since the chromaticitycorrection applied by the Hipparcos reduction consortia was based on afixed V-I color. Astrophysical considerations lead us to adopt a morestringent criterion for accepting a VIM solution (first-kind risk of0.27% instead of 10% as in the Hipparcos catalogue). With this moresevere criterion, only 27 LPV stars remain VIM, thus rejecting 161 ofthe 188 (86%) of the LPVs defined as VIMs in the Hipparcos catalogue.Based on observations from the Hipparcos astrometric satellite operatedby the European Space Agency (ESA 1997).Table 1 is also 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/399/1167 Hipparcos red stars in the HpV_T2 and V I_C systemsFor Hipparcos M, S, and C spectral type stars, we provide calibratedinstantaneous (epoch) Cousins V - I color indices using newly derivedHpV_T2 photometry. Three new sets of ground-based Cousins V I data havebeen obtained for more than 170 carbon and red M giants. These datasetsin combination with the published sources of V I photometry served toobtain the calibration curves linking Hipparcos/Tycho Hp-V_T2 with theCousins V - I index. In total, 321 carbon stars and 4464 M- and S-typestars have new V - I indices. The standard error of the mean V - I isabout 0.1 mag or better down to Hp~9 although it deteriorates rapidly atfainter magnitudes. These V - I indices can be used to verify thepublished Hipparcos V - I color indices. Thus, we have identified ahandful of new cases where, instead of the real target, a random fieldstar has been observed. A considerable fraction of the DMSA/C and DMSA/Vsolutions for red stars appear not to be warranted. Most likely suchspurious solutions may originate from usage of a heavily biased color inthe astrometric processing.Based on observations from the Hipparcos astrometric satellite operatedby the European Space Agency (ESA 1997).}\fnmsep\thanks{Table 7 is onlyavailable 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/qcat?J/A+A/397/997 Molecular Masers in Variable StarsWhen a star with a mass of one to a few solar masses enters the redgiant stage of its evolution, the radius of its atmosphere reachesseveral astronomical units. Pulsational instability is typical for thisstage. Most stars become Mira-type or semiregular variables with lightcycles of a few hundred days. Red giants lose mass at a rateM=10-7-10-5Msolar yr-1.Extensive gas-dust circumstellar envelopes form. These envelopes containvarious molecular species. Some of these molecules (OH, H2O,SiO, HCN) manifest themselves in maser radio emission. Data on theH2O maser variability and its connection with the stellarbrightness variations are discussed. In the H2O linecircumstellar masers can be divided into stable' (showing persistentemission - R Aql, U Her, S CrB, X Hya) and transient' (appearing in theH2O line once per 10-15 stellar light cycles - R Leo, R Cas,U Aur). Physical mechanisms of the maser variability are discussed. Themost probable process explaining the observed visual-H2Ocorrelation is the influence of shock waves on the masing region.Usually it is assumed that shocks in Mira atmospheres are driven bystellar pulsations. Here an alternative explanation is proposed. If astar during its main sequence life possessed a planetary system, similarto the solar system, the planets will be embedded in a rather dense andhot medium. Effects of a planet revolving around a red giant at a shortdistance (inside its circumstellar envelope) are discussed. A shockproduced by the supersonic motion of a planet can account for thecorrelated variability of the Hα line emission and H2Omaser. If the planetary orbit is highly eccentric, then the connectedHα-H2O flare episodes may be explained by theperiastron passage of the planet. New tasks for the upgraded ATCA arediscussed. Time-dependent Asymmetries in the Atmosphere of the Mira Variable R Trianguli through Infrared InterferometryWe report high-resolution (<0.05 mas) angular size measurements ofthe Mira variable star R Tri using the Palomar Testbed Interferometer.Observations were conducted in the K band (2.0-2.4 μm) between thevisual phases of 0.77 and 0.88, and one period later at phase 0.91. Thespatial coverage of the measurements spans 40° in position angle.Three simple geometries were modeled: a uniform ellipse model and auniform sphere with a brighter disk'' model have lowerχ2μ than the uniform spherical disk modelby factors of 5-10. For the axially symmetric models, the axis ofsymmetry is clustered between 20° and 35°. The position anglesare roughly perpendicular to visual polarization position angles, whichsupports an axially symmetric source of light scattering. For theelliptical geometry, averaging the semimajor and semiminor axesthroughout the data set yields an ensemble average angular diameter of5.22+/-0.30 mas; the ensemble average axial ratio of 2a/2b=0.75 issimilar to that previously determined for other Mira and semiregularvariable stars. CHARM: A Catalog of High Angular Resolution MeasurementsThe Catalog of High Angular Resolution Measurements (CHARM) includesmost of the measurements obtained by the techniques of lunaroccultations and long-baseline interferometry at visual and infraredwavelengths, which have appeared in the literature or have otherwisebeen made public until mid-2001. A total of 2432 measurements of 1625sources are included, along with extensive auxiliary information. Inparticular, visual and infrared photometry is included for almost allthe sources. This has been partly extracted from currently availablecatalogs, and partly obtained specifically for CHARM. The main aim is toprovide a compilation of sources which could be used as calibrators orfor science verification purposes by the new generation of largeground-based facilities such as the ESO Very Large Interferometer andthe Keck Interferometer. The Catalog is available in electronic form atthe CDS via anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/386/492, and from theauthors on CD-Rom. Beobachtungsergebnisse Bundesdeutsche Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Veraenderliche Sterne e.V.Not Available Stars with the Largest Hipparcos Photometric AmplitudesA list of the 2027 stars that have the largest photometric amplitudes inHipparcos Photometry shows that most variable stars are all Miras. Thepercentage of variable types change as a function of amplitude. Thiscompilation should also be of value to photometrists looking forrelatively unstudied, but large amplitude stars. Speckle Interferometry of New and Problem Hipparcos Binaries. II. Observations Obtained in 1998-1999 from McDonald ObservatoryThe Hipparcos satellite made measurements of over 9734 known doublestars, 3406 new double stars, and 11,687 unresolved but possible doublestars. The high angular resolution afforded by speckle interferometrymakes it an efficient means to confirm these systems from the ground,which were first discovered from space. Because of its coverage of adifferent region of angular separation-magnitude difference(ρ-Δm) space, speckle interferometry also holds promise toascertain the duplicity of the unresolved Hipparcos problem'' stars.Presented are observations of 116 new Hipparcos double stars and 469Hipparcos problem stars,'' as well as 238 measures of other doublestars and 246 other high-quality nondetections. Included in these areobservations of double stars listed in the Tycho-2 Catalogue andpossible grid stars for the Space Interferometry Mission. Envelope tomography of long-period variable stars III. Line-doubling frequency among Mira starsThis paper presents statistics of the line-doubling phenomenon in asample of 81 long-period variable (LPV) stars of various periods,spectral types and brightness ranges. The set of observations consistsof 315 high-resolution optical spectra collected with the spectrographELODIE at the Haute-Provence Observatory, during 27 observing nights atone-month intervals and spanning two years. When correlated with a maskmimicking a K0III spectrum, 54% of the sample stars clearly showed adouble-peaked cross-correlation profile around maximum light, reflectingdouble absorption lines. Several pieces of evidence are presented thatpoint towards the double absorption lines as being caused by thepropagation of a shock wave through the photosphere. The observation ofthe Balmer lines appearing in emission around maximum light in thesestars corroborates the presence of a shock wave. The observed velocitydiscontinuities, ranging between 10 and 25 km s-1, are notcorrelated with the brightness ranges. A comparison with thecenter-of-mass (COM) velocity obtained from submm CO lines originatingin the circumstellar envelope reveals that the median velocity betweenthe red and blue peaks is blueshifted with respect to the COM velocity,as expected if the shock moves upwards. The LPVs clearly exhibitingline-doubling around maximum light with the K0III mask appear to be themost compact ones, the stellar radius being estimated from theireffective temperatures (via the spectral type) and luminosities (via theperiod-luminosity relationship). It is not entirely clear whether or notthis segregation between compact and extended LPVs is an artefact of theuse of the K0III mask. Warmer masks (F0V and G2V) applied to the mostextended and coolest LPVs yield asymmetric cross-correlation functionswhich suggest that line doubling is occurring in those stars as well.Although a firm conclusion on this point is hampered by the largecorrelation noise present in the CCFs of cool LPVs obtained with warmmasks, the occurrence of line doubling in those stars is confirmed bythe double CO Delta v = 3 lines observed around 1.6 mu m by Hinkle etal. (1984, ApJS, 56, 1). Moreover, the Hdelta line in emission, which isanother signature of the presence of shocks, is observed as well in themost extended stars, although with a somewhat narrower profile. This isan indication that the shock is weaker in extended than in compact LPVs,which may also contribute to the difficulty of detecting line doublingin cool, extended LPVs. Based on observations made at Observatoire deHaute Provence, operated by the Centre National de la RechercheScientifique, France. Table 3 is only available in electronic form athttp://www.edpsciences.org and at the CDS via anonymous ftp tocdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat?J/A+A/379/305 Long period variable stars: galactic populations and infrared luminosity calibrationsIn this paper HIPPARCOS astrometric and kinematic data are used tocalibrate both infrared luminosities and kinematical parameters of LongPeriod Variable stars (LPVs). Individual absolute K and IRAS 12 and 25luminosities of 800 LPVs are determined and made available in electronicform. The estimated mean kinematics is analyzed in terms of galacticpopulations. LPVs are found to belong to galactic populations rangingfrom the thin disk to the extended disk. An age range and a lower limitof the initial mass is given for stars of each population. A differenceof 1.3 mag in K for the upper limit of the Asymptotic Giant Branch isfound between the disk and old disk galactic populations, confirming itsdependence on the mass in the main sequence. LPVs with a thin envelopeare distinguished using the estimated mean IRAS luminosities. The levelof attraction (in the classification sense) of each group for the usualclassifying parameters of LPVs (variability and spectral types) isexamined. Table 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/374/968 or via ASTRIDdatabase (http://astrid.graal.univ-montp2.fr). Infrared colours for Mira-like long-period variables found in the (Mȯ<~10-7 Msolar yr-1) Hipparcos CatalogueNear-infrared, JHKL, photometry is presented for 193 Mira andsemi-regular variables that were observed by Hipparcos; periods,bolometric magnitudes and amplitudes are derived for 92 of them. Becauseof the way in which the Hipparcos targets were selected, this group ofstars provides a useful data base of Miras with low mass-loss rates(Mȯ<~10-7Msolaryr-1).Various period-colour relationships are discussed in detail. The colour,particularly BCK = 10.86 - 38.10 K (J - K)0 +64.16(J - K)20 - 50.72(J -K)30 + 19, K-L, at a given period is found todepend on the pulsation amplitude of the star. A comparison with modelssuggests that this is a consequence of atmospheric extension, in thesense that large-amplitude pulsators have very extended atmospheres andredder Mȯ<10-7Msolaryr-1, K-L and H-K but bluerJ-H than their lower amplitude counterparts. The stars with veryextended atmospheres also have higher values of K-[12] and hence highermass-loss rates. This finding provides further evidence for the causalconnection between pulsation and mass loss. Two sequences are identifiedin the Hp-K versus logP diagram (where Hp is the Hipparcos broad-bandmagnitude) at short periods (logP<2.35). At a given period these twogroups have, on average, the same pulsation amplitude, but differentJHKL colours and spectral types. The short-period stars in the bluersequence have similar near-infrared colours to the Miras found inglobular clusters. Long-term trends in the infrared light curves arediscussed for stars that have sufficient data. Mira kinematics from Hipparcos data: a Galactic bar to beyond the Solar circleThe space motions of Mira variables are derived from radial velocities,Hipparcos proper motions and a period-luminosity relation. Thepreviously known dependence of Mira kinematics on the period ofpulsation is confirmed and refined. In addition, it is found that Miraswith periods in the range 145-200d in the general Solar neighbourhoodhave a net radial outward motion from the Galactic Centre of75+/-18kms-1. This, together with a lag behind the circularvelocity of Galactic rotation of 98+/-19kms-1, is interpretedas evidence for an elongation of their orbits, with their major axesaligned at an angle of ~17° with the Sun-Galactic Centre line,towards positive Galactic longitudes. This concentration seems to be acontinuation to the Solar circle and beyond of the bar-like structure ofthe Galactic bulge, with the orbits of some local Miras probablypenetrating into the bulge. These conclusions are not sensitive to thedistance scale adopted. A further analysis is given of the short-period(SP) red group of Miras discussed in companion papers in this series. InAppendix A the mean radial velocities and other data for 842 oxygen-richMira-like variables are tabulated. These velocities were derived frompublished optical and radio observations. On the Variability of K5-M StarsI investigate the Hipparcos Satellite photometry of K5-M stars to seethe pattern of activity of these stars. A few stars for which furtherstudy is desirable are identified. Phase-dependent Spectroscopy of Mira Variable StarsSpectroscopic measurements of Mira variable stars as a function of phaseprobe the stellar atmospheres and underlying pulsation mechanisms. Forexample, measuring variations in TiO, VO, and ZrO with phase can be usedto help determine whether these molecular species are produced in anextended region above the layers where Balmer line emission occurs orbelow this shocked region. Using the same methods, the Balmer lineincrement, where the strongest Balmer line at phase zero is Hδ andnot Hα, can be measured and explanations tested, along withanother peculiarity, the absence of the Hɛ line in the spectra ofMira variables when the other Balmer lines are strong. We present newspectra covering the spectral range from 6200 to 9000 Å of 20 Miravariables. A relationship between variations in the Ca II IR triplet andHα as a function of phase support the hypothesis that Hɛ'sobservational characteristics result from an interaction of Hɛphotons with the Ca II H line. New periods and epochs of variability arealso presented for each star. Modeling Visual Photometry I: Preliminary Determination of Visual BandpassThis paper addresses the issue of spectral sensitivity as part of theoverall visual model. A mathematical theory and observational method arepresented for the determination of color coefficient with error term foran individual observer. Millimeter and some near infra-red observations of short-period Miras and other AGB starsMillimeter observations of 48 oxygen- and 20 carbon-rich AGB Miras withperiods shorter than 400 days are presented. In addition, observationsof 14 O-rich and 15 C-stars with longer, or no known, periods have alsobeen obtained. The detection statistics is as follows: in12CO J=1-0 and 2-1 we observed 97 stars, and detected 66 inat least one line. We find 24 new detections in the 1-0 line, 38 newdetections in the 2-1 line, and 29 stars have been detected for thefirst time in one or both lines. In 12CO J=3-2 we observed 14stars and detected 11, with 4 new detections. In 13CO J=2-1,3-2 we observed 2 stars and had one new detection. In HCN(1-0) weobserved 5 carbon stars and detected 3, one new. In SO(6_5-5_4) weobserved the same 5 stars and detected none. In CS(3-2) we observed 8carbon stars and detected 3, all new. In SiO(3-2, v=0) we observed 34O-rich stars and detected 25, all new except one. Near-infrared JHKphotometry is presented for seven stars. For four stars it is the firstNIR data published. The luminosity and dust mass loss rate are obtainedfor seven very red stars with unknown pulsation period from modellingthe spectral energy distribution (SED) and IRAS LRS spectra. Thereby, anew IR supergiant is confirmed (AFGL 2968). For the rest of the sample,luminosity and distance are obtained in a variety of ways: usinghipparcos parallaxes, period-luminosity and period-M_K-relationscombined with apparent K magnitudes, and kinematic distances. The dustmass loss rate is obtained from model fitting of the SED (either fromthe literature, or presented in the present paper), or from the observedIRAS 60 mu m flux, corrected for the photospheric contribution. The gasmass loss rate is derived from the observed CO line intensities, aspresented here, combined with existing literature data, if any. Thisallows the derivation of the dust-to-gas ratio. Our and literature CO J= 3-2 data has been used to calibrate the relation between mass lossrate and peak intensity of the CO(3-2) line. Diagrams showing mass lossrate, dust-to-gas ratio and expansion velocity versus pulsation periodare presented. Our observations confirm the existence of an upper limitfor the expansion velocity of C- and O-rich stars, and that this maximumis larger for C-stars, as predicted by the theory of radiation pressureon dust particles. The James Clerk Maxwell Telescope is operated by theObservatories on behalf of the Science and Engineering Council of theUK, the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research, and theNational Research Council of Canada. Based on observations made with theCarlos Sanchez telescope operated on the island of Tenerife in theSpanish Observatorio del Teide of the Instituto de Astrof\'\i sica deCanarias. Based on observations collected at the European SouthernObservatory, La Silla, Chile within programs ESO 57.E-0105, 59.E-0198and 61.E-0254. Based on data from the ESA Hipparcos astrometrysatellite. Period-Luminosity-Colour distribution and classification of Galactic oxygen-rich LPVs. I. Luminosity calibrationsThe absolute K magnitudes and kinematic parameters of about 350oxygen-rich Long-Period Variable stars are calibrated, by means of anup-to-date maximum-likelihood method, using Hipparcos parallaxes andproper motions together with radial velocities and, as additional data,periods and V-K colour indices. Four groups, differing by theirkinematics and mean magnitudes, are found. For each of them, we alsoobtain the distributions of magnitude, period and de-reddened colour ofthe base population, as well as de-biased period-luminosity-colourrelations and their two-dimensional projections. The SRa semiregulars donot seem to constitute a separate class of LPVs. The SRb appear tobelong to two populations of different ages. In a PL diagram, theyconstitute two evolutionary sequences towards the Mira stage. The Mirasof the disk appear to pulsate on a lower-order mode. The slopes of theirde-biased PL and PC relations are found to be very different from theones of the Oxygen Miras of the LMC. This suggests that a significantnumber of so-called Miras of the LMC are misclassified. This alsosuggests that the Miras of the LMC do not constitute a homogeneousgroup, but include a significant proportion of metal-deficient stars,suggesting a relatively smooth star formation history. As a consequence,one may not trivially transpose the LMC period-luminosity relation fromone galaxy to the other Based on data from the Hipparcos astrometrysatellite. Appendix B is only available in electronic form at the CDSvia anonymous ftp to cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/Abstract.html
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