Issue |
A&A
Volume 539, March 2012
|
|
---|---|---|
Article Number | A142 | |
Number of page(s) | 15 | |
Section | Stellar atmospheres | |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1051/0004-6361/201118167 | |
Published online | 07 March 2012 |
Magnetism, chemical spots, and stratification in the HgMn star ϕ Phoenicis⋆,⋆⋆
1 Department Physics and Astronomy, Uppsala University, Box 516, 751 20 Uppsala, Sweden
e-mail: vitaly.makaganiuk@physics.uu.se
2 Sterrekundig Instituut, Universiteit Utrecht, PO Box 80000, 3508 TA Utrecht, The Netherlands
3 Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, 6100 Main Street, Houston, TX 77005, USA
4 Space Telescope Science Institute, 3700 San Martin Dr, Baltimore MD 21211, USA
Received: 28 September 2011
Accepted: 25 November 2011
Context. Mercury-manganese (HgMn) stars have been considered as non-magnetic and non-variable chemically peculiar (CP) stars for a long time. However, recent discoveries of the variability in spectral line profiles have suggested an inhomogeneous surface distribution of chemical elements in some HgMn stars. From the studies of other CP stars it is known that magnetic field plays a key role in the formation of surface spots. All attempts to find magnetic fields in HgMn stars have yielded negative results.
Aims. In this study, we investigate the possible presence of a magnetic field in ϕ Phe (HD 11753) and reconstruct surface distribution of chemical elements that show variability in spectral lines. We also test a hypothesis that a magnetic field is concentrated in chemical spots and look into the possibility that some chemical elements are stratified with depth in the stellar atmosphere.
Methods. Our analysis is based on high-quality spectropolarimetric time-series observations, covering a full rotational period of the star. Spectra were obtained with the HARPSpol at the ESO 3.6-m telescope. To increase the sensitivity of the magnetic field search, we employed the least-squares deconvolution (LSD) technique. Using Doppler imaging code INVERS10, we reconstructed surface chemical distributions by utilising information from multiple spectral lines. The vertical stratification of chemical elements was calculated with the DDAFit program.
Results. Combining information from all suitable spectral lines, we set an upper limit of 4 G on the mean longitudinal magnetic field. For chemical spots, an upper limit on the longitudinal field varies between 8 and 15 G. We confirmed the variability of Y, Sr, and Ti and detected variability in Cr lines. Stratification analysis showed that Y and Ti are not concentrated in the uppermost atmospheric layers.
Conclusions. Our spectropolarimetric observations rule out the presence of a strong, globally-organised magnetic field in ϕ Phe. This implies an alternative mechanism of spot formation, which could be related to a non-equilibrium atomic diffusion. However, the typical time scales of the variation in stratification predicted by the recent time-dependent diffusion models exceed significantly the spot evolution time-scale reported for ϕ Phe.
Key words: stars: chemically peculiar / stars: individual: Phi Phe / stars: variables: general
Based on observations collected at the European Southern Observatory, Chile (ESO programme 084.D-0338).
Figures 9–12 are available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.org
© ESO, 2012
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