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Do all barium stars have a white dwarf companion?International Ultraviolet Explorer short-wavelength, low-dispersion spectra were analyzed for four barium, two mild barium, and one R-type carbon star in order to test the hypothesis that the barium and related giants are produced by mass transfer from a companion now present as a white dwarf. An earlier tentative identification of a white dwarf companion to the mild barium star Zeta Cyg is confirmed. For the other stars, no ultraviolet excess attributable to a white dwarf is seen. Limits are set on the bolometric magnitude and age of a possible white dwarf companion. Since the barium stars do not have obvious progenitors among main-sequence and subgiant stars, mass transfer must be presumed to occur when the mass-gaining star is already on the giant branch. This restriction, and the white dwarf's minimum age, which is greater than 8 x 10 to the 8th yr, determined for several stars, effectively eliminates the hypothesis that mass transfer from an asymptotic giant branch star creates a barium star. Speculations are presented on alternative methods of producing a barium star in a binary system.
Document ID
19830056699
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Dominy, J. F.
(Texas Univ. Austin, TX, United States)
Lambert, D. L.
(Texas, University Austin, TX, United States)
Date Acquired
August 11, 2013
Publication Date
July 1, 1983
Publication Information
Publication: Astrophysical Journal, Part 1
Volume: 270
ISSN: 0004-637X
Subject Category
Astrophysics
Accession Number
83A37917
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NSG-5379
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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