Department of Physics and Astronomy: Publications and Other Research

 

Document Type

Article

Date of this Version

6-1970

Citation

Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, Vol. 82, No. 487 (June 1970), pp. 707-715

Comments

Copyright 1970 Astronomical Society of the Pacific.

Abstract

Observational discriminants are proposed to test the μ-mechanism theory of β Cephei stars as advanced by Stothers and Simon (1969). These include: helium and nitrogen overabundances, far ultraviolet flux excesses (high surface temperature), narrow (occasionally broad) spectral line widths, and binary character. A list of potential β Cep candidates, comprising 24 spectroscopic binaries with spectral type O9-B4 III -V and a large orbital ratio of masses, has been compiled for the benefit of observers interested in searching for new β Cep stars. The data thus far accumulated are not in contradiction with, and occasionally positively support, the μ-mechanism theory.

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