skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: IRAS observations of Delta Scuti variables - Implications for main-sequence mass loss and an IR period-luminosity relation

Journal Article · · Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific; (USA)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1086/132688· OSTI ID:6598552
 [1]
  1. Hawaii Univ., Honolulu (USA)

The far-infrared detections of Delta Scuti variables in The Bright Star Catalog by the IRAS satellite are investigated; 52 percent of the sample was detected at 12 microns. The 12 micron luminosity is correlated with L(Bol) and ranges from about 3 x 10 to the 31st to about 6 x 10 to the 32nd erg/s. Comparable numbers of Delta Sct variables and A-F nonvariables show infrared excesses in at least one IRAS passband. Further considerations show that contributions to these excesses due to mass loss are minimal. This investigation suggests that the pulsating variables are not losing mass at higher rates than nonvariable A and F stars which themselves do not appear to be losing mass at a rate above an expected level. The existence of a Period-12 micron luminosity relation of small dispersion, quite surprising in light of the uncertainties in these data is reported. It is demonstrated that such relations also exist at the J, H, and K bands. The possibility of using such relations for distance determinations is discussed in light of good distance estimates to three clusters using the P-L relation. 20 refs.

OSTI ID:
6598552
Journal Information:
Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific; (USA), Vol. 102; ISSN 0004-6280
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English