A spectral classification system for hydrogen-deficient carbon stars

Date

2023

Authors

L Crawford, Courtney
Tisserand, Patrick
Clayton, Geoffrey C
Soon, Jamie
Bessell, Mike
Wood, Peter R
Garcıa–Hernandez, D.A.
Ruiter, Ashley J
Seitenzahl, Ivo R

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Abstract

Stellar spectral classification has been highly useful in the study of stars. While there is a currently accepted spectral classification system for carbon stars, the subset of hydrogen-deficient carbon (HdC) stars has not been well described by such a system, due predominantly to their rarity and their variability. Here we present the first system for the classification of HdCs based on their spectra, which is made wholly on their observable appearance. We use a combination of dimensionality reduction and clustering algorithms with human classification to create such a system with eight total classes corresponding to temperature, and an additional second axis corresponding to the carbon molecular band strength. We classify over half of the known sample of HdC stars using this, and roughly calibrate the temperatures of each class using their colours. Additionally, we express trends in the occurrence of certain spectral peculiarities such as the presence of hydrogen and lithium lines. We also present three previously unpublished spectra, report the discovery of two new Galactic dustless HdC stars, and additionally discuss one especially unique star that appears to border between the hottest HdCs and the coolest extreme helium stars.

Description

Keywords

atlases, stars: carbon, stars: chemically peculiar, stars: variables, general

Citation

Source

Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society

Type

Journal article

Book Title

Entity type

Access Statement

Open Access

License Rights

Creative Commons Attribution licence

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