Page 1 PROPOSAL FOR HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE OBSERVATIONS ST ScI Use Only ID 5360 Report Date: 18-Jul-95:17:14 Version: ********** Check-in Date: ********** 1.Proposal Title: MASS LOSS AND IRON CURTAIN IN SYMBIOTIC SYSTEMS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2. Scientific Category 3. Proposal For 4. Proposal Type 5. Continuation ID INTERSTELLAR MEDIUM GO 1 Long Term yrs Sub Category NOVAE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6. Principal Investigator Institution Country Telephone Harry Nussbaumer 7820 SWITZERLAN 41-1-6323631 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 7. Abstract We propose GHRS observations for studying mass loss of hot components in symbiotic novae and the close environment of the interacting binaries. We have indications that in some symbiotics the hot star loses mass by a fast wind. Mass loss by the cool giant has previously been investigated and is generally accepted. The detection of a second wind would imply that new physical processes need to be included in modelling symbiotic binaries, particularly the hydrodynamic treatment of the collision of two winds, with the related X-ray emission and other high energy phenomena. - It was recently suggested, that the interpretation of symbiotic spectra may be severely distorted by selective absorption by a forest of lines from neutral and lowly ionized atoms in the wind of the cool star. This `iron curtain' is mainly due to transitions from iron peak elements. Only HST has the required dynamic range and spectral resolution needed for a conclusive investigation of the wind and `iron curtain' problem. The present proposal addresses simultaneously three scientific goals: (1) A search for winds and mass losses from hot components in symbiotics stars. (2) Spectroscopic NLTE analyses of the wind features which will provide stellar parameters and wind characteristics of symbiotic novae. (3) An `iron curtain' analysis which allows an unambiguous interpretation of observed line profiles provides information about the physical state of the neutral and lowly ionized environment, in particular basic physical properties of the cool giant's wind. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9. Est obs time (hours) pri: 5.87 par: 0 10. Num targs pri: 3 par: 0 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 11. Instruments requested: HRS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Page 2 I. GENERAL FORM Proposal 5360 PI: Harry Nussbaumer Proposal Title: MASS LOSS AND IRON CURTAIN IN SYMBIOTIC SYSTEMS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1. Proposers: Proposers Institution Country ESA ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Harry Nussbaumer 7820 SWITZERLAND X Werner Schmutz 7820 SWITZERLAND X Manfred Vogel 7820 SWITZERLAND X ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3. Description of proposed observations. For the spectroscopic analysis of the hot object and its wind we need medium resolution observations (R approx10'000). They are essential for separating the very strong (10 to 100 times continuum) but narrow (40 km/s) nebular lines from the rather weak (about twice continuum) but broad (500 km/s) lines from the hot wind. Practically the same set of lines is requested for PU Vul and AG Peg. For EG And only C IV 1550 and He II 1640 will be observed. (a) The following lines are needed for the wind analysis: Resonance multiplets: C IV 1549, N V 1240, Si IV 1397, (Al III 1857) Recombination lines: He II 1640, N IV 1718, O V 1371 Al III 1857 is only proposed for PU Vul (b) For modelling the nebula we need in addition: C III 1909, Si III 1891, N III 1750, N IV 1486. O IV 1400 is contained in the Si IV 1397 observation. The observations required under (a) also contain the necessary information for the `iron curtain' program. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4. Justification of need for HST observations. Further progress in the study of the hot wind and the characteristics of the hot object in the symbiotic system demands observations with a UV telescope of higher sensitivity and dynamic range than available on IUE. In particular, the wind line profiles from the hot star with their suspected P-Cygni absorption and the broad low contrast feet are only accessible with HST. For the symbiotic novae IUE does not reach the continuum level in high resolution in the neighbourhood of strong lines without overspilling through saturation from the strong nebular component. - The `iron curtain' program has the same requirements as the wind program, it needs sufficient continuum in the proximity of the strong absorption lines (see Figure). Closer inspection of IUE high resolution spectra show that emission lines like N V 1240, C IV 1550, or He II 1640 are blends of narrow strong nebular and broad wind lines. But the limited dynamic range of IUE does not allow to properly deconvolve the features. In addition the continuum is either absent or strongly distorted by overspilling from the peaks of the emission lines. We have accepted IUE proposals and shall submit for further observations to obtain absolute fluxes over the full IUE spectral range. IUE capabilities suffice to measure the general continuum longward of about 1300 Angstroem as well as fluxes of stronger nebular emission lines, in order to follow their evolution. IUE observations are insufficient for wind line profiles and their immediate neighbourhood. We have accepted ESO proposals, and we shall submit additional requests, in particular to obtain H and He line fluxes and their line profiles for wind diagnostics and abundance determinations. As PU Vul is the youngest symbiotic nova. We need HST for the nebular diagnostics as well as for the wind lines, where IUE cannot provide the necessary data. AG Peg is a symbiotic nova where the nebular lines now dominate the spectrum. With HST we shall be able to separate hot wind and nebular contributions. This is of prime importance for our model calculations. EG And is of particular interest for the `iron curtain' lines. IUE observations cannot provide the required signal/noise in the lines and underlying continua of the lines principally affected: C IV and He II. Symbiotic novae vary relatively slowly, neither of these observations are very time critical, except that EG And should not be observed during eclipse. Page 3 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 5. Description of special scheduling requirements. EG And varies with a period of 482.days. It has its minimum at JD= 2'448'273 + E x 482.2. The length of the full eclipse lasts approximately 30 days. Therefore, avoid HST observations of EG And on the following dates: November 1994, December 1994, January 1995, February 1995 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6. Description of special calibration exposures. None ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 8. Additional comments or special requests. None ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 9. Description of previous HST work. Nr. 2342 - The symbiotic phenomenon. (Michalitsianos, Fahey, Kafatos, Nussbaumer, Paresce) The observations have not yet been done. The goal of that project, which will concentrate on the symbiotic star R Aqr (which is not a symbiotic nova), is not related to the purpose of this proposal. Nr. 3605 Extreme stellar winds and post-main-sequence evolution in the upper HR Diagramm (PI Leiterer, co-author Schmutz) Nr. 3663 UV spectropolarimatry of AG Car in its current outburst. (PI Leiterer, co-author Schmutz) Nr. 3882 UV spectropolarimatry of AG Car in its current outburst. (DD time) (PI Leiterer, co-author Schmutz) Nr. 4494 Symbiotic systems in the Magellanic Clouds. (Vogel, Nussbaumer, Shore) The observations are scheduled for December 1993. Nr. 4494 is indirectly related in that it should permit to put symbiotics on an absolute luminosity scale. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 10. Resources to be supplied by investigator's institution(s). From ETH and the Swiss Science Foundation we have received grants for two Ph.D. students to work on these projects. In addition three post-doctoral positions have been granted to work on HST related projects. There are always a number of students who work in our institute to fulfill part of their obligation for their physics degree. Travel money needed is included in the budget of our institute. At ETH (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology) we have excellent computer facilities which we can access directly from our institute, e.g. Cray Y-MP, VAX 9000. Allocation of requested computer access and time has never been a problem. In addition we have several computer work stations as part of the infrastructure of our institute. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 11. Address Information Name: HARRY NUSSBAUMER Category: PI Institution: 7820 Address: ETH ZENTRUM City: 8092 ZURICH State: Zip Code: Country: SWITZERLAND Telephone: 41-1-632 3631 Telex (or e-mail): nussbaum@astro.phys.ethz.ch ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Name: Category: CON Institution: Address: City: State: Zip Code: Country: Telephone: Telex (or e-mail): ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ TARGET LIST a) Fixed Targets ID = 5360 [ 4] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Tar| Target | Target | Target |Coord | Radial |Acqui|FLX| Flux data No | Name | Description | Position |Eqnx | Vel. |Prblm|REF| | | | | | | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 PU-VUL A,155 RA = 20H 21M 13.30S +/- 2000 1 V = 8.8 0.15S, 1 B-V= 0.0 DEC = +21D 34' 18.0" +/- 2.0" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2 AG-PEG A,155 RA = 21H 51M 02.00S +/- 2000 1 V = 8.7 0.15S, 1 B-V= 1.3 DEC = +12D 37' 31.9" +/- 2.0" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3 EG-AND A,155 RA = 00H 44M 37.17S +/- 2000 1 V = 7.3 0.2S, 1 B-V= 1.7 DEC = +40D 40' 45.9" +/- 2.0" Comments: AVOID EG AND DURING THE DATES GIVEN TO QUESTION 5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ EXPOSURE LOGSHEET ID = 5360 [ 5] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |10 | 11 | 12 |13 |14| 15 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Line | Seq | Target |Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | S/N |Flx|Pr| Special Number | Name | Name |Config| Mode |or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| |Rel. Time|Ref| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.01 PU-VUL HRS ACQ 2.0 MIRROR-N2 SEARCH-SIZE=3 1 3.6S 1 1 CYCLE 4 BRIGHT=RETURN ONBOARD ACQ FOR LOCATE=YES 1.02 Comments: STEP-TIME=0.4 SEC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.02 PU-VUL HRS ACQ/ 2.0 MIRROR-N2 1 40.8S 1 1 CYCLE 4 PEAKUP ONBOARD ACQ FOR 1.03-1.11 Comments: STEP-TIME=0.4 SEC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.03 PU-VUL HRS ACCUM 2.0 G160M 1240 FP-SPLIT=STD 1 1650.0S 20 1 1 CYCLE 4 Comments: SIGNAL-NOISE IN THE CONTINUUM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.04 PU-VUL HRS ACCUM 2.0 G160M 1400 FP-SPLIT=STD 1 1400.0S 20 1 1 CYCLE 4 Comments: SIGNAL-NOISE IN THE CONTINUUM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.05 PU-VUL HRS ACCUM 2.0 G160M 1485 FP-SPLIT=STD 1 1200.0S 20 1 1 CYCLE 4 Comments: SIGNAL-NOISE IN THE CONTINUUM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.06 PU-VUL HRS ACCUM 2.0 G160M 1550 FP-SPLIT=STD 1 1500.0S 20 1 1 CYCLE 4 Comments: SIGNAL-NOISE IN THE CONTINUUM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.07 PU-VUL HRS ACCUM 2.0 G160M 1640 FP-SPLIT=STD 1 1600.0S 20 1 1 CYCLE 4 Comments: SIGNAL-NOISE IN THE CONTINUUM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.08 PU-VUL HRS ACCUM 2.0 G200M 1718 FP-SPLIT=STD 1 1200.0S 20 1 1 CYCLE 4 Comments: SIGNAL-NOISE IN THE CONTINUUM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.09 PU-VUL HRS ACCUM 2.0 G200M 1750 FP-SPLIT=STD 1 1000.0S 20 1 1 CYCLE 4 Comments: SIGNAL-NOISE IN THE CONTINUUM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.1 PU-VUL HRS ACCUM 2.0 G200M 1860 FP-SPLIT=STD 1 900.0S 20 1 1 CYCLE 4 Comments: SIGNAL-NOISE IN THE CONTINUUM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.11 PU-VUL HRS ACCUM 2.0 G200M 1900 FP-SPLIT=STD 1 900.0S 20 1 1 CYCLE 4 Comments: SIGNAL-NOISE IN THE CONTINUUM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2.01 AG-PEG HRS ACQ 2.0 MIRROR-N2 SEARCH-SIZE=3 1 1.8S 1 1 CYCLE 4 BRIGHT=RETURN ONBOARD ACQ FOR LOCATE=YES 2.02 Comments: STEP-TIME=0.2 SEC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2.02 AG-PEG HRS ACQ/ 2.0 MIRROR-N2 1 20.4S 1 1 CYCLE 4 PEAKUP ONBOARD ACQ FOR 2.03-2.09 Comments: STEP-TIME=0.2 SEC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2.03 AG-PEG HRS ACCUM 2.0 G160M 1240 FP-SPLIT=STD 1 600.0S 25 1 1 CYCLE 4 Comments: SIGNAL-NOISE IN THE CONTINUUM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2.04 AG-PEG HRS ACCUM 2.0 G160M 1371 FP-SPLIT=STD 1 600.0S 25 1 1 CYCLE 4 Comments: SIGNAL-NOISE IN THE CONTINUUM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ EXPOSURE LOGSHEET ID = 5360 [ 6] ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |10 | 11 | 12 |13 |14| 15 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Line | Seq | Target |Instr | Oper. | Aper |Spectral|Central| Optional |Num| Time | S/N |Flx|Pr| Special Number | Name | Name |Config| Mode |or FOV |Element |Waveln.| Parameters |Exp| |Rel. Time|Ref| | Requirements ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2.05 AG-PEG HRS ACCUM 2.0 G160M 1400 FP-SPLIT=STD 1 600.0S 25 1 1 CYCLE 4 Comments: SIGNAL-NOISE IN THE CONTINUUM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2.06 AG-PEG HRS ACCUM 2.0 G160M 1485 FP-SPLIT=STD 1 600.0S 25 1 1 CYCLE 4 Comments: SIGNAL-NOISE IN THE CONTINUUM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2.07 AG-PEG HRS ACCUM 2.0 G160M 1550 FP-SPLIT=STD 1 600.0S 25 1 1 CYCLE 4 Comments: SIGNAL-NOISE IN THE CONTINUUM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2.08 AG-PEG HRS ACCUM 2.0 G160M 1640 FP-SPLIT=STD 1 600.0S 25 1 1 CYCLE 4 Comments: SIGNAL-NOISE IN THE CONTINUUM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2.09 AG-PEG HRS ACCUM 2.0 G200M 1718 FP-SPLIT=STD 1 600.0S 25 1 1 CYCLE 4 Comments: SIGNAL-NOISE IN THE CONTINUUM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3.01 EG-AND HRS ACQ 2.0 MIRROR-N2 SEARCH-SIZE=3 1 9.0S 1 1 CYCLE 4 BRIGHT=RETURN ONBOARD ACQ FOR LOCATE=YES 3.02 Comments: STEP-TIME=1.0 SEC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3.02 EG-AND HRS ACQ/ 2.0 MIRROR-N2 1 102.0S 1 1 CYCLE 4 PEAKUP ONBOARD ACQ FOR 3.03-3.04 Comments: STEP-TIME=1.0 SEC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3.03 EG-AND HRS ACCUM 2.0 G160M 1550 FP-SPLIT=STD 1 45.0M 20 1 1 CYCLE 4 Comments: SIGNAL-NOISE IN THE CONTINUUM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 3.04 EG-AND HRS ACCUM 2.0 G160M 1640 FP-SPLIT=STD 1 45.0M 20 1 1 CYCLE 4 Comments: SIGNAL-NOISE IN THE CONTINUUM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Summary Form for Proposal 5360 [ 7] Item Used in this proposal ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Configurations HRS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Opmodes ACQ ACQ/PEAKUP ACCUM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Optional Parameters SEARCH-SIZE=3 BRIGHT=RETURN LOCATE=YES FP-SPLIT=STD ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Proposal for GO ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ S/C Hours 5.87 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Scientific Category INTERSTELLAR MEDIUM ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Scientific Sub-category NOVAE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Special Requirements CYCLE 4; ONBOARD ACQ FOR 1.02 ONBOARD ACQ FOR 1.03-1.11; ONBOARD ACQ FOR 2.02; ONBOARD ACQ FOR 2.03-2.09; ONBOARD ACQ FOR 3.02; ONBOARD ACQ FOR 3.03-3.04; ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Spectral Elements MIRROR-N2 G160M G200M ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Target Names PU-VUL AG-PEG EG-AND ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------