Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2003-08-07
Mon.Not.Roy.Astron.Soc.345:1223,2003
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
14 pages, 14 figures, accepted by MNRAS; minor section removed prior to final publication
Scientific paper
10.1046/j.1365-2966.2003.07038.x
We address the relationship between spectral type and physical properties for A-type supergiants in the SMC. We first construct a self-consistent classification scheme for A supergiants, employing the calcium K to H epsilon line ratio as a temperature-sequence discriminant. Following the precepts of the `MK process', the same morphological criteria are applied to Galactic and SMC spectra with the understanding there may not be a correspondence in physical properties between spectral counterparts in different environments. We then discuss the temperature scale, concluding that A supergiants in the SMC are systematically cooler than their Galactic counterparts at the same spectral type, by up to ~10%. Considering the relative line strengths of H gamma and the CH G-band we extend our study to F and early G-type supergiants, for which similar effects are found. We note the implications for analyses of extragalactic luminous supergiants, for the flux-weighted gravity-luminosity relationship and for population synthesis studies in unresolved stellar systems.
Evans John C. Jr.
Howarth Ian D.
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