Parameters and abundances have been derived for 435 Cepheids based on an analysis of 1127 spectra. Results from five or more phases are available for 52 of the program stars. The latter set of stars span periods between 1.5 and 68 days. The parameters and abundances show excellent consistency across phase. For iron, the average range in the determined abundance is 0.11 from these 52 stars. For 163 stars with more than one phase available the average range is 0.07. The variation in effective temperature tracks well with phase, as does the total broadening velocity. The gravity and microturbulent velocity follow phase, but with less variation and regularity. Abundance gradients have been derived using GAIA DR2 parallax data (GAIA Collaboration et al. 2016, 2018), as well as Bayesian distance estimates based upon GAIA DR2 from Bailer-Jones et al. (2018). The abundance gradient derived for iron is d[Fe/H]/dR = -0.05 dex/kpc, similar to gradients derived in previous studies.

Stellar parameters and abundances have been derived from a sample of 907 F, G, and K dwarfs. The high-resolution, high signal-to-noise spectra utilized were acquired with the HARPS spectrograph of the European Southern Observatory. The stars in the sample with −0.2 < [Fe/H] < +0.2 have abundances that strongly resemble that of the Sun, except for the lithium content and the lanthanides. Near the solar temperature, stars show two orders of magnitude range in lithium content. The average content of stars in the local region appears to be enhanced at about the +0.1 level relative to the Sun for the lanthanides. There are over 100 planet hosts in this sample, and there is no discernible difference between them and the non-hosts regarding their lithium content.

Parameters and abundances have been derived for 1002 stars of spectral types F, G, and K, and luminosity classes IV and V. After culling the sample for rotational velocity and effective temperature, 867 stars remain for discussion. Twenty-eight elements are considered in the analysis. The a, iron-peak, and Period 5 transition metal abundances for these stars show a modest enhancement over solar averaging about 0.05 dex. The lanthanides are more abundant, averaging about +0.2 dex over solar. The question is: Are these stars enhanced, or is the Sun somewhat metal-poor relative to these stars? The consistency of the abundances derived here supports an argument for the latter view. Lithium, carbon, and oxygen abundances have been derived. The stars show the usual lithium astration as a function of mass/temperature. There are more than 100 planet-hosts in the sample, and there is no discernible difference in their lithium content, relative to the remaining stars. The carbon and oxygen abundances show the well-known trend of decreasing [x/Fe] ratio with increasing [Fe/H].

We describe an effective method of investigation of the Diffuse Interstellar Bands (DIBs) in the spectra of Cepheid stars. DIBs are believed to originate from the absorption of such carriers as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the interstellar gaseous clouds located between an observer and the stars whose spectra were recorded. We performed a detailed consideration of the DIB at 6613 A in our sample of spectra for more than 250 stars. The quantitative characteristics of the DIB absorption features will be studied in connection with the interstellar absorption data, and after that, they will be used in the mapping of the Galactic disc.

We have investigated the diffuse interstellar band (DIB) at 661.3 nm seen in the spectra of Cepheid stars. After removal of the blending lines of ionized yttrium and neutral iron, we determined the equivalent widths (EWs) of the DIB and used these values to investigate the E(B - V)-DIB EW relation. The relation found from Cepheids matches that found in B stars. This relation can help to find the reddening for newly discovered Cepheids without extensive photometric data, and thus determine their distances. The relation between E(B - V) and the DIB EW does not yield precise reddening values. It is not a substitute for better photometric or spectroscopic methods. At best, it is indicative, but it provides some information that may not be otherwise available. Defining R* = E(B - V)/DIB EW, which we consider to be the analogue of R = E(B - V)/Av, we investigated the Galactic longitudinal dependence of R* assuming that the DIB EW value is representative of the interstellar absorption Av. We found that there is an apparent increase of the R* value that corresponds to the abnormal absorption seen towards Cygnus constellation. Finally, we constructed a 2D map of the DIB EW distribution in the Galactic disc basing on our rather limited sample of 253 spectra of 176 Cepheids.

Parameters and abundances for 1133 stars of spectral types F, G, and K of luminosity class III have been derived. In terms of stellar parameters, the primary point of interest is the disagreement between gravities derived with masses determined from isochrones, and gravities determined from an ionization balance. This is not a new result per se, but the size of this sample emphasizes the severity of the problem. A variety of arguments led to the selection of the ionization-balance gravity as the working value. The derived abundances indicate that the giants in the solar region have Sun-like total abundances and abundance ratios. Stellar evolution indicators have also been investigated with the Li abundances and the [C/Fe] and C/O ratios, indicating that standard processing has been operating in these stars. The more salient result for stellar evolution is that the [C/Fe] data across the red-giant clump indicates the presence of mass-dependent mixing in accord with standard stellar evolution predictions.

We have performed a NLTE analysis of the infrared oxygen triplet for a large number of cepheid spectra obtained with the Hobby-Eberly telescope. These data were combined with our previous NLTE results for the stars observed with Max Planck Gesellschaft telescope with the aim to investigate oxygen abundance distribution in Galactic thin disc. We find the slope of the radial (O/H) gradient value to be equal -0.058 dex/kpc. Nevertheless, we found that there could be a hint that the distribution might become flatter in the outer parts of the disc. This is also supported by other authors who studied open clusters, planetary nebulae and H II regions. Some mechanisms of flattening are discussed.

Parameters and abundances for 451 stars of spectral types F, G, and K of luminosity classes I and II have been derived. Absolute magnitudes and E(B-V) have been derived for the warmer stars in order to investigate the galactic abundance gradient. The value found here: d[Fe/H]/dR similar to -0.06 dex kpc(-1), agrees well with previous determinations. Stellar evolution indicators have also been investigated with the derived C/O ratios indicating that standard CN processing has been operating. Perhaps the most surprising result found in these supposedly relatively young intermediate-mass stars is that both [O/Fe] and [C/Fe] show a correlation with [Fe/H] much the same as found in older populations. While the stars were selected based on luminosity class, there does exist a significant [Fe/H] range in the sample. The likely explanation of this is that there is a significant range in age in the sample; that is, some of the sample are low-mass red-giant stars with types that place them within the selection criteria.

We derived the barium atmospheric abundances for a large sample of Cepheids, comprising 270 stars. The sample covers a large range of Galactocentric distances, from about 4 to 15 kpc, so it is appropriate to investigate the existence of radial barium abundance gradients in the Galactic disc. In fact, this is the first time that such a comprehensive analysis of the distribution of barium abundances in the Galactic disc has been carried out. As a result, we conclude that the Ba abundance distribution can be characterized by a zero gradient. This result is compared with derived gradients for other elements, and some reasons are briefly discussed for the independence of the barium abundances from Galactocentric distances.

Oxygen abundances in later-type stars, and intermediate-mass stars in particular, are usually determined from the [O I] line at 630.0 nm, and to a lesser extent, from the O I triplet at 615.7 nm. The near-IR triplets at 777.4 nm and 844.6 nm are strong in these stars and generally do not suffer from severe blending with other species. However, these latter two triplets suffer from strong non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (NLTE) effects and thus see limited use in abundance analyses. In this paper, we derive oxygen abundances in a large sample of Cepheids using the near-IR triplets from an NLTE analysis, and compare those abundances to values derived from a local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE) analysis of the [O I] 630.0 nm line and the O I 615.7 nm triplet as well as LTE abundances for the 777.4 nm triplet. All of these lines suffer from line strength problems making them sensitive to either measurement complications (weak lines) or to line saturation difficulties (strong lines). Upon this realization, the LTE results for the [O I] lines and the O I 615.7 nm triplet are in adequate agreement with the abundance from the NLTE analysis of the near-IR triplets.

The determination of pulsation mode and distance for field Cepheids is a complicated problem best resolved by a luminosity estimate. For illustration a technique based on spectroscopic luminosity discrimination is applied to the 4.47 day s-Cepheid FF Aql. Line ratios in high dispersion spectra of the variable yield values of < M-V > = -3.40 +/- 0.02 s.e. (+/- 0.04 s.d.), average effective temperature T-eff = 6195 +/- 24 K, and intrinsic color (< B > - < V >)(0) = +0.506 +/- 0.007, corresponding to a reddening of EB-V = 0.25 +/- 0.01, or EB-V(B0) = 0.26 +/- 0.01. The skewed light curve, intrinsic color, and luminosity of FF Aql are consistent with fundamental mode pulsation for a small-amplitude classical Cepheid on the blue side of the instability strip, not a sinusoidal pulsator. A distance of 413 +/- 14 pc is estimated from the Cepheid's angular diameter in conjunction with a mean radius of < R > = 39.0 +/- 0.7 R-circle dot inferred from its luminosity and effective temperature. The dust extinction toward FF Aql is described by a ratio of total-to-selective extinction of R-V = A(V)/E(B - V) = 3.16 +/- 0.34 according to the star's apparent distance modulus.

Using an Non-Local Thermodynamic Equilibrium (NLTE) analysis and a homogenous spectral data base, we have determined Ba abundances in a sample of 210 Galactic Cepheids and related objects. We confirm the previous result reported in Andrievsky et al. that the barium distribution in the range of Galactocentric distances from 5 to 18 kpc shows very small gradient value. The value determined here - d[Ba/H]/dR approximate to -0.01 dex kpc(-1) - is smaller than that for other s-process elements, such as La, Pr, Nd and Sm (Luck & Lambert), that typically show gradients of -0.03 dex kpc(-1).

The aim of this work is to derive precise reddenings for 31 Cepheids using multiphase high-resolution spectroscopic observations and literature-derived colors. Each individual reddening value was determined as a difference between the observed ( B - V) value and a calculated ( B - V) value based on Castelli stellar model atmospheres and atmosphere parameters (effective temperature and gravity) previously determined through high-resolution spectroscopic analysis. This procedure was repeated for all pulsational phases at which spectra were obtained (typically 11 spectra for each star). After that, the mean reddening value for a given Cepheid was obtained. The reddening values derived were compared to values based on the use of distances and multiband photometry, reaching the general conclusion that reddening derived in this manner agrees with those from other methods.

To identify the pulsation mode of three low-amplitude classical Cepheids, namely V1334 Cyg, V440 Per and V636 Cas, we use absolute magnitudes which are based upon Mv–Fe II/Fe I line depth relations. We determine that V1334 Cyg is pulsating in the first overtone, and that V440 Per and V636 Cas are fundamental mode pulsators. Their low amplitudes are due to their position close to the edge of the instability strip.

This paper reports on the spectroscopic investigation of 238 Cepheids in the northern sky. Of these stars, about 150 are new to the study of the galactic abundance gradient. These new Cepheids bring the total number of Cepheids involved in abundance distribution studies to over 400. In this work we also consider systematics between various studies and also those which result from the choice of models. We find systematic variations exist at the 0.06 dex level both between studies and model atmospheres. In order to control the systematic effects our final gradients depend only on abundances derived herein. A simple linear fit to the Cepheid data from 398 stars yields a gradient d[Fe/H]/dRG = -0.062 \pm 0.002 dex/kpc which is in good agreement with previously determined values. We have also reexamined the region of the metallicity island of Luck et al. (2006). With the doubling of the sample in that region and our internally consistent abundances, we find there is scant evidence for a distinct island. We also find in our sample the first reported Cepheid (V1033 Cyg) with a pronounced Li feature. The Li abundance is consistent with the star being on its red-ward pass towards the first giant branch.