The SALT survey of helium-rich hot subdwarfs: final sample and classification

A medium-resolution spectroscopic survey of helium-rich hot subdwarfs has been carried out using the Southern African Large Telescope. Objectives include the discovery of exotic hot subdwarfs, resolving distinct subclasses, identifying evolutionary sequences, and establishing the past and future histories of many of these unusual stars. This paper extends the sample to 697 stars. It describes the selection criteria and presents spectral classifications based on the MK-like Drilling system. The sample includes 283 extremely helium-rich hot subdwarfs, 17 extreme helium stars, 110 intermediate helium-rich hot subdwarfs, as well as 21 helium-rich stars of other types. It now represents the largest homogeneous sample of both ‘normal’ He-sdOs and ‘luminous’ or ‘hot’ He-sdOs. Interesting stars discovered include magnetic hot subdwarfs, extremely hot pre-white dwarfs and hot subdwarfs, including hot subdwarfs showing N v emission, one short-period binary, new extreme helium stars and several double-subdwarf candidates. The data form the basis for kinematic and model atmosphere analyses to follow.