  We present basic atmospheric parameters (Teff, logg, vt and [Fe/H]) as well
as luminosities, masses, radii and absolute radial velocities for 348 stars,
presumably giants, from the ~1000 star sample observed within the Penn
State-Torun Centre for Astronomy Planet Search with the High Resolution
Spectrograph of the 9.2m Hobby-Eberly Telescope. The stellar parameters are key
ingredients in proper interpretation of newly discovered low-mass companions
while a systematic study of the complete sample will create a basis for future
statistical considerations concerning low-mass companions appearance around
evolved low and intermediate-mass stars. The atmospheric parameters were
derived using a strictly spectroscopic method based on the LTE analysis of
equivalent widths of FeI and FeII lines. With existing photometric data and the
Hipparcos parallaxes we estimated stellar masses and ages via evolutionary
tracks fitting. The stellar radii were calculated from either estimated masses
and the spectroscopic logg or from the spectroscopic Teff and estimated
luminosities. The absolute radial velocities were obtained by cross-correlating
spectra with a numerical template. We completed the spectroscopic analysis for
332 stars of which 327 were found to be giants. For the remaining 16 stars with
incomplete data a simplified analysis was applied. The results show that our
sample is composed of stars with Teff = 4055-6239 K, logg = 1.39-4.78 (5 dwarfs
were identified), logL/Lo = -1.0-3, M = 0.6-3.4 Mo, R = 0.6-52 Ro. The stars in
our sample are generally less metal abundant than the Sun with median [Fe/H] =
-0.15. The estimated uncertainties in the atmospheric parameters were found to
be comparable to those reached in other studies. However, due to lack of
precise parallaxes the stellar luminosities and, in turn, the masses are far
less precise, within 0.2 Mo in best cases, and 0.3 Mo on average.

Earth and Planetary Astrophysics;Solar and Stellar Astrophysics