We present results from a study of 94 red giant stars in the globular cluster M53. We use low-resolution spectra to measure the strength of CN and CH features at ~3800 and 4300{AA}, respectively. The strengths of these features are used to classify stars into a CN-enhanced and CN-normal population and to measure C and N abundances in all 94 stars. We find the red giant branch stars to be evenly split between the two populations identified, and observe the presence of CN-enhanced stars on the asymptotic giant branch. In addition, we identify five CH star candidates based on the strength of their CN and CH band features, and the presence of a P-branch in their CH band. We compare our identification of multiple populations to those based on the Na-O anticorrelation and pseudo-color indices in Hubble Space Telescope UV photometry, and find general agreement between all three methods. Our large sample size also allows us to study the radial distribution of each population, and we find that the CN-enhanced population is more centrally concentrated. We use our C and N measurements to compare the evolutionary changes in these elements as a function of magnitude between the two populations, and show that both populations experience similar evolutionary changes to the surface abundances of C and N. Finally, we calculate C+N+O abundances for each population and compare them to similar measurements made in M10; we find that in both clusters, CN-enhanced stars have a slightly enhanced C+N+O ({Delta}(C+N+O)~0.2dex).
This contribution reports the results of an infrared imaging survey aimed at characterizing the stellar populations associated with the three densest star-forming cores in the Ophiuchus molecular cloud complex. The survey has sufficient sensitivity at J, H, and K (at 5{sigma} limits of 16.5, 15.4 and 14.2) to provide a complete census of embedded young stellar objects (YSOs) with masses greater than the hydrogen-burning limit, provided that their ages are less than 3 Myr and that they are obscured by no more than ~18 mag of visual extinction. Our data suggest (1) a large fraction (>70%) of the sources located within the cores are still surrounded by circumstellar disks and/or envelopes; and (2) the shape of the initial mass function for masses, M<1M_sun_, appears to be consistent with that derived from the solar neighborhood. We also report the results of a deeper imaging survey of centimeter continuum sources (14 sources) in these star-forming cores and in the larger Ophiuchus complex (eight sources). A large fraction 11/14) of the radio sources associated with the cores appear to have infrared excesses diagnostic of circumstellar accretion disks and/or infalling circumstellar envelopes. In these cases, the centimeter continuum radiation most likely diagnoses the ionized component of energetic winds or jets which characterize YSOs during the disk accretion phase. By contrast, of the eight radio sources located outside dense cores, only two show infrared excesses. For the sources which lack infrared excesses, the centimeter continuum emission is probably produced by gyrosynchrotron radiation arising in the stellar magnetospheres of weak emission T Tauri stars. There is some evidence that the frequency of binary companions among the sample of centimeter continuum sources in the molecular cores may be higher (by as much as a factor of 3-4) than that among the older, distributed population of young stars in the larger Ophiuchus cloud complex.
Located within the central region of the Galaxy, the Arches cluster appears to be one of the youngest, densest, and most massive stellar aggregates within the Milky Way. As such, it has the potential to be uniquely instructive laboratory for the study of star formation in extreme environments and the physics of very massive stars. To realise this possibility, the fundamental physical properties of both cluster and constituent stars need to be robustly determined; tasks we attempt here. Methods. In order to accomplish these goals we provide and analyse new multi-epoch near-IR spectroscopic data obtained with the VLT/SINFONI and photometry from the HST/WFC3. We are able to stack multiple epochs of spectroscopy for individual stars in order to obtain the deepest view of the cluster members ever obtained. We present spectral classifications for 88 cluster members, all of which are WNLh or O stars: a factor of three increase over previous studies. We find no further examples of Wolf-Rayet stars within the cluster; importantly no H-free examples were identified. The smooth and continuous progression in spectral morphologies from O super/hypergiants through to the WNLh cohort implies a direct evolutionary connection. We identify candidate giant and main sequence O stars spectroscopically for the first time. No products of binary evolution may be unambiguously identified despite the presence of massive binaries within the Arches. Notwithstanding difficulties imposed by the highly uncertain (differential) reddening to the Arches, we infer a main sequence/luminosity class V turn-off mass of ~30-38M_{sun}_ via the distribution of spectral types. Analysis of the eclipsing binary F2 suggests current masses of ~80M_{sun}_ and ~60M_{sun}_ for the WNLh and O hypergiant cohorts, respectively; we conclude that all classified stars have masses >20M_{sun}_. An age of ~2.0-3.3Myr is suggested by the turn-off between ~O4-5 V; constraints imposed by the supergiant population and the lack of H-free WRs are consistent with this estimate. While the absence of highly evolved WC stars strongly argues against the prior occurrence of SNe within the Arches, the derived age does accommodate such events for exceptionally massive stars. Further progress will require quantitative analysis of multiple individual cluster members in addition to further spectroscopic observations to better constrain the binary and main sequence populations; nevertheless it is abundantly clear that the Arches offers an unprecedented insight into the formation, evolution and death of the most massive stars nature allows to form.
Stellar population of the young star cluster NGC 6231
Short Name:
J/AJ/154/87
Date:
21 Oct 2021
Publisher:
CDS
Description:
NGC 6231 is a young cluster (age ~2-7 Myr) dominating the Sco OB1 association (distance ~1.59 kpc) with ~100 O and B stars and a large pre-main-sequence stellar population. We combine a reanalysis of archival Chandra X-ray data with multiepoch near-infrared (NIR) photometry from the VISTA Variables in the Via Lactea (VVV) survey and published optical catalogs to obtain a catalog of 2148 probable cluster members. This catalog is 70% larger than previous censuses of probable cluster members in NGC 6231. It includes many low-mass stars detected in the NIR but not in the optical and some B stars without previously noted X-ray counterparts. In addition, we identify 295 NIR variables, about half of which are expected to be pre-main-sequence stars. With the more complete sample, we estimate a total population in the Chandra field of 5700-7500 cluster members down to 0.08 M_{sun}_ (assuming a universal initial mass function) with a completeness limit at 0.5 M_{sun}_. A decrease in stellar X-ray luminosities is noted relative to other younger clusters. However, within the cluster, there is little variation in the distribution of X-ray luminosities for ages less than 5 Myr. The X-ray spectral hardness for B stars may be useful for distinguishing between early-B stars with X-rays generated in stellar winds and B-star systems with X-rays from a pre-main-sequence companion (>35% of B stars). A small fraction of catalog members have unusually high X-ray median energies or reddened NIR colors, which might be explained by absorption from thick or edge-on disks or being background field stars.
We present new high angular resolution near-infrared spectroscopic observations of the nuclear star cluster surrounding the Milky Way's central supermassive black hole. Using the integral-field spectrograph OSIRIS on Keck II behind the laser-guide-star adaptive optics system, this spectroscopic survey enables us to separate early-type (young, 4-6Myr) and late-type (old, >1Gyr) stars with a completeness of 50% down to K'=15.5mag, which corresponds to ~10M_{sun}_ for the early-type stars. This work increases the radial extent of reported OSIRIS/Keck measurements by more than a factor of three from 4" to 14" (0.16 to 0.56pc), along the projected disk of young stars. For our analysis, we implement a new method of completeness correction using a combination of star-planting simulations and Bayesian inference. We assign probabilities for the spectral type of every source detected in deep imaging down to K'=15.5mag using information from spectra, simulations, number counts, and the distribution of stars. The inferred radial surface-density profiles, {Sigma}(R){prop.to}R^-{Gamma}^, for the young stars and late-type giants are consistent with earlier results ({Gamma}_early_=0.93+/-0.09, {Gamma}_late_=0.16+/-0.07). The late-type surface-density profile is approximately flat out to the edge of the survey. While the late-type stellar luminosity function is consistent with the Galactic bulge, the completeness-corrected luminosity function of the early-type stars has significantly more young stars at faint magnitudes compared with previous surveys with similar depth. This luminosity function indicates that the corresponding mass function of the young stars is likely less top-heavy than that inferred from previous surveys.
We report the discovery of a young stellar bridge that forms a continuous connection between the Magellanic Clouds. This finding is based on number density maps for stellar populations found in data gathered by OGLE-IV that fully cover over 270 deg^2^ of the sky in the Magellanic Bridge area. This is the most extensive optical survey of this region to date. We find that the young population is present mainly in the western half of the MBR, which, together with the newly discovered young population in the eastern Bridge, form a continuous stream of stars connecting both galaxies along {delta}~-73.5 deg. The young population distribution is clumped, with one of the major densities close to the SMC and the other fairly isolated and located approximately mid-way between the Clouds, which we call the OGLE island. These overdensities are well matched by H I surface density contours, although the newly found young population in the eastern Bridge is offset by ~2 deg north from the highest H I density contour. We observe a continuity of red clump stars between the Magellanic Clouds which represent an intermediate-age population. Red clump stars are present mainly in the southern and central parts of the Magellanic Bridge, below its gaseous part, and their presence is reflected by a strong deviation from the radial density profiles of the two galaxies. This may indicate either a tidal stream of stars, or that the stellar halos of the two galaxies overlap. On the other hand, we do not observe such an overlap within an intermediate-age population represented by the top of the red giant branch and the asymptotic giant branch stars. We also see only minor mixing of the old populations of the Clouds in the southern part of the Bridge, represented by the lowest part of the red giant branch.
We present a detailed study of the cluster CL 0048-2942, located at z~0.64, based on a photometric and spectroscopic catalogue of 54 galaxies in a 5x5arcmin^2^ region centred in that cluster. Of these, 23 galaxies were found to belong to the cluster. Based on this sample, the line-of-sight velocity dispersion of the cluster is approximately 680+/-140km/s.
The influence of environment on the formation and evolution of early-type galaxies is, as yet, an unresolved issue. Constraints can be placed on models of early-type galaxy formation and evolution by examining their stellar populations as a function of environment. We present a catalogue of galaxies well suited to such an investigation. The magnitude-limited (b_J_<=19.45) sample was drawn from four clusters (Coma, A1139, A3558 and A930 at <z>=0.04) and their surrounds. The catalogue contains luminosities, redshifts, velocity dispersions and Lick line strengths for 416 galaxies, of which 245 are classified as early types. Luminosity-weighted ages, metallicities and {alpha}-element abundance ratios have been estimated for 219 of these early types. We also outline the steps necessary for measuring fully calibrated Lick indices and estimating the associated stellar population parameters using up-to-date methods and stellar population models. In a subsequent paper we perform a detailed study of the stellar populations of early-type galaxies in clusters and investigate the effects of environment.
Fossil groups (FGs) are galaxy aggregates with an extended and luminous X-ray halo, which are dominated by a very massive early-type galaxy and lack of L* objects. FGs are indeed characterized by a large magnitude gap between their central and surrounding galaxies. This is explained by either speculating that FGs are failed groups which formed without bright satellite galaxies and did not suffer any major merger, or suggesting that FGs are very old systems which had enough time to exhaust their bright satellite galaxies through multiple major mergers. Since major mergers leave signatures in the stellar populations of the resulting galaxy, we study the stellar population parameters of the brightest central galaxies (BCGs) of FGs as a benchmark against which the formation and evolution scenarios of FGs can be compared. We present long-slit spectroscopic observations along the major, minor, and diagonal axis of NGC 6482 and NGC 7556, which are the BCGs of two nearby FGs. The measurements include spatially resolved stellar kinematics and radial profiles of line-strength indices, which we converted into stellar population parameters using single stellar-population models. NGC 6482 and NGC 7556 are very massive (M*~1*10^11.5^M_{sun}_) and large (D_25_~50kpc) galaxies. They host a centrally-concentrated stellar population, which is significantly younger and more metal rich than the rest of the galaxy. The age gradients of both galaxies are somewhat larger than those of the other FG BCGs studied so far, whereas their metallicity gradients are similarly negative and shallow. Moreover, they have negligible gradients of alpha-element abundance ratio. The measured metallicity gradients are less steep than those predicted for massive galaxies which formed monolithically and evolved without experiencing any major merger. We conclude that the observed FGs formed through major mergers rather than being failed groups missing bright satellite galaxies since the beginning.
Stellar populations of globular clusters using APOGEE
Short Name:
J/AJ/158/14
Date:
21 Oct 2021
Publisher:
CDS
Description:
We investigate aluminum abundance variations in the stellar populations of globular clusters using both literature measurements of sodium and aluminum and APOGEE measurements of nitrogen and aluminum abundances. For the latter, we show that the Payne is the most suitable of the five available abundance pipelines for our purposes. Our combined sample of 42 globular clusters spans approximately 2 dex in [Fe/H] and 1.5 dex in logM_GC_/M_{sun}_. We find no fewer than five globular clusters with significant internal variations in nitrogen and/or sodium with little to no corresponding variation in aluminum, and that the minimum present-day cluster mass for aluminum enrichment in metal-rich systems is logM_GC_/M_{sun}_~4.50+2.17([Fe/H]+1.30). We demonstrate that the slopes of the [Al/Fe] versus [Na/Fe] and [Al/Fe] versus [N/Fe] relations for stars without field-like abundances are approximately log-linearly dependent on both the metallicity and the stellar mass of the globular clusters. In contrast, the relationship between [Na/Fe] and [N/Fe] shows no evidence of such dependencies. This suggests that there were (at least) two classes of non-supernova chemical polluters that were common in the early universe, and that their relative contributions within globular clusters somehow scaled with the metallicity and mass of globular clusters. The first of these classes is predominantly responsible for the CNO and NeNa abundance variations, and likewise the second for the MgAl abundance variations. Particularly striking examples of this dichotomy include 47 Tuc and M4. As an auxiliary finding, we argue that abundance variations among Terzan 5 stars are consistent with it being a normal globular cluster.