- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/868/110
- Title:
- R-Process Alliance: 1st release in Galactic halo
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/868/110
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- This paper presents the detailed abundances and r-process classifications of 125 newly identified metal-poor stars as part of an ongoing collaboration, the R-Process Alliance. The stars were identified as metal-poor candidates from the RAdial Velocity Experiment (RAVE) and were followed up at high spectral resolution (R~31500) with the 3.5m telescope at Apache Point Observatory. The atmospheric parameters were determined spectroscopically from FeI lines, taking into account <3D> non-LTE corrections and using differential abundances with respect to a set of standards. Of the 125 new stars, 124 have [Fe/H]{<}-1.5, 105 have [Fe/H]{<}-2.0, and 4 have [Fe/H]{<}-3.0. Nine new carbon-enhanced metal-poor stars have been discovered, three of which are enhanced in r-process elements. Abundances of neutron-capture elements reveal 60 new r-I stars (with +0.3<=[Eu/Fe]<=+1.0 and [Ba/Eu]<0) and 4 new r-II stars (with [Eu/Fe]>+1.0). Nineteen stars are found to exhibit a "limited-r" signature ([Sr/Ba]>+0.5, [Ba/Eu]<0). For the r-II stars, the second- and third-peak main r-process patterns are consistent with the r-process signature in other metal-poor stars and the Sun. The abundances of the light, {alpha}, and Fe-peak elements match those of typical Milky Way (MW) halo stars, except for one r-I star that has high Na and low Mg, characteristic of globular cluster stars. Parallaxes and proper motions from the second Gaia data release yield UVW space velocities for these stars that are consistent with membership in the MW halo. Intriguingly, all r-II and the majority of r-I stars have retrograde orbits, which may indicate an accretion origin.
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Search Results
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/776/26
- Title:
- RRab stars in the Orphan stream distances
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/776/26
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We report positions, velocities, and metallicities of 50 ab-type RR Lyrae (RRab) stars observed in the vicinity of the Orphan stellar stream. Using about 30 RRab stars classified as being likely members of the Orphan stream, we study the metallicity and the spatial extent of the stream. We find that RRab stars in the Orphan stream have a wide range of metallicities, from -1.5dex to -2.7dex. The average metallicity of the stream is -2.1dex, identical to the value obtained by Newberg et al. (2010ApJ...711...32N) using blue horizontal branch stars. We find that the most distant parts of the stream (40-50kpc from the Sun) are about 0.3dex more metal-poor than the closer parts (within ~30kpc), suggesting a possible metallicity gradient along the stream's length. We have extended the previous studies and have mapped the stream up to 55kpc from the Sun. Even after a careful search, we did not identify any more distant RRab stars that could plausibly be members of the Orphan stream. If confirmed with other tracers, this result would indicate a detection of the end of the leading arm of the stream. We have compared the distances of Orphan stream RRab stars with the best-fit orbits obtained by Newberg et al. We find that model 6 of Newberg et al. cannot explain the distances of the most remote Orphan stream RRab stars, and conclude that the best fit to distances of Orphan stream RRab stars and to the local circular velocity is provided by potentials where the total mass of the Galaxy within 60kpc is M_60_~2.7x10^11^M_{sun}_, or about 60% of the mass found by previous studies. More extensive modeling that would consider non-spherical potentials and the possibility of misalignment between the stream and the orbit is highly encouraged.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/854/47
- Title:
- RRab stars of Monoceros Ring & A13 overdensities
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/854/47
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- The Monoceros Ring (also known as the Galactic Anticenter Stellar Structure) and A13 are stellar overdensities at estimated heliocentric distances of d~11kpc and 15kpc observed at low Galactic latitudes toward the anticenter of our Galaxy. While these overdensities were initially thought to be remnants of a tidally disrupted satellite galaxy, an alternate scenario is that they are composed of stars from the Milky Way (MW) disk kicked out to their current location due to interactions between a satellite galaxy and the disk. To test this scenario, we study the stellar populations of the Monoceros Ring and A13 by measuring the number of RR Lyrae and M giant stars associated with these overdensities. We obtain low-resolution spectroscopy for RR Lyrae stars in the two structures and measure radial velocities to compare with previously measured velocities for M giant stars in the regions of the Monoceros Ring and A13, to assess the fraction of RR Lyrae to M giant stars (f_RR:MG_) in A13 and Mon/GASS. We perform velocity modeling on 153 RR Lyrae stars (116 in the Monoceros Ring and 37 in A13) and find that both structures have very low f_RR:MG_. The results support a scenario in which stars in A13 and Mon/GASS formed in the MW disk. We discuss a possible association between Mon/GASS, A13, and the Triangulum-Andromeda overdensity based on their similar velocity distributions and f_RR:MG_.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/831/165
- Title:
- RR Lyrae as tracers in the Virgo overdensity region
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/831/165
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We use a combination of spatial distribution and radial velocity to search for halo substructures in a sample of 412 RR Lyrae stars (RRLSs) that covers a region of ~525 square degrees of the Virgo overdensity (VOD) and spans distances from the Sun from 4 to 75kpc. With a friends-of-friends algorithm we identified six high-significance groups of RRLSs in phase space, which we associate mainly with the VOD and with the Sagittarius stream. Four other groups were also flagged as less significant overdensities. Three high-significance and three lower-significance groups have distances between ~10 and 20kpc, which places them in the distance range attributed by others to the VOD. The largest of these is the Virgo stellar stream at 19kpc, which has 18 RRLSs, a factor of two increase over the number known previously. While these VOD groups are distinct according to our selection criteria, their overlap in position and distance and, in a few cases, similarity in radial velocity are suggestive that they may not all stem from separate accretion events. Even so, the VOD appears to be caused by more than one overdensity. The Sagittarius (Sgr) stream is a very obvious feature in the background of the VOD at a mean distance of 44kpc. Two additional high-significance groups were detected at distances >40kpc. Their radial velocities and locations differ from the expected path of the Sgr debris in this part of the sky, and they are likely to be remnants of other accretion events.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/849/150
- Title:
- RR Lyrae candidates in the MW outer halo
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/849/150
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- RR Lyrae stars are ideal massless tracers that can be used to study the total mass and dark matter content of the outer halo of the Milky Way (MW). This is because they are easy to find in the light-curve databases of large stellar surveys and their distances can be determined with only knowledge of the light curve. We present here a sample of 112 RR Lyr stars beyond 50kpc in the outer halo of the MW, excluding the Sgr streams, for which we have obtained moderate-resolution spectra with Deimos on the Keck II Telescope. Four of these have distances exceeding 100kpc. These were selected from a much larger set of 447 candidate RR Lyr stars that were data-mined using machine-learning techniques applied to the light curves of variable stars in the Palomar Transient Facility database. The observed radial velocities taken at the phase of the variable corresponding to the time of observation were converted to systemic radial velocities in the Galactic standard of rest. From our sample of 112 RR Lyr stars we determine the radial velocity dispersion in the outer halo of the MW to be ~90km/s at 50kpc, falling to about 65km/s near 100 kpc once a small number of major outliers are removed. With reasonable estimates of the completeness of our sample of 447 candidates and assuming a spherical halo, we find that the stellar density in the outer halo declines as r^-4^.
1666. RR Lyrae Metallicities
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/III/176
- Title:
- RR Lyrae Metallicities
- Short Name:
- III/176
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- This catalog presents metal abundance, distance and radial velocity data on a sample of 302 ab-type RR Lyrae variables within about 2.5 kpc of the Sun. The metal abundance information was obtained from low-medium resolution spectra, using the pseudo-equivalent widths of the Ca II K line and the the H-delta, H-gamma and H-beta lines. The technique employed was similar to Preston's (1959ApJ...130..507P) {Delta}-S method, though significant differences exist; see the source reference for details. The data were calibrated to the Zinn & West (1984ApJS...55...45Z) globular cluster abundance scale. The photometry employed in the distance determinations was primarily taken from the General Catalog of Variable Stars (1985, hereafter GCVS4). Exceptions are noted in column 29; the letters match the footnotes in Table 10 of Layden (1994AJ....108.1016L). The minimum and maximum light photometry, and rise-time were combined following Barnes & Hawley (1986ApJ...307L...9B) to give an estimate of the intensity- averaged magnitude, i.e. the magnitude the star would have if it were not variable. When the GCVS4 quoted magnitudes in passbands other than V, the GCVS4 magnitudes were transformed to the V passband using the relations established in Layden (1994AJ....108.1016L). The interstellar absorption estimates are from Burstein & Heiles (1982AJ.....87.1165B), modified by a simple dust-distribution model. The distances were computed assuming the Mv(RR)-[Fe/H] relation of Carney, Storm & Jones (1992ApJ...386..663C). Radial velocities were measured from the spectra via cross-correlation with secondary velocity standards. The velocities from the individual spectra were fit with a standard radial velocity curve in the (phase, velocity) plane, to give an estimate of the systemic (center of mass) velocity of each star. The error in this value was estimated from the scatter about the best-fit velocity curve, and the quality of the spectra employed. Other methods were used to combine the individual velocities when the situation demanded (cm = 2,3 in column 70; see Layden (1994AJ....108.1016L) for details). The observed velocities were combined with values from the literature to produce a final, best estimate of the systemic radial velocity of each star, and its error.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/A+A/330/515
- Title:
- RR Lyrae parallaxes & proper motions
- Short Name:
- J/A+A/330/515
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We have used HIPPARCOS proper motions and the method of Statistical Parallax to estimate the absolute magnitude of RR Lyrae stars. In addition we used the HIPPARCOS parallax of RR Lyrae itself to determine it's absolute magnitude. These two results are in excellent agreement with each other and give a zero-point for the RR Lyrae M_v_,[Fe/H] relation of 0.77+/-0.15 at [Fe/H]=-1.53. This zero-point is in good agreement with that obtained recently by several groups using Baade-Wesselink methods which, averaged over the results from the different groups, gives M_v_=0.73+/-0.14 at [Fe/H]=-1.53. Taking the HIPPARCOS based zero-point and a value of 0.18+/-0.03 for the slope of the M_v_,[Fe/H] relation from the literature we find firstly, the distance modulus of the LMC is 18.26+/-0.15 and secondly, the mean age of the Globular Clusters is 17.4+/-3.0 GYrs. These values are compared with recent estimates based on other "standard candles" that have also been calibrated with HIPPARCOS data. It is clear that, in addition to astrophysical problems, there are also problems in the application of HIPPARCOS data that are not yet fully understood.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/A+AS/125/313
- Title:
- RR Lyrae radial velocities and [Fe/H] I.
- Short Name:
- J/A+AS/125/313
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We present systemic velocities and iron abundances for 56 RR Lyraes, the majority of which have been observed by the HIPPARCOS satellite. Comparison between our systemic velocities and previous values identifies several binary candidates only one of which, TU UMa, was previously suspected of being a binary. However, spectra of the unusual RR Lyrae BB Vir show no evidence of line doubling and hence do not support the recent claims that this star may have a Blue Horizontal Branch companion. Comparison between our abundances and previous determinations shows reasonable agreement except with the recent work of Layden (1994, Cat. <J/AJ/108/1016>) where we find systematic differences. Several of the stars included on the HIPPARCOS observing list as RR Lyraes are shown to be mis-classified. Of particular interest are the stars V363 Cas and AT And which, by analogy with XZ Cet, may be anomalous Cepheids.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/A+AS/125/321
- Title:
- RR Lyrae radial velocities and [Fe/H] II.
- Short Name:
- J/A+AS/125/321
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- This is the second of the papers devoted to derive radial velocities and iron abundances of field RR Lyraes observed by HIPPARCOS. Our abundances show good agreement with those in the literature obtained both from photometric ({DELTA}S index) and spectroscopic methods. Binary candidates and stars misclassified as RR Lyraes in the original HIPPARCOS list have been also identified.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/AJ/155/171
- Title:
- RR Lyrae stars in and around NGC 6441
- Short Name:
- J/AJ/155/171
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- Detailed elemental abundance patterns of metal-poor ([Fe/H]~-1 dex) stars in the Galactic bulge indicate that a number of them are consistent with globular cluster (GC) stars and may be former members of dissolved GCs. This would indicate that a few per cent of the Galactic bulge was built up from destruction and/or evaporation of GCs. Here, an attempt is made to identify such presumptive stripped stars originating from the massive, inner Galaxy GC NGC 6441 using its rich RR Lyrae variable star (RRL) population. We present radial velocities of 40 RRLs centered on the GC NGC 6441. All 13 of the RRLs observed within the cluster tidal radius have velocities consistent with cluster membership, with an average radial velocity of 24+/-5 km/s and a star-to-star scatter of 11 km/s. This includes two new RRLs that were previously not associated with the cluster. Eight RRLs with radial velocities consistent with cluster membership but up to three time the distance from the tidal radius are also reported. These potential extra-tidal RRLs also have exceptionally long periods, which is a curious characteristic of the NGC 6441 RRL population that hosts RRLs with periods longer than seen anywhere else in the Milky Way. As expected of stripped cluster stars, most are inline with the cluster's orbit. Therefore, either the tidal radius of NGC 6441 is underestimated and/or we are seeing dissolving cluster stars stemming from NGC 6441 that are building up the old spheroidal bulge.
