- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/AJ/117/2244
- Title:
- HST color-magnitude diagrams of the LMC
- Short Name:
- J/AJ/117/2244
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We present results on the analysis of background field stars found in Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 observations of six of the old globular clusters of the Large Magellanic Cloud. Treated as contaminants by the globular cluster analysts, we produce (V-I, V) color-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) of the field stars and use them to explore the LMC's star formation history. The photometry approaches V {~} 26, well below the turnoff of an ancient ({~} 14 Gyr) LMC population of stars. The field star CMDs are generally characterized by an upper main sequence broadened by stellar evolution, an old red giant branch, a prominent red clump, and an unevolved lower main sequence. The CMDs also contain a few visual differences, the most obvious of which is the smeared appearance of the NGC 1916 field caused by heavy differential reddening. More subtly, the base of the subgiant branch near the old turnoff appears extended in V, and the red giant branch appears broad in V-I in four of the fields but not in the NGC 1754 field.
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- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/707/1347
- Title:
- HST F160W photometry in RMC 136
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/707/1347
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We present deep Hubble Space Telescope NICMOS 2 F160W band observations of the central 56"x57" (14pcx14.25pc) region around R136 in the starburst cluster 30 Dor (NGC 2070) located in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Our aim is to derive the stellar initial mass function (IMF) down to ~1M_{sun}_ in order to test whether the IMF in a massive metal-poor cluster is similar to that observed in nearby young clusters and the field in our Galaxy. We estimate the mean age of the cluster to be 3Myr by combining our F160W photometry with previously obtained HST WFPC2 optical F555W and F814W band photometry and comparing the stellar locus in the color-magnitude diagram with main sequence and pre-main sequence isochrones. The color-magnitude diagrams show the presence of differential extinction and possibly an age spread of a few megayear. We convert the magnitudes into masses adopting both a single mean age of 3Myr isochrone and a constant star formation history from 2 to 4Myr. We derive the IMF after correcting for incompleteness due to crowding. The faintest stars detected have a mass of 0.5M_{sun}_ and the data are more than 50% complete outside a radius of 5pc down to a mass limit of 1.1M_{sun}_ for 3Myr old objects.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/876/85
- Title:
- HST observations for LMC Cepheids
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/876/85
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We present an improved determination of the Hubble constant from Hubble Space Telescope (HST) observations of 70 long-period Cepheids in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). These were obtained with the same WFC3 photometric system used to measure extragalactic Cepheids in the hosts of SNe Ia. Gyroscopic control of HST was employed to reduce overheads while collecting a large sample of widely separated Cepheids. The Cepheid period-luminosity relation provides a zero-point-independent link with 0.4% precision between the new 1.2% geometric distance to the LMC from detached eclipsing binaries (DEBs) measured by Pietrzynski+ (2019Natur.567..200P) and the luminosity of SNe Ia. Measurements and analysis of the LMC Cepheids were completed prior to knowledge of the new DEB LMC distance. Combined with a refined calibration of the count-rate linearity of WFC3-IR with 0.1% precision, these three improved elements together reduce the overall uncertainty in the geometric calibration of the Cepheid distance ladder based on the LMC from 2.5% to 1.3%. Using only the LMC DEBs to calibrate the ladder, we find H_0_=74.22+/-1.82km/s/Mpc including systematic uncertainties, 3% higher than before for this particular anchor. Combining the LMC DEBs, masers in NGC 4258, and Milky Way parallaxes yields our best estimate: H_0_=74.03+/-1.42km/s/Mpc, including systematics, an uncertainty of 1.91%-15% lower than our best previous result. Removing any one of these anchors changes H0 by less than 0.7%. The difference between H0 measured locally and the value inferred from Planck CMB and {Lambda}CDM is 6.6+/-1.5km/s/Mpc or 4.4{sigma} (P=99.999% for Gaussian errors) in significance, raising the discrepancy beyond a plausible level of chance. We summarize independent tests showing that this discrepancy is not attributable to an error in any one source or measurement, increasing the odds that it results from a cosmological feature beyond {Lambda}CDM.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/527/199
- Title:
- HST observations of old clusters in the LMC
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/527/199
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We present V, V-I color-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) for three old star clusters in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC): NGC 1466, NGC 2257, and Hodge 11. Our data extend {~}3 mag below the main-sequence turnoff, allowing us to determine accurate relative ages and the blue straggler frequencies. Based on a differential comparison of the CMDs, any age difference between the three LMC clusters is less than 1.5 Gyr. Comparing their CMDs to those of M92 and M3, the LMC clusters, unless their published metallicities are significantly in error, are the same age as the old Galactic globulars. The similar ages to Galactic globulars are shown to be consistent with hierarchical clustering models of galaxy formation. The blue straggler frequencies are also similar to those of Galactic globular clusters. We derive a true distance modulus to the LMC of (m - M)_0_ = 18.46 {+/-} 0.09 [assuming (m - M)_0_ = 14.61 for M92] using these three LMC clusters.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/A+A/347/841
- Title:
- HST Observations of SMC N88A
- Short Name:
- J/A+A/347/841
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- High-resolution Hubble Space Telescope images have allowed us for the first time to resolve the compact SMC ionized ``blob'' N88A (diameter ~3.5arcsec or 1pc). This very young HII, region, which is hatching from its natal molecular cloud, is heavily affected by absorbing dust associated with the cloud. The interstellar reddening towards N88A is on average A_v_~1.5mag and strikingly rises to more than 3.5mag in a narrow dust band crossing the core of the HII region. Such a high extinction is unprecedented for an HII region in the metal-poor SMC. We present the photometry of some 70 stars lying towards the OB association at the center of which lies N88A. The exciting star(s) of N88A is not detected, due to the heavy extinction. The chronology of star formation is discussed for the whole region.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/886/99
- Title:
- HST obs. in the region of 3 young LMC SNIa remnants
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/886/99
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We have used two methods to search for surviving companions of Type Ia supernova progenitors in three Balmer-dominated supernova remnants in the Large Magellanic Cloud: 0519-69.0, 0505-67.9 (DEM L71), and 0548-70.4. In the first method, we use the Hubble Space Telescope photometric measurements of stars to construct color-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) and compare positions of stars in the CMDs with those expected from theoretical post-impact evolution of surviving main-sequence or helium star companions. No obvious candidates of surviving companions are identified in this photometric search. Future models for surviving red giant companions or with different explosion mechanisms are needed for thorough comparisons with these observations in order to make more definitive conclusions. In the second method, we use Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer observations of 0519-69.0 and DEM L71 to carry out spectroscopic analyses of stars in order to use large peculiar radial velocities as diagnostics of surviving companions. We find a star in 0519-69.0 and a star in DEM L71 moving at radial velocities of 182+/-0km/s and 213+/-0km/s, respectively, more than 2.5{sigma} from the mean radial velocity of the underlying stellar population, 264 and 270km/s, respectively. These stars need higher-quality spectra to investigate their abundances and rotation velocities to determine whether they are indeed surviving companions of the supernova progenitors.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/672/914
- Title:
- HST photometry in NGC 346
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/672/914
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- In the third part of our photometric study of the star-forming region NGC 346/N66 and its surrounding field in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), we focus on the large number of low-mass pre-main-sequence (PMS) stars revealed by the Hubble Space Telescope observations with the Advanced Camera for Surveys. We investigate the origin of the observed broadening of the PMS population in the V-I,V color-magnitude diagram. The most likely explanations are either the presence of differential reddening or an age spread among the young stars.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/448/179
- Title:
- HST photometry in R136
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/448/179
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We have analyzed Hubble Space Telescope (HST) images of the compact, luminous star cluster R136 in the LMC that were taken with the refurbished HST and new Wide Field/Planetary Camera. These images allow us to examine the stellar population in a region of unusually intense star formation at a scale of 0.01pc. We have detected stars to 23.5 in F555W and have quantified the stellar population to an M_555.0 of 0.9 or a mass of 2.8M_{sun}_. Comparisons of HR diagrams with isochrones that were constructed for the HST flight filter system from theoretical stellar evolutionary tracks reveal massive stars, a main sequence to at least 2.8M_{sun}_, and stars with M_555.0>=0.5 still on pre-main sequence tracks. The average stellar population is fit with a 3-4Myr isochrone. Contrary to expectations from star formation models, however, the formation period for the massive stars and lower mass stars appear to largely overlap. We have measured the IMF for stars 2.8-15M_{sun}_ in three annuli from 0.5-4.7pc from the center of the cluster. The slopes of the IMF in all three annuli are the same within the uncertainties, thus, showing no evidence for mass segregation beyond 0.5pc. Furthermore, the combined IMF slope, -1.22+/-0.06, is close to a normal Salpeter IMF. The lower mass limit must be lower than the limits of our measurements: <=2.8M_{sun}_ beyond 0.5pc and <=7M_{sun}_ within 0.1pc. This is contrary to some predictions that the lower mass limit could be as high as 10M_{sun}_ in regions of intense massive star formation. Integrated properties of R136 are consistent with its being comparable to a rather small globular cluster when such clusters were the same age as R136. From the surface brightness profile, an upper limit for core radius of 0.02pc is set. Within a radius of 0.4pc we estimate that there have been roughly 20 crossing times and relaxation should be well along. Within 0.5pc crowding prevents us from detecting the intermediate mass population, but there is a hint of an excess of stars brighter than M_555.0=-5 and of a deficit in the highest mass stars between 0.6pc and 1.2pc. This would be consistent with dynamical segregation.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/AJ/130/1083
- Title:
- HST photometry in the wing of the SMC
- Short Name:
- J/AJ/130/1083
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We have used the Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2) on the Hubble Space Telescope to image a star field in the wing of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), near the HII region N81. The images were taken in the F336W, F547M, F675W, and F814W filters. From photometry of stars in this field, we construct color-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) for about 4200 stars and compare them with theoretical isochrones.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/A+A/381/941
- Title:
- HST photometry of stars in N160A
- Short Name:
- J/A+A/381/941
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- Using high-resolution imaging with the Hubble Space Telescope, we study the Large Magellanic Cloud 2 region N160A and uncover several striking features of this complex massive star-forming site. The two compact high excitation 2 blobs (HEBs) A1 and A2 are for the first time resolved and their stellar content and morphology is revealed. A1, being of higher excitation, is powered by a single massive star whose strong wind has created a surrounding bubble. A2 harbors several exciting stars enshrouded by large quantities of dust. The whole N160A nebula is energized by three star clusters for which we obtain photometry and study their color-magnitude diagram. The 2 region is particularly dusty, with extinction values reaching an A_V_~2.5mag in the visible, and it is separated from the molecular cloud by an outstanding ionization front. A previously detected infrared young stellar object is also accurately located with respect to the 2 region (N160A).
