- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/811/30
- Title:
- Machine learning metallicity predictions using SDSS
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/811/30
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- Extremely metal-poor (EMP) stars ([Fe/H]<=-3.0dex) provide a unique window into understanding the first generation of stars and early chemical enrichment of the universe. EMP stars are exceptionally rare, however, and the relatively small number of confirmed discoveries limits our ability to exploit these near-field probes of the first ~500Myr after the Big Bang. Here, a new method to photometrically estimate [Fe/H] from only broadband photometric colors is presented. I show that the method, which utilizes machine-learning algorithms and a training set of ~170000 stars with spectroscopically measured [Fe/H], produces a typical scatter of ~0.29dex. This performance is similar to what is achievable via low-resolution spectroscopy, and outperforms other photometric techniques, while also being more general. I further show that a slight alteration to the model, wherein synthetic EMP stars are added to the training set, yields the robust identification of EMP candidates. In particular, this synthetic-oversampling method recovers ~20% of the EMP stars in the training set, at a precision of ~0.05. Furthermore, ~65% of the false positives from the model are very metal-poor stars ([Fe/H]<=-2.0dex). The synthetic-oversampling method is biased toward the discovery of warm (~F-type) stars, a consequence of the targeting bias from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey/Sloan Extension for Galactic Understanding survey. This EMP selection method represents a significant improvement over alternative broadband optical selection techniques. The models are applied to >12 million stars, with an expected yield of ~600 new EMP stars, which promises to open new avenues for exploring the early universe.
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Search Results
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/883/11
- Title:
- Magellan/IMACS spectra of Crater II & Hercules
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/883/11
- Date:
- 21 Jan 2022 09:25:05
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We investigate the possibility that the dwarf galaxies Crater II and Hercules have previously been tidally stripped by the Milky Way. We present Magellan/IMACS spectra of candidate member stars in both objects. We identify 37 members of Crater II, 25 of which have velocity measurements in the literature, and we classify three stars within that subset as possible binaries. We find that including or removing these binary candidates does not change the derived velocity dispersion of Crater II. Excluding the binary candidates, we measure a velocity dispersion of {sigma}_Vlos_=2.7_-0.4_^+0.5^km/s, corresponding to M/L=47_-13_^+17^M_{sun}_/L_{sun}_. We measure a mean metallicity of [Fe/H]=-1.95_-0.05_^+0.06^, with a dispersion of {sigma}_[Fe/H]_=0.18_-0.08_^+0.06^. Our velocity dispersion and metallicity measurements agree with previous measurements for Crater II, and confirm that the galaxy resides in a kinematically cold dark-matter halo. We also search for spectroscopic members stripped from Hercules in the possible extratidal stellar overdensities surrounding the dwarf. For both galaxies, we calculate proper motions using Gaia DR2 astrometry, and use their full 6D phase space information to evaluate the probability that their orbits approach sufficiently close to the Milky Way to experience tidal stripping. Given the available kinematic data, we find a probability of ~40% that Hercules has suffered tidal stripping. The proper motion of Crater II makes it almost certain to be stripped.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/AJ/154/113
- Title:
- Magellan/M2FS spectroscopy of Abell 267
- Short Name:
- J/AJ/154/113
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We report the results of a pilot program to use the Magellan/M2FS spectrograph to survey the galactic populations and internal kinematics of galaxy clusters. For this initial study, we present spectroscopic measurements for 223 quiescent galaxies observed along the line of sight of the galaxy cluster Abell 267 (z~0.23). We develop a Bayesian method for modeling the integrated light from each galaxy as a simple stellar population, with free parameters that specify the redshift (v_los_/c) and characteristic age, metallicity ([Fe/H]), alpha-abundance ([{alpha}/Fe]), and internal velocity dispersion ({sigma}_int_) for individual galaxies. Parameter estimates derived from our 1.5hr observation of A267 have median random errors of {sigma}_Vlos_=20km/s, {sigma}_Age_=1.2Gyr, {sigma}_[Fe/H]_=0.11dex, {sigma}_[{alpha}/Fe]_=0.07dex, and {sigma}_{sigma}int_=20km/s. In a companion paper, we use these results to model the structure and internal kinematics of A267.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/819/53
- Title:
- Magellan/M2FS spectroscopy of Tucana 2 and Grus 1
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/819/53
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We present results from spectroscopic observations with the Michigan/Magellan Fiber System (M2FS) of 147 stellar targets along the line of sight to the newly discovered "ultrafaint" stellar systems Tucana 2 (Tuc 2) and Grus 1 (Gru 1). Based on simultaneous estimates of line of sight velocity and stellar-atmospheric parameters, we identify 8 and 7 stars as probable members of Tuc 2 and and Gru 1, respectively. Our sample for Tuc 2 is sufficient to resolve an internal velocity dispersion of 8.6^+4.4^_-2.7_km/s about a mean of -129.1+/-3.5km/s (solar rest frame), and to estimate a mean metallicity of [Fe/H]=-2.23^+0.18^_-0.12_. These results place Tuc 2 on chemodynamical scaling relations followed by dwarf galaxies, suggesting a dominant dark matter component with dynamical mass 2.7^+3.1^_-1.3_x10^6^M_{sun}_ enclosed within the central ~160pc, and dynamical mass-to-light ratio 1913^+2234^_-950_M_{sun}_/L_{nu},{sun}_. For Gru 1 we estimate a mean velocity of -140.5^+2.4^_-1.6_km/s and a mean metallicity of [Fe/H]=-1.42^+0.55^_-0.42_ but our sample does not resolve Gru 1's velocity dispersion. The radial coordinates of Tuc 2 and Gru 1 in Galactic phase space suggest that their orbits are among the most energetic within a distance of <~300pc. Moreover, their proximity to each other in this space arises naturally if both objects are trailing the Large Magellanic Cloud.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/857/145
- Title:
- MagLiteS Carina II and Carina III spectroscopy
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/857/145
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We present Magellan/IMACS, Anglo-Australian Telescope/AAOmega+2dF, and Very Large Telescope/GIRAFFE+FLAMES spectroscopy of the Carina II (CarII) and Carina III (CarIII) dwarf galaxy candidates, recently discovered in the Magellanic Satellites Survey (MagLiteS). We identify 18 member stars in Car II, including two binaries with variable radial velocities and two RR Lyrae stars. The other 14 members have a mean heliocentric velocity v_hel_=477.2+/-1.2km/s and a velocity dispersion of {sigma}_v_=3.4_-0.8_^+1.2^km/s. Assuming Car II is in dynamical equilibrium, we derive a total mass within the half-light radius of 1.0_-0.4_^+0.8^x10^6^M_{sun}_, indicating a mass-to-light ratio of 369_-161_^+309^M_{sun}_/L_{sun}_. From equivalent width measurements of the calcium triplet lines of nine red giant branch (RGB) stars, we derive a mean metallicity of [Fe/H]=-2.44+/-0.09 with dispersion {sigma}_[Fe/H]_=0.22_-0.07_^+0.10^. Considering both the kinematic and chemical properties, we conclude that CarII is a dark-matter-dominated dwarf galaxy. For CarIII, we identify four member stars, from which we calculate a systemic velocity of v_hel_=284.6_-3.1_^+3.4^km/s. The brightest RGB member of CarIII has a metallicity of [Fe/H]=-1.97+/-0.12. Due to the small size of the Car III spectroscopic sample, we cannot conclusively determine its nature. Although these two systems have the smallest known physical separation ({Delta}d~10kpc) among Local Group satellites, the large difference in their systemic velocities, ~200km/s, indicates that they are unlikely to be a bound pair. One or both systems are likely associated with the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), and may remain LMC satellites today. No statistically significant excess of {gamma}-ray emission is found at the locations of Car II and Car III in eight years of Fermi-LAT data.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/AJ/141/131
- Title:
- Mapping the asymmetric thick disk. III.
- Short Name:
- J/AJ/141/131
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- In the first two papers of this series, Larsen et al. (1996ApJ...468L..99L) describe our faint CCD survey in the inner Galaxy and map the overdensity of thick disk stars in Quadrant 1 (Q1) to 5kpc or more along the line of sight. The regions showing the strongest excess are above the density contours of the bar in the Galactic disk. In this third paper on the asymmetric thick disk, we report on radial velocities and derived metallicity parameters for over 4000 stars in Q1, above and below the plane, and in Quadrant 4 (Q4) above the plane.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/818/153
- Title:
- MEarth photometry: nearby M-dwarf magnitudes
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/818/153
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- The MEarth Project is a photometric survey systematically searching the smallest stars near the Sun for transiting rocky planets. Since 2008, MEarth has taken approximately two million images of 1844 stars suspected to be mid-to-late M dwarfs. We have augmented this survey by taking nightly exposures of photometric standard stars and have utilized this data to photometrically calibrate the MEarth system, identify photometric nights, and obtain an optical magnitude with 1.5% precision for each M dwarf system. Each optical magnitude is an average over many years of data, and therefore should be largely immune to stellar variability and flaring. We combine this with trigonometric distance measurements, spectroscopic metallicity measurements, and 2MASS infrared magnitude measurements in order to derive a color-magnitude-metallicity relation across the mid-to-late M dwarf spectral sequence that can reproduce spectroscopic metallicity determinations to a precision of 0.1 dex. We release optical magnitudes and metallicity estimates for 1567 M dwarfs, many of which did not have an accurate determination of either prior to this work. For an additional 277 stars without a trigonometric parallax, we provide an estimate of the distance, assuming solar neighborhood metallicity. We find that the median metallicity for a volume-limited sample of stars within 20pc of the Sun is [Fe/H]=-0.03+/-0.008, and that 29/565 of these stars have a metallicity of [Fe/H]=-0.5 or lower, similar to the low-metallicity distribution of nearby G dwarfs. When combined with the results of ongoing and future planet surveys targeting these objects, the metallicity estimates presented here will be important for assessing the significance of any putative planet-metallicity correlation.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/A+A/635/A161
- Title:
- Measured atmospheric parameters of NGC6397 stars
- Short Name:
- J/A+A/635/A161
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- Recent work has used spectra of ~5000 stars in NGC 6397 that were extracted from a MUSE mosaic to determine the atmospheric parameters for these stars by fitting the spectra against the Goettingen Spectral Library. A significant change in metallicity between the turn off and the red giant branch was found and was discussed as a possible manifestation of predicted effects of atomic diffusion. However, the small amplitude of the effect and inconsistency with earlier measurements call for more attention before this result is interpreted. Systematic effects due to the interpolation or to the synthetic spectra cannot be ruled out at this level of precision. We reanalyze the data with : the ELODIE and MILES reference libraries in order to assess the robustness of the result. These empirical libraries have a finer metallicity coverage down to approximately the cluster metallicity turn-off. Methods. We used the ULySS full-spectrum fitting package, together with the library interpolators to remeasure the three atmospheric parameters effective temperature, surface gravity, and [Fe/H] metallicity. We find a very low [Fe/H] dispersion along the isochrone (0.07dex), consistent with our error estimate (0.05dex). However, the [Fe/H] trend is not reproducible. This shows that the data have the potential to reveal patterns of the magnitude of the expected physical effects, but the analysis methods need to be refined to cull systematic effects that currently dominate the patterns.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/AJ/130/1065
- Title:
- Members of the Sculptor dwarf spheroidal galaxy
- Short Name:
- J/AJ/130/1065
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- The results of a wide-field survey of the Sculptor dwarf spheroidal galaxy are presented. Our aims were to obtain an accurate map of the outer structure of Sculptor and to determine the level of interaction between this system and the Galaxy. Photometry was obtained in two colors down to the magnitude limits of V=20 and I=19, covering a 3.1{deg}x3.1{deg} area centered on Sculptor.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/838/11
- Title:
- Member stars in the MW satellite Tucana III
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/838/11
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We present Magellan/IMACS spectroscopy of the recently discovered Milky Way satellite Tucana III (Tuc III). We identify 26 member stars in Tuc III from which we measure a mean radial velocity of v_hel_=-102.3+/-0.4(stat.)+/-2.0(sys.)km/s, a velocity dispersion of 0.1_-0.1_^+0.7^km/s, and a mean metallicity of [Fe/H]=-2.42_-0.08_^+0.07^. The upper limit on the velocity dispersion is {sigma}<1.5km/s at 95.5% confidence, and the corresponding upper limit on the mass within the half-light radius of Tuc III is 9.0x10^4^M_{sun}_. We cannot rule out mass-to-light ratios as large as 240M_{sun}_/L_{sun}_ for Tuc III, but much lower mass-to-light ratios that would leave the system baryon-dominated are also allowed. We measure an upper limit on the metallicity spread of the stars in Tuc III of 0.19dex at 95.5% confidence. Tuc III has a smaller metallicity dispersion and likely a smaller velocity dispersion than any known dwarf galaxy, but a larger size and lower surface brightness than any known globular cluster. Its metallicity is also much lower than those of the clusters with similar luminosity. We therefore tentatively suggest that Tuc III is the tidally stripped remnant of a dark matter-dominated dwarf galaxy, but additional precise velocity and metallicity measurements will be necessary for a definitive classification. If Tuc III is indeed a dwarf galaxy, it is one of the closest external galaxies to the Sun. Because of its proximity, the most luminous stars in Tuc III are quite bright, including one star at V=15.7 that is the brightest known member star of an ultra-faint satellite.
