- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/901/93
- Title:
- Model atmosphere analysis of hot WDs from SDSS DR12
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/901/93
- Date:
- 18 Feb 2022 00:21:32
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- As they evolve, white dwarfs undergo major changes in surface composition, a phenomenon known as spectral evolution. In particular, some stars enter the cooling sequence with helium atmospheres (type DO) but eventually develop hydrogen atmospheres (type DA), most likely through the upward diffusion of residual hydrogen. Our empirical knowledge of this process remains scarce: the fractions of white dwarfs that are born helium rich and that experience the DO-to-DA transformation are poorly constrained. We tackle this issue by performing a detailed model-atmosphere investigation of 1806 hot (Teff>=30000K) white dwarfs observed spectroscopically by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. We first introduce our new generations of model atmospheres and theoretical cooling tracks, both appropriate for hot white dwarfs. We then present our spectroscopic analysis, from which we determine the atmospheric and stellar parameters of our sample objects. We find that ~24% of white dwarfs begin their degenerate life as DO stars, among which ~2/3 later become DA stars. We also infer that the DO-to-DA transition occurs at substantially different temperatures (75000K>Teff>30000K) for different objects, implying a broad range of hydrogen content within the DO population. Furthermore, we identify 127 hybrid white dwarfs, including 31 showing evidence of chemical stratification, and we discuss how these stars fit in our understanding of the spectral evolution. Finally, we uncover significant problems in the spectroscopic mass scale of very hot (Teff>60000K) white dwarfs.
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- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/A+A/568/A7
- Title:
- Model SDSS colors for halo stars
- Short Name:
- J/A+A/568/A7
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We analyze a sample of tens of thousands of spectra of halo turnoff stars, obtained with the optical spectrographs of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), to characterize the stellar halo population "in situ" out to a distance of a few tens of kpc from the Sun. In this paper we describe the derivation of atmospheric parameters. We also derive the overall stellar metallicity distribution based on F-type stars observed as flux calibrators for the Baryonic Oscillations Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS). Our analysis is based on an automated method that determines the set of parameters of a model atmosphere that best reproduces each observed spectrum. We use an optimization algorithm and evaluate model fluxes by means of interpolation in a pre-computed grid. In our analysis, we account for the spectrograph's varying resolution as a function of fiber and wavelength. Our results for early SDSS (pre-BOSS upgrade) data compare well with those from the SEGUE Stellar Parameter Pipeline (SSPP), except for stars at logg (cgs units) lower than 2.5. An analysis of stars in the globular cluster M13 reveals a dependence of the inferred metallicity on surface gravity for stars with logg<2.5, confirming the systematics identified in the comparison with the SSPP. We find that our metallicity estimates are significantly more precise than the SSPP results. We also find excellent agreement with several independent analyses. We show that the SDSS color criteria for selecting F-type halo turnoff stars as flux calibrators efficiently excludes stars with high metallicities, but does not significantly distort the shape of the metallicity distribution at low metallicity. We obtain a halo metallicity distribution that is narrower and more asymmetric than in previous studies. The lowest gravity stars in our sample, at tens of kpc from the Sun, indicate a shift of the metallicity distribution to lower abundances, consistent with that expected from a dual halo system in the Milky Way.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/694/1115
- Title:
- Modulation in the X-ray binary SAX J1808.4-3658
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/694/1115
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We report on optical imaging of the X-ray binary SAX J1808.4-3658 with the 8m Gemini South Telescope. The binary, containing an accretion-powered millisecond pulsar, appears to have a large periodic modulation in its quiescent optical emission. In order to clarify the origin of this modulation, we obtained three time-resolved r'-band light curves (LCs) of the source over five days. The LCs can be described by a sinusoid, and the long time-span between them allows us to determine optical period P=7251.9s and phase 0.671 at MJD 54599.0 (TDB; phase 0.0 corresponds to the ascending node of the pulsar orbit), with uncertainties of 2.8s and 0.008 (90% confidence), respectively. This periodicity is highly consistent with the X-ray orbital ephemeris.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/869/142
- Title:
- Monitoring AGNs with H{beta} Asymmetry (MAHA). I.
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/869/142
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We have started a long-term reverberation mapping (RM) project using the Wyoming Infrared Observatory 2.3m telescope titled "Monitoring AGNs with H{beta} Asymmetry" (MAHA). The motivations of the project are to explore the geometry and kinematics of the gas responsible for complex H{beta} emission-line profiles, ideally leading to an understanding of the structures and origins of the broad-line region (BLR). Furthermore, such a project provides the opportunity to search for evidence of close binary supermassive black holes. We describe MAHA and report initial results from our first campaign, from 2016 December to 2017 May, highlighting velocity-resolved time lags for four active galactic nuclei (AGNs) with asymmetric H{beta} lines. We find that 3C120, Ark120, and Mrk6 display complex features different from the simple signatures expected for pure outflow, inflow, or a Keplerian disk. While three of the objects have been previously reverberation mapped, including velocity-resolved time lags in the cases of 3C120 and Mrk6, we report a time lag and corresponding black hole mass measurement for SBS1518+593 for the first time. Furthermore, SBS1518+593, the least asymmetric of the four, does show velocity-resolved time lags characteristic of a Keplerian disk or virialized motion more generally. Also, the velocity-resolved time lags of 3C120 have significantly changed since previously observed, indicating an evolution of its BLR structure. Future analyses of the data for these objects and others in MAHA will explore the full diversity of H{beta} lines and the physics of AGN BLRs.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/A+A/369/57
- Title:
- Monitoring Mkn 279 in BVRI and H{beta} fluxes
- Short Name:
- J/A+A/369/57
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- Mid-infrared images of the Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk 279 obtained with the ISO satellite are presented together with the results of a one-year monitoring campaign of the 2.5-11.7{mu}m spectrum. Contemporaneous optical photometric and spectrophotometric observations are also presented. The galaxy appears as a point-like source at the resolution of the ISOCAM instrument (4-5"). The 2.5-11.7{mu}m average spectrum of the nucleus in Mrk 279 shows a strong power law continuum with {alpha}=-0.80+/-0.05 (F_{nu}_{prop.to}{nu}^{alpha}^) and weak PAH emission features. The Mrk 279 spectral energy distribution shows a mid-IR bump, which extends from 2 to 15-20{mu}m. The mid-IR bump is consistent with thermal emission from dust grains at a distance of >100 light-days. No significant variations of the mid-IR flux have been detected during our observing campaign, consistent with the relatively low amplitude (~10% rms) of the optical variability during the campaign. The time delay for H{beta} line emission in response to the optical continuum variations is {tau}=16.7^+5.3^_-5.6_days, consistent with previous measurements.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/873/117
- Title:
- Monitoring of the double quasar SDSS J1442+4055
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/873/117
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We present r-band photometric monitoring of the two images, A and B, of the gravitationally lensed quasar SDSS J1442+4055 using the Liverpool Telescope (LT). From the LT light curves between 2015 December and 2018 August, we derive at once a time delay of 25.0+/-1.5d (1{sigma} confidence interval; A is leading) and microlensing magnification gradients below 10^-4^mag/d. The delay interval is not expected to be affected by an appreciable microlensing-induced bias, so it can be used to estimate cosmological parameters. This paper also focuses on new Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC) and LT spectroscopic observations of the lens system. We determine the redshift of two bright galaxies around the doubly imaged quasar using LT spectroscopy, while GTC data lead to low-noise individual spectra of A, B, and the main lensing galaxy, G1. The G1 spectral shape is accurately matched to an early-type galaxy template at z=0.284, and it has potential for further relevant studies. Additionally, the quasar spectra show absorption by metal-rich gas at z~2. This dusty absorber is responsible for an extinction bump at a rest-frame wavelength of 2209+/-2{AA}, which has strengths of ~0.47 and 0.76mag/{mu}m for A and B, respectively. In such an intervening system, the dust-to-gas ratio, gas-phase metallicity indicator [Zn/H], and dust depletion level [Fe/Zn] are relatively high.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/ApJ/754/101
- Title:
- Monoceros Overdensity deep imaging with Subaru
- Short Name:
- J/ApJ/754/101
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We derive distance, density, and metallicity distribution of the stellar Monoceros Overdensity (MO) in the outer Milky Way, based on deep imaging with the Subaru Telescope. We applied color-magnitude diagram fitting techniques in three stripes at galactic longitudes, l~130{deg}, 150{deg}, 170{deg}, and galactic latitudes, +15{deg}<=b<=+25{deg}. The MO appears as a wall of stars at a heliocentric distance of ~10.1+/-0.5kpc across the observed longitude range with no distance change. The MO stars are more metal-rich ([Fe/H]~-1.0) than the nearby stars at the same latitude. These data are used to test three different models for the origin of the MO: a perturbed disk model, which predicts a significant drop in density adjacent to the MO that is not seen; a basic flared disk model, which can give a good match to the density profile but the MO metallicity implies the disk is too metal-rich to source the MO stars; and a tidal stream model, which, from the literature, brackets the distances and densities we derive for the MO, suggesting that a model can be found that would fully fit the MO data. Further data and modeling will be required to confirm or rule out the MO feature as a stream or as a flaring of the disk.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/AJ/151/49
- Title:
- M6 open cluster: star members properties
- Short Name:
- J/AJ/151/49
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We present here the first abundance analysis of 44 late B-, A-, and F-type members of the young open cluster M6 (NGC 6405, age about 75 Myr). Low- and medium-resolution spectra, covering the 4500-5840 {AA} wavelength range, were obtained using the FLAMES/GIRAFFE spectrograph attached to the ESO Very Large Telescopes. We determined the atmospheric parameters using calibrations of the Geneva photometry and by adjusting the H_{beta}_ profiles to synthetic ones. The abundances of up to 20 chemical elements, from helium to mercury, were derived for 19 late B, 16 A, and 9 F stars by iteratively adjusting synthetic spectra to the observations. We also derived a mean cluster metallicity of [Fe/H]=0.07+/-0.03 dex from the iron abundances of the F-type stars. We find that for most chemical elements, the normal late B- and A-type stars exhibit larger star-to-star abundance variations than the F-type stars probably because of the faster rotation of the B and A stars. The abundances of C, O, Mg, Si, and Sc appear to be anticorrelated with that of Fe, while the opposite holds for the abundances of Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Ni, Y, and Ba as expected if radiative diffusion is efficient in the envelopes of these stars. In the course of this analysis, we discovered five new peculiar stars: one mild Am, one Am, and one Fm star (HD 318091, CD-32 13109, GSC 07380-01211, CP1), one HgMn star (HD 318126, CP3), and one He-weak P-rich (HD 318101, CP4) star. We also discovered a new spectroscopic binary, most likely a SB2. We performed a detailed modeling of HD 318101, the new He-weak P-rich CP star, using the Montreal stellar evolution code XEVOL which self-consistently treats all particle transport processes. Although the overall abundance pattern of this star is properly reproduced, we find that detailed abundances (in particular the high P excess) resisted modeling attempts even when a range of turbulence profiles and mass-loss rates were considered. Solutions are proposed which are still under investigation.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/MNRAS/355/82
- Title:
- Morphological analysis of HDF-N and HDF-S
- Short Name:
- J/MNRAS/355/82
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- Based on drizzled F606W and F814W images, we present quantitative structural parameters in the V-band rest-frame for all galaxies with z<1 and I_814_(AB)<24.5mag in the Hubble Deep Fields North and South. Our structural parameters are based on a two-component surface brightness distribution using a Sersic bulge and an exponential disc. Detailed simulations and comparisons with previous work are presented.
- ID:
- ivo://CDS.VizieR/J/MNRAS/435/2835
- Title:
- Morphological types from Galaxy Zoo 2
- Short Name:
- J/MNRAS/435/2835
- Date:
- 21 Oct 2021
- Publisher:
- CDS
- Description:
- We present the data release for Galaxy Zoo 2 (GZ2), a citizen science project with more than 16 million morphological classifications of 304122 galaxies drawn from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). Morphology is a powerful probe for quantifying a galaxy's dynamical history; however, automatic classifications of morphology (either by computer analysis of images or by using other physical parameters as proxies) still have drawbacks when compared to visual inspection. The large number of images available in current surveys makes visual inspection of each galaxy impractical for individual astronomers. GZ2 uses classifications from volunteer citizen scientists to measure morphologies for all galaxies in the DR7 Legacy survey with m_r_>17, in addition to deeper images from SDSS Stripe 82. While the original GZ2 project identified galaxies as early-types, late-types or mergers, GZ2 measures finer morphological features. These include bars, bulges and the shapes of edge-on discs, as well as quantifying the relative strengths of galactic bulges and spiral arms. This paper presents the full public data release for the project, including measures of accuracy and bias. The majority (>90 per cent) of GZ2 classifications agree with those made by professional astronomers, especially for morphological T-types, strong bars and arm curvature. Both the raw and reduced data products can be obtained in electronic format at http://data.galaxyzoo.org .
