arXiv subjects

Andreas Koch

Publications and source records attributed to Andreas Koch.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2013

A spectroscopic binary in the Hercules dwarf spheroidal galaxy

We present the radial velocity curve of a single-lined spectroscopic binary in the faint Hercules dwarf spheroidal (dSph) galaxy, based on 34 individual spectra covering more than two years of observations. This is the first time that orbital elements could be derived for a binary in a dSph. The system consists of a metal-poor red giant and a low-mass companion, possibly a white dwarf, with a 135-days period in a moderately eccentric ($e=0.18$) orbit. Its period and eccentricity are fully consistent with metal-poor binaries in the Galactic halo, while the projected semimajor axis is small, at $a_p$ sin$i$ = 38 R$_{sun}$. In fact, a very close orbit could inhibit the production of heavier elements through $s$-process nucleosynthesis, leading to the very low abundances of neutron-capture elements that are found in this star. We discuss the further implications for the chemical enrichment history of the Hercules dSph, but find no compelling binary scenario that could reasonably explain the full, peculiar abundance pattern of the Hercules dSph galaxy.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2013

Performance of an LPD prototype detector at MHz frame rates under Synchrotron and FEL radiation

A MHz frame rate X-ray area detector (LPD - Large Pixel Detector) is under development by the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory for the European XFEL. The detector will have 1 million pixels and allows analogue storage of 512 images taken at 4.5 MHz in the detector front end. The LPD detector has 500 mm thick silicon sensor tiles that are bump bonded to a readout ASIC. The ASICs preamplifier provides relatively low noise at high speed which results in a high dynamic range of 10^5 photons over an energy range of 5-20 keV. Small scale prototypes of 32x256 pixels (LPD 2-Tile detector) and 256x256 pixels (LPD supermodule detector) are now available for X-ray tests. The performance of prototypes of the detector is reported for first tests under synchrotron radiation (PETRA III at DESY) and Free-Electron-Laser radiation (LCLS at SLAC). The initial performance of the detector in terms of signal range and noise, radiation hardness and spatial and temporal response are reported. The main result is that the 4.5 MHz sampling detection chain is reliably working, including the analogue on-chip memory concept. The detector is at least radiation hard up to 5 MGy at 12 keV. In addition the multiple gain concept has been demonstrated over a dynamic range to 10^4 at 12 keV with a readout noise equivalent to <1 photon rms in its most sensitive mode.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2013

Status of detector development for the European XFEL

The European X-ray Free Electron Laser (XFEL.EU) will provide as-yet-unrivaled peak brilliance and ultra-short pulses of spatially coherent X-rays with a pulse length of less than 100 fs in the energy range between 0.25 and 25 keV. The high radiation intensity and ultra-short pulse duration will open a window for novel scientific techniques and will allow to explore new phenomena in biology, chemistry, material science, as well as matter at high energy density, atomic, ion and molecular physics. The variety of scientific applications and especially the unique XFEL.EU time structure require adequate instrumentation to be developed in order to exploit the full potential of the light source. To make optimal use of the unprecedented capabilities of the European XFEL and master these vast technological challenges, the European XFEL GmbH has started a detector R&D program. The technology concepts of the detector system presently under development are complementary in their performance and will cover the requirements of a large fraction of the scientific applications envisaged for the XFEL.EU facility. The actual status of the detector development projects which includes ultra-fast 2D imaging detectors, low repetition rate 2D detectors as well as strip detectors for e.g. spectroscopy applications and the infrastructure for the detectors' calibration and tests will be presented. Furthermore, an overview of the forthcoming implementation phase of the European XFEL in terms of detector R&D will be given.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2013

A comprehensive chemical abundance study of the outer halo globular cluster M 75

Context: M 75 is a relatively young Globular Cluster (GC) found at 15 kpc from the Galactic centre at the transition region between the inner and outer Milky Way halos. Aims: Our aims are to perform a comprehensive abundance study of a variety of chemical elements in this GC such as to investigate its chemical enrichment history in terms of early star formation, and to search for any multiple populations. Methods: We have obtained high resolution spectroscopy with the MIKE instrument at the Magellan telescope for 16 red giant stars. Their membership within the GC is confirmed from radial velocity measurements. Our chemical abundance analysis is performed via equivalent width measurements and spectral synthesis, assuming local thermodynamic equilibrium (LTE). Results: We present the first comprehensive abundance study of M 75 to date. The cluster is metal-rich ([Fe/H]=-1.16+/-0.02 dex, [alpha/Fe]=+0.30+/-0.02 dex), and shows a marginal spread in [Fe/H] of 0.07 dex, typical of most GCs of similar luminosity. A moderately extended O-Na anticorrelation is clearly visible, likely showing three generations of stars, formed on a short timescale. Additionally the two most Na-rich stars are also Ba-enhanced by 0.4 and 0.6 dex, respectively, indicative of pollution by lower mass (M ~ 4-5 M_Sun) Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) stars. The overall n-capture element pattern is compatible with predominant r-process enrichment, which is rarely the case in GCs of such a high metallicity.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2013

Neutron-capture element deficiency of the Hercules dwarf spheroidal galaxy

We present an assessment of the barium abundance ratios for red giant member stars in the faint Hercules dwarf spheroidal (dSph) galaxy. Our results are drawn from intermediate-resolution FLAMES/GIRAFFE spectra around the Ba II 6141.71 AA absorption line at low signal-to-noise ratios. For three brighter stars we were able to gain estimates from direct equivalent-width measurements, while for the remaining eight stars only upper limits could be obtained. These results are investigated in a statistical manner and indicate very low Ba abundances of log epsilon (Ba) < 0.7 dex (3 sigma). We discuss various possible systematic biasses, first and foremost, a blend with the Fe I 6141.73 AA-line, but most of those would only lead to even lower abundances. A better match with metal-poor halo and dSph stars can only be reached by including a large uncertainty in the continuum placement. This contrasts with the high dispersions in iron and calcium (in excess of 1 dex) in this galaxy. While the latter spreads are typical of the very low luminosity, dark-matter dominated dSphs, a high level of depletion in heavy elements suggests that chemical enrichment in Hercules was governed by very massive stars, coupled with a very low star formation efficiency. While very low abundances of some heavy elements are also found in individual stars of other dwarf galaxies, this is the first time that a very low Ba abundance is found within an entire dSph over a broad metallicity range.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2013

A kinematic study of the Andromeda dwarf spheroidal system

We present a homogeneous kinematic analysis of red giant branch stars within 18 of the 28 Andromeda dwarf spheroidal (dSph) galaxies, obtained using the Keck I LRIS and Keck II DEIMOS spectrographs. Based on their g-i colors (taken with the CFHT MegaCam imager), physical positions on the sky, and radial velocities, we assign probabilities of dSph membership to each observed star. Using this information, the velocity dispersions, central masses and central densities of the dark matter halos are calculated for these objects, and compared with the properties of the Milky Way dSph population. We also measure the average metallicity ([Fe/H]) from the co-added spectra of member stars for each M31 dSph and find that they are consistent with the trend of decreasing [Fe/H] with luminosity observed in the Milky Way population. We find that three of our studied M31 dSphs appear as significant outliers in terms of their central velocity dispersion, And XIX, XXI and XXV, all of which have large half-light radii (>700 pc) and low velocity dispersions (sigma_v<5 km/s). In addition, And XXV has a mass-to-light ratio within its half-light radius of just [M/L]_{half}=10.3^{+7.0}_{-6.7}, making it consistent with a simple stellar system with no appreciable dark matter component within its 1 sigma uncertainties. We suggest that the structure of the dark matter halos of these outliers have been significantly altered by tides.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2013

Metallicity Distribution Functions, Radial Velocities, and Alpha Element Abundances in Three Off-Axis Bulge Fields

We present radial velocities and chemical abundance ratios of [Fe/H], [O/Fe], [Si/Fe], and [Ca/Fe] for 264 red giant branch (RGB) stars in three Galactic bulge off-axis fields located near (l,b)=(-5.5,-7), (-4,-9), and (+8.5,+9). The results are based on equivalent width and spectrum synthesis analyses of moderate resolution (R~18,000), high signal-to-noise ratio (S/N~75-300) spectra obtained with the Hydra spectrographs on the Blanco 4m and WIYN 3.5m telescopes. The targets were selected from the blue side of the giant branch to avoid cool stars that would be strongly affected by CN and TiO; however, a comparison of the color-metallicity distribution in literature samples suggests our selection of bluer targets should not present a significant bias against metal-rich stars. We find a full range in metallicity that spans [Fe/H]\approx-1.5 to +0.5, and that, in accordance with the previously observed minor-axis vertical metallicity gradient, the median [Fe/H] also declines with increasing Galactic latitude in off-axis fields. The off-axis vertical [Fe/H] gradient in the southern bulge is estimated to be ~0.4 dex/kpc. The (+8.5,+9) field exhibits a higher than expected metallicity, with a median [Fe/H]=-0.23, that might be related to a stronger presence of the X--shaped bulge structure along that line-of-sight. All fields exhibit an identical, strong decrease in velocity dispersion with increasing metallicity that is consistent with observations in similar minor-axis outer bulge fields. Additionally, the [O/Fe], [Si/Fe], and [Ca/Fe] versus [Fe/H] trends are identical among our three fields, and are in good agreement with past bulge studies. [abridged]

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2013

Chemical element abundances in the outer halo globular cluster M 75

We present the first comprehensive abundance study of the massive, outer halo globular cluster (GC) M 75 (NGC 6864). This unique system shows a very extended trimodal horizontal branch (HB), but no other clues for multiple populations have been detected in its colour-magnitude diagram (CMD). Based on high-resolution spectroscopic observations of 16 red giant stars, we derived the abundances of a large variety of alpha, p-capture, iron-peak, and n-capture elements. We found that the cluster is metal-rich ([Fe/H] = -1.16 +/- 0.02 dex, [alpha/Fe] = +0.30 +/- 0.02 dex), and shows a marginal spread in [Fe/H] of 0.07 dex, typical of most GCs of similar luminosity. We detected significant variations of O, Na, and Al among our sample, suggesting three different populations. Additionally, the two most Na-rich stars are also significantly Ba-enhanced, indicating a fourth population of stars. Curiously, most stars in M 75 (excluding the two Ba-rich stars) show a predominant r-process enrichment pattern, which is unusual at the cluster's high metallicity. We compare the abundance properties of M 75 and NGC 1851 (a GC very similar to M 75 in terms of age, metallicity, and HB morphology) and draw conclusions on M 75's possible formation scenarios.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2013

An intermediate-band photometric study of the "Globular Cluster" NGC 2419

NGC 2419 is one of the remotest star clusters in the Milky Way halo and its exact nature is yet unclear: While it has traits reminiscent of a globular cluster (GC), its large radius and suggestions of an abundance spread have fueled the discussion about its origin in an extragalactic environment, possibly the remnants of the accretion of a dwarf galaxy. Here, we present first results from deep intermediate-band photometry of NGC 2419, which enables us to search for chemical (light element) abundance variations, metallicity spreads, and thus multiple stellar populations through well calibrated Stroemgren indices.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2012

Detector Development for the European XFEL: Requirements and Status

The variety of applications and especially the unique European XFEL time structure will require adequate instrumentation to be developed to exploit the full potential of the light source. Two-dimensional integrating X-ray detectors with ultra-fast read out up to 4.5 MHz for 1024 x 1024 pixel images are under development for a variety of imaging applications. The actual status of the European XFEL detector development projects is presented. Furthermore, an outlook will be given with respect to detector research and development, performance optimization, integration, and commissioning.

physics.ins-det↗

arXiv2012

Threshing in Action - The tidal disruption of a dwarf galaxy by the Hydra I Cluster

We report on the discovery of strong tidal features around a dwarf spheroidal galaxy in the Hydra I galaxy cluster, indicating its ongoing tidal disruption. This very low surface brightness object, HCC-087, was originally classified as an early-type dwarf in the Hydra Cluster Catalogue (HCC), but our re-analysis of the ESO-VLT/FORS images of the HCC unearthed a clear indication of an S-shaped morphology and a large spatial extent. Its shape, luminosity (M_V=-11.6 mag), and physical size (at a half-light radius of 3.1 kpc and a full length of ~5.9 kpc) are comparable to the recently discovered NGC 4449B and the Sagittarius dwarf spheroidal, all of which are undergoing clear tidal disruption. Aided by N-body simulations we argue that HCC-087 is currently at its first apocenter, at 150 kpc, around the cluster center and that it is being tidally disrupted by the galaxy cluster's potential itself. An interaction with the near-by (50 kpc) S0 cluster galaxy HCC-005, at M* ~ 3 x 10^10 M_sun is rather unlikely, as this constellation requires a significant amount of dynamical friction and thus low relative velocities. The S-shaped morphology and large spatial extent of the satellite would, however, also appear if HCC-087 would orbit the cluster center. These features appear to be characteristic properties of satellites that are seen in the process of being tidally disrupted, independent of the environment of the destruction. An important finding of our simulations is an orientation of the tidal tails perpendicular to the orbit.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2012

4MOST - 4-metre Multi-Object Spectroscopic Telescope

The 4MOST consortium is currently halfway through a Conceptual Design study for ESO with the aim to develop a wide-field (>3 square degree, goal >5 square degree), high-multiplex (>1500 fibres, goal 3000 fibres) spectroscopic survey facility for an ESO 4m-class telescope (VISTA). 4MOST will run permanently on the telescope to perform a 5 year public survey yielding more than 20 million spectra at resolution R~5000 (λ=390-1000 nm) and more than 2 million spectra at R~20,000 (395-456.5 nm & 587-673 nm). The 4MOST design is especially intended to complement three key all-sky, space-based observatories of prime European interest: Gaia, eROSITA and Euclid. Initial design and performance estimates for the wide-field corrector concepts are presented. We consider two fibre positioner concepts, a well-known Phi-Theta system and a new R-Theta concept with a large patrol area. The spectrographs are fixed configuration two-arm spectrographs, with dedicated spectrographs for the high- and low-resolution. A full facility simulator is being developed to guide trade-off decisions regarding the optimal field-of-view, number of fibres needed, and the relative fraction of high-to-low resolution fibres. Mock catalogues with template spectra from seven Design Reference Surveys are simulated to verify the science requirements of 4MOST. The 4MOST consortium aims to deliver the full 4MOST facility by the end of 2018 and start delivering high-level data products for both consortium and ESO community targets a year later with yearly increments.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2012

Precise abundance analysis of the outer halo globular cluster M 75

Globular clusters (GCs) are the oldest stellar systems in the Milky Way. Long time considered as simple stellar populations, nowadays we recognize their complex star formation history through precise abundance analysis of a variety of chemical elements in individual cluster members. Although we do not necessarily see clues for multiple populations in all GC colour-magnitude diagrams, all GCs present significant spreads and certain anticorrelations between their light and alpha element abundances. Furthermore, the heavy element abundances in individual stars of the primordial generation and their comparison to halo field stars and dwarf galaxies could provide us with valuable information about the very first stars that could have formed in GCs. M75 is a unique outer halo (galactocentric distance of ~15 kpc) GC with a peculiar Horizontal Branch morphology. Here we present the first abundance measurements of 16 individual red giants from high resolution spectroscopy. The cluster is metal rich ([Fe/H] = -1.17 +/- 0.02), alpha-enhanced, and shows a marginal spread in [Fe/H] of 0.07 dex, typical of most GCs of similar luminosity. The O-Na anticorrelation is clearly visible, showing at least two generations of stars, formed on a short timescale. We also discuss r- and s-process element abundances in the context of the earliest cluster enrichment phases.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2012

Chemical abundances of metal-poor RR Lyrae stars in the Magellanic Clouds

We present for the first time a detailed spectroscopic study of chemical element abundances of metal-poor RR Lyrae stars in the Large and Small Magellanic Cloud (LMC and SMC). Using the MagE echelle spectrograph at the 6.5m Magellan telescopes, we obtain medium resolution (R ~ 2000 - 6000) spectra of six RR Lyrae stars in the LMC and three RR Lyrae stars in the SMC. These stars were chosen because their previously determined photometric metallicities were among the lowest metallicities found for stars belonging to the old populations in the Magellanic Clouds. We find the spectroscopic metallicities of these stars to be as low as [Fe/H]_{spec} = -2.7dex, the lowest metallicity yet measured for any star in the Magellanic Clouds. We confirm that for metal-poor stars, the photometric metallicities from the Fourier decomposition of the lightcurves are systematically too high compared to their spectroscopic counterparts. However, for even more metal-poor stars below [Fe/H]_{phot} < -2.8dex this trend is reversed and the spectroscopic metallicities are systematically higher than the photometric estimates. We are able to determine abundance ratios for ten chemical elements, which extend the abundance measurements of chemical elements for RR Lyrae stars in the Clouds beyond [Fe/H] for the first time. For the overall [alpha/Fe] ratio, we obtain an overabundance of 0.36dex, which is in very good agreement with results from metal-poor stars in the Milky Way halo as well as from the metal-poor tail in dwarf spheroidal galaxies. Comparing the abundances with those of the stars in the Milky Way halo we find that the abundance ratios of stars of both populations are consistent with another. Therefore we conclude that from a chemical point of view early contributions from Magellanic-type galaxies to the formation of the Galactic halo as claimed in cosmological models are plausible.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2012

Small-scale hero: massive-star enrichment in the Hercules dwarf spheroidal

Dwarf spheroidal galaxies are often conjectured to be the sites of the first stars. The best current contenders for finding the chemical imprints from the enrichment by those massive objects are the "ultrafaint dwarfs" (UFDs). Here we present evidence for remarkably low heavy element abundances in the metal poor Hercules UFD. Combined with other peculiar abundance patterns this indicates that Hercules was likely only influenced by very few, massive explosive events - thus bearing the traces of an early, localized chemical enrichment with only very little other contributions from other sources at later times.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2012

A super-Li rich turnoff star in NGC 6397 - the puzzle persists

This presentation focuses on a recently discovered super-Li rich turnoff star in the old, metal poor globular cluster NGC 6397 (Koch et al. 2011, ApJL, 738, L29). Its unusually high NLTE lithium abundance of A(7Li) = 4.21, the highest Li enhancement found in a Galactic GC dwarf star to date, has defied any unambiguous explanation through canonical enrichment channels. Spectra of the star show no convincing evidence for binarity, and measured line strengths and chemical element abundance ratios are fully compatible with other turnoff stars in this GC, seemingly ruling out mass transfer from an AGB companion as origin of the high A(Li). A possible cause is an interaction with a red giant that has undergone cool bottom processing.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2011

The Bulge Radial Velocity Assay (BRAVA): II. Complete Sample and Data Release

We present new radial velocity measurements from the Bulge Radial Velocity Assay (BRAVA), a large scale spectroscopic survey of M-type giants in the Galactic bulge/bar region. The sample of ~4500 new radial velocities, mostly in the region -10 deg < l < +10 deg and b ~ -6 deg more than doubles the existent published data set. Our new data extend our rotation curve and velocity dispersion profile to +20 deg, which is ~2.8 kpc from the Galactic Center. The new data confirm the cylindrical rotation observed at -6 deg and -8 deg, and are an excellent fit to the Shen et al. (2010) N-body bar model. We measure the strength of the TiO molecular band as a first step towards a metallicity ranking of the stellar sample, from which we confirm the presence of a vertical abundance gradient. Our survey finds no strong evidence of previously unknown kinematic streams. We also publish our complete catalog of radial velocities, photometry, TiO band strengths, and spectra, which is available at the IRSA archive: http://irsa.ipac.caltech.edu/ as well as at UCLA: http://brava.astro.ucla.edu/.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2011

Dwarf spheroidal galaxy kinematics and spiral galaxy scaling laws

Kinematic surveys of the dwarf spheroidal (dSph) satellites of the Milky Way are revealing tantalising hints about the structure of dark matter (DM) haloes at the low-mass end of the galaxy luminosity function. At the bright end, modelling of spiral galaxies has shown that their rotation curves are consistent with the hypothesis of a Universal Rotation Curve whose shape is supported by a cored dark matter halo. In this paper, we investigate whether the internal kinematics of the Milky Way dSphs are consistent with the particular cored DM distributions which reproduce the properties of spiral galaxies. Although the DM densities in dSphs are typically almost two orders of magnitude higher than those found in (larger) disk systems, we find consistency between dSph kinematics and Burkert DM haloes whose core radii r0 and central densities ρ0 lie on the extrapolation of the scaling law seen in spiral galaxies: log ρ0 \simeq α log r0 + const with 0.9 < α < 1.1. We similarly find that the dSph data are consistent with the relation between ρ0 and baryon scale length seen in spiral galaxies. While the origin of these scaling relations is unclear, the finding that a single DM halo profile is consistent with kinematic data in galaxies of widely varying size, luminosity and Hubble Type is important for our understanding of observed galaxies and must be accounted for in models of galaxy formation.

astro-ph.CO↗