arXiv subjects

Ata Sarajedini

Publications and source records attributed to Ata Sarajedini.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

arXiv2003

Using Optical and Near-IR Photometry to Test MACHO Lens Candidates

We obtained new VLT/ISAAC H-band observations for five MACHO LMC source stars and adjacent LMC field regions. After combining our near-IR photometry with HST/PC BVRI optical photometry, we compared the MACHO objects to the adjacent field stars in a variety of color-magnitude and color-color diagrams. These diagnostic diagrams were chosen to be sensitive to our hypothesis that at least some of the MACHO lenses were foreground Galactic disk or thick disk M dwarfs. For the five lensed objects we studied, our hypothesis could be ruled out for main sequence lens masses >= 0.1 Mo for distances out to 4 kpc. On the other hand, the fact that LMC-MACHO-5, an object not in our study, has been recently found to have just such a foreground lens, highlights that the remainder of the LMC MACHO objects should be searched for the signature of their lenses using our photometric technique, or via near-IR spectroscopy. We also constructed diagnostic color-color diagrams sensitive to determining reddening for the individual MACHO source stars and found that these five objects did not show evidence for significant additional reddening. At least these five MACHO objects are thus also inconsistent with the LMC self-lensing hypothesis.

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arXiv2002

K-Band Red Clump Distances to the LMC Clusters Hodge 4 and NGC 1651

We present near-infrared color-magnitude diagrams for the LMC star clusters Hodge 4 and NGC 1651 revealing the helium burning red clump stars for the first time in the JK passbands. From these diagrams, which extend to K~19, and existing optical CMDs that reveal the clusters' main sequence turnoffs, we determine the following cluster parameters. For Hodge 4, we estimate a metallicity of [Fe/H] = -0.17 +/- 0.04, an age of 1.7 +/- 0.3 Gyr, and a red clump absolute magnitude of Mk(RC) = -1.64 +/- 0.17. Along with an adopted reddening of E(J-K) = 0.03 +/- 0.01 based on the Burstein & Heiles and Schlegel et al. reddening maps, we find a distance of (m-M)o = 18.52 +/- 0.17 for Hodge 4. In the case of NGC 1651, we derive [Fe/H] = -0.07 +/- 0.10, an age of 1.8 +/- 0.3 Gyr, Mk(RC) = -1.56 +/- 0.12, E(J-K) = 0.06 +/- 0.01, and (m-M)o =18.55 +/- 0.12, all measured in the same manner as for Hodge 4. Based on these two clusters, we calculate a mean LMC distance of (m-M)o = 18.54 +/- 0.10.

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arXiv2002

WIYN Open Cluster Study XI: WIYN 3.5m Deep Photometry of M35 (NGC 2168)

We present deep BVI observations of the core of M35 and a nearby comparison field obtained at the WIYN 3.5m telescope under excellent seeing. These observations display the lower main sequence in BV and VI CMDs down to V = 23.3 and 24.6, respectively. At these faint magnitudes background field stars are far more numerous than the cluster stars, yet by using a smoothing technique and CMD density distribution subtraction we recover the cluster fiducial main sequence and luminosity function to V = 24.6. We find the location of the main sequence in these CMDs to be consistent with earlier work on other open clusters, specifically NGC 188, NGC 2420, and NGC 2477. We compare these open cluster fiducial sequences to stellar models by Baraffe et al. (1998), Siess et al. (2000), Girardi et al. (2000), and Yi et al. (2001) and find that the models are too blue in both B-V and V-I for stars below ~0.4 Mo. M35 contains stars to the limit of the extracted main sequence, at M ~ 0.10-0.15 Mo, suggesting that M35 may harbor a large number of brown dwarfs, which should be easy targets for near-IR instrumentation on 8-10m telescopes. We also identify a new candidate white dwarf in M35 at V = 21.36 +- 0.01. Depending on which WD models are used to interpret this cluster candidate, it is either a very high mass WD (1.05 +- 0.05 Mo) somewhat older (0.19-0.26 Gyr, 3-4 sigma) than our best isochrone age (150 Myr), or it is a modestly massive WD (0.67-0.78 Mo) much too old (0.42-0.83 Gyr) to belong to the cluster.

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arXiv2001

WIYN Open Cluster Study. X. The K-Band Magnitude of the Red Clump as a Distance Indicator

In an effort to improve the utility of the helium burning red clump luminosity as a distance indicator, we explore the sensitivity of the K-band red clump absolute magnitude Mk(RC) to metallicity and age. We rely upon JK photometry for 14 open clusters and two globulars from the 2nd Incremental Data Release of the 2MASS Point Source Catalog. The distances, metallicities, and ages of the open clusters are all on an internally consistent system, while the K(RC) values are measured from the 2MASS data. For clusters younger than ~2 Gyr, Mk(RC) is insensitive to metallicity but shows a dependence on age. In contrast, for clusters older than ~2 Gyr, Mk(RC) is influenced primarily by the metallicity of the population and shows little or no dependence on the age. Theoretical red clump models based on the formalism of Girardi et al. reinforce this finding. Over comparable metallicity and age ranges, our average Mk(RC) value is in accord with that based on solar-neighborhood red clump stars with HIPPARCOS parallaxes. Lastly, we compute the distance to the open cluster NGC 2158 using our red clump calibration. Adopting an age of 1.6 +/- 0.2 Gyr and [Fe/H] = -0.24 +/- 0.06, our calibration yields a distance of (m-M)v = 14.38 +/- 0.09.

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arXiv2001

Determination of the Distance to M33 Based on the Tip of the Red Giant Branch and the Red Clump

We have determined the distance to M33 using the tip of the red giant branch (TRGB) and the red clump (RC), from the VI photometry of stars in ten regions of M33 based on HST/WFPC2 images. The regions used in this study are located at R=2.6 - 17.8 arcmin from the center of M33. The distance modulus to M33 obtained in this study, for an adopted foreground reddening of E(B-V)=0.04, is (m-M)_{0,TRGB}=24.81+/-0.04(random)+0.15/-0.11(systematic) from the TRGB, and (m-M)_{0,RC}=24.80+/-0.04(random)+/-0.05(systematic) from the RC, showing an excellent agreement between the two (corresponding to a distance of 916+/-17(random) kpc and 912+/-17(random) kpc, respectively). These results are \~0.3 mag larger than the Cepheid distances based on the same HST/WFPC2 data and ground-based data. This difference is considered partially due to the uncertainty in the estimates of the total reddening for Cepheids in M33.

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arXiv2001

Determination of the Distance to M33 Based on Single Epoch I-band HST Observations of Cepheids

We have determined the distance to M33 using single epoch I-band observations of Cepheids based on HST/WFPC2 images of five fields in M33. Combining the HST I-band photometry and the periods determined from the ground-based observations (DIRECT) for 21 Cepheids with log P>0.8 in the sample of 32 Cepheids, we derive a distance modulus of (m-M)_0=24.52+/-0.14(random)+/-0.13(systematic) for an adopted total reddening of M33, E(B-V)=0.20+/-0.04 (E(V-I)=0.27+/-0.05) given by Freedmand et al.(2001), the reddening to the LMC, E(B-V)=0.10, and the distance to the LMC, (m-M)_0=18.50. If the total reddening to M33 of E(B-V)=0.10+/-0.09 given by Freedman, Wilson, and Madore(1991) is used, the Cepheid distance modulus based on the I-band photometry will be increased by 0.20. Metallicity effect on the Cepheid distance to M33 is estimated to be small, delta(m-M)_Z=0.01 to 0.06, which leads to (m-M)_0=24.53 to 24.58 after this metallicity effect correction. Using the Wesenheit W_I, an extinction-free parameter, we derive a similar value, (m-M)_0=24.52+/-0.15(random)+/-0.11(systematic). These results are in reasonable agreement with those based on the ground-based multi-epoch BVRI observations of brighter Cepheids in M33, and are ~0.3 smaller than those based on the tip of the red giant branch and the red clump. It is needed to estimate better the reddening to Cepheids in M33.

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arXiv2001

Washington Photometry of New Globular Clusters in M31

We present a progress report on Washington photometry of several hundred new globular cluster (GC) candidates in M31 which were recently found from our new CCD survey of GCs. Washington CMT1 filters we used are very efficient to survey extragalactic GCs and to estimate the metallicity of GCs. Preliminary color-magnitude diagrams and color-color diagrams of the new GC candidates and known GCs in M31 are obtained.

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arXiv2001

Surface Photometry of Star Clusters in the Dwarf Elliptical Galaxies NGC 185 and NGC 205

We present the surface photometry of star clusters in the nearby dwarf elliptical galaxies NGC 185 and NGC 205, obtained from deep HST WFPC2 F555W (V) and F814W (I) images. We have obtained surface brightness and color profiles of six star clusters in NGC 185, seven star clusters in NGC 205, and one recently discovered non-stellar object in NGC 205. The surface brightness profiles of ten star clusters are fitted well by the King model, and those of four star clusters are fitted well by the power-law. Three out of ten star clusters fitted well with King model show signs of tidal tails.

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arXiv2001

New CCD Survey of Globular Clusters in M31

We present a progress report of our wide field CCD survey of globular clusters in M31. We have covered 3 deg X 3 deg area centered on M31, using the KPNO 0.9m and Washington CMT1 filters. Our survey is much deeper and more sensitive than previous surveys. We have found several hundred new globular cluster candidates in M31 in addition to confirming previously known globular clusters, and also have found a number of interlopers among previous globular cluster catalogs. We have also obtained spectra of about 500 objects among these candidates using the HYDRA at the WIYN 3.5m telescope, which are used for classification and measuring the radial velocity of the candidate objects. When completed, a new master catalog of globular clusters in M31 will be made, combining the new globular clusters with the known globular clusters.

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arXiv2001

CCD Photometry of the Classic Second Parameter Globular Clusters M3 and M13

We present high-precision V, B-V color-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) for the classic second parameter globular clusters M3 and M13 from wide-field deep CCD photometry. The data for the two clusters were obtained during the same photometric nights with the same instrument, allowing us to determine accurate relative ages. Based on a differential comparison of the CMDs using the Delta (B-V) method, an age difference of 1.7 +/- 0.7 Gyr is obtained between these two clusters. We compare this result with our updated horizontal-branch (HB) population models, which confirm that the observed age difference can produce the difference in HB morphology between the clusters. This provides further evidence that age is the dominant second parameter that influences HB morphology.

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arXiv2001

Deep HST WFPC2 Photometry of M31's Thick Disk(?)

We present deep color-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) for a field along the outer disk of M31 based on archival Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 observations in the F555W (~V) and F814W (~I) filters. The CMDs, which contain a total of about 50,000 stars, feature a prominent red giant branch (RGB) along with a significant population of helium burning red clump stars. In addition, they exhibit the rarely seen asymptotic giant branch clump as well as a weak `Pop II' horizontal branch. There is also the hint of a ~2 Gyr subgiant branch at the faintest levels of the CMDs. After adopting an M31 distance of (m-M)o = 24.5 and a reddening of E(B-V) = 0.08, we draw the following conclusions. 1) The I-band absolute magnitude of the helium burning red clump stars is M(RC) = -0.29 +/- 0.05, which is in accord with the value derived from Hipparcos parallaxes of solar neighborhood clump stars by Stanek & Garnavich. 2) The metallicity distribution function constructed from bright RGB stars shows a characteristic shape; however, a pure halo population consisting of metal-poor and intermediate metallicity components (as advocated in the literature) are not sufficient to account for this shape. Instead, an additional Gaussian component with <[Fe/H]> = -0.22 +/- 0.26, comprising 70% of the total number of stars, is required. 3) A comparison of our CMD with theoretical isochrones indicates that the majority of stars in our M31 field have ages that are >~1.5 Gyr. 4) These points, along with the physical location of our field in M31, suggest that we are observing the thick disk population of this galaxy.

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arXiv2001

The Frequency of Binary Stars in the Core of 47 Tucanae

Differential time series photometry has been derived for 46422 main-sequence stars in the core of 47 Tucanae. The observations consisted of near-continuous 160-s exposures alternating between the F555W and F814W filters for 8.3 days in 1999 July with WFPC2 on the Hubble Space Telescope. Using Fourier and other search methods, eleven detached eclipsing binaries and fifteen W UMa stars have been discovered, plus an additional ten contact or near-contact non-eclipsing systems. After correction for non-uniform area coverage of the survey, the observed frequencies of detached eclipsing binaries and W UMa's within 90 arcseconds of the cluster center are 0.022% and 0.031% respectively. The observed detached eclipsing binary frequency, the assumptions of a flat binary distribution with log period and that the eclipsing binaries with periods longer than about 4 days have essentially their primordial periods, imply an overall binary frequency of 13 +/- 6 %. The observed W UMa frequency and the additional assumptions that W UMa's have been brought to contact according to tidal circularization and angular momentum loss theory and that the contact binary lifetime is 10^{9} years, imply an overall binary frequency of 14 +/- 4 %. An additional 71 variables with periods from 0.4 - 10 days have been found which are likely to be BY Draconis stars in binary systems. The radial distribution of these stars is the same as that of the eclipsing binaries and W UMa stars and is more centrally concentrated than average stars, but less so than the blue straggler stars. A distinct subset of six of these stars fall in an unexpected domain of the CMD, comprising what we propose to call red stragglers.

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arXiv2001

The Line-of-Sight Depth of Populous Clusters in the Small Magellanic Cloud

We present an analysis of age, metal abundance, and positional data on populous clusters in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) with the ultimate aim of determining the line-of-sight (LOS) depth of the SMC using these clusters as proxies. Our dataset contains 12 objects and is limited to clusters with the highest quality data for which the ages and abundances are best known and can be placed on an internally consistent scale. We have analyzed the variation of the clusters' properties with position on the sky and with line-of-sight depth. Based on this analysis, we draw the following conclusions. 1) The observational data indicates that the eastern side of the SMC (facing the LMC) contains younger and more metal-rich clusters as compared with the western side. This is not a strong correlation because our dataset of clusters is necessarily limited, but it is suggestive and warrants further study. 2) Depending on how the reddening is computed to our clusters, we find a mean distance modulus that ranges from (m-M)_0 = 18.71 +/- 0.06 to (m-M)_0 = 18.82 +/- 0.05. 3) The intrinsic +/- 1-sigma line-of-sight depth of the SMC populous clusters in our study is between ~6 kpc and ~12 kpc depending primarily on whether we adopt the Burstein & Heiles reddenings or those from Schlegel et al. 4) Viewing the SMC as a triaxial galaxy with the Declination, Right Ascension, and LOS depth as the three axes, we find axial ratios of approximately 1:2:4. Taken together, these conclusions largely agree with those of previous investigators and serve to underscore the utility of populous star clusters as probes of the structure of the Small Magellanic Cloud.

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arXiv2000

CCD Photometry of the Globular Cluster NGC 4833 and Extinction Near the Galactic Plane

We present CCD photometry for the Galactic globular cluster NGC 4833. Our BVI color magnitude diagrams (CMD) extend from above the red giant branch (RGB) tip to several magnitudes below the main sequence turnoff. The principal sequences of the cluster show the effects of differential reddening. We have created a local extinction map, consistent with IRAS and COBE/DIRBE dust maps of the region. We use our map to correct the colors and magnitudes of each star to the value at the cluster center. The cluster horizontal branch (HB) is predominately blueward of the instability strip with 13 confirmed RR Lyrae variables and 5 additional RR Lyrae candidates. Using the 11 confirmed RR Lyraes measured on our images, and the differential reddening corrected photometry we calculate V(HB) = 15.56 +/- 0.063. We have used the simultaneous reddening and metallicity method of Sarajedini (1994) to find the mean reddening of the cluster E(B-V) = 0.32 +/- 0.03, and the mean metallicity [Fe/H] = -1.83 +/- 0.14. As for the age of NGC 4833, we find provisional evidence that NGC 4833 is 2 +/- 1 Gyr older than the average of M92 and M5. A more definitive conclusion must await higher resolution imaging of the cluster core where the effects of differential reddening are minimized.

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arXiv2000

The Age of the Inner Halo Globular Cluster NGC 6652

HST (V,I) photometry has been obtained for the inner halo globular cluster NGC 6652. The photometry reaches approximately 4 mag below the turn-off and includes a well populated horizontal branch. This cluster is located close to the Galactic center at a galactocentric distance of approximately 2.0 kpc with a reddening of E(V-I) = 0.15 +/- 0.02 and has a metallicity of [Fe/H] approximately -0.85. Based upon Delta(V) between the point on the sub-giant branch which is 0.05 mag redder than the turn-off and the horizontal branch, NGC 6652 is 11.7 +/- 1.6 Gyr old. Using this same Delta(V), precise differential ages for 47 Tuc (a thick disk globular), M107 and NGC 1851 (both halo clusters) were obtained. NGC 6652 appears to be the same age as 47 Tuc and NGC 1851 (within +/- 1.2 Gyr), while there is a slight suggestion that M107 is older than NGC 6652 by 2.3 +/- 1.5 Gyr. As this is a less than 2-sigma result, this issue needs to be investigated further before a definitive statement regarding the relative age of M107 and NGC 6652 may be made.

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arXiv2000

Hubble Space Telescope Photometry of the Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy ESO 410-G005

We present HST WFPC2 imaging of the nearby low-surface-brightness dwarf spheroidal galaxy ESO 410-G005, which has been resolved into stars for the first time. The resulting color-magnitude diagram for about 2500 stars shows a red giant branch branch with a tip at I=(22.4+-0.15), which yields a distance of D=(1.9+-0.2) Mpc. ESO 410-G005 is found to be metal-poor with a mean metallicity of (-1.8+-0.4) dex estimated from its red giant branch. Upper asymptotic giant branch stars appear to be present near the center of the galaxy, indicative of a substantial, centrally concentrated intermediate-age population, unless these objects are artifacts of crowding. Previous studies did not detect ESO 410-G005 in H alpha or in HI. ESO 410-G005 is a probable member of the Sculptor group. Its linear separation from the nearest spiral, NGC 55, is 230 kpc on the sky. The deprojected separation ranges from 340 to 615 kpc depending on the assumed distance of NGC 55. ESO 410 G005 appears to be a relatively isolated dSph within the Sculptor group. Its absolute magnitude, Mv = (-12.1+-0.2) mag, its central surface brightness, mu_V = (22.7+-0.1) mag/arcsec^2, and its mean metallicity, [Fe/H] = (-1.8+-0.4) dex, follow the trend observed for dwarf galaxies in the Local Group. (abridged)

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arXiv2000

A Search for Stars of Very Low Metal Abundance. IV. uvbyCa Observations of Metal-Weak Candidates from the Northern HK Survey

CCD photometry on the uvbyCa system has been obtained for 521 candidate metal-poor stars from the northern hemisphere HK survey of Beers and colleagues. Reddening corrections, classifications of stars by luminosity class, and the derivation of metal abundances based on Stromgren indices m1 and hk are described and presented, along with preliminary spectroscopic estimates of abundance. A number of extremely metal-poor stars with [Fe/H] less than or equal to -2.50 are identified.

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arXiv1998

HST WFPC2 Color-Magnitude Diagrams of Halo Globular Clusters in M33: Implications for the Early Formation History of the Local Group

We have constructed color-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) for ten globular clusters in the halo of the nearby spiral galaxy M33 based on Hubble Space Telescope Wide-Field Planetary Camera 2 observations in the F555W (~V) and F814W (~I) filters. These data reveal the morphology of the HB and allow us to estimate the cluster metallicity using the shape and color of the red giant branch. The principal result we report herein is that 8 of the 10 clusters possess exclusively red HB morphologies yet their metallicities are as metal-poor as [Fe/H] ~ -1.6. Indeed, these 8 clusters present basically only giant branch clumps reminiscent of intermediate age star clusters in the Magellanic Clouds. In addition, two of the clusters form a second parameter pair which have similar metallicities but very disparate HB types. Under the assumption that cluster age is the global second parameter, the average age of halo globular clusters in M33 appears to be a few Gyr younger than halo clusters in the Milky Way. Using the observed properties of HB stars in M31 and M33 along with published main-sequence turnoff ages for the globular clusters in the Milky Way, LMC, SMC, and the Sagittarius dwarf spheroidal (Sgr), we attempt to sketch the early formation history of these galaxies. This indicates that the Milky Way, M31, M33, the LMC, and Sgr all experienced their first epoch of cluster formation soon after the Big Bang. Three to four Gyr later, the SMC began to form its first generation of clusters; the bulk of the M33 clusters formed later still. We note that the halo clusters in M33 formed over a much longer time period than those in the Milky Way and M31.

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