arXiv subjects

C. J. Evans

Publications and source records attributed to C. J. Evans.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2018

The VLT-FLAMES Tarantula Survey XXIV. Stellar properties of the O-type giants and supergiants in 30 Doradus

The Tarantula region in the Large Magellanic Cloud contains the richest population of spatially resolved massive O-type stars known so far. This unmatched sample offers an opportunity to test models describing their main-sequence evolution and mass-loss properties. Using ground-based optical spectroscopy obtained in the framework of the VLT-FLAMES Tarantula Survey (VFTS), we aim to determine stellar, photospheric and wind properties of 72 presumably single O-type giants, bright giants and supergiants and to confront them with predictions of stellar evolution and of line-driven mass-loss theories. We apply an automated method for quantitative spectroscopic analysis of O stars combining the non-LTE stellar atmosphere model {\sc fastwind} with the genetic fitting algorithm {\sc pikaia} to determine the following stellar properties: effective temperature, surface gravity, mass-loss rate, helium abundance, and projected rotational velocity. We present empirical effective temperature versus spectral subtype calibrations at LMC-metallicity for giants and supergiants. In the spectroscopic and classical Hertzsprung-Russell diagrams, our sample O stars are found to occupy the region predicted to be the core hydrogen-burning phase by Brott et al. (2011) and Köhler et al. (2015). Except for five stars, the helium abundance of our sample stars is in agreement with the initial LMC composition. The aforementioned five stars present moderate projected rotational velocities (i.e., $v_{\mathrm{e}}\,\sin\,i\,<\,200\,\mathrm{km\,s^{-1}}$) and hence do not agree with current predictions of rotational mixing in main-sequence stars. Adopting theoretical results for the wind velocity law, we find modified wind momenta for LMC stars that are $\sim$0.3 dex higher than earlier results. [Due to the limitation of characters, the abstract appearing here is slightly shorter than that in the PDF file.]

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arXiv2018

Mapping the core of the Tarantula Nebula with VLT-MUSE: I. Spectral and nebular content around R136

We introduce VLT-MUSE observations of the central 2$'\times2'$ (30$\times$30 pc) of the Tarantula Nebula in the Large Magellanic Cloud. The observations provide an unprecedented spectroscopic census of the massive stars and ionised gas in the vicinity of R136, the young, dense star cluster located in NGC 2070, at the heart of the richest star-forming region in the Local Group. Spectrophotometry and radial-velocity estimates of the nebular gas (superimposed on the stellar spectra) are provided for 2255 point sources extracted from the MUSE datacubes, and we present estimates of stellar radial velocities for 270 early-type stars (finding an average systemic velocity of 271$\pm$41 km/s). We present an extinction map constructed from the nebular Balmer lines, with electron densities and temperatures estimated from intensity ratios of the [SII], [NII], and [SIII] lines. The interstellar medium, as traced by H$α$ and [NII] $λ$6583, provides new insights in regions where stars are probably forming. The gas kinematics are complex, but with a clear bi-modal, blue- and red-shifted distribution compared to the systemic velocity of the gas centred on R136. Interesting point-like sources are also seen in the eastern cavity, western shell, and around R136; these might be related to phenomena such as runaway stars, jets, formation of new stars, or the interaction of the gas with the population of Wolf--Rayet stars. Closer inspection of the core reveals red-shifted material surrounding the strongest X-ray sources, although we are unable to investigate the kinematics in detail as the stars are spatially unresolved in the MUSE data. Further papers in this series will discuss the detailed stellar content of NGC 2070 and its integrated stellar and nebular properties.

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arXiv2018

An optical parsec-scale jet from a massive young star in the Large Magellanic Cloud

Highly collimated parsec-scale jets, generally linked to the presence of an accretion disk, are a commonly observed phenomenon from revealed low-mass young stellar objects. In the past two decades, only a very few of these objects have been directly (or indirectly) observed towards high-mass (M > 8 M$_{\odot}$) young stellar objects, adding to the growing evidence that disk-mediated accretion is a phenomenon also occurring in high-mass stars, the formation mechanism of which is still poorly understood. Of the observed jets from massive young stars, none is in the optical regime (due to these being typically highly obscured by their native material), and none are found outside of the Milky Way. Here, we report the detection of HH 1177, the first extragalactic optical ionized jet originating from a massive young stellar object located in the Large Magellanic Cloud. The jet is highly collimated over the entire measured extent of at least 10 pc, and has a bipolar geometry. The presence of a jet indicates ongoing, disk-mediated accretion, and together with the high degree of collimation, this system is therefore likely to be an up-scaled version of low-mass star formation. We conclude that the physics governing jet launching and collimation is independent of stellar mass.

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arXiv2018

An excess of massive stars in the local 30 Doradus starburst

The 30 Doradus star-forming region in the Large Magellanic Cloud is a nearby analogue of large star-formation events in the distant Universe. We determine the recent formation history and the initial mass function (IMF) of massive stars in 30 Doradus based on spectroscopic observations of 247 stars more massive than 15 solar masses ($\mathrm{M}_\odot$). The main episode of massive star formation started about $8\,\mathrm{Myr}$ ago and the star-formation rate seems to have declined in the last $1\,\mathrm{Myr}$. The IMF is densely sampled up to $200\,\mathrm{M}_\odot$ and contains $32\pm12\%$ more stars above $30\,\mathrm{M}_\odot$ than predicted by a standard Salpeter IMF. In the mass range $15-200\,\mathrm{M}_\odot$, the IMF power-law exponent is $1.90^{+0.37}_{-0.26}$, shallower than the Salpeter value of 2.35.

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arXiv2018

The Magellanic Bridge cluster NGC 796: Deep optical AO imaging reveals the stellar content and initial mass function of a massive open cluster

NGC 796 is a massive young cluster located 59 kpc from us in the diffuse intergalactic medium of the 1/5-1/10 $Z_{\odot}$ Magellanic Bridge, allowing to probe variations in star formation and stellar evolution processes as a function of metallicity in a resolved fashion, providing a link between resolved studies of nearby solar-metallicity and unresolved distant metal-poor clusters located in high-redshift galaxies. In this paper, we present adaptive optics $gri$H$α$ imaging of NGC 796 (at 0.5", which is ~0.14 pc at the cluster distance) along with optical spectroscopy of two bright members to quantify the cluster properties. Our aim is to explore if star formation and stellar evolution varies as a function of metallicity by comparing the properties of NGC 796 to higher metallicity clusters. We find from isochronal fitting of the cluster main sequence in the colour-magnitude diagram an age of 20$^{+12}_{-5}$ Myr. Based on the cluster luminosity function, we derive a top-heavy stellar initial mass function (IMF) with a slope $α$ = 1.99$\pm$0.2, hinting at an metallicity and/or environmental dependence of the IMF which may lead to a top-heavy IMF in the early Universe. Study of the H$α$ emission line stars reveals that Classical Be stars constitute a higher fraction of the total B-type stars when compared with similar clusters at greater metallicity, providing some support to the chemically homogeneous theory of stellar evolution. Overall, NGC 796 has a total estimated mass of 990$\pm200$ $M_{\odot}$, and a core radius of 1.4$\pm$0.3 pc which classifies it as a massive young open cluster, unique in the diffuse interstellar medium of the Magellanic Bridge.

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arXiv2017

The VLT-FLAMES Tarantula Survey

We present a number of notable results from the VLT-FLAMES Tarantula Survey (VFTS), an ESO Large Program during which we obtained multi-epoch medium-resolution optical spectroscopy of a very large sample of over 800 massive stars in the 30 Doradus region of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). This unprecedented data-set has enabled us to address some key questions regarding atmospheres and winds, as well as the evolution of (very) massive stars. Here we focus on O-type runaways, the width of the main sequence, and the mass-loss rates for (very) massive stars. We also provide indications for the presence of a top-heavy initial mass function (IMF) in 30 Dor.

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arXiv2017

The massive multiple system HD 64315

The O6 Vn star HD 64315 is believed to belong to the star-forming region known as NGC 2467, but previous distance estimates do not support this association. We explore the multiple nature of this star with the aim of determining its distance, and understanding its connection to NGC 2467. A total of 52 high-resolution spectra have been gathered over a decade. We use their analysis, in combination with the photometric data from All Sky Automated Survey and Hipparcos catalogues, to conclude that HD 64315 is composed of at least two spectroscopic binaries, one of which is an eclipsing binary. HD 64315 contains two binary systems, one of which is an eclipsing binary. The two binaries are separated by 0.09 arcsec (or 500 AU) if the most likely distance to the system, around 5 kpc, is considered. The presence of fainter companions is not excluded by current observations. The non-eclipsing binary (HD 64315 AaAb) has a period of 2.70962901+/-0.00000021 d. Its components are hotter than those of the eclipsing binary, and dominate the appearance of the system. The eclipsing binary (HD 64315 BaBb) has a shorter period of 1.0189569+/-0.0000008 d. We derive masses of 14.6+-2.3 M$_\odot$ for both components of the BaBb system. They are almost identical; both stars are overfilling their respective Roche lobes, and share a common envelope in an overcontact configuration. The non-eclipsing binary is a detached system composed of two stars with spectral types around O6 V with minimum masses of 10.8 M$_\odot$ and 10.2 M$_\odot$, and likely masses aprox. 30 M$_\odot$. HD 64315 provides a cautionary tale about high-mass star isolation and multiplicity. Its total mass is likely above 90 M$_\odot$,but it seems to have formed without an accompanying cluster. It contains one the most massive overcontact binaries known, a likely merger progenitor in a very wide multiple system.

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arXiv2017

The VLT-FLAMES Tarantula Survey XXVII. Physical parameters of B-type main-sequence binary systems in the Tarantula nebula

A spectroscopic analysis has been undertaken for the B-type multiple systems (excluding those with supergiant primaries) in the VLT-FLAMES Tarantula Survey (VFTS). Projected rotational velocities, $v$sin$i$, for the primaries have been estimated using a Fourier Transform technique and confirmed by fitting rotationally broadened profiles. A subset of 33 systems with $v$sin$i$$\leq$ 80 km/s have been analysed using a TLUSTY grid of model atmospheres to estimate stellar parameters and surface abundances for the primaries. The effects of a potential flux contribution from an unseen secondary have also been considered. For 20 targets it was possible to reliably estimate their effective temperatures (T$_{eff}$) but for the other 13 objects it was only possible to provide a constraint of 20,000$\leq$T$_{eff}$$\leq$26,000 K -- the other parameters estimated for these targets will be consequently less reliable. The estimated stellar properties are compared with evolutionary models and are generally consistent with their membership of 30 Doradus, while the nature of the secondaries of 3 SB2 system is discussed. A comparison with a sample of single stars with $v$sin$i$$\leq$ 80 km/s obtained from the VFTS and analysed with the same techniques implies that the atmospheric parameters and nitrogen abundances of the two samples are similar. However, the binary sample may have a lack of primaries with significant nitrogen enhancements, which would be consistent with them having low rotational velocities and having effectively evolved as single stars without significant rotational mixing. This result, which may be actually a consequence of the limitations of the pathfinder investigation presented in this paper, should be considered as a motivation for spectroscopic abundance analysis of large samples of binary stars, with high quality observational data.

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arXiv2017

The Tarantula Massive Binary Monitoring: I. Observational campaign and OB-type spectroscopic binaries

Massive binaries (MBs) play a crucial role in the Universe. Knowing the distributions of their orbital parameters (OPs) is important for a wide range of topics, from stellar feedback to binary evolution channels, from the distribution of supernova types to gravitational wave progenitors, yet, no direct measurements exist outside the Milky Way. The Tarantula Massive Binary Monitoring was designed to help fill this gap by obtaining multi-epoch radial velocity monitoring of 102 MBs in the 30 Dor. In this paper, we analyse 32 VLT/FLAMES observations of 93 O- and 7 B-type binaries. We performed a Fourier analysis and obtained orbital solutions for 82 systems: 51 single- and 31 double-lined spectroscopic binaries. Overall, the OPs and binary fraction are remarkably similar across the 30 Dor region and compared to existing Galactic samples (GSs). This indicates that within these domains environmental effects are of second order in shaping the properties of MBs. A small difference is found in the distribution of orbital periods (OrbPs), which is slightly flatter (in log space) in 30 Dor than in the Galaxy, although this may be compatible within error estimates and differences in the fitting methodology. Also, OrbPs in 30 Dor can be as short as 1.1 d; somewhat shorter than seen in GSs. Equal mass binaries q>0.95 in 30 Dor are all found outside NGC 2070 the very young and massive cluster at 30 Dor's core. One outstanding exception however is the fact that earliest spectral types (O2-O7) tend to have shorter OrbPs than latter (O9.2-O9.7). Our results point to a relative universality of the incidence rate of MBs and their OPs in the metallicity range from solar ($Z_{\odot}$) to about $0.5Z_{\odot}$. This provides the first direct constraints on MB properties in massive star-forming galaxies at the Universes peak of star formation at redshifts z~1 to 2, which are estimated to have $Z~0.5Z_{\odot}$.

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arXiv2017

Physical properties of the first spectroscopically confirmed red supergiant stars in the Sculptor Group galaxy NGC 55

We present K-band Multi-Object Spectrograph (KMOS) observations of 18 Red Supergiant (RSG) stars in the Sculptor Group galaxy NGC 55. Radial velocities are calculated and are shown to be in good agreement with previous estimates, confirming the supergiant nature of the targets and providing the first spectroscopically confirmed RSGs in NGC 55. Stellar parameters are estimated for 14 targets using the $J$-band analysis technique, making use of state-of-the-art stellar model atmospheres. The metallicities estimated confirm the low-metallicity nature of NGC 55, in good agreement with previous studies. This study provides an independent estimate of the metallicity gradient of NGC 55, in excellent agreement with recent results published using hot massive stars. In addition, we calculate luminosities of our targets and compare their distribution of effective temperatures and luminosities to other RSGs, in different environments, estimated using the same technique.

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arXiv2017

The VLT-FLAMES Tarantula Survey XXVI: Properties of the O-dwarf population in 30 Doradus

The VLT-FLAMES Tarantula Survey has observed hundreds of O-type stars in the 30 Doradus region of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). We study the properties of 105 apparently single O-type dwarfs. To determine stellar and wind parameters, we used the IACOB-GBAT package, an automatic procedure based on a large grid of atmospheric models calculated with the FASTWIND code. In addition to classical techniques, we applied the Bayesian BONNSAI tool to estimate evolutionary masses. We provide a new calibration of effective temperature vs. spectral type for O-type dwarfs in the LMC, based on our homogeneous analysis of the largest sample of such objects to date and including all spectral subtypes. Good agreement with previous results is found, although the sampling at the earliest subtypes could be improved. Rotation rates and helium abundances are studied in an evolutionary context. We find that most of the rapid rotators (vsini higher than 300 km/s ) in our sample have masses below 25 MSun and intermediate rotation-corrected gravities (log gc between 3.9 and 4.1). Such rapid rotators are scarce at higher gravities (i.e. younger ages) and absent at lower gravities (larger ages). This is not expected from theoretical evolutionary models, and does not appear to be due to a selection bias in our sample. We compare the estimated evolutionary and spectroscopic masses, finding a trend that the former is higher for masses below 20 MSun. This can be explained as a consequence of limiting our sample to the O-type stars, and we see no compelling evidence for a systematic mass discrepancy. For most of the stars in the sample we were unable to estimate the wind-strength parameter (hence mass-loss rates) reliably, particularly for objects with luminosity lower than logL/LSun about 5.1. Ultraviolet spectroscopy is needed to undertake a detailed investigation of the wind properties of these dwarfs.

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arXiv2016

Progress towards a universal family of UV-IR extinction laws

We present our progress on the study of extinction laws along three diferent lines. [a] We compare how well different families of extinction laws fit existing photometric data for Galactic sightlines and we find that the Maíz Apellániz et al. (2014) family provides better results than those of Cardelli et al. (1989) or Fitzpatrick (1999). [b] We describe the HST/STIS spectrophotometry in the 1700-10 200 Angstrom range that we are obtaining for several tens of sightlines in 30 Doradus with the purpose of deriving an improved wavelength-detailed family of extinction laws. [c] We present the study we are conducting on the behavior of the extinction law in the infrared by combining 2MASS and WISE photometry with Spitzer and ISO spectrophotometry.

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arXiv2016

On-sky tests of sky-subtraction methods for fiber-fed spectrographs

We present preliminary results on on-sky test of sky subtraction methods for fiber-fed spectrograph. Using dedicated observation with FLAMES/VLT in I-band, we have tested the accuracy of the sky subtraction for 4 sky subtraction methods: mean sky, closest sky, dual stare and cross-beam switching. The cross beam-switching and dual stare method reach accuracy and precision of the sky subtraction under 1%. In contrast to the commonly held view in the literature, this result points out that fiber-fed spectrographs are adapted for the observations of faint targets.

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arXiv2016

The E-ELT Multi-Object Spectrograph: latest news from MOSAIC

There are 8000 galaxies, including 1600 at z larger than 1.6, which could be simultaneously observed in an E-ELT field of view of 40 sq. arcmin. A considerable fraction of astrophysical discoveries require large statistical samples, which can only be obtained with multi-object spectrographs (MOS). MOSAIC will provide a vast discovery space, enabled by a multiplex of 200 and spectral resolving powers of R=5000 and 20000. MOSAIC will also offer the unique capability of more than 10 "high-definition" (multi-object adaptive optics, MOAO) integral-field units, optimised to investigate the physics of the sources of reionization. The combination of these modes will make MOSAIC the world-leading MOS facility, contributing to all fields of contemporary astronomy, from extra-solar planets, to the study of the halo of the Milky Way and its satellites, and from resolved stellar populations in nearby galaxies out to observations of the earliest "first-light" structures in the Universe. It will also study the distribution of the dark and ordinary matter at all scales and epochs of the Universe. Recent studies of critical technical issues such as sky-background subtraction and MOAO have demonstrated that such a MOS is feasible with state-of-the-art technology and techniques. Current studies of the MOSAIC team include further trade-offs on the wavelength coverage, a solution for compensating for the non-telecentric new design of the telescope, and tests of the saturation of skylines especially in the near-IR bands. In the 2020s the E-ELT will become the world's largest optical/IR telescope, and we argue that it has to be equipped as soon as possible with a MOS to provide the most efficient, and likely the best way to follow-up on James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) observations.

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arXiv2016

The VLT-FLAMES Tarantula Survey XXV. Surface nitrogen abundances of O-type giants and supergiants

Theoretically, rotation-induced chemical mixing in massive stars has far reaching evolutionary consequences, affecting the sequence of morphological phases, lifetimes, nucleosynthesis, and supernova characteristics. Using a sample of 72 presumably single O-type giants to supergiants observed in the context of the VLT-FLAMES Tarantula Survey (VFTS), we aim to investigate rotational mixing in evolved core-hydrogen burning stars initially more massive than $15\,M_\odot$ by analysing their surface nitrogen abundances. Using stellar and wind properties derived in a previous VFTS study, we constrained the nitrogen abundance by fitting the equivalent widths of relatively strong lines that are sensitive to changes in the abundance of this element. Given the quality of the data, we constrained the nitrogen abundance in 38 cases; for 34 stars only upper limits could be derived, which includes almost all stars rotating at $v_\mathrm{e}\sin i >200\,\mathrm{km s^{-1}}$. We analysed the nitrogen abundance as a function of projected rotation rate $v_\mathrm{e}\sin i$ and confronted it with predictions of rotational mixing. The upper limits on the nitrogen abundance of the rapidly rotating stars are not in apparent violation with theoretical expectations. However, we found a group of N-enhanced slowly-spinning stars that is not in accordance with predictions of rotational mixing in single stars. Among O-type stars with (rotation-corrected) gravities less than $\log\,g_c = 3.75$ this group constitutes 30$-$40 percent of the population. We found a correlation between nitrogen and helium abundance which is consistent with expectations, suggesting that, whatever the mechanism that brings N to the surface, it displays CNO-processed material.

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arXiv2016

Science Requirements and Trade-offs for the MOSAIC Instrument for the European ELT

Building on the comprehensive White Paper on the scientific case for multi-object spectroscopy on the European ELT, we present the top-level instrument requirements that are being used in the Phase A design study of the MOSAIC concept. The assembled cases span the full range of E-ELT science and generally require either 'high multiplex' or 'high definition' observations to best exploit the excellent sensitivity and spatial performance of the telescope. We highlight some of the science studies that are now being used in trade-off studies to inform the capabilities of MOSAIC and its technical design.

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arXiv2016

Deep GeMS/GSAOI near-infrared observations of N159W in the Large Magellanic Cloud

Aims. The formation and properties of star clusters at the edge of H II regions are poorly known, partly due to limitations in angular resolution and sensitivity, which become particularly critical when dealing with extragalactic clusters. In this paper we study the stellar content and star-formation processes in the young N159W region in the Large Magellanic Cloud. Methods. We investigate the star-forming sites in N159W at unprecedented spatial resolution using JHKs-band images obtained with the GeMS/GSAOI instrument on the Gemini South telescope. The typical angular resolution of the images is of 100 mas, with a limiting magnitude in H of 22 mag (90 percent completeness). Photometry from our images is used to identify candidate young stellar objects (YSOs) in N159W. We also determine the H-band luminosity function of the star cluster at the centre of the H II region and use this to estimate its initial mass function (IMF). Results. We estimate an age of 2 + or - 1 Myr for the central cluster, with its IMF described by a power-law with an index of gamma = - 1.05 + or - 0.2 , and with a total estimated mass of 1300 solar mass. We also identify 104 candidate YSOs, which are concentrated in clumps and subclusters of stars, principally at the edges of the H II region. These clusters display signs of recent and active star-formation such as ultra-compact H II regions, and molecular outflows. This suggests that the YSOs are typically younger than the central cluster, pointing to sequential star-formation in N159W, which has probably been influenced by interactions with the expanding H II bubble.

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arXiv2016

Chemistry and Kinematics of Red Supergiant Stars in the Young Massive Cluster NGC 2100

We have obtained K-band Multi-Object Spectrograph (KMOS) near-IR spectroscopy for 14 red supergiant stars (RSGs) in the young massive star cluster NGC 2100 in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). Stellar parameters including metallicity are estimated using the J-band analysis technique, which has been rigorously tested in the Local Universe. We find an average metallicity for NGC 2100 of [Z]=$-$0.43$\pm$0.10 dex, in good agreement with estimates from the literature for the LMC. Comparing our results in NGC 2100 with those for a Galactic cluster (at Solar-like metallicity) with a similar mass and age we find no significant difference in the location of RSGs in the Hertzsprung--Russell diagram. We combine the observed KMOS spectra to form a simulated integrated-light cluster spectrum and show that, by analysing this spectrum as a single RSG, the results are consistent with the average properties of the cluster. Radial velocities are estimated for the targets and the dynamical properties are estimated for the first time within this cluster. The data are consistent with a flat velocity dispersion profile, and with an upper limit of 3.9 km/s, at the 95% confidence level, for the velocity dispersion of the cluster. However, the intrinsic velocity dispersion is unresolved and could, therefore, be significantly smaller than the upper limit reported here. An upper limit on the dynamical mass of the cluster is derived as $M_{dyn}$ $\le$ $15.2\times10^{4}M_{\odot}$ assuming virial equilibrium.

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