arXiv subjects

D. A. García-Hernández

Publications and source records attributed to D. A. García-Hernández.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2019

Reduction of the maximum mass-loss rate of OH/IR stars due to unnoticed binary interaction

In 1981, the idea of a superwind that ends the life of cool giant stars was proposed. Extreme OH/IR-stars develop superwinds with the highest mass-loss rates known so far, up to a few 10^(-4) Msun/yr, informing our understanding of the maximum mass-loss rate achieved during the Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) phase. A condundrum arises whereby the observationally determined duration of the superwind phase is too short for these stars to become white dwarfs. Here, we report on the detection of spiral structures around two cornerstone extreme OH/IR-stars, OH26.5+0.6 and OH30.1-0.7, identifying them as wide binary systems. Hydrodynamical simulations show that the companion's gravitational attraction creates an equatorial density enhancement mimicking a short extreme superwind phase, thereby solving the decades-old conundrum. This discovery restricts the maximum mass-loss rate of AGB stars around the single-scattering radiation-pressure limit of a few 10^(-5) Msun/yr. This brings about crucial implications for nucleosynthetic yields, planet survival, and the wind-driving mechanism.

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arXiv2019

Exploring circumstellar effects on the lithium and calcium abundances in massive Galactic O-rich AGB stars

We previously explored the circumstellar effects on the Rb and Zr abundances in massive Galactic O-rich AGB stars. Here we are interested in the role of the extended atmosphere in the case of Li and Ca. Li is an important indicator of HBB while the total Ca in these stars could be affected by neutron captures. The Li abundances were previously studied with hydrostatic models, while the Ca abundances have been determined for the first time. We use a modified version of Turbospectrum and consider the presence of a gaseous circumstellar envelope and radial wind. The new Li abundances derived with the pseudo-dynamical models are very similar to those obtained from hydrostatic models (the average difference is 0.18 dex), with no difference for Ca. The Li and Ca content in these stars is only slightly affected by the presence of a circumstellar envelope. We also found that the Li I and Ca I line profiles are not very sensitive to variations of the model wind parameters. The new Li abundances confirm the Li-rich nature of the sample stars, supporting the activation of HBB in massive Galactic AGB stars. This is in good agreement with the theoretical predictions for solar metallicity AGB models from ATON, Monash, and NuGrid/MESA but is at odds with the FRUITY database, which predicts no HBB leading to the production of Li. Most sample stars display nearly solar Ca abundances that are consistent with the available s-process nucleosynthesis models for solar metallicity massive AGB stars, which predict overproduction of 46Ca relatively to the other Ca isotope and the creation of the radiactive isotope 41Ca but no change in the total Ca abundance. A minority of the stars seem to show a significant Ca depletion (by up to 1.0 dex). Possible explanations are offered to explain their apparent and unexpected Ca depletion.

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arXiv2019

Identifying Sagittarius Stream Stars By Their APOGEE Chemical Abundance Signatures

The SDSS-IV Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) survey provides precise chemical abundances of 18 chemical elements for $\sim$ 176,000 red giant stars distributed over much of the Milky Way Galaxy (MW), and includes observations of the core of the Sagittarius dwarf spheroidal galaxy (Sgr). The APOGEE chemical abundance patterns of Sgr have revealed that it is chemically distinct from the MW in most chemical elements. We employ a \emph{k}-means clustering algorithm to 6-dimensional chemical space defined by [(C+N)/Fe], [O/Fe], [Mg/Fe], [Al/Fe], [Mn/Fe], and [Ni/Fe] to identify 62 MW stars in the APOGEE sample that have Sgr-like chemical abundances. Of the 62 stars, 35 have \emph{Gaia} kinematics and positions consistent with those predicted by \emph{N}-body simulations of the Sgr stream, and are likely stars that have been stripped from Sgr during the last two pericenter passages ($<$ 2 Gyr ago). Another 20 of the 62 stars exhibit chemical abundances indistinguishable from the Sgr stream stars, but are on highly eccentric orbits with median $r_{\rm apo} \sim $ 25 kpc. These stars are likely the `accreted' halo population thought to be the result of a separate merger with the MW 8-11 Gyr ago. We also find one hypervelocity star candidate. We conclude that Sgr was enriched to [Fe/H] $\sim$ -0.2 before its most recent pericenter passage. If the `accreted halo' population is from one major accretion event, then this progenitor galaxy was enriched to at least [Fe/H] $\sim$ -0.6, and had a similar star formation history to Sgr before merging.

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arXiv2019

Kepler-730: A hot Jupiter system with a close-in, transiting, Earth-sized planet

Kepler-730 is a planetary system hosting a statistically validated hot Jupiter in a 6.49-day orbit and an additional transiting candidate in a 2.85-day orbit. We use spectroscopic radial velocities from the APOGEE-2N instrument, Robo-AO contrast curves, and Gaia distance estimates to statistically validate the planetary nature of the additional Earth-sized candidate. We perform astrophysical false positive probability calculations for the candidate using the available Kepler data and bolster the statistical validation by using radial velocity data to exclude a family of possible binary star solutions. Using a radius estimate for the primary star derived from stellar models, we compute radii of $1.100^{+0.047}_{-0.050}\ R_{Jup}$ and $0.140\pm0.012\ R_{Jup}$ ($1.57\pm0.13\ R_{\oplus}$) for Kepler-730b and Kepler-730c, respectively. Kepler-730 is only the second compact system hosting a hot Jupiter with an inner, transiting planet.

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arXiv2019

Discovery of stars surrounded by iron dust in the LMC

We consider a small sample of oxygen-rich, asymptotic giant branch stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud, observed by the Spitzer Space Telescope, exhibiting a peculiar spectral energy distribution, which can be hardly explained by the common assumption that dust around AGB stars is primarily composed of silicate grains. We suggest that this uncommon class of objects are the progeny of a metal-poor generation of stars, with metallicity $Z \sim 1-2\times 10^{-3}$, formed $\sim 100$ Myr ago. The main dust component in the circumstellar envelope is solid iron. In these stars the poor formation of silicates is set by the strong nucleosynthesis experienced at the base of the envelope, which provokes a scarcity of magnesium atoms and water molecules, required to the silicate formation. The importance of the present results to interpret the data from the incoming James Webb Space Telescope is also discussed.

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arXiv2018

A homogeneous analysis of globular clusters from the APOGEE survey with the BACCHUS code. I. The Northern clusters

We analyze a large sample of 885 GCs giants from the APOGEE survey. We used the Cannon results to separate the red giant branch and the asymptotic giant branch stars, not only allowing for a refinement of surface gravity from isochrones, but also providing an independent H-band spectroscopic method to distinguish stellar evolutionary status in clusters. We then use the BACCHUS code to derive metallicity, microturbulence, acroturbulence and many light-element abundances as well as the neutron-capture elements Nd and Ce for the first time from the APOGEE GCs data. Our independent analysis helped us to diagnose issues regarding the standard analysis of the APOGEE DR14 for low-metallicity GC stars. Furthermore, while we confirm most of the known correlations and anti-correlation trends (Na-O, Mg-Al,C-N), we discover that some stars within our most metal-poor clusters show an extreme Mg depletion and some Si enhancement but at the same time show some relative Al depletion, displaying a turnover in the Mg-Al diagram. These stars suggest that Al has been partially depleted in their progenitors by very hot proton-capture nucleosynthetic processes. Furthermore, we attempted to quantitatively correlate the spread of Al abundances with the global properties of GCs. We find an anti-correlation of the Al spread against clusters metallicity and luminosity, but the data do not allow to find clear evidence of a dependence of N against metallicity in the more metal-poor clusters. Large and homogeneously analyzed samples from on-going spectroscopic surveys unveil unseen chemical details for many clusters, including a turnover in the Mg-Al anti-correlation, thus yielding new constrains for GCs formation evolution models.

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arXiv2018

APOGEE [C/N] Abundances Across the Galaxy: Migration and Infall from Red Giant Ages

We present [C/N]-[Fe/H] abundance trends from the SDSS-IV Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) survey, Data Release 14 (DR14), for red giant branch stars across the Milky Way Galaxy (MW, 3 kpc $<$ R $<$ 15 kpc). The carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (often expressed as [C/N]) can indicate the mass of a red giant star, from which an age can be inferred. Using masses and ages derived by Martig et al., we demonstrate that we are able to interpret the DR14 [C/N]-[Fe/H] abundance distributions as trends in age-[Fe/H] space. Our results show that an anti-correlation between age and metallicity, which is predicted by simple chemical evolution models, is not present at any Galactic zone. Stars far from the plane ($|$Z$|$ $>$ 1 kpc) exhibit a radial gradient in [C/N] ($\sim$ $-$0.04 dex/kpc). The [C/N] dispersion increases toward the plane ($σ_{[C/N]}$ = 0.13 at $|$Z$|$ $>$ 1 kpc to $σ_{[C/N]}$ = 0.18 dex at $|$Z$|$ $<$ 0.5 kpc). We measure a disk metallicity gradient for the youngest stars (age $<$ 2.5 Gyr) of $-$0.060 dex/kpc from 6 kpc to 12 kpc, which is in agreement with the gradient found using young CoRoGEE stars by Anders et al. Older stars exhibit a flatter gradient ($-$0.016 dex/kpc), which is predicted by simulations in which stars migrate from their birth radii. We also find that radial migration is a plausible explanation for the observed upturn of the [C/N]-[Fe/H] abundance trends in the outer Galaxy, where the metal-rich stars are relatively enhanced in [C/N].

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arXiv2018

Evolved stars in the Local Group galaxies - III. AGB and RSG stars in Sextans A

We study the evolved stellar population of the galaxy Sextans A. This galaxy is one of the lowest metallicity dwarfs in which variable asymptotic giant branch stars have been detected, suggesting that little metal enrichment took place during the past history. The analysis consists in the characterization of a sample of evolved stars, based on evolutionary tracks of asymptotic giant branch and red super giant stars, which include the description of dust formation in their winds. Use of mid-infrared and near-infrared data allowed us to identify carbon-rich sources, stars undergoing hot bottom burning and red super giants. The dust production rate, estimated as $6\times 10^{-7} M_{\odot}/$yr, is dominated by $\sim 10$ carbon stars, with a small contribution of higher mass M-stars, of the order of $4\times 10^{-8} M_{\odot}/$yr. The importance of this study to understand how dust production works in metal-poor environments is also evaluated.

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arXiv2018

The Origin of the 300 km s$^{-1}$ Stream Near Segue 1

We present a search for new members of the 300 km s$^{-1}$ stream (300S) near the dwarf galaxy Segue 1 using wide-field survey data. We identify 11 previously unknown bright stream members in the APOGEE-2 and SEGUE-1 and 2 spectroscopic surveys. Based on the spatial distribution of the high-velocity stars, we confirm for the first time that this kinematic structure is associated with a 24$^{\circ}$-long stream seen in SDSS and Pan-STARRS imaging data. The 300S stars display a metallicity range of $-2.17 < {\rm [Fe/H]} < -1.24$, with an intrinsic dispersion of 0.21$_{-0.09}^{+0.12}$ dex. They also have chemical abundance patterns similar to those of Local Group dwarf galaxies, as well as that of the Milky Way halo. Using the open-source code galpy to model the orbit of the stream, we find that the progenitor of the stream passed perigalacticon about 70 Myr ago, with a closest approach to the Galactic Center of about 4.1 kpc. Using Pan-STARRS DR1 data, we obtain an integrated stream luminosity of $4 \times 10^3$ L$_{\odot}$. We conclude that the progenitor of the stream was a dwarf galaxy that is probably similar to the satellites that were accreted to build the present-day Milky Way halo.

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arXiv2018

APOGEE Data Releases 13 and 14: Stellar Parameter and Abundance Comparisons With Independent Analyses

Data from the SDSS-IV / Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE-2) have been released as part of SDSS Data Releases 13 (DR13) and 14 (DR14). These include high resolution H-band spectra, radial velocities, and derived stellar parameters and abundances. DR13, released in August 2016, contained APOGEE data for roughly 150,000 stars, and DR14, released in August 2017, added about 110,000 more. Stellar parameters and abundances have been derived with an automated pipeline, the APOGEE Stellar Parameter and Chemical Abundance Pipeline (ASPCAP). We evaluate the performance of this pipeline by comparing the derived stellar parameters and abundances to those inferred from optical spectra and analysis for several hundred stars. For most elements -- C, Na, Mg, Al, Si, S, Ca, Cr, Mn, Ni -- the DR14 ASPCAP analysis have systematic differences with the comparisons samples of less than 0.05 dex (median), and random differences of less than 0.15 dex (standard deviation). These differences are a combination of the uncertainties in both the comparison samples as well as the ASPCAP-analysis. Compared to the references, magnesium is the most accurate alpha-element derived by ASPCAP, and shows a very clear thin/thick disk separation, while nickel is the most accurate iron-peak element (besides iron).

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arXiv2018

A comprehensive comparison between APOGEE and LAMOST: Radial Velocities and Atmospheric Stellar Parameters

We undertake a critical and comprehensive comparison of the radial velocities and the main stellar atmospheric parameters for stars in common between the latest data releases from the APOGEE and the LAMOST surveys. There is a total of 42,420 dwarfs/giants stars in common between the APOGEE DR14 - LAMOST DR3 stellar catalogs. A comparison between the RVs shows an offset of 4.54 $\pm$ 0.03 km/s, with a dispersion of 5.8 km/s, in the sense that APOGEE RVs are larger. We observe a small offset in the Teff of about 13 K, with a scatter of 155 K. Small offset in [Fe/H] of about 0.06 dex together with a scatter of 0.13 dex is also observed. We notice that the largest offset between the surveys occurs in the surface gravities. Using only surface gravities in calibrated red giants from APOGEE DR14, where there are 24,074 stars in common, a deviation of 0.14 dex is found with substantial scatter. There are 17,482 red giant stars in common between APOGEE DR14 and those in LAMOST tied to APOGEE DR12 via the Cannon. There is generally good agreement between the two data-sets. However, we find dependencies of the differences of the stellar parameters on effective temperature. For metal-rich stars, a different trend for the [Fe/H] discrepancies is found. Surprisingly, we see no correlation between the internal APOGEE DR14 - DR12 differences in Teff and those in DR14 - LAMOST tied to DR12, where a correlation should be expected since LAMOST has been calibrated to APOGEE DR12. We also find no correlation between the [Fe/H] discrepancies, suggesting that LAMOST/Cannon is not well coupled to the APOGEE DR12 stellar parameters scale. A [Fe/H] dependence between the stellar parameters in APOGEE DR12 and those in DR14 is reported. We find a weak correlation in the differences between APOGEE DR14 - DR12 and LAMOST on DR12 surface gravity for stars hotter than 4800 K and in the log g range between 2.0 and 2.8.

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arXiv2018

Modeling dust emission in PN IC 418

We investigated the infrared (IR) dust emission from PN IC 418, using a detailed model controlled by a previous determination of the stellar properties and the characteristics of the photoionized nebula, keeping as free parameters the dust types, amounts and distributions relative to the distance of the central star. The model includes the ionized region and the neutral region beyond the recombination front (Photodissociation region, or PDR), where the [OI] and [CII] IR lines are formed. We succeeded in reproducing the observed infrared emission from 2 to 200~\mm. The global energy budget is fitted by summing up contributions from big grains of amorphous carbon located in the neutral region and small graphite grains located in the ionized region (closer to the central star). Two emission features seen at 11.5 and 30~\mm are also reproduced by assuming them to be due to silicon carbide (SiC) and magnesium and iron sulfides (Mg$_x$Fe$_{1-x}$S), respectively. For this, we needed to consider ellipsoidal shapes for the grains to reproduce the wavelength distribution of the features. Some elements are depleted in the gaseous phase: Mg, Si, and S have sub-solar abundances (-0.5 dex below solar by mass), while the abundance of C+N+O+Ne by mass is close to solar. Adding the abundances of the elements present in the dusty and gaseous forms leads to values closer to but not higher than solar, confirming that the identification of the feature carriers is plausible. Iron is strongly depleted (3 dex below solar) and the small amount present in dust in our model is far from being enough to recover the solar value. A remaining feature is found as a residue of the fitting process, between 12 and 25~\mm, for which we do not have identification.

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arXiv2018

A chemical and kinematical analysis of the intermediate-age open cluster IC 166 from APOGEE and Gaia DR2

IC 166 is an intermediate-age open cluster ($\sim 1$ Gyr) which lies in the transition zone of the metallicity gradient in the outer disc. Its location, combined with our very limited knowledge of its salient features, make it an interesting object of study. We present the first high-resolution spectroscopic and precise kinematical analysis of IC 166, which lies in the outer disc with $R_{GC} \sim 12.7$ kpc. High resolution \textit{H}-band spectra were analyzed using observations from the SDSS-IV Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE) survey. We made use of the Brussels Automatic Stellar Parameter (BACCHUS) code to provide chemical abundances based on a line-by-line approach for up to eight chemical elements (Mg, Si, Ca, Ti, Al, K, Mn and Fe). The $α-$element (Mg, Si, Ca and whenever available Ti) abundances, and their trends with Fe abundances have been analysed for a total of 13 high-likelihood cluster members. No significant abundance scatter was found in any of the chemical species studied. Combining the positional, heliocentric distance, and kinematic information we derive, for the first time, the probable orbit of IC 166 within a Galactic model including a rotating boxy bar, and found that it is likely that IC 166 formed in the Galactic disc, supporting its nature as an unremarkable Galactic open cluster with an orbit bound to the Galactic plane.

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arXiv2018

The APOGEE-2 Survey of the Orion Star Forming Complex II: Six-dimensional structure

We present an analysis of spectrosopic and astrometric data from APOGEE-2 and Gaia DR2 to identify structures towards the Orion Complex. By applying a hierarchical clustering algorithm to the 6-dimensional stellar data, we identify spatially and/or kinematically distinct groups of young stellar objects with ages ranging from 1 to 12 Myr. We also investigate the star forming history within the Orion Complex, and identify peculiar sub-clusters. With this method we reconstruct the older populations in the regions that are presently largely devoid of molecular gas, such as Orion C (which includes the $σ$ Ori cluster), and Orion D (the population that traces Ori OB1a, OB1b, and Orion X). We report on the distances, kinematics, and ages of the groups within the Complex. The Orion D groups is in the process of expanding. On the other hand, Orion B is still in the process of contraction. In $λ$ Ori the proper motions are consistent with a radial expansion due to an explosion from a supernova; the traceback age from the expansion exceeds the age of the youngest stars formed near the outer edges of the region, and their formation would have been triggered when they were half-way from the cluster center to their current positions. We also present a comparison between the parallax and proper motion solutions obtained by Gaia DR2, and those obtained towards star-forming regions by Very Long Baseline Array.

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arXiv2018

Kepler-503b: An Object at the Hydrogen Burning Mass Limit Orbiting a Subgiant Star

Using spectroscopic radial velocities with the APOGEE instrument and Gaia distance estimates, we demonstrate that Kepler-503b, currently considered a validated Kepler planet, is in fact a brown-dwarf/low-mass star in a nearly circular 7.2-day orbit around a subgiant star. Using a mass estimate for the primary star derived from stellar models, we derive a companion mass and radius of $0.075\pm0.003 \ M_{\odot}$ ($78.6\pm3.1 \ M_{Jup}$) and $0.099^{+0.006}_{-0.004}\ R_{\odot}$ ($0.96^{+0.06}_{-0.04}\ R_{Jup}$), respectively. Assuming the system is coeval, the evolutionary state of the primary indicates the age is $\sim6.7$ Gyr. Kepler-503b sits right at the hydrogen burning mass limit, straddling the boundary between brown dwarfs and very low-mass stars. More precise radial velocities and secondary eclipse spectroscopy with James Webb Space Telescope will provide improved measurements of the physical parameters and age of this important system to better constrain and understand the physics of these objects and their spectra. This system emphasizes the value of radial velocity observations to distinguish a genuine planet from astrophysical false positives, and is the first result from the SDSS-IV monitoring of Kepler planet candidates with the multi-object APOGEE instrument.

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arXiv2018

The Second APOKASC Catalog: The Empirical Approach

We present a catalog of stellar properties for a large sample of 6676 evolved stars with APOGEE spectroscopic parameters and \textit{Kepler} asteroseismic data analyzed using five independent techniques. Our data includes evolutionary state, surface gravity, mean density, mass, radius, age, and the spectroscopic and asteroseismic measurements used to derive them. We employ a new empirical approach for combining asteroseismic measurements from different methods, calibrating the inferred stellar parameters, and estimating uncertainties. With high statistical significance, we find that asteroseismic parameters inferred from the different pipelines have systematic offsets that are not removed by accounting for differences in their solar reference values. We include theoretically motivated corrections to the large frequency spacing ($Δν$) scaling relation, and we calibrate the zero point of the frequency of maximum power ($ν_{\rm max}$) relation to be consistent with masses and radii for members of star clusters. For most targets, the parameters returned by different pipelines are in much better agreement than would be expected from the pipeline-predicted random errors, but 22\% of them had at least one method not return a result and a much larger measurement dispersion. This supports the usage of multiple analysis techniques for asteroseismic stellar population studies. The measured dispersion in mass estimates for fundamental calibrators is consistent with our error model, which yields median random and systematic mass uncertainties for RGB stars of order 4\%. Median random and systematic mass uncertainties are at the 9\% and 8\% level respectively for RC stars.

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arXiv2018

Heavy-element yields and abundances of Asymptotic Giant Branch models with a Small Magellanic Cloud metallicity

We present new theoretical stellar yields and surface abundances for asymptotic giant branch (AGB) models with a metallicity appropriate for stars in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC, $Z= 0.0028$, [Fe/H] $\approx -0.7$). New evolutionary sequences and post-processing nucleosynthesis results are presented for initial masses between 1$M_{\odot}$ and 7$M_{\odot}$, where the 7$M_{\odot}$ is a super-AGB star with an O-Ne core. Models above 1.15$M_{\odot}$ become carbon rich during the AGB, and hot bottom burning begins in models $M \ge 3.75 M_{\odot}$. We present stellar surface abundances as a function of thermal pulse number for elements between C to Bi and for a selection of isotopic ratios for elements up to Fe and Ni (e.g., $^{12}$C/$^{13}$C), which can be compared to observations. The integrated stellar yields are presented for each model in the grid for hydrogen, helium and all stable elements from C to Bi. We present evolutionary sequences of intermediate-mass models between 4--7$M_{\odot}$ and nucleosynthesis results for three masses ($M=3.75, 5, 7M_{\odot}$) including $s$-process elements for two widely used AGB mass-loss prescriptions. We discuss our new models in the context of evolved AGB stars and post-AGB stars in the Small Magellanic Clouds, barium stars in our Galaxy, the composition of Galactic globular clusters including Mg isotopes with a similar metallicity to our models, and to pre-solar grains which may have an origin in metal-poor AGB stars.

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arXiv2018

GTC/CanariCam mid-IR imaging of the fullerene-rich Planetary Nebula IC 418: searching for the spatial distribution of fullerene-like molecules

We present seeing-limited narrow-band mid-IR GTC/CanariCam images of the spatially extended fullerene-containing planetary nebula (PN) IC 418. The narrow-band images cover the C60 fullerene band at 17.4 μm, the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon like (PAH-like) feature at 11.3 μm, the broad 9-13 μm feature, and their adjacent continua at 9.8 and 20.5 μm. We study the relative spatial distribution of these complex species, all detected in the Spitzer and Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) spectra of IC 418, with the aim of getting observational constraints to the formation process of fullerenes in H-rich circumstellar environments. A similar ring-like extended structure is seen in all narrow-band filters, except in the dust continuum emission at 9.8 μm, which peaks closer to the central star. The continuum-subtracted images display a clear ring-like extended structure for the carrier of the broad 9-13 μm emission, while the spatial distribution of the (PAH-like) 11.3 μm emission is not so well defined. Interestingly, a residual C60 17.4 μm emission (at about 4-σ from the sky background) is seen when subtracting the dust continuum emission at 20.5 μm. This residual C60 emission, if real, might have several interpretations; the most exciting being perhaps that other fullerene-based species like hydrogenated fullerenes with very low H-content may contribute to the observed 17.4 μm emission. We conclude that higher sensitivity mid-IR images and spatially resolved spectroscopic observations (especially in the Q-band) are necessary to get some clues about fullerene formation in PNe.

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