arXiv subjects

George Wallerstein

Publications and source records attributed to George Wallerstein.

34 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2012

Metal Abundance Calibration of the Ca II Triplet Lines in RR Lyrae Stars

The GAIA satellite is likely to observe thousands of RR Lyrae stars within a small spectral window, between 8470A and 8750A, at a resolution of 11,500. In order to derive the metallicity of RR Lyrae stars from Gaia, we have obtained numerous spectra of RR Lyrae stars at a resolution of 35,000 with the Apache Point Observatory 3.5 m echelle spectrograph. We have correlated the Ca II triplet line strengths with metallicity as derived from Fe II abundances, analogous to Preston's (1959) use of the Ca II K line to estimate the metallicity of RR Lyrae stars. The Ca II line at 8498A is the least blended with neighboring Paschen lines and thus provides the best correlation.

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arXiv2012

Interstellar Sodium and Calcium Absorption toward SN 2011dh in M51

We present high-resolution echelle observations of SN 2011dh, which exploded in the nearby, nearly face-on spiral galaxy M51. Our data, acquired on three nights when the supernova was near maximum brightness, reveal multiple absorption components in Na I D and Ca II H and K, which we identify with gaseous material in the Galactic disk or low halo and in the disk and halo of M51. The M51 components span a velocity range of over 140 km s^-1, extending well beyond the range exhibited by H I 21 cm emission at the position of the supernova. Since none of the prominent Na I or Ca II components appear to coincide with the peak in H I emission, the supernova may lie just in front of the bulk of the H I disk. The Na I/Ca II ratios for the components with the most extreme positive and negative velocities relative to the disk are ~1.0, similar to those for more quiescent components, suggesting that the absorption originates in relatively cool gas. Production scenarios involving a galactic fountain and/or tidal interactions between M51 and its companion would be consistent with these results. The overall weakness of Na I D absorption in the direction of SN 2011dh confirms a low foreground and host galaxy extinction for the supernova.

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arXiv2011

Determining Photometric Metallicities of dSph Stellar Populations

If there are so few upper red-giant branch stars in the SDSS-discovered dwarf galaxies, how can we find the true population structure without extensive spectroscopy? We review recent photometric and spectroscopic studies of the Ultra-Faint Dwarf Galaxies, and determine a new method of estimating [Fe/H] with a combination of Washington and Stromgren filters, using Bootes I dSph as an example. We can use the CT1by filters alone to achieve 0.3 dex resolution in [Fe/H], and 0.5 Gyr resolution in age. Both the Washington and Stromgren filters, C and v, are sensitive to CN-variations; however, in stars with a large deficiency of heavy elements the CN bands are weak and not important. The [Fe/H]-sensitivity of the Washington and Stromgren combination is at least twice as great as the SDSS filters, and this work maintains that resolution on the lower red-giant branch, where other calibrations fail.

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arXiv2010

KP Cyg: an Unusual Metal-rich RR Lyr Type Star of Long Period

We present the results of a detailed spectroscopic study of the long period ($P=0.856$ days) RR Lyrae star, KP Cyg. We derived abundances of many chemical elements including the light species, iron-group elements and elements of the s-processes. Most RR Lyrae stars with periods longer than 0.7 days are metal-deficient objects. Surprisingly, our results show that KP Cyg is very metal rich ([Fe/H] $= +0.18\pm 0.23$). By comparison with a number of short period ($P=1\sim 6$ days), metal-rich CWB stars, we suggest that KP Cyg may be a very short period CWB star (BL Her star) rather than an RR Lyrae star. As seen in some CWB stars, KP Cyg shows strong excesses of carbon and nitrogen in its atmosphere. This indicates that the surface of KP Cyg has been polluted by material that has undergone helium burning (to enhance carbon) and proton capture (to transform carbon into nitrogen). We also note that UY CrB, whose period is 0.929 days, also shows an enhancement of C and N, and that two carbon cepheids of short period, V553 Cen and RT TrA, show similar excesses of carbon and nitrogen.

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arXiv2010

The Composition of RR Lyrae Stars: Start-line for the AGB

This paper sumarizes research on abundances in RR Lyrae stars that one of us (GW) has been engaged in with various astronomers. In addition we report on preliminary analysis of the abundances of C, Si, S and Fe in 24 RR Lyrae stars. Our model atmosphere analysis, including NLTE effects, are based on the spectra of resolving power 30,000 obtained at the Apache Poing Observatory.

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arXiv2009

Diffuse Atomic and Molecular Gas near IC443

We present an analysis of results on absorption from Ca II, Ca I, K I, and the molecules CH+, CH, C2, and CN that probes gas interacting with the supernova remnant IC443. The eleven directions sample material across the visible nebula and beyond its eastern edge. Most of the neutral material, including the diatomic molecules, is associated with the ambient cloud detected via H I and CO emission. Analysis of excitation and chemistry yields gas densities that are typical of diffuse molecular gas. The low density gas probed by Ca II extends over a large range in velocities, from -120 to +80 km/s in the most extreme cases. This gas is distributed among several velocity components, unlike the situation for the shocked molecular clumps, whose emission occurs over much the same range but as very broad features. The extent of the high-velocity absorption suggests a shock velocity of 100 km/s for the expanding nebula.

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arXiv2009

Carbon-rich RR Lyr type stars

We have derived CNO abundances in 12 RR Lyrae stars. Four stars show [C/Fe] near 0.0 and two stars show [C/Fe] = 0.52 and 0.65. Red giant branch stars, which are known to be the predecessors of RR Lyrae stars, generally show a deficiency of carbon due to proton captures during their evolution from the main sequence up the giant branch. We suggest that the enhancement of carbon is due to production during the helium flash combined with mixing to the surface by vigorous convection induced by the flash itself.

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arXiv2008

The Age and Metallicity of the Bootes I System

We present Washington photometry of a field central to the Bootes I dwarf spheroidal galaxy, which was discovered as a stellar overdensity in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (DR5). We show that the Washington filters are much more effective than the Sloan filters in separating the metal-poor turn-off stars in the dwarf galaxy from the foreground stars. We detect 165 objects in the field, and statistically determine that just over 40% of the objects are non-members. Our statistical analysis mostly agrees with radial velocity measurements of the brighter stars. We find that that there is a distinct main-sequence turn-off and subgiant branch, where there is some evidence of a spread in chemical abundance. Any evidence of an age spread is limited to a few billion years. The brightest 7 Bootes I members give a (photometric-color derived) weighted mean iron-abundance of [Fe/H]=-2.1+/-0.4, and the best-fit isochrone is the 14.1 Gyr, Z=0.0002 model, with DM=19.11 and E(B-V)=0.02.

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arXiv2007

Chemical Abundances and Kinematics in Globular Clusters and Local Group Dwarf Galaxies and Their Implications for Formation Theories of the Galactic Halo

We review Galactic halo formation theories and supporting evidence, in particular kinematics and detailed chemical abundances of stars in some relevant globular clusters as well as Local Group dwarf galaxies. Outer halo red HB clusters tend to have large eccentricities and inhabit the area populated by dwarf spheroidal stars, favoring an extraGalactic origin. Old globulars show the full range of eccentricities, while younger ones seem to have preferentially high eccentricities, again hinting at their extraGalactic origin. We compare detailed abundances of a variety of elements between the halo and all dwarf galaxies studied to date, including both dwarf spheroidals and irregulars. The salient feature is that halo abundances are essentially unique. In particular, the general alpha vs. [Fe/H] pattern of 12 of the 13 galaxies studied are similar to each other and very different from the Milky Way. Sagittarius appears to be the only possible exception. It appears very unlikely that a significant fraction of the metal-rich halo could have come from disrupted dwarf galaxies of low mass. However, at least some of the metal-poor halo may have come from typical dwarfs, and a portion of the intermediate metallicity halo may have come from very massive systems. The chemical differences between the dwarfs and the halo are due to a combination of a low star formation efficiency and a high galactic wind efficiency in the former. The formation problem may be solved if the majority of halo stars formed within a few, very massive satellites accreted very early. However, any such satellites must either be accreted MUCH earlier than postulated, before the onset of SNe Ia , or star formation must be prevented to occur in them until only shortly before they are accreted.

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arXiv2005

Calibrating M dwarf metallicities using molecular indices

We report progress in the calibration of a method to determine cool dwarf star metallicities using molecular band strength indices. The molecular band index to metallicity relation can be calibrated using chemical abundances calculated from atomic line equivalent width measurements in high resolution spectra. Building on previous work, we have measured Fe and Ti abundances in 32 additional M and K dwarf stars to extend the range of temperature and metallicity covered. A test of our analysis method using warm star - cool star binaries shows we can calculate reliable abundances for stars warmer than 3500 K. We have used abundance measurements for warmer binary or cluster companions to estimate abundances in 6 additional cool dwarfs. Adding stars measured in our previous work and others from the literature provides 76 stars with Fe abundance and CaH2 and TiO5 index measurements. The CaH2 molecular index is directly correlated with temperature. TiO5 depends on temperature and metallicity. Metallicity can be estimated to within plus or minus 0.3 dex within the bounds of our calibration, which extends from roughly [Fe/H] = +0.05 to -1.0 with a limited extension to -1.5.

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arXiv2004

'Sculptor'-ing the Galaxy? The Chemical Compositions of Red Giants in the Sculptor Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy

We have used high-resolution, high signal-to-noise spectra obtained with the VLT and UVES to determine abundances of 17 elements in 4 red giants in the Sculptor dwarf spheroidal galaxy. Our [Fe/H] values range from --2.10 to --0.97, confirming previous findings of a large metallicity spread. We have combined our data with similar data for five Sculptor giants studied recently to form one of the largest samples of high resolution abundances yet obtained for a dwarf spheroidal galaxy, covering essentially the full known metallicity range. These properties allow us to establish trends of [X/Fe] with [Fe/H] for many elements, X. The trends are significantly different from the trends seen in galactic halo and globular cluster stars. We compare our Sculptor sample to their most similar Galactic counterparts and find substantial differences remain even with these stars. The many discrepancies in the relationships between [X/Fe] as seen in Sculptor compared with Galactic field stars indicates that our halo cannot be made up in bulk of stars similar to those presently seen in dwarf spheroidal galaxies like Sculptor. These results have serious implications for the Searle-Zinn and hierarchical galaxy formation scenarios. We also find that the most metal-rich star in our sample is a heavy element-rich star. A very high percentage of such heavy element stars are now known in dwarf spheroidals compared to the halo, further mitigating against the formation of the halo from such objects.

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arXiv2004

Metallicity measurements using atomic lines in M and K dwarf stars

We report the first survey of chemical abundances in M and K dwarf stars using atomic absorption lines in high resolution spectra. We have measured Fe and Ti abundances in 35 M and K dwarf stars using equivalent widths measured from (lambda / Delta lambda) = 33,000 spectra. Our analysis takes advantage of recent improvements in model atmospheres of low-temperature dwarf stars. The stars have temperatures between 3300 and 4700 K, with most cooler than 4100 K. They cover an iron abundance range of -2.44 < [Fe/H] < +0.16. Our measurements show [Ti/Fe] decreasing with increasing [Fe/H], a trend similar to that measured for warmer stars where abundance analysis techniques have been tested more thoroughly. This study is a step toward the observational calibration of procedures to estimate the metallicity of low-mass dwarf stars using photometric and low-resolution spectral indices.

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arXiv2004

High Resolution, Long - Slit Spectroscopy of VY CMa: The Evidence for Localized High Mass Loss Events

High spatial and spectral resolution spectroscopy of the OH/IR supergiant VY CMa and its circumstellar ejecta reveals evidence for high mass loss events from localized regions on the star occurring over the past 1000 years. The reflected absorption lines and the extremely strong K I emission lines show a complex pattern of velocities in the ejecta. We show that the large, dusty NW arc, expanding at 50 km/sec with respect to the embedded star, is kinematically distinct from the surrounding nebulosity and was ejected about 400 years ago. Other large, more filamentary loops were probably expelled as much as 800 to 1000 years ago while knots and small arcs close to the star resulted from more recent events 100 to 200 years ago. The more diffuse, uniformly distributed gas and dust is surprisingly stationary with little or no velocity relative to the star. This is not what we would expect for the circumstellar material from an evolved red supergiant with a long history of mass loss. We therefore suggest that the high mass loss rate for VY CMa is a measure of the mass carried out by these specific ejections accompanied by streams or flows of gas through low density regions in the dust envelope. VY CMa may thus be our most extreme example of stellar activity, but our results also bring into question the evolutionary state of this famous star. In a separate Appendix, we discuss the origin of the very strong K I and other rare emission lines in its spectrum.

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arXiv2001

Photometric Observations of Omega Centauri: Multi-Wavelength Observations of Evolved Stars

We present multi-wavelength observations of the northern population of Omega Cen from the main-sequence turn-off to high on the red giant branch. We show that the best information about the metallicity and age of the stars can be gained from combining vby, B-I and V-I colors (in the absence of spectroscopy). We confirm our results for the main-sequence turn-off stars: there is at least a 3 Gyr age spread. We use proper motion studies to confirm cluster membership at and above the level of the horizontal branch, and we show that the age spread is maintained amongst stars from the subgiant branch through the red giants. The available evidence suggests that Omega Cen is the core of a disrupted dwarf galaxy.

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arXiv1999

Age and Metallicity Effects in Omega Centauri

We have observed (with vby filters) a field north of the core of the most massive globular cluster in our galaxy, Omega Centauri. We have found a correlation of age and metallicity in a region which avoids the dense core and the inhomogeneous foreground dust emission shown by the IRAS satellite. Our observations show that the comparatively metal-rich stars (as defined by the (b-y) and m_1 colors) are younger than the metal-poor stars by at least 3 Gyr. This correlation of metallicity with age suggests that Omega Cen has enriched itself over a timescale of about 3 Gyr, and possibly longer. It is remarkable that ejecta from stellar winds combined with supernovae of type II failed to disperse the cluster's interstellar matter at an earlier epoch, but were captured by the cluster instead. Star formation would have ceased as type Ia supernovae dispersed the remaining interstellar matter. This work and other recent evidence suggests that Omega Cen could have been part of a small satellite galaxy in which all the activity occurred before it was captured by the Milky Way.

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arXiv1997

Mixing processes during the evolution of red giants with moderate metal deficiencies : the role of molecular-weight barriers

We have assembled accurate abundance data for Li, C, and N as well as the 12C/13C ratio for five field giants with [Fe/H]=-0.6 including Arcturus and two stars in the globular cluster 47 Tuc. Using their very precise Mbol values obtained from HIPPARCOSparallaxes, we can place them into an evolutionary sequence. The sequence shows that the 12C/13C ratios ratios drops from 20 to near 7 between Mbol=+1 and +0.5, while Li disappears. At the same time the 12C/14N ratio diminishes by 0.2 to 0.4 dex. The two stars in 47 Tuc with Mbol near -2.0 show even lower 12C14N ratios by 0.4 dex indicating further mixing as they evolved to the top of the red giant branch. These observations confirm the existence of an extra-mixing process that becomes efficient on the red giant branch only when the low-mass stars reach the so-called luminosity function bump. We use the values of the carbon isotopic ratio observed in our sample to get constraints on the mu-barriers that may shield the central regions of a star from extra-mixing. We show that the same value of the critical gradient of molecular weight leads to 12C/13C ratios observed at different metallicities. This ``observational critical mu-gradient'' is in very good agreement with the one which is expected to stabilize meridional circulation. This result provides strong clues on the nature of the extra-mixing which occurs on the RGB, and indicates that it is related to rotation.

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