arXiv subjects

Gianni Marconi

Publications and source records attributed to Gianni Marconi.

26 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2003

Using globular clusters to test gravity in the weak acceleration regime

We have carried out a study of the velocity dispersion of the stars in the outskirts of the globular cluster Omega Centauri, finding that the velocity dispersion remains constant at large radii rather than decrease monotonically. The dispersion starts to be constant for an acceleration of gravity of a = 2.1e-8 cm/s/s. A similar result is obtained reanalyzing existing data for the globular cluster M15 where the profile flattens out for a = 1.7e-8 cm/s/s. In both cases the acceleration is comparable to that at which the effect of dark matter becomes relevant in galaxies. Explanations for this result within Newtonian dynamics exist (e.g. cluster evaporation, tidal effects, presence of dark matter) but require ad hoc tuning of the relevant parameters in order to make in both clusters the dispersion profile flat starting exactly at the same acceleration. We suggest that this result, together with a similar one for Palomar 13 and the anomalous behavior of spacecrafts outside the solar system, may indicate a breakdown of Newton's law in the weak acceleration regime. Although not conclusive, these data prompt for the accurate determination of the internal dynamics of as many GCs as possible.

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arXiv2003

Unveiling the nature of the 321s Orbital Period X-ray source RX J0806.3+1527

A nearly simultaneous X-ray/optical (Chandra and VLT) observational campaign of RX J0806.3+1527 has been carried out during November 2001. These observations allowed us to phase the X-ray and optical light curves for the first time. We measured a phase-shift of about 0.5, in good agreement with the presence of two distinct emission regions and with the X-ray irradiation process predictions. The Chandra data allowed us also to study in details the X-ray spectrum of RX J0806.3+1527, which is consistent with a soft (kT<70 eV) and small (R_BB<20 km) blackbody component. We discuss the present findings on the light of the models proposed so far to account for the X-ray emission detected from RX J0806.3+1527, and its twin source RX J1914.4+2456.

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arXiv2002

A Test of Newton's Law of Gravity in the Weak Acceleration Regime

A pilot experiment suitable to test Newton's law of gravity down to the regime of acceleration typical of galaxies has been carried out in Omega Centauri. Stars in the extreme periphery of this globular cluster are used as test particles immersed in such weak gravitational field. The stellar velocity dispersion is found to remain constant at large radii, rather than decrease monotonically, starting at acceleration a=10e-7 cm/s2. This is comparable to the acceleration at which the effect of dark matter becomes relevant in galaxies. Explanations for this result within Newtonian dynamics exist (e.g. cluster evaporation, tidal effects, presence of dark matter) but require fine tuning of the relevant parameters in order to make the dispersion profile flat. An interesting alternative is that this result, together with a similar one for Palomar 13 and the anomalous behavior of spacecrafts outside the solar system, suggests a breakdown of Newton's law in the weak acceleration regime.

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arXiv2001

The CFHT Open Star Cluster Survey. III. The White Dwarf Cooling Age of the Rich Open Star Cluster NGC 2099 (M37)

We present deep CCD photometry of the very rich, intermediate aged (similar to the Hyades) open star cluster NGC 2099 (M37). The V, B-V color-magnitude diagram (CMD) for the cluster shows an extremely well populated and very tightly constrained main-sequence extending over 12 magnitudes from the turn-off. The CFH12K photometry for this cluster is faint enough (V ~ 24.5) to detect the remnants of the most massive progenitor cluster stars under the Type I SNe limit. Therefore, the CMD of the cluster also exhibits a well defined white dwarf `clump' caused by the decreased rate of cooling of these stars as they age, and a subsequent gap with very few objects. The termination point (Mv = 11.95 +/- 0.30) of the white dwarf luminosity function gives a white dwarf cooling age of 566 +/- 154/176 Myrs which is in excellent agreement with the main-sequence turn-off isochrone age (520 Myrs). By carefully accounting for errors, we show that the cooling age confirms that models including convective core overshooting are preferred for young-intermediate aged clusters. We also derive the reddening (E(B-V) = 0.21 +/- 0.03) and distance ((m-M)v = 11.55 +/- 0.13) to NGC 2099 by matching main-sequence features in the cluster to a new fiducial main-sequence for the Hyades. As a continuing part of the goals of the CFHT Open Star Cluster Survey to better understand dynamical processes of open clusters, we also fit a King model to the cluster density distribution and investigate the cluster main-sequence luminosity and mass functions in increasing concentric annuli. We find some evidence for mass segregation within the boundary of NGC 2099 as expected given the cluster's age relative to the dynamical age. The present global mass function for the cluster is found to be shallower than a Salpeter IMF.

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arXiv2001

The CFHT Open Star Cluster Survey I -- Cluster Selection and Data Reduction

We present this paper in conjuction with the following as the first results in the CFHT Open Star Cluster Survey. This survey is a large BVR imaging data set of 19 open star clusters in our Galaxy. This data set was taken with the CFH12K mosaic CCD (42' X 28') and the majority of the clusters were imaged under excellent photometric, sub-arcsecond seeing conditions. The combination of multiple exposures extending to deep (V ~ 25) magnitudes with short (< 10 second) frames allows for many different studies. The primary aim of this survey is to catalogue the white dwarf stars in these clusters and establish observational constraints on the initial-final mass relationship for these stars and the upper mass limit to white dwarf production. Additionally, we hope to better determine the properties of the clusters, such as age and distance, and also test evolution and dynamical theories by analyzing luminosity and mass functions. In order to more easily incorporate this data in further studies, we have produced a catalogue of positions, magnitudes, colors, and stellarity confidence for all stars in each cluster of the survey. This paper is intended both as a source for the astronomical community to obtain information on the clusters in the survey and as a detailed reference of reduction procedures for further publications of individual clusters. We discuss the methods employed to reduce the data and compute the photometric catalogue. The scientific results for each individual cluster and global results from the study of the entire survey will be presented in further publications (results for the rich old open cluster NGC 6819 immediately follow this paper).

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arXiv2001

The CFHT Open Star Cluster Survey II -- Deep CCD Photometry of the Old Open Star Cluster NGC 6819

We present analysis of deep CCD photometry for the very rich, old open star cluster NGC 6819. These CFH12K data results represent the first of nineteen open star clusters which were imaged as a part of the CFHT Open Star Cluster Survey. We find a tight, very rich, main-sequence and turn-off consisting of over 2900 cluster stars in the V, B-V color-magnitude diagram (CMD). Main-sequence fitting of the un-evolved cluster stars with the Hyades star cluster yields a distance modulus of (m-M)v = 12.30 +/- 0.12, for a reddening of E(B-V) = 0.10. These values are consistent with a newly calculated theoretical stellar isochrone of age 2.5 Gyrs, which we take to be the age of the cluster. Detailed star counts indicate a much larger cluster extent (R = 9.5' +/- 1.0'), by a factor of ~2 over some previous estimates. Incompleteness tests confirm a slightly negatively sloped luminosity function extending to faint (V ~ 23) magnitudes which is indicative of a dynamically evolved cluster. Further luminosity function and mass segregation tests indicate that low mass objects (M < 0.65Mo) predominate in the outer regions of the cluster, 3.5 < R < 9.5. The estimation of the number of white dwarfs in NGC 6819 are in good agreement with the observed number. For those white dwarf candidates which pass both a statistical and image classification tests, we show comparisons to white dwarf isochrones and cooling models which suggest the need for spectroscopy to confirm the white dwarf nature of the brighter objects.

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arXiv2000

Antlia: an outskirt Local Group Galaxy

Deep (I,V-I) and (I,B-I) color-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) of the Antlia dwarf galaxy, based on Science Verification (SV) data collected with the FORS I camera on the ESO Very Large Telescope (VLT) are presented. By adopting the new calibration of the Tip of the Red Giant Branch (TRGB) provided by Salaris & Cassisi (1998) we estimated that the Antlia distance modulus is (m-M)o=25.98 with an error of 0.10 mag. We suggest an improvement of the classical TRGB method based on infrared H and K magnitudes of TRGB stars. Such a method should overcome the well-known limit of the "classical" TRGB method when dealing with metal-rich stellar populations.

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arXiv1995

The Tucana dwarf galaxy

Deep CCD photometry (NTT, HST data) for the dwarf galaxy in Tucana is presented, down to V=27.5. Distance modulus and metallicity are derived, together with an estimate of the age of the galaxy.

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