arXiv subjects

Ian B. Thompson

Publications and source records attributed to Ian B. Thompson.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2011

Astrometry and radial velocities of the planet host M dwarf GJ 317: new trigonometric distance, metallicity and upper limit to the mass of GJ 317b

We have obtained precision astrometry of the planet hosting M dwarf GJ 317 in the framework of the Carnegie Astrometric Planet Search project. The new astrometric measurements give a distance determination of 15.3 pc, 65% further than previous estimates. The resulting absolute magnitudes suggest it is metal rich and more massive than previously assumed. This result strengthens the correlation between high metallicity and the presence of gas giants around low mass stars. At 15.3 pc, the minimal astrometric amplitude for planet candidate GJ 317b is 0.3 milliarcseconds (edge-on orbit), just below our astrometric sensitivity. However, given the relatively large number of observations and good astrometric precision, a Bayesian Monte Carlo Markov Chain analysis indicates that the mass of planet b has to be smaller than twice the minimum mass with a 99% confidence level, with a most likely value of 2.5 Mjup. Additional RV measurements obtained with Keck by the Lick-Carnegie Planet search program confirm the presence of an additional very long period planet candidate, with a period of 20 years or more. Even though such an object will imprint a large astrometric wobble on the star, its curvature is yet not evident in the astrometry. Given high metallicity, and the trend indicating that multiple systems are rich in low mass companions, this system is likely to host additional low mass planets in its habitable zone that can be readily detected with state-of-the-art optical and near infrared RV measurements.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2011

Circumstellar Material in Type Ia Supernovae via Sodium Absorption Features

Type Ia supernovae are key tools for measuring distances on a cosmic scale. They are generally thought to be the thermonuclear explosion of an accreting white dwarf in a close binary system. The nature of the mass donor is still uncertain. In the single-degenerate model it is a main-sequence star or an evolved star, whereas in the double-degenerate model it is another white dwarf. We show that the velocity structure of absorbing material along the line of sight to 35 type Ia supernovae tends to be blueshifted. These structures are likely signatures of gas outflows from the supernova progenitor systems. Thus many type Ia supernovae in nearby spiral galaxies may originate in single-degenerate systems.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2011

Two Upper Limits on the Rossiter-McLaughlin Effect, with Differing Implications: WASP-1 has a High Obliquity and WASP-2 is Indeterminate

We present precise radial-velocity measurements of WASP-1 and WASP-2 throughout transits of their giant planets. Our goal was to detect the Rossiter-McLaughlin (RM) effect, the anomalous radial velocity observed during eclipses of rotating stars, which can be used to study the obliquities of planet-hosting stars. For WASP-1 a weak signal of a prograde orbit was detected with ~2sigma confidence, and for WASP-2 no signal was detected. The resulting upper bounds on the RM amplitude have different implications for these two systems, because of the contrasting transit geometries and the stellar types. Because WASP-1 is an F7V star, and such stars are typically rapid rotators, the most probable reason for the suppression of the RM effect is that the star is viewed nearly pole-on. This implies the WASP-1 star has a high obliquity with respect to the edge-on planetary orbit. Because WASP-2 is a K1V star, and is expected to be a slow rotator, no firm conclusion can be drawn about the stellar obliquity. Our data and our analysis contradict an earlier claim that WASP-2b has a retrograde orbit, thereby revoking this system's status as an exception to the pattern that cool stars have low obliquities.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2010

What Determines the Incidence and Extent of MgII Absorbing Gas Around Galaxies?

We study the connections between on-going star formation, galaxy mass, and extended halo gas, in order to distinguish between starburst-driven outflows and infalling clouds that produce the majority of observed MgII absorbers at large galactic radii (>~ 10 h^{-1} kpc) and to gain insights into halo gas contents around galaxies. We present new measurements of total stellar mass (M_star), H-alpha emission line strength (EW(H-alpha)), and specific star formation rate (sSFR) for the 94 galaxies published in H.-W. Chen et al. (2010). We find that the extent of MgII absorbing gas, R_MgII, scales with M_star and sSFR, following R_MgII \propto M_star^{0.28}\times sSFR^{0.11}. The strong dependence of R_MgII on M_star is most naturally explained, if more massive galaxies possess more extended halos of cool gas and the observed MgII absorbers arise in infalling clouds which will subsequently fuel star formation in the galaxies. The additional scaling relation of R_MgII with sSFR can be understood either as accounting for extra gas supplies due to starburst outflows or as correcting for suppressed cool gas content in high-mass halos. The latter is motivated by the well-known sSFR--M_star} inverse correlation in field galaxies. Our analysis shows that a joint study of galaxies and MgII absorbers along common sightlines provides an empirical characterization of halo gaseous radius versus halo mass. A comparison study of R_MgII around red- and blue-sequence galaxies may provide the first empirical constraint for resolving the physical origin of the observed sSFR--M_star} relation in galaxies.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2010

High-Resolution Spectroscopy of Extremely Metal-Poor Stars in the Least Evolved Galaxies: Leo IV

We present high-resolution Magellan/MIKE spectroscopy of the brightest star in the ultra-faint dwarf galaxy Leo IV. We measure an iron abundance of [Fe/H] = -3.2, adding to the rapidly growing sample of extremely metal-poor stars being identified in Milky Way satellite galaxies. The star is enhanced in the alpha elements Mg, Ca, and Ti by ~0.3 dex, very similar to the typical Milky Way halo abundance pattern. All of the light and iron-peak elements follow the trends established by extremely metal-poor halo stars, but the neutron-capture elements Ba and Sr are significantly underabundant. These results are quite similar to those found for stars in the ultra-faint dwarfs Ursa Major II, Coma Berenices, Bootes I, and Hercules, suggesting that the chemical evolution of the lowest luminosity galaxies may be universal. The abundance pattern we observe is consistent with predictions for nucleosynthesis from a Population III supernova explosion. The extremely low metallicity of this star also supports the idea that a significant fraction (>10%) of the stars in the faintest dwarfs have metallicities below [Fe/H] = -3.0.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2010

An Empirical Characterization of Extended Cool Gas Around Galaxies Using MgII Absorption Features

We report results from a survey of MgII absorbers in the spectra of background QSOs that are within close angular distances to a foreground galaxy at z<0.5, using the Magellan Echellette Spectrograph. We have established a spectroscopic sample of 94 galaxies at a median redshift of = 0.24 in fields around 70 distant background QSOs (z_QSO>0.6), 71 of which are in an 'isolated' environment with no known companions and located at rho <~ 120 h^-1 kpc from the line of sight of a background QSO. The rest-frame absolute B-band magnitudes span a range from M_B-5log h=-16.4 to M_B-5log h=-21.4 and rest-frame B_AB-R_AB colors range from B_AB-R_AB~0 to B_AB-R_AB~1.5. Of these 'isolated' galaxies, we find that 47 have corresponding MgII absorbers in the spectra of background QSOs and rest-frame absorption equivalent width W_r(2796)=0.1-2.34 A, and 24 do not give rise to MgII absorption to sensitive upper limits. Our analysis shows that (1) Wr(2796) declines with increasing distance from 'isolated' galaxies but shows no clear trend in 'group' environments; (2) more luminous galaxies possess more extended MgII absorbing halos with the gaseous radius scaled by B-band luminosity according to R_gas=75x(L_B/L_B*)^(0.35+/-0.03) h^{-1} kpc; (3) there is little dependence between the observed absorber strength and galaxy intrinsic colors; and (4) within R_gas, we find a mean covering fraction of ~70% for absorbers of Wr(2796)>=0.3 A and ~80% for absorbers of Wr(2796)>=0.1 A. The lack of correlation between Wr(2796) and galaxy colors suggests a lack of physical connection between the origin of extended MgII halos and recent star formation history of the galaxies. Finally, we discuss the total gas mass in galactic halos as traced by MgII absorbers. We also compare our results with previous studies.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2010

Characterizing the Chemistry of the Milky Way Stellar Halo: Detailed Chemical Analysis of a Metal-Poor Stellar Stream

We present the results of a detailed abundance analysis of one of the confirmed building blocks of the Milky Way stellar halo, a kinematically-coherent metal-poor stellar stream. We have obtained high resolution and high S/N spectra of 12 probable stream members using the MIKE spectrograph on the Magellan-Clay Telescope at Las Campanas Observatory and the 2dCoude spectrograph on the Smith Telescope at McDonald Observatory. We have derived abundances or upper limits for 51 species of 46 elements in each of these stars. The stream members show a range of metallicity (-3.4 < [Fe/H] < -1.5) but are otherwise chemically homogeneous, with the same star-to-star dispersion in [X/Fe] as the rest of the halo. This implies that, in principle, a significant fraction of the Milky Way stellar halo could have formed from accreted systems like the stream. The stream stars show minimal evolution in the alpha or Fe-group elements over the range of metallicity. This stream is enriched with material produced by the main and weak components of the rapid neutron-capture process and shows no evidence for enrichment by the slow neutron-capture process.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2010

Strong Constraints to the Putative Planet Candidate around VB 10 using Doppler spectroscopy

We present new radial velocity measurements of the ultra-cool dwarf VB 10, which was recently announced to host a giant planet detected with astrometry. The new observations were obtained using optical spectrographs(MIKE/Magellan and ESPaDOnS/CHFT) and cover a 63% of the reported period of 270 days. We apply Least-squares periodograms to identify the most significant signals and evaluate their corresponding False Alarm Probabilities. We show that this method is the proper generalization to astrometric data because (1) it mitigates the coupling of the orbital parameters with the parallax and proper motion, and (2) it permits a direct generalization to include non-linear Keplerian parameters in a combined fit to astrometry and radial velocity data. In fact, our analysis of the astrometry alone uncovers the reported 270 d period and an even stronger signal at 50 days. We estimate the uncertainties in the parameters using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo approach. The nominal precision of the new Doppler measurements is about 150 s$^{-1}$ while their standard deviation is 250 ms$^{-1}$. However, the best fit solutions still have RMS of 200 ms$^{-1}$ indicating that the excess in variability is due to uncontrolled systematic errors rather than the candidate companions detected in the astrometry. Although the new data alone cannot rule-out the presence of a candidate, when combined with published radial velocity measurements, the False Alarm Probabilities of the best solutions grow to unacceptable levels strongly suggesting that the observed astrometric wobble is not due to an unseen companion.

astro-ph.EP↗

arXiv2009

A Puzzle Involving Galactic Bulge Microlensing Events

We study a sample of 16 microlensed Galactic bulge main sequence turnoff region stars for which high dispersion spectra have been obtained with detailed abundance analyses. We demonstrate that there is a very strong and highly statistically significant correlation between the maximum magnification of the microlensed bulge star and the value of the [Fe/H] deduced from the high resolution spectrum of each object. Physics demands that this correlation, assuming it to be real, be the result of some sample bias. We suggest several possible explanations, but are forced to reject them all,and are left puzzled. To obtain a reliable metallicity distribution in the Galactic bulge based on microlensed dwarf stars it will be necessary to resolve this issue through the course of additional observations.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2009

Variable Stars in the Globular Cluster NGC 6752

We report time-series photometry for 16 variable stars located in the central part of the globular cluster NGC 6752. The sample includes 13 newly identified objects. The precision of our differential photometry ranges from 1 mmag at V=14.0 to 10 mmag at V=18.0. We detected 4 low amplitude variables located on the extended horizontal branch (EHB) of the cluster. They are candidate binary stars harboring sdB subdwarfs. A candidate degenerate binary was detected about 2 mag below the faint end of the EHB. The star is blue and its light curve is modulated with a period of 0.47 d. We argue that some of the identified variable red/blue stragglers are ellipsoidal binaries harboring degenerate stars. They have low amplitude sine-like light curves and periods from a few hours to a few days. Spectroscopic observations of such objects may lead to the detection of detached inactive binaries harboring stellar mass black holes or neutron stars. No binaries of this kind are known so far in globular clusters although their existence is expected based on the common occurrence of accreting LMXBs and millisecond pulsars. An eclipsing SB1 type binary was identified on the upper main sequence of the cluster. We detected variability of optical counterparts to two X-ray sources located in the core region of NGC 6752. The already known cataclysmic variable B1=CX4 experienced a dwarf nova type outburst. The light curve of an optical counterpart to the X-ray source CX19 exhibited modulation with a period 0.113 d. The same periodicy was detected in the HST-ACS data. The variable is located on the upper main sequence of the cluster. It is an excellent candidate for a close degenerate binary observed in quiescence.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2009

The Carnegie Astrometric Planet Search Program

We are undertaking an astrometric search for gas giant planets and brown dwarfs orbiting nearby low mass dwarf stars with the 2.5-m du Pont telescope at the Las Campanas Observatory in Chile. We have built two specialized astrometric cameras, the Carnegie Astrometric Planet Search Cameras (CAPSCam-S and CAPSCam-N), using two Teledyne Hawaii-2RG HyViSI arrays, with the cameras' design having been optimized for high accuracy astrometry of M dwarf stars. We describe two independent CAPSCam data reduction approaches and present a detailed analysis of the observations to date of one of our target stars, NLTT 48256. Observations of NLTT 48256 taken since July 2007 with CAPSCam-S imply that astrometric accuracies of around 0.3 milliarcsec per hour are achievable, sufficient to detect a Jupiter-mass companion orbiting 1 AU from a late M dwarf 10 pc away with a signal-to-noise ratio of about 4. We plan to follow about 100 nearby (primarily within about 10 pc) low mass stars, principally late M, L, and T dwarfs, for 10 years or more, in order to detect very low mass companions with orbital periods long enough to permit the existence of habitable, Earth-like planets on shorter-period orbits. These stars are generally too faint and red to be included in ground-based Doppler planet surveys, which are often optimized for FGK dwarfs. The smaller masses of late M dwarfs also yield correspondingly larger astrometric signals for a given mass planet. Our search will help to determine whether gas giant planets form primarily by core accretion or by disk instability around late M dwarf stars.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2009

Spectroscopic Confirmation of the Pisces Overdensity

We present spectroscopic confirmation of the "Pisces Overdensity", also known as "Structure J", a photometric overdensity of RR Lyrae stars discovered by the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) at an estimated photometric distance of ~85kpc. We measure radial velocities for 8 RR Lyrae stars within Pisces. We find that 5 of the 8 stars have heliocentric radial velocities within a narrow range of -87 km/s < v < -67 km/s, suggesting that the photometric overdensity is mainly due to a physically associated system, probably a dwarf galaxy or a disrupted galaxy. Two of the remaining 3 stars differ from one another by only 9 km/s, but it would be premature to identify them as a second system.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2009

Clues to the Metallicity Distribution in the Galactic Bulge: Abundances in MOA-2008-BLG310 and MOA-2008-BLG311

We present abundance analyses based on high dispersion and high signal-to-noise ratio Magellan spectra of two highly microlensed Galactic bulge stars in the region of the main sequence turnoff with Teff ~ 5650 K. We find that MOA-2008-BLG310 has [Fe/H]= +0.41 (+,- 0.09 dex) and MOA-2008-BLG311 has +0.26 (+, - 0.09 dex). The abundance ratios for the ~20 elements for which features could be detected in the spectra of each of the two stars follow the trends with [Fe/H] found among samples of bulge giants. Combining these two bulge dwarfs with the results from previous abundance analysis of four other Galactic bulge turnoff region stars, all highly magnified by microlensing, gives a mean [Fe/H] of +0.29dex. This implies that there there is an inconsistency between the Fe-metallicity distribution of the microlensed bulge dwarfs and that derived by the many previous estimates based on surveys of cool, luminous bulge giants, which have mean [Fe/H] ~ -0.1 dex. A number of possible mechanisms for producing this difference are discussed. If one ascribes this inconsistency to systematic errors in the abundance analyses, we provide statistical arguments suggesting that a substantial systematic error in the Fe-metallicity for one or both of the two cases, bulge dwarfs vs bulge giants, is required which is probably larger than can realistically be accommodated.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2008

The MagE Spectrograph

The Magellan Echellette (MagE) spectrograph is a single-object optical echellette spectrograph for the Magellan Clay telescope. MagE has been designed to have high throughput in the blue; the peak throughput is 22% at 5600 A including the telescope. The wavelength coverage includes the entire optical window (3100 A - 1 micron). The spectral resolution for a 1" slit is R~4100. MagE is a very simple spectrograph with only four moving parts, prism cross-dispersion, and a vacuum Schmidt camera. The instrument saw first light in November 2007 and is now routinely taking science observations.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2007

CS22964-161: A Double-Lined Carbon- and s-Process-Enhanced Metal-Poor Binary Star

A detailed high-resolution spectroscopic analysis is presented for the carbon-rich low metallicity Galactic halo object CS 22964-161. We have discovered that CS 22964-161 is a double-lined spectroscopic binary, and have derived accurate orbital components for the system. From a model atmosphere analysis we show that both components are near the metal-poor main-sequence turnoff. Both stars are very enriched in carbon and in neutron-capture elements that can be created in the s-process, including lead. The primary star also possesses an abundance of lithium close to the value of the ``Spite-Plateau''. The simplest interpretation is that the binary members seen today were the recipients of these anomalous abundances from a third star that was losing mass as part of its AGB evolution. We compare the observed CS 22964-161 abundance set with nucleosynthesis predictions of AGB stars, and discuss issues of envelope stability in the observed stars under mass transfer conditions, and consider the dynamical stability of the alleged original triple star. Finally, we consider the circumstances that permit survival of lithium, whatever its origin, in the spectrum of this extraordinary system.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2005

Echelle Spectroscopy of a GRB Afterglow at z=3.969: A New Probe of the Interstellar and Intergalactic Media in the Young Universe

We present an echelle spectrum of the Swift GRB 050730, obtained four hours after the burst using the MIKE spectrograph on the Magellan Clay Telescope when the afterglow was at R=17.7. The spectrum reveals a forest of absorption features superimposed on a simple power-law shaped continuum, best described as f_nu(lambda)\propto lambda^{alpha} with alpha =1.88\pm 0.01 over lambda=7000-9000 A. We identify the GRB host at z_GRB=3.96855 based on the hydrogen Lyman absorption series, narrow absorption lines due to heavy ions such as OI, CII, SiII, SII, NiII, FeII, CIV, SiIV, and NV, and fine structure transitions such as OI*, OI**, SiII*, CII*, and FeII*. Together these transitions allow us to study the the properties of the interstellar medium (ISM) in the GRB host. The principal results are as follows. (1) We estimate a neutral hydrogen column density of log N(HI)=22.15\pm 0.05 in the host. (2) The associated metal lines exhibit multiple components over a velocity range of ~80 km/s, with >90% of the neutral gas confined in 20 km/s. (3) Comparisons between different ionic transitions show that the host has little/no dust depletion and has 1/100 solar metallicity. (4) The absorbing gas has much higher density than that of intervening damped Lya absorption (DLA) systems. In addition, we report the identification of an intervening DLA system at z_DLA=3.56439 with log N(HI)=20.3\pm 0.1 and < 5% solar metallicity, a Lyman limit system at z_LLS=3.02209 with log N(HI)=19.9\pm 0.1, a strong MgII absorber at z_MgII=2.25313, and a pair of MgII absorbers at z_MgII=1.7731, 57 km/s apart. We demonstrate that rapid echelle spectroscopy of GRB afterglows helps to reveal a wealth of information in the ISM and the intergalactic medium along the sightline (abridged).

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arXiv2004

The Magellanic Clouds Photometric Survey: The Large Magellanic Cloud Stellar Catalog and Extinction Map

We present our catalog of U, B, V, and I stellar photometry of the central 64 sq. deg. area of the Large Magellanic Cloud. Internal and external astrometric and photometric tests using existing optical photometry (U, B, and V from Massey's bright star catalog and I from the near-infrared sky survey DENIS) are used to confirm our observational uncertainty estimates. We fit stellar atmosphere models to the optical data to check the consistency of the photometry for individual stars across the passbands and to estimate the line-of-sight extinction. Finally, we use the estimated line-of-sight extinctions to produce an extinction map across the Large Magellanic Cloud, confirm the variation of extinction as a function of stellar population, and produce a simple geometrical model for the extinction as a function of stellar population.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

Time Series Photometry of Variable Stars in the Globular Cluster NGC 6397

Time series BVI photometry is presented for 16 short-period variables located in the central region of the globular cluster NGC 6397. The sample includes 9 newly detected variables. The light curve of cataclysmic variable CV6 shows variability with a period of 0.2356 days. We confirm an earlier reported period of 0.472 days for cataclysmic variable CV1. Phased light curves of both CVs exhibit sine-like light curves, with two minima occurring during each orbital cycle. The secondary component of CV1 has a low average density of 0.83 g/cm^{3} indicating that it cannot be a normal main sequence star. Variables among the cluster blue stragglers include a likely detached eclipsing binary with orbital period of 0.787 days, three new SX Phe stars (one of which has the extremely short period of 0.0215 days), and three low amplitude variables which are possible gamma Doradus variables.

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