arXiv subjects

M. Asplund

Publications and source records attributed to M. Asplund.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

arXiv2014

The M4 Core Project with HST -- II. Multiple Stellar Populations at the Bottom of the Main Sequence

The M4 Core Project with HST is designed to exploit the Hubble Space Telescope to investigate the central regions of M4, the Globular Cluster closest to the Sun. In this paper we combine optical and near-infrared photometry to study multiple stellar populations in M4. We detected two sequences of M-dwarfs containing ~38% (MS_I) and ~62% (MS_II) of MS stars below the main-sequence (MS) knee. We compare our observations with those of NGC2808, which is the only other GCs where multiple MSs of very low-mass stars have been studied to date. We calculate synthetic spectra for M-dwarfs, assuming the chemical composition mixture inferred from spectroscopic studies of stellar populations along the red giant branch, and different Helium abundances, and we compare predicted and observed colors. Observations are consistent with two populations, one with primordial abundance and another with enhanced nitrogen and depleted oxygen.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2013

The Gaia-ESO Survey: Abundance ratios in the inner-disk open clusters Trumpler 20, NGC 4815, NGC 6705

Open clusters are key tools to study the spatial distribution of abundances in the disk and their evolution with time. Using the first release of stellar parameters and abundances of the Gaia-ESO Survey, we analyse the chemical properties of stars in three old/intermediate-age open clusters, namely NGC 6705, NGC 4815, and Trumpler 20, all located in the inner part of the Galactic disk at Galactocentric radius R$_{GC}\sim$7 kpc, aiming at proving their homogeneity and at comparing them with the field population. We study the abundance ratios of elements belonging to two different nucleosynthetic channels: $α$-elements and iron-peak elements. The main results can be summarised as follows: i) cluster members are chemically homogeneous within 3-$σ$ in all analysed elements; ii) the three clusters have comparable [El/Fe] patters within $\sim$1-$σ$, but they differ in their global metal content [El/H], with NGC 4815 having the lowest metallicity. Their [El/Fe] ratios show differences and analogies with those of the field population, both in the solar neighbourhood and in the bulge/inner disk; iii) comparing the abundance ratios with the results of two chemical evolution models and with field star abundance distributions, we find that the abundance ratios of Mg, Ni, Ca in NGC 6705 might require an inner birthplace, implying a subsequent variation of its R$_{GC}$ during its lifetime, consistent with previous orbit determination. The full dataset of the Gaia-ESO Survey will be a superlative tool to constrain the chemical evolution of our Galaxy by disentangling different formation and evolution scenarios.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2013

Global and non-global parameters of horizontal branch morphology of globular clusters

The horizontal branch (HB) morphology of globular clusters (GCs) is mainly determined by metallicity. However, the fact that GCs with almost the same metallicity exhibit different HB morphologies demonstrates that at least one more parameter is needed to explain the HB morphology. It has been suggested that one of these should be a global parameter that varies from GC to GC, and the other a non-global parameter that varies within the GC. In this study we provide empirical evidence corroborating this idea. We used the photometric catalogs obtained with the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and analyse the CMDs of 74 GCs. The HB morphology of our sample of GCs has been investigated on the basis of the two new parameters L1 and L2 that measure the distance between the RGB and the coolest part of the HB, and the color extension of the HB, respectively. We find that L1 correlates with both metallicity and age, whereas L2 most strongly correlates with the mass of the hosting GC. The range of helium abundance among the stars in a GC, characterised by Delta Y and associated with the presence of multiple stellar populations, has been estimated in a few GCs to date. In these GCs we find a close relationship among Delta Y, GC mass, and L2. We conclude that age and metallicity are the main global parameters while the range of helium abundance within a GC is the main non-global parameter defining the HB morphology of Galactic GCs.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2013

Chemical signatures of planets: beyond solar-twins

Elemental abundance studies of solar twin stars suggest that the solar chemical composition contains signatures of the formation of terrestrial planets in the solar system, namely small but significant depletions of the refractory elements. To test this hypothesis, we study stars which, compared to solar twins, have less massive convective envelopes (therefore increasing the amplitude of the predicted effect) or are, arguably, more likely to host planets (thus increasing the frequency of signature detections). We measure relative atmospheric parameters and elemental abundances of a late-F type dwarf sample (52 stars) and a sample of metal-rich solar analogs (59 stars). We detect refractory-element depletions with amplitudes up to about 0.15 dex. The distribution of depletion amplitudes for stars known to host gas giant planets is not different from that of the rest of stars. The maximum amplitude of depletion increases with effective temperature from 5650 K to 5950 K, while it appears to be constant for warmer stars (up to 6300 K). The depletions observed in solar twin stars have a maximum amplitude that is very similar to that seen here for both of our samples. Gas giant planet formation alone cannot explain the observed distributions of refractory-element depletions, leaving the formation of rocky material as a more likely explanation of our observations. More rocky material is necessary to explain the data of solar twins than metal-rich stars, and less for warm stars. However, the sizes of the stars' convective envelopes at the time of planet formation could be regulating these amplitudes. Our results could be explained if disk lifetimes were shorter in more massive stars, as independent observations indeed seem to suggest.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2013

A Community Science Case for E-ELT HIRES

Building on the experience of the high-resolution community with the suite of VLT high-resolution spectrographs, which has been tremendously successful, we outline here the (science) case for a high-fidelity, high-resolution spectrograph with wide wavelength coverage at the E-ELT. Flagship science drivers include: the study of exo-planetary atmospheres with the prospect of the detection of signatures of life on rocky planets; the chemical composition of planetary debris on the surface of white dwarfs; the spectroscopic study of protoplanetary and proto-stellar disks; the extension of Galactic archaeology to the Local Group and beyond; spectroscopic studies of the evolution of galaxies with samples that, unlike now, are no longer restricted to strongly star forming and/or very massive galaxies; the unraveling of the complex roles of stellar and AGN feedback; the study of the chemical signatures imprinted by population III stars on the IGM during the epoch of reionization; the exciting possibility of paradigm-changing contributions to fundamental physics. The requirements of these science cases can be met by a stable instrument with a spectral resolution of R~100,000 and broad, simultaneous spectral coverage extending from 370nm to 2500nm. Most science cases do not require spatially resolved information, and can be pursued in seeing-limited mode, although some of them would benefit by the E-ELT diffraction limited resolution. Some multiplexing would also be beneficial for some of the science cases. (Abridged)

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2013

Helium enhanced stars and multiple populations along the horizontal branch of NGC2808: direct spectroscopic measurements

We present an abundance analysis of 96 horizontal branch (HB) stars in NGC2808, a globular cluster exhibiting a complex multiple stellar population pattern. These stars are distributed in different portions of the HB and cover a wide range of temperature. By studying the chemical abundances of this sample, we explore the connection between HB morphology and the chemical enrichment history of multiple stellar populations. For stars lying on the red HB, we use GIRAFFE and UVES spectra to determine Na, Mg, Si, Ca, Sc, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Zn, Y, Ba, and Nd abundances. For colder, blue HB stars, we derive abundances for Na, primarily from GIRAFFE spectra. We were also able to measure direct NLTE He abundances for a subset of these blue HB stars with temperature higher than ~9000 K. Our results show that: (i) HB stars in NGC2808 show different content in Na depending on their position in the color-magnitude diagram, with blue HB stars having higher Na than red HB stars; (ii) the red HB is not consistent with an uniform chemical abundance, with slightly warmer stars exhibiting a statistically significant higher Na content; and (iii) our subsample of blue HB stars with He abundances shows evidence of enhancement with respect to the predicted primordial He content by Delta(Y)=+0.09+-0.01. Our results strongly support theoretical models that predict He enhancement among second generation(s) stars in globular clusters and provide observational constraints on the second-parameter governing HB morphology.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2013

The Stagger-grid: A Grid of 3D Stellar Atmosphere Models - I. Methods and General Properties

We present the Stagger-grid, a comprehensive grid of time-dependent, 3D hydrodynamic model atmospheres for late-type stars with realistic treatment of radiative transfer, covering a wide range in stellar parameters. This grid of 3D models is intended for various applications like stellar spectroscopy, asteroseismology and the study of stellar convection. In this introductory paper, we describe the methods used for the computation of the grid and discuss the general properties of the 3D models as well as their temporal and spatial averages (<3D>). All our models were generated with the Stagger-code, using realistic input physics for the equation of state (EOS) and for continuous and line opacities. Our ~220 grid models range in Teff from 4000 to 7000K in steps of 500K, in log g from 1.5 to 5.0 in steps of 0.5 dex, and [Fe/H] from -4.0 to +0.5 in steps of 0.5 and 1.0 dex. We find a tight scaling relation between the vertical velocity and the surface entropy jump, which itself correlates with the constant entropy value of the adiabatic convection zone. The range in intensity contrast is enhanced at lower metallicity. The granule size correlates closely with the pressure scale height sampled at the depth of maximum velocity. We compare the <3D> models with widely applied 1D models, as well as with theoretical 1D hydrostatic models generated with the same EOS and opacity tables as the 3D models, in order to isolate the effects of using self-consistent and hydrodynamic modeling of convection, rather than the classical mixing length theory approach. For the first time, we are able to quantify systematically over a broad range of stellar parameters the uncertainties of 1D models arising from the simplified treatment of physics, in particular convective energy transport. In agreement with previous findings, we find that the differences can be significant, especially for metal-poor stars.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2013

ARGOS IV: The Kinematics of the Milky Way Bulge

We present the kinematic results from our ARGOS spectroscopic survey of the Galactic bulge of the Milky Way. Our aim is to understand the formation of the Galactic bulge. We examine the kinematics of about 17,400 stars in the bulge located within 3.5 kpc of the Galactic centre, identified from the 28,000 star ARGOS survey. We aim to determine if the formation of the bulge has been internally driven from disk instabilities as suggested by its boxy shape, or if mergers have played a significant role as expected from Lambda CDM simulations. From our velocity measurements across latitudes b = -5 deg, -7.5 deg and -10 deg we find the bulge to be a cylindrically rotating system that transitions smoothly out into the disk. Within the bulge, we find a kinematically distinct metal-poor population ([Fe/H] < -1.0) that is not rotating cylindrically. The 5% of our stars with [Fe/H] < -1.0 are a slowly rotating spheroidal population, which we believe are stars of the metal weak thick disk and halo which presently lie in the inner Galaxy. The kinematics of the two bulge components that we identified in ARGOS paper III (mean [Fe/H] = -0.25 and [Fe/H] = +0.15, respectively) demonstrate that they are likely to share a common formation origin and are distinct from the more metal poor populations of the thick disk and halo which are colocated inside the bulge. We do not exclude an underlying merger generated bulge component but our results favour bulge formation from instabilities in the early thin disk.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2013

The SUMO project I. A survey of multiple populations in globular clusters

We present a general overview and the first results of the SUMO project (a SUrvey of Multiple pOpulations in Globular Clusters). The objective of this survey is the study of multiple stellar populations in the largest sample of globular clusters homogeneously analysed to date. To this aim we obtained high signal-to-noise (S/N>50) photometry for main sequence stars with mass down to ~0.5 M_SUN in a large sample of clusters using both archival and proprietary U, B, V, and I data from ground-based telescopes. In this paper, we focus on the occurrence of multiple stellar populations in twenty three clusters. We have defined a new photometric index cubi= (U-B)-(B-I), that turns out to be very effective for identifying multiple sequences along the red giant branch (RGB). We found that in the V-cubi diagram all clusters presented in this paper show broadened or multimodal RGBs, with the presence of two or more components. We found a direct connection with the chemical properties of different sequences, that display different abundances of light elements (O, Na, C, N, and Al). The cubi index is also a powerful tool to identify distinct sequences of stars along the horizontal branch and, for the first time in the case of NGC104 (47 Tuc), along the asymptotic giant branch. Our results demonstrate that i) the presence of more than two stellar populations is a common feature among globular clusters, as already highlighted in previous work; ii) multiple sequences with different chemical contents can be easily identified by using standard Johnson photometry obtained with ground-based facilities; iii) in the study of GC multiple stellar populations the cubi index is alternative to spectroscopy, and has the advantage of larger statistics.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2012

ARGOS II: The Galactic Bulge Survey

We describe the motivation, field locations and stellar selection for the ARGOS spectroscopic survey of 28,000 stars in the bulge and inner disk of the Milky Way galaxy across latitudes of b = -5 deg to -10 deg. The primary goal of this survey is to constrain the formation processes of the bulge and establish whether it is predominantly a merger or instability remnant. From the spectra (R = 11,000), we have measured radial velocities and determined stellar parameters, including metallicities and [alpha/Fe] ratios. Distances were estimated from the derived stellar parameters and about 14,000 stars are red giants within 3.5 kpc of the Galactic centre. In this paper, we present the observations and analysis methods. Subsequent papers (III and IV) will discuss the stellar metallicity distribution and kinematics of the Galactic bulge and inner disk, and the implications for the formation of the bulge.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2012

ARGOS III: Stellar Populations in the Galactic Bulge of the Milky Way

We present the metallicity results from the ARGOS spectroscopic survey of the Galactic bulge. Our aim is to understand the formation of the Galactic bulge: did it form via mergers, as expected from Lambda CDM theory, or from disk instabilities, as suggested by its boxy/peanut shape, or both? We have obtained spectra for 28,000 stars at a spectral resolution of R = 11,000. From these spectra, we have determined stellar parameters and distances to an accuracy of < 1.5 kpc. The stars in the inner Galaxy span a large range in [Fe/H], -2.8 < [Fe/H] < +0.6. From the spatial distribution of the red clump stars as a function of [Fe/H] (Ness et al. 2012a), we propose that the stars with [Fe/H] > -0.5 are part of the boxy/peanut bar/bulge. We associate the lower metallicity stars ([Fe/H] < -0.5) with the thick disk, which may be puffed up in the inner region, and with the inner regions of the metal-weak thick disk and inner halo. For the bulge stars with [Fe/H] > -0.5, we find two discrete populations; (i) stars with [Fe/H] ~ -0.25 which provide a roughly constant fraction of the stars in the latitude interval b = -5 deg to -10 deg, and (ii) a kinematically colder, more metal-rich population with mean [Fe/H] ~ +0.15 which is more prominent closer to the plane. The changing ratio of these components with latitude appears as a vertical abundance gradient of the bulge. We attribute both of these bulge components to instability-driven bar/bulge formation from the thin disk. We do not exclude a weak underlying classical merger-generated bulge component, but see no obvious kinematic association of any of our bulge stars with such a classical bulge component. [abridged]

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2012

Chemical evolution of the Galactic bulge as traced by microlensed dwarf and subgiant stars. V. Evidence for a wide age distribution and a complex MDF

Based on high-resolution spectra obtained during gravitational microlensing events we present a detailed elemental abundance analysis of 32 dwarf and subgiant stars in the Galactic bulge. [ABRIDGED], we now have 58 microlensed bulge dwarfs and subgiants that have been homogeneously analysed. The main characteristics of the sample and the findings that can be drawn are: (i) The metallicity distribution (MDF) is wide and spans all metallicities between [Fe/H]=-1.9 to +0.6; (ii) The dip in the MDF around solar metallicity that was apparent in our previous analysis of a smaller sample (26 microlensed stars) is no longer evident; instead it has a complex structure and indications of multiple components are starting to emerge. [ABRIDGED]; (iii) The stars with [Fe/H]<-0.1 are old with ages between 10 and 12 Gyr; (iv) The metal-rich stars with [Fe/H]>-0.1 show a wide variety of ages, ranging from 2 to 12 Gyr with a distribution that has a dominant peak around 4-5 Gyr and a tail towards higher ages; (v) There are indications in the [alpha/Fe] - [Fe/H] that the "knee" occurs around [Fe/H] = -0.3 to -0.2, which is a slightly higher metallicity as compared to the "knee" for the local thick disk. This suggests that the chemical enrichment of the metal-poor bulge has been somewhat faster than what is observed for the local thick disk. The results from the microlensed bulge dwarf stars in combination with other findings in the literature, in particular the evidence that the bulge has cylindrical rotation, indicate that the Milky Way could be an almost pure disk galaxy. The bulge would then just be a conglomerate of the other Galactic stellar populations (thin disk, thick disk, halo, and ...?), residing together in the central parts of the Galaxy, influenced by the Galactic bar.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2012

The infrared colors of the Sun

Solar infrared colors provide powerful constraints on the stellar effective temperature scale, but to this purpose they must be measured with both accuracy and precision. We achieve this requirement by using line-depth ratios to derive in a model independent way the infrared colors of the Sun, and use the latter to test the zero-point of the Casagrande et al. (2010) effective temperature scale, confirming its accuracy. Solar colors in the widely used 2MASS -J H K- and WISE -W1 W2 W3 W4- systems are provided. A cross check of the effective temperatures derived implementing 2MASS or WISE magnitudes in the infrared flux method confirms that the absolute calibration of the two systems agree within the errors, possibly suggesting a 1% offset between the two, thus validating extant near and mid infrared absolute calibrations. While 2MASS magnitudes are usually well suited to derive effective temperatures, we find that a number of bright, solar-like stars exhibit anomalous WISE colors. In most cases this effect is spurious and traceable to lower quality measurements, although for a couple of objects (3 +/- 2 % of the total sample) it might be real and hints towards the presence of warm/hot debris disks.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2012

The Most Metal-Poor Stars. IV. The Two Populations With [Fe/H] < -3.0

We discuss the carbon-normal and carbon-rich populations of Galactic halo stars having [Fe/H] < -3.0, utilizing chemical abundances from high-resolution, high-S/N model-atmosphere analyses. The C-rich population represents ~28% of stars below [Fe/H] = -3.1, with the present C-rich sample comprising 16 CEMP-no stars, and two others with [Fe/H] ~ -5.5 and uncertain classification. The population is O-rich ([O/Fe] > +1.5); the light elements Na, Mg, and Al are enhanced relative to Fe in half the sample; and for Z > 20 (Ca) there is little evidence for enhancements relative to solar values. These results are best explained in terms of the admixing and processing of material from H-burning and He-burning regions as achieved by nucleosynthesis in zero-heavy-element models in the literature of "mixing and fallback" supernovae (SNe); of rotating, massive and intermediate mass stars; and of Type II SNe with relativistic jets. The available (limited) radial velocities offer little support for the C-rich stars with [Fe/H] < -3.1 being binary. More data are required before one could conclude that binarity is key to an understanding of this population. We suggest that the C-rich and C-normal populations result from two different gas cooling channels in the very early Universe, of material that formed the progenitors of the two populations. The first was cooling by fine-structure line transitions of CII and OI (to form the C-rich population); the second, while not well-defined (perhaps dust-induced cooling?), led to the C-normal group. In this scenario, the C-rich population contains the oldest stars currently observed.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2012

The radius and mass of the close solar twin 18 Sco derived from asteroseismology and interferometry

The growing interest in solar twins is motivated by the possibility of comparing them directly to the Sun. To carry on this kind of analysis, we need to know their physical characteristics with precision. Our first objective is to use asteroseismology and interferometry on the brightest of them: 18 Sco. We observed the star during 12 nights with HARPS for seismology and used the PAVO beam-combiner at CHARA for interferometry. An average large frequency separation $134.4\pm0.3$ $μ$Hz and angular and linear radiuses of $0.6759 \pm 0.0062$ mas and $1.010\pm0.009$ R$_{\odot}$ were estimated. We used these values to derive the mass of the star, $1.02\pm0.03$ M$_{\odot}$.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2012

The Most Metal-Poor Stars. I. Discovery, Data, and Atmospheric Parameters

We report the discovery of 34 stars in the Hamburg/ESO Survey for metal-poor stars and the Sloan Digital Sky Survey that have [Fe/H] < -3.0. Their median and minimum abundances are [Fe/H] = -3.1 and -4.1, respectively, while 10 stars have [Fe/H] < -3.5. High-resolution, high-S/N spectroscopic data - equivalent widths and radial velocities - are presented for these stars, together with an additional four objects previously reported or currently being investigated elsewhere. We have determined the atmospheric parameters, effective temperature (Teff) and surface gravity (logg), which are critical in the determination of the chemical abundances and the evolutionary status of these stars. Three techniques were used to derive these parameters. Spectrophotometric fits to model atmosphere fluxes were used to derive Teff, logg, and an estimate of E(B-V); Halpha, Hbeta, and Hgamma profile fitting to model atmosphere results provided the second determination of Teff and logg; and finally, we used an empirical Teff-calibrated Hdelta index, for the third, independent Teff determination. The three values of Teff are in good agreement, although the profile fitting may yield systematically cooler Teff values, by ~100K. This collective data set will be analyzed in future papers in the present series to utilize the most metal-poor stars as probes of conditions in the early Universe.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2012

The Most Metal-Poor Stars. II. Chemical Abundances of 190 Metal-Poor Stars Including 10 New Stars With [Fe/H] < -3.5

We present a homogeneous chemical abundance analysis of 16 elements in 190 metal-poor Galactic halo stars (38 program and 152 literature objects). The sample includes 171 stars with [Fe/H] < -2.5, of which 86 are extremely metal poor, [Fe/H] < -3.0. Our program stars include ten new objects with [Fe/H] < -3.5. We identify a sample of "normal" metal-poor stars and measure the trends between [X/Fe] and [Fe/H], as well as the dispersion about the mean trend for this sample. Using this mean trend, we identify objects that are chemically peculiar relative to "normal" stars at the same metallicity. These chemically unusual stars include CEMP-no objects, one star with high [Si/Fe], another with high [Ba/Sr], and one with unusually low [X/Fe] for all elements heavier than Na. The Sr and Ba abundances indicate that there may be two nucleosynthetic processes at lowest metallicity that are distinct from the main r-process. Finally, for many elements, we find a significant trend between [X/Fe] versus Teff which likely reflects non-LTE and/or 3D effects. Such trends demonstrate that care must be exercised when using abundance measurements in metal-poor stars to constrain chemical evolution and/or nucleosynthesis predictions.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2012

The Most Metal-Poor Stars. III. The Metallicity Distribution Function and CEMP Fraction

We examine the metallicity distribution function (MDF) and fraction of carbon-enhanced metal-poor (CEMP) stars in a sample that includes 86 stars with [Fe/H] < -3.0, based on high-resolution, high-S/N spectroscopy, of which some 32 objects lie below [Fe/H] = -3.5. After accounting for the completeness function, the "corrected" MDF does not exhibit the sudden drop at [Fe/H] = -3.6 that was found in recent samples of dwarfs and giants from the Hamburg/ESO survey. Rather, the MDF decreases smoothly down to [Fe/H] = -4.1. Similar results are obtained from the "raw" MDF. We find the fraction of CEMP objects below [Fe/H] = -3.0 is 23 +/- 6% and 32 +/- 8% when adopting the Beers et al. and Aoki et al. CEMP definitions, respectively. The former value is in fair agreement with some previous measurements, which adopt the Beers et al. criterion.

astro-ph.GA↗