arXiv subjects

Peter B. Stetson

Publications and source records attributed to Peter B. Stetson.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2005

Chemical Compositions of Red Giant Stars in Old Large Magellanic Cloud Globular Clusters

We have observed ten red giant stars in four old Large Magellanic Cloud globular clusters with the high-resolution spectrograph MIKE on the Magellan Landon Clay 6.5-m telescope. The stars in our sample have up to 20 elemental abundance determinations for the alpha-, iron-peak, and neutron-capture element groups. We have also derived abundances for the light odd-Z elements Na and Al. We find NGC 2005 and NGC 2019 to be more metal-rich than previous estimates from the Ca II triplet, and we derive [Fe/H] values closer to those obtained from the slope of the red giant branch. However, we confirm previous determinations for Hodge 11 and NGC 1898 to within 0.2 dex. The LMC cluster [Mg/Fe] and [Si/Fe] ratios are comparable to the values observed in old Galactic globular cluster stars, as are the abundances [Y/Fe], [Ba/Fe], and [Eu/Fe]. The LMC clusters do not share the low-Y behavior observed in some dwarf spheroidal galaxies. [Ca/Fe], [Ti/Fe], and [V/Fe] in the LMC, however, are significantly lower than what is seen in the Galactic globular cluster system. Neither does the behavior of [Cu/Fe] as a function of [Fe/H] in our LMC clusters match the trend seen in the Galaxy, staying instead at a constant value of ~0.8. Because not all [alpha/Fe] ratios are suppressed, these abundance ratios cannot be attributed solely to the injection of Type Ia SNe material, and instead reflect the differences in star formation history of the LMC vs. the Milky Way. We conclude that many of the abundances in the LMC globular clusters we observed are distinct from those observed in the Milky Way, and these differences are intrinsic to the stars in those systems.

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arXiv2005

C and N Abundances in Stars At the Base of the Red Giant Branch in M15

We present an analysis of a large sample of moderate resolution Keck LRIS spectra of subgiants and stars at the base of the RGB in M15, most within the range 16.5 < V < 19.5 (1.2 < M_V < 4.2), with the goal of deriving C abundances (from the G band of CH) and N abundances (from the NH band at 3360 A). Star-to-star stochastic variations with significant range in both [C/Fe] and [N/Fe] are found at all luminosities extending to the subgiants at M_V ~ +3. The C and N abundances appear anti-correlated, as would be expected from the CN-cycle processing of stellar material. Yet these M15 stars are considerably fainter than the RGB bump, the point at which deep mixing is believed to set in. On this basis, while the observed abundance pattern is consistent with proton capture nucleosynthesis, we infer that the site of the reactions is likely not within the present sample. The range of variation of the N abundances is very large and the sum of C+N increases as C decreases. To reproduce this requires the incorporation not only of CN but also of ON-processed material. Combining our work with that of Trefzger et al (1983) for the brighter giants in M15, we find strong evidence for additional depletion of C among the most luminous giants. This presumably represents the first dredge up (with enhanced deep mixing) expected for such luminous cluster RGB stars in the course of normal stellar evolution as they cross the RGB bump. We compare the behavior of these patterns for C and N in globular clusters covering a wide range of metallicity and of current mass and discuss possible scenarios to reproduce the observed behavior of these key elements. (abridged)

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arXiv2005

Homogeneous Photometry IV: On the Standard Sequence in the Globular Cluster NGC2419

A new analysis of CCD-based BVRI broad-band photometry for the globular cluster NGC2419 is presented, based on 340 CCD images either donated by colleagues or retrieved from public archives. The calibrated results have been made available through my Web site. I compare the results of my analysis with those of an independent analysis of a subset of these data by Saha et al. (2005, PASP, 117, 37), who have found a color-dependent discrepancy of up to 0.05 mag between their I-band photometry and mine for stars in this cluster. I conclude that a major part of the discrepancy appears to be associated with small (a few hundredths of a second) shutter-timing errors in the MiniMos camera on the WIYN 3.5-m telescope. Smaller contributions to the anomaly likely come from (a) a color-scale error with a maximum amplitude of ~ +/-0.02 mag in my secondary standard list as of September 2004; and (b) statistical effects arising from the previous study's use of a relatively small number of standard-star observations to determine a comparatively large number of fitting parameters in the photometric transformations.

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arXiv2005

Cepheid Calibrations from the Hubble Space Telescope of the Luminosity of Two Recent Type Ia Supernovae and a Re-determination of the Hubble Constant

We report observations of two nearby Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) for which observations of Cepheid variables in the host galaxies have been obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope: SN 1994ae in NGC 3370 and SN 1998aq in NGC 3982. For NCG 3370, we used the Advanced Camera for Surveys to observe 64 Cepheids that yield a distance of 29 Mpc, the farthest direct measurement of Cepheids. We have measured emission lines from H II regions in both host galaxies which provide metallicity-dependent corrections to their period-luminosity relations. These two SNe Ia double the sample of ``ideal'' luminosity calibrators: objects with well-observed and well-calibrated light curves of typical shape and with low reddening. By comparing them to all similarly well-measured SNe Ia in the Hubble flow, we find that H_0 = 73 +/- 4 (statistical) +/- 5 (systematic). A detailed analysis demonstrates that most of the past disagreement over the value of H_0 as determined from SNe Ia is abated by the replacement of past, problematic data by more accurate and precise, modern data.

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arXiv2004

A Star Catalog for the Open Cluster NGC188

We present new BVRI broad-band photometry for the old open cluster NGC188 based upon analysis of 299 CCD images either obtained by us, donated by colleagues, or retrieved from public archives. We compare our results on a star-by-star basis with data from eleven previous photometric investigations of the cluster. We homogenize and merge the data from all the photometric studies, and also merge membership probabilities from four previous proper-motion studies of the cluster field. Fiducial cluster sequences in the BV (Johnson) RI (Cousins) photometric system of Landolt (1992, AJ, 104, 340) represent the principal result of this paper. These have been compared to reference samples defined by (a) Landolt's standard stars, (b) the old open clusters M67 and NGC6791, and (c) stars within 25 pc having modern photometry and precise Hipparcos parallaxes. In a companion paper we show that our derived cluster results agree well with the predictions of modern stellar-interior and -evolution theory, given reasonable estimates of the cluster chemical abundances and foreground reddening. The individual and combined datasets for NGC188 have been made available through our web site.

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arXiv2003

The Chemical Inhomogeneity of Faint M13 Stars: C and N Abundances

Building upon earlier observations which demonstrate substantial star-to-star differences in the carbon abundances of M13 subgiants, we present new Keck LRIS spectra reaching more that 1.5 mag below the M13 main-sequence turn-off (to V ~ 20). Our analysis reveals a distribution of C abundances similar to that found among the subgiants, implying little change in the compositions of the M13 stars at least through the main-sequence turn-off. We presume these differences to be the result of some process operating early in the cluster history. Additional spectra of previously studied bright M13 giants have been obtained with the Hale 5-m. A comparison of C abundances derived using the present methods and those from the literature yield a mean difference of 0.03+-0.14 dex for four stars in common with Smith et al. (1996) and 0.14+-0.07 dex for stars also observed by Suntzeff (1981) (if one extreme case is removed). We conclude that the lower surface C abundances of these luminous giants as compared to the subgiants and main-sequence stars are likely the result of mixing rather than a difference in our abundance scales. NH band strengths have also been measured for a handful of the most luminous M13 turn-off stars. While molecular band formation in such stars is weak, significant star-to-star NH band strength differences are present. Moreover, for the stars with both C and N measurements, differences between stars in these two elements appear to be anticorrelated. Finally, the most recent C and N abundances for main-sequence, main-sequence turn-off, and subgiant stars in 47 Tuc, M71, M5, and the present M13 data are compared.

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arXiv2003

Searching for Variability in the Globular Cluster Messier 4

Time-series data taken with the Hubble Space Telescope of a field six core radii (~5') from the center of the globular cluster Messier 4, and covering a period of about 10 weeks in early 2001, have been analyzed in search of variable objects. Various criteria were employed to select candidate variable stars. Period searches were performed on the selected candidates using phase dispersion minimization (PDM). The reliability of the PDM search results was tested using synthetic light curves of eclipsing binary stars and sinusoidal light curves of different periods. Results from this analysis showed that there are probably no eclipsing binary stars or periodic variables in our field with periods on the order of a few hours to a few days, down to limiting magnitudes of V~25 and I~24, which is consistent with the absence of contact binaries such as W Ursae Majoris systems. However, one candidate variable star does show an increase in brightness of ~0.1 magnitudes in both bandpasses, which seems to last for a few days. Possible explanations concerning the nature of this object include a binary system with a white dwarf primary and a low-mass main sequence secondary, or a BY Draconis variable star. We are able to set an upper limit to the observed fraction of photometric variability in this dataset of 0.05%.

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arXiv2003

The Galactic Inner Halo: Searching for White Dwarfs and Measuring the Fundamental Galactic Constant, Vo/Ro

We establish an extragalactic, zero-motion frame of reference within the deepest optical image of a globular star cluster, an HST 123-orbit exposure of M4 (GO 8679, cycle 9). The line of sight beyond M4 (l,b (deg) = 351,16) intersects the inner halo (spheroid) of our Galaxy at a tangent-point distance of 7.6 kpc (for Ro = 8 kpc). We isolate these spheroid stars from the cluster based on their proper motions over the 6-year baseline between these and previous epoch HST data (GO 5461, cycle 4). Distant background galaxies are also found on the same sight line using image-morphology techniques. This fixed reference frame allows us to independently determine the fundamental Galactic constant, Vo/Ro = 25.3 +/- 2.6 km/s/kpc, thus providing a velocity of the Local Standard of Rest, v = 202.7 +/- 24.7 km/s for Ro = 8.0 +/- 0.5 kpc. Secondly, the galaxies allow a direct measurement of M4's absolute proper motion, mu_total = 22.57 +/- 0.76 mas/yr, in excellent agreement with recent studies. The clear separation of galaxies from stars in these deep data also allow us to search for inner-halo white dwarfs. We model the conventional Galactic contributions of white dwarfs along our line of sight and predict 7.9 (thin disk), 6.3 (thick disk) and 2.2 (spheroid) objects to the limiting magnitude at which we can clearly delineate stars from galaxies (V = 29). An additional 2.5 objects are expected from a 20% white dwarf dark halo consisting of 0.5 Mo objects, 70% of which are of the DA type. After considering the kinematics and morphology of the objects in our data set, we find the number of white dwarfs to be consistent with the predictions for each of the conventional populations. However, we do not find any evidence for dark halo white dwarfs.

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arXiv2003

HST Snaphot Study of Variable Stars in Globular Clusters: Inner Region of NGC 6441

[Abridged] We present the results of a Hubble Space Telescope snapshot program to survey the inner region of the globular cluster NGC 6441 for its variable stars. A total of 57 variable stars was found including 38 RR Lyrae stars, 6 Population II Cepheids, and 12 long period variables. Of the RR Lyrae stars observed in this survey, 26 are pulsating in the fundamental mode with a mean period of 0.753d and 12 are first-overtone mode pulsators with a mean period of 0.365d. These values match up very well with those found in ground-based surveys. Combining all the available data for NGC 6441, we find mean periods of 0.759d and 0.375d for the RRab and RRc stars, respectively. We also find that the RR Lyrae in this survey are located in the same regions of a period-amplitude diagram as those found in ground-based surveys. Although NGC 6441 is a metal-rich globular cluster, its RR Lyrae more closely resemble those in Oosterhoff type II globular clusters. However, even compared to typical Oosterhoff type II systems, the mean period of its RRab stars is unusually long. We also derived I-band period-luminosity relations for the RR Lyrae stars. Of the six Population II Cepheids, five are of W Virginis type and one is a BL Herculis variable stars. This makes NGC 6441, along with NGC 6388, the most metal-rich globular cluster known to contain these types of variable stars. Another variable, V118, may also be a Population II Cepheid given its long period and its separation in magnitude from the RR Lyrae stars. We argue that there does not appear to be a change in the period-luminosity relation slope between the BL Herculis and W Virginis stars, but that a change of slope does occur when the RV Tauri stars are added to the period-luminosity relation.

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arXiv2002

Carbon Abundances of Faint Stars in M13 - Evidence for Two Abundance Altering Mechanisms

We present an analysis of CH band strengths in Keck LRIS spectra of a sample of 81 stars in M13 within 2 magnitudes of the main-sequence turnoff. The subgiants clearly exhibit a substantial (a factor of ~ 6) spread in [C/Fe]. Moreover, the bulk of the subgiants possess C abundances larger than those found among their more luminous counterparts. The turnoff stars themselves are too warm for appreciable CH formation, but the relatively small range in the observed CH band strength for stars just below the turnoff nevertheless translates into this same spread in [C/Fe]. Still fainter, the sample size is small, but the same range in [C/Fe] appears to be present. On the basis of these observations we suggest that a process external to the present stars has resulted in a substantial star-to-star dispersion in [C/Fe] (and possibly other light elements) among all stars in M13. In addition, the surface C abundances among the more luminous stars have been further modified by the operation of an internal deep-mixing mechanism during red giant branch ascent. The amplitude of the scatter we find in [C/Fe] at all luminosities may prove difficult to explain via accretion from intermediate mass AGB stars as the external "polluting" mechanism.

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arXiv2002

The Lower Main Sequence and Mass Function of the Globular Cluster Messier 4

The deepest optical image ever in a globular star cluster, a Hubble Space Telescope (HST) 123 orbit exposure in a single field of Messier 4, was obtained in 2 filters (F606W, F814W) over a 10 week period in early 2001. A somewhat shallower image obtained in 1995 allowed us to select out cluster and field objects via their proper motion displacement resulting in remarkably clean color-magnitude diagrams that reach to V = 30, I = 28. The cluster main sequence luminosity function contains very few stars fainter than MV = 15.0, MI = 11.8 which, in both filters, is more than 2 magnitudes brighter than our limit. This is about the faintest luminosity seen among field Population II subdwarfs of the same metallicity. However, there remains a sprinkling of potential cluster stars to lower luminosity all the way down to our limiting magnitudes. These latter objects are significantly redder than any known metal-poor field subdwarf. Comparison with the current generation of theoretical stellar models implies that the masses of the lowest luminosity cluster stars observed are near 0.09 Msun. We derive the mass function of the cluster in our field and find that it is very slowly rising towards the lowest masses with no convincing evidence of a turnover even below 0.1 Msun. The formal slope between 0.65 and 0.09 Msun is alpha = 0.75 (Salpeter of 2.35) with a 99% confidence interval 0.55 - 1.05. A consistency check between these slopes and the number of observed cluster white dwarfs yields a range of possible conclusions, one of which is that we have indeed seen the termination of the white dwarf cooling sequence in M4.

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arXiv2002

The White Dwarf Cooling Sequence of the Globular Cluster Messier 4

We present the white dwarf sequence of the globular cluster M4, based on a 123 orbit Hubble Space Telescope exposure, with limiting magnitude V = 30, I = 28. The white dwarf luminosity function rises sharply for I >25.5, consistent with the behaviour expected for a burst population. The white dwarfs of M4 extend to approximately 2.5 magnitudes fainter than the peak of the local Galactic disk white dwarf luminosity function. This demonstrates a clear and significant age difference between the Galactic disk and the halo globular cluster M4. Using the same standard white dwarf models (Hansen 1999) to fit each luminosity function yields ages of 7.3 +/- 1.5 Gyr for the disk and 12.7 +/- 0.7 Gyr for M4 (2-sigma statistical errors).

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arXiv2002

C and N Abundances in Stars At the Base of the Red Giant Branch in M5

We present an analysis of a large sample of moderate resolution Keck LRIS spectra of subgiant (V \sim 17.2) and fainter stars in the Galactic globular cluster M5 (NGC 5904) with the goal of deriving C and N abundances. Star-to-star stochastic variations with significant range in both [C/Fe] and [N/Fe] are found at all luminosities extending to the bottom of the RGB at M_V \sim +3. Similar variations in CH appear to be present in the main sequence turnoff spectra. There is no sign of a change in the behavior of C and N with evolutionary stage over the full range in luminosity of the RGB and SGB. The C and N abundances appear strongly anti-correlated, as would be expected from the CN-cycle processing of stellar material. Yet the present stars are considerably fainter than the RGB bump, the point at which deep mixing is believed to set in. On this basis, while the observed abundance pattern is consistent with proton capture nucleosynthesis, we infer that the site of the reactions is likely not within the present sample, but rather in a population of more massive (2 -- 5 M(Sun)) now defunct stars. The range of variation of the N abundances is very large and the sum of C+N increases as C decreases. To reproduce this requires the incorporation not only of CN but also of ON-processed material. Furthermore, the existence of this correlation is quite difficult to reproduce with an external mechanism such as ``pollution'' with material processed in a more massive AGB star, which mechanism is fundamentally stochastic in nature. We therefore suggest that although the internal mixing hypothesis has serious flaws,new theoretical insights are needed and it should not be ruled out yet. (abridged)

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arXiv2001

The Distance to Supernova 1998aq in NGC3982

The distance to NGC3982, host galaxy to the Type Ia supernova SN1998aq, is derived using 32 Cepheids discovered in archival multi-epoch Hubble Space Telescope observations. Employing recent Large Magellanic Cloud Cepheid period-luminosity relations and absolute zero point, we find a distance to NGC3982 of 20.5+/-0.8(r)+/-1.7(s) Mpc, including both random (r) and systematic (s) uncertainties, and ignoring any metallicity dependency in the Cepheid period-luminosity relation. Still unpublished light curve photometry promises to make SN1998aq one of the most important calibrators for the Type Ia supernova decline rate-peak luminosity relationship.

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arXiv2001

The Star Formation History of the Large Magellanic Cloud

Using WFPC2 aboard the Hubble Space Telescope, we have created deep color-magnitude diagrams in the V and I passbands for approximately 100,000 stars in a field at the center of the LMC bar and another in the disk. The main--sequence luminosity functions (LFs) from 19 mag < V < 23.5 mag, the red clump and horizontal branch morphologies, and the differential Hess diagram of the two fields all strongly imply that the disk and bar have significantly different star-formation histories (SFHs). The disk's SFH has been relatively smooth and continuous over the last 15 Gyr while the bar's SFH was dominated by star formation episodes at intermediate ages. Comparison of the LF against predictions based on Padova theoretical stellar evolution models and an assumed age-metallicity relationship allows us to identify the dominant stellar populations in the bar with episodes of star formation that occurred from 4 to 6 and 1 to 2 Gyr ago. These events accounted, respectively, for approximately 25% and 15% of its stellar mass. The disk field may share a mild enhancement in SF for the younger episode, and thus we identify the 4 to 6 Gyr episode with the formation of the LMC bar.

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arXiv2000

A revised Cepheid distance to NGC 4258 and a test of the distance scale

In a previous paper (Maoz et al. 1999), we reported a Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Cepheid distance to the galaxy NGC 4258 obtained using the calibrations and methods then standard for the Key Project on the Extragalactic Distance Scale. Here, we reevaluate the Cepheid distance using the revised Key Project procedures described in Freedman et al. (2001). These revisions alter the zero points and slopes of the Cepheid Period-Luminosity (P-L) relations derived at the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), the calibration of the HST WFPC2 camera, and the treatment of metallicity differences. We also provide herein full information on the Cepheids described in Maoz et al. 1999. Using the refined Key Project techniques and calibrations, we determine the distance modulus of NGC 4258 to be 29.47 +/- 0.09 mag (unique to this determination) +/- 0.15 mag (systematic uncertainties in Key Project distances), corresponding to a metric distance of 7.8 +/- 0.3 +/- 0.5 Mpc and 1.2 sigma from the maser distance of 7.2 +/- 0.5 Mpc. We also test the alternative Cepheid P-L relations of Feast (1999), which yield more discrepant results. Additionally, we place weak limits upon the distance to the LMC and upon the effect of metallicity in Cepheid distance determinations.

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arXiv2000

Supernova 1991T and the Value of the Hubble Constant

Based upon multi-epoch Hubble Space Telescope observations, we present the discovery of sixteen high-quality Cepheid candidates in NGC 4527. Corrected for metallicity effects in the Cepheid period-luminosity relation, we derive a distance, including both random (r) and systematic (s) uncertainties, of 13.0+/-0.5(r)+/-1.2(s) Mpc. Our result is then used to provide a calibration of the peak B-, V-, and I-band luminosities of the peculiar Type Ia supernova SN 1991T, a resident of NGC 4527. Despite its documented spectroscopic peculiarities, after correction for the decline rate-luminosity correlation the corrected peak luminosity is indistinguishable from those of so-called ``normal'' Type Ia SNe. With now nine local calibrators at our disposal, we determine a robust value for the Hubble Constant of H_0=73+/-2(r)+/-7(s) km/s/Mpc.

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arXiv2000

Homogeneous Photometry for Star Clusters and Resolved Galaxies. II. Photometric Standard Stars

Stars appearing in CCD images obtained over 224 nights during the course of 69 observing runs have been calibrated to the Johnson/Kron-Cousins BVRI photometric system defined by the equatorial standards of Landolt (1992, AJ, 104, 340). More than 15,000 stars suitable for use as photometric standards have been identified, where "suitable" means that the star has been observed five or more times during photometric conditions and has a standard error of the mean magnitude less than 0.02 mag in at least two of the four bandpasses, and shows no significant evidence of intrinsic variability. Many of these stars are in the same fields as Landolt's equatorial standards or Graham's (1982, PASP, 94, 244) southern E-region standards, but are considerably fainter. This enhances the value of those fields for the calibration of photometry obtained with large telescopes. Other standards have been defined in fields containing popular objects of astrophysical interest, such as star clusters and famous galaxies, extending Landolt-system calibrators to declinations far from the equator and to stars of sub-Solar chemical abundances. I intend to continue to improve and enlarge this set of photometric standard stars as more observing runs are reduced. The full current database of photometric indices is being made freely available via a site on the World-Wide Web, or by direct request to the author. Although the contents of the database will evolve in detail, at any given time it should represent the largest sample of precise BVRI broad-band photometric standards available anywhere.

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