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Philippe Prugniel

Publications and source records attributed to Philippe Prugniel.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Extraction of Physical Parameters of RRab Variables using Neural Network based Interpolator

Determining the physical parameters of pulsating variable stars such as RR Lyrae is essential for understanding their internal structure, pulsation mechanisms, and evolutionary state. In this study, we present a machine learning framework that uses feedforward artificial neural networks (ANNs) to infer stellar parameters-mass ($M$), luminosity (log($L/L_\odot$)), effective temperature (log($T_{\rm eff}$)), and metallicity ($Z$)-directly from Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) light curves. The network is trained on a synthetic grid of RRab light curves generated from hydrodynamical pulsation models spanning a broad range of physical parameters. We validate the model using synthetic self-inversion tests and demonstrate that the ANN accurately recovers the input parameters with minimal bias. We then apply the trained model to RRab stars observed by the TESS. The observed light curves are phase-folded, corrected for extinction, and passed through the ANN to derive physical parameters. Based on these results, we construct an empirical period-luminosity-metallicity (PLZ) relation: log($L/L_\odot$) = (1.458 $\pm$ 0.028) log($P$/days) + (-0.068 $\pm$ 0.007) [Fe/H] + (2.040 $\pm$ 0.007). This work shows that ANN-based light-curve inversion offers an alternative method for extracting stellar parameters from single-band photometry. The approach can be extended to other classes of pulsators such as Cepheids and Miras.

astro-ph.SR

Physical Parameters of Stars in NGC 6397 Using ANN-Based Interpolation and Full Spectrum Fitting

Stellar spectral interpolation is critical technique employed by fitting software to derive the physical parameters of stars. This approach is necessary because on-the-go generation of synthetic stellar spectra is not possible due to the complex and high cost of computation. The goal of this study is to develop a spectral interpolator for a synthetic spectral library using artificial neural networks (ANNs). The study aims to test the accuracy of the trained interpolator through self-inversion and, subsequently, to utilize the interpolator to derive the physical parameters of stars in the globular cluster NGC 6397 using spectra obtained from the Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) on the Very Large Telescope (VLT). In this study, ANNs were trained to function as spectral interpolators. The ULySS full-spectrum fitting package, integrated with the trained interpolators, was then used to extract the physical parameters of 1587 spectra of 1063 stars in NGC 6397. The trained ANN interpolator achieved precise determination of stellar parameters with a mean difference of 31 K for $T_{\rm eff}$ and 0.01 dex for [Fe/H] compared to previous studies. This study demonstrates the efficacy of ANN-based spectral interpolation in stellar parameter determination, offering faster and more accurate analysis.

astro-ph.SR

Spectrophotometry in the integrated light of multiple populations in globular clusters

There is vast evidence from observations of multiple stellar populations (MPs) in globular clusters (GCs). To explore the issue theoretically, this work considers two subsolar metallicities, two ages, and two initial abundance patterns: a first population of standard $α$-enhanced metal mixture stars and a second stellar population displaying C-N and Na-O anticorrelations chemical abundance patterns, along with an enhanced helium fraction. Analysing the predictions for these extreme compositions, we provide insights into the observability of not-resolved MPs into individual stars of GCs. We use colours and spectrophotometric indices measurable with modern facilities (e.g. Euclid, LSST, DES, JWST).

astro-ph.GA

Multi-wavelength Photometric Study of RR Lyrae Variables in the Globular Cluster NGC 5272 (Messier 3)

We present a comprehensive photometric study of RR Lyrae stars in the M3 globular cluster, utilising a vast dataset of 3140 optical ($UBVRI$) CCD images spanning 35 years from astronomical data archives. We have successfully identified previously known 238 RR Lyrae stars from the photometric data, comprising 178 RRab, 49 RRc, and 11 RRd stars. Multi-band periodogram was used to significantly improve the long-term periods of $65\%$ of RR Lyrae stars in our sample, thanks to the unprecedentedly long temporal coverage of the observations. The light curve templates were used to obtain accurate and precise mean magnitudes and amplitudes of all RR Lyrae variables. We combined optical ($UBVRI$) and near-infrared (NIR, $JHK_{s}$) photometry of RR Lyrae variables to investigate their location in the colour-magnitude diagrams as well as the pulsation properties such as period distributions, Bailey diagrams and amplitude ratios. The Period-Luminosity relations in $R$ and $I$ bands and Period-Wesenheit relations were derived after excluding outliers identified in CMDs. The Period-Wesenheit relations calibrated via the theoretically predicted relations were used to determine a distance modulus of $μ= 15.04 \pm 0.04 \,{\rm (stats)} \pm 0.19 \,{\rm {(syst.)}}$ mag (using metal-independent $W_{BV}$ Wesenheit) and $μ= 15.03 \pm 0.04 \,{\rm (stats)} \pm 0.17 \,{\rm {(syst.)}}$ mag (using metal-dependent $W_{VI}$ Wesenheit). Our distance measurements are in excellent agreement with published distances to M3 in the literature. We also employed an artificial neural network based comparison of theoretical and observed light curves to determine physical parameters (mass, luminosity, and effective temperature) for $79$ non-Blazhko RRab stars that agree with limited literature measurements.

astro-ph.SR

Synthetic stellar spectra to study multiple populations in globular clusters: an extended grid and the effects on the integrated light

Most Galactic Globular Clusters (GCs) harbour multiple populations of stars (MPs), composed of at least two generations: the first characterized by a "standard" $α$-enhanced metal mixture, as observed in field halo stars of the Milky Way, and the second displaying anti-correlated CN--ONa chemical abundance pattern in combination with an enhanced helium fraction. Adequate collections of stellar spectra are needed to characterize the effect of such stellar abundance changes on the integrated light of GCs. We present a grid of synthetic stellar spectra covering the atmospheric parameters relevant to old stellar populations at four subsolar metallicities and two abundance patterns, representative of first- and second-generations of stars in GCs. Integrated spectra of populations were computed using our stellar grid and empirical stellar populations, namely, colour-magnitude diagrams from literature for Galactic GCs. The spectra range from 290 to 1000nm, where we measured the effect on several spectrophotometric indices due to the surface abundance variations attributed to MPs. We find non-negligible effects of the MPs on spectroscopic indices sensitive to C, N, Ca, or Na, and on Balmer indices; we also describe how MPs modify specific regions in the near-UV and near-IR that can be measured with narrow or medium photometric passbands. The effects vary with metallicity. A number of these changes remain detectable even when accounting for the stochastic fluctuations due to the finite nature of the stellar population cluster.

astro-ph.SR

Predicting light curves of RR Lyrae variables using artificial neural network based interpolation of a grid of pulsation models

We present a new technique to generate the light curves of RRab stars in different photometric bands ($I$ and $V$ bands) using Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). A pre-computed grid of models was used to train the ANN, and the architecture was tuned using the $I$ band light curves. The best-performing network was adopted to make the final interpolators in the $I$ and $V$ bands. The trained interpolators were used to predict the light curve of RRab stars in the Magellanic Clouds, and the distances to the LMC and SMC were determined based on the reddening independent Wesenheit index. The estimated distances are in good agreement with the literature. The comparison of the predicted and observed amplitudes, and Fourier amplitude ratios showed good agreement, but the Fourier phase parameters displayed a few discrepancies. To showcase the utility of the interpolators, the light curve of the RRab star EZ Cnc was generated and compared with the observed light curve from the Kepler mission. The reported distance to EZ Cnc was found to be in excellent agreement with the updated parallax measurement from Gaia EDR3. Our ANN interpolator provides a fast and efficient technique to generate a smooth grid of model light curves for a wide range of physical parameters, which is computationally expensive and time-consuming using stellar pulsation codes.

astro-ph.SR

Prospects of measuring a metallicity trend and spread in globular clusters from low-resolution spectroscopy

The metallicity spread, or the metallicity trend along the evolutionary sequence of a globular cluster, is a rich source of information to help understand the cluster physics (e.g. multiple populations) and stellar physics (e.g. atomic diffusion). Low-resolution integral-field-unit spectroscopy in the optical with the MUSE is an attractive prospect if it can provide these diagnostics because it allows us to extract spectra of a large fraction of the cluster stars. We investigate the possibilities of full-spectrum fitting to derive stellar parameters and chemical abundances at low spectral resolution (R~2000). We reanalysed 1584 MUSE spectra of 1061 stars above the turn-off of NGC 6397 using FERRE and employing two different synthetic libraries. We derive the equivalent iron abundance \fehe for fixed values of \afe. We find that (i) the interpolation schema and grid mesh are not critical for the precision, metallicity spread, and trend; (ii) with the two grids, \fehe increases by ~0.2 dex along the sub-giant branch, starting from the turn-off of the main sequence; (iii) restricting the wavelength range to the optical decreases the precision significantly; and (iv) the precision obtained with the synthetic libraries is lower than the precision obtained previously with empirical libraries. Full-spectrum fitting provides reproducible results that are robust to the choice of the reference grid of synthetic spectra and to the details of the analysis. The \fehe increase along the sub-giant branch is in stark contrast with the nearly constant iron abundance previously found with empirical libraries. The precision of the measurements (0.05 dex on \fehe) is currently not sufficient to assess the intrinsic chemical abundance spreads, but this may change with deeper observations. Improvements of the synthetic spectra are still needed to deliver the full possibilities of full-spectrum fitting.

astro-ph.SR

NGC 6397: The metallicity trend along the isochrone revisited

Recent work has used spectra of about 5000 stars in NGC 6397 that were extracted from a MUSE mosaic to determine the atmospheric parameters for these stars by fitting the spectra against the Goettingen Spectral Library. A significant change in metallicity between the turn off and the red giant branch was found and was discussed as a possible manifestation of predicted effects of atomic diffusion. However, the small amplitude of the effect and inconsistency with earlier measurements call for more attention before this result is interpreted. Systematic effects due to the interpolation or to the synthetic spectra cannot be ruled out at this level of precision. We reanalyze the data with the ELODIE and MILES reference libraries in order to assess the robustness of the result. These empirical libraries have a finer metallicity coverage down to approximately the cluster metalicity turn-off. We used the ULySS full-spectrum fitting package, together with the library interpolators to remeasure the three atmospheric parameters effective temperature, surface gravity, and [Fe/H] metallicity. We find a very low [Fe/H] dispersion along the isochrone (0.07 dex), consistent with our error estimate (0.05 dex). However, the [Fe/H] trend is not reproducible. This shows that the data have the potential to reveal patterns of the magnitude of the expected physical effects, but the analysis methods need to be refined to cull systematic effects that currently dominate the patterns.

astro-ph.SR

Stellar atmospheric parameters for 754 spectra from the X-shooter Spectral Library

The X-shooter Spectral Library (XSL) is an empirical stellar library at medium spectral resolution covering the wavelength range from 3000 Åto 24 800 Å. This library aims to provide a benchmark for stellar population studies. In this work, we present a uniform set of stellar atmospheric parameters, effective temperatures, surface gravities, and iron abundances for 754 spectra of 616 XSL stars. We used the full-spectrum fitting package ULySS with the empirical MILES library as reference to fit the ultraviolet-blue (UVB) and visible (VIS) spectra. We tested the internal consistency and we compared our results with compilations from the literature. The stars cover a range of effective temperature 2900 < Teff < 38 000 K, surface gravity 0 < log g < 5.7, and iron abundance -2.5 < [Fe/H] < +1.0, with a couple of stars extending down to [Fe/H] = -3.9. The precisions of the measurements for the G- and K-type stars are 0.9%, 0.14, and 0.06 in Teff, log g, and [Fe/H], respectively. For the cool giants with log g < 1, the precisions are 2.1%, 0.21, and 0.22, and for the other cool stars these values are 1%, 0.14, and 0.10. For the hotter stars (Teff > 6500 K), these values are 2.6%, 0.20, and 0.10 for the three parameters.

astro-ph.SR

New atmospheric parameters and spectral interpolator for the MILES cool stars

Context: The full spectrum fitting of stellar spectra against a library of empirical spectra is a well-established approach to measure the atmospheric parameters of FGK stars with a high internal consistency. Extending it towards cooler stars still remains a challenge. Aims: We address this question by improving the interpolator of the MILES (Medium-resolution INT Library of Empirical Spectra) library in the low effective temperature regime (Tefff < 4800 K), and we refine the determination of the parameters of the cool MILES stars. Methods: We use the ULySS package to determine the atmospheric parameters (Teff, logg and [Fe/H]), and measure the biases of the results with respect to our updated compilation of parameters calibrated against theoretical spectra. After correcting some systematic effects, we compute a new interpolator that we finally use to redetermine the atmospheric parameters homogeneously and assess the biases. Results: Based on an updated literature compilation, we determine Teff in a more accurate and unbiased manner compared to those determined with the original interpolator. The validity range is extended downwards to about Teff = 2900 K compared to 3500 K previously. The mean residual biases on Teff, logg, and [Fe/H], with respect to the literature compilation for the coolest stars (Teff <= 3800 K) computed using the new interpolator, are -15 K, -0.02 dex, and 0.02 dex respectively. The corresponding estimations of the external precision are 63 K, 0.23 dex, and 0.15 dex respectively. For the stars with Teff in the range 3800 - 4200 K, the determinations of Teff and [Fe/H] have been slightly improved. At higher temperatures, the new interpolator is comparable to the original one. The new version of the interpolator is publicly available.

astro-ph.SR

HyperLEDA. III. The catalogue of extragalactic distances

We present the compilation catalogue of redshift-independent distances included in the HyperLEDA database. It is actively maintained to be up-to-date, and the current version counts 6640 distance measurements for 2335 galaxies compiled from 430 published articles. Each individual series is recalibrated onto a common distance scale based on a carefully selected set of high-quality measurements. This information together with data on HI line-width, central velocity dispersion, magnitudes, diameters, and redshift is used to derive a homogeneous distance estimate and physical properties of galaxies, such as their absolute magnitudes and intrinsic size.

astro-ph.GA

Spectral models of stellar populations resolved in chemical abundances

We present model spectra of stellar populations with variable chemical composition. We derived the [alpha/Fe] abundance ratio of the stars of the most important libraries (ELODIE, CFLIB and MILES) using full spectrum fitting and we generated PEGASE.HR models resolved in [α/Fe]. We used a semi-empirical approach that combines the observed spectra with synthetic stellar spectra. We tested the models using them to derive [α/Fe] in galaxies and star clusters using full spectrum fitting. The present models are available from http://ulyss.univ-lyon1.fr

astro-ph.CO

The EFIGI catalogue of 4458 nearby galaxies with detailed morphology

Now that large databases of resolved galaxy images are provided by modern imaging surveys, advanced morphological studies can be envisioned, urging for well defined calibration samples. We present the EFIGI catalogue, a multiwavelength database specifically designed for a dense sampling of all Hubble types. The catalogue merges data from standard surveys and catalogues (Principal Galaxy Catalogue, Sloan Digital Sky Survey, Value-Added Galaxy Catalogue, HyperLeda, and the NASA Extragalactic Database) and provides detailed morphological information. Imaging data are obtained from the SDSS DR4 in the u, g, r, i, and z bands for a sample of 4458 PGC galaxies, whereas photometric and spectroscopic data are obtained from the SDSS DR5 catalogue. Point-Spread Function models are derived in all five bands. Composite colour images of all objects are visually examined by a group of astronomers, and galaxies are staged along the Hubble sequence and classified according to 16 morphological attributes describing their structure, texture, as well as environment and appearance on a five-level scale. The EFIGI Hubble sequence shows remarkable agreement with the RC3 Revised Hubble Sequence. The main characteristics and reliability of the catalogue are examined, including photometric completeness, type mix, systematic trends and correlations. The final EFIGI database is a large sub-sample of the local Universe, with a dense sampling of Sd, Sdm, Sm and Im types compared to magnitude-limited catalogues. We estimate the photometric catalogue to be more than ~ 80% complete for galaxies with 10<g<14. More than 99.5% of EFIGI galaxies have a known redshift in the HyperLeda and NED databases.

astro-ph.CO

Age and metallicity gradients in early-type galaxies: A dwarf to giant sequence

We studied the stellar populations of 40 early-type galaxies using medium resolution long-slit spectroscopy along their major axes (and along the minor axis for two of them), from 10^7 Msol to 10^12 Msol (-9.2 > M_B > -22.4 mag). All the studied galaxies lie on the mass-metallicity and age-mass relations. The transition type dwarfs deviate from the latter relation having younger mean age, and the low-mass dwarf spheroidals have older ages, marking a discontinuity in the relation, possibly due to selection effects. In all mass regimes, the mean metallicity gradients are approximately -0.2 and the mean age gradients +0.1 dex per decade of radius. The individual gradients are widely spread: $ -0.1 < \nabla_{\rm Age} < 0.4 $ and $-0.54 < \nabla_{[{\rm Fe/H}]} < +0.2 $. We do not find evidence for a correlation between the metallicity gradient and luminosity, velocity dispersion, central age or age gradient. Likewise, we do not find a correlation between the age gradient and any other parameter in bright early-type galaxies. In faint early-types with $M_B \gtrsim -17$ mag, on the other hand, we find a correlation between the age gradient and luminosity: the age gradient becomes more positive for fainter galaxies. We conclude that various physical mechanisms can lead to similar gradients and that these gradients are robust against the environmental effects. In particular, the gradients observed in dwarfs galaxies certainly survived the transformation of the progenitors through tidal harassment or/and ram-pressure stripping. The diversity of metallicity gradients amongst dwarf elliptical galaxies may reflect a plurality of progenitors' morphologies. The dwarfs with steep metallicity gradients could have originated from blue compact dwarfs and those with flat profiles from dwarf irregulars and late type spirals. (Abridged)

astro-ph.CO

Automatic Determination of Stellar Atmospheric Parameters and Construction of Stellar Spectral Templates of the Guoshoujing Telescope (LAMOST)

A number of spectroscopic surveys have been carried out or are planned to study the origin of the Milky Way. Their exploitation requires reliable automated methods and softwares to measure the fundamental parameters of the stars. Adopting the ULySS package, we have tested the effect of different resolutions and signal-to-noise ratios (SNR) on the measurement of the stellar atmospheric parameters (effective temperature Teff, surface gravity log g, and metallicity [Fe/H]). We show that ULySS is reliable to determine these parameters with medium-resolution spectra (R~2000). Then, we applied the method to measure the parameters of 771 stars selected in the commissioning database of the Guoshoujing Telescope (GSJT). The results were compared with the SDSS/SEGUE Stellar Parameter Pipeline (SSPP), and we derived precisions of 167 K, 0.34 dex, and 0.16 dex for Teff, log g and [Fe/H] respectively. Furthermore, 120 of these stars are selected to construct the primary stellar spectra template library (Version 1.0) of GSJT, and will be deployed as basic ingredients for the GSJT automated parametrization pipeline.

astro-ph.SR

The atmospheric parameters and spectral interpolator for the stars of MILES

Context. Empirical libraries of stellar spectra are used for stellar classification and synthesis of stellar populations. MILES is a medium spectral-resolution library in the optical domain covering a wide range of temperatures, surface gravities and metallicities. Aims. We re-determine the atmospheric parameters of these stars in order to improve the homogeneity and accuracy. We build an interpolating function that returns a spectrum as a function of the three atmospheric parameters, and finally, we characterize the precision of the wavelength calibration and stability of the spectral resolution. Methods. We use the ULySS program with the ELODIE library as a reference and compare the results with literature compilations. Results. We obtain precisions of 60 K, 0.13 and 0.05 dex respectively for Teff, log g and [Fe/H] for the FGK stars. For the M stars, the mean errors are 38 K, 0.26 and 0.12 dex, and for the OBA 3.5%, 0.17 and 0.13 dex. We construct an interpolator that we test against the MILES stars themselves. We test it also by measuring the atmospheric parameters of the CFLIB stars with MILES as reference and find it to be more reliable than the ELODIE interpolator for the evolved hot stars, like in particular those of the blue horizontal branch.

astro-ph.CO

Kinematics and stellar population of NGC 4486A

NGC 4486A is a low-luminosity elliptical galaxy harbouring an edge-on nuclear disk of stars and dust. It is known to host a super-massive black hole. We study its large-scale kinematics and stellar population along the major axis to investigate the link between the nuclear and global properties. We use long-slit medium-resolution optical spectra that we fit against stellar population models. The SSP-equivalent age is about 12 Gyr old throughout the body of the galaxy, and its metallicity decreases from [Fe/H] = 0.18 near the centre to sub-solar values in the outskirts. The metallicity gradient is -0.24 dex per decade of radius within the effective isophote. The velocity dispersion is 132+-3 km/s at 1.3 arcsec from the centre and decreases outwards. The rotation velocity reaches a maximum V_max >~ 115+-5 km/s at a radius 1.3 < r_max < 2 arcsec. NGC\,4486A appears to be a typical low-luminosity elliptical galaxy. There is no signature in the stellar population of the possible ancient accretion/merging event that produced the disk.

astro-ph.CO

Coude-feed stellar spectral library - atmospheric parameters

Context: Empirical libraries of stellar spectra play an important role in different fields. For example, they are used as reference for the automatic determination of atmospheric parameters, or for building synthetic stellar populations to study galaxies. The CFLIB (Coude-feed library, Indo-US) database is at present one of the most complete libraries, in terms of its coverage of the atmospheric parameters space (Teff, log g and [Fe/H]) and wavelength coverage 3460 - 9464 A at a resolution of 1 A FWHM. Although the atmospheric parameters of most of the stars were determined from detailed analyses of high-resolution spectra, for nearly 300 of the 1273 stars of the library at least one of the three parameters is missing. For the others, the measurements, compiled from the literature, are inhomogeneous. Aims: In this paper, we re-determine the atmospheric parameters, directly using the CFLIB spectra, and compare them to the previous studies. Methods: We use the ULySS program to derive the atmospheric parameters, using the ELODIE library as a reference. Results: Based on comparisons with several previous studies we conclude that our determinations are unbiased. For the 958 F,G, and K type stars the precision on Teff, log g, and [Fe/H] is respectively 43 K, 0.13 dex and 0.05 dex. For the 53 M stars they are 82 K, 0.22 dex and 0.28 dex. And, for the 260 OBA type stars the relative precision on Teff is 5.1%, and on log g, and [Fe/H] the precision is respectively 0.19 dex and 0.16 dex. These parameters will be used to re-calibrate the CFLIB fluxes and to produce synthetic spectra of stellar populations.

astro-ph.SR