arXiv subjects

R. -P. Kudritzki

Publications and source records attributed to R. -P. Kudritzki.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources

arXiv2012

Ultra-Luminous Supernovae as a New Probe of the Interstellar Medium in Distant Galaxies

We present the Pan-STARRS1 discovery and light curves, and follow-up MMT and Gemini spectroscopy of an ultra-luminous supernova (ULSN; dubbed PS1-11bam) at a redshift of z=1.566 with a peak brightness of M_UV=-22.3 mag. PS1-11bam is one of the highest redshift spectroscopically-confirmed SNe known to date. The spectrum is characterized by broad absorption features typical of previous ULSNe (e.g., CII, SiIII), and by strong and narrow MgII and FeII absorption lines from the interstellar medium (ISM) of the host galaxy, confirmed by an [OII]3727 emission line at the same redshift. The equivalent widths of the FeII2600 and MgII2803 lines are in the top quartile of the quasar intervening absorption system distribution, but are weaker than those of gamma-ray burst intrinsic absorbers (i.e., GRB host galaxies). We also detect the host galaxy in pre-explosion Pan-STARRS1 data and find that its UV spectral energy distribution is best fit with a young stellar population age of tau~15-45 Myr and a stellar mass of M \sim (1.1-2.6)x10^9 M_sun (for Z=0.05-1 Z_sun). The star formation rate inferred from the UV continuum and [OII]3727 emission line is ~10 M_sun/yr, higher than in any previous ULSN host. PS1-11bam provides the first direct demonstration that ULSNe can serve as probes of the interstellar medium in distant galaxies. At the present, the depth and red sensitivity of PS1 are uniquely suited to finding such events at cosmologically interesting redshifts (z~1-2); the future combination of LSST and 30-m class telescopes promises to extend this technique to z~4.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2012

An ultraviolet-optical flare from the tidal disruption of a helium-rich stellar core

The flare of radiation from the tidal disruption and accretion of a star can be used as a marker for supermassive black holes that otherwise lie dormant and undetected in the centres of distant galaxies. Previous candidate flares have had declining light curves in good agreement with expectations, but with poor constraints on the time of disruption and the type of star disrupted, because the rising emission was not observed. Recently, two `relativistic' candidate tidal disruption events were discovered, each of whose extreme X-ray luminosity and synchrotron radio emission were interpreted as the onset of emission from a relativistic jet. Here we report the discovery of a luminous ultraviolet-optical flare from the nuclear region of an inactive galaxy at a redshift of 0.1696. The observed continuum is cooler than expected for a simple accreting debris disk, but the well-sampled rise and decline of its light curve follows the predicted mass accretion rate, and can be modelled to determine the time of disruption to an accuracy of two days. The black hole has a mass of about 2 million solar masses, modulo a factor dependent on the mass and radius of the star disrupted. On the basis of the spectroscopic signature of ionized helium from the unbound debris, we determine that the disrupted star was a helium-rich stellar core.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2012

SN 2010ay is a Luminous and Broad-lined Type Ic Supernova within a Low-metallicity Host Galaxy

We report on our serendipitous pre-discovery detection and detailed follow-up of the broad-lined Type Ic supernova (SN) 2010ay at z = 0.067 imaged by the Pan-STARRS1 3pi survey just ~4 days after explosion. The SN had a peak luminosity, M_R ~ -20.2 mag, significantly more luminous than known GRB-SNe and one of the most luminous SNe Ib/c ever discovered. The absorption velocity of SN 2010ay is v_Si ~ 19,000 km/s at ~40 days after explosion, 2-5 times higher than other broad-lined SNe and similar to the GRB-SN 2010bh at comparable epochs. Moreover, the velocity declines ~2 times slower than other SNe Ic-BL and GRB-SNe. Assuming that the optical emission is powered by radioactive decay, the peak magnitude implies the synthesis of an unusually large mass of 56 Ni, M_Ni = 0.9 M_solar. Modeling of the light-curve points to a total ejecta mass, M_ej ~ 4.7 M_sol, and total kinetic energy, E_K ~ 11x10^51 ergs. The ratio of M_Ni to M_ej is ~2 times as large for SN 2010ay as typical GRB-SNe and may suggest an additional energy reservoir. The metallicity (log(O/H)_PP04 + 12 = 8.19) of the explosion site within the host galaxy places SN 2010ay in the low-metallicity regime populated by GRB-SNe, and ~0.5(0.2) dex lower than that typically measured for the host environments of normal (broad-lined) Ic supernovae. We constrain any gamma-ray emission with E_gamma < 6x10^{48} erg (25-150 keV) and our deep radio follow-up observations with the Expanded Very Large Array rule out relativistic ejecta with energy, E > 10^48 erg. We therefore rule out the association of a relativistic outflow like those which accompanied SN 1998bw and traditional long-duration GRBs, but place less-stringent constraints on a weak afterglow like that seen from XRF 060218. These observations challenge the importance of progenitor metallicity for the production of a GRB, and suggest that other parameters also play a key role.

astro-ph.HE↗

arXiv2012

The ARAUCARIA project: Grid-Based Quantitative Spectroscopic Study of Massive Blue Stars in NGC55

The quantitative study of the physical properties and chemical abundances of large samples of massive blue stars at different metallicities is a powerful tool to understand the nature and evolution of these objects. Their analysis beyond the Milky Way is challenging, nonetheless it is doable and the best way to investigate their behavior in different environments. Fulfilling this task in an objective way requires the implementation of automatic analysis techniques that can perform the analyses systematically, minimizing at the same time any possible bias. As part of the ARAUCARIA project we carry out the first quantitative spectroscopic analysis of a sample of 12 B-type supergiants in the galaxy NGC55 at 1.94 Mpc away. By applying the methodology developed in this work, we derive their stellar parameters, chemical abundances and provide a characterization of the present-day metallicity of their host galaxy. Based on the characteristics of the stellar atmosphere/line formation code FASTWIND, we designed and created a grid of models for the analysis of massive blue supergiant stars. Along with this new grid, we implemented a spectral analysis algorithm. Both tools were specially developed to perform fully consistent quantitative spectroscopic analyses of low spectral resolution of B-type supergiants in a fast and objective way. We present the main characteristics of our FASTWIND model grid and perform a number of tests to investigate the reliability of our methodology. The automatic tool is applied afterward to a sample of 12 B-type supergiant stars in NGC55, deriving the stellar parameters and abundances. The results indicate that our stars are part of a young population evolving towards a red supergiant phase. The derived chemical composition hints to an average metallicity similar to the one of the Large Magellanic Cloud, with no indication of a spatial trend across the galaxy.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2012

The Pan-STARRS1 Photometric System

The Pan-STARRS1 survey is collecting multi-epoch, multi-color observations of the sky north of declination -30 deg to unprecedented depths. These data are being photometrically and astrometrically calibrated and will serve as a reference for many other purposes. In this paper we present our determination of the Pan-STARRS photometric system: gp1, rp1, ip1, zp1, yp1, and wp1. The Pan-STARRS photometric system is fundamentally based on the HST Calspec spectrophotometric observations, which in turn are fundamentally based on models of white dwarf atmospheres. We define the Pan-STARRS magnitude system, and describe in detail our measurement of the system passbands, including both the instrumental sensitivity and atmospheric transmission functions. Byproducts, including transformations to other photometric systems, galactic extinction, and stellar locus are also provided. We close with a discussion of remaining systematic errors.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2012

PN fast winds: Temporal structure and stellar rotation

To diagnose the time-variable structure in the fast winds of central stars of planetary nebulae (CSPN), we present an analysis of P Cygni line profiles in FUSE satellite far-UV spectroscopic data. Archival spectra are retrieved to form time-series datasets for the H-rich CSPN NGC 6826, IC 418, IC 2149, IC 4593 and NGC 6543. Despite limitations due to the fragmented sampling of the time-series, we demonstrate that in all 5 CSPN the UV resonance lines are variable primarily due to the occurrence of blueward migrating discrete absorption components (DACs). Empirical (SEI) line-synthesis modelling is used to determine the range of fluctuations in radial optical depth, which are assigned to the temporal changes in large-scale wind structures. We argue that DACs are common in CSPN winds, and their empirical properties are akin to those of similar structures seen in the absorption troughs of massive OB stars. Constraints on PN central star rotation velocities are derived from Fast-Fourier Transform analysis of photospheric lines for our target stars. Favouring the causal role of co-rotating interaction regions, we explore connections between normalised DAC accelerations and rotation rates of PN central stars and O stars. The comparative properties suggest that the same physical mechanism is acting to generate large-scale structure in the line-driven winds in the two different settings.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2011

Distances to Galaxies from the Brightest Stars in the Universe

Blue Supergiants (BSGs) are the brightest stars in the universe at visual light with absolute magnitudes up to Mv=-10 mag. They are ideal stellar objects for the determination of extragalactic distances, in particular, because the perennial uncertainties troubling most of the other stellar distance indicators, interstellar extinction and metallicity, do not affect them. The quantitative spectral analysis of low resolution spectra of individual BSGs provides accurate stellar parameters and chemical composition, which are then used to determine accurate reddening and extinction from photometry for each individual object. Accurate distances can be determined from stellar gravities and effective temperatures using the "Flux Weighted Gravity - Luminosity Relationship (FGLR)". Most recent results of the quantitative spectral analysis of BSGs in galaxies within and beyond the Local Group based on medium and low resolution spectra obtained with the ESO VLT and the Keck telescopes on Mauna Kea are presented and distances obtained with the FGLR-method are discussed together with the effects of patchy extinction and abundance gradients in galaxies. BSG metallicities and metallicity gradients are compared with results from strong-line HII region studies and the consequences for the empirical calibration of the metallicity dependence of the Cepheid period-luminosity relationship are pointed out. The perspectives of future work are discussed, the use of the giant ground-based telescopes of the next generation such as the TMT on Mauna Kea and the E-ELT and the tremendous value of the GAIA mission to allow for the ultimate calibration of the FGLR using galactic BSGs.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2011

Quantitative Spectroscopy of Blue Supergiant Stars in the Disk of M81: Metallicity, Metallicity Gradient and Distance

The quantitative spectral analysis of low resolution Keck LRIS spectra of blue supergiants in the disk of the giant spiral galaxy M81 is used to determine stellar effective temperatures, gravities, metallicities, luminosites, interstellar reddening and a new distance using the Flux-weighted Gravity--Luminosity Relationship (FGLR). Substantial reddening and extinction is found with E(B-V) ranging between 0.13 to 0.38 mag and an average value of 0.26 mag. The distance modulus obtained after individual reddening corrections is 27.7+/-0.1 mag. The result is discussed with regard to recently measured TRGB and Cepheid distances. The metallicities (based on elements such as iron, titanium, magnesium) are supersolar (~0.2 dex) in the inner disk (R<=5kpc) and slightly subsolar (~ -0.05 dex) in the outer disk (R>10 kpc) with a shallow metallicity gradient of 0.034 dex/kpc. The comparison with published oxygen abundances of planetary nebulae and metallicities determined through fits of HST color-magnitude diagrams indicates a late metal enrichment and a flattening of the abundance gradient over the last 5 Gyrs. This might be the result of gas infall from metal rich satellite galaxies. Combining these M81 metallicities with published blue supergiant abundance studies in the Local Group and the Sculptor Group a galaxy mass metallicity-relationship based solely on stellar spectroscopic studies is presented and compared with recent studies of SDSS star forming galaxies.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2011

A Search for High Proper Motion T Dwarfs with Pan-STARRS1 + 2MASS + WISE

We have searched ~8200 sq. degs for high proper motion (~0.5-2.7"/year) T dwarfs by combining first-epoch data from the Pan-STARRS1 (PS1) 3-Pi Survey, the 2MASS All-Sky Point Source Catalog, and the WISE Preliminary Data Release. We identified two high proper motion objects with the very red (W1-W2) colors characteristic of T dwarfs, one being the known T7.5 dwarf GJ 570D. Near-IR spectroscopy of the other object (PSO J043.5+02 = WISEP J0254+0223) reveals a spectral type of T8, leading to a photometric distance of 7.2+/-0.7 pc. The 2.56"/yr proper motion of PSO J043.5+02 is the second highest among field T dwarfs, corresponding to an tangential velocity of 87+/-8 km/s. According to the Besancon galaxy model, this velocity indicates its galactic membership is probably in the thin disk, with the thick disk an unlikely possibility. Such membership is in accord with the near-IR spectrum, which points to a surface gravity (age) and metallicity typical of the field population. We combine 2MASS, SDSS, WISE, and PS1 astrometry to derive a preliminary parallax of 171+/-45 mas (5.8{+2.0}{-1.2} pc), the first such measurement using PS1 data. The proximity and brightness of PSO J043+02 will facilitate future characterization of its atmosphere, variability, multiplicity, distance, and kinematics. The modest number of candidates from our search suggests that the immediate (~10 pc) solar neighborhood does not contain a large reservoir of undiscovered T dwarfs earlier than about T8.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2010

Stellar metallicities beyond the Local Group: the potential of J-band spectroscopy with extremely large telescopes

We present simulated J-band spectroscopy of red giants and supergiants with a 42m European Extremely Large Telescope (E-ELT), using tools developed toward the EAGLE Phase A instrument study. The simulated spectra are used to demonstrate the validity of the 1.15-1.22 micron region to recover accurate stellar metallicities from Solar and metal-poor (one tenth Solar) spectral templates. From tests at spectral resolving powers of four and ten thousand, we require continuum signal-to-noise ratios in excess of 50 (per two-pixel resolution element) to recover the input metallicity to within 0.1 dex. We highlight the potential of direct estimates of stellar metallicites (over the range -1<[Fe/H]<0) of red giants with the E-ELT, reaching out to distances of ~5 Mpc for stars near the tip of the red giant branch. The same simulations are also used to illustrate the potential for quantitative spectroscopy of red supergiants beyond the Local Volume to tens of Mpc. Calcium triplet observations in the I-band are also simulated to provide a comparison with contemporary techniques. Assuming the EAGLE instrument parameters and simulated performances from adaptive optics, the J-band method is more sensitive in terms of recovering metallicity estimates for a given target. This appears very promising for ELT studies of red giants and supergiants, offering a direct metallicity tracer at a wavelength which is less afffected by extinction than shortward diagnostics and, via adaptive optics, with better image quality.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2009

The Araucaria Project. The Distance to the Sculptor Galaxy NGC 247 from Near-Infrared Photometry of Cepheid Variables

We have obtained deep near-infrared images in J and K filters of four fields in the Sculptor Group spiral galaxy NGC 247 with the ESO VLT and ISAAC camera. For a sample of ten Cepheids in these fields, previously discovered by Garc{í}a-Varela et al. from optical wide-field images, we have determined mean J and K magnitudes and have constructed the period-luminosity (PL) relations in these bands. Using the near-infrared PL relations together with those in the optical V and I bands, we have determined a true distance modulus for NGC 247 of 27.64 mag, with a random uncertainty of $\pm$2% and a systematic uncertainty of $\sim$4% which is dominated by the effect of unresolved stars on the Cepheid photometry. The mean reddening affecting the NGC 247 Cepheids of E(B-V) = 0.18 $\pm$ 0.02 mag is mostly produced in the host galaxy itself and is significantly higher than what was found in the previous optical Cepheid studies in NGC 247 of our own group, and Madore et al., leading to a 7% decrease in the previous optical Cepheid distance. As in other studies of our project, the distance modulus of NGC 247 we report is tied to an assumed LMC distance modulus of 18.50. Comparison with other distance measurements to NGC 247 shows that the present IR-based Cepheid distance is the most accurate among these determinations. With a distance of 3.4 Mpc, NGC 247 is about 1.5 Mpc more distant than NGC 55 and NGC 300, two other Sculptor Group spirals analyzed before with the same technique by our group.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2009

The Araucaria Project. Determination of the LMC Distance from Late-Type Eclipsing Binary Systems: I. OGLE-051019.64-685812.3

We have analyzed the double-lined eclipsing binary system OGLE-051019.64-685812.3 in the LMC which consists of two G4 giant components with very similar effective temperatures. A detailed analysis of the OGLE I-band light curve of the system, radial velocity curves for both components derived from high-resolution spectra, and near-infrared magnitudes of the binary system measured outside the eclipses has allowed us to obtain an accurate orbit solution for this eclipsing binary, and its fundamental physical parameters. Using a surface brightness-(V-K) color relation for giant stars we have calculated the distance to the system and obtain a true distance modulus of 18.50 mag, with an estimated total uncertainty of ~ 3 %. More similar eclipsing binary systems in the LMC which we have discovered and for which we are currently obtaining the relevant data will allow us to better check on the systematics of the method and eventually provide a distance determination to the LMC accurate to 1 percent, so much needed for the calibration of the distance scale.

astro-ph.CO↗

arXiv2008

Kinematics of planetary nebulae in the outskirts of the elliptical galaxy NGC 4697

We describe the implementation of slitless radial velocity measurements of extragalactic planetary nebulae (PNs) with the 8.2 m Subaru telescope and its Cassegrain imaging spectrograph, FOCAS. As a first application, we have extended a previous search for PNs in NGC 4697 to larger angular distances from its center. A total of 218 PNs were detected, and their radial velocities were measured. We have added 56 new PN detections to the existing sample of 535, observed previously with the ESO VLT + FORS imaging spectrograph; 36 of these new 56 PNs are located at angular distances larger than 230 arcsec from the center of NGC 4697. We compare the new FOCAS velocities with the earlier FORS velocities, for 158 of the 162 reobserved sources, finding good agreement. We now have kinematic information extending out to 5 effective radii from the center. The outer line-of-sight velocity dispersion is a bit lower than estimated earlier. This result is compatible with the existence of a dark matter halo plus some degree of radial anisotropy, but the dark matter halo is rather inconspicuous, and it is still unclear how massive it can be. A more detailed global dynamical study of the whole set of PN velocities will be required to decide if they permit to narrow down the range of possible dark matter distributions in NGC 4697. The new radial velocities reveal no evidence of rotation at 5 effective radii.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2008

The Araucaria Project: the Local Group Galaxy WLM--Distance and metallicity from quantitative spectroscopy of blue Supergiants

The quantitative analysis of low resolution spectra of A and B supergiants is used to determine a distance modulus of 24.99 +/- 0.10 mag (995 +/- 46 Kpc) to the Local Group galaxy WLM. The analysis yields stellar effective temperatures and gravities, which provide a distance through the Flux weighted Gravity--Luminosity Relationship (FGLR). Our distance is 0.07 mag larger than the most recent results based on Cepheids and the tip of the RGB. This difference is within the 1-sigma overlap of the typical uncertainties quoted in these photometric investigations. In addition, non-LTE spectral synthesis of the rich metal line spectra (mostly iron, chromium and titanium) of the A supergiants is carried out, which allows the determination of stellar metallicities. An average metallicity of -0.87 +/- 0.06 dex with respect to solar metallicity is found.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2008

The Araucaria Project: VLT-spectroscopy of blue massive stars in NGC 55

This is the first paper of a series devoted to studying the population of blue massive stars in NGC 55, a galaxy of the Sculptor group at a distance of about 2 Mpc. We have obtained optical (3300-6210A) low-resolution spectra of blue massive stars with VLT-FORS2, which we have classified with the aid of Milky Way and Magellanic Cloud standard stars. We have developed the first census of massive blue stars in NGC 55. A study of stellar radial velocities shows agreement with existing HI rotational velocity curve work and reveals the presence of one object with peculiar velocity. A qualitative study of the stellar metallicity suggests that its global distribution over NGC 55 is close to that of the LMC, as derived from previous studies. We present a catalogue with 164 classifications of blue massive stars in NGC 55. This catalogue is a first and necessary step for the subsequent quantitative study of blue massive stars in NGC 55 with state-of-the-art models.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2008

The Araucaria Project. The Distance to the Local Group Galaxy WLM from Near-Infrared Photometry of Cepheid Variables

We have obtained deep images in the near-infrared J and K filters for several fields in the Local Group galaxy WLM. We report intensity mean magnitudes for 31 Cepheids located in these fields which we previously discovered in a wide-field optical imaging survey of WLM. The data define tight period-luminosity relations in both near-infrared bands which we use to derive the total reddening of the Cepheids in WLM and the true distance modulus of the galaxy from a multiwavelength analysis of the reddened distance moduli in the VIJK bands. From this, we obtain the values E(B-V) = 0.082 $\pm$ 0.02, and $(m-M)_{0} = 24.924 \pm 0.042$ mag, with a systematic uncertainty in the distance of about $\pm$ 3%. This Cepheid distance agrees extremely well with the distance of WLM determined from the I-band TRGB method by ourselves and others. Most of the reddening of the Cepheids in WLM (0.06 mag) is produced inside the galaxy, demonstrating again the need for an accurate determination of the total reddening and/or the use of infrared photometry to derive Cepheid distances which are accurate to 3% or better, even for small irregular galaxies like WLM.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2008

The Araucaria Project. The Distance to the Sculptor dwarf spheroidal galaxy from infrared photometry of RR Lyrae stars

We have obtained single-phase near-infrared magnitudes in the J and K bands for a sample of 78 RR Lyrae stars in the Sculptor dSph galaxy. Applying different theoretical and empirical calibrations of the period-luminosity-metallicity relation for RR Lyrae stars in the infrared, we find consistent results and obtain a true, reddening-corrected distance modulus of 19.67 $\pm$ 0.02 (statistical) $\pm$ 0.12 (systematic) mag for Sculptor from our data. This distance value is consistent with the value of 19.68 $\pm$ 0.08 mag which we obtain from earlier V-band data of RR Lyrae stars in Sculptor, and the V magnitude-metallicity calibration of Sandage (1993). It is also in a very good agreement with the results obtain by Rizzi (2002) based on tip of the red giant branch (TRGB, 19.64 $\pm$ 0.08 mag) and horizontal branch (HB, 19.66 $\pm$ 0.15 mag).

astro-ph↗

arXiv2008

Quantitative Spectroscopy of 24 A supergiants in the Sculptor galaxy NGC 300: Flux weighted gravity luminosity relationship, metallicity and metallicity gradient

A quantitative spectral analysis of 24 A supergiants in the Sculptor Group spiral galaxy NGC 300 at a distance of 1.9 Mpc is presented. A new method is introduced to analyze low resolution (~5 AE) spectra, which yields metallicities accurate to 0.2 dex including the uncertainties arising from the errors in Teff (5%) and log g (0.2 dex). For the first time the stellar metallicity gradient based on elements such as titanium and iron in a galaxy beyond the Local Group is investigated. Solar metallicity is measured in the center and 0.3 solar in the outskirts and a logarithmic gradient of -0.08 dex/kpc. An average reddening of E(B-V)~0.12 mag is obtained, however with a large variation from 0.07 to 0.24 mag. We also determine stellar radii, luminosities and masses and discuss the evolutionary status. Finally, the observed relationship between absolute bolometric magnitudes M_{bol} and flux weighted gravities g_{F} = g/Teff^4 is investigated. At high temperatures the strengths of the Balmer lines depends solely on the flux-weighted gravity, which allows a precise direct determination of log g_{F} with an accuracy of 0.05 to 0.1 dex. We find a tight relationship between M_{bol} and log g_{F} in agreement with stellar evolution theory. Combining these new results with previous work on Local Group galaxies we obtain a new flux weighted gravity luminosity relationship (FGLR), which is very well defined and appears to be an excellent alternative tool to determine distances to galaxies.

astro-ph↗