arXiv subjects

R. Rebolo

Publications and source records attributed to R. Rebolo.

At least 253 records · Page 14Linked to original sources

arXiv2004

Galactic Evolution of Nitrogen

We present detailed spectroscopic analysis of nitrogen abundances in 31 unevolved metal-poor stars analysed by spectral synthesis of the near-UV NH band at 3360 A observed at high resolution with various telescopes. We found that [N/Fe] scales with that of iron in the metallicity range -3.1 < [Fe/H] <0 with the slope 0.01+-0.02. Furthermore, we derive uniform and accurate (N/O) ratios using oxygen abundances from near-UV OH lines obtained in our previous studies. We find that a primary component of nitrogen is required to explain the observations. The NH lines are discovered in the VLT/UVES spectra of the very metal-poor subdwarfs G64-12 and LP815-43 indicating that these stars are N rich. The results are compared with theoretical models and observations of extragalactic HII regions and Damped Ly$α$ systems. This is the first direct comparison of the (N/O) ratios in these objects with those in Galactic stars.

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arXiv2004

Optical and infrared photometry of new very low-mass stars and brown dwarfs in the Sigma Orionis cluster

We present an RI photometric survey covering an area of 430 arcmin^2 around the multiple star Sigma Orionis. The observations were conducted with the 0.8 m IAC-80 Telescope at the Teide Observatory. The survey limiting R and I magnitudes are 22.5 and 21, and completeness magnitudes 21 and 20, respectively. We have selected 53 candidates from the I vs. R-I colour-magnitude diagram (I=14-20) that follow the previously known photometric sequence of the cluster. Adopting an age of 2-4 Myr for the cluster, we find that these objects span a mass range from 0.35 Msol to 0.015 Msol. We have performed J-band photometry of 52 candidates and Ks photometry for 12 of them, with the result that 50 follow the expected infrared sequence for the cluster, thus confirming with great confidence that the majority of the candidates are bona fide members. JHKs photometry from the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) is available for 50 of the candidates and are in good agreement with our data. Out of 48 candidates, which have photometric accuracies better than 0.1 mag in all bands, only three appear to show near-infrared excesses.

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arXiv2004

Chemical Abundances in the Secondary Star in the Black Hole Binary A0620-00

Using a high resolution spectrum of the secondary star in the black hole binary A0620-00, we have derived the stellar parameters and veiling caused by the accretion disk in a consistent way. We have used a chi^2 minimization procedure to explore a grid of 800 000 LTE synthetic spectra computed for a plausible range of both stellar and veiling parameters. Adopting the best model parameters found, we have determined atmospheric abundances of Fe, Ca, Ti, Ni and Al. The Fe abundance of the star is [Fe/H]=0.14 +- 0.20. Except for Ca, we found the other elements moderately over-abundant as compared with stars in the solar neighborhood of similar iron content. Taking into account the small orbital separation, the mass transfer rate and the mass of the convection zone of the secondary star, a comparison with element yields in supernova explosion models suggests a possible explosive event with a mass cut comparable to the current mass of the compact object. We have also analyzed the Li abundance, which is unusually high for a star of this spectral type and relatively low mass.

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arXiv2004

Oxygen and Magnesium Abundance in the Ultra-Metal-Poor Giants CS22949-037 and CS29498-043: Challenges in Models of Atmospheres

We report the results of a non-LTE Fe, O and Mg abundance analysis of the carbon-nitrogen-rich ultra-metal-poor giants CS29498--043 and CS22949--037. The abundance of oxygen has been derived from measurements of the oxygen triplet at 7771-5 A in high resolution spectra obtained with KeckI/HIRES and the forbidden line [OI] 6300 A detected in the TNG/SARG spectra of CS29498-043. Detailed non-LTE analysis of Fe lines has provided reliable stellar parameters which, however, do not resolve the oxygen abundance conflict as derived from the OI 7771-5 A triplet and the [OI] 6300 A forbidden lines. We obtained the following oxygen abundance: for CS22949-037 [O/Fe] =3.13, 1.95; and for CS29498-043; [O/Fe]=3.02, 2.49, based on the OI 7771-5 A triplet and the [OI] 6300 A forbidden line, respectively. A similar conflict appears to exist between the forbidden resonance line MgI 4571 A and several subordinate lines, such as MgI 5172 and 5183 A. Our analysis demonstrates the failure of standard plane--parallel atmosphere models to describe the physical conditions in the line-forming regions of these ultra-metal-poor giants.

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arXiv2003

The Quest for Microwave Foreground X

The WMAP team has produced a foreground map that can account for most of the low-frequency Galactic microwave emission in the WMAP maps, tentatively interpreting it as synchrotron emission. Finkbeiner and collaborators have challenged these conclusions, arguing that the WMAP team "synchrotron" template is in fact not dominated by synchrotron radiation, but by some dust-related Galactic emission process, perhaps spinning dust grains, making dramatically different predictions for its behavior at lower frequencies. By cross-correlating this "synchrotron" template with 10 and 15 GHz CMB observations, we find that its spectrum turns over in a manner consistent with spinning dust emission, falling about an order of magnitude below what the synchrotron interpretation would predict.

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arXiv2003

Photometric variability of a young, low-mass brown dwarf

We report differential I-band and J-band photometry of S Ori 45, a cool (M8.5), young (1-8 Myr) brown dwarf of the sigma Orionis cluster with a likely mass estimated at around 20 times the mass of Jupiter. We detect variability (amplitudes ranging from 34 to 81 mmag) and observe a modulation at a period of 2.5-3.6 h in both optical and near-infrared light curves. The most recent optical data set, however, presents a modulation at the very short period of 46.4+/-1.5 min, which remains a mystery. The origin of the 2.5-3.6 h modulation is analized in terms of various scenarios: inhomogeneous features (dust clouds or magnetically induced dark spots) co-rotating with the object's surface, and presence of an unseen very low-mass companion that is steadily transferring mass to the primary. Because of the very young age of the object and its persistent strong Halpha emission, the possible presence of an accreting disk is also discussed. If the period of a few hours is related to rotation, our results suggest that sigma Orionis low-mass brown dwarfs are rotating faster than more massive cluster brown dwarfs at a rate consistent with their theoretically inferred masses and radii, implying that all of these objects have undergone similar angular momentum evolution.

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arXiv2002

Statistical properties of exoplanets II. Metallicity, orbital parameters, and space velocities

In this article we present a detailed spectroscopic analysis of more than 50 extra-solar planet host stars. Stellar atmospheric parameters and metallicities are derived using high resolution and high S/N spectra. The spectroscopy results, added to the previous studies, imply that we have access to a large and uniform sample of metallicities for about 80 planet hosts stars. We make use of this sample to confirm the metal-rich nature of stars with planets, and to show that the planetary frequency is rising as a function of the [Fe/H]. Furthermore, the source of this high metallicity is shown to have most probably an ``primordial'' source, confirming previous results. The comparison of the orbital properties (period and eccentricity) and minimum masses of the planets with the stellar properties also reveal some emerging but still not significant trends. These are discussed and some explanations are proposed. Finally, we show that the planet host stars included in the CORALIE survey have similar kinematical properties as the whole CORALIE volume-limited planet search sample. Planet hosts simply seem to occupy the metal-rich envelope of this latter population.

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arXiv2002

A Methane Isolated Planetary Mass Object in Orion

We report on the discovery of a free-floating methane dwarf toward the direction of the young star cluster sigma Orionis. Based on the object's far-red optical and near-infrared photometry and spectroscopy, we conclude that it is a possible member of this association. We have named it as S Ori J053810.1-023626 (S Ori 70 is the abridged name). If it is a true member of sigma Orionis, the comparison of the photometric and spectroscopic properties of S Ori 70 with state-of-the-art evolutionary models yields a mass of 3 (+5/-1) Jupiter mass for ages between 1 Myr and 8 Myr. The presence of such a low-mass object in our small search area (55.4 sq. arcmin) would indicate a rising substellar initial mass function in the sigma Orionis cluster even for planetary masses.

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arXiv2002

Activity at the Deuterium-Burning Mass Limit in Orion

We report very intense and variable Halpha emission (pseudo-equivalent widths of ~180, 410 A) of S Ori 55, a probable free-floating, M9-type substellar member of the young sigma Orionis open star cluster. After comparison with state-of-the-art evolutionary models, we infer that S Ori 55 is near or below the cluster deuterium-burning mass borderline, which separates brown dwarfs and planetary-mass objects. We find its mass to be 0.008-0.015 Msun for ages between 1 Myr and 8 Myr, with ~0.012 Msun the most likely value at the cluster age of 3 Myr. The largest Halpha intensity reached the saturation level of log L(Halpha)/L(bol) = -3. We discuss several possible scenarios for such a strong emission. We also show that sigma Orionis M and L dwarfs have in general more Halpha emission than their older field spectral counterparts. This could be due to a decline in the strength of the magnetic field with age in brown dwarfs and isolated planetary-mass objects, or to a likely mass accretion from disks in the very young sigma Orionis substellar members.

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arXiv2002

Planet accretion and the abundances of lithium isotopes

Planet accretion onto solar type stars may significantly change the stellar atmospheric abundances of 6Li and 7Li if it takes place after the star has arrived at the main sequence. Ingestion of planets at an earlier phase will not affect theses abundances because of extensive pre-main sequence mixing and burning. We present quantitative estimates of the main sequence evolution of stellar surface lithium abundances after planet ingestion. At solar metallicities, for stellar masses in the range ~ 1.3-1.1 M_sun, a large fraction of the ingested 6Li is likely to be preserved during the whole main sequence lifetime according to the standard model. Preservation of the less fragile 7Li isotope occurs in a larger mass range ~ 1.3-0.9 M_sun. At high metallicities typical of planet host stars, the ranges of masses are slightly reduced essentially due to the thicker convective zones. Further reduction is expected if non-standard processes cause extra-mixing of material below the base of the convective zone, but even in this case there are stellar masses where both isotopes are significantly preserved. We conclude that there is a range of stellar effective temperature where migration and accretion of planets and planetary material can be empirically tested using high-resolution spectroscopy of the lithium isotopes.

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arXiv2002

Beryllium abundances in stars hosting giant planets

We have derived beryllium abundances in a wide sample of stars hosting planets, with spectral types in the range F7V-K0V, aimed at studying in detail the effects of the presence of planets on the structure and evolution of the associated stars. Predictions from current models are compared with the derived abundances and suggestions are provided to explain the observed inconsistencies. We show that while still not clear, the results suggest that theoretical models may have to be revised for stars with Teff<5500K. On the other hand, a comparison between planet host and non-planet host stars shows no clear difference between both populations. Although preliminary, this result favors a ``primordial'' origin for the metallicity ``excess'' observed for the planetary host stars. Under this assumption, i.e. that there would be no differences between stars with and without giant planets, the light element depletion pattern of our sample of stars may also be used to further investigate and constraint Li and Be depletion mechanisms.

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arXiv2002

Lithium and Halpha in stars and brown dwarfs of sigma Orionis

We present intermediate- and low-resolution optical spectra around Halpha and LiI 6708 A for a sample of 25 low mass stars and 2 brown dwarfs with confirmed membership in the pre-main sequence stellar sigma Orionis cluster. Our observations are intended to investigate the age of the cluster. The spectral types derived for our target sample are found to be in the range K6-M8.5, which corresponds to a mass interval of roughly 1.2-0.02 Msun on the basis of state-of-the-art evolutionary models. Radial velocities (except for one object) are found to be consistent with membership in the Orion complex. All cluster members show considerable Halpha emission and LiI in absorption, which is typical of very young ages. We find that our pseudo-equivalent widths appear rather dispersed (and intense in the case of Halpha) for objects cooler than M3.5 spectral class, occurring at the approximate mass where low mass stars are expected to become fully convective. The least massive brown dwarf in our sample, SOri 45 (M8.5, ~0.02 Msun), displays variable Halpha emission and a radial velocity that differs from the cluster mean velocity. Tentative detection of forbidden lines in emission indicates that this brown dwarf may be accreting mass from a surrounding disk. We also present recent computations of LiI curves of growth for low gravities and for the temperature interval (about 4000-2600 K) of our sample. The comparison of our observations to these computations allows us to infer that no lithium depletion has yet taken place in sigma Orionis, and that the observed pseudo-equivalent widths are consistent with a cluster initial lithium abundance close to the cosmic value. Hence, the upper limit to the sigma Orionis cluster age can be set at 8 Myr, with a most likely value around 2-4 Myr.

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arXiv2001

A New Spin on Galactic Dust

We present a new puzzle involving Galactic microwave emission and attempt to resolve it. On one hand, a cross-correlation analysis of the WHAM H-alpha map with the Tenerife 10 and 15 GHz maps shows that the well-known DIRBE correlated microwave emission cannot be dominated by free-free emission. On the other hand, recent high resolution observations in the 8-10 GHz range with the Green Bank 140 ft telescope by Finkbeiner et al. failed to find the corresponding 8 sigma signal that would be expected in the simplest spinning dust models. So what physical mechanism is causing this ubiquitous dust-correlated emission? We argue for a model predicting that spinning dust is the culprit after all, but that the corresponding small grains are well correlated with the larger grains seen at 100 micron only on large angular scales. In support of this grain segregation model, we find the best spinning dust template to involve higher frequency maps in the range 12-60 micron, where emission from transiently heated small grains is important. Upcoming CMB experiments such as ground-based interferometers, MAP and Planck LFI with high resolution at low frequencies should allow a definitive test of this model.

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arXiv2001

Optical spectroscopy of isolated planetary mass objects in the sigma Orionis cluster

We have obtained low resolution optical spectra of 15 isolated planetary mass objects (IPMOs) in the sigma Orionis cluster, and derived spectral types by comparison with nearby M and L dwarfs. The spectral types are in the range late M - mid L, in agreement with our expectations based on colors and magnitudes for bona fide members. Therefore, most of these objects have masses below the deuterium burning limit. About 2/3 show H(alpha) in emission at our spectral resolution. From our spectroscopic and photometric data, we infer that three IPMOs in this sample may be binaries with components of similar masses. These results confirm that the substellar mass function of the sigma Orionis cluster, in the form dN/dM, keeps rising in the planetary domain.

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arXiv2001

Keck NIRC Observations of Planetary-mass Candidate Members in the sigma Orionis Open Cluster

We present K-band photometry and low-resolution near-infrared spectroscopy from 1.44 to 2.45 micron of isolated planetary-mass candidate members in the sigma Orionis cluster found by Zapatero Osorio et al. The new data have been obtained with NIRC at the Keck I telescope. All of our targets, except for one, are confirmed as likely cluster members. Hence, we also confirm that the planetary-mass domain in the cluster is well populated. Using our deep K-band images we searched for companions to the targets in the separation range 0.3" to 10" up to a maximum faint limit of K=19.5 mag. One suspected companion seems to be an extremely red galaxy. The near-infrared colors of the sigma Orionis substellar members indicate that dust grains condense and settle in their atmospheres. We estimate that the surface temperatures range from 2500 K down to 1500 K. The spectroscopic sequence covers the full range of L subclasses, and the faintest object is tentatively classified as T0. These targets provide a sequence of substellar objects of known age, distance and metallicity, which can be used as benchmark for understanding the spectral properties of ultracool dwarfs.

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arXiv2001

COSMOSOMAS: A Circular Scanning Instrument to Map the Sky at Centimetric Wavelengths

We describe the first instrument of a Cosmic Microwave Background experiment for mapping cosmological structures on medium angular scales (the COSMOSOMAS experiment) and diffuse Galactic emission. The instrument is located at Teide Observatory (Tenerife) and is based on a circular scanning sky strategy. It consists of a 1 Hz spinning flat mirror directing the sky radiation into a 1.8 m off-axis paraboloidal antenna which focuses it on to a cryogenically cooled HEMT-based receiver operating in the frequency range 12--18 GHz. The signal is split by a set of three filters, allowing simultaneous observations at 13, 15 and 17 GHz, each with a 1 GHz bandpass. A 1-5 degree resolution sky map complete in RA and covering 20 degrees in declination is obtained each day at these frequencies. The observations presented here correspond to the first months of operation, which have provided a map of ~9000 square degrees on the sky centred at DEC = +31 degrees with sensitivities of 140, 150 and 250 microK per beam area in the channels at 13, 15 and 17 GHz respectively. We discuss the design and performance of the instrument, the atmospheric effects, the reliability of the data obtained and prospects of achieving a sensitivity of 30 microK per beam in two years of operation.

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arXiv2001

The Substellar Mass Function in sigma Orionis

We combine results from imaging searches for substellar objects in the sigma Orionis cluster and follow-up photometric and spectroscopic observations to derive a census of the brown dwarf population in a region of 847 arcmin^2. We identify 64 very low-mass cluster member candidates in this region. We have available three color (IZJ) photometry for all of them, spectra for 9 objects, and K photometry for 27% of our sample. These data provide a well defined sequence in the I vs I-J, I-K color magnitude diagrams, and indicate that the cluster is affected by little reddening despite its young age (~5 Myr). Using state-of-the-art evolutionary models, we derive a mass function from the low-mass stars (0.2 Msol) across the complete brown dwarf domain (0.075 Msol to 0.013 Msol), and into the realm of free-floating planetary-mass objects (<0.013 Msol). We find that the mass spectrum (dN/dm ~ m^{-alpha}) increases toward lower masses with an exponent alpha = 0.8+/-0.4. Our results suggest that planetary-mass isolated objects could be as common as brown dwarfs; both kinds of objects together would be as numerous as stars in the cluster. If the distribution of stellar and substellar masses in sigma Orionis is representative of the Galactic disk, older and much lower luminosity free-floating planetary-mass objects with masses down to about 0.005 Msol should be abundant in the solar vicinity, with a density similar to M-type stars.

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arXiv2001

Oxygen in the Very Early Galaxy

Oxygen abundances in a sample of ultra-metal-poor subdwarfs have been derived from measurements of the oxygen triplet at 7771--5 A and OH lines in the near UV performed in high-resolution and high signal-to-noise spectra obtained with WHT/UES, KeckI/HIRES, and VLT/UVES. Our Fe abundances were derived in LTE and then corrected for NLTE effects following Thevenin and Idiart (1999). The new oxygen abundances confirm previous findings for a progressive linear rise in the oxygen-to-iron ratio with a slope -0.33+-0.02 from solar metallicity to [Fe/H] -3. A slightly higher slope would be obtained if the Fe NLTE corrections were not considered. Below [Fe/H]= -2.5 our stars show [O/Fe] ratios as high as ~ 1.17 (G64-12), which can be interpreted as evidence for oxygen overproduction in the very early epoch of the formation of the halo, possibly associated with supernova events with very massive progenitor stars. We show that the arguments against this linear trend given by Fulbright and Kraft (1999), based on the LTE Fe analysis of two metal-poor stars cannot be sustained when an NLTE analysis is performed. Using 1-D models our analysis of three oxygen indicators available for BD +23 3130 gives consistent abundances within 0.16 dex and average [O/Fe] ratio of 0.91.

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