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S. Cassisi

Publications and source records attributed to S. Cassisi.

At least 235 records · Page 13Linked to original sources
arXiv2002

On the reliability of the semiempirical RR Lyrae Period - Blue Amplitude - V-band Luminosity relation

We investigate the accuracy and reliability of the semiempirical period - blue amplitude - V-band luminosity relationship for ab-type RR Lyrae stars originally obtained by Castellani & De Santis (1994) and De Santis (1996). We infer that the zero point of this relationship does depend on the metallicity, by studying a sample of both field and cluster variables. We also show that the use of this relationship can still be useful for those stellar systems showing an intrinsic metallicity spread, since in this case the metallicity effect has a negligible effect on the final distance modulus estimate. We compare the adopted semiempirical relationship with the fully empirical one recently provided by Kovacs & Walker (2001). When the zero point of the latter relation is fixed consistently with the former one, the two equations are equivalent. By appling the semiempirical period - blue amplitude - V-band luminosity relation, as well as the technique proposed by Cassisi, De Santis & Piersimoni (2001), to the globular cluster $ω$ Cen, we show that the empirical slope of the relationship between the mass of the fundamental RR Lyrae pulsators and their metallicity, is in fair agreement with the one predicted by updated evolutionary models for Horizontal-Branch stars.

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arXiv2002

The surface carbon and nitrogen abundances in models of ultra metal-poor stars

We investigate whether the observed high number of carbon- and nitrogen-enhanced extremely metal-poor stars could be explained by peculiar evolutionary properties during the core He flash at the tip of the red giant branch. For this purpose we compute a series of detailed stellar models expanding upon our previous work; in particular, we investigate if during the major He flash the penetration of the helium convective zone into the overlying hydrogen-rich layers can produce carbon- and nitrogen-rich abundances in agreement with current spectroscopic observations. The dependence of this phenomenon on selected model input parameters, such as initial metallicity and treatment of convection is examined in detail.

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arXiv2002

Global metallicity of globular cluster stars from colour-magnitude diagrams

We have developed an homogeneous evolutionary scenario for H- and He-burning low-mass stars by computing updated stellar models for a wide metallicity and age range (0.0002$\le Z \le$0.004 and 9$\le t(Gyr) \le$15, respectively) suitable to study globular clusters. This theoretical scenario allows us to provide self-consistent predictions about the dependence of selected observational features of the colour-magnitude diagram, such as the brightness of the Turn Off (TO), Zero Age Horizontal Branch (ZAHB) and Red Giant Branch bump (BUMP), on the cluster metallicity and age. Taking into account these predictions, we introduce a new observable based on the visual magnitude difference between the TO and the ZAHB, and the TO and the RGB-bump, given by $A=ΔM_V$(TO-BUMP)$-0.566ΔM_V$(TO-ZAHB). We show that the parameter $A$ does not depend at all on the cluster age, whereas it does strongly depend on the cluster global metallicity. The calibration of the parameter $A$ as a function of $Z$ is then provided, as based on our evolutionary models. We tested the reliability of this result by also considering stellar models computed by other authors,employing different input physics. Eventually, we present clear evidence that the variation of $ΔM_V$(TO-BUMP) with $ΔM_V$(TO-ZAHB) does supply a powerful probe of the global metal abundance, at least when homogeneous theoretical frameworks are adopted. We provide an estimate of the global metallicity of 36 globular clusters in the Milky Way, based on our {\it A-Z} calibration, and a large observational database of Galactic GCs. By considering the empirical [Fe/H] scales by both Zinn & West (1984) and Carretta & Gratton (1997), we are also able to provide an estimate of the GC $α-$element enhancement.

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arXiv2002

Red Giant Branch stars: the theoretical framework

Theoretical predictions of Red Giant Branch stars' effective temperatures, colors, luminosities and surface chemical abundances are a necessary tool for the astrophysical interpretation of the visible--near infrared integrated light from unresolved stellar populations, the Color-Magnitude-Diagrams of resolved stellar clusters and galaxies, and spectroscopic determinations of red giant chemical abundances. On the other hand, the comparison with empirical constraints provides a stringent test for the accuracy of present generations of red giant models. We review the current status of red giant stars' modelling, discussing in detail the still existing uncertainties affecting the model input physics (e.g., electron conduction opacity, treatment of the superadiabatic convection), and the adequacy of the physical assumptions built into the model computations. We compare theory with several observational features of the Red Giant Branch in galactic globular clusters, such as the luminosity function bump, the luminosity of the Red Giant Branch tip and the envelope chemical abundance patterns, to show the level of agreement between current stellar models and empirical data concerning the stellar luminosities, star counts, and surface chemical abundances.

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arXiv2002

On the observational properties of He-burning stars: some clues on the tilt of the HB in metal rich clusters

We investigate the predicted Color-Magnitude distribution of metal-rich Horizontal Branch (HB) stars, discussing selected theoretical models computed under various assumptions about the star metallicity and the efficiency of super-adiabatic convection. We find that canonical Zero Age Horizontal Branches with metallicity larger or of the order of Z=0.002 should be all affected by a tilt, by an amount which increases when the metallicity is increased and/or the mixing length is decreased, reaching a tilt of $ΔV \sim$0.2 mag in the case of solar metallicity when a mixing length value $α$=1.6 is assumed ($ΔV$ is the magnitude difference between the top of the blue HB and the fainter magnitude reached by the red HB). Uncertainties in the luminosity of the red HB due to uncertainty in the mixing length value are discussed. We finally discuss the much larger tilt observed in the clusters NGC 6441 and NGC 6388, reporting additional evidence against suggested non-canonical evolutionary scenarios. Numerical experiments show that differential reddening could produce such sloped HBs. Further, HST-PC imaging of NGC 6441 gives clear indications about the occurrence of differential reddening across the cluster. However, the same imaging shows that the observed slope of the red HB {\em is not} an artifact of differential reddening. We finally show that sloping red HBs in metal rich clusters are a common occurrence not necessarily correlated with the appearance of extended blue HB.

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arXiv2001

Asymptotic Giant Branch predictions: theoretical uncertainties

In this paper we investigate the level of agreement between observations and "new" Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) models, as produced by updating the physical inputs adopted in previous stellar computations. One finds that the new physics increases the predicted luminosity of Horizontal Branch (HB) and AGB stellar structures by a similar amount, keeping unchanged the predictions about the difference in luminosity between these two evolutionary phases. The best fit of selected globular clusters appears rather satisfactory, disclosing the relevance of the assumption on the mass of the Red Giant Branch (RGB) progenitor in assessing the distance modulus of moderately metal rich clusters. The still existing uncertainties related either to the input physics or to the efficiency of some macroscopic mechanisms, like convection or microscopic diffusion, are critically discussed, ruling out the occurrence of the so called "breathing pulses" during the central He exhaustion, in agreement with earlier suggestions.

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arXiv2001

On the primordial helium content: CMB and stellar constraints

We present the results of a joint investigation aimed at constraining the primordial He content ($Y_P$) on the basis of both the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) anisotropy and two stellar observables, namely the tip of the Red Giant Branch (TRGB) and the luminosity of the Zero Age Horizontal Branch (ZAHB). Current baryon density estimates based on CMB measurements cover a wide range values $0.009\la Ω_bh^2 \la 0.045$, that according to Big Bang Nucleosynthesis (BBN) models would imply $0.24\la Y_P \la 0.26$. We constructed several sets of evolutionary tracks and HB models by adopting $Y_P=0.26$ and several metal contents. The comparison between theory and observations suggests that ZAHB magnitudes based on He-enhanced models are 1.5$σ$ brighter than the empirical ones. The same outcome applies for the TRGB bolometric magnitudes. This finding somewhat supports a $Y_P$ abundance close to the canonical 0.23-0.24 value. More quantitative constraints on this parameter are hampered by the fact that the CMB pattern shows a sizable dependence on both $Y_P$ and the baryon density only at small angular scales, i.e. at high l in the power spectrum ($l\ga 100$). However, this region of the power spectrum could be still affected by deceptive systematic uncertainties. Finally, we suggest to use the {\em UV-upturn} to estimate the He content on Gpc scales. In fact, we find that a strong increase in $Y_P$ causes in metal-poor, hot HB structures a decrease in the UV emission.

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arXiv2001

Mass segregation of different populations inside the cluster NGC6101

We have used ESO telescopes at La Silla and the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) in order to obtain accurate B,V,I CCD photometry for the stars located within 200" (~= 2 half-mass radii, r_h = 1.71') from the center of the cluster NGC 6101. Color-Magnitude Diagrams extending from the red-giant tip to about 5 magnitudes below the main-sequence turnoff MSTO (V = 20.05 +- 0.05) have been constructed. The following results have been obtained from the analysis of the CMDs: a) The overall morphology of the main branches confirms previous results from the literature, in particular the existence of a sizeable population of 73 "blue stragglers", which had been already partly detected (27).They are considerably more concentrated than either the subgiant branch or the main sequence stars, and have the same spatial distribution as the horizontal branch stars (84% prob. from K-S test). An hypothesis on the possible BSS progeny is also presented. b) The HB is narrow and the bulk of stars is blue, as expected for a typical metal-poor globular cluster. c) The derived magnitudes for the HB and the MSTO, $V(ZAHB) = 16.59+-0.10, V(TO) = 20.05+-0.05, coupled with the values E(B-V) = 0.1, [Fe/H] = -1.80, Y = 0.23 yield a distance modulus (m-M)_V = 16.23 and an age similar to other ``old'' metal-poor globular clusters. In particular, from the comparison with theoretical isochrones, we derive for this cluster an age of 13 Gyrs. d) By using the large statistical sample of Red Giant Branch (RGB) stars, we detected with high accuracy the position of the bump in the RGB luminosity function. This observational feature has been compared with theoretical prescriptions, yielding a good agreement within the current theoretical and observational uncertainties.

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arXiv2001

The shape of the Red Giant Branch Bump as a diagnostic of partial mixing processes in low-mass stars

We suggest to use the shape of the Red Giant Branch (RGB) Bump in metal-rich globular clusters as a diagnostic of partial mixing processes between the base of the convective envelope and the H-burning shell. The Bump located along the differential luminosity function of cluster RGB stars is a key observable to constrain the H-profile inside these structures. In fact, standard evolutionary models that account for complete mixing in the convective unstable layers and radiative equilibrium in the innermost regions do predict that the first dredge-up lefts over a very sharp H-discontinuity at the bottom of the convective region. Interestingly enough we found that both atomic diffusion and a moderate convective overshooting at the base of the convective region marginally affects the shape of the RGB Bump in the differential Luminosity Function (LF). As a consequence, we performed several numerical experiments to estimate whether plausible assumptions concerning the smoothing of the H-discontinuity, due to the possible occurrence of extra-mixing below the convective boundary, affects the shape of the RGB Bump. We found that the difference between the shape of RGB Bump predicted by standard and by smoothed models can be detected if the H-discontinuity is smoothed over an envelope region whose thickness is equal or larger than 0.5 pressure scale heights. Finally, we briefly discuss the comparison between theoretical predictions and empirical data in metal-rich, reddening free Galactic Globular Clusters (GGCs) to constrain the sharpness of the H-profile inside RGB stars.

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arXiv2001

HST NICMOS Photometry of the reddened bulge globular clusters NGC 6528, Terzan 5, Liller 1, UKS 1 and Terzan 4

We present results from NICMOS Hubble Space Telescope observations of the reddened bulge globular clusters NGC 6528, Terzan 5, Liller 1, UKS 1 and Terzan 4, obtained through the filters F110W and F160W (nearly equivalent to J and H). For the first time the turnoff region of Liller 1 and the main sequence of Terzan 5 and Terzan 4 are reached, as well as the horizontal branch of UKS 1. The magnitude difference between the turnoff and the red horizontal branch $Δm_{110}=m_{110}^{HB}- m_{110}^{TO}$ is used as an age indicator. From comparisons with new isochrones in the NICMOS photometric system, we conclude that the two metal-rich clusters NGC 6528 and Terzan 5 are coeval within uncertainties ($\sim 20%$) with 47 Tucanae. Liller 1 and UKS 1 are confirmed as metal-rich globular clusters. Terzan 4 is confirmed as an interesting case of a metal-poor cluster in the bulge with a blue horizontal branch.

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arXiv2001

On the helium flash in low-mass Population III Red Giant stars

We investigate the evolution of initially metal-free, low-mass Red Giant stars through the He core flash at the tip of the Red Giant Branch. The low entropy barrier between the helium- and hydrogen-rich layers enables a penetration of the helium flash driven convective zone into the inner tail of the extinguishing H-burning shell. As a consequence, protons are mixed into high-temperature regions triggering a H-burning runaway. The subsequent dredge-up of matter processed by He and H burning enriches the stellar surface with large amounts of helium, carbon and nitrogen. Extending previous results by Hollowell et al. (1990) and Fujimoto et al. (2000), who claimed that the H-burning runaway is an intrinsic property of extremely metal-poor low-mass stars, we found that its occurrence depends on additional parameters like the initial composition and the treatment of various physical processes. We perform some comparisons between predicted surface chemical abundances and observational measurements for extremely metal-deficient stars. As in previous investigations, our results disclose that although the described scenario provides a good qualitative agreement with observations, considerable discrepancies still remain. They may be due to a more complex evolutionary path of `real' stars, and/or some shortcomings in current evolutionary models. In addition, we analyze the evolutionary properties after the He core flash, during both the central and shell He-burning phases, allowing us to deduce some interesting differences between models whose Red Giant Branch progenitor has experienced the H-flash and canonical models. In particular, the Asymptotic Giant Branch evolution of extremely metal-deficient stars and the occurrence of thermal pulses are strongly affected by the previous RGB evolution.

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arXiv2001

The distance to galactic globular clusters through RR Lyrae pulsational properties

By adopting the same approach outlined in De Santis & Cassisi (1999), we evaluate the absolute bolometric magnitude of the Zero Age Horizontal Branch (ZAHB) at the level of the RR Lyrae variable instability strip in selected galactic globular clusters. This allows us to estimate the ZAHB absolute visual magnitude for these clusters and to investigate its dependence on the cluster metallicity. The derived $M_V(ZAHB) - [Fe/H]$ relation, corrected in order to account for the luminosity difference between the ZAHB and the mean RR Lyrae magnitude, has been compared with some of the most recent empirical determinations in this field, as the one provided by Baade-Wesselink analyses, RR Lyrae periods, Hipparcos data for field variables and Main Sequence fitting based on Hipparcos parallaxes for field subdwarfs. As a result, our relation provides a clear support to the "long" distance scale. We discuss also another method for measuring the distance to galactic globular clusters. This method is quite similar to the one adopted for estimating the absolute bolometric magnitude of the ZAHB but it relies only on the pulsational properties of the Lyrae variables in each cluster. The reliability and accuracy of this method has been tested by applying it to a sample of globulars for which, due to the morphology of their horizontal branch (HB), the use of the commonly adopted ZAHB fitting is a risky procedure.

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arXiv2001

On the White Dwarf distances to Galactic Globular Clusters

We analyze in detail various possible sources of systematic errors on the distances of globular clusters derived by fitting a local template DA white dwarf sequence to the cluster counterpart (the so-called WD-fitting technique). We find that the unknown thickness of the hydrogen layer of white dwarfs in clusters plays a non negligible role. For reasonable assumptions - supported by the few sparse available observational constraints - about the unknown mass and thickness of the hydrogen layer for the cluster white dwarfs, a realistic estimate of the systematic error on the distance is within +-0.10 mag. However, particular combinations of white dwarf masses and envelope thicknesses - which at present cannot be excluded a priori - could produce larger errors. Contamination of the cluster DA sequence by non-DA white dwarfs introduces a very small systematic error of about -0.03 mag in the Mv/(V-I) plane, but in the Mv/(B-V) plane the systematic error amounts to ~ +0.20 mag. Contamination by white dwarfs with helium cores should not influence appreciably the WD-fitting distances. Finally, we obtain a derivative D((m-M)v)/D(E(B-V))~ -5.5 for the WD-fitting distances, which is very similar to the dependence found when using the Main Sequence fitting technique.

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arXiv2001

Linear nonadiabatic properties of SX Phoenicis variables

We present a detailed linear, nonadiabatic pulsational scenario for oscillating Blue Stragglers (BSs)/SX Phoenicis (SX Phe) in Galactic Globular Clusters (GGCs) and in Local Group (LG) dwarf galaxies. The sequences of models were constructed by adopting a wide range of input parameters and properly cover the region of the HR diagram in which these objects are expected to be pulsationally unstable. Current calculations together with more metal-rich models already presented by Gilliland et al. suggest that the pulsation properties of SX Phe are partially affected by metal content. Our calculations also suggest that the secular period change seems to be a good observable to identify the pulsation mode of cooler SX Phe variables. The dependence of pulsation properties on the helium envelope content is discussed and we find that the secular period change for He-enhanced models is approximately a factor of two larger than for canonical ones. According to this evidence we suggest that the pulsation properties of SX Phe can be soundly adopted to constrain the evolutionary history of BSs, and in turn to single out the physical mechanisms which trigger their formation.

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arXiv2000

Petersen diagram for RRd stars in the Magellanic Clouds

RRd stars from the Magellanic Clouds form a well-defined band in the Petersen diagram. We explain this observed band with our evolutionary and pulsation calculations with assumed metallicity [Fe/H]=(-2,-1.3). Vast majority of RRd stars from LMC is confined to a narrower range of (-1.7,-1.3). The width of the band, at specified fundamental mode period, may be explained by mass spread at given metallicity. The shape of the band reflects the path of RRd stars within the RR Lyrae instability strip. We regard the success in explaining the Petersen diagram a support for our evolutionary models, which yield, mean absolute magnitude in the mid of the instability strip, , in the range 0.4 to 0.65 mag implying distance modulus to LMC of 18.4 mag.

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arXiv2000

The anomalous Galactic globular cluster NGC 2808

We present UBVI photometry for about 60,000 stars in a region of 44'x33' centered on the Galactic globular cluster (GGC) NGC 2808. The central region has been mapped with the HST WFPC2 camera. We cover a field which extends from the center to about 1.7 tidal radii. We confirm the anomalously elongated HB with gaps along it, and we show that the gaps are statistically significant. We find that: 1) the extended blue tail of HB (EBT) is present beyond 400''(=9r_h), and extends to V=21.2 also in these external regions; 2) also the gaps on the EBT are present at least out to 400'' from the cluster center, and possibly beyond that. The location of the gaps in the HB seems to be the same all over the cluster. 3) there are no significant radial gradients in the distribution of the stars in the HB. The observational facts presented in this paper seem to exclude the possibility that the EBTs originate from tidal stripping of the envelope of the RGB stars due to close encounters in high density environments or to mass transfer in close binaries. Also, it is not clear whether the presence of EBTs and gaps on them are the manifestation of the same physical phenomenon. We have also shown that the jump recently identified in the HB using Str"omgren-u photometry is clearly visible also in the U, U-B plane, at T_e~11,600K. Finally, we present the luminosity function (LF) of the RGB. The LF clearly shows the presence of the usual RGB bump, but also a second feature, 1.4 magnitudes brighter in V, that we have named RGB heap. The RGB heap, visible also in other GGCs, is a new feature that, because of its position on the RGB, we have tentatively associated with the recently discovered K giant variables.

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arXiv2000

Intermediate-mass star models with different helium and metal contents

We present a comprehensive theoretical investigation of the evolutionary properties of intermediate-mass stars. The evolutionary sequences were computed from the Zero Age Main Sequence up to the central He exhaustion and often up to the phases which precede the carbon ignition or to the reignition of the H-shell which marks the beginning of the thermal pulse phase. The evolutionary tracks were constructed by adopting a wide range of stellar masses ($3\leq$\msun$\leq15$) and chemical compositions. In order to account for current uncertainties on the He to heavy elements enrichment ratio, the stellar models were computed by adopting at Z=0.02 two different He contents (Y=0.27, 0.289) and at Z=0.04 three different He contents (Y=0.29, 0.34, and 0.37). To supply a homogeneous evolutionary scenario which accounts for young Magellanic stellar systems the calculations were also extended toward lower metallicities (Z=0.004, Z=0.01), by adopting different initial He abundances. We evaluated for both solar (Z=0.02) and super-metal-rich (SMR, Z=0.04) models the transition mass $M^{up}$ between the stellar structures igniting carbon and those which develop a full electron degeneracy inside the CO core. This evolutionary scenario allows us to investigate in detail the properties of classical Cepheids. In particular, we find that the range of stellar masses which perform the blue loop during the central He-burning phase narrows when moving toward metal-rich and SMR structures.

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