arXiv subjects

Scott Lucchini

Publications and source records attributed to Scott Lucchini.

23 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2022

First evidence of a stripped star cluster from the Small Magellanic Cloud

We present results on the recently discovered stellar system YMCA-1, for which physical nature and belonging to any of the Magellanic System galaxies have been irresolutely analyzed. We used SMASH and {\it Gaia} EDR3 data sets to conclude that we are dealing with a small star cluster. Its reddening free, field star decontaminated colour-magnitude diagram was explored in order to obtain the cluster parameters. We found that YMCA-1 is a small (435 M$_{\odot}$), moderately old (age = 9.6 Gyr), moderately metal-poor ([Fe/H] = -1.16 dex) star cluster, located at a nearly Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) distance (60.9 kpc) from the Sun, at $\sim$ 17.1 kpc to the East from the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) centre. The derived cluster brightness and size would seem to suggest some resemblance to the recently discovered faint star clusters in the Milky Way (MW) outer halo, although it does not match their age-metallicty relationship, nor those of MW globular clusters formed in-situ or ex-situ, nor that of LMC clusters either, but is in agreement with that of SMC old star clusters. We performed numerical Monte Carlo simulations integrating its orbital motion backward in the MW-LMC-SMC system with radially extended dark matter haloes that experience dynamical friction, and by exploring different radial velocity (RV) regimes for YMCA-1. For RVs $\gtrsim$ 300 km/s, the cluster remains bound to the LMC during the last 500 Myrs. The detailed tracked kinematic of YMCA-1 suggests that its could have been stripped by the LMC from the SMC during any of the close interactions between both galaxies, a scenario previously predicted by numerical simulations.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2021

The Magellanic Stream at 20 kpc: A New Orbital History for the Magellanic Clouds

We present new simulations of the formation of the Magellanic Stream based on an updated first-passage interaction history for the Magellanic Clouds, including both the Galactic and Magellanic Coronae and a live dark matter halo for the Milky Way. This new interaction history is needed because previously successful orbits need updating to account for the Magellanic Corona and the loosely bound nature of the Magellanic Group. These orbits involve two tidal interactions over the last 3.5 Gyrs and reproduce the Stream's position and appearance on the sky, mass distribution, and velocity profile. Most importantly, our simulated Stream is only $\sim$20 kpc away from the Sun at its closest point, whereas previous first-infall models predicted a distance of $100-200$ kpc. This dramatic paradigm shift in the Stream's 3D position would have several important implications. First, estimates of the observed neutral and ionized masses would be reduced by a factor of $\sim$5. Second, the stellar component of the Stream is also predicted to be $<$20 kpc away. Third, the enhanced interactions with the MW's hot corona at this small distance would substantially shorten the Stream's lifetime. Finally, the MW's UV radiation field would be much stronger, potentially explaining the H$α$ emission observed along most of the Stream. Our prediction of a 20 kpc Stream could be tested by searching for UV absorption lines towards distant MW halo stars projected onto the Stream.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2020

The Magellanic Corona and the formation of the Magellanic Stream

The dominant gaseous structure in the Galactic halo is the Magellanic Stream, an extended network of neutral and ionized filaments surrounding the Large and Small Magellanic Clouds (LMC/SMC), the two most massive satellite galaxies of the Milky Way. Recent observations indicate that the Clouds are on their first passage around our Galaxy, the Stream is made up of gas stripped from both the LMC and the SMC, and the majority of this gas is ionized. While it has long been suspected that tidal forces and ram-pressure stripping contributed to the Stream's formation, a full understanding of its origins has defied modelers for decades. Several recent developments, including the discovery of dwarf galaxies associated with the Magellanic Group, the high mass of the LMC, the detection of highly ionized gas toward stars in the LMC and the predictions of cosmological simulations all support the existence of a halo of warm ionized gas around the LMC at a temperature of $\sim5\times10^{5}\;\mathrm{K}$. Here we show that by including this "Magellanic Corona" in hydrodynamic simulations of the Magellanic Clouds falling onto the Galaxy, we can simultaneously reproduce the Stream and its Leading Arm. Our simulations explain the Stream's filamentary structure, spatial extent, radial velocity gradient, and total ionized gas mass. We predict that the Magellanic Corona will be unambiguously observable via high-ionization absorption lines in the ultraviolet spectra of background quasars lying near the LMC. This prediction is directly testable with the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope.

astro-ph.GA↗

arXiv2014

Using Kinematic Properties of Pre-Planetary Nebulae to Constrain Engine Paradigms

Some combination of binary interactions and accretion plausibly conspire to produce the ubiquitous collimated outflows from planetary nebulae (PN) and their presumed pre-planetary nebulae (PPN) precursors. But which accretion engines are viable? The difficulty in observationally resolving the engines warrants the pursuit of indirect constraints. We show how kinematic outflow data for 19 PPN can be used to determine the minimum required accretion rates. We consider main sequence (MS) and white dwarf (WD) accretors and five example accretion rates inferred from published models to compare with the minima derived from outflow momentum conservation. While our primary goal is to show the method in anticipation of more data and better theoretical constraints, taking the present results at face value already rule out modes of accretion: Bondi-Hoyle Lyttleton (BHL) wind accretion and wind Roche lobe overflow (M-WRLOF, based on Mira parameters) are too feeble for all 19/19 objects for a MS accretor. For a WD accretor, BHL is ruled out for 18/19 objects and M-WRLOF for 15/19 objects. Roche lobe overflow (RLOF) from the primary at the Red Rectangle level can accommodate 7/19 objects, though RLOF modes with higher accretion rates are not yet ruled out. Accretion modes operating from within common envelope evolution can accommodate all 19 objects, if jet collimation can be maintained. Overall, sub-Eddington rates for a MS accretor are acceptable but 8/19 would require super-Eddington rates for a WD.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2013

Preliminary Analysis of ULPC Light Curves Using Fourier Decomposition Technique

Recent work on Ultra Long Period Cepheids (ULPCs) has suggested their usefulness as a distance indicator, but has not commented on their relationship as compared with other types of variable stars. In this work, we use Fourier analysis to quantify the structure of ULPC light curves and compare them to Classical Cepheids and Mira variables. Our preliminary results suggest that the low order Fourier parameters of ULPCs show a continuous trend defined by Classical Cepheids after the resonance around 10 days. However their Fourier parameters also overlapped with those from Miras, which make the classification of long period variable stars difficult based on the light curves information alone.

astro-ph.SR↗