arXiv subjects

Y. Q. Chen

Publications and source records attributed to Y. Q. Chen.

484 records · Page 27Linked to original sources

arXiv2011

The Metallicity Gradient of the Thick Disk Based on Red Horizontal Branch Stars From SDSS DR8

Based on SDSS DR8, we have selected a sample of 1728 red horizontal branch stars with |Z|<3 kpc by using a color-metallicity relation and stellar parameters. The sample stars clearly trace a typical thick disk population with peaks at |Z|=1.26 kpc and [Fe/H]=-0.54. The vertical metallicity gradient of the thick disk is estimated in two ways. One is a fit to the Gaussian peaks of the metallicity histograms of the thick disk by subtracting minor contributions from the thin disk and the inner halo based on the Besancon Galaxy model. The resulting gradient is -0.12+-0.01 dex/kpc for 0.5 <|Z| <3 kpc. The other method is to linearly fit the data based on stars with 1 <|Z| <3 kpc being the main component of the thick disk. Five subgroups are then selected in different directions in the X-|Z| plane to investigate the difference in the vertical metallicity gradient between the Galactocenter and anti-Galactocenter directions. We found that a vertical gradient o-0.22+-0.07 dex/kpc is detected for five directions except for one involving the pollution of stars from the bulge. The results indicate that the vertical gradient is dominant, but a radial gradient has a minor contribution for the thick disk population represented by RHB stars with 1 <|Z| <3 kpc. The present work strongly suggests the existence of a metallicity gradient in the thick disk, which is thought to be negligible in most previous works in the literature.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2011

The Chromospheric Activity, Age, Metallicty and Space Motions of 36 Wide Binaries

We present the chromospheric activity (CA) levels, metallicities and full space motions for 41 F, G, K and M dwarf stars in 36 wide binary systems. Thirty-one of the binaries, contain a white dwarf component. In such binaries the total age can be estimated by adding the cooling age of the white dwarf to an estimate of the progenitor's main sequence lifetime. To better understand how CA correlates to stellar age, 14 cluster member stars were also observed. Our observations demonstrate for the first time that in general CA decays with age from 50 Myr to at least 8 Gyr for stars with 1.0 < V-I < 2.4. However, little change occurs in CA level for stars with V-I < 1.0 between 1 Gyr and 5 Gyr, consistent with the results of Pace et al. (2009). Our sample also exhibits a negative correlation between stellar age and metallicity, a positive correlation between stellar age and W space velocity component and the W velocity dispersion increases with age. Finally, the population membership of these wide binaries is examined based upon their U, V, W kinematics, metallicity and CA. We conclude that wide binaries are similar to field and cluster stars in these respects. More importantly, they span a much more continuous range in age and metallicity than is afforded by nearby clusters.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2011

Metallicity calibration for solar type stars based on red spectra

Based on high resolution and high signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) spectra analysis of 90 solar type stars, we have established several new metallicity calibrations in Teff range [5600, 6500] K based on red spectra with the wavelength range of 560-880 nm. The new metallicity calibrations are applied to determine the metallicity of solar analogs selected from SDSS spectra. There is a good consistent result with the adopted value presented in SDSS-DR7 and a small scatter of 0.26 dex for stars with S/N > 50 is obtained. This study provides a new reliable way to derive the metallicity for solar-like stars with low resolution spectra. In particular, our calibrations are useful for finding metal-rich stars, which are missing in SSPP.

astro-ph.IM↗

arXiv2009

The Absolute Magnitudes of Red Horizontal Branch Stars in the ugriz System

Based on photometric data of the central parts of eight globular clusters and one open cluster presented by An and his collaborators, we select red horizontal branch (RHB) stars in the (g-r)0-g0 diagram and make a statistical study of the distributions of their colors and absolute magnitudes in the SDSS ugriz system. Meanwhile, absolute magnitudes in the Johnson VRI system are calculated through the translation formulae between gri and VRI in the literature. The calibrations of absolute magnitude as functions of metallicity and age are established by linear regressions of the data. It is found that metallicity coefficients in these calibrations decrease, while age coefficients increase, from the blue $u$ filter to the red $z$ filter. The calibration of Mi= 0.06[Fe/H]+0.040t+0.03 has the smallest scatter of 0.04 mag, and thus i is the best filter in the $ugriz$ system when RHB stars are used for distance indicators. The comparison of the MI calibration from our data with that from red clump stars indicates that the previous suggestion that the $I$ filter is better than the V filter in distance determination may not be true because of its significant dependence on age.

astro-ph.SR↗

arXiv2008

Physics at BES-III

This physics book provides detailed discussions on important topics in $τ$-charm physics that will be explored during the next few years at \bes3 . Both theoretical and experimental issues are covered, including extensive reviews of recent theoretical developments and experimental techniques. Among the subjects covered are: innovations in Partial Wave Analysis (PWA), theoretical and experimental techniques for Dalitz-plot analyses, analysis tools to extract absolute branching fractions and measurements of decay constants, form factors, and CP-violation and \DzDzb-oscillation parameters. Programs of QCD studies and near-threshold tau-lepton physics measurements are also discussed.

hep-ex↗

arXiv2007

A Substellar Companion to the Intermediate-Mass Giant 11 Com

We report the detection of a substellar companion orbiting the intermediate-mass giant star 11 Com (G8 III). Precise Doppler measurements of the star from Xinglong station and Okayama Astrophysical Observatory (OAO) revealed Keplerian velocity variations with an orbital period of 326.03 +/- 0.32 days, a semiamplitude of 302.8 +/- 2.6 m/s, and an eccentricity of 0.231 +/- 0.005. Adopting a stellar mass of 2.7 +/- 0.3 M_solar, the minimum mass of the companion is 19.4 +/- 1.5 M_Jup, well above the deuterium burning limit, and the semimajor axis is 1.29 +/- 0.05 AU. This is the first result from the joint planet search program between China and Japan aiming at revealing statistics of substellar companions around intermediate-mass giants. 11 Com b emerged from 300 targets of the planet search program at OAO. The current detection rate of a brown dwarf candidate seems to be comparable to that around solar-type stars within orbital separations of $\sim$3 AU.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

A Comparative Study on Lithium Abundances in Solar--Type Stars With and Without Planets

We have investigated the abundance anomalies of lithium for stars with planets in the temperature range of 5600--5900 K reported by Israelian and coworkers, as compared to 20 normal stars at the same temperature and metallicity ranges. Our result indicates a higher probability of lithium depletion for stars with planets in the main--sequence stage. It seems that stellar photospheric abundances of lithium in stars with planets may be somewhat affected by the presence of planets. Two possible mechanisms are considered to account for the lower Li abundances of stars with planets. One is related to the rotation-induced mixing due to the conservation of angular momentum by the protoplanetary disk, and the other is a shear instability triggered by planet migration. These results provide new information on stellar evolution and the lithium evolution of the Galaxy.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2006

The puzzling abundance pattern of HD134439 and HD134440

Abundances of 18 elements are determined for the common proper-motion pair, HD134439 and HD134440, which shows high [Mn/Fe] and low [α/Fe] ratios as compared to normal halo stars. Moreover, puzzling abundances are indicated from elements whose origins are normally considered to be from the same nucleosynthesis history. Particularly, we have found that [Mg/Fe] and [Si/Fe] are lower than [Ca/Fe] and [Ti/Fe] by 0.1-0.3 dex. When elemental abundances are interpreted in term of their condensation temperatures (Tc), obvious trends of [X/Fe] vs. Tc for alpha elements and probably iron-peak elements as well are shown. The hypothesis that these stars have formed from a dusty environment in dSph galaxy provides a solution to the puzzling abundance pattern.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2004

The [Zn/Fe] -- [Fe/H] trend for disk and halo stars

Zn abundances, derived from a model atmosphere analysis of the 6362.35 A ZnI line, are presented for 44 thin disk, 10 thick disk and 8 halo dwarf stars in the metallicity range -1.0 [Fe/H] +0.2. It is found that [Zn/Fe] in thin disk stars shows a slight increasing trend with decreasing metallicity reaching a value [Zn/Fe] ~ +0.1 at [Fe/H] = -0.6. The thick disk stars in the metallicity range -0.9 < [Fe/H] < -0.6 have an average [Zn/Fe] ~ +0.15 dex, whereas five alpha-poor and Ni-poor halo stars in the same metallicity range have [Zn/Fe] ~ 0.0 dex. These results indicate that Zn is not an exact tracer of Fe as often assumed in abundance studies of damped Lyman-alpha systems (DLAs). A better understanding of the nucleosynthesis of Zn is needed in order to obtain more detailed information on the past history of star formation in DLAs from e.g. the observed sulphur/zinc ratio.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2003

Chemical compositions of four barium stars

Chemical compositions of four barium stars HD 26886, HD 27271, HD 50082 and HD 98839 are studied based on high resolution, high signal-to-noise Echelle spectra. Results show that all of them are disk stars. Their αand iron peak elements are similar to the solar abundances. The neutron-capture process elements are overabundant relative to the Solar. The heavy-element abundances of the strong Ba star HD 50082 are higher than those of other three mild Ba stars. Its mass is 1.32Msun (+0.28,-0.22Msun), and is consistent with the average mass of strong Ba stars (1.5Msun). For mild Ba star HD 27271 and HD 26886, the derived masses are 1.90Msun (+0.25,-0.20Msun) and 2.78Msun (+0.75,-0.78M_sun), respectively, which are consistent with the average mass of mild Ba stars. We also calculate the theoretical abundances of Ba stars by combining the AGB stars nucleosynthesis and wind accretion formation scenario of Ba binary systems. The comparisons between the observed abundance patterns of the sample stars with the theoretical results show that wind accretion scenario can explain the abundance patterns of HD 50082 and HD 27271 well, but fail to explain the abundances of HD 26886. It means that the mild Ba star HD 26886, with shorter orbital period (P<1600 d), may be formed from other scenarios. The high mass mild Ba star HD 98839, with 3.62M_sun, and with very long orbital period (P>11000 d), may be either a star with the heavy elements enriched by itself or a "true Ba" star.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2003

Sulphur and zinc abundances in Galactic stars and damped Lyman-alpha systems

High resolution spectra of 34 halo population dwarf and subgiant stars have been obtained with VLT/UVES and used to derive sulphur abundances from the 8694.0, 8694.6 A and 9212.9, 9237.5 A SI lines. In addition, iron abundances have been determined from 19 FeII lines and zinc abundances from the 4722.2, 4810.5 ZnI lines. The abundances are based on a classical 1D, LTE model atmosphere analysis, but effects of 3D hydrodynamical modelling on the [S/Fe], [Zn/Fe] and [S/Zn] ratios are shown to be small. We find that most halo stars with metallicities in the range -3.2 < [Fe/H] < -0.8 have a near-constant [S/Fe] = +0.3; a least square fit to [S/Fe] vs. {Fe/H] shows a slope of only -0.04 +/- 0.01. Among halo stars with -1.2 < [Fe/H] < -0.8 the majority have [S/Fe] ~ +0.3, but two stars (previously shown to have low [alpha/Fe] ratios) have [S/Fe] ~ 0. For disk stars with [Fe/H] > -1, [S/Fe] decreases with increasing [Fe/H]. Hence, sulphur behaves like other typical alpha-capture elements, Mg, Si and Ca. Zinc, on the other hand, traces iron over three orders of magnitude in [Fe/H], although there is some evidence for a small systematic Zn overabundance ([Zn/Fe] ~ +0.1) among metal-poor disk stars and for halo stars with [Fe/H] < -2.0. Recent measurements of S and Zn in ten damped Ly-alpha systems (DLAs) with redshifts between 1.9 and 3.4 and zinc abundances in the range -2.1 < [Zn/H] < -0.15 show an offset relative to the [S/Zn] - [Zn/H] relation in Galactic stars. Possible reasons for this offset are discussed, including low and intermittent star formation rates in DLAs.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

Sulphur and iron abundances in halo stars

From equivalent widths of the SI lines at 8694 A, Israelian & Rebolo (2001) and Takada-Hidai et al. (2002) have derived a surprisingly high sulphur-to-iron ratio ([S/Fe] = 0.5 to 0.7) in six halo stars with [Fe/H] ~ -2.0 suggesting perhaps that hypernovae made a significant contribution to the formation of elements in the early Galaxy. To investigate this problem we have used high-resolution spectra obtained with the ESO VLT/UVES spectrograph to determine the S/Fe ratio in 19 main-sequence and subgiant stars ranging in [Fe/H] from -3.2 to -0.7. The sulphur abundances are determined from SI lines at 8694 A and 9212 - 9237 A, and the iron abundances from about 20 FeII lines. S/Fe ratios as derived from 1D model atmospheres are presented and possible 3D effects are discussed. The initial results from our survey do not confirm the high values of [S/Fe] quoted above; instead we find that the ratio [S/Fe] remains constant at about 0.35 dex for metallicities -3 < [Fe/H] -1.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2002

Sulphur abundances in disk stars: a correlation with silicon

We have performed new determinations of sulphur and silicon abundances for a sample of 26 disk stars based on high-resolution, high signal-to-noise spectra. The results indicate a solar [S/Fe] for [Fe/H] >-0.3, below which [S/Fe] increases to ~0.25 dex at [Fe/H] =-1.0. We find that there is a good correlation between [S/H] and [Si/H], indicating the same nucleosynthetic origin of the two elements. It seems that the ratio of sulphur to silicon does not depend on metallicity for [Fe/H]> -1.0. The implications of these results on models for the nucleosynthesis of alpha-capture elements and the chemical evolution of the Galaxy are discussed.

astro-ph↗

arXiv2001

Lithium abundances for 185 main-sequence stars - Galactic evolution and stellar depletion of lithium

We present a survey of lithium abundances in 185 main- sequence field stars with Teff between 5600 and 6600 K and [Fe/H] from -1.4 to +0.2 based on high-resolution spectra of 130 stars and a reanalysis of data from Lambert et al. (1991). The survey takes advantage of improved ways of determining effective temperature, metallicity, mass and age, offering an opportunity to investigate the behaviour of Li as a function of these parameters. An interesting result is the presence of a large gap in the Li-Teff plane, which distinguishes `Hyades-like, Li-dip' stars from other stars. These Li-dip stars have a well-defined mass, which decreases with metallicity. Stars above the gap, when divided into four metallicity groups, may show a correlation between Li abundance and stellar mass, but with a large dispersion that cannot be explained by observational errors or differences in metallicity and age, which ranges from 1.5 to 15 Gyr. This suggests that Li depletion occurs early in stellar life and that other parameters, e.g. initial rotation velocity and/or the rate of angular momentum loss, affect the degree of depletion. A comparison of the distribution of stars in the Li-[Fe/H] plane with evolutionary models of Romano et al. (1999) suggests that novae are a major source for the Li production in the Galactic disk.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1999

Chemical composition of 90 F and G disk dwarfs

High resolution, high S/N spectra have been obtained for a sample of 90 F and G main-sequence disk stars covering the metallicity range -1.0 < [Fe/H] < +0.1, and have been analysed in a parallel way to the work of Edvardsson et al. (1993). Effective temperatures are based on the Alonso et al. (1996) calibration of color indices and surface gravities are calculated from Hipparcos parallaxes, which also allow more accurate ages to be calculated. In addition, more reliable kinematical parameters are derived from Hipparcos distances and proper motions. Finally, a larger spectral coverage, 5600 - 8800 A, makes it possible to improve the abundance accuracy by studying more lines and to discuss several elements not included in the work of Edvardsson et al. The present paper provides the data and discusses some general results of the abundance survey. A group of stars in the metallicity range of -1.0 < [Fe/H] < -0.6 having a small mean Galactocentric distance in the stellar orbits, Rm < 7 kpc, are shown to be older than the other disk stars and probably belong to the thick disk. Excluding these stars, a slight decreasing trend of [Fe/H] with increasing Rm and age is found, but a large scatter in [Fe/H] (up to 0.5 dex) is present at a given age and Rm. The derived trends of O, Mg, Si, Ca, Ti, Ni and Ba as a function of [Fe/H] agree rather well with those of Edvardsson et al., but the overabundance of Na and Al for metal-poor stars found in their work is not confirmed. Furthermore, the Galactic evolution of elements not included in Edvardsson et al., K, V and Cr, is studied.

astro-ph↗

arXiv1999

Sc and Mn abundances in disk and metal-rich halo stars

Sc and Mn abundances are determined for 119 F and G main-sequence stars with -1.4 < [Fe/H] < +0.1, representing stars from the thin disk, the thick disk and the halo. The results indicate that Sc behaves like an alpha-element, showing a decreasing [Sc/Fe] with increasing metallicity in disk stars and a dual pattern in the kinematically selected halo stars. In contrast, Mn shows an increase from [Mn/Fe] = -0.5 at [Fe/H] = -1.4 to zero at solar metallicity. There appears to be a discontinuity or sharp increase of [Mn/Fe] at [Fe/H] = -0.7 corresponding to the transition between the thick and the thin disk. It is discussed if supernovae of Type Ia are a major source of Mn in the Galactic disk or if the trend of [Mn/Fe] vs. [Fe/H] can be explained by nucleosynthesis in Type II supernovae with a strong metallicity dependence of the yield.

astro-ph↗