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We quantify evolution in the cluster-scale stellar mass–halo mass (SMHM) relation’s parameters using 2323 clusters and brightest central galaxies (BCGs) over the redshift range 0.03 „ z „ 0.60. The precision on the inferred SMHM parameters is improved by including the magnitude gap (mgap) between the BCG and fourth-brightest cluster member (M14) as a third parameter in the SMHM relation. At fixed halo mass, accounting for mgap, through a stretch parameter, reduces the SMHM relation’s intrinsic scatter. To explore this redshift range, we use clusters, BCGs, and cluster members identified using the Sloan Digital Sky Survey C4 and redMaPPer cluster catalogs and the Dark Energy Survey redMaPPer catalog. Through this joint analysis, we detect no systematic differences in BCG stellar mass, mgap, and cluster mass (inferred from richness) between the data sets. We utilize the Pareto function to quantify each parameter’s evolution. We confirm prior findings of negative evolution in the SMHM relation’s slope (3.5σ), and detect negative evolution in the stretch parameter (4.0σ) and positive evolution in the offset parameter (5.8σ). This observed evolution, combined with the absence of BCG growth, when stellar mass is measured within 50 kpc, suggests that this evolution results from changes in the cluster’s mgap. For this to occur, late-term growth must be in the intracluster light surrounding the BCG. We also compare the observed results to IllustrisTNG 300-1 cosmological hydrodynamic simulations and find modest qualitative agreement. However, the simulations lack the evolutionary features detected in the real data.

Tese de Mestrado, Física (Astrofísica e Cosmologia), 2021, Universidade de Lisboa, Faculdade de Ciências Submitted by Cristina Manessiez (camanessiez@fc.ul.pt) on 2022-02-14T15:48:13Z No. of bitstreams: 1 TM_Henrique_Miranda.pdf: 6170733 bytes, checksum: aa657263d5cb7c73307f6a59aed97c80 (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2022-02-14T15:48:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 TM_Henrique_Miranda.pdf: 6170733 bytes, checksum: aa657263d5cb7c73307f6a59aed97c80 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2021

Extremely low-mass white dwarfs (ELM WDs) are the result of binary evolution in which a low-mass donor star is stripped by its companion leaving behind a helium-core white dwarf (WD). We explore the formation of ELM WDs in binary systems considering the Convection And Rotation Boosted magnetic braking treatment. Our evolutionary sequences were calculated using the Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics code, with initial masses of 1.0 and 1.2 M (donor), and 1.4 (accretor), compatible with low-mass X-ray binary (LMXB) systems. We obtain ELM models in the range 0.15–0.27 M from a broad range of initial orbital periods, 1–25 d. The bifurcation period, where the initial period is equal to the final period, ranges from 20 to 25 d. In addition to LMXBs, we show that ultracompact X-ray binaries (UCXBs) and wide-orbit binary millisecond pulsars can also be formed. The relation between mass and orbital period obtained is compatible with the observational data from He WD companions to pulsars.

Nos encontramos em uma localização vantajosa para o estudo da formação e evolução de galáxias espirais. Situados no disco da Via-Láctea, somos capazes de fazer observações detalhadas sobre as estrelas individuais que a compõem. Com o avanço tecnológico das últimas décadas, foi possível coletar um grande conjunto de informações, (e.g. composição química, cinemática, astrometria e parâmetros atmosféricos), com alta resolução para uma vasta parte do volume Galáctico. Com o objetivo de compreender melhor a nossa Galáxia, desenvolvemos uma ferramenta, chamada StarHorse, que estima parâmetros como distâncias, idades, massas e avermelhamento utilizando informação disponível em levantamentos espectroscópicos, fotométricos e astrométricos. O código StarHorse estima os parâmetros através de um método Bayesiano, que constrói uma distribuição de probabilidade a partir do cálculo de verossimilhança entre observações e modelos de evolução teórica e a partir de priores Galácticos bem conhecidos. Os parâmetros que o StarHorse estima são cruciais para estudos de arqueologia Galáctica. Com eles é possível investigar a estrutura, o histórico de formação estelar, a função de massa inicial, o mapa tridimensional da nossa Galáxia e também adicionar vínculos a modelos quemodinâmicos da Via Láctea Neste trabalho, focaremos na descrição e validação do método, testando sua aplicabilidade em levantamentos recentes de espectroscópica, astrometria e fotometria. Também disponibilizamos catálogos com distâncias e extinção para comunidade astronômica. As nossas distâncias e extinções se tornaram referência dentro da colaboração APOGEE e foram liberadas junto com o seu Data Release 14. Ademais, catálogos foram liberados para os surveys RAVE, Gaia-ESO e GALAH. Neste trabalho, exploramos os resultados do StarHorse, especialmente os resultados APOGEE, em um contexto amplo de arqueologia Galáctica. We are in an advantageous position to study the formation and evolution of disk galaxies. By being inside the Milky Way, we are able to make detailed observations about the individual stars that compose it. With the technological revolution of the latest years, it has been possible to collect a massive set of information, (e.g. chemical composition, kinematics, astrometry, and atmospheric parameters), with high resolution for a large portion of the Galactic volume. With the goal to understand better our Galaxy, we developed a tool, called StarHorse, that can estimate distances, ages, masses, and extinction from the available spectroscopic, astrometric, and photometric information. StarHorse makes these estimates through a Bayesian method, that builds a probability distribution over the models by calculating a likelihood function between observation and stellar evolution models, and by using common knowledge about our Galaxy as priors. The parameters that StarHorse estimates are crucial to Galactic archaeology studies. With them, we can investigate the structure, the star formation history, the initial mass function, the three-dimensional dust map of our Galaxy, and provide constraints to chemodynamical models of the Milky Way. In this work, we focus on the description and validation of the method, testing its applicability in recent spectroscopic and astrometric surveys. We also make available catalogs with distances and extinctions to the astronomy community. Our distances and extinctions became a reference inside the APOGEE-team and were released as part of the SDSS Data Release 14. Moreover, we made available catalogs also to other spectroscopic surveys such as Gaia-ESO, RAVE, and GALAH. In this work, we also explore these results, especially for APOGEE, in a broad Galactic archaeology context.

We determine relative abundance ratios for the neutron-capture elements Zr, La, Ce, Nd, and Eu for a sample of 27 Galactic dwarf stars with -1.5 < [Fe/H], Comment: MNRAS in press

A observação de objetos compactos com campos magnéticos superficiais da ordem de 1014 − 1015 G, denominados magnetares, tem chamado a atenção para os efeitos de campos magnéticos intensos na matéria nuclear e nas propriedades observacionais de estrelas compactas. No interior de magnetares, é esperado que os campos magnéticos sejam ainda mais intensos, podendo alcançar intensidades de até 1019 G. Nesse trabalho, estudamos os efeitos de campos magnéticos intensos nas equação de estado e estrutura de estrelas de nêutrons. Descrevemos a matéria nuclear dentro das estrelas em um novo formalismo relativístico de campo médio, que introduz forças de muitos corpos através de uma dependência dos campos escalares nas constantes de acoplamento da interação nuclear. Assumindo que a matéria encontra-se `a temperatura nula, eletricamente neutra e em equilíbrio beta, e populada pelo octeto babilônico, elétrons e múons, exploramos o espaço de parâmetros do modelo, de modo a descrever as propriedades da matéria nuclear na saturação, bem como estrelas de híperons massivas. Além disso, no contexto do assim chamado hyperon puzzle, investigamos o papel dos potenciais hiperônicos na relação massa-raio e na população dessas estrelas, através da solução das equações de Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff (TOV). A presença de campos magnéticos gera uma quantização de Landau nos níveis de energia das partículas carregadas e também uma anisotropia nas componentes do tensor energia momentum. Os efeitos do momento magnético anômalo das partículas nos níveis de energia de todas as partículas também são calculados, incluindo as não-carregadas, e mostramos que estes também aumentam a magnetização da matéria. Finalmente, introduzimos os campos magnéticos na estrutura das estrelas através da solução auto-consistente das equações de Einstein-Maxwell. Essas soluções nos permitem descrever modelos estelares axissimétricos estacionários, nos quais assumimos um campo magnético poloidal. Assim, consideramos a matéria sob a ação de um campo magnético estático que depende da densidade, alcançando intensidades da ordem de 1018 G no centro das estrelas. Concluímos que campos magnéticos têm efeitos significativos na sua população, mas apenas os efeitos do campo magnético na estrutura das estrelas possuem grande influências nas propriedades globais, como a massa máxima e a deformação desses objetos. The observation of compact objects with surface magnetic fields as strong as 1014 − 1015 G, denominated magnetars, has drawn attention to the study of the effects of strong magnetic fields on nuclear matter and compact stars observational properties. In the interior of magnetars, the magnetic fields are expected to be even stronger, and might reach values up to 1019 G. In this work, we study the effects of strong magnetic fields on the equation of state and structure of neutron stars. We describe nuclear matter inside stars in a new relativistic mean field formalism that takes many-body forces into account, by means of a field dependence of the nuclear interaction coupling constants. Assuming that matter is at zero temperature, charge neutral, beta-equilibrated and populated by the baryonic octet, electrons and muons, we explore the parameters space of the model in order to describe the nuclear matter properties at saturation, as well as massive hyperon stars. Also, in the context of the so called hyperon puzzle, we investigate the role of hyperon potentials in the mass-radius relation and population of hyperon stars, by solving the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff (TOV) equations. The presence of the magnetic fields generates a Landau quantization on the energy levels of the charged particles and also an anisotropy in the components of the energymomentum tensor. We also calculate the effects of the anomalous magnetic moment of the particles on the energy levels of all particles, including the uncharged ones, and show that it increases the magnetization of the matter. Finally, we introduce the magnetic fields in the strutucture of stars by solving the Einstein-Maxwell equations self-consistently. These solutions lead to stationary and axisymmetric stellar models, in which a poloidal magnetic field is assumed. Hence, the matter is considered to be under a static density dependent magnetic field, reaching intensities of the order of 1018 G at the center of the stars. We conclude that magnetic fields affect significantly the particles population of the stars, but only the effects on the structure of stars have strong influence on the global properties, as maximum masses and deformation, of these objects.

We show that the microquasar LSI+61303 is running away from its birth place in a young complex of massive stars. The supernova explosion that formed the compact object shot out the x-ray binary with a linear momentum of 430 +/- 140 Msun km/s, which is comparable to the linear momenta found in solitary runaway neutron stars and millisecond pulsars. The properties of the binary system and its runaway motion of 27 +/- 6 km/s imply that the natal supernova was asymmetric and that the upper limit for the mass that could have been suddenly ejected in the explosion is ~2 Msun. The initial mass of the progenitor star of the compact object that is inferred depends on whether the formation of massive stars in the parent stellar cluster was coeval or a sequential process., 4 pages, 1 figure. Published in A&A, see http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?bibcode=2004A%26A...422L..29M and the NRAO press release at http://www.nrao.edu/pr/2004/shotout/

In this work we introduce an extended version of the formalism proposed originally by Taurines et al. that considers the effects of many-body forces simulated by nonlinear self-couplings and meson–meson interaction contributions. In this extended version of the model, we assume that matter is at zero temperature, charge neutral, and in beta-equilibrium, considering that the baryon octet interacts by the exchange of scalar–isoscalar (σ, s*), vector–isoscalar (ω, ϕ), vector–isovector ( ), and scalar–isovector (δ) meson fields. Using nuclear matter properties, we constrain the parameters of the model that describe the intensity of the indirectly density dependent baryon–meson couplings to a small range of possible values. We then investigate asymmetric hyperonic matter properties. We report that the formalism developed in this work is in reasonable agreement with experimental data and also allows for the existence of massive hyperon stars (with more than 2 M) with small radii, compatible with astrophysical observations.

The white dwarfs are promising laboratories for the study of cosmochronology and stellar evolution. Through observations of the pulsating white dwarfs, we can measure their internal structures and compositions, critical to understanding post-main-sequence evolution, along with their cooling rates, which will allow us to calibrate their ages directly. The most important set of white dwarf variables to measure are the oldest of the pulsators, the cool DA variables (DAVs), which have not been explored previously through asteroseismology due to their complexity and instability. Through a time-series photometry data set spanning 10 yr, we explore the pulsation spectrum of the cool DAV, G29-38 and find an underlying structure of 19 (not including multiplet components) normal-mode, probably l=1 pulsations amidst an abundance of time variability and linear combination modes. Modeling results are incomplete, but we suggest possible starting directions and discuss probable values for the stellar mass and hydrogen layer size. For the first time, we have made sense out of the complicated power spectra of a large-amplitude DA pulsator. We have shown that its seemingly erratic set of observed frequencies can be understood in terms of a recurring set of normal-mode pulsations and their linear combinations. With this result, we have opened the interior secrets of the DAVs to future asteroseismological modeling, thereby joining the rest of the known white dwarf pulsators.

With the exception of Terzan 5, all the Galactic globular clusters that possess significant metallicity spreads, such as omega Cen and M22, are preferentially the more luminous clusters with extended horizontal branches. Here we present radial velocities and chemical abundances for seven bright giants in the globular cluster M62, a previously little-studied cluster. With M_V = -9.18, M62 is the ninth most luminous Galactic globular cluster and has an extended horizontal branch. Within our sample, we find (i) no evidence for a dispersion in metallicity, [Fe/H], beyond the measurement uncertainties, (ii) star-to-star abundance variations for C, O, Na and Al with the usual correlations between these elements as seen in other globular clusters, and (iii) a global enrichment for the elements Zr, Ba and La at the level [X/Fe] = +0.4 dex. For elements heavier than La, the abundance ratios are consistent with the scaled-solar $r$-process distribution. Below La, the abundances are anomalous when compared to the scaled-solar s-process or r-process distributions. For these elements, the abundance signature in M62 is in agreement with predictions of the s-process from fast-rotating massive stars, although the high [Rb/Y] ratio we measure may be a challenge to this scenario., Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS

We have finally measured the evolutionary rate of cooling of the pulsating hydrogen atmosphere (DA) white dwarf ZZ Ceti (Ross 548), as reflected by the drift rate of the 213.13260694 s period. Using 41 yr of time-series photometry from 1970 November to 2012 January, we determine the rate of change of this period with time to be dP/dt = (5.2 ± 1.4) ×10−15 s s-ˡ employing the O−C method and (5.45 ± 0.79) ×10−15 s s-ˡ using a direct nonlinear least squares fit to the entire lightcurve. We adopt the dP/dt obtained from the nonlinear least squares program as our final determination, but augment the corresponding uncertainty to a more realistic value, ultimately arriving at the measurement of dP/dt = (5.5 ± 1.0) ×10−15 s s-ˡ. After correcting for proper motion, the evolutionary rate of cooling of ZZ Ceti is computed to be (3.3 ± 1.1) ×10−15 s s-ˡ. This value is consistent within uncertainties with the measurement of (4.19±0.73)×10−15 s s-ˡ for another similar pulsating DA white dwarf, G 117-B15A.Measuring the cooling rate of ZZ Ceti helps us refine our stellar structure and evolutionary models, as cooling depends mainly on the core composition and stellar mass. Calibrating white dwarf cooling curves with this measurement will reduce the theoretical uncertainties involved in white dwarf cosmochronometry. Should the 213.13 s period be trapped in the hydrogen envelope, then our determination of its drift rate compared to the expected evolutionary rate suggests an additional source of stellar cooling. Attributing the excess cooling to the emission of axions imposes a constraint on the mass of the hypothetical axion particle.

Using the SOuthern Astrophysical Research telescope (SOAR) Optical Imager at the SOAR 4.1 m telescope, we report on the discovery of five new massive pulsating white dwarf stars. Our results represent an increase of about 20 per cent in the number of massive pulsators. We have detected both short and long periods, low and high amplitude pulsation modes, covering the whole range of the ZZ Ceti instability strip.In this paper, we present a first seismological study of the new massive pulsators based on the few frequencies detected. Our analysis indicates that these stars have masses higher than average, in agreement with the spectroscopic determinations. In addition, we study for the first time the ensemble properties of the pulsating white dwarf stars with masses above 0.8 M ⊙ . We found a bimodal distribution of the main pulsation period with the effective temperature for the massive DAVs, which indicates mode selection mechanisms.

We describe the discovery of a likely brown dwarf (BD) companion with a minimum mass of 31.7 +/- 2.0 M_Jup to GSC 03546-01452 from the MARVELS radial velocity survey, which we designate as MARVELS-6b. For reasonable priors, our analysis gives a probability of 72% that MARVELS-6b has a mass below the hydrogen-burning limit of 0.072 M_Sun, and thus it is a high-confidence BD companion. It has a moderately long orbital period of 47.8929 +0.0063/-0.0062 days with a low eccentricty of 0.1442 +0.0078/-0.0073, and a semi-amplitude of 1644 +12/-13 m/s. Moderate resolution spectroscopy of the host star has determined the following parameters: T_eff = 5598 +/- 63, log g = 4.44 +/- 0.17, and [Fe/H] = +0.40 +/- 0.09. Based upon these measurements, GSC 03546-01452 has a probable mass and radius of M_star = 1.11 +/- 0.11 M_Sun and R_star = 1.06 +/- 0.23 R_Sun with an age consistent with less than ~6 Gyr at a distance of 219 +/- 21 pc from the Sun. Although MARVELS-6b is not observed to transit, we cannot definitively rule out a transiting configuration based on our observations. There is a visual companion detected with Lucky Imaging at 7.7 arcsec from the host star, but our analysis shows that it is not bound to this system. The minimum mass of MARVELS-6b exists at the minimum of the mass functions for both stars and planets, making this a rare object even compared to other BDs., Comment: 15 pages, 15 figures, 5 tables. Accepted for publication in The Astronomical Journal

We present an eccentric, short-period brown dwarf candidate orbiting the active, slightly evolved subgiant star TYC 2087-00255-1, which has effective temperature Teff = 5903±42 K, surface gravity log(g) = 4.07±0.16 (cgs), and metallicity [Fe/H] = −0.23 ± 0.07. This candidate was discovered using data from the first two years of the Multi-object APO Radial Velocity Exoplanets Large-area Survey, which is part of the third phase of Sloan Digital Sky Survey. From our 38 radial velocity measurements spread over a two-year time baseline, we derive a Keplerian orbital fit with semi-amplitude K = 3.571 ± 0.041 km s−1, period P = 9.0090 ± 0.0004 days, and eccentricity e = 0.226±0.011. Adopting a mass of 1.16±0.11M for the subgiant host star, we infer that the companion has a minimum mass of 40.0 ± 2.5MJup. Assuming an edge-on orbit, the semimajor axis is 0.090 ± 0.003 AU. The host star is photometrically variable at the ∼1% level with a period of ∼13.16±0.01 days, indicating that the host star spin and companion orbit are not synchronized. Through adaptive optics imaging we also found a point source 643 ± 10 mas away from TYC 2087-00255-1, which would have a mass of 0.13M if it is physically associated with TYC 2087-00255-1 and has the same age. Future proper motion observation should be able to resolve if this tertiary object is physically associated with TYC 2087-00255-1 and make TYC 2087-00255-1 a triple body system. Core Ca ii H and K line emission indicate that the host is chromospherically active, at a level that is consistent with the inferred spin period and measured vrot sin i, but unusual for a subgiant of this Teff . This activity could be explained by ongoing tidal spin-up of the host star by the companion.

We report the discovery of a candidate brown dwarf (BD) or a very low mass stellar companion (MARVELS-5b) to the star HIP 67526 from the Multi-object Apache point observatory Radial Velocity Exoplanet Large-area Survey (MARVELS). The radial velocity curve for this object contains 31 epochs spread over 2.5 yr.OurKeplerian fit, using a Markov Chain Monte Carlo approach, reveals that the companion has an orbital period of 90.2695+0.0188 −0.0187 days, an eccentricity of 0.4375±0.0040, and a semi-amplitude of 2948.14+16.65 −16.55 m s−1. Using additional high-resolution spectroscopy, we find the host star has an effective temperature Teff = 6004 ± 34 K, a surface gravity log g (cgs) = 4.55 ± 0.17, and a metallicity [Fe/H] = +0.04 ± 0.06. The stellar mass and radius determined through the empirical relationship of Torres et al. yields 1.10±0.09M and 0.92±0.19R . The minimummass ofMARVELS- 5b is 65.0±2.9MJup, indicating that it is likely to be either a BD or a very low mass star, thus occupying a relatively sparsely populated region of the mass function of companions to solar-type stars. The distance to this system is 101 ± 10 pc from the astrometric measurements of Hipparcos. No stellar tertiary is detected in the high-contrast images taken by either FastCam lucky imaging or Keck adaptive optics imaging, ruling out any star with mass greater than 0.2 M at a separation larger than 40 AU.

We report on the discovery of a new Milky Way (MW) companion stellar system located at (αJ 2000, δJ 2000) = (22h10 m 43 s. 15,14º56'58".8). The discovery was made using the eighth data release of SDSS after applying an automated method to search for overdensities in the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey footprint. Follow-up observations were performed using Canada–France–Hawaii-Telescope/MegaCam, which reveal that this system is comprised of an old stellar population, located at a distance of 31.9+1.0 −1.6 kpc, with a half-light radius of rh = 7.24+1.94 −1.29 pc and a concentration parameter of c = log10(rt/rc) = 1.55. A systematic isochrone fit to its color–magnitude diagram resulted in log (age yr-ˡ) = 10.07+0.05 −0.03 and [Fe/H] = −1.58+0.08 −0.13. These quantities are typical of globular clusters in the MW halo. The newly found object is of low stellar mass, whose observed excess relative to the background is caused by 95 ± 6 stars. The direct integration of its background decontaminated luminosity function leads to an absolute magnitude of MV = −1.21 ± 0.66. The resulting surface brightness is μV = 25.90 mag arcsec-². Its position in the MV versus rh diagram lies close to AM4 and Koposov 1, which are identified as star clusters. The object is most likely a very faint star cluster—one of the faintest and lowest mass systems yet identified.

TYC 4110-01037-1 has a low-mass stellar companion, whose small mass ratio and short orbital period are atypical among binary systems with solar-like (Teff 6000 K) primary stars. Our analysis of TYC 4110-01037-1 reveals it to be a moderately aged ( 5 Gyr) solar-like star having a mass of 1.07 ± 0.08M and radius of 0.99 ± 0.18 R . We analyze 32 radial velocity (RV) measurements from the SDSS-III MARVELS survey as well as 6 supporting RV measurements from the SARG spectrograph on the 3.6 m Telescopio Nazionale Galileo telescope obtained over a period of ∼2 years. The best Keplerian orbital fit parameters were found to have a period of 78.994 ± 0.012 days, an eccentricity of 0.1095 ± 0.0023, and a semi-amplitude of 4199 ± 11 m s−1. We determine the minimum companion mass (if sin i = 1) to be 97.7 ± 5.8 MJup. The system’s companion to host star mass ratio, 0.087 ± 0.003, places it at the lowest end of observed values for short period stellar companions to solar-like (Teff 6000 K) stars. One possible way to create such a system would be if a triple-component stellar multiple broke up into a short period, low q binary during the cluster dispersal phase of its lifetime. A candidate tertiary body has been identified in the system via single-epoch, high contrast imagery. If this object is confirmed to be comoving, we estimate it would be a dM4 star. We present these results in the context of our larger-scale effort to constrain the statistics of low-mass stellar and brown dwarf companions to FGK-type stars via the MARVELS survey.

We report the discovery via radial velocity of a short-period (P = 2.430420 \pm 0.000006 days) companion to the F-type main sequence star TYC 2930-00872-1. A long-term trend in the radial velocities indicates the presence of a tertiary stellar companion with $P > 2000$ days. High-resolution spectroscopy of the host star yields T_eff = 6427 +/- 33 K, log(g) = 4.52 +/- 0.14, and [Fe/H]=-0.04 +/- 0.05. These parameters, combined with the broad-band spectral energy distribution and parallax, allow us to infer a mass and radius of the host star of M_1=1.21 +/- 0.08 M_\odot and R_1=1.09_{-0.13}^{+0.15} R_\odot. We are able to exclude transits of the inner companion with high confidence. The host star's spectrum exhibits clear Ca H and K core emission indicating stellar activity, but a lack of photometric variability and small v*sin(I) suggest the primary's spin axis is oriented in a pole-on configuration. The rotational period of the primary from an activity-rotation relation matches the orbital period of the inner companion to within 1.5 ��, suggesting they are tidally locked. If the inner companion's orbital angular momentum vector is aligned with the stellar spin axis, as expected through tidal evolution, then it has a stellar mass of M_2 ~ 0.3-0.4 M_\odot. Direct imaging limits the existence of stellar companions to projected separations < 30 AU. No set of spectral lines and no significant flux contribution to the spectral energy distribution from either companion are detected, which places individual upper mass limits of M < 1.0 M_\odot, provided they are not stellar remnants. If the tertiary is not a stellar remnant, then it likely has a mass of ~0.5-0.6 M_\odot, and its orbit is likely significantly inclined from that of the secondary, suggesting that the Kozai-Lidov mechanism may have driven the dynamical evolution of this system., 37 pages, 7 tables, 21 figures, Accepted in AJ

Wide angle and deep surveys, regardless of their primary purpose, always sample a large number of stars in the Galaxy and in its satellite system. We here make a forecast of the expected stellar sample resulting from the Dark Energy Survey and the perspectives that it will open for studies of Galactic structure and resolved stellar populations in general. An estimated 1.2x10^8 stars will be sampled in DES grizY filters. This roughly corresponds to 20% of all DES sources. Most of these stars belong to the stellar thick disk and halo of the Galaxy. DES will probe low-mass stellar and sub-stellar objects at depths from 3 to 8 times larger than SDSS. The faint end of the main-sequence will be densely sampled beyond 10 kpc. The slope of the low mass end of the stellar IMF will be constrained to within a few hundredth dex, even in the thick disk and halo. In the sub-stellar mass regime, the IMF slope will be potentially constrained to within dlog \phi(m) / dlog m ~ 0.1$. About 3x10^4 brown dwarf and at least 7.6x10^5 white dwarf candidates will be selected, the latter embedded into the thick disk and halo. The stellar halo flattening will also be constrained to within a few percent. DES will probe the main sequence of new Milky Way satellites and halo clusters for distances out to ~ 120 kpc, therefore yielding stellar surface density contrasts 1.6-1.7 times larger than those attainable with SDSS. It will also allow detection of these objects in the far reaches of the stellar halo, substantially increasing the number and quality of probes to the Galactic potential. Combined with northern samples, such as the SDSS, the DES stellar sample will yield constraints on the structure and stellar populations of Galactic components in unprecedented detail. In particular, the combined sample from both hemispheres will allow detailed studies of halo and thick disk asymmetries and triaxiality., Comment: 29 pages, 10 figures. Approved for publication in the Astronomical Journal

Context. Since most of the star clusters do not survive the embedded phase, their early dissolution appears to be a major source of field stars. However, catching a cluster in the act of dissolving is somewhat elusive. Aims. We investigate the nature and possible evolution of the young Galactic star clusters Collinder 197 (Cr 197) and vdB 92. Methods. Photometric and structural properties were derived with near-infrared photometry and field-star decontamination. Kinematical properties were inferred from proper motions of the main sequence (MS) and pre-MS (PMS) member stars. Results. The colour–magnitude diagrams (CMDs) are basically characterised by a poorly-populated MS and a dominant fraction (>∼75%) of PMS stars, and the combined MS and PMS CMD morphology in both clusters consistently constrains the age to within 5 ± 4 Myr, with a ∼10 Myr spread in the star formation process. The MS+PMS stellar masses are ≈660+102 −59 Mʘ (Cr 197) and ≈750+101 −51 Mʘ (vdB 92). Both Cr 197 and vdB 92 appear to be abnormally large when compared to clusters within the same age range. They have irregular stellar radial density distributions (RDPs) with a marked excess in the innermost region, a feature that, at less than 10 Myr, is more likely related to the star formation and/or molecular cloud fragmentation than to age-dependent dynamical effects. The velocity dispersion of both clusters, derived from proper motions, is in the range ∼15−22 km s-ˡ. Conclusions. Both clusters appear to be in a super-virial state, with velocity dispersions higher than those expected of nearly-virialised clusters of similar mass and size. A possible interpretation is that Cr 197 and vdB 92 deviate critically from dynamical equilibrium, and may dissolve into the field. We also conclude that early cluster dissolution leaves detectable imprints on RDPs of clusters as massive as several 102 Mʘ. Cr 197 and vdB 92 may be the link between embedded clusters and young stellar associations.

We present full evolutionary calculations appropriate for the study of hot hydrogen-deficient DO white dwarfs, PG 1159 stars, and DB white dwarfs. White dwarf sequences are computed for a wide range of stellar masses and helium envelopes on the basis of a complete treatment of the evolutionary history of progenitors stars, including the core hydrogen and helium burning phases, the thermally pulsing asymptotic giant branch phase, and the born-again episode that is responsible for the hydrogen deficiency.We also provide colors and magnitudes for the newsequences for Teff < 40,000 K, where the NLTE effects are not dominant. These new calculations provide a homogeneous set of evolutionary tracks appropriate formass and age determinations for both PG1159 stars andDOwhite dwarfs. The calculations are extended down to an effective temperature of 7000 K. We applied these new tracks to redetermine stellar masses and ages of all known DO white dwarfs with spectroscopically determined effective temperatures and gravities, and compare them with previous results.We also compare for the first time consistent mass determinations for both DO and PG 1159 stars, and find a considerably higher mean mass for the DO white dwarfs. We discuss as well the chemical profile expected in the envelope of variable DB white dwarfs from the consideration of the evolutionary history of progenitor stars. Finally, we present tentative evidence for a different evolutionary channel, other than that involving the PG 1159 stars, for the formation of hot, hydrogen-deficient white dwarfs.

We determined masses for the 7167 DA and 507 DB white dwarf stars classified as single and non-magnetic in Data Release 4 of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). We obtained revised Teff and log g determinations for the most massive stars by fitting the SDSS optical spectra with a synthetic spectra grid derived from model atmospheres extending to log g = 10.0. We also calculate radii from evolutionary models and create volume-corrected mass distributions for our DA and DB samples. The mean mass for the DA stars brighter than g = 19 and hotter than Teff = 12 000K is (M) DA - ~ 0.593 ± 0.016Mʘ. For the 150 DBs brighter than g = 19 and hotter than Teff = 16 000 K, we find (M) DB = 0.711 ± 0.009Mʘ. It appears the mean mass for DB white dwarf stars may be significantly larger than that for DAs. We also report the highest mass white dwarf stars ever found, up to 1.33Mʘ.

BPM 37093 is the only hydrogen-atmosphere white dwarf currently known which has sufficient mass (~ 1.1 M_sun) to theoretically crystallize while still inside the ZZ Ceti instability strip (T_eff ~ 12,000 K). As a consequence, this star represents our first opportunity to test crystallization theory directly. If the core is substantially crystallized, then the inner boundary for each pulsation mode will be located at the top of the solid core rather than at the center of the star, affecting mainly the average period spacing. This is distinct from the "mode trapping" caused by the stratified surface layers, which modifies the pulsation periods more selectively. In this paper we report on Whole Earth Telescope observations of BPM 37093 obtained in 1998 and 1999. Based on a simple analysis of the average period spacing we conclude that a large fraction of the total stellar mass is likely to be crystallized., Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, 3 tables, accepted for Astronomy & Astrophysics

We derive photometric, structural and dynamical evolution-related parameters of 11 nearby open clusters with ages in the range 70 Myr to 7 Gyr and masses in the range $\approx400$ \ms to $\approx5 300$ \ms. We search for relations of structural and evolutionary parameters with age and Galactocentric distance. The main results for the present sample are: {\em (i)} cluster size correlates both with age and Galactocentric distance; {\em (ii)} because of size and mass scaling, core and limiting radii, and core and overall mass correlate; {\em (iii)} massive ($\rm m\geq1 000$ \ms) and less-massive clusters follow separate correlation paths on the plane core radius and overall mass; {\em (iv)} MF slopes of massive clusters are restricted to a narrow range, while those of the less-massive ones distribute over a wider range. Core and overall MF flattening is related to the ratio ($\tau$) of age to relaxation time. For large values of $\tau$ the effects of large-scale mass segregation and low-mass stars evaporation can be observed in the MFs. In this sense, $\tau$ appears to characterize the evolutionary state of the clusters. We conclude that appreciable slope flattenings in the overall MFs of the less-massive clusters take $\sim6$ times longer to occur than in the core, while in the massive clusters they take a time $\sim13$ times longer. We investigate cluster parameters equivalent to those determining the fundamental plane of ellipticals. These parameters are: overall mass, projected mass density and core radius. We conclude that in the present sample there is evidence of a fundamental plane., Comment: 19 pages and 14 figs

We report the discovery of three optical open clusters in the Milky Way. Two clusters are in Scutum (Cluster1 at l=18.44 degrees and b=-0.42 degrees, and Cluster2 at l=19.60 degrees and b=-1.02 degrees), thus projected not far from the Galactic center direction, and the other is in Canis Major (Cluster3 at l=235.61 degrees and b=-4.10 degrees), near the anti-center direction. Cluster3 is less populous than Clusters 1 and 2, but presents evidence of being a physical system. The objects were found optically by inspecting maps obtained from the Guide Star Catalogue and images from the Digitized Sky Survey. No previous identification of cluster has been reported in each area so far. The analysis was carried out with 2MASS photometry in J and H. For Cluster1 we derive an age of 25 Myr, a reddening E(B-V)=2.18 and a distance from the Sun 1.64kpc; for Cluster2, age of 500Myr, E(B-V)=0.91 and distance 2.19kpc; finally for Cluster3, age 32-100Myr, E(B-V)=0.94 and distance of 3.93kpc. Luminosity and mass functions are derived for Clusters1 and 2 which, in turn, allowed us to estimate their observed masses as 147 and 89 solar masses, respectively. Estimated total masses, by extrapolating the mass functions to 0.08 solar mass, amount to 382 and 614 solar masses, for the two clusters. Cluster3 has an observed mass of 55 solar masses. The present results indicate that further searches in the optical might still reveal new open clusters, and more so in infrared bands., accepted to Astronomy and Astrophysics, 9 figures

We study classical disk clusters at nearly solar metallicity with ages in the range 200 Myr - 6 Gyr using 2MASS pho- tometry and theoretical isochrones. As a first step we employ J, H and K Johnson's Padova isochrones which, on a large scale, result in a good fit of the observed data. However, we find some significant deviations, especially in the red giant branch for intermediate age clusters and the low-mass main-sequence end in general. Subsequently, isochrones involving the 2MASS J, H and KS transmission curves were generated which account for differences of ≈0.02 of the above deviations, in the sense re- quired by the 2MASS observations. However, these corrections are not enough to fully account for the observed differences. We suggest that the remaining deviations should be accounted for by model atmosphere limitations, particularly the lack of molec- ular opacity data in low-temperature giants. Future models will incorporate these updated data in order to produce isochrones suitable for the whole range of stellar masses.

The distribution of core radii of rich clusters in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) systematically increases in both upper limit and spread with increasing cluster age. Cluster-to-cluster variations in the stellar initial mass function (IMF) have been suggested as an explanation.We discuss the implications of the observed degree of mass segregation in our sample clusters for the shape of the initial mass function. Our results are based on Hubble Space Telescope/WFPC2 observations of six rich star clusters in the LMC, selected to include three pairs of clusters of similar age, metallicity and distance from the LMC centre, and exhibiting a large spread in core radii between the clusters in each pair. All clusters show clear evidence of mass segregation: (i) their luminosity function slopes steepen with increasing cluster radius, and (ii) the brighter stars are characterized by smaller core radii. For all sample clusters, both the slope of the luminosity function in the cluster centres and the degree of mass segregation are similar to each other, within observational errors of a few tenths of power-law slope fits to the data. This implies that their initial mass functions must have been very similar, down to ~ 0.8–1.0 Mʘ. We therefore rule out variations in the IMF of the individual sample clusters as the main driver of the increasing spread of cluster core radii with cluster age.

The pulsating PG 1159 planetary nebula central star RXJ 2117+3412 has been observed over three successive seasons of a multisite photometric campaign. The asteroseismological analysis of the data, based on the 37 identified l = 1 modes among the 48 independent pulsation frequencies detected in the power spectrum, leads to the derivation of the rotational splitting, the period spacing and the mode trapping cycle and amplitude, from which a number of fundamental parameters can be deduced. The average rotation period is 1.16 ± 0.05 days. The trend for the rotational splitting to decrease with increasing periods is incompatible with a solid body rotation. The total mass is 0.56⁺⁰˙⁰²₋₀.₀₄ Mѳ and the He-rich envelope mass fraction is in the range 0.013–0.078 M*. The luminosity derived from asteroseismology is log(L/Lѳ) = 4.05⁺⁰˙²³₋₀.₃₂ and the distance 760⁺²³⁰₋₂₃₅ pc. At such a distance, the linear size of the planetary nebulae is 2.9 ± 0.9 pc. The role of mass loss on the excitation mechanism and its consequence on the amplitude variations is discussed.

The [Sr/Ba] and [Y/Ba] scatter observed in some galactic halo stars that are very metal-poor stars and in a few individual stars of the oldest known Milky Way globular cluster NGC 6522,have been interpreted as evidence of early enrichment by massive fast-rotating stars (spinstars). Because NGC 6522 is a bulge globular cluster, the suggestion was that not only the very-metal poor halo stars, but also bulge stars at [Fe/H]~-1 could be used as probes of the stellar nucleosynthesis signatures from the earlier generations of massive stars, but at much higher metallicity. For the bulge the suggestions were based on early spectra available for stars in NGC 6522, with a medium resolution of R~22,000 and a moderate signal-to-noise ratio. The main purpose of this study is to re-analyse the NGC 6522 stars previously reported using new high-resolution (R~45,000) and high signal-to-noise spectra (S/N>100). We aim at re-deriving their stellar parameters and elemental ratios, in particular the abundances of the neutron-capture s-process-dominated elements such as Sr, Y, Zr, La, and Ba, and of the r-element Eu. High-resolution spectra of four giants belonging to the bulge globular cluster NGC 6522 were obtained at the 8m VLT UT2-Kueyen telescope with the UVES spectrograph in FLAMES-UVESconfiguration. The spectroscopic parameters were derived based on the excitation and ionization equilibrium of \ion{Fe}{I} and \ion{Fe}{II}. Our analysis confirms a metallicity [Fe/H] = -0.95+-0.15 for NGC 6522, and the overabundance of the studied stars in Eu (with +~0.2 < [Eu/Fe] < +~0.4) and alpha-elements O and Mg. The neutron-capture s-element-dominated Sr, Y, Zr, Ba, La now show less pronounced variations from star to star. Enhancements are in the range 0.0 < [Sr/Fe] < +0.4, +0.23 < [Y/Fe] < +0.43, 0.0 < [Zr/Fe] < +0.4, 0.0 < [La/Fe] < +0.35,and 0.05 < [Ba/Fe] < +0.55., date of acceptation: 31/07/2014, in press, 24 pages, 19 figures,Astronomy & Astrophysics, 2014

Our theoretical calculations indicate that the massive pulsating DA white dwarf, BPM 37093, has a crystallized ion interior. Our estimates for the crystallized mass fraction depend on our assumption for the interior composition and range from 10% for pure carbon and low total mass to more than 90% for pure oxygen and high total mass; the mass of this white dwarf suggests on theoretical grounds that the core composition is unlikely to be lighter than oxygen. Our best estimate is that the crystallized mass fraction exceeds 90%. BPM 37093 is the first known example of a pulsating white dwarf star with a potentially crystalline interior. We point out that future observations of the pulsation properties of this object are essential for carrying out asteroseismological measurements of the crystallized mass fraction of its interior. Uncertainties in the nature and extent of crystallization and its associated effects are the largest source of uncertainty in calculating the ages of the coolest white dwarf stars—an important chronometer for the Galactic disk. In addition, crystallization plays an important role in our understanding of neutron star crusts. Investigations of the pulsation properties of this star promise to provide us with the first empirical tests of the theory of crystallization in stellar interiors, now more than 35 yr old.

Recent claims in the literature, that the rate of mass loss from red giant branch (RGB) stars in old, open clusters like M 67 and NGC 6791, increases with the metallicity above the value holding for Globular Clusters and predicted by the classical Reimers (1975) relation, are thoroughly scrutinized by means of the global fit of the color-magnitude diagram (CMD) of these clusters (M 67 in particular) to modern sets of theoretical isochrones. The above claim stems from recognizing that there is wide agreement in literature on the metallicity (nearly solar), age (about 5 Gyr), and distance modulus ((m – M)=9.55) of M 67, and from estimating the mass of its giant stars in the red clump to be about 0.7 MΘ . At the above age, the masses at the turn-off and near the tip of the RGB are about 1.2 MΘ and 1.3 MΘ, respectively. This means that in clusters with nearly solar metallicity, much more mass ought to be lost by the red giant stars than classically predicted. In this paper we show that in order to be able to derive the mass of the red stars in the clump from their position in the CMD, the color difference Δ(B – V) between the turnoff and the base of the RGB should be known with a precision smaller than δ[Δ(B – V)] = 0.01 mag and, at the same time, the distance modulus should be determined with a precision higher than 0.025 mag. The analysis of the problem clarifies in fact that in the global isochrone fitting technique, both the distance modulus and mass of the clump stars depend on the above color difference according to the relations ðMvto/ðΔ(B – V) ~- –9.2 and ð MHB/ðΔ(B – V) ~- –22 MΘ/mag. Therefore, an uncertainty in Δ(B – V) as small as δ[Δ(B – V)] = 0.01 mag implies an uncertainty in the distance modulus of δ(m – M) = 0.1 mag and, even more important, an uncertainty in the mass of the clump stars of 0.22 MΘ . Fits of the CMD of M 67 (and NGC 6791) are presented, in which the classical value of the mass for the stars in question is recovered. The claim that the rate of mass loss from RGB stars increases with the metallicity is not supported by the present day data for M 67. Finally, the claim that in NGC 6791 the metallicity higher than in M 67 is the cause of the occurrence of a few faint, blue stars, and in turn that mass loss plays the key role in generating stars that are potential candidates as sources of UV flux in elliptical galaxies and bulges, are also not supported by current data.

As transition objects between the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) and cooling white dwarfs, the PG 1159 stars are key objects for understanding the late stages of stellar evolution. The pulsations exhibited by many members of the PG 1159 spectral class provide a mechanism for ferreting out this information. We present an analysis of the pulsation spectrum of the naked PG 1159 star PG 2131 +066, which we completely resolve using data from the Whole Earth Telescope (WET). The pulsation spectrum shows patterns that are expected from pulsation theory; comparison of these patterns with theoretical models indicate that PG 2131 has a mass of 0.61 ± 0.02 Mʘ, a luminosity of log (L/Lʘ) = 1.0 ± 0.2, and it lies ata distance of 470 +470 - 130pc. lt rotates with a period of 5.1 hr and shows evidence of a discontinuity in composition approximately 6 x 10- 3M* below the surface. Certain modes show complex structure in the power spectrum, while others show measur­ able frequency changes in 8 years. Fine structure in the prograde (m = -1) modes suggests the presence of nonlinear effects.