Interstellar Extinction Law Research Articles

A method for determining stellar parameters from multicolor photometry

Amethod for determining the most probable spectral types, color excesses EB-V, and distances of stars from multicolor photometry is described. The main idea of the method is modeling the photometric data using various models for the stellar spectra and the interstellar extinction law, and applying the maximum likelihood method. The reliability of the method is estimated using stars with known spectral types and WBVR photometry, based on the empirical library of stellar spectra of Pickles and the model for the interstellar extinction law developed by Fluks et al.

The Mid-IR Extinction Law in the LMC

AbstractThe mid-infrared (MIR) extinction law in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) at four IRAC bands is derived using the data of the Spitzer/SAGE Program. The derived mean extinctions are A[3.6]/AKs = 0.68±0.03, A[4.5]/AKs = 0.97±0.03, A[5.8]/AKs = 0.54±0.04, and A[8.0]/AKs = 0.58±0.07. The results show that: (1) The extinctions at [3.6], [5.8] and [8.0] of the LMC consist a flat curve, similar to that of the Milky Way (MW) predicted by the interstellar grain model at Rv = 5.5; (2) The extinction at [4.5] is clearly higher than the other three bands, which may be caused by the additional absorption of the 4.27μm CO2 ice and/or the 4.67μm CO ice in the LMC molecular clouds; (3) As far as individual sightlines are concerned, the MIR interstellar extinction law Aλ/AKs in the LMC varies with sightlines as the MW does.

The extinction curve in the visible and the value of RV: Addendum to AN 333, 160

AbstractThis paper corrects and completes a previous study of the shape of the extinction curve in the visible and the value of RV. A continuous visible/infrared extinction law proportional to 1/λp with p close to 1 (± 0.4) is indistinguishable from a perfectly linear law (p = 1) in the visible within observational precision, but the shape of the curve in the infrared can be substantially modified. Values of p slightly larger than 1 would account for the increase of extinction (compared to the p = 1 law) reported for λ > 1 μ m and deeply affect the value of RV. In the absence of gray extinction RV must be 4.04 if p = 1. It becomes 3.14 for p = 1.25, 3.00 for p = 1.30, and 2.76 for p = 1.40. Values of p near 1.3 are also attributed to extinction by atmospheric aerosols, which indicates that both phenomena may be governed by similar particle size distributions. A power extinction law may harmonize visible and infrared data into a single, continuous, and universal interstellar extinction law (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Variations of the interstellar extinction law within the nearest kiloparsec

Multicolor photometry from the Tycho-2 and 2MASS catalogues for 11 990 OB and 30 671 K-type red giant branch stars is used to detect systematic large-scale variations of the interstellar extinction law within the nearest kiloparsec. The characteristic of the extinction law, the total-to-selective extinction ratio Rv, which also characterizes the size and other properties of interstellar dust grains, has been calculated for various regions of space by the extinction law extrapolation method. The results for the two classes of stars agree: the standard deviation of the “red giants minus OB” Rv differences within 500 pc of the Sun is 0.2. The detected Rv variations between 2.2 and 4.4 not only manifest themselves in individual clouds but also span the entire space near the Sun, following Galactic structures. In the Local Bubble within about 100 pc of the Sun, Rv has a minimum. In the inner part of the Gould Belt and at high Galactic latitudes, at a distance of about 150 pc from the Sun, Rv reaches a maximum and then decreases to its minimum in the outer part of the Belt and other directions at a distance of about 500 pc from the Sun, returning to its mean values far from the Sun. The detected maximum of Rv at high Galactic latitudes is important when allowance is made for the interstellar extinction toward extragalactic objects. In addition, a monotonic increase in Rv by 0.3 per kpc toward the Galactic center has been found near the Galactic equator. It is consistent with the result obtained by Zasowski et al. (2009) for much of the Galaxy. Ignoring the Rv variations and traditionally using a single value for the entire space must lead to systematic errors in the calculated distances reaching 10%.

Limited diversity of the interstellar extinction law

AbstractWe have applied the method of investigating extinction curves using statistically meaningful samples that was proposed by us 25 years ago. The extensive data sets of the ANS (Astronomical Netherlands Satellite) and 2MASS (Two Micron All Sky Survey) were used, together with UBV photometry to create average extinction curves for samples of OB stars. Our results demonstrate that in the vast majority of cases the extinction curves are very close to the mean galactic extinction curve. Only a few objects were found to be obviously discrepant from the average. The latter phenomenon may be related to nitrogen chemistry in translucent interstellar clouds (© 2011 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Distances to dense cores that contain very low luminosity objects

The aim of the paper is to estimate distances to dense molecular cores that harbour Very Low Luminosity Objects (VeLLO) detected by Spitzer Space Telescope and to confirm their VeLLO nature. The cloud distances are estimated using near-IR photometric method. We use a technique that provides spectral classification of stars lying towards the fields containing the clouds into main sequence and giants. In this technique, the observed (J-H) and (H-Ks) colours are dereddened simultaneously using trial values of A_V and a normal interstellar extinction law. The best fit of the dereddened colours to the intrinsic colours giving a minimum value of chi^{2} then yields the corresponding spectral type and A_V for the star. The main sequence stars, thus classified, are then utilized in an A_V versus distance plot to bracket the cloud distances. The typical error in the estimation of distances to the clouds are found to be ~18%.We estimated distances to seven cloud cores, IRAM04191, L1521F, BHR111, L328, L673-7, L1014, and L1148 using the above method. These clouds contain VeLLO candidates. The estimated distances to the cores are found to be 127\pm25 pc (IRAM04191), 136\pm36 pc (L1521F), 355\pm65 pc (BHR111), 217\pm30 pc (L328), 240\pm45 pc (L673-7), 258\pm50 pc (L1014), and 301\pm55 pc (L1148). We re-evaluated the internal luminosities of the VeLLOs discovered in these seven clouds using the distances estimated from this work. Except for L1014-IRS (L_{int}=0.15 L_{\odot}), all other VeLLO candidates are found to be consistent with the definition of a VeLLO (L_{int}<=0.1L_{\odot}). In addition to the cores that harbour VeLLO candidates, we also obtained distances to the clouds L323, L675, L676, CB 188, L1122, L1152, L1155, L1157 and L1158 which are located in the directions of the above seven cores. Towards L1521F and L1148 we found evidence of the presence of multiple dust layers.

Period-magnitude relation of Mira-like variables in the Large Magellanic Cloud as a tool to understanding circumstellar extinction

Near- to mid-infrared period-magnitude relations and also the period-bolometric luminosity relation of OGLE-III Mira-like variables in the LMC are derived. The relations have a kink, and the period at which the break occurs is quantitatively obtained. There are many Mira-like variables whose fluxes at the optical and the near-infrared wavebands are fainter than the ones predicted by the period-magnitude relations. The deviation is due to the circumstellar extinction, and the amount of the deviation is found to be strongly correlated with near-infrared colors. The empirical formulae relating the amount of the deviation and the near-infrared colors are derived. These relations are useful to accurately calculate the distances to the dusty Mira-like variables, because the dimmed fluxes due to the circumstellar extinction can be estimated. In a manner analogous to the interstellar extinction law, the ratios of deviations at any two different wavebands are calculated. The ratios are found to change with the pulsation period, indicating that the dust properties are subject to change as Mira-like variables evolve.

A method to determine distances to molecular clouds using near-IR photometry

Aims: We aim to develop a method to determine distances to molecular clouds using JHK near-infrared photometry. Methods: The method is based on a technique that aids spectral classification of stars lying towards the fields containing the clouds into main sequence and giants. In this technique, the observed (J-H) and (H-K_s) colours are dereddened simultaneously using trial values of A V and a normal interstellar extinction law. The best fit of the dereddened colours to the intrinsic colours giving a minimum value of Chi^2 then yields the corresponding spectral type and A_V for the star. The main sequence stars, thus classified, are then utilized in an A V versus distance plot to bracket the cloud distances. Results: We applied the method to four clouds, L1517, Chamaeleon I, Lupus 3 and NGC 7023 and estimated their distances as 167+-30, 151+-28, 157+-29 and 408+-76 pc respectively, which are in good agreement with the previous distance estimations available in the literature

The open cluster Berkeley 53

AbstractWe present a photometric study of the neglected open cluster Berkeley 53. We derived its fundamental parameters, such as the age, the interstellar reddening, and the distance from the Sun, based on BV photometry combined with near‐infrared JHKS data. The structure and the mass function of the cluster were also studied and the total number of members and the total mass were estimated. The cluster was found to be a rich and massive stellar system, located in the Perseus Arm of the Milky Way, 3.1 ± 0.1 kpc from the Sun. Its age exceeds 1 Gy but it seems tobe very young in the context of its dynamical evolution. The analysis of the two‐color diagrams and color‐magnitude diagrams indicates that the cluster is significantly reddened. However, both methods resulted in different values of E (B – V), i.e. 1.21 ± 0.04 and 1.52 ± 0.01, respectively. This discrepancy suggests the presence of an abnormal interstellar extinction law toward the cluster (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &amp; Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

INTERSTELLAR EXTINCTION LAW TOWARD THE GALACTIC CENTER III:J,H,KSBANDS IN THE 2MASS AND THE MKO SYSTEMS, AND 3.6, 4.5, 5.8, 8.0 μm IN THESPITZER/IRAC SYSTEM

We have determined interstellar extinction law toward the Galactic center (GC) at the wavelength from 1.2 to 8.0 micron, using point sources detected in the IRSF/SIRIUS near-infrared survey and those in the 2MASS and Spitzer/IRAC/GLIMPSE II catalogs. The central region |l| < 3deg and |b| < 1deg has been surveyed in the J, H and Ks bands with the IRSF telescope and the SIRIUS camera whose filters are similar to the Mauna Kea Observatories (MKO) near-infrared photometric system. Combined with the GLIMPSE II point source catalog, we made Ks versus (Ks - lambda) color-magnitude diagrams where lambda = 3.6, 4.5, 5.8, and 8.0 micron. The Ks magnitudes of bulge red clump stars and the (Ks - lambda) colors of red giant branches are used as a tracer of the reddening vector in the color-magnitude diagrams. From these magnitudes and colors, we have obtained the ratios of total to selective extinction A(Ks)/E(Ks-lambda) for the four IRAC bands. Combined with A(lambda)/A(Ks) for the J and H bands derived by Nishiyama et al., we obtain A(J):A(H):A(Ks):A([3.6]):A([4.5]):A([5.8]):A([8.0])=3.02:1.73:1:0.50:0.39:0.36:0.43 for the line of sight toward the GC. This confirms the flattening of the extinction curve at lambda > 3 micron from a simple extrapolation of the power-law extinction at shorter wavelengths, in accordance with recent studies. The extinction law in the 2MASS JHKs bands has also been calculated, and a good agreement with that in the MKO system is found. In nearby molecular clouds and diffuse interstellar medium, the lack of reliable measurements of the total to selective extinction ratios hampers unambiguous determination of the extinction law; however, observational results toward these lines of sight cannot be reconciled with a single extinction law.

Infrared Extinction toward Nearby Star‐forming Regions

We present an independent estimate of the interstellar extinction law for the Spitzer IRAC bands as well as a first attempt at extending the law to the 24micron MIPS band. The source data for these measurements are observations of five nearby star-forming regions: the Orion A cloud, NGC 2068/71, NGC 2024/23, Serpens and Ophiuchus. Color excess ratios E(H-Ks)/E(Ks-[lambda]) were measured for stars without infrared excess dust emission from circumstellar disks/envelopes. For four of these five regions, the extinction laws are similar at all wavelengths and differ systematically from a previous determination of the extinction law, which was dominated by the diffuse ISM, derived for the IRAC bands. This difference could be due to the difference in the dust properties of the dense molecular clouds observed here and those of the diffuse ISM. The extinction law at longer wavelengths toward the Ophiuchus region lies between that to the other four regions studied here and that for the ISM. In addition, we extended our extinction law determination to 24micron for Serpens and NGC 2068/71 using Spitzer MIPS data. We compare these results against several ISO extinction law determinations, although in each case there are assumptions which make absolute comparison uncertain. However, our work confirms a relatively flatter extinction curve from 4 - 8micron than the previously assumed standard, as noted by all of these recent studies. The extinction law at 24micron is consistent with previous measurements and models, although there are relatively large uncertainties.

A Study of the Isolated Dark Globule DC 314.8-5.1: Extinction, Distance, and a Hint of Star Formation

The southern dark globule DC 314.8-5.1 contains a reflection nebula illuminated by a normal B9 V star, HD 130079. This serendipitous association provides the opportunity to evaluate the distance to the globule with greater accuracy than would otherwise be possible, subject to accurate accounting for the effects of interstellar extinction and reddening. It is shown that the dust in the line of sight has optical properties characterized by elevated values of the ratio of extinction to reddening (RV = AV/EB-V) and the wavelength of maximum polarization (λmax), signifying growth that most probably results from grain-grain coagulation within the globule. Taking this into account yields a distance of 342 ± 50 pc, significantly lower than previous estimates that assume the standard diffuse interstellar medium average extinction law. Comparison of this result with the loci of other major sources of extinction along the line of sight suggests that the globule is isolated; it appears to not be physically associated with the adjacent Circinus molecular cloud and star formation complex G317.0-4.0. Estimates are made of the mean number density (nH 9 × 103 cm-3) and mass (30-100 M⊙) of DC 314.8-5.1. A stellar census of the region using the Two Micron All Sky Survey suggests that it is not a site of vigorous star formation, although two (out of 387) sources are identified that appear to be good candidates for young stellar object status on the basis of their near-infrared colors. A deep mid-infrared survey will be needed to determine whether DC 314.8-5.1 is, indeed, starless (with respect to indigenous birth) or a site of sedentary low-mass star formation. The globule may also prove to be a valuable laboratory for future study of the interaction of dense molecular gas and dust in a quiescent core with the relatively soft UV radiation field emanating from the embedded B9 V star.

ON THE HOMOGENEITY OF THE EXTINCTION LAW IN OUR GALAXY

We analyze the extinction law towards several B1V stars-members of our Galaxy, searching for possible discrepancies from the galactic average extinction curve. Our photometric data allow to build extinction curves in a very broad range: from extreme UV till infrared. Two-colour diagrams, based on the collected photometric data from the ANS UV satellite, published UBV measurements and on the infrared 2MASS data of the selected stars, are constructed. Slopes of the fitted straight lines are used to build the average extinction curve and to search for discrepant objects. The selected stars have also been observed spectroscopically from the Terskol and ESO Observatories; these spectra allow to check their Sp/L's. The spectra of only about 30% of the initially selected objects resemble closely that of HD144470, considered as the standard of B1 V type. Other spectra either show some emission features or belong clearly to another spectral types. They are not used to build the extinction curve. Two-colour diagrams, constructed for the selected B1 V stars, showing no emission stellar features, prove that the interstellar extinction law is homogeneous in the Galaxy. Both the shape of the curve and the total-to-selective extinction ratio do not differ from the galactic average and the canonical value(3.1) respectively. The circumstellar emissions usually cause some discrepancies from the average interstellar extinction law; the discrepancies observed in the extraterrestrial ultraviolet, usually follow some misclassifications.

The transparency of the Universe limited by Lyα clouds

AbstractThe brightnesses of supernovae are commonly understood to indicate that cosmological expansion is accelerating due to dark energy. However the entire discussion presumes a perfectly transparent universe because no effects of reddening associated with the interstellar extinction law are seen. We note that with two kinds of dark matter (baryonic and nonbaryonic) strongly dominating the known mass of the universe, it is seriously premature to assume that these dark matter components have not reduced the transmission of the universe for cosmological sources.We show that the long‐known Lyα clouds, if nucleated by the population of baryonic dark matter primordial planetoids indicated by quasar microlensing, would act as spherical lenses and achromatically fade cosmologically distant sources. We attempt to estimate the amount of this cosmological fading, but ultimately the calculation is limited by lack of a satisfactory model for the tenuous outer parts of a primordial planetoid. We also consider the effects of such cosmological fading on the light of quasars. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &amp; Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

NEW CATALOG OF DISTANCES AND LIGHT CURVE PARAMETERS OF CLASSICAL CEPHEIDS

A new version of the catalogue of distances and light-curve parameters for galactic classical Cepheids is presented. The catalogue lists amplitudes, magnitudes at maximum light, and intensity means for 515 stars in UBVRI filters of the Johnson system and (RI)C filters of the Cron-Cousins system. The distances are based on our multicolour set of PL relations and on our Cepheid-based solution for interstellar extinction law parameters and are referred to an LMC distance modulus of 18.25.

A High Spatial Resolution Infrared View of the T Tauri Multiple System

We present the results of our monitoring study of the IR photometric and spectroscopic variability of the T Tau multiple system. We also present data on the apparent position of T Tau South (T Tau S) with respect to T Tau North (T Tau N), and two new spatially resolved observations of the T Tau Sa-Sb binary. T Tau N has not varied by more than 0.2 mag in K and L' flux during the 8 years of our observations, although its Brγ and Brα emission-line fluxes have varied by nearly a factor of 4 during this time. For the unresolved T Tau S system, we have derived a 20 yr light curve based on our images and on measurements available in the literature. T Tau S varies by 2-3 mag in K- and L'-band brightness in a redder when faint manner, consistent with changes along the line of sight in the amount of material that follows an interstellar medium extinction law. Absorption in the 3.05 μm water ice feature is seen only in the spectra of T Tau S, and it displays variations in depth and profile. H2 (2.12 μm) emission is also detected only at the position of T Tau S; the H2, Brγ, and Brα emission-line fluxes also vary. We have found that the apparent positions of T Tau S with respect to T Tau N and T Tau Sb with respect to Sa are consistent with gravitationally bound orbital motion. The possible orbits of the T Tau S binary imply that Sa is likely the most massive component in this young triple. A reanalysis of the motion of the radio source associated with T Tau S provides no evidence for an ejection event in the T Tau system.

A comprehensive CCD photometric study of the open cluster NGC 2421

We present the UBVRI CCD photometry in the region of the open cluster NGC 2421. The radius of the cluster is determined as ∼3.0 arcmin using a stellar density profile. Our study indicates that the metallicity of the cluster is Z ∼ 0.004. The reddening E(B - V) = 0.42 ± 0.05 mag is determined using a two colour (U - B) versus (B - V) diagram. By combining the 2MASS JHK data with the optical data, we determined that E(J - K) = 0.20 ± 0.20 mag and E(V - K) = 1.15 ± 0.20 mag for this cluster. Colour-excess diagrams show a normal interstellar extinction law in the direction of the cluster. We determined that the distance of the cluster is 2.2 ± 0.2 kpc by comparing the zero-age main sequence with the intrinsic colour-magnitude diagram of the cluster. The age of the cluster has been estimated as 80 ± 20 Myr using the stellar isochrones of metallicity Z = 0.004. The mass function slope x = 1.2 ± 0.3 has been derived by applying the corrections of field star contamination and data incompleteness. Our analyses indicate that the cluster NGC 2421 is dynamically relaxed.

UBV RICCD photometric study of the open clusters Basel 4 and NGC 7067

In this paper we present UBVRI CCD photometry in the region of two young open star clusters Basel 4 and NGC 7067 for the first time. Our sample consists of ~ 4000 stars down to V ~ 21 mag. Stellar surface density profile indicates that radius of Basel 4 and NGC 7067 are about 1.8 and 3.0 arcmin respectively.The (U-B) versus (B-V) diagrams indicate that metallicity of NGC 7067 is solar while that of Basel 4 is Z ~ 0.008. We estimate the mean value of E(B-V) = 0.45$\pm$0.05 and 0.75$\pm$0.05 mag for Basel 4 and NGC 7067 respectively. The analysis of 2MASS JHK data in combination with the optical data in both the clusters yields E(J-K) = 0.30$\pm$0.20 mag and E(V-K) = 1.60$\pm$0.20 mag for Basel 4 while E(J-K) = 0.40$\pm$0.20 mag and E(V-K) = 2.10$\pm$0.20 mag for NGC 7067. Furthermore, colour excess diagrams show a normal interstellar extinction law towards both the clusters. Using the intrinsic colour-magnitude diagrams of the cluster members, we estimated the distances of the clusters as 3.0$\pm$0.2 and 3.6$\pm$0.2 Kpc for Basel 4 and NGC 7067 respectively. By fitting the proper metallicity isochrones to the bright cluster members we estimated the age of the clusters as 200$\pm$50 and 100$\pm$25 Myr for Basel 4 and NGC 7067 respectively. The mass function slope which is derived by applying the corrections of field star contamination and data incompleteness are $1.55\pm0.25$ and $1.68\pm0.47$ for Basel 4 and NGC 7067 respectively. The values of mass function slopes are thus not too different from the Salpeter's (1955) value. Mass segregation is observed in both the clusters which may be due to the dynamical evolutions or imprint of star formation processes or both.

A Method for Simultaneous Determination ofAVandRand Applications

A method for the simultaneous determination of the interstellar extinction (AV) and of the ratio of total to selective extinction (R), derived from the 1989 Cardelli, Clayton, & Mathis fitting of the interstellar extinction law, is presented and applied to a set of 1900 color excesses derived from observations of stars in UBVRIJHKL. The method is used to study the stability of AV and R within selected regions in Perseus, Scorpius, Monoceros, Orion, Sagittarius, Ophiuchus, Carina, and Serpens. Analysis shows that R is approximately constant and peculiar to each sector, with mean values that vary from 3.2 in Perseus to 5.6 in Ophiuchus. These results are similar to published values by Aiello et al., He et al., Vrba & Rydgren, O'Donnell, and Cardelli, Clayton, & Mathis.

Interstellar Extinction and the Intrinsic Colors of Classical Cepheids in the Galaxy, the LMC, and the SMC

New methods are applied to samples of classical cepheids in the galaxy, the Large Magellanic Cloud, and the Small Magellanic Cloud to determine the interstellar extinction law for the classical cepheids, R B:R V:R I:R J:R H:R K= 4.190:3.190:1.884:0.851:0.501:0.303, the color excesses for classical cepheids in the galaxy, E(B-V)=-0.382-0.168logP+0.766(V-I), and the color excesses for classical cepheids in the LMC and SMC, E(B-V)=-0.374-0.166logP+0.766(V-I). The dependence of the intrinsic color (B-V)0 on the metallicity of classical cepheids is discussed. The intrinsic color (V-I)0 is found to be absolutely independent of the metallicity of classical cepheids. A high precision formula is obtained for calculating the intrinsic colors of classical cepheids in the galaxy: (- )0=0.365(±0.011)+0.328(±0.012)logP.