Magellanic Cloud Research Articles

Dust attenuation in galaxies at cosmic dawn from the FirstLight simulations

ABSTRACT We study the behaviour of dust in galaxies at cosmic dawn, z = 6–8, by coupling the FirstLight simulations with the radiative transfer code polaris. The starburst nature of these galaxies and their complex distribution of dust lead to a large diversity of attenuation curves. These follow the Calzetti model only for relatively massive galaxies, Mstars ≃ 109 M⊙. Galaxies with lower masses have steeper curves, consistent with the model for the Small Magellanic Cloud. The ultraviolet and optical slopes of the attenuation curves are closer to the modified Calzetti model, with a slight preference for the power-law model for galaxies with the highest values of attenuation. We have also examined the relation between the slope in the far-ultraviolet, βUV, and the infrared excess, IRX. At z = 6, it follows the Calzetti model with a shift to slightly lower βUV values due to lower metallicities at lower attenuation. The same relation at z = 8 shows a shift to higher IRX values due to a stronger CMB radiation at high z.

The VISCACHA survey

The chemical evolution history of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) has been a matter of debate for decades. The challenges in understanding the SMC chemical evolution are related to a very slow star formation rate (SFR) combined with bursts triggered by the multiple interactions between the SMC and the Large Magellanic Cloud, a significant (∼0.5 dex) metallicity dispersion for the SMC cluster population younger than about 7.5 Gyr, and multiple chemical evolution models tracing very different paths through the observed age–metallicity relation of the SMC. There is no doubt that these processes were complex. Therefore, a step-by-step strategy is required in order to better understand the SMC chemical evolution. We adopted an existing framework to split the SMC into regions on the sky, and we focus on the west halo in this work, which contains the oldest and most metal-poor stellar populations and is moving away from the SMC, that is, in an opposite motion with respect to the Magellanic Bridge. We present a sample containing ∼60% of all west halo clusters to represent the region well, and we identify a clear age–metallicity relation with a tight dispersion that exhibits a 0.5 dex metallicity dip about 6 Gyr ago. We ran chemical evolution models and discuss possible scenarios to explain this metallicity dip, the most likely being a major merger accelerating the SFR after the event. This merger should be combined with inefficient internal gas mixing within the SMC and different SFRs in different SMC regions because the same metallicity dip is not seen in the AMR of the SMC combining clusters from all regions. We try to explain the scenario to better understand the SMC chemo-dynamical history.

The Dependence of Iron-rich Metal-poor Star Occurrence on Galactic Environment Supports an Origin in Thermonuclear Supernova Nucleosynthesis

It has been suggested that a class of chemically peculiar metal-poor stars called iron-rich metal-poor (IRMP) stars formed from molecular cores with metal contents dominated by thermonuclear supernova nucleosynthesis. If this interpretation is accurate, then IRMP stars should be more common in environments where thermonuclear supernovae were important contributors to chemical evolution. Conversely, IRMP stars should be less common in environments where thermonuclear supernovae were not important contributors to chemical evolution. At constant [Fe/H] ≲ −1, the Milky Way’s satellite classical dwarf spheroidal (dSph) galaxies and the Magellanic Clouds have lower [α/Fe] than the Milky Way field and globular cluster populations. This difference is thought to demonstrate the importance of thermonuclear supernova nucleosynthesis for the chemical evolution of the Milky Way’s satellite classical dSph galaxies and the Magellanic Clouds. We use data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment and Gaia to infer the occurrence of IRMP stars in the Milky Way’s satellite classical dSph galaxies η dSph and the Magellanic Clouds η Mag, as well as in the Milky Way field η MWF and globular cluster populations η MWGC. In order of decreasing occurrence, we find , , , and a 1σ upper limit η MWGC < 0.00057. These occurrences support the inference that IRMP stars formed in environments dominated by thermonuclear supernova nucleosynthesis and that the time lag between the formation of the first and second stellar generations in globular clusters was longer than the thermonuclear supernova delay time.

Iron-rich Metal-poor Stars and the Astrophysics of Thermonuclear Events Observationally Classified as Type Ia Supernovae. I. Establishing the Connection

The progenitor systems and explosion mechanisms responsible for the thermonuclear events observationally classified as Type Ia supernovae are uncertain and difficult to uniquely constrain using traditional observations of Type Ia supernova host galaxies, progenitors, light curves, and remnants. For the subset of thermonuclear events that are prolific producers of iron, we use published theoretical nucleosynthetic yields to identify a set of elemental abundance ratios infrequently observed in metal-poor stars but shared across a range of progenitor systems and explosion mechanisms: [Na, Mg, Co/Fe] < 0. We label stars with this abundance signature “iron-rich metal-poor,” or IRMP stars. We suggest that IRMP stars formed in environments dominated by thermonuclear nucleosynthesis and consequently that their elemental abundances can be used to constrain both the progenitor systems and explosion mechanisms responsible for thermonuclear explosions. We identify three IRMP stars in the literature and homogeneously infer their elemental abundances. We find that the elemental abundances of BD +80 245, HE 0533–5340, and SMSS J034249.53–284216.0 are best explained by the (double) detonations of sub-Chandrasekhar-mass CO white dwarfs. If our interpretation of IRMP stars is accurate, then they should be very rare in globular clusters and more common in the Magellanic Clouds and dwarf spheroidal galaxies than in the Milky Way’s halo. We propose that future studies of IRMP stars will quantify the relative occurrences of different thermonuclear event progenitor systems and explosion mechanisms.

Metallicity Dependence of Molecular Cloud Hierarchical Structure at Early Evolutionary Stages

The formation of molecular clouds out of H i gas is the first step toward star formation. Its metallicity dependence plays a key role in determining star formation throughout cosmic history. Previous theoretical studies with detailed chemical networks calculate thermal equilibrium states and/or thermal evolution under one-zone collapsing background. The molecular cloud formation in reality, however, involves supersonic flows, and thus resolving the cloud internal turbulence/density structure in three dimensions is still essential. We here perform magnetohydrodynamics simulations of 20 km s−1 converging flows of warm neutral medium (WNM) with 1 μG mean magnetic field in the metallicity range from the solar (1.0 Z ⊙) to 0.2 Z ⊙ environment. The cold neutral medium (CNM) clumps form faster with higher metallicity due to more efficient cooling. Meanwhile, their mass functions commonly follow at three cooling times regardless of the metallicity. Their total turbulence power also commonly shows the Kolmogorov spectrum with its 80% in the solenoidal mode, while the CNM volume alone indicates the transition toward Larson’s law. These similarities measured at the same time in units of the cooling time suggest that the molecular cloud formation directly from the WNM alone requires a longer physical time in a lower-metallicity environment in the 1.0–0.2 Z ⊙ range. To explain the rapid formation of molecular clouds and subsequent massive star formation possibly within ≲10 Myr as observed in the Large/Small Magellanic Clouds, the H i gas already contains CNM volume instead of pure WNM.

Observing Supernova Neutrino Light Curves with Super-Kamiokande. IV. Development of SPECIAL BLEND: A New Public Analysis Code for Supernova Neutrinos

Supernova neutrinos are invaluable signals that offer information about the interior of supernovae. Because a nearby supernova can occur at any time, preparing for future supernova neutrino observation is an urgent task. For the prompt analysis of supernova neutrinos, we have developed a new analysis code, the “Supernova Parameter Estimation Code based on Insight on Analytic Late-time Burst Light curve at Earth Neutrino Detector” (SPECIAL BLEND). This code estimates the parameters of supernovae based on an analytic model of supernova neutrinos from the proto-neutron star cooling phase. For easy availability to the community, this code is public and easily runs in web environments. SPECIAL BLEND can estimate the parameters better than the analysis pipeline we developed in a previous paper. By using SPECIAL BLEND, we can estimate the supernova parameters within 10% precision up to ∼20 and ∼60 kpc (Large Magellanic Cloud contained) with Super-Kamiokande and Hyper-Kamiokande, respectively.

Catalog of Integrated-light Star Cluster Light Curves in TESS

We present the first integrated-light, TESS-based light curves for star clusters in the Milky Way, Small Magellanic Cloud, and Large Magellanic Cloud. We explore the information encoded in these light curves, with particular emphasis on variability. We describe our publicly available package elk, which is designed to extract the light curves by applying principal component analysis to perform background light correction and incorporating corrections for TESS systematics, allowing us to detect variability on timescales shorter than ∼10 days. We perform a series of checks to ensure the quality of our light curves, removing observations where systematics are identified as dominant features, and deliver light curves for 348 previously cataloged open and globular clusters. Where TESS has observed a cluster in more than one observing sector, we provide separate light curves for each sector (for a total of 2204 light curves). We explore in detail the light curves of star clusters known to contain high-amplitude Cepheid and RR Lyrae variable stars, and we confirm that the variability of these known variables is still detectable when summed together with the light from thousands of other stars. We also demonstrate that even some low-amplitude stellar variability is preserved when integrating over a stellar population.

Spectral energy distributions of classical Cepheids in the Magellanic Clouds

In this study, we constructed spectral energy distributions (SEDs) for a sample of 142 Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) and 77 Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) fundamental-mode classical Cepheids (CCs) using photometric data from the literature. When possible, the data were taken to be representative of mean light or averaged over the light curve. The sample was built from stars that either have a metallicity determination from high-resolution spectroscopy or have been used in Baade-Wesselink types of analyses, or have a radial velocity curve published in Gaia DR3 or have Walraven photometry, or have their light- and radial-velocity curves modelled by pulsation codes. The SEDs were fitted with stellar photosphere models to derive the best-fitting luminosity and effective temperature. Distance and reddening were taken from the literature. Only one star with a significant infrared (IR) excess was found in the LMC and none in the SMC. IR excess in MW CCs is not uncommon suggesting that IR excess may be more prominent in MW cepheids than in the Magellanic Clouds. The stars were plotted in a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram (HRD) and compared to evolutionary tracks for CCs and to theoretical instability strips. For the large majority of stars, the position in the HRD is consistent with the instability strip. Period-luminosity (PL) and period-radius relations were derived and compared to these relations in the MW. For a fixed slope, the zero point of the bolometric PL relation does not depend on metallicity, contrary to recent findings of a significant metallicity term when considering the PL relation in different photometric bands. The mass-luminosity (ML) relation is derived and it points to an over luminosity of about +0.3 dex with respect to a canonical ML relation. The most intriguing result concerns the flux-weighted gravity (FWG, a quantity derived from gravity and effective temperature) and its relation to period and luminosity. Both relations agree with theory, with the results for the MW and with the independent estimates from the six known LMC eclipsing binaries that contain CCs. However, the FWG (as determined from dedicated high-resolution spectroscopy for the sample) is too low by about 0.8 dex in 90% of the cases. Recent works on time-series data on 20 CCs in the MW were analysed finding a similar (but less extreme) offset in gravity and the FWG. Most importantly, other time-series data on the same 20 CCs are in full agreement with the FWG-period relation. The observed time-series of spectroscopic data and from a two-dimensional hydrodynamical cepheid model was used to investigate the so-called effective gravity, that is, the gravity corrected for a dynamical term related to the time derivative of the radial velocity. There is a reasonable good correspondence between the predicted effective gravity and the observed gravity as a function of pulsation phase, which would potentially allow for an independent estimate of the projection factor, but the dynamical term is too small to explain the overall difference between the observed (flux-weighted) gravity and the (flux-weighted) gravity derived from the SED modelling and stellar mass estimates.

DELVE 6: An Ancient, Ultra-faint Star Cluster on the Outskirts of the Magellanic Clouds

We present the discovery of DELVE 6, an ultra-faint stellar system identified in the second data release of the DECam Local Volume Exploration (DELVE) survey. Based on a maximum-likelihood fit to its structure and stellar population, we find that DELVE 6 is an old (τ > 9.8 Gyr at 95% confidence) and metal-poor ([Fe/H] < −1.17 dex at 95% confidence) stellar system with an absolute magnitude of mag and an azimuthally averaged half-light radius of pc. These properties are consistent with the population of ultra-faint star clusters uncovered by recent surveys. Interestingly, DELVE 6 is located at an angular separation of ∼10° from the center of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC), corresponding to a 3D physical separation of ∼20 kpc given the system’s observed distance (D ⊙ = 80 kpc). This also places the system ∼35 kpc from the center of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), lying within recent constraints on the size of the LMC’s dark matter halo. We tentatively measure the proper motion of DELVE 6 using data from Gaia, which we find supports a potential association between the system and the LMC/SMC. Although future kinematic measurements will be necessary to determine its origins, we highlight that DELVE 6 may represent only the second or third ancient (τ > 9 Gyr) star cluster associated with the SMC, or one of fewer than two dozen ancient clusters associated with the LMC. Nonetheless, we cannot currently rule out the possibility that the system is a distant Milky Way halo star cluster.

An Ongoing Tidal Capture in the Large Magellanic Cloud: The Low-mass Star Cluster KMK 88-10 Captured by the Massive Globular Cluster NGC 1835?* * Based on observations collected at the Hubble Space Telescope under proposal GO16361 (PI: Ferraro).

In the context of a project aimed at characterizing the dynamical evolution of old globular clusters in the Large Magellanic Cloud, we have secured deep HST/WFC3 images of the massive cluster NGC 1835. In the field of view of the acquired images, at a projected angular separation of approximately 2′ from the cluster, we detected the small stellar system KMK 88-10. The observations provided the deepest color–magnitude diagram ever obtained for this cluster, revealing that it hosts a young stellar population with an age of 600–1000 Myr. The cluster surface brightness profile is nicely reproduced by a King model with a core radius r c = 4″ (0.97 pc), a half-mass radius r hm = 12″ (2.9 pc), and a concentration parameter c ∼ 1.3 corresponding to a truncation radius r t ∼ 81″ (19.5 pc). We also derived its integrated absolute magnitude (M V = −0.71) and total mass (M ∼ 80–160 M ⊙). The most intriguing feature emerging from this analysis is that KMK 88-10 presents a structure elongated in the direction of NGC 1835, with an intracluster overdensity that suggests the presence of a tidal bridge between the two systems. If confirmed, this would be the first evidence of a tidal capture of a small star cluster by a massive globular.

Evolved massive stars at low-metallicity

The mass-loss rate (MLR) is one of the most important parameters in astrophysics, because it impacts many areas of astronomy, such as ionizing radiation, wind feedback, star-formation rates, initial mass functions, stellar remnants, supernovae, and so on. However, the most important modes of mass loss are also the most uncertain, as the dominant physical mechanisms that lead to this phenomenon are stull largely unknown. Here we assemble the most complete and clean red supergiant (RSG) sample (2121 targets) so far in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) with 53 different bands of data to study the MLR of RSGs. In order to match the observed spectral energy distributions (SEDs), we created a theoretical grid of 17 820 oxygen-rich models (“normal” and “dusty” grids are half-and-half) using the radiatively driven wind model of the DUSTY code, covering a wide range of dust parameters. We select the best model for each target by calculating the minimal modified chi-square and visual inspection. The resulting MLRs from DUSTY are converted to real MLRs based on the scaling relation, for which a total MLR of 6.16 × 10−3 M⊙ yr−1 is measured (corresponding to a dust-production rate of ∼6 × 10−6 M⊙ yr−1), with a typical MLR of ∼10−6 M⊙ yr−1 for the general population of the RSGs. The complexity of mass-loss estimations based on the SED is fully discussed for the first time, and our results indicate large uncertainties based on the photometric data (potentially up to one order of magnitude or more). The Hertzsprung-Russell (HR) and luminosity versus median-absolute-deviation (MAD) diagrams of the sample indicate the positive relation between luminosity and MLR. Meanwhile, the luminosity versus MLR diagrams show a “knee-like” shape with enhanced mass loss occurring above log10(L/L⊙)≈4.6, which may be due to the degeneracy of luminosity, pulsation, low surface gravity, convection, and other factors. We derive our MLR relation using a third-order polynomial to fit the sample and compare our results with previous empirical MLR prescriptions. Given that our MLR prescription is based on a much larger sample than previous determinations, it provides a more accurate relation at the cool and luminous region of the HR diagram at low metallicity compared to previous studies. Finally, nine targets in our sample were detected in the UV, which could be an indicator of OB-type companions of binary RSGs.

Properties of Star Formation of the Large Magellanic Cloud As Probed by Young Stellar Objects

We perform a systematic study of the evolutionary stages and stellar masses of young stellar objects (YSOs) in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) to investigate the properties of star formation in the galaxy. There are 4825 sources in our YSO sample, which are constructed by combining the previous studies identifying YSOs in the LMC. Spectral energy distributions of the YSOs from optical to infrared wavelengths were fitted with a model consisting of stellar, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, and dust emissions. We utilize the stellar-to-dust luminosity ratios thus derived to study the evolutionary stages of the sources; younger YSOs are expected to show lower stellar-to-dust luminosity ratios. We find that most of the YSOs are associated with the interstellar gas across the galaxy, which are younger with more gas, suggesting that more recent star formation is associated with larger amounts of the interstellar medium (ISM). N157 shows a hint of higher stellar-to-dust luminosity ratios between active star-forming regions in the LMC, suggesting that recent star formation in N157 is possibly in later evolutionary stages. We also find that the stellar mass function tends to be bottom-heavy in supergiant shells (SGSs), indicating that gas compression by SGSs may be ineffective in compressing the ISM enough to trigger massive star formation. There is no significant difference in the stellar mass function between YSOs likely associated with the interface between colliding SGSs and those with a single SGS, suggesting that gas compression by collisions between SGSs may also be ineffective for massive star formation.

The ESO UVES/FEROS Large Programs of TESS OB pulsators

Context. Modern stellar structure and evolution theory suffers from a lack of observational calibration for the interior physics of intermediate- and high-mass stars. This leads to discrepancies between theoretical predictions and observed phenomena that are mostly related to angular momentum and element transport. Analyses of large samples of massive stars connecting state-of-the-art spectroscopy to asteroseismology may provide clues as to how to improve our understanding of their interior structure. Aims. We aim to deliver a sample of O- and B-type stars at metallicity regimes of the Milky Way and the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) galaxies with accurate atmospheric parameters from high-resolution spectroscopy, along with a detailed investigation of line-profile broadening, both for the benefit of future asteroseismic studies. Methods. After describing the general aims of our two Large Programs, we develop a dedicated methodology to fit spectral lines and deduce accurate global stellar parameters from high-resolution multi-epoch UVES and FEROS spectroscopy. We use the best available atmosphere models for three regimes covered by our global sample, given its breadth in terms of mass, effective temperature, and evolutionary stage. Results. Aside from accurate atmospheric parameters and locations in the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, we deliver detailed analyses of macroturbulent line broadening, including estimations of the radial and tangential components. We find that these two components are difficult to disentangle from spectra with signal-to-noise ratios of below 250. Conclusions. Future asteroseismic modelling of the deep interior physics of the most promising stars in our sample will provide much needed information regarding OB stars, including those of low metallicity in the LMC.

Testing ultralow amplitude Cepheid candidates in the Galactic disk by TESS and Gaia

Ultralow amplitude (ULA) and strange mode Cepheids are thought to be pulsating variable stars that are near to or are at the edges of the classical instability strip. Until now, a few dozen such variable star candidates have been found both in the Large Magellanic Cloud and the Milky Way. For the present work, we studied six ULA Cepheid candidates in the Milky Way, identified by using CoRoT and 2MASS data. In order to identify their positions in the period–luminosity and color–magnitude diagrams, we used the Gaia DR3 parallax and brightness data of each star to calculate their reddening-free absolute magnitudes and distances. Furthermore, we calculated the Fourier parameters (e.g., period and amplitude) of the light variations based on CoRoT and TESS measurements, and established the long-term phase shifts for four out of six stars. Based on the results, we conclude that none of the six ULA Cepheid candidates are pulsating variable stars, but rather rotation-induced variable stars (rotational spotted and α2 Canum Venaticorum variables) that are either bluer or fainter than Cepheids would be.

Cold diffuse interstellar medium of Magellanic Clouds: I. HD molecule and cosmic-ray ionization rate

ABSTRACT HD molecule is one of the most abundant molecule in the Universe and due to its sensibility to the conditions in the medium, it can be used to constrain physical parameters in the medium where HD resides. Lately, we have shown that HD abundance can be enhanced in the low-metallicity medium. Large and Small Magellanic Clouds give us an opportunity to study low-metallicity galaxies in detail towards different sightlines due to their proximity to our Galaxy. We revisited Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer (FUSE) space telescope archival spectra towards bright stars in Magellanic Clouds to search for HD molecules, associated with the medium of these galaxies. We reanalysed H2 absorption lines and constrained HD column density at the positions of H2 components. We detected HD towards 24 sightlines (including 19 new detections). We try to measure cosmic ray ionization rate for several systems using measured N(HD)/N(H2), and in most cases get loose constraints due to insufficient quality of the FUSE spectra.

Six More Ultra-faint Milky Way Companions Discovered in the DECam Local Volume Exploration Survey

We report the discovery of six ultra-faint Milky Way satellites identified through matched-filter searches conducted using Dark Energy Camera (DECam) data processed as part of the second data release of the DECam Local Volume Exploration (DELVE) survey. Leveraging deep Gemini/GMOS-N imaging (for four candidates) as well as follow-up DECam imaging (for two candidates), we characterize the morphologies and stellar populations of these systems. We find that these candidates all share faint absolute magnitudes (M V ≥ −3.2 mag) and old, metal-poor stellar populations (τ > 10 Gyr, [Fe/H] < −1.4 dex). Three of these systems are more extended (r 1/2 > 15 pc), while the other three are compact (r 1/2 < 10 pc). From these properties, we infer that the former three systems (Boötes V, Leo Minor I, and Virgo II) are consistent with ultra-faint dwarf galaxy classifications, whereas the latter three (DELVE 3, DELVE 4, and DELVE 5) are likely ultra-faint star clusters. Using data from the Gaia satellite, we confidently measure the proper motion of Boötes V, Leo Minor I, and DELVE 4, and tentatively detect a proper-motion signal from DELVE 3 and DELVE 5; no signal is detected for Virgo II. We use these measurements to explore possible associations between the newly discovered systems and the Sagittarius dwarf spheroidal, the Magellanic Clouds, and the Vast Polar Structure, finding several plausible associations. Our results offer a preview of the numerous ultra-faint stellar systems that will soon be discovered by the Vera C. Rubin Observatory and highlight the challenges of classifying the faintest stellar systems.

Hubble Space Telescope survey of Magellanic Cloud star clusters: UV-dim stars in young clusters

ABSTRACT Young and intermediate-age star clusters of both Magellanic Clouds exhibit complex colour–magnitude diagrams. In addition to the extended main-sequence turn-offs (eMSTOs), commonly observed in star clusters younger than ∼2 Gyr, the clusters younger than ∼800 Myr exhibit split main sequences (MSs). These comprise a blue MS, composed of stars with low rotation rates, and a red MS, which hosts fast-rotating stars. While it is widely accepted that stellar populations with different rotation rates are responsible for the eMSTOs and split MSs, their formation and evolution are still debated. A recent investigation of the ∼1.7-Gyr-old cluster NGC 1783 detected a group of eMSTO stars extremely dim in ultraviolet (UV) bands. Here, we use multiband Hubble Space Telescope photometry to investigate five star clusters younger than ∼200 Myr, including NGC 1805, NGC 1818, NGC 1850, and NGC 2164 in the Large Magellanic Cloud, and the Small Magellanic Cloud cluster NGC 330. We discover a group of bright MS stars in each cluster that are significantly dim in the F225W and F275W bands, similar to what is observed in NGC 1783. Our result suggests that UV-dim stars are common in young clusters. The evidence that most of them populate the blue MS indicates that they are slow rotators. As a by-product, we show that the star clusters NGC 1850 and BHRT 5b exhibit different proper motions, thus corroborating the evidence that they are not gravitationally bound.

Discovery of a magnetar candidate X-ray pulsar in the Large Magellanic Cloud

ABSTRACT During a systematic search for new X-ray pulsators in the XMM–Newton archive, we discovered a high amplitude ($PF\simeq 86~{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$) periodic ($P\simeq 7.25\, \mathrm{s}$) modulation in the X-ray flux of 4XMM J045626.3–694723 (J0456 hereafter), a previously unclassified source in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). The period of the modulation is strongly suggestive of a spinning neutron star (NS). The source was detected only during one out of six observations in 2018–2022. Based on an absorbed power-law spectral model with photon slope of Γ ≃ 1.9, we derive a 0.3–10 keV luminosity of $L_\mathrm{X}\simeq 2.7\times 10^{34}\, \mathrm{erg}\, \mathrm{s}^{-1}$ for a distance of 50 kpc. The X-ray properties of J0456 are at variance with those of variable LMC X-ray pulsars hosted in high-mass X-ray binary systems with a Be-star companion. Based on Southern African Large Telescope (SALT) spectroscopic observations of the only optical object that matches the X-ray uncertainty region, we cannot completely rule out that J0456 is an NS accreting from a late-type (G8-K3) star, an as-yet-unobserved binary evolutionary outcome in the Magellanic Clouds (MCs). We show that the source properties are in better agreement with those of magnetars. J0456 may thus be the second known magnetar in the LMC after SGR 0526–66.

Yellow Supergiants and Post-red Supergiant Evolution in the Large Magellanic Cloud

The empirical evidence for an upper-mass limit for the red supergiant (RSG) progenitors of the Type II-P SNe at about 18 MSun, raises questions about the fate of the most luminous, most massive RSGs. These stars may evolve back to warmer temperatures to end their lives as hotter stars or collapse directly to black holes. The yellow hypergiants, many with extensive circumstellar dust and high mass loss, are excellent candidates for post-RSG evolution. We have identified six high-luminosity yellow supergiants (YSGs) in the LMC with circumstellar dust, including two of the fast yellow pulsating supergiants (FYPS). We discuss their spectral energy distributions, mass lost, and mass-loss rates. Together with three additional FYPS, these nine stars are about 1/3 of the YSGs above 105 L ⊙. We conclude that the high-luminosity YSGs with surface pulsations and circumstellar dust, distinct from other YSGs, are candidates for post-RSG evolution in the LMC.

Detection of the Milky Way Reflex Motion Caused by the Magellanic Clouds in Different Observation Accuracy

Motivated by recent studies of the perturbation of the Magellanic Clouds (MCs) on the Milky Way (MW) and the planned multi-band wide-field deep survey named Chinese Space Station Telescope (CSST), we explore the detection limit of the MW reflex motion due to the MCs infall in different observation precision using an MW-MCs-mass galaxy from magpie simulation to provide a reference for the CSST survey. By involving different errors of distance, proper motion, and radial velocity, we investigate the reflex motion characterized by the velocity shift in each velocity component. We find the strongest shifts in the tangential velocities, which align with the motion direction of the MCs. In the ideal case that distance errors dominate, we find a relative distance error of 10% can allow the reliable detection of velocity shifts in tangential velocities within 100 kpc, and a relative distance error of 30% is the minimum requirement to detect the reliable tangential velocity shifts of about 40 km s−1 within 50 kpc. Different errors of proper motions in combination with a relative distance error of 10% or 20% show an error of 0.1 mas yr−1 in proper motions can guarantee the reliable detection of velocity shifts in V l and V b up to 80–100 kpc and an error of 0.15 mas yr−1 is the minimum requirement. In the other ideal case that radial velocity errors dominate, we find a radial velocity error of 20 km s−1 can present reliable reflex motion in line-of-sight velocity up to 70 kpc, while the detection volume will be reduced to 50 kpc as the radial velocity error increases to 40 km s−1. When the radial velocity error is larger than 60 km s−1, the velocity shifts cannot be detected anymore. In addition, we find that reliable detection of reflex motion requires at least 20% of the whole sample.