Sample Of Stars Research Articles

The R136 star cluster dissected with Hubble Space Telescope/STIS

Context. The star cluster R136 inside the Large Magellanic Cloud hosts a rich population of massive stars, including the most massive stars known. The strong stellar winds of these very luminous stars impact their evolution and the surrounding environment. We currently lack detailed knowledge of the wind structure that is needed to quantify this impact. Aims. Our goal is to observationally constrain the stellar and wind properties of the massive stars in R136, in particular the wind-structure parameters related to wind clumping. Methods. We simultaneously analyse optical and ultraviolet spectroscopy of 53 O-type and three WNh-stars using the Fastwind model atmosphere code and a genetic algorithm. The models account for optically thick clumps and effects related to porosity and velocity-porosity, as well as a non-void interclump medium. Results. We obtain stellar parameters, surface abundances, mass-loss rates, terminal velocities, and clumping characteristics and compare them to theoretical predictions and evolutionary models. The clumping properties include the density of the interclump medium and the velocity-porosity of the wind. For the first time, these characteristics are systematically measured for a wide range of effective temperatures and luminosities. Conclusions. We confirm a cluster age of 1.0–2.5 Myr and derived an initial stellar mass of ≥250 M⊙ for the most massive star in our sample, R136a1. The winds of our sample stars are highly clumped, with an average clumping factor of fcl = 29 ± 15. We find tentative trends in the wind-structure parameters as a function of the mass-loss rate, suggesting that the winds of stars with higher mass-loss rates are less clumped. We compare several theoretical predictions to the observed mass-loss rates and terminal velocities and find that none satisfactorily reproduce both quantities. The prescription of Krtička & Kubát (2018) matches the observed mass-loss rates best.

Assessment of [Fe/H] determinations for FGK stars in spectroscopic surveys

Context. The iron abundance [Fe/H] in the atmosphere of FGK-type stars is crucial in stellar and galactic physics. The number of stars with a measured value of [Fe/H] is increasing considerably thanks to spectroscopic surveys. However, different methodologies, inputs, and assumptions used in spectral analyses lead to different precisions in [Fe/H] and possibly to systematic differences, which need to be evaluated. It is essential to understand the characteristics of each survey to fully exploit their potential, in particular if the surveys are combined to probe a larger galactic volume and to improve statistics. Aims. The purpose of this study is to compare [Fe/H] determinations from the largest spectroscopic surveys to other catalogues taken as reference. Offsets and dispersions of the residuals are examined, as are their trends with other parameters. The investigated surveys are the latest public releases of APOGEE, GALAH, RAVE, LAMOST, SEGUE, and the Gaia-ESO Survey. Methods. We use reference samples that provide independent determinations of [Fe/H], which are compared to those from the surveys for common stars. The distribution of the residuals is assessed through simple statistics that measure the offset between two catalogues and the dispersion representative of the precision of both catalogues. When relevant, linear fits are performed. A large sample of FGK-type stars with [Fe/H] based on high-resolution, high-signal-to-noise spectroscopy was built from the PASTEL catalogue to provide a reference sample. We also use FGK members in open and globular clusters to assess the internal consistency of [Fe/H] of each survey. The agreement of median [Fe/H] values for clusters observed by different surveys is discussed. Results. All the surveys overestimate the low metallicities, and some of them also underestimate the high metallicities. They perform well in the most populated intermediate metallicity range whatever the resolution. In most cases, the typical precision that we deduce from the comparisons is in good agreement with the uncertainties quoted in the catalogues. Some exceptions to this general behaviour are discussed.

Investigating dust properties in AGB wind-ISM interaction regions

Aims.In this paper, we aim to constrain the dust mass and grain sizes in the interaction regions between the stellar winds and the interstellar medium (ISM) around asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. By describing the dust in these regions, we aim to shed light on the role of evolved low-mass stars in the origin of dust in galaxies.Methods.We use images in the far-infrared (FIR) at 70 and 160 µm to derive dust temperatures and dust masses in the wind-ISM interaction regions around a sample of carbon-rich and oxygen-rich AGB stars. The dust temperature and mass are determined in two ways: first, directly from the data using the ratio of the measured fluxes and assuming opacities for dust with a constant grain size of 0.1 µm, and then using three-dimensional dust-radiative transfer models spatially constrained by the observations. Each of the radiative transfer models contains one constant grain size, which is varied between 0.01 and 5.0 µm.Results.We find that the observed dust mass in the wind-ISM interaction regions is consistent with mass accumulated from the stellar winds. For the carbon-rich sources, adding the spatial constraints in the radiative transfer models results in preferentially larger grain sizes (≈2 µm). For the oxygen-rich sources, the spatial constraints result in overly high temperatures in the models, making it impossible to fit the observed FIR ratio irrespective of the grain size used, indicating a more complex interplay of grain properties and the stellar radiation field.Conclusions.Our results have implications for how likely it is for the grains to survive the transition into the ISM, and the properties of dust particles that later act as seeds for grain growth in the ISM. However, our results for the oxygen-rich sources show that the derivation of dust properties is not straight forward, requiring more complex modelling.

Galactic ArchaeoLogIcaL ExcavatiOns (GALILEO)

We use the 17th data release of the second phase of the Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment (APOGEE-2) to provide a homogenous census of N-rich red giant stars across the Milky Way (MW). We report a total of 149 newly identified N-rich field giants toward the bulge, metal-poor disk, and halo of our Galaxy. They exhibit significant enrichment in their nitrogen abundance ratios ([N/Fe] ≳ +0.5), along with simultaneous depletions in their [C/Fe] abundance ratios ([C/Fe] < +0.15), and they cover a wide range of metallicities (−1.8 < [Fe/H] < −0.7). The final sample of candidate N-rich red giant stars with globular-cluster-like (GC-like) abundance patterns from the APOGEE survey includes a grand total of ∼412 unique objects. These strongly N-enhanced stars are speculated to have been stripped from GCs based on their chemical similarities with these systems. Even though we have not found any strong evidence for binary companions or signatures of pulsating variability yet, we cannot rule out the possibility that some of these objects were members of binary systems in the past and/or are currently part of a variable system. In particular, the fact that we identify such stars among the field stars in our Galaxy provides strong evidence that the nucleosynthetic process(es) producing the anomalous [N/Fe] abundance ratios occurs over a wide range of metallicities. This may provide evidence either for or against the uniqueness of the progenitor stars to GCs and/or the existence of chemical anomalies associated with likely tidally shredded clusters in massive dwarf galaxies such as “Kraken/Koala”, Gaia-Enceladus-Sausage, among others, before or during their accretion by the MW. A dynamical analysis reveals that the newly identified N-rich stars exhibit a wide range of dynamical characteristics throughout the MW, indicating that they were produced in a variety of Galactic environments.

Probing the shape of the Milky Way dark matter halo with hypervelocity stars: A new method

We propose a new method for determining the shape of the gravitational potential of the dark matter (DM) halo of the Milky Way (MW) with the galactocentric tangential velocities of a sample of hypervelocity stars (HVSs). We compute the trajectories of different samples of HVSs in a MW where the baryon distribution is axisymmetric and the DM potential either is spherical or is spheroidal or triaxial with radial-dependent axis ratios. We create ideal observed samples of HVSs with known latitudinal components of the tangential velocity, vϑ, and azimuthal component of the tangential velocity, vφ. We determine the shape of the DM potential with the distribution of |vϑ| when the Galactic potential is axisymmetric, or with the distribution of |vϑ| and of a function, $ \bar{v}_{\varphi} $, of vφ when the Galactic potential is non-axisymmetric. We recover the correct shape of the DM potential by comparing the distribution of |vϑ| and $ \bar{v}_{\varphi} $ of the ideal observed sample against the corresponding distributions of mock samples of HVSs that traveled in DM halos of different shapes. We use ideal observed samples of ∼800 HVSs, which are the largest samples of 4 M⊙ HVSs ejected with the Hills mechanism at a rate ∼10−4 yr−1, currently outgoing, and located at more than 10 kpc from the Galactic Center. In our ideal case of galactocentric velocities with null uncertainties and no observational limitations, the method recovers the correct shape of the DM potential with a success rate S ≳ 89% when the Galactic potential is axisymmetric, and S > 96% in the explored non-axisymmetric cases. The unsuccessful cases yield axis ratios of the DM potential that are off by ±0.1. The success rate decreases with decreasing size of the HVS sample: for example, for a spherical DM halo, S drops from ∼98% to ∼38% when the sample size decreases from ∼800 to ∼40 HVSs. Accurate estimates of the success rate of our method applied to real data require more realistic samples of mock observed HVSs. Nevertheless, our analysis suggests that a robust determination of the shape of the DM potential requires the measure of the galactocentric velocity of a few hundred HVSs of robustly confirmed galactocentric origin.

Mass-ratio Distribution of Binaries from the LAMOST-MRS Survey

Binary evolution leads to the formation of important objects that are crucial for the development of astrophysics, but the statistical properties of binary populations are still poorly understood. The LAMOST-MRS has provided a large sample of stars to study the properties of binary populations, especially for the mass-ratio distributions and binary fractions. We have devised a peak amplitude ratio (PAR) approach to derive the mass ratio of a binary system based on results obtained from its spectrum. By computing a cross-correlation function, we established a relation between the derived mass ratio and the PARs of the binary systems. By using spectral observations obtained from LAMSOT DR6 and DR7, we applied the PAR approach to form distributions of the derived mass ratio of the binary systems to the spectral types. We selected the mass ratio within the range of 0.6−1.0 to investigate the mass-ratio distribution. Through a power-law fitting, we obtained power index γ values of −0.42 ± 0.27, 0.03 ± 0.12, and 2.12 ± 0.19 for the A-, F-, and G-type stars identified in the sample, respectively. The derived γ-values display an increasing trend toward lower primary star masses, and G-type binaries tend to be twins more frequently. The close binary fractions (for P ≲ 150 days and q ≳ 0.6) in our sample for A, F, and G binaries are 7.6% ± 0.5%, 4.9% ± 0.2%, and 3.7% ± 0.1%, respectively. Note that the PAR approach can be applied to large spectroscopic surveys of stars.

The GAPS programme at TNG

Context. Active-region evolution plays an important role in the generation and variability of magnetic fields on the surface of lower main sequence stars. However, determining the lifetime of active-region growth and decay as well as their evolution is a complex task. Most previous studies of this phenomenon are based on optical light curves, while little is known about the chromosphere and the transition region. Aims. We aim to test whether or not the lifetime of active-region evolution shows any dependency on stellar parameters, particularly stellar age. Methods. We identified a sample of stars with well-defined ages via their kinematics and membership to young stellar associations and moving groups. We made use of high-resolution échelle spectra from HARPS at La Silla 3.6m-telescope and HARPS-N at TNG to compute rotational velocities, activity levels, and emission excesses. We used these data to revisit the activity-rotation-age relationship. The time-series of the main optical activity indicators, namely Ca II H and K, Balmer lines, Na I D1, D2, and He I D3, were analysed together with the available photometry using state-of-the-art Gaussian processes to model the stellar activity of these stars. Autocorrelation functions of the available photometry were also analysed. We used the derived lifetimes of active-region evolution to search for correlations with stellar age, spectral type, and activity level. We also used the pooled variance technique to characterise the activity behaviour of our targets. Results. Our analysis confirms the decline of activity and rotation as a star ages. We also confirm that the rotation rate decays with age more slowly for cooler stars and that, for a given age, cooler stars show higher levels of activity. We show that F- and G-type young stars also depart from the inactive stars in the flux–flux relationship. The Gaussian process analysis of the different activity indicators does not seem to provide any useful information on the lifetime and evolution of active regions. On the other hand, the lifetimes of active regions derived from the light-curve analysis might correlate with stellar age and temperature. Conclusions. Although we suggest caution because of small number statistics, our results suggest that active regions seem to live longer on younger, cooler, and more active stars.

The origin of close massive binaries in the M17 star-forming region

Context.Spectroscopic multiplicity surveys of O stars in young clusters and OB associations have revealed that a large portion (∼70%) of these massive stars (Mi > 15M⊙) belong to close and short-period binaries (with a physical separation of less than a few astronomical units). Follow-up VLT(I) high-angular-resolution observations led to the detection of wider companions (up tod ∼ 500 au), increasing the average companion fraction to > 2. Despite the recent and significant progress, the formation mechanisms leading to such close massive multiple systems remain to be elucidated. As a result, young massive close binaries (or higher-order multiple systems) are unique laboratories for determining the pairing mechanism of high-mass stars.Aims.We present the first VLTI/GRAVITY observations of six young O stars in the M17 star-forming region (≲1 Myr) and two additional foreground stars. VLTI/GRAVITY provides theK-band high-angular-resolution observations needed to explore the close environment of young O-type stars, and, as such, offers an excellent opportunity to characterise the multiplicity properties of the immediate outcome of the massive star formation process.Methods.From the interferometric model fitting of visibility amplitudes and closure phases, we search for companions and measure their positions and flux ratios. Combining the resulting magnitude difference with atmosphere models and evolutionary tracks, we further constrain the masses of the individual components.Results.All six high-mass stars are in multiple systems, leading to a multiplicity fraction of 100% and yielding a 68% confidence interval of 94–100%. We detect a total of nine companions with separations of up to 120 au. Including previously identified spectroscopic companions, the companion fraction of the young O stars in our sample reaches 2.3 ± 0.6. The derived masses span a wide range, from 2.5 to 50M⊙, with a great tendency towards high-mass companions. However, we do not find a significant correlation between the mass of the companions and their separation.Conclusions.While based on a modest sample, our results clearly indicate that the origin of the high degree of multiplicity is rooted in the star formation mechanism of the sample stars. No clear evidence for one of the competing concepts of massive star formation (core accretion or competitive accretion) could be found. However, given that we find all of the companions within ∼120 au, our results are compatible with migration as a scenario for the formation of close massive binaries.

Asteroseismology of RR Lyrae stars with non-radial modes

ABSTRACT The additional signals observed in the frequency spectra of the first-overtone RR Lyrae stars, which form a period ratio around 0.61 with the period of the first overtone, are a common phenomenon for RRc and RRd stars, as well as for first-overtone classical Cepheids. The recently proposed model explains these signals as harmonics of non-radial modes of degrees 8 or 9 in the case of RR Lyrae stars and 7, 8, or 9 in the case of classical Cepheids. We selected at least triple-mode RR Lyrae stars pulsating in radial and non-radial modes for asteroseismic modelling. We assume the identification of the non-radial modes as predicted by the model. We calculated a dense grid of models for RR Lyrae stars using envelope pulsation code. By matching first-overtone period and period ratios, we obtained physical parameters for the selected sample of triple-mode stars. It is the very first attempt of modelling RR Lyrae stars with non-radial modes. We compared our results with predictions of stellar evolution theory, which resulted in a mass discrepancy more noticeable for long-period stars: Pulsation masses seem higher than evolutionary masses. We compared metallicity estimates for RRc stars from a modelled sample with metallicities determined spectroscopically for a sample of RRc stars in the solar neighbourhood: Both distributions are consistent.

The 3D Galactocentric Velocities of Kepler Stars: Marginalizing Over Missing Radial Velocities

Precise Gaia measurements of positions, parallaxes, and proper motions provide an opportunity to calculate 3D positions and 2D velocities (i.e., 5D phase-space) of Milky Way stars. Where available, spectroscopic radial velocity (RV) measurements provide full 6D phase-space information, however there are now and will remain many stars without RV measurements. Without an RV it is not possible to directly calculate 3D stellar velocities; however, one can infer 3D stellar velocities by marginalizing over the missing RV dimension. In this paper, we infer the 3D velocities of stars in the Kepler field in Cartesian Galactocentric coordinates (v x , v y , v z ). We directly calculate velocities for around a quarter of all Kepler targets, using RV measurements available from the Gaia, LAMOST, and APOGEE spectroscopic surveys. Using the velocity distributions of these stars as our prior, we infer velocities for the remaining three quarters of the sample by marginalizing over the RV dimension. The median uncertainties on our inferred v x , v y , and v z velocities are around 4, 18, and 4 km s−1, respectively. We provide 3D velocities for a total of 148,590 stars in the Kepler field. These 3D velocities could enable kinematic age-dating, Milky Way stellar population studies, and other scientific studies using the benchmark sample of well-studied Kepler stars. Although the methodology used here is broadly applicable to targets across the sky, our prior is specifically constructed from and for the Kepler field. Care should be taken to use a suitable prior when extending this method to other parts of the Galaxy.

WISE-PS1-STRM: neural network source classification and photometric redshifts for WISE×PS1

ABSTRACT We cross-match between the WISE All-Sky and PS1 3π DR2 source catalogues. The resulting catalogue has 354 590 570 objects, significantly fewer than the parent PS1 catalogue, but its combination of optical and infrared colours facilitate both better source classification and photometric redshift estimation. We perform a neural network-based classification of the objects into galaxies, quasars, and stars, then run neural network-based photometric redshift estimation for the galaxies. The star sample purity and quasar sample completeness measures improve substantially, and the resulting photo-z’s are significantly more accurate in terms of statistical scatter and bias than those calculated from PS1 properties alone. The catalogue will be a basis for future large-scale structure studies, and will be made available as a high-level science product via the Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes.

Confirmation of a metallicity spread amongst first population stars in globular clusters

Stars in massive star clusters exhibit intrinsic variations in some light elements (the multiple populations phenomenon) that are difficult to explain in a fully coherent formation scenario. In recent years, high quality Hubble Space Telescope (HST) photometry has led to the characterisation of the global properties of these multiple populations in an unparalleled level of detail. In particular, the colour-(pseudo)colour diagrams known as ‘chromosome maps’ have been proven to be very efficient at separating cluster stars with a field-like metal abundance distribution (first population) from an object with distinctive light-element abundance anti-correlations (second population). The unexpected wide colour ranges covered by the first population group – traditionally considered to have a uniform chemical composition – in the chromosome maps of the majority of the investigated Galactic globular clusters have recently been attributed to intrinsic metallicity variations up to ∼0.30 dex from the study of subgiant branch stars in two metal-rich Galactic globular clusters by employing appropriate HST filter combinations. On the other hand, high-resolution spectroscopy of small samples of first populations stars in the globular clusters NGC 3201 and NGC 2808 – both displaying extended sequences of first population stars in their chromosome maps – have provided conflicting results thus far, with a spread of metal abundance detected in NGC 3201 but not in NGC 2808. We present here a new method that employs HST near-UV and optical photometry of red giant branch stars to confirm these recent results independently. Our approach was firstly validated using observational data for M 2, a globular cluster hosting a small group of first population stars with an enhanced (by ≃0.5 dex) metallicity with respect to the main component. We then applied our method to three clusters that cover a much larger metallicity range and that have well populated, extended first population sequences in their chromosome maps, namely M 92, NGC 2808, and NGC 6362. We confirm that metallicity spreads are present among first population stars in these clusters, thus solidifying the case for the existence of unexpected variations up to a factor of two of metal abundances in most globular clusters. We also confirm the complex behaviour of the mean metallicity (and metallicity range) differences between first and second population stars.

Chemical Cartography with APOGEE: Mapping Disk Populations with a 2-process Model and Residual Abundances

We apply a novel statistical analysis to measurements of 16 elemental abundances in 34,410 Milky Way disk stars from the final data release (DR17) of APOGEE-2. Building on recent work, we fit median abundance ratio trends [X/Mg] versus [Mg/H] with a 2-process model, which decomposes abundance patterns into a “prompt” component tracing core-collapse supernovae and a “delayed” component tracing Type Ia supernovae. For each sample star, we fit the amplitudes of these two components, then compute the residuals Δ[X/H] from this two-parameter fit. The rms residuals range from ∼0.01–0.03 dex for the most precisely measured APOGEE abundances to ∼0.1 dex for Na, V, and Ce. The correlations of residuals reveal a complex underlying structure, including a correlated element group comprised of Ca, Na, Al, K, Cr, and Ce and a separate group comprised of Ni, V, Mn, and Co. Selecting stars poorly fit by the 2-process model reveals a rich variety of physical outliers and sometimes subtle measurement errors. Residual abundances allow for the comparison of populations controlled for differences in metallicity and [α/Fe]. Relative to the main disk (R = 3–13 kpc), we find nearly identical abundance patterns in the outer disk (R = 15–17 kpc), 0.05–0.2 dex depressions of multiple elements in LMC and Gaia Sausage/Enceladus stars, and wild deviations (0.4–1 dex) of multiple elements in ω Cen. The residual abundance analysis opens new opportunities for discovering chemically distinctive stars and stellar populations, for empirically constraining nucleosynthetic yields, and for testing chemical evolution models that include stochasticity in the production and redistribution of elements.

Scaling relations of convective granulation noise across the HR diagram from 3D stellar atmosphere models

ABSTRACT High-precision photometric data from space missions have improved our understanding of stellar granulation. These observations have shown with precision the stochastic brightness fluctuations of stars across the Hertzsprung–Russell (HR) diagram, allowing us to better understand how stellar surface convection reacts to a change in stellar parameters. These fluctuations need to be understood and quantified in order to improve the detection and characterization of exoplanets. In this work, we provide new scaling relations of two characteristic properties of the brightness fluctuations time series: the standard deviation (σ) and the autocorrelation time ($\tau_{\rm ACF}$). This was done by using long time series of 3D stellar atmosphere models at different metallicities and across the HR diagram, generated with a 3D radiative hydrodynamical code: the stagger code. We compared our synthetic granulation properties with the values of a large sample of Kepler stars, and analysed selected stars with accurate stellar parameters from the Kepler LEGACY sample. Our 3D models showed that σ $\propto \nu_{\rm max}^{-0.567\pm 0.012}$ and $\tau_{\rm ACF} \propto \nu_{\rm max}^{-0.997\pm 0.018}$ for stars at solar metallicity. We showed that both σ and $\tau_{\rm ACF}$ decrease with metallicity, although the metallicity dependence is more significant on σ. Unlike previous studies, we found very good agreement between σ from Kepler targets and the 3D models at $\log g$ ≤ 3.5, and a good correlation between the stars and models with $\log g$ ≥ 3.5. For $\tau_{\rm ACF}$, we found that the 3D models reproduced well the Kepler LEGACY star values. Overall, this study shows that 3D stellar atmosphere models reproduce the granulation properties of stars across the HR diagram.

The James Webb Space Telescope Absolute Flux Calibration. I. Program Design and Calibrator Stars

It is critical for James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) science that instrumental units are converted to physical units. We detail the design of the JWST absolute flux calibration program that has the core goal of ensuring a robust flux calibration internal to and between all the science instruments for both point and extended source science. This program will observe a sample of calibration stars that have been extensively vetted based mainly on Hubble Space Telescope, Spitzer Space Telescope, and Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite observations. The program uses multiple stars of three different, well-understood types (hot stars, A dwarfs, and solar analogs) to allow for the statistical (within a type) and systematic (between types) uncertainties to be quantified. The program explicitly includes observations to calibrate every instrument mode, further vet the set of calibration stars, measure the instrumental repeatability, measure the relative calibration between subarrays and full frame, and check the relative calibration between faint and bright stars. For photometry, we have set up our calibration to directly support both the convention based on the band average flux density and the convention based on the flux density at a fixed wavelength.

From dawn till disc: Milky Way’s turbulent youth revealed by the APOGEE+Gaia data

ABSTRACT We use accurate estimates of aluminium abundance from the APOGEE Data Release 17 and Gaia Early Data Release 3 astrometry to select a highly pure sample of stars with metallicity −1.5 ≲ [Fe/H] ≲ 0.5 born in-situ in the Milky Way proper. The low-metallicity ([Fe/H] ≲ −1.3) in-situ component we dub Aurora is kinematically hot with an approximately isotropic velocity ellipsoid and a modest net rotation. Aurora stars exhibit large scatter in metallicity and in many element abundance ratios. The median tangential velocity of the in-situ stars increases sharply with metallicity between [Fe/H] = −1.3 and −0.9, the transition that we call the spin-up. The observed and theoretically expected age–metallicity correlations imply that this increase reflects a rapid formation of the MW disc over ≈1–2 Gyr. The transformation of the stellar kinematics as a function of [Fe/H] is accompanied by a qualitative change in chemical abundances: the scatter drops sharply once the Galaxy builds up a disc during later epochs corresponding to [Fe/H] > −0.9. Results of galaxy formation models presented in this and other recent studies strongly indicate that the trends observed in the MW reflect generic processes during the early evolution of progenitors of MW-sized galaxies: a period of chaotic pre-disc evolution, when gas is accreted along cold narrow filaments and when stars are born in irregular configurations, and subsequent rapid disc formation. The latter signals formation of a stable hot gaseous halo around the MW progenitor, which changes the mode of gas accretion and allows development of coherently rotating disc.

A Zwicky Transient Facility Look at Optical Variability of Young Stellar Objects in the North America and Pelican Nebulae Complex

We present a study of 323 photometrically variable young stellar objects that are likely members of the North America and Pelican nebulae star-forming region. To do so, we utilize over two years of data in the g and r photometric bands from the Zwicky Transient Facility. We first investigate periodic variability, finding 46 objects (∼15% of the sample) with significant periods that phase well and can be attributed to stellar rotation. We then use the quasiperiodicity (Q) and flux asymmetry (M) variability metrics to assign morphological classifications to the remaining aperiodic light curves. Another ∼39% of the variable star sample beyond the periodic (low Q) sources are also flux-symmetric, but with a quasiperiodic (moderate Q) or stochastic (high Q) nature. Concerning flux-asymmetric sources, our analysis reveals ∼14% bursters (high negative M) and ∼29% dippers (high positive M). We also investigate the relationship between variability slopes in the g versus g − r color–magnitude diagram, and the light-curve morphological classes. Burster-type objects have shallow slopes, while dipper-type variables tend to have higher slopes that are consistent with extinction-driven variability. Our work is one of the earliest applications of the Q and M metrics to ground-based data. We therefore contrast the Q values of high-cadence and high-precision space-based data, for which these metrics were designed, with Q determinations resulting from degraded space-based light curves that have the cadence and photometric precision characteristic of ground-based data.

The Chemical Composition of Extreme-velocity Stars* * This paper includes data gathered with the 6.5 m Magellan Telescopes located at Las Campanas Observatory, Chile. † † This paper includes data gathered with the 3.5 m Telescope at Apache Point Observatory.

Little is known about the origin of the fastest stars in the Galaxy. Our understanding of the chemical evolution history of the Milky Way and surrounding dwarf galaxies allows us to use the chemical composition of a star to investigate its origin and to say whether it was formed in situ or was accreted. However, the fastest stars, the hypervelocity stars, are young and massive and their chemical composition has not yet been analyzed. Though it is difficult to analyze the chemical composition of a massive young star, we are well versed in the analysis of late-type stars. We have used high-resolution ARCES/3.5 m Apache Point Observatory, MIKE/Magellan spectra to study the chemical details of 15 late-type hypervelocity star candidates. With Gaia EDR3 astrometry and spectroscopically determined radial velocities we found total velocities with a range of 274–520 km s−1 and mean value of 381 km s−1. Therefore, our sample stars are not fast enough to be classified as hypervelocity stars, and are what is known as extreme-velocity stars. Our sample has a wide iron abundance range of −2.5 ≤ [Fe/H] ≤ −0.9. Their chemistry indicates that at least 50% of them are accreted extragalactic stars, with iron-peak elements consistent with prior enrichment by sub-Chandrasekhar mass Type Ia supernovae. Without indication of binary companions, their chemical abundances and orbital parameters indicate that they are the accelerated tidal debris of disrupted dwarf galaxies.

Local Spiral Structure Traced by Red Clump Stars

Using the cross-matched data of Gaia EDR3 and the Two Micron All Sky Survey Point Source Catalog, a sample of RC stars with parallax accuracies better than 20% is identified and used to reveal the nearby spiral pattern traced by old stars. As shown in the overdensity distribution of RC stars, there is an arc-like feature extending from l ∼ 90° to ∼243°, which passes close to the Sun. This feature is probably an arm segment traced by old stars, indicating the galaxy potential in the vicinity of the Sun. With a comparison to the spiral arms depicted by young objects, we found that there are considerable offsets between the two different components of the Galactic spiral arms. The spiral arm traced by RC stars tends to have a larger pitch angle, and hence a more loosely wound pattern.

Next generation spectroscopic analysis for large samples of massive stars

Next generation spectroscopic analysis for large samples of massive stars