Open Cluster Study Research Articles

UVIT Open Cluster Study. I. Detection of a White Dwarf Companion to a Blue Straggler in M67: Evidence of Formation through Mass Transfer

Abstract The old open cluster M67, populated with blue straggler stars (BSSs), is a well-known test bed to study the BSS formation pathways. Here, we report the first direct detection of a white dwarf (WD) companion to a BSS in M67, using far-UV images from the Ultra-Violet Imaging telescope on ASTROSAT. Near-simultaneous observations in three far-UV bands combined with Galaxy Evolution Explorer, International Ultraviolet Explorer, and ground- and space-based photometric data covering a 0.14–11.5 μm range for WOCS1007 were found to require a binary fit to its spectral energy distribution (SED), consisting of a BSS and a hot companion. On the other hand, a single spectral fit was found to be satisfactory for the SEDs of two other BSSs, WOCS1006 and WOCS2011, with the latter showing a deficient far-UV flux. The hot companion of WOCS1007 is found to have a ∼ 13,250–13,750 K and a radius of 0.09 ± 0.01 . A comparison with WD models suggests it to be a low-mass WD (∼ ), in agreement with the kinematic mass from the literature. As a low-mass WD (< ) necessitates formation through mass transfer in close binaries, WOCS1007 with a known period of 4.2 days along with its fast rotation, is likely to be formed by a case A or case B binary evolution.

Blue Lurkers: Hidden Blue Stragglers on the M67 Main Sequence Identified from Their Kepler/K2 Rotation Periods

Abstract At an age of 4 Gyr, typical solar-type stars in M67 have rotation rates of 20–30 days. Using K2 Campaign 5 and 16 light curves and the spectral archive of the WIYN Open Cluster Study, we identify 11 3D kinematic members of M67 with anomalously fast rotation periods of 2–8 days, implying ages of less than 1 Gyr. We hypothesize that these anomalously fast rotators have been spun up by mass transfer, mergers, or stellar collisions during dynamical encounters within the 1 Gyr and thus represent lower-luminosity counterparts to the blue straggler stars. These 11 candidate post-interaction stellar systems have much in common with the blue stragglers, including a high binary fraction (73%); a number of long-period, low-eccentricity binary systems; and in at least one case a UV excess consistent with the presence of a hot white dwarf companion. The identification of these 11 systems provides the first picture of the low-luminosity end of the blue straggler distribution, providing new constraints for detailed binary evolution models and cluster population studies. This result also clearly demonstrates the need to properly account for the impact of binaries on stellar evolution, as significant numbers of post-interaction binaries likely exist on cluster main sequences and in the field. These stars are not always easy to identify but make up ∼10% or more of the spectroscopic binary population among the solar-type stars in M67.

Kinematic Groups in the Corona of the Ursa Majoris Flow Indicated by Gaia Data

The internal kinematics of the Ursa Majoris stellar flow is considered. The details of the flow structure are considered, and new candidate members are searched for using high-precision Gaia DR1 TGAS data. The flow structure is studied using apex diagrams, which have been shown to be effective in studies of open clusters. To select member-stars of the flow, a chain of filters was applied to the spatial coordinates and velocities, photometric data, and elemental abundances of potential members. The nonuniform kinematic structure of the flow, manifest through its separation into different velocity directions for the core and three groups in the corona, is confirmed. Several filters were used to identify three candidate members. These included apex diagrams, MV−(B−V)0 diagrams, and the abundances of Fe, Mg, Al, Si, Ti, and Ni.

A Gaia study of the Hyades open cluster

We present a study of the membership of the Hyades open cluster, derive kinematically-modelled parallaxes of its members, and study the colour-absolute magnitude diagram of the cluster. We use Gaia DR1 Tycho-Gaia Astrometric Solution (TGAS) data complemented by Hipparcos-2 data for bright stars not contained in TGAS. We supplement the astrometric data with radial velocities collected from a dozen literature sources. By assuming that all cluster members move with the mean cluster velocity to within the velocity dispersion, we use the observed and the expected motions of the stars to determine individual cluster membership probabilities. We subsequently derive improved parallaxes through maximum-likelihood kinematic modelling of the cluster. This method has an iterative component to deal with 'outliers', caused for instance by double stars or escaping members. Our method extends an existing method and supports the mixed presence of stars with and without radial velocities. We find 251 candidate members, 200 of which have a literature radial velocity, and 70 of which are new candidate members with TGAS astrometry. The cluster is roughly spherical in its centre but significantly flattened at larger radii. The observed colour-absolute magnitude diagram shows a clear binary sequence. The kinematically-modelled parallaxes that we derive are a factor ~1.7 / 2.9 more precise than the TGAS / Hipparcos-2 values and allow to derive an extremely sharp main sequence. This sequence shows evidence for fine-detailed structure which is elegantly explained by the full spectrum turbulence model of convection.

Astrometry: The Foundation for Observational Astronomy

Astronomy has seen unprecedented growth in the past century, due to the rise in multiwavelength observations. The foundation for multiwavelength astronomy is given by Astrometry; the science of position and motion determination of celestial bodies. We present a technique of determining equatorial coordinates of celestial bodies from their pixel coordinates. We also present the subsequent results of using this technique in achieving the initial few steps required for the multiwavelength studies of young open clusters.

Open cluster study in LAMOST DR3

AbstractIn studying Galactic open clusters based on LAMOST DR3, we deliberately selected several nearby cluster, which have relatively large projection area and reliable proper motion measurements. For each cluster, we firstly determine the typical proper motion distribution profiles in the cluster-core and the outskirt region, respectively, and perform field-star decontamination on the cluster area. We then calculate kinematic membership probability for each star in the cluster area and cross-match the highly probable members with LAMOST DR3 spectral catalog. Based on enhanced signal of cluster-member radial velocity distribution emerging from the whole field, we have also obtained reliable radial velocity membership probability for each star. Finally, we perform isochrones fitting with MCMC technique to study basic properties of these cluster, including age, metallicity, and distance modulus.

On the assessment of the nature of open star clusters and the determination of their basic parameters with limited data

Our knowledge of stellar evolution and of the structure and chemical evolution of the Galactic disk largely builds on the study of open star clusters. Because of their crucial role in these relevant topics, large homogeneous catalogues of open cluster parameters are highly desirable. Although efforts have been made to develop automatic tools to analyse large numbers of clusters, the results obtained so far vary from study to study, and sometimes are very contradictory when compared to dedicated studies of individual clusters. In this work we highlight the common causes of these discrepancies for some open clusters, and show that at present dedicated studies yield a much better assessment of the nature of star clusters, even in the absence of ideal data-sets. We make use of deep, wide-field, multi-colour photometry to discuss the nature of six strategically selected open star clusters: Trumpler~22, Lynga~6, Hogg~19, Hogg~21, Pismis~10 and Pismis~14. We have precisely derived their basic parameters by means of a combination of star counts and photometric diagrams. Trumpler~22 and Lynga~6 are included in our study because they are widely known, and thus provided a check of our data and methodology. The remaining four clusters are very poorly known, and their available parameters have been obtained using automatic tools only. Our results are in some cases in severe disagreement with those from automatic surveys.

Integrated spectral study of small angular diameter galactic open clusters

This paper presents flux-calibrated integrated spectra obtained at Complejo Astronómico El Leoncito (CASLEO, Argentina) for a sample of 9 Galactic open clusters of small angular diameter. The spectra cover the optical range (3800–6800 Å), with a resolution of ∼14 Å. With one exception (Ruprecht 158), the selected clusters are projected into the fourth Galactic quadrant (282o < l < 345o) near the Galactic plane (∣b∣ ≤ 9o). We performed simultaneous estimates of foreground interstellar reddening and age by comparing the continuum distribution and line strenghts of the cluster spectra with those of template cluster spectra with known parameters. We thus provide spectroscopic information independent from that derived through color-magnitude diagram studies. We found three clusters (Collinder 249, NGC 4463 and Ruprecht 122) younger than ∼40 Myr, four moderately young ones (BH 92, Harvard 5, Hogg 14 and Pismis 23) with ages within 200–400 Myr, and two intermediate-age ones (Ruprecht 158 and ESO 065-SC07) with ages within 1.0–2.2 Gyr. The derived foreground E(B−V) color excesses vary from around 0.0 in Ruprecht 158 to ∼1.1 in Pismis 23. In general terms, the results obtained show good agreement with previous photometric results. In Ruprecht 158 and BH 92, however, some differences are found between the parameters here obtained and previous values in the literature. Individual spectra of some comparatively bright stars located in the fields of 5 out of the 9 clusters here studied, allowed us to evaluate their membership status. The current cluster sample complements that of 46 open clusters previously studied by our group in an effort to gather a spectral library with several clusters per age bin. The cluster spectral library that we have been building is an important tool to tie studies of resolved and unresolved stellar content.

Complex study of the open cluster NGC 2281

AbstractWe present the complex study of the open cluster NGC 2281 where both traditional and newly developed methods for study of open clusters have been used. Morphological and dynamical parameters of the cluster were obtained from the accepted astrometric data. The new method “Superposition of Gaussian surfaces” along with proper motion of stars was used to determine membership probabilities which were helpful in selection of stars for further analysis. Metallicity and radial velocity of the cluster were obtained from spectroscopic measurements. Age, colour excess, and distance of the cluster were determined using absolute CCD photometry combined with previous results. The results were compared with those of previous studies.

Observing the products of stellar evolution in the old open cluster M67 with APOGEE

Recent works have shown how the [C/N] ratio in stars after the first dredge-up (FDU) can be used as an age estimator in virtue of its dependence on stellar mass. For this purpose, precise predictions of the surface chemical composition before and after the mixing takes place in the convective envelope of subgiant stars are necessary. Stellar evolution models can provide us with such predictions, although a comparision with objects of known age is needed for calibration. Open clusters are excellent test cases, as they represent a single stellar population for which the age can be derived through, e.g., isochrone fitting. In this study, we present a detailed analysis of stars belonging to the well-known open cluster M67 observed by the APOGEE survey in the twelfth data release of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey and whose chemical properties were derived with the ASPCAP pipeline. We find that the [C/N] abundance of subgiant branch stars is overestimated by $\sim0.2$ dex due to an offset in the determination of the [N/Fe] abundance. Stars on the red giant branch and red clump are shown not to be affected by this offset. We derive $\text{[C/N]}_{FDU}=-0.46\pm 0.03$ dex, which poses a strong constraint on calibrations of $\text{[C/N]}_{FDU}$ as age indicator. We also do not find any clear signature of additional chemical mixing processes that set in after the red giant branch bump. The results obtained for M67 indicate the importance of conducting high-resolution spectroscopic studies of open clusters of different ages in order to establish an accurate age-dating method for field stars.

Study of open clusters within 1.8 kpc and understanding the Galactic structure

Based on an almost complete sample of Galactic open star clusters within 1.8 kpc, we perform a comprehensive statistical analysis of various cluster parameters like spatial position, age, size, mass and extinction in order to understand the general properties of the open cluster system in the Galaxy and the Galactic structure. Based on the distribution of 1241 open clusters about the Galactic plane and in different age bins, we find the average Galactic scale height as Zh = 60+/-2 pc for the youngest cluster population having Age <700 Myr, however, it increases up to 64+/-2 pc when we also include older population of clusters. The solar offset is found to be 6.2+/-1.1 pc above the formal Galactic plane. We derive a local mass density of \rho_0 = 0.090+/-0.005 Msun/pc^3 and found a negligibly small amount of dark matter in the solar neighbourhood. The reddening in the direction of clusters suggests a strong correlation with their vertical distance from the Galactic plane having a respective slope of dE(B-V)/dz = 0.40+/-0.04 and 0.42+/-0.05 mag/kpc below and above the GP. We observe a linear mass-radius and mass-age relations in the open clusters and derive a slope of dR/d(logM) = 2.08+/-0.10 and d(logM)/d(logT) = -0.36+/-0.05,respectively.

TheGaia-ESO Survey: Probes of the inner disk abundance gradient

The nature of the metallicity gradient inside the solar circle (R_GC < 8 kpc) is poorly understood, but studies of Cepheids and a small sample of open clusters suggest that it steepens in the inner disk. We investigate the metallicity gradient of the inner disk using a sample of inner disk open clusters that is three times larger than has previously been studied in the literature to better characterize the gradient in this part of the disk. We used the Gaia-ESO Survey (GES) [Fe/H] values and stellar parameters for stars in 12 open clusters in the inner disk from GES-UVES data. Cluster mean [Fe/H] values were determined based on a membership analysis for each cluster. Where necessary, distances and ages to clusters were determined via comparison to theoretical isochrones. The GES open clusters exhibit a radial metallicity gradient of -0.10+-0.02 dex/kpc, consistent with the gradient measured by other literature studies of field red giant stars and open clusters in the range R_GC ~ 6-12 kpc. We also measure a trend of increasing [Fe/H] with increasing cluster age, as has also been found in the literature. We find no evidence for a steepening of the inner disk metallicity gradient inside the solar circle as earlier studies indicated. The age-metallicity relation shown by the clusters is consistent with that predicted by chemical evolution models that include the effects of radial migration, but a more detailed comparison between cluster observations and models would be premature.

Simulation of old open clusters for UVIT on ASTROSAT

The Ultra Violet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) is one of the payloads on the first Indian multiwavelength satellite ASTROSAT, which is expected to be launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in the year 2015. We have performed simulations of UV studies of old open clusters for the UVIT. The colour magnitude diagrams (CMDs) and spatial appearances have been created using 10 filters associated with the FUV channel (130–180 nm) and NUV channel (200–300 nm) that are available for observations on the UVIT, for the three old open clusters M67, NGC 188 and NGC 6791. The CMDs are simulated for different filter combinations, and they are used to identify the loci of various evolutionary sequences, white dwarfs, blue stragglers, red giants, subgiants, turn off stars and the main sequence of the clusters. The present work helps in identifying a potential area of study in the case of these three old open clusters by considering the availability of filters and the detection limits of the instrument. We also recommend filter combinations, which can be used to detect and study the above mentioned evolutionary stages. The simulations and the results presented here are essential for the optimal use of the UVIT for studies of old open clusters.

STELLAR RADIAL VELOCITIES IN THE OLD OPEN CLUSTER M67 (NGC 2682). I. MEMBERSHIPS, BINARIES, AND KINEMATICS

(Abridged) We present results from 13776 radial-velocity (RV) measurements of 1278 candidate members of the old (4 Gyr) open cluster M67 (NGC 2682). The measurements are the results of a long-term survey that includes data from seven telescopes with observations for some stars spanning over 40 years. For narrow-lined stars, RVs are measured with precisions ranging from about 0.1 to 0.8 km/s. The combined stellar sample reaches from the brightest giants in the cluster down to about 4 magnitudes below the main-sequence turnoff (V = 16.5), covering a mass range of about 1.34 MSun to 0.76 MSun. Spatially, the sample extends to a radius of 30 arcmin (7.4 pc in projection at a distant of 850 pc or 6-7 core radii). We find M67 to have a mean RV of +33.64 km/s (with an internal precision of +/- 0.03 km/s). For stars with >=3 measurements, we derive RV membership probabilities and identify RV variables, finding 562 cluster members, 142 of which show significant RV variability. We use these cluster members to construct a color-magnitude diagram and identify a rich sample of stars that lie far from the standard single star isochrone, including the well-known blue stragglers, sub-subgiants and yellow giants. These exotic stars have a binary frequency of (at least) 80%, more than three times that detected for stars in the remainder of the sample. We confirm that the cluster is mass segregated, finding the binaries to be more centrally concentrated than the single stars in our sample at the 99.8% confidence level. The blue stragglers are centrally concentrated as compared to the solar-type main-sequence single stars in the cluster at the 99.7% confidence level. Accounting for both measurement precision and undetected binaries, we derive a RV dispersion in M67 of 0.59 +0.07 -0.06 km/s, which yields a virial mass for the cluster of 2100 +610 -550 MSun. WIYN Open Cluster Study. LXVII.

Bayesian Inference of Kinematics and Mass Segregation of Open Cluster

AbstractBased on the Bayesian Inference (BI) method, the Mixture-Model approach is improved to combine all kinematic data, including the coordinative position($\vec{x}$), proper motion ($\vec{\mu}$) and radial velocity(v), to separate the motion of the cluster from field stars, as well as to determine the intrinsic kinematic status and dynamical effects of the cluster, such as the mass segregation, anisotropy etc.. Meanwhile, the membership probability of individual stars are estimated as by product results. This method has been testified by simulation of toy models and also successfully used for well studied open clusters, such as M67 and NGC188. It is expected to largely help the studies of open clusters while combine the coming GAIA data.

Red supergiants as supernova progenitors

AbstractRecent searches for supernova II-P progenitors in external galaxies have led to the identification of red objects with magnitudes and colours indicative of red supergiants, in most cases implying quite low luminosities, and hence masses. Current results would suggest that all explosions come from objects less massive than ~ 18 M⊙ and that some explosions come from stars with masses well below 10 M⊙. Stellar models, on the other hand, can only produce explosions from objects more massive than &gt; 9 M⊙. What does our knowledge of local red supergiants tell us about the expected properties of such objects? We present the results of complementary large spectroscopic surveys and detailed studies of open clusters that point to substantially different observational characteristics depending on metallicity.

Photometric study of open star clusters in II quadrant: Teutsch 1 and Riddle 4

We present the broad band UBVI CCD photometry in the region of two open star clusters Teutsch 1 and Riddle 4 located in the second Galactic quadrant. The optical CCD data for these clusters are obtained for the first time. Radii of the clusters are estimated as 3′.5 for both the clusters. Using two color (U−B) versus (B−V) diagram we determined the reddening as E(B−V)=0.40± 0.05 mag for Teutsch 1 and 1.10 ± 0.05 mag for Riddle 4. Using 2MASS JHK and optical data, we estimated E(J−K)=0.24± 0.05 mag and E(V−K)=1.40± 0.05 mag for Teutsch 1 and E(J−K)=0.47± 0.06 mag and E(V−K)=2.80± 0.06 mag for Riddle 4. Color-excess ratio indicates normal interstellar extinction law in the direction of both the clusters. We estimated distance as 4.3 ± 0.5 Kpc for Teutsch 1 and 2.8 ± 0.2 Kpc for Riddle 4 by comparing the color-magnitude diagram of the clusters with theoretical isochrones. The age of the clusters has been estimated as 200 ± 20 Myr for Teutsch 1 and 40 ± 10 Myr for Riddle 4 using the stellar isochrones of metallicity Z=0.02. The Mass function slope has been derived 1.89 ± 0.43 and 1.41 ± 0.70 for Teutsch 1 and Riddle 4 respectively. Our analysis indicates that both the clusters are dynamically relaxed. A slight bend of Galactic disc towards the southern latitude is found in the longitude range l= 130–180°.

WIYN OPEN CLUSTER STUDY. LXVI. SPECTROSCOPIC BINARY ORBITS IN THE YOUNG OPEN CLUSTER M35 (NGC 2168)

The young (150 Myr) open cluster M35 (NGC 2168) has been one of the core clusters of the WIYN Open Cluster Study since 1997. Over these 17 years we have obtained approximately 8000 radial-velocity (RV) measurements of stars in the M35 field, which we provide here. Our target sample consists of 1355 photometrically selected stars in the field of M35 within the main sequence and binary sequence of the cluster and within and . Using our RV measurements we cleanly separate likely cluster members from field stars. We calculate RV membership probabilities for over 1200 stars in our sample. 418 are probable cluster members, of which 64 are velocity-variable (binary) systems. Here we present 52 orbital solutions for binary members of M35. This sample defines the hard binary population of M35 that dynamically powers the cluster. We also present XMM-Newton X-ray detections within the cluster. We use our large binary sample to search for interacting binaries among the X-ray sources, investigate M35's period?eccentricity distribution, and determine binary frequency. We find a circularization period of 9.9 ? 1.2 days and a binary frequency of 24% ? 3% for main-sequence binaries with days. Determining these properties in a young cluster like M35 is key to defining the initial conditions used in models of cluster dynamical evolution.

WIYN OPEN CLUSTER STUDY. LIX. RADIAL VELOCITY MEMBERSHIP OF THE EVOLVED POPULATION OF THE OLD OPEN CLUSTER NGC 6791

The open cluster NGC 6791 has been the focus of much recent study due to its intriguing combination of old age and high metallicity ($\sim$8 Gyr, [Fe$/$H]=$+$0.30), as well as its location within the Kepler field. As part of the WIYN Open Cluster Study, we present precise ($\sigma=0.38$ km s$^{-1}$) radial velocities for proper-motion candidate members of NGC 6791 from Platais et al. Our survey, extending down to $g^\prime\sim16.8$, is comprised of the evolved cluster population, including blue stragglers, giants, and horizontal branch stars. Of the 280 proper-motion-selected stars above our magnitude limit, 93% have at least one radial-velocity measurement and 79% have three measurements over the course of at least 200 days, sufficient for secure radial-velocity-determined membership of non-velocity-variable stars. The Platais et al. proper-motion catalog includes twelve anomalous horizontal branch candidates blueward of the red clump, of which we find only four to be cluster members. Three fall slightly blueward of the red clump and the fourth is consistent with being a blue straggler. The cleaned color-magnitude diagram shows a richly populated red giant branch and a blue straggler population. Half of the blue stragglers are in binaries. From our radial-velocity measurement distribution we find the cluster's radial-velocity dispersion to be $\sigma_c=0.62\pm0.10$ km s$^{-1}$. This corresponds to a dynamical mass of $\sim$4600 $M_\odot$.

The K2 Mission: Characterization and Early Results

The K2 mission will make use of the Kepler spacecraft and its assets to expand upon Kepler’s groundbreaking discoveries in the fields of exoplanets and astrophysics through new and exciting observations. K2 will use an innovative way of operating the spacecraft to observe target fields along the ecliptic for the next 2–3 years. Early science commissioning observations have shown an estimated photometric precision near 400 ppm in a single 30 minute observation, and a 6-hr photometric precision of 80 ppm (both at V = 12). The K2 mission offers long-term, simultaneous optical observation of thousands of objects at a precision far better than is achievable from ground-based telescopes. Ecliptic fields will be observed for approximately 75 days enabling a unique exoplanet survey which fills the gaps in duration and sensitivity between the Kepler and TESS missions, and offers pre-launch exoplanet target identification for JWST transit spectroscopy. Astrophysics observations with K2 will include studies of young open clusters, bright stars, galaxies, supernovae, and asteroseismology.