Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer Photometry Research Articles

The IGRINS YSO Survey. III. Stellar Parameters of Pre-main-sequence Stars in Ophiuchus and Upper Scorpius

We used the Immersion GRating Infrared Spectrometer (IGRINS) to determine fundamental parameters for 61 K- and M-type young stellar objects (YSOs) located in the Ophiuchus and Upper Scorpius star-forming regions. We employed synthetic spectra and a Markov chain Monte Carlo approach to fit specific K-band spectral regions and determine the photospheric temperature (T), surface gravity (), magnetic field strength (B), projected rotational velocity (), and K-band veiling (r K ). We determined B for ∼46% of our sample. Stellar parameters were compared to the results from Taurus-Auriga and the TW Hydrae association presented in Paper I of this series. We classified all the YSOs in the IGRINS survey with infrared spectral indices from Two Micron All Sky Survey and Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer photometry between 2 and 24 μm. We found that Class II YSOs typically have lower and , similar B, and higher K-band veiling than their Class III counterparts. Additionally, we determined the stellar parameters for a sample of K and M field stars also observed with IGRINS. We have identified intrinsic similarities and differences at different evolutionary stages with our homogeneous determination of stellar parameters in the IGRINS YSO survey. Considering as a proxy for age, we found that the Ophiuchus and Taurus samples have a similar age. We also find that Upper Scorpius and TWA YSOs have similar ages, and are more evolved than Ophiuchus/Taurus YSOs.

Thermal Properties of 1847 WISE-observed Asteroids

Abstract We present new thermophysical model fits of 1847 asteroids, deriving thermal inertia, diameter, and Bond and visible geometric albedo. We use thermal flux measurements obtained by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) during its fully cryogenic phase, when both the 12 μm (W3) and 22 μm (W4) bands were available. We take shape models and spin information from the Database of Asteroid Models from Inversion Techniques (DAMIT) and derive new shape models through lightcurve inversion and combining WISE photometry with existing DAMIT lightcurves. When we limit our sample to the asteroids with the most reliable shape models and thermal flux measurements, we find broadly consistent thermal inertia relations with recent studies. We apply fits to the diameters D (km) and thermal inertia Γ (J m−2 s−0.5 K−1) normalized to 1 au with a linear relation of the form log [ Γ ] = α + β log [ D ] , where we find α = 2.667 ± 0.059 and β = −0.467 ± 0.044 for our sample alone and α = 2.509 ± 0.017 and β = −0.352 ± 0.012 when combined with other literature estimates. We find little evidence of any correlation between rotation period and thermal inertia, owing to the small number of slow rotators to consider in our sample. While the large uncertainties on the majority of our derived thermal inertia only allow us to identify broad trends between thermal inertia and other physical parameters, we can expect a significant increase in high-quality thermal flux measurements and asteroid shape models with upcoming infrared and wide-field surveys, enabling even more thermophysical modeling of higher precision in the future.

MaNGA galaxy properties – I. An extensive optical, mid-infrared photometric, and environmental catalogue

ABSTRACT We present an extensive catalogue of non-parametric structural properties derived from optical and mid-infrared imaging for 4585 galaxies from the MaNGA survey. DESI and Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) imaging are used to extract surface brightness profiles in the g, r, z, W1, W2 photometric bands. Our optical photometry takes advantage of the automated algorithm autoprof and probes surface brightnesses that typically reach below 29 mag arcsec−2 in the r-band, while our WISE photometry achieves 28 mag arcsec−2 in the W1-band. Neighbour density measures and central/satellite classifications are also provided for a large subsample of the MaNGA galaxies. Highlights of our analysis of galaxy light profiles include (i) an extensive comparison of galaxian structural properties that illustrates the robustness of non-parametric extraction of light profiles over parametric methods; (ii) the ubiquity of bimodal structural properties, suggesting the existence of galaxy families in multiple dimensions; and (iii) an appreciation that structural properties measured relative to total light, regardless of the fractional levels, are uncertain. We study galaxy scaling relations based on photometric parameters, and present detailed comparisons with literature and theory. Salient features of this analysis include the near-constancy of the slope and scatter of the size–luminosity and size–stellar mass relations for late-type galaxies with wavelength, and the saturation of central surface density, measured within 1 kpc, for elliptical galaxies with $M_* \gt 10.7\, {\rm M}_{\odot }$ (corresponding to $\Sigma _1 \simeq 10^{10}\, {\rm M}_{\odot }\, {\rm kpc}^{-2}$). The multiband photometry, environmental parameters, and structural scaling relations presented are useful constraints for stellar population and galaxy formation models.

Spectroscopic observations of the machine-learning selected anomaly catalogue from the AllWISE Sky Survey

We present the results of a programme to search and identify the nature of unusual sources within the All-sky Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) that is based on a machine-learning algorithm for anomaly detection, namely one-class support vector machines (OCSVM). Designed to detect sources deviating from a training set composed of known classes, this algorithm was used to create a model for the expected data based on WISE objects with spectroscopic identifications in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. Subsequently, it marked as anomalous those sources whose WISE photometry was shown to be inconsistent with this model. We report the results from optical and near-infrared spectroscopy follow-up observations of a subset of 36 bright (gAB < 19.5) objects marked as “anomalous” by the OCSVM code to verify its performance. Among the observed objects, we identified three main types of sources: (i) low redshift (z ∼ 0.03 − 0.15) galaxies containing large amounts of hot dust (53%), including three Wolf-Rayet galaxies; (ii) broad-line quasi-stellar objects (QSOs) (33%) including low-ionisation broad absorption line (LoBAL) quasars and a rare QSO with strong and narrow ultraviolet iron emission; (iii) Galactic objects in dusty phases of their evolution (3%). The nature of four of these objects (11%) remains undetermined due to low signal-to-noise or featureless spectra. The current data show that the algorithm works well at detecting rare but not necessarily unknown objects among the brightest candidates. They mostly represent peculiar sub-types of otherwise well-known sources. To search for even more unusual sources, a more complete and balanced training set should be created after including these rare sub-species of otherwise abundant source classes, such as LoBALs. Such an iterative approach will ideally bring us closer to improving the strategy design for the detection of rarer sources contained within the vast data store of the AllWISE survey.

Hunting for Runaways from the Orion Nebula Cluster

Abstract We use Gaia DR2 to hunt for runaway stars from the Orion Nebula Cluster (ONC). We search a region extending 45° around the ONC and out to 1 kpc to find sources that have overlapped in angular position with the cluster in the last ∼10 Myr. We find ∼17,000 runaway/walkaway candidates that satisfy this 2D traceback condition. Most of these are expected to be contaminants, e.g., caused by Galactic streaming motions of stars at different distances. We thus examine six further tests to help identify real runaways, namely: (1) possessing young stellar object (YSO) colors and magnitudes based on Gaia optical photometry; (2) having IR excess consistent with YSOs based on 2MASS and Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer photometry; (3) having a high degree of optical variability; (4) having closest approach distances well-constrained to within the cluster half-mass radius; (5) having ejection directions that avoid the main Galactic streaming contamination zone; and (6) having a required radial velocity (RV) for 3D overlap of reasonable magnitude (or, for the 7% of candidates with measured RVs, satisfying 3D traceback). Thirteen sources, not previously noted as Orion members, pass all these tests, while another twelve are similarly promising, except they are in the main Galactic streaming contamination zone. Among these 25 ejection candidates, ten with measured RVs pass the most restrictive 3D traceback condition. We present full lists of runaway/walkaway candidates, estimate the high-velocity population ejected from the ONC, and discuss its implications for cluster formation theories via comparison with numerical simulations.

An Extremely Bright QSO at z = 2.89

Abstract We report the discovery and confirmation of a bright quasi-stellar object (QSO), 2MASS J13260399 + 7023462, at . This QSO is the first spectroscopically confirmed candidate from an ongoing search using the combination of Gaia and Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer photometry to identify bright QSOs at z > 2, the redshift regime for which the Lyα forest is accessible with ground-based facilities. With a Gaia apparent magnitude G = 16.07, 2MASS J13260399 + 7023462 is one of the brightest QSOs known at z > 2, with only 15 currently known brighter QSOs. Given its inferred magnitude and redshift, it is among the most luminous objects in the universe; the inferred black hole mass and corresponding Eddington ratio are (2.7 ± 0.4) × 1010 and 1.3 ± 0.3, respectively. Follow-up Hubble observations confirm it is not gravitationally lensed.

Mid-IR Variability and Dust Reverberation Mapping of Low-z Quasars. I. Data, Methods, and Basic Results

Abstract The continued operation of the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), combined with several ground-based optical transient surveys (e.g., CRTS, ASAS-SN, and PTF), offers an unprecedented opportunity to explore the dust structures in luminous active galactic nuclei (AGNs). We use these data for a mid-IR dust reverberation mapping (RM) study of 87 archetypal Palomar–Green quasars at z ≲ 0.5. To cope with various contaminations of the photometry data and the sparse time sampling of the light curves, procedures to combine these data sets and retrieve the dust RM signals have been developed. We find that ∼70% of the sample (with a completeness correction up to 95%) has convincing mid-IR time lags in the WISE W1 (∼3.4 μm) and W2 (∼4.5 μm) bands, and they are proportional to the square root of the AGN luminosity. Combined with previous K-band (∼2.2 μm) RM results in the literature, the inferred dust emission size ratios are R K : R W 1 : R W 2 = 0.6 : 1 : 1.2 . Under simple assumptions, we put preliminary constraints on the projected dust surface density at these bands and reveal the possibly different torus structures among hot-dust-deficient, warm-dust-deficient, and normal quasars from the reverberation signals. With multi-epoch Spitzer data and later WISE photometry, we also explore AGN IR variability at 10–24 μm over a 5 yr timescale. Except for blazars and flat-spectrum radio sources, the majority of AGNs have typical variation amplitudes at 24 μm of no more than 10% of that in the W1 band, indicating that the dust reverberation signals damp out quickly at longer wavelengths. In particular, steep-spectrum radio quasars also lack strong 24 μm variability, consistent with the unification picture of radio-loud AGNs.

Quiescent and Active Phases in Be Stars: A WISE Snapshot of Young Galactic Open Clusters

Abstract Through the modeling of near-infrared photometry of star-plus disk systems with the codes bedisk/beray, we successfully describe the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) photometric characteristics of Be stars in five young open clusters, NGC 663, NGC 869, NGC 884, NGC 3766, and NGC 4755, broadly studied in the literature. WISE photometry allows previously known Be stars to be detected and to find new Be candidates which could be confirmed spectroscopically. The location of Be stars in the WISE color–magnitude diagram, separates them in two groups; active (Be stars hosting a developed circumstellar disk) and quiescent objects (Be stars in a diskless phase), and this way, we can explore how often stars are observed in these different stages. The variability observed in most active variable Be stars is compatible with a disk dissipation phase. We find that 50% of Be stars in the studied open clusters are in an active phase. We can interpret this as Be stars having a developed circumstellar disk one-half of the time. The location of Be stars with a developed disk in the color–magnitude diagram require mass loss rates in agreement with values recently reported in the literature. For these objects, we expect to have a tight relation between the equivalent width of the Hα line and the mass of the disk, if the inclination is known. Also, near-infrared photometry of Be stars in stellar clusters has the potential of being useful to test whether there is a preferential viewing angle.

Composite Spectral Energy Distributions and Infrared–Optical Colors of Type 1 and Type 2 Quasars

Abstract We present observed mid-infrared and optical colors and composite spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of type 1 (broad-line) and 2 (narrow-line) quasars selected from Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) spectroscopy. A significant fraction of powerful quasars are obscured by dust and are difficult to detect in optical photometric or spectroscopic surveys. However, these may be more easily identified on the basis of mid-infrared (MIR) colors and SEDs. Using samples of SDSS type 1 and 2 matched in redshift and [O iii] luminosity, we produce composite rest-frame 0.2–15 μm SEDs based on SDSS, UKIDSS, and Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer photometry and perform model fits using simple galaxy and quasar SED templates. The SEDs of type 1 and 2 quasars are remarkably similar, with the differences explained primarily by the extinction of the quasar component in the type 2 systems. For both types of quasar, the flux of the active galactic nucleus (AGN) relative to the host galaxy increases with AGN luminosity ( L [ O III ] ) and redder observed MIR color, but we find only weak dependencies of the composite SEDs on mechanical jet power as determined through radio luminosity. We conclude that luminous quasars can be effectively selected using simple MIR color criteria similar to those identified previously ( W 1 – W 2 > 0.7 ; Vega), although these criteria miss many heavily obscured objects. Obscured quasars can be further identified based on optical–IR colors (for example, ( u – W 3 [ AB ] ) > 1.4 ( W 1 – W 2 [ Vega ] ) + 3.2 ). These results illustrate the power of large statistical studies of obscured quasars selected on the basis of MIR and optical photometry.

The discovery of a five-image lensed quasar at z = 3.34 using PanSTARRS1 and Gaia

Abstract We report the discovery, spectroscopic confirmation and mass modelling of the gravitationally lensed quasar system PS J0630−1201. The lens was discovered by matching a photometric quasar catalogue compiled from Pan-STARRS1 and Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer photometry to the Gaia data release 1 catalogue, exploiting the high spatial resolution of the latter (full width at half-maximum ∼0.1 arcsec) to identify the three brightest components of the lensed quasar system. Follow-up spectroscopic observations with the William Herschel Telescope confirm the multiple objects are quasars at redshift zq = 3.34. Further follow-up with Keck adaptive optics high-resolution imaging reveals that the system is composed of two lensing galaxies and the quasar is lensed into an ∼2.8 arcsec separation four-image cusp configuration with a fifth image clearly visible, and a 1.0 arcsec arc due to the lensed quasar host galaxy. The system is well modelled with two singular isothermal ellipsoids, reproducing the position of the fifth image. We discuss future prospects for measuring time delays between the images and constraining any offset between mass and light using the faintly detected Einstein arcs associated with the quasar host galaxy.

WISE data and sparse photometry used for shape reconstruction of asteroids

AbstractAsteroid disk-integrated sparse-in-time photometry can be used for determination of shapes and spin states of asteroids by the lightcurve inversion method. To clearly distinguish the correct solution of the rotation period from other minima in the parameter space, data with good photometric accuracy are needed. We show that if the low-quality sparse photometry obtained from ground-based astrometric surveys is combined with data from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) satellite, the correct rotation period can be successfully derived. Although WISE observed in mid-IR wavelengths, we show that for the period and spin determination, these data can be modelled as reflected light. The absolute fluxes are not required since only relative variation of the flux over the rotation is sufficient to determine the period. We also discuss the potential of combining all WISE data with the Lowell photometric database to create physical models of thousands of asteroids.

DISCOVERY OF A WIDE PLANETARY-MASS COMPANION TO THE YOUNG M3 STAR GU PSC

We present the discovery of a co-moving planetary-mass companion ~42" (~2000 AU) from a young M3 star, GU Psc, likely member of the young AB Doradus Moving Group (ABDMG). The companion was first identified via its distinctively red i - z color (> 3.5) through a survey made with Gemini-S/GMOS. Follow-up Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope/WIRCam near-infrared (NIR) imaging, Gemini-N/GNIRS NIR spectroscopy and Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer photometry indicate a spectral type of T3.5+-1 and reveal signs of low gravity which we attribute to youth. Keck/Adaptive Optics NIR observations did not resolve the companion as a binary. A comparison with atmosphere models indicates Teff = 1000-1100 K and logg = 4.5-5.0. Based on evolution models, this temperature corresponds to a mass of 9-13 MJup for the age of ABDMG (70-130 Myr). The relatively well-constrained age of this companion and its very large angular separation to its host star will allow its thorough characterization and will make it a valuable comparison for planetary-mass companions that will be uncovered by forthcoming planet-finder instruments such as Gemini Planet Imager and SPHERE.

A NEW POPULATION OF HIGH-z, DUSTY Lyα EMITTERS AND BLOBS DISCOVERED BYWISE: FEEDBACK CAUGHT IN THE ACT?

We report a new technique to select 1.6<z<4.6 dusty Lyman-alpha emitters (LAEs), over a third of which are `blobs' (LABs) with emission extended on scales of 30-100kpc. Combining data from the NASA Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) mission with optical spectroscopy from the W.M. Keck telescope, we present a color criteria that yields a 78% success rate in identifying rare, dusty LAEs of which at least 37% are LABs. The objects have a surface density of only ~0.1 per square degree, making them rare enough that they have been largely missed in narrow surveys. We measured spectroscopic redshifts for 92 of these WISE-selected, typically radio-quiet galaxies and find that the LAEs (LABs) have a median redshift of 2.3 (2.5). The WISE photometry coupled with data from Herschel reveals that these galaxies have extreme far-infrared luminosities (L_IR>10^{13-14}L_sun) and warm colors, typically larger than submillimeter-selected galaxies (SMGs) and dust-obscured galaxies (DOGs). These traits are commonly associated with the dust being energized by intense AGN activity. We hypothesize that the combination of spatially extended Lyman-alpha, large amounts of warm IR-luminous dust, and rarity (implying a short-lived phase) can be explained if the galaxies are undergoing strong `feedback' transforming them from an extreme dusty starburst to a QSO.

First identification and absolute magnitudes of the red clump stars in the Solar neighbourhood for WISE

We present the first determination of absolute magnitudes for the red clump (RC) stars with the Wide–field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE). We used recently reduced parallaxes taken from the Hipparcos catalogue and identified 3889 RC stars with the WISE photometry in the Solar neighbourhood. Mode values estimated from the distributions of absolute magnitudes and a colour of the RC stars in WISE photometry are MW1=-1.635±0.026,MW3=-1.606±0.024 and (W1-W3)0=-0.028±0.001mag. These values are consistent with those obtained from the transformation formulae using 2MASS data. Distances of the RC stars estimated by using their MW1 and MW3 absolute magnitudes are in agreement with the ones calculated by the spectrophotometric method, as well. These WISE absolute magnitudes can be used in astrophysical researches where distance plays an important role.

Hyperluminous reddened broad-line quasars at z ∼ 2 from the VISTA Hemisphere Survey and WISE all-sky survey

Abstract We present the first sample of spectroscopically confirmed heavily reddened broad-line quasars selected using the new near-infrared VISTA Hemisphere Survey and Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) all-sky survey. Observations of four candidates with (J − K) &amp;gt; 2.5 and K ≤ 16.5 over ∼180 deg2 lead to confirmation that two are highly dust-reddened broad-line Type 1 quasars at z ∼ 2. The typical dust extinctions are AV ∼ 2–2.5 mag. We measure black hole masses of ∼109 M⊙ and extinction-corrected bolometric luminosities of ∼1047 erg s−1, making them some of the brightest Type 1 quasars currently known. Despite this, these quasars lie well below the detection limits of wide-field optical surveys like the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) with iAB &amp;gt; 22. We also present WISE photometry at 3–22 μm, for our full sample of spectroscopically confirmed reddened quasars including those selected from the UKIDSS Large Area Survey. We demonstrate that the rest-frame infrared spectral energy distributions of these reddened quasars are similar to ultraviolet-luminous Type 1 quasars with significant hot dust emission and starburst quasar hosts like Mrk 231. The average 12-μm flux density of our reddened quasars is similar to that of the recently discovered hyperluminous infrared galaxy (HyLIRG) WISE 1814+3412 (z = 2.452) at similar redshifts, with two of our reddened quasars also having comparable 22-μm flux densities to this extreme HyLIRG. These optically faint, heavily reddened broad-line quasars are therefore among the most mid-infrared-luminous galaxies at z ∼ 2, now being discovered using WISE.

THESPITZER-WISESURVEY OF THE ECLIPTIC POLES

We have carried out a survey of the north and south ecliptic poles, EP-N and EP-S, respectively, with the Spitzer Space Telescope and the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE). The primary objective was to cross-calibrate WISE with the Spitzer and Midcourse Space Experiment (MSX) photometric systems by developing a set of calibration stars that are common to these infrared missions. The ecliptic poles were continuous viewing zones for WISE due to its polar-crossing orbit, making these areas ideal for both absolute and internal calibrations. The Spitzer IRAC and MIPS imaging survey covers a complete area of 0.40 deg2 for the EP-N and 1.28 deg2 for the EP-S. WISE observed the whole sky in four mid-infrared bands, 3.4, 4.6, 12, and 22 μm, during its eight-month cryogenic mission, including several hundred ecliptic polar passages; here we report on the highest coverage depths achieved by WISE, an area of ∼1.5 deg2 for both poles. Located close to the center of the EP-N, the Sy-2 galaxy NGC 6552 conveniently functions as a standard calibrator to measure the red response of the 22 μm channel of WISE. Observations from Spitzer-IRAC/MIPS/IRS-LL and WISE show that the galaxy has a strong red color in the mid-infrared due to star-formation and the presence of an active galactic nucleus (AGN), while over a baseline >1 year the mid-IR photometry of NGC 6552 is shown to vary at a level less than 2%. Combining NGC 6552 with the standard calibrator stars, the achieved photometric accuracy of the WISE calibration, relative to the Spitzer and MSX systems, is 2.4%, 2.8%, 4.5%, and 5.7% for W1 (3.4 μm), W2 (4.6 μm), W3 (12 μm), and W4 (22 μm), respectively. The WISE photometry is internally stable to better than 0.1% over the cryogenic lifetime of the mission. The secondary objective of the Spitzer–WISE Survey was to explore the poles at greater flux-level depths, exploiting the higher angular resolution Spitzer observations and the exceptionally deep (in total coverage) WISE observations that potentially reach down to the confusion limit of the survey. The rich Spitzer and WISE data sets were used to study the Galactic and extragalactic populations through source counts, color–magnitude and color–color diagrams. As an example of what the data sets facilitate, we have separated stars from galaxies, delineated normal galaxies from power-law-dominated AGNs, and reported on the different fractions of extragalactic populations. In the EP-N, we find an AGN source density of ∼260 deg−2 to a 12 μm depth of 115 μJy, representing 15% of the total extragalactic population to this depth, similar to what has been observed for low-luminosity AGNs in other fields.