Young Open Cluster Research Articles

A SIMPLE NONLINEAR MODEL FOR THE ROTATION OF MAIN-SEQUENCE COOL STARS. I. INTRODUCTION, IMPLICATIONS FOR GYROCHRONOLOGY, AND COLOR-PERIOD DIAGRAMS

We here introduce a simple nonlinear model to describe the rotational evolution of cool stars on the main sequence. It is formulated only in terms of the Rossby number (Ro = P/τ), its inverse, and two dimensionless constants which we specify using solar and open-cluster data. The model has two limiting cases of stellar rotation, previously called C and I, that correspond to two observed sequences of fast and slowly rotating stars in young open clusters. The model describes the evolution of stars from C-type, with particular mass and age dependencies, to I-type, with different mass and age dependencies, through the rotational gap, g, separating them. The proposed model explains various aspects of stellar rotation, and provides an exact expression for the age of a rotating cool star in terms of P and τ, thereby generalizing gyrochronology. Using it, we calculate the time interval required for stars to reach the rotational gap—a monotonically increasing, mildly nonlinear function of τ. Beginning with the range of initial periods indicated by observations, we show that the (mass-dependent) dispersion in rotation period initially increases, and then decreases rapidly with the passage of time. The initial dispersion in period contributes up to 128 Myr to the gyro-age errors of solar-mass field stars. Finally, we transform to color–period space, calculate appropriate isochrones, and show that this model explains some detailed features in the observed color–period diagrams of open clusters, including the positions and shapes of the sequences, and the observed density of stars across these diagrams.

A DYNAMICAL STUDY OF SUSPECTED RUNAWAY STARS AS TRACES OF PAST SUPERNOVA EXPLOSIONS IN THE REGION OF THE SCORPIUS-CENTAURUS OB ASSOCIATION

We address the question of identifying possible past supernovae events taking place in the region of the Scorpius-Centaurus (Sco-Cen) OB association based on stars proposed by Hoogerwerf et al. With this purpose, we obtained a time series of high-resolution spectra of six stars (HIP 42038, HIP 46950, HIP 48943, HIP 69491, HIP 76013, and HIP 82868) which, according to Hoogerwerf et al., may have been runaway stars with origins in the region of the Sco-Cen association. This also includes the nearby young open clusters IC 2391 and IC 2602. If confirmed, such supernovae events could, in principle, have played a role in triggering the formation of some small stellar groups thought to be associated with the Sco-Cen association. Our analysis shows that, except for HIP 48943, the remaining stars are spectroscopic binary systems. For HIP 46950 and HIP 69491, this was already noted by other authors. Our high-resolution spectra allowed us to obtain the radial velocities for all the stars which, combined with their proper motions and parallaxes from Hipparcos, provide a means to investigate, by retracing their orbits, if the Sco-Cen region was, in fact, the origin of these stars. We find that none of these systems originated in the Sco-Cen region. Exploring the possibility that the birthplace of the studied stars occurred in the clusters IC 2391 and IC 2602, we noticed that at the epoch of 2-3 Myr ago these clusters were at a distance comparable with their tidal radii.

THE MEMBERSHIP AND DISTANCE OF THE OPEN CLUSTER COLLINDER 419

The young open cluster Collinder 419 surrounds the massive O star, HD 193322, that is itself a remarkable multiple star system containing at least four components. Here we present a discussion of the cluster distance based upon new spectral classifications of the brighter members, UBV photometry, and an analysis of astrometric and photometric data from the UCAC3 and 2MASS catalogs. We determine an average cluster reddening of E(B-V)=0.37 +- 0.05 mag and a cluster distance of 741 +- 36 pc. The cluster probably contains some very young stars that may include a reddened M3 III star, IRAS~20161+4035.

EMPLOYING A NEW,BVIcPHOTOMETRIC SURVEY OF IC 4665 TO INVESTIGATE THE AGE OF THIS YOUNG OPEN CLUSTER

We present a new, BVIc photometric survey of the young open cluster IC4665, which improves on previous studies of this young cluster by incorporating a rigorous standardization procedure, thus providing high-fidelity colors and magnitudes for cluster members. We use this new photometric dataset to reevaluate the properties (age and distance) of IC4665. Namely, using a statistical approach incorporating Tau^2 CMD modeling, we measure a pre-main-sequence isochrone age and distance of 36+-9 Myr and 360+-12 pc, as well as a upper-main-sequence turn-off age and distance of 42+-12 Myr and 357+-12 pc. These ages and distances are highly dependent on the isochrone model and color used for the fitting procedure, with a possible range of ~10-20 Myr in age and ~20 pc in distance. This spread in calculated ages and distances seen between colors and models is likely due to limitations in the individual membership catalogs and/or systematic differences in the predicted stellar parameters from the different sets of models. Interestingly, when we compare the isochrone ages for IC4665 to the published lithium depletion boundary age, 28+-5 Myr, we observe that this cluster does not appear to follow the trend of isochrone ages being 1.5 times smaller than lithium depletion boundary ages. In addition, comparing the overall magnetic activity (X-ray and H-alpha emission) in IC4665 with other well studied open clusters, we find the observed activity distributions for this young cluster are best characterized by assuming an age of 30-40 Myr, thus in agreement with our pre-main-sequence and turn-off isochrone ages for IC4665. Overall, although some age discrepancies do exist, particularly in the ages measured from pre-main-sequence isochrones, the range of possible IC4665 ages derived from the various dating techniques employed here is relatively small compared to that found for other well studied open clusters.

First CCD UBVI photometric analysis of four moderately young open clusters in the third galactic quadrant

We present CCD photometry in the Johnson UBV and Kron-Cousins I systems down to V~ 22.0 for the open clusters NGC 2311, Trumpler 6, NGC 2432 and BH 54 and their surrounding fields. Trumpler 6 and BH 54 have never been studied before and so we provide, for the first time, estimates of their fundamental parameters. We obtained colour-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) and colour-colour diagrams cleaned from field star contamination by statistically subtracting stars in terms of spatial density, magnitude and colour distributions. Cluster angular radii were estimated from star counts in appropriate-sized boxes distributed throughout the entire observed fields. Using the cleaned CMDs and colour-colour diagrams, we applied sound photometric membership criteria to discriminate cluster members from interloper field stars. The interstellar extinction across the cluster fields derived from the 100-μm dust emission full-sky maps can be considered uniform within the quoted uncertainties. The E(B-V) and E(V-I) colour excesses and the apparent distance moduli of the clusters were estimated from the fit of the zero-age main-sequence to the colour-colour diagrams and CMDs, respectively. Cluster ages were determined from the comparison of the four clusters' CMDs with solar metallicity theoretical isochrones of the Geneva group. All the clusters were found to be moderately young objects, their ages ranging between 60 and 250 Myr. © 2010 The Authors. Journal compilation © 2010 RAS.

Characterization and photometric membership of the open cluster NGC 1981

Open clusters belonging to star-forming complexes are the leftovers from the initial stellar generations. The study of these young systems provides constraints to models of star formation and evolution as well as to the properties of the Galactic disc. We aimed at investigating NGC1981, a young open cluster in the Orion Nebula Region, using near-IR and BV (RI)C photometric data.We devised a method that accounts for the field contamination and allows to derive photometric membership for the cluster stars. A new cluster centre was determined by Gaussian fittings to the 2-D stellar distribution on the sky, and has been used used to obtain the radial stellar density profile and the structural parameters. Mass functions were computed for stars inside the cluster limiting radius and total mass estimated from them. Although more easily distinguished by its grouping of 6 relatively bright stars, an underlying population of faint pre-main sequence stars is evident in the cluster area. We showed that this population is related to the cluster itself rather than to the nearby Orion Nebula cluster. Additionally a fraction of the cluster low mass stars may have been evaporated from the region in its early evolution leading to the present sparse, loose structure. The estimated parameters of NGC1981 are core radius Rc = 0.09 +/- 0.04 pc, limiting radius Rlim = 1.21+/-0.11 pc, age t = 5+/-1 Myr, distance modulus (m-M)0 = 7.9+/-0.1 (380 +/- 17 pc), reddening E(B - V)= 0.07 +/- 0.03 and total mass m = 137 +/- 14 M\cdot.

First detection of a low-mass stellar halo around the young open cluster η Chamaeleontis

Abstract We have identified several lithium-rich low-mass (0.08 < M < 0.3 M⊙) stars within of the young open cluster η Chamaeleontis, nearly four times the radius of previous search efforts. Of these stars, we propose four new probable cluster members and three possible members requiring further investigation. These findings are consistent with a dynamical origin for the current configuration of the cluster, without the need to invoke an abnormal initial mass function deficient in low-mass objects. Candidates were selected on the basis of DENIS and Two-Micron All-Sky Survey photometry, Naval Observatory Merged Astrometric Catalogue astrometry and extensive follow-up spectroscopy.

SPECTROSCOPIC ABUNDANCES AND MEMBERSHIP IN THE WOLF 630 MOVING GROUP

The concept of kinematic assemblages evolving from dispersed stellar clusters has remained contentious since Eggen's initial formulation of moving groups in the 1960's. With high quality parallaxes from the Hipparcos space astrometry mission, distance measurements for thousands of nearby, seemingly isolated stars are currently available. With these distances, a high resolution spectroscopic abundance analysis can be brought to bear on the alleged members of these moving groups. If a structure is a relic of an open cluster, the members can be expected to be monolithic in age and abundance inasmuch as homogeneity is observed in young open clusters. In this work we have examined 34 putative members of the proposed Wolf 630 moving group using high resolution stellar spectroscopy. The stars of the sample have been chemically tagged to determine abundance homogeneity and confirm the existence of a homogeneous subsample of 19 stars. Fitting the homogeneous subsample with Yale-Yonsei isochrones yields a single evolutionary sequence of $\sim$2.7 $\pm$ 0.5 Gyr. It is concluded that this 19 star subsample of the Wolf 630 moving group sample of 34 stars could represent a dispersed cluster with an $<$[Fe/H]$>$=-0.01 $\pm$ 0.02 and an age of 2.7 $\pm$ 0.5 Gyr. In addition, chemical abundances of Na and Al in giants are examined for indications of enhancements as observed in field giants of old open clusters, overexcitation/ionization effects are explored in the cooler dwarfs of the sample and oxygen is derived from the infrared triplet and the forbidden line at $\lambda$6300 \AA.

Chromospheric activity among fast-rotating M dwarfs in the open cluster NGC 2516

We report radial velocities (RVs), projected equatorial velocities (v sin i) and CaII triplet (CaT) chromospheric activity indices for 237 late-K to mid-M candidate members of the young open cluster NGC 2516. These stars have rotation periods between 0.1 and 15 days. Intermediate resolution spectra were obtained using the Giraffe spectrograph at the Very Large Telescope. Membership was confirmed on the basis of RVs for 210 targets. We see a marked increase in the fraction of rapidly rotators as we move to cooler spectral types. About 20 per cent of M0-M1 stars have v sin i >15km/s, increasing to 90 per cent of M4 stars. Activity indices derived from the first two lines of the CaT (8498A and 8542A) show differing dependencies on rotation period and mass for stars lying above and below the fully convective boundary. Higher mass stars, of spectral type K3-M2.5, show chromospheric activity which increases with decreasing Rossby number (the ratio of period to convective turnover time), saturating for Rossby numbers <0.1. For cooler stars, which are probably fully convective and almost all of which have Rossby numbers <0.1, there is a clear decrease in chromospheric activity as (V-I)_0 increases, amounting to a fall of about a factor of 2-3 between spectral types M2.5 and M4. This decrease in activity levels at low Rossby numbers is not seen in X-ray observations of the coronae of cluster M-dwarfs or of active field M-dwarfs. There is no evidence for supersaturation of chromospheric activity for stars of any spectral type at Rossby numbers <0.01. We suggest that the fall in the limiting level of chromospheric emission beyond spectral type M3 in NGC~2516 is, like the simultaneous increase in rotation rates in field stars, associated with a change in the global magnetic topology as stars approach the fully convective boundary and not due to any decrease in dynamo-generated magnetic flux.

Photometric multi-site campaign on the open cluster NGC 884

<i>Context. <i/>Recent progress in the seismic interpretation of field <i>β<i/> Cep stars has resulted in improvements of the physics in the stellar structure and evolution models of massive stars. Further asteroseismic constraints can be obtained from studying ensembles of stars in a young open cluster, which all have similar age, distance and chemical composition.<i>Aims. <i/>To improve our comprehension of the <i>β<i/> Cep stars, we studied the young open cluster NGC 884 to discover new B-type pulsators, besides the two known <i>β<i/> Cep stars, and other variable stars.<i>Methods. <i/>An extensive multi-site campaign was set up to gather accurate CCD photometry time series in four filters (<i>U<i/>, <i>B<i/>, <i>V<i/>, <i>I<i/>) of a field of NGC 884. Fifteen different instruments collected almost 77 500 CCD images in 1286 h. The images were calibrated and reduced to transform the CCD frames into interpretable differential light curves. Various variability indicators and frequency analyses were applied to detect variable stars in the field. Absolute photometry was taken to deduce some general cluster and stellar properties.<i>Results. <i/>We achieved an accuracy for the brightest stars of 5.7 mmag in <i>V<i/>, 6.9 mmag in <i>B<i/>, 5.0 mmag in <i>I<i/> and 5.3 mmag in <i>U<i/>. The noise level in the amplitude spectra is 50 <i>μ<i/>mag in the <i>V<i/> band. Our campaign confirms the previously known pulsators, and we report more than one hundred new multi- and mono-periodic B-, A- and F-type stars. Their interpretation in terms of classical instability domains is not straightforward, pointing to imperfections in theoretical instability computations. In addition, we have discovered six new eclipsing binaries and four candidates as well as other irregular variable stars in the observed field.

The low-mass population of theρ Ophiuchi molecular cloud

Star formation theories are currently divergent regarding the fundamental physical processes that dominate the substellar regime. Observations of nearby young open clusters allow the brown dwarf (BD) population to be characterised down to the planetary mass regime, which ultimately must be accommodated by a successful theory. We hope to uncover the low-mass population of the Rho Ophiuchi molecular cloud and investigate the properties of the newly found brown dwarfs. We use near-IR deep images (reaching completeness limits of approximately 20.5 mag in J, and 18.9 mag in H and Ks) taken with the Wide Field IR Camera (WIRCam) at the Canada France Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) to identify candidate members of Rho Oph in the substellar regime. A spectroscopic follow-up of a small sample of the candidates allows us to assess their spectral type, and subsequently their temperature and membership. We select 110 candidate members of the Rho Ophiuchi molecular cloud, from which 80 have not previously been associated with the cloud. We observed a small sample of these and spectroscopically confirm six new brown dwarfs with spectral types ranging from M6.5 to M8.25.

Physical parameters and orbit of the eclipsing binary BD +66 1663 = GSC 4479 412

We have obtained the first UBV(RI)C photoelectric light curves of the recently discovered eclipsing binary BD +66 1663 = GSC 4479 412 (P = 7.04d, V = 10.14). We have derived relative and absolute parameters of the binary, and analyzed the interstellar extinction towards the object. Though the star is located in the field of the young open cluster Be 59, we demonstrate that it is not a member.

Eclipsing binaries in the MOST satellite fields

AbstractSixteen new eclipsing binaries have been discovered by the MOST satellite among guide stars used to point its telescope in various fields. Several previously known eclipsing binaries were also observed by MOST with unprecedented quality. Among the objects we discuss in more detail are short‐period eclipsing binaries with eccentric orbits in young open clusters: V578 Mon in NGC 2244 and HD 47934 in NGC 2264. Long nearly‐continuous photometric runs made it possible to discover three long‐period eclipsing binaries with orbits seen almost edge‐on: HD 45972 with P = 28.1 days and two systems (GSC 154 1247 and GSC 2141 526) with P &gt; 25 days. The high precision of the satellite data led to discoveries of binaries with very shallow eclipses (e.g., HD 46180 with A = 0.016 mag, and HD 47934 with A = 0.025 mag). Ground‐based spectroscopy to support the space‐based photometry was used to refine the models of several of the systems (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH &amp; Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

WIYN OPEN CLUSTER STUDY. XXXVIII. STELLAR RADIAL VELOCITIES IN THE YOUNG OPEN CLUSTER M35 (NGC 2168)

We present 5201 radial-velocity measurements of 1144 stars, as part of an ongoing study of the young (150 Myr) open cluster M35 (NGC 2168). We have observed M35 since 1997, using the Hydra Multi-Object Spectrograph on the WIYN 3.5m telescope. Our stellar sample covers main-sequence stars over a magnitude range of 13.0<V<16.5 (1.6 - 0.8 Msun) and extends spatially to a radius of 30 arcminutes (7 pc in projection at a distance of 805 pc or 4 core radii). Due to its youth, M35 provides a sample of late-type stars with a range of rotation periods. Therefore, we analyze the radial-velocity measurement precision as a function of the projected rotational velocity. For narrow-lined stars (v sin i < 10 km/s), the radial velocities have a precision of 0.5 km/s, which degrades to 1.0 km/s for stars with v sin i = 50 km/s. The radial-velocity distribution shows a well-defined cluster peak with a central velocity of -8.16 +/- 0.05 km/s, permitting a clean separation of the cluster and field stars. For stars with >=3 measurements, we derive radial-velocity membership probabilities and identify radial-velocity variables, finding 360 cluster members, 55 of which show significant radial- velocity variability. Using these cluster members, we construct a color-magnitude diagram for our stellar sample cleaned of field star contamination. We also compare the spatial distribution of the single and binary cluster members, finding no evidence for mass segregation in our stellar sample. Accounting for measurement precision, we place an upper limit on the radial-velocity dispersion of the cluster of 0.81 +/- 0.08 km/s. After correcting for undetected binaries, we derive a true radial-velocity dispersion of 0.65 +/- 0.10 km/s.

Magnetic activity of the spotted dwarf AP149 in the α Persei open cluster

The simultaneous photometric and spectroscopic observations of the spotted G dwarf AP149 in the young open cluster α Persei are analyzed here. We reconstruct the observed light curves with a two-starspot model by means of a light curve modeling technique, and find that the active regions shift oppositely along longitude on a time scale of one day. Combining with the observational data obtained by other groups, we discuss the evolution of spotted regions in the photosphere, and find that its starspots evolve not only on a short time scale but also on a long time scale. The pure chromospheric emissions for Ca IIHK and Hβ lines are derived by using the spectral subtraction technique. The variation of Ca IIHK lines' excess emission is spatially correlated to the starspot regions. There is no clear rotational modulation for the Hβ line's excess emission, probably due to the contamination of prominence emission.

A photometric and spectroscopic investigation of star formation in the very young open cluster NGC 6383

The very young open cluster NGC 6383 centered on the O-star binary HD 159176 is an interesting place for studying the impact of early-type stars with strong radiation fields and powerful winds on the formation processes of low-mass stars. To investigate this process, it is necessary to determine the characteristics (age, presence, or absence of circumstellar material) of the population of low-mass pre-main-sequence (PMS) stars in the cluster. We obtained deep U B V (R I)_c H-alpha photometric data of the entire cluster as well as medium-resolution optical spectroscopy of a subsample of X-ray selected objects. Our spectroscopic data reveal only very weak H-alpha emission lines in a few X-ray selected PMS candidates. We photometrically identify a number of H-alpha emission candidates but their cluster membership is uncertain. We find that the fainter objects in the field of view have a wide range of extinction (up to A_V = 20), one X-ray selected OB star having A_V ~ 8. Our investigation uncovers a population of PMS stars in NGC 6383 that are probably coeval with HD 159176. In addition, we detect a population of reddened objects that are probably located at different depths within the natal molecular cloud of the cluster. Finally, we identify a rather complex spatial distribution of H-alpha emitters, which is probably indicative of a severe contamination by foreground and background stars.

젊은 산개성단 M29 (NGC 6913) 영역의 변광성

From the short-period variability survey (SPVS) in Bohyunsan Optical Astronomy Observatory, I obtained time-series BV CCD images in the region of the young open cluster M29 (NGC 6913) for 15 nights from May 30, 2008 to September 17, 2009. I observed 48 variable stars including 45 new ones. They consisted of 5 <TEX>$\delta$</TEX> Scuti, a Cepheid, 16 eclipsing binaries and 24 semi-long periodic and/or slow irregular type variable stars including <TEX>$\beta$</TEX> Cephei and LPB type stars. For the rest two ones, the type of variability was not defined. I also checked the variability of the 26 known variable stars listed in the GCVS. Only three ones among 26 known variable stars confirmed variability.

Suzaku Observation of Diffuse X-Ray Emission from the Open Cluster Westerlund 2: a Hypernova Remnant?

Abstract We present an analysis of Suzaku observations of the young open cluster Westerlund 2, which is filled with diffuse X-ray emission. We found that the emission consists of three thermal components, or two thermal and one non-thermal components. The upper limit of the energy flux of the non-thermal component is smaller than that in the TeV band observed with H.E.S.S. This may indicate that active particle acceleration has stopped in this cluster, and that the accelerated electrons have already cooled. The gamma-ray emission observed with H.E.S.S. is likely to come from high-energy protons, which hardly cool, in contrast with electrons. The metal abundances of the diffuse X-ray gas may indicate the explosion of a massive star in the past.

Are the spin axes of stars randomly aligned within a cluster?

We investigate to what extent the spin axes of stars in young open clusters are aligned. Assuming that the spin vectors lie uniformly within a conical section, with an opening half-angle between λ= 0° (perfectly aligned) and λ= 90° (completely random), we describe a Monte Carlo modelling technique that returns a probability density for this opening angle given a set of measured sin i values, where i is the unknown inclination angle between a stellar spin vector and the line of sight. Using simulations we demonstrate that although azimuthal information is lost, it is easily possible to discriminate between strongly aligned spin axes and a random distribution, providing that the mean spin-axis inclination lies outside the range 45°–75°. We apply the technique to G- and K-type stars in the young Pleiades and Alpha Per clusters. The sin i values are derived using rotation periods and projected equatorial velocities, combined with radii estimated from the cluster distances and a surface brightness/colour relationship. For both clusters we find no evidence for spin-axis alignment: λ= 90° is the most probable model and λ >40° with 90 per cent confidence. Assuming a random spin-axis alignment, we redetermine the distances to both clusters, obtaining 133 ± 7 pc for the Pleiades and 182 ± 11 pc for Alpha Per. If the assumption of random spin-axis alignment is discarded however, whilst the distance estimate remains unchanged, it has an additional +18−32 per cent uncertainty.

Polarization towards the young open cluster NGC 6823

We present multiwavelength linear polarimetric observations of 104 stars towards the region of young open cluster NGC 6823. The polarization towards NGC 6823 is dominated by foreground dust grains and we found the evidence for the presence of several layers of dust towards the line of sight. The first layer of dust is located approximately within 200 pc towards the cluster, which is much closer to the Sun than the cluster (~ 2.1 kpc). The radial distribution of the position angles for the member stars are found to show a systematic change while the polarization found to reduce towards the outer parts of the cluster and the average position angle of coronal region of the cluster is very close to the inclination of the Galactic parallel (~ 32 degree). The size distribution of the grains within NGC 6823 is similar to those in general interstellar medium. The patchy distribution of foreground dust grains are suggested to be mainly responsible for the both differential reddening and polarization towards NGC 6823. The majority of the observed stars do not show the evidence of intrinsic polarization in their light.