466 research outputs found
REM near-IR and optical photometric monitoring of Pre-Main Sequence Stars in Orion
We performed an intensive photometric monitoring of the PMS stars falling in
a field of about 10x10 arc-minutes in the vicinity of the Orion Nebula Cluster
(ONC). Photometric data were collected between November 2006 and January 2007
with the REM telescope in the VRIJHK' bands. The largest number of observations
is in the I band (about 2700 images) and in J and H bands (about 500 images in
each filter). From the observed rotational modulation, induced by the presence
of surface inhomogeneities, we derived the rotation periods for 16 stars and
improved previous determinations for the other 13. The analysis of the spectral
energy distributions and, for some stars, of high-resolution spectra provided
us with the main stellar parameters (luminosity, effective temperature, mass,
age, and vsini). We also report the serendipitous detection of two strong
flares in two of these objects. In most cases, the light-curve amplitudes
decrease progressively from the R to H band as expected for cool starspots,
while in a few cases, they can only be modelled by the presence of hot spots,
presumably ascribable to magnetospheric accretion. The application of our own
spot model to the simultaneous light curves in different bands allowed us to
deduce the spot parameters and particularly to disentangle the spot temperature
and size effects on the observed light curves.Comment: 29 pages, 24 figure
Experimental evidence of delocalized states in random dimer superlattices
We study the electronic properties of GaAs-AlGaAs superlattices with
intentional correlated disorder by means of photoluminescence and vertical dc
resistance. The results are compared to those obtained in ordered and
uncorrelated disordered superlattices. We report the first experimental
evidence that spatial correlations inhibit localization of states in disordered
low-dimensional systems, as our previous theoretical calculations suggested, in
contrast to the earlier belief that all eigenstates are localized.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures. Physical Review Letters (in press
X-Shooter spectroscopy of young stellar objects in Lupus: Accretion properties of class II and transitional objects
We present the results of a study of the stellar and accretion properties of
the (almost) complete sample of class II and transitional YSOs in the Lupus I,
II, III and IV clouds, based on spectroscopic data acquired with the
VLT/X-Shooter spectrograph. Our study combines the dataset from our previous
work with new observations of 55 additional objects. We have investigated 92
YSO candidates in total, 11 of which have been definitely identified with giant
stars unrelated to Lupus. The stellar and accretion properties of the 81 bona
fide YSOs, which represent more than 90% of the whole class~II and transition
disc YSO population in the aforementioned Lupus clouds, have been homogeneously
and self-consistently derived, allowing for an unbiased study of accretion and
its relationship with stellar parameters. The accretion luminosity, Lacc,
increases with the stellar luminosity, Lstar, with an overall slope of ~1.6,
similar but with a smaller scatter than in previous studies. There is a
significant lack of strong accretors below Lstar~0.1Lsun, where Lacc is always
lower than 0.01Lstar. We argue that the Lacc-Lstar slope is not due to
observational biases, but is a true property of the Lupus YSOs. The
logMacc-logMstar correlation shows a statistically significant evidence of a
break, with a steeper relation for Mstar<0.2Msun and a flatter slope for higher
masses. The bimodality of the Macc-Mstar relation is confirmed with four
different evolutionary models used to derive the stellar mass. The bimodal
behaviour of the observed relationship supports the importance of modelling
self-gravity in the early evolution of the more massive discs, but other
processes, such as photo evaporation and planet formation during the YSO's
lifetime, may also lead to disc dispersal on different timescales depending on
the stellar mass. We also refined the empirical Lacc vs. Lline relationships.Comment: 43 pages, 22 figure
The Disk Population of the Chamaeleon I Star-Forming Region
We present a census of circumstellar disks in the Chamaeleon I star-forming
region. Using the Infrared Array Camera and the Multiband Imaging Photometer
onboard the Spitzer Space Telescope, we have obtained images of Chamaeleon I at
3.6, 4.5, 5.8, 8.0, and 24 um. To search for new disk-bearing members of the
cluster, we have performed spectroscopy on objects that have red colors in
these data. Through this work, we have discovered four new members of
Chamaeleon I with spectral types of M4, M6, M7.5, and L0. The first three
objects are highly embedded (A_J~5) and reside near known protostars,
indicating that they may be among the youngest low-mass sources in the cluster
(<1 Myr). The L0 source is the coolest known member of Chamaeleon I. Its
luminosity implies a mass of 0.004-0.01 M_sun, making it the least massive
brown dwarf for which a circumstellar disk has been reliably detected. To
characterize the disk population in Chamaeleon I, we have classified the
infrared spectral energy distributions of the 203 known members that are
encompassed by the Spitzer images. Through these classifications, we find that
the disk fraction in Chamaeleon I is roughly constant at ~50% from 0.01 to 0.3
M_sun. These data are similar to the disk fraction of IC 348, which is a denser
cluster at the same age as Chamaeleon I. However, the disk fraction at M>1
M_sun is significantly higher in Chamaeleon I than in IC 348 (65% vs. 20%),
indicating longer disk lifetimes in Chamaeleon I for this mass range. Thus,
low-density star-forming regions like Chamaeleon I may offer more time for
planet formation around solar-type stars than denser clusters
Intracluster stars in the Virgo cluster core
We have investigated the properties of the diffuse light in the Virgo cluster
core region, based on the detection of intracluster planetary nebulae (PNe) in
four fields. We eliminate the bias from misclassified faint continuum objects,
using improved Monte Carlo simulations, and the contaminations by high redshift
Ly galaxies, using the Ly luminosity function in blank fields.
Recent spectroscopic observations confirm that our photometric PN samples are
well-understood. We find that the diffuse stellar population in the Virgo core
region is inhomogeneous on scales of 30'-90': there exist significant
field-to-field variations in the number density of PNe and the inferred amount
of intracluster light, with some empty fields, some fields dominated by
extended Virgo galaxy halos, and some fields dominated by the true intracluster
component. There is no clear trend with distance from M87. The mean surface
luminosity density, its rms variation, and the mean surface brightness of
diffuse light in our 4 fields are L
arcmin, L arcmin, and
mag arcsec respectively. Our results indicate that
the Virgo cluster is a dynamically young environment, and that the intracluster
component is associated at least partially with local physical processes like
galaxy interactions or harassment. We also argue, based on kinematic evidence,
that the so-called 'over-luminous' PNe in the halo of M84 are dynamically
associated with this galaxy, and must thus be brighter than and part of a
different stellar population from the normal PN population in elliptical
galaxies.Comment: 31 pages, 6 figure. In press on the Astronomical Journa
Cold Disks: Spitzer Spectroscopy of Disks around Young Stars with Large Gaps
We have identified four circumstellar disks with a deficit of dust emission
from their inner 15-50 AU. All four stars have F-G spectral type, and were
uncovered as part of the Spitzer Space Telescope ``Cores to Disks'' Legacy
Program Infrared Spectrograph (IRS) first look survey of ~100 pre-main sequence
stars. Modeling of the spectral energy distributions indicates a reduction in
dust density by factors of 100-1000 from disk radii between ~0.4 and 15-50 AU,
but with massive gas-rich disks at larger radii. This large contrast between
the inner and outer disk has led us to use the term `cold disks' to distinguish
these unusual systems. However, hot dust [0.02-0.2 Mmoon] is still present
close to the central star (R ~0.8 AU). We introduce the 30/13 micron, flux
density ratio as a new diagnostic for identifying cold disks. The mechanisms
for dust clearing over such large gaps are discussed. Though rare, cold disks
are likely in transition from an optically thick to an optically thin state,
and so offer excellent laboratories for the study of planet formation.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figures, accepted to ApJ
X-Shooter study of accretion in Chamaeleon I: II. A steeper increase of accretion with stellar mass for very low mass stars?
The dependence of the mass accretion rate on the stellar properties is a key
constraint for star formation and disk evolution studies. Here we present a
study of a sample of stars in the Chamaeleon I star forming region carried out
using the VLT/X-Shooter spectrograph. The sample is nearly complete down to
M~0.1Msun for the young stars still harboring a disk in this region. We derive
the stellar and accretion parameters using a self-consistent method to fit the
broad-band flux-calibrated medium resolution spectrum. The correlation between
the accretion luminosity to the stellar luminosity, and of the mass accretion
rate to the stellar mass in the logarithmic plane yields slopes of 1.9 and 2.3,
respectively. These slopes and the accretion rates are consistent with previous
results in various star forming regions and with different theoretical
frameworks. However, we find that a broken power-law fit, with a steeper slope
for stellar luminosity smaller than ~0.45 Lsun and for stellar masses smaller
than ~ 0.3 Msun, is slightly preferred according to different statistical
tests, but the single power-law model is not excluded. The steeper relation for
lower mass stars can be interpreted as a faster evolution in the past for
accretion in disks around these objects, or as different accretion regimes in
different stellar mass ranges. Finally, we find two regions on the mass
accretion versus stellar mass plane empty of objects. One at high mass
accretion rates and low stellar masses, which is related to the steeper
dependence of the two parameters we derived. The second one is just above the
observational limits imposed by chromospheric emission. This empty region is
located at M~0.3-0.4Msun, typical masses where photoevaporation is known to be
effective, and at mass accretion rates ~10^-10 Msun/yr, a value compatible with
the one expected for photoevaporation to rapidly dissipate the inner disk.Comment: Accepted for publication on Astronomy & Astrophysics. Abstract
shortened for arxiv constraints. Revised version after language editin
A Census of the Chamaeleon I Star-Forming Region
Optical spectroscopy has been obtained for 179 objects that have been
previously identified as possible members of the cluster, that lack either
accurate spectral types or clear evidence of membership, and that are optically
visible (I<18). I have used these spectroscopic data and all other available
constraints to evaluate the spectral classifications and membership status of a
total sample of 288 candidate members of Chamaeleon I that have appeared in
published studies of the cluster. The latest census of Chamaeleon I now
contains 158 members, 8 of which are later than M6 and thus are likely to be
brown dwarfs. I find that many of the objects identified as members of
Chamaeleon I in recent surveys are actually field stars. Meanwhile, 7 of 9
candidates discovered by Carpenter and coworkers are confirmed as members, one
of which is the coolest known member of Chamaeleon I at a spectral type of M8
(~0.03 M_sun). I have estimated extinctions, luminosities, and effective
temperatures for the members and used these data to construct an H-R diagram
for the cluster. Chamaeleon I has a median age of ~2 Myr according to
evolutionary models, and hence is similar in age to IC 348 and is slightly
older than Taurus (~1 Myr). The measurement of an IMF for Chamaeleon I from
this census is not possible because of the disparate methods with which the
known members were originally selected, and must await an unbiased,
magnitude-limited survey of the cluster.Comment: 59 pages, 22 figure
The Spitzer c2d Survey of Large, Nearby, Interstellar Clouds. I. Chamaeleon II Observed with MIPS
We present maps of over 1.5 square degrees in Chamaeleon (Cha) II at 24, 70,
and 160 micron observed with the Spitzer Space Telescope Multiband Imaging
Photometer for Spitzer (MIPS) and a 1.2 square degree millimeter map from SIMBA
on the Swedish-ESO Submillimetre Telescope (SEST). The c2d Spitzer Legacy
Team's data reduction pipeline is described in detail. Over 1500 24 micron
sources and 41 70 micron sources were detected by MIPS with fluxes greater than
10-sigma. More than 40 potential YSOs are identified with a MIPS and 2MASS
color-color diagram and by their spectral indices, including two previously
unknown sources with 24 micron excesses. Our new SIMBA millimeter map of Cha II
shows that only a small fraction of the gas is in compact structures with high
column densities. The extended emission seen by MIPS is compared with previous
CO observations. Some selected interesting sources, including two detected at 1
mm, associated with Cha II are discussed in detail and their SEDs presented.
The classification of these sources using MIPS data is found to be consistent
with previous studies.Comment: 44 pages, 12 figures (1 color), to be published in Ap
An empirical criterion to classify T Tauri stars and substellar analogs using low-resolution optical spectroscopy
We have compiled and studied photometric and spectroscopic data published in
the literature of several star forming regions and young open clusters (Orion,
Taurus, IC348, Sco-Cen Complex, Chamaeleon I, TW Hya association, sigma Orionis
cluster, IC2391, alpha Per cluster and the Pleiades). Our goal was to seek the
definition of a simple empirical criterion to classify stars or brown dwarfs
which are accreting matter from a disk on the sole basis of low-resolution
optical spectroscopic data. We show that using Halpha equivalent widths and
spectral types we can statistically classify very young stars and brown dwarfs
as classical T Tauri stars and substellar analogs. As a boundary between
accreting and non accreting objects, we use the saturation limit of
chromospheric activity at Log L(Halpha)/L(bol)=-3.3 (determined in the open
clusters). We discuss the uncertainties in the classification scheme due to the
occurrence of flares. We have used this spectroscopic empirical criterion to
classify objects found in the literature, and we compute the fraction of
accreting objects in several star forming regions. The fraction of accreting
objects appears to decrease from about 50% to about 5% from 1 Myr to 10 Myr for
both stars and brown dwarfs.Comment: Astronomical Journal, accepte
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