Some Revised Observational Constraints on the Formation and Evolution of the Galactic Disk

A set of 76 open clusters with abundances based upon DDO photometry and/or moderate dispersion spectroscopy has been transformed to a common [Fe/H] scale and used to study the local structure and evolution of the galactic disk. The metallicity distribution of clusters with R_GC is best described by two distinct zones. Between R_GC = 6.5 and 10 kpc, the distribution has a mean [Fe/H] = 0.0 and a dispersion of 0.1 dex; there is only weak evidence for a shallow abundance gradient over this distance range. Beyond R_GC = 10 kpc, the metallicity distribution has a dispersion between 0.10 and 0.15 dex, but with a mean [Fe/H] = -0.3, implying a sharp discontinuity at R_GC = 10 kpc. After correcting for the discontinuity, no evidence is found for a gradient perpendicular to the plane. Adopting the clusters interior to 10 kpc as a representative sample of the galactic disk over the last 7 Gyr, the cluster metallicity range is found to be about half that of the field stars. When coupled with the discontinuity in the galactocentric gradient, the discrepancy in the metallicity distribution is interpreted as an indication of significant diffusion of field stars into the solar neighborhood from beyond 10 kpc. These results imply that the sun is NOT atypical of the stars formed in the solar circle 4.6 Gyr ago. It is suggested that the discontinuity reflects the edge of the initial galactic disk as defined by the disk globular cluster system and the so-called thick disk; the initial offset in [Fe/H] created by the differences in the chemical history on either side of the discontinuity has carried through to the current stage of galactic evolution. If correct, diffusion coupled with the absence of an abundance gradient could make the separation of field stars on the basis of galactocentric origin difficult.Comment: 41 pages, 9 figure files, LaTex. Appendix section and tables (tex or postscript) available at http://kubarb.phsx.ukans.edu/ ~twarog/ Submitted to Astronomical Journal July 199

The Unevolved Main Sequence of Nearby Field Stars and the Open Cluster Distance Scale

The slope and zero-point of the unevolved main sequence as a function of metallicity are investigated using a homogeneous catalog of nearby field stars with absolute magnitudes defined with revised Hipparcos parallaxes, Tycho-2 photometry, and precise metallicities from high-dispersion spectroscopy. (B-V)-temperature relations are derived from 1746 stars between [Fe/H] = -0.5 and +0.6 and 372 stars within 0.05 dex of solar abundance; for T_e = 5770 K, the solar color is B-V= 0.652 +/- 0.002 (s.e.m.). From over 500 cool dwarfs between [Fe/H] = -0.5 and +0.5, Delta(B-V)/Delta[Fe/H] at fixed M_V = 0.213 +/- 0.005, with a very weak dependence upon the adopted main sequence slope with B-V at a given [Fe/H]. At Hyades metallicity this translates into Delta M_V/Delta[Fe/H] at fixed B-V = 0.98 +/- 0.02, midway between the range of values empirically derived from smaller and/or less homogeneous samples and model isochrones. From field stars of similar metallicity, the Hyades ([Fe/H] = +0.13) with no reddening has (m-M)_0 = 3.33 +/- 0.02 and M67, with E(B-V) = 0.041, A_V = 3.1E(B-V), and [Fe/H] = 0.00, has (m-M)_0 = 9.71 +/- 0.02 (s.e.m), where the errors quoted refer to internal errors alone. At the extreme end of the age and metallicity scale, with E(B-V) = 0.125 +/- 0.025 and [Fe/H] = +0.39 +/- 0.06, comparison of the fiducial relation for NGC 6791 to 19 field stars with (B-V) above 0.90 and [Fe/H] = +0.25 or higher, adjusted to the metallicity of NGC 6791, leads to (m-M)_0 = 13.07 +/- 0.09, internal and systematic errors included.Comment: 32 pages, 8 eps figures, latex; accepted for PAS

WIYN OPEN CLUSTER STUDY. LXXII. A uvbyCaHβ CCD ANALYSIS OF THE METAL-DEFICIENT OPEN CLUSTER NGC 2506

Precision uvbyCaHβ photometry of the metal-deficient, old open cluster NGC 2506 is presented. The survey covers an area of $20^{\prime} \times 20^{\prime}$ and extends to $V\sim 18$ for b − y and Hβ and to $V\sim 17.0$ for c 1 and hk. For V brighter than 16.0, photometric scatter among the indices leads to the recovery of six known variables within the cluster core and five new variables in the outer $5^{\prime}$ of the survey field. Proper motions, radial velocities, and precise multicolor indices are used to isolate a highly probable sample of cluster members from the very rich color–magnitude diagram. From 257 highly probable members at the cluster turnoff, we derive a reddening estimate of $E(b-y)=0.042\pm 0.001$ ($E(B-V)=0.058\pm 0.001$), where the errors refer to the internal standard errors of the mean. [Fe/H] is derived from the A/F dwarf members using both m 1 and hk, leading to [Fe/H] = −0.296 ± 0.011 (sem) and −0.317 ± 0.004 (sem), respectively. The weighted average, heavily dominated by hk, is [Fe/H] = −0.316 ± 0.033. Based on red giant members, we place an upper limit of ±0.010 on the variation in the reddening across the face of the cluster. We also identify two dozen potential red giant cluster members outside the cluster core. Victoria–Regina isochrones on the Strömgren system produce an excellent match to the cluster for an apparent modulus of $(m-M)=12.75\pm 0.1$ and an age of 1.85 ± 0.05 Gyr

WIYN OPEN CLUSTER STUDY. LXXII. A uvbyCaHβ CCD ANALYSIS OF THE METAL-DEFICIENT OPEN CLUSTER NGC 2506

Precision uvbyCaHβ photometry of the metal-deficient, old open cluster NGC 2506 is presented. The survey covers an area of $20^{\prime} \times 20^{\prime}$ and extends to $V\sim 18$ for b − y and Hβ and to $V\sim 17.0$ for c 1 and hk. For V brighter than 16.0, photometric scatter among the indices leads to the recovery of six known variables within the cluster core and five new variables in the outer $5^{\prime}$ of the survey field. Proper motions, radial velocities, and precise multicolor indices are used to isolate a highly probable sample of cluster members from the very rich color–magnitude diagram. From 257 highly probable members at the cluster turnoff, we derive a reddening estimate of $E(b-y)=0.042\pm 0.001$ ($E(B-V)=0.058\pm 0.001$), where the errors refer to the internal standard errors of the mean. [Fe/H] is derived from the A/F dwarf members using both m 1 and hk, leading to [Fe/H] = −0.296 ± 0.011 (sem) and −0.317 ± 0.004 (sem), respectively. The weighted average, heavily dominated by hk, is [Fe/H] = −0.316 ± 0.033. Based on red giant members, we place an upper limit of ±0.010 on the variation in the reddening across the face of the cluster. We also identify two dozen potential red giant cluster members outside the cluster core. Victoria–Regina isochrones on the Strömgren system produce an excellent match to the cluster for an apparent modulus of $(m-M)=12.75\pm 0.1$ and an age of 1.85 ± 0.05 Gyr

A UvbyCa Hβ ANALYSIS OF THE OLD OPEN CLUSTER, NGC 6819

This is the published version. Copyright © 2014. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.NGC 6819 is a richly populated, older open cluster situated within the Kepler field. A CCD survey of the cluster on the uvbyCaHβ system, coupled with proper-motion membership, has been used to isolate 382 highly probable, single-star unevolved main-sequence members over a 20' field centered on the cluster. From 278 F dwarfs with high precision photometry in all indices, a mean reddening of E(b – y) = 0.117 ± 0.005 or E(B – V) = 0.160 ± 0.007 is derived, where the standard errors of the mean include both internal errors and the photometric zero-point uncertainty. With the reddening fixed, the metallicity derived from the same 278 stars is [Fe/H] = –0.116 ± 0.101 from m 1 and –0.055 ± 0.033 from hk, for a weighted average of [Fe/H] = –0.06 ± 0.04, where the quoted standard errors of the mean include the internal errors from the photometric scatter plus the uncertainty in the photometric zero points. If metallicity is derived using individual reddening values for each star to account for potential reddening variation across the face of the cluster, the analogous result is unchanged. The cluster members at the turnoff of the color-magnitude diagram are used to test and confirm the recently discovered variation in reddening across the face of the cluster, with a probable range in the variation of ΔE(B – V) = 0.045 ± 0.015. With the slightly higher reddening and lower [Fe/H] compared to commonly adopted values, isochrone fitting leads to an age of 2.3 ± 0.2 Gyr for an apparent modulus of (m – M) = 12.40 ± 0.12

A uvbyCaHbeta CCD Analysis of the Open Cluster Standard, M67,and its Relation to NGC 752

Precision CCD uvbyCaHbeta photometry is presented of the old cluster, M67, covering one square degree with typical internal precision at the 0.005-0.020 mag level to V~17. The photometry is calibrated using standards over a wide range in luminosity and temperature from NGC 752 and zeroed to the standard system via published photoelectric observations. Relative to NGC 752, differential offsets in reddening and metallicity are derived using astrometric members, supplemented by radial-velocity information. From single-star members, offsets in the sense (M67 - NGC 752) are Delta E(b-y) = -0.005 +/-0.001 (sem) mag from 327 F/G dwarfs and Delta [Fe/H] = 0.062 +/- 0.006 (sem) dex from the combined m1 and hk indices of 249 F dwarfs, leading to E(b-y) = 0.021 +/- 0.004 (sem), and [Fe/H] = +0.030 +/- 0.016 (sem) for M67, assuming [Fe/H]{Hyades} = +0.12. With probable binaries eliminated using c1,(b-y) indices, 83 members with relative parallax errors < 0.02 generate (m-M)_0 = 8.220 +/- 0.005 (sem) for NGC 752 and an isochronal age of 1.45 +/- 0.05 Gyr. Using the same parallax restriction for 312 stars, M67 has (m-M) = 9.77 +/- 0.02 (sem), leading to an age tied solely to the luminosity of the subgiant branch of 3.70 +/- 0.03 Gyr. The turnoff color spread implies +/- 0.1 Gyr, but the turnoff morphology defines a younger age/higher mass for the stars, consistent with recent binary analysis and broad-band photometry indicating possible missing physics in the isochrones. Anomalous stars positioned blueward of the turnoff are discussed.Comment: 36 pages, 8 figures. Accepted for Astronomical Journa

Properties of the open cluster Tombaugh 1 from high resolution spectroscopy and uvbyCaHβ\beta photometry

Open clusters can be the key to deepen our knowledge on various issues involving the structure and evolution of the Galactic disk and details of stellar evolution because a cluster's properties are applicable to all its members. However the number of open clusters with detailed analysis from high resolution spectroscopy and/or precision photometry imposes severe limitation on studies of these objects. To expand the number of open clusters with well-defined chemical abundances and fundamental parameters, we investigate the poorly studied, anticenter open cluster Tombaugh 1. Using precision uvbyCaH$\beta$ photometry and high resolution spectroscopy, we derive the cluster's properties and, for the first time, present detailed abundance analysis of 10 potential cluster stars. Using radial position from the cluster center and multiple color indices, we have isolated a sample of unevolved probable, single-star members of Tombaugh 1. The weighted photometric metallicity from $m_1$ and $hk$ is [Fe/H] = -0.10 $\pm$ 0.02, while a match to the Victoria-Regina Str\"{o}mgren isochrones leads to an age of 0.95 $\pm$ 0.10 Gyr and an apparent modulus of $(m-M)$ = 13.10 $\pm$ 0.10. Radial velocities identify 6 giants as probable cluster members and the elemental abundances of Fe, Na, Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Ti, Cr, Ni, Y,Ba, Ce, and Nd have been derived for both the cluster and the field stars. Tombaugh 1 appears to be a typical inner thin disk, intermediate-age open cluster of slightly subsolar metallicity, located just beyond the solar circle, with solar elemental abundance ratios except for the heavy s-process elements, which are a factor of two above solar. Its metallicity is consistent with a steep metallicity gradient in the galactocentric region between 9.5 and 12 kpc. Our study also shows that Cepheid XZ CMa is not a member of Tombaugh 1, and reveals that this Cepheid presents signs of barium enrichment.Comment: 74 pages, 15 figures, 13 tables; Accepted for publication in A

A UBVI and uvbyCaHbeta Analysis of the Intermediate-Age Open Cluster, NGC 5822

NGC 5822 is a richly populated, moderately nearby, intermediate-age open cluster covering an area larger than the full moon on the sky. A CCD survey of the cluster on the UBVI and uvbyCaHbeta systems shows that the cluster is superposed upon a heavily reddened field of background stars with E(B-V) > 0.35 mag, while the cluster has small and uniform reddening at E(b-y) = 0.075 +/- 0.008 mag or E(B-V) = 0.103 +/- 0.011 mag, based upon 48 and 61 probable A and F dwarf single-star members, respectively. The errors quoted include both internal photometric precision and external photometric uncertainties. The metallicity derived from 61 probable single F-star members is [Fe/H] = -0.058 +/- 0.027 (sem) from m_1 and 0.010 +/- 0.020 (sem) from hk, for a weighted average of [Fe/H] = -0.019 +/- 0.023, where the errors refer to the internal errors from the photometry alone. With reddening and metallicity fixed, the cluster age and apparent distance modulus are obtained through a comparison to appropriate isochrones in both VI and BV, producing 0.9 +/- 0.1 Gyr and 9.85 +/- 0.15, respectively. The giant branch remains dominated by two distinct clumps of stars, though the brighter clump seems a better match to the core-He-burning phase while the fainter clump straddles the first-ascent red giant branch. Four potential new clump members have been identified, equally split between the two groups. Reanalysis of the UBV two-color data extending well down the main sequence shows it to be optimally matched by reddening near E(B-V) = 0.10 rather than the older value of 0.15, leading to [Fe/H] between -0.16 and 0.00 from the ultraviolet excess of the unevolved dwarfs. The impact of the lower reddening and younger age of the cluster on previous analyses of the cluster is discussed.Comment: 20 figures and 5 tables (portions of data tables 3 and 5 only