2,322 research outputs found
Star Formation History and Chemical Evolution of the Sextans Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy
We present the star formation history and chemical evolution of the Sextans
dSph dwarf galaxy as a function of galactocentric distance. We derive these
from the photometry of stars in the field using the SMART
model developed by Yuk & Lee (2007, ApJ, 668, 876) and adopting a closed-box
model for chemical evolution. For the adopted age of Sextans 15 Gyr, we find
that 84% of the stars formed prior to 11 Gyr ago, significant star formation
extends from 15 to 11 Gyr ago ( 65% of the stars formed 13 to 15 Gyr ago
while 25% formed 11 to 13 Gyr ago), detectable star formation continued
to at least 8 Gyr ago, the star formation history is more extended in the
central regions than the outskirts, and the difference in star formation rates
between the central and outer regions is most marked 11 to 13 Gyr ago. Whether
blue straggler stars are interpreted as intermediate age main sequence stars
affects conclusions regarding the star formation history for times 4 to 8 Gyr
ago, but this is at most only a trace population. We find that the metallicity
of the stars increased rapidly up to [Fe/H]=--1.6 in the central region and to
[Fe/H]=--1.8 in the outer region within the first Gyr, and has varied slowly
since then. The abundance ratios of several elements derived in this study are
in good agreement with the observational data based on the high resolution
spectroscopy in the literature. We conclude that the primary driver for the
radial gradient of the stellar population in this galaxy is the star formation
history, which self-consistently drives the chemical enrichment history.Comment: 36 pages, 14 figures, To appear in the ApJ, 200
The photometric properties of a vast stellar substructure in the outskirts of M33
We have surveyed sq.degrees surrounding M33 with CFHT MegaCam in the
g and i filters, as part of the Pan-Andromeda Archaeological Survey. Our
observations are deep enough to resolve the top 4mags of the red giant branch
population in this galaxy. We have previously shown that the disk of M33 is
surrounded by a large, irregular, low-surface brightness substructure. Here, we
quantify the stellar populations and structure of this feature using the PAndAS
data. We show that the stellar populations of this feature are consistent with
an old population with dex and an interquartile range in
metallicity of dex. We construct a surface brightness map of M33 that
traces this feature to mags\,arcsec. At these low surface
brightness levels, the structure extends to projected radii of kpc from
the center of M33 in both the north-west and south-east quadrants of the
galaxy. Overall, the structure has an "S-shaped" appearance that broadly aligns
with the orientation of the HI disk warp. We calculate a lower limit to the
integrated luminosity of the structure of mags, comparable to a
bright dwarf galaxy such as Fornax or AndII and slightly less than $1\$ of the
total luminosity of M33. Further, we show that there is tentative evidence for
a distortion in the distribution of young stars near the edge of the HI disk
that occurs at similar azimuth to the warp in HI. The data also hint at a
low-level, extended stellar component at larger radius that may be a M33 halo
component. We revisit studies of M33 and its stellar populations in light of
these new results, and we discuss possible formation scenarios for the vast
stellar structure. Our favored model is that of the tidal disruption of M33 in
its orbit around M31.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ. 17 figures. ApJ preprint forma
The positive soundscape project : a synthesis of results from many disciplines
This paper takes an overall view of ongoing findings from the Positive Soundscape Project, a large inter-disciplinary soundscapes study which is nearing completion. Qualitative fieldwork (soundwalks and focus groups) and lab-based listening tests have revealed that two key dimensions of the emotional response are calmness and vibrancy. In the lab these factors explain nearly 80% of the variance in listener response. Physiological validation is being sought using fMRI measurements, and these have so far shown significant differences in the response of the brain to affective and neutral soundscapes. A conceptual framework which links the key soundscape components and which could be used for future design is outlined. Metrics are suggested for some perceptual scales and possibilities for soundscape synthesis for design and user engagement are discussed, as are the applications of the results to future research and environmental noise policy
Structural parameters for the M31 dwarf spheroidals
(Abridged) The projected structures and integrated properties of the
Andromeda I, II, III, V, VI, VII and Cetus dwarf spheroidal galaxies are
analysed based upon resolved counts of red giant branch stars. For each object,
we have derived isopleth maps, surface brightness profiles, absolute
magnitudes, central surface brightnesses, and a large number of other
morphological parameters. Our analysis probes to larger radius and fainter
surface brightnesses than most previous studies and as a result we find that
the galaxies are generally larger and brighter than has previously been
recognised. In particular, the luminosity of Andromeda V is found to be
consistent with the higher metallicity value which has been derived for it.
Andromeda I shows strong evidence of tidal disruption and S-shaped tidal tails
are clearly visible. On the other hand, Cetus does not show any evidence of
tidal truncation, let alone disruption. Andromeda II shows compelling evidence
of a large excess of stars at small radius and suggests that this galaxy
consists of a secondary core component. Comparing the M31 dwarf spheroidal
population with the Galactic population, we find that the scale radii of the
M31 population are larger than those for the Galactic population by at least a
factor of two, for all absolute magnitudes. We also find that the two
populations are offset from one another in the central surface brightness -
luminosity relation. Finally, we find that the M31 dwarf spheroidals show the
same correlation with distance-from-host as shown by the Galactic population,
such that dwarf spheroidals with a higher central surface brightness are found
further from their host. This again suggests that environment plays a
significant role in dwarf galaxy evolution.Comment: 17 pages, 7 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRA
Do dwarf spheroidal galaxies contain dark matter?
The amount of dark matter in the four galactic dwarf spheroidals with large
mass-to-light ratios is investigated. Sextans has a cut-off radius which is
equal to the expected tidal radius, assuming a high mass-to-light ratio. This
satellite very likely is dark matter dominated. Carina, Ursa Minor and Draco,
on the other hand, cannot contain a dominating dark matter component if the
observed 'extra-tidal' stars are located exterior to the tidal radii of these
systems. The evidence for tidal stripping in the absence of dark matter is also
supported by the fact that the observed cut-off radii of all three satellites
are equal to their tidal radii, assuming a low, globular cluster like
mass-to-light ratio. The large velocity dispersions of these galaxies, on the
other hand, seem to provide strong evidence for a massive dark matter
component. In this case, the 'extra-tidal' stars lie deeply embedded in the
dark matter potential wells of the satellites. These stars then would represent
a gravitationally bound, extended stellar component with unknown origin.Comment: 14 pages LaTeX, 1 postscript figure. To appear in ApJ (Letters). See
also http://www.mpia-hd.mpg.de/MPIA/Projects/THEORY/preprints.htm
The Nature of the Density Clump in the Fornax Dwarf Spheroidal Galaxy
We have imaged the recently discovered stellar overdensity located
approximately one core radius from the center of the Fornax dwarf spheroidal
galaxy using the Magellan Clay 6.5m telescope with the Magellan Instant Camera
(MagIC). Superb seeing conditions allowed us to probe the stellar populations
of this overdensity and of a control field within Fornax to a limiting
magnitude of R=26. The color-magnitude diagram of the overdensity field is
virtually identical to that of the control field with the exception of the
presence of a population arising from a very short (less than 300 Myr in
duration) burst of star formation 1.4 Gyr ago. Coleman et al. have argued that
this overdensity might be related to a shell structure in Fornax that was
created when Fornax captured a smaller galaxy. Our results are consistent with
this model, but we argue that the metallicity of this young component favors a
scenario in which the gas was part of Fornax itself.Comment: 24 pages including 8 figures and 3 tables. Accepted by Astronomical
Journa
A Keck/DEIMOS spectroscopic survey of the faint M31 satellites And IX, And XI, And XII, and And XIII
We present the first spectroscopic analysis of the faint M31 satellite
galaxies, AndXI and AndXIII, and a reanalysis of existing spectroscopic data
for two further faint companions, And IX and AndXII. By combining data obtained
using the DEIMOS spectrograph mounted on the Keck II telescope with deep
photometry from the Suprime-Cam instrument on Subaru, we have calculated global
properties for the dwarfs, such as systemic velocities, metallicites and
half-light radii.We find each dwarf to be very metal poor ([Fe/H] -2 both
photometrically and spectroscopically, from their stacked spectrum), and as
such, they continue to follow the luminosity-metallicity relationship
established with brighter dwarfs. We are unable to resolve a dispersion for And
XI due to small sample size and low S/N, but we set a one sigma upper limit of
sigma-v <5 km/s. For And IX, And XII and And XIII we resolve velocity
dispersions of v=4.5 (+3.4,-3.2), 2.6(+5.1,-2.6) and 9.7(+8.9,-4.5) km/s, and
derive masses within the half light radii of 6.2(+5.3,-5.1)x10^6 Msun, 2.4
(+6.5,-2.4)x10^6 Msun and 1.1(+1.4,-0.7)x10^7 Msun respectively. We discuss
each satellite in the context of the Mateo relations for dwarf spheroidal
galaxies, and the Universal halo profiles established for Milky Way dwarfs
(Walker et al. 2009). For both galaxies, this sees them fall below the
Universal halo profiles of Walker et al. (2009). When combined with the
findings of McConnachie & Irwin (2006a), which reveal that the M31 satellites
are twice as extended (in terms of both half-light and tidal radii) as their
Milky Way counterparts, these results suggest that the satellite population of
the Andromeda system could inhabit halos that are significantly different from
those of the Milky Way in terms of their central densities (abridged).Comment: 26 pages, 18 figures, MNRAS submitte
Breaking the Smallsat Barriers to Sub-50cm Imaging
New cutting-edge imaging sensors can now reduce instrument size and mass, leading to mission cost savings, and bring sub-50cm imaging capability into the realm of small satellites. Whilst aperture is essential to achieving resolution, half-pixel shifted sensor architectures decouple achievable Ground Sampling Distance (GSD) from the native ground projected pixel. This facilitates the deployment of Very High Resolution (VHR) small satellite constellations featuring improved Signal-to-Noise performance and increased area collection rates compared to push-frame systems.
A fundamental limitation to the theoretical performance of an optical system is imposed by its aperture diameter; hence, for a given aperture, the aim is to maximize the information content resolved up to this limit. This is achieved by minimizing losses caused by aberrations in the optical system and enhancing platform stability on-orbit. Further information is lost due to aliasing at higher spatial frequencies; however, the recovery of such information is unlocked through the novel sensor technology and processing techniques proposed.
Funded under the European Space Agency (ESA) “Investing in Industrial Innovation” (InCubed) program, this paper reports on the build and verification campaign of a sub-50cm capable instrument Proto-Flight Model (PFM), the beneficial properties of half-pixel offset sensors, and the platform supporting such a payload
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