The Initial-Final Mass Relationship: Spectroscopy of White Dwarfs in Ngc 2099 (m37)

We present new observations of very faint white dwarfs (WDs) in the rich open star cluster NGC 2099 (M37). Following deep, wide-field imaging of the cluster using the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, we have now obtained spectroscopic observations of candidate WDs using both the Gemini Multi-Object Spectrograph on Gemini North and the Low-Resolution Imaging Spectrometer on Keck. Of our 24 WD candidates (all fainter than V = 22.4), 21 are spectroscopically confirmed to be bona fide WDs, four or five of which are most likely field objects. Fitting 18 of the 21 WD spectra with model atmospheres, we find that most WDs in this cluster are quite massive (0.7-0.9 M☉), as expected given the cluster\u27s young age (650 Myr) and, hence, high turnoff mass (~2.4 M☉). We determine a new initial-final mass relationship and almost double the number of existing data points from previous studies. The results indicate that stars with initial masses between 2.8 and 3.4 M☉ lose 70%-75% of their mass through stellar evolution. For the first time, we find some evidence of a metallicity dependence on the initial-final mass relationship

The CFHT Open Star Cluster Survey II -- Deep CCD Photometry of the Old Open Star Cluster NGC 6819

We present analysis of deep CCD photometry for the very rich, old open star cluster NGC 6819. These CFH12K data results represent the first of nineteen open star clusters which were imaged as a part of the CFHT Open Star Cluster Survey. We find a tight, very rich, main-sequence and turn-off consisting of over 2900 cluster stars in the V, B-V color-magnitude diagram (CMD). Main-sequence fitting of the un-evolved cluster stars with the Hyades star cluster yields a distance modulus of (m-M)v = 12.30 +/- 0.12, for a reddening of E(B-V) = 0.10. These values are consistent with a newly calculated theoretical stellar isochrone of age 2.5 Gyrs, which we take to be the age of the cluster. Detailed star counts indicate a much larger cluster extent (R = 9.5' +/- 1.0'), by a factor of ~2 over some previous estimates. Incompleteness tests confirm a slightly negatively sloped luminosity function extending to faint (V ~ 23) magnitudes which is indicative of a dynamically evolved cluster. Further luminosity function and mass segregation tests indicate that low mass objects (M < 0.65Mo) predominate in the outer regions of the cluster, 3.5 < R < 9.5. The estimation of the number of white dwarfs in NGC 6819 are in good agreement with the observed number. For those white dwarf candidates which pass both a statistical and image classification tests, we show comparisons to white dwarf isochrones and cooling models which suggest the need for spectroscopy to confirm the white dwarf nature of the brighter objects.Comment: 15 Figures and 6 Tables available in higher resolution from ADS. Accepted for Publication in AJ -- Kalirai et al. 2001b, 122, 266. Update

The CFHT Open Star Cluster Survey I -- Cluster Selection and Data Reduction

We present this paper in conjuction with the following as the first results in the CFHT Open Star Cluster Survey. This survey is a large BVR imaging data set of 19 open star clusters in our Galaxy. This data set was taken with the CFH12K mosaic CCD (42' X 28') and the majority of the clusters were imaged under excellent photometric, sub-arcsecond seeing conditions. The combination of multiple exposures extending to deep (V ~ 25) magnitudes with short (< 10 second) frames allows for many different studies. The primary aim of this survey is to catalogue the white dwarf stars in these clusters and establish observational constraints on the initial-final mass relationship for these stars and the upper mass limit to white dwarf production. Additionally, we hope to better determine the properties of the clusters, such as age and distance, and also test evolution and dynamical theories by analyzing luminosity and mass functions. In order to more easily incorporate this data in further studies, we have produced a catalogue of positions, magnitudes, colors, and stellarity confidence for all stars in each cluster of the survey. This paper is intended both as a source for the astronomical community to obtain information on the clusters in the survey and as a detailed reference of reduction procedures for further publications of individual clusters. We discuss the methods employed to reduce the data and compute the photometric catalogue. The scientific results for each individual cluster and global results from the study of the entire survey will be presented in further publications (results for the rich old open cluster NGC 6819 immediately follow this paper).Comment: 4 Figures and 3 Tables available in higher resolution at ADS. Accepted for Publication in AJ -- Kalirai et al. 2001a, 122, 257. Update

The Initial-Final Mass Relationship: Spectroscopy of White Dwarfs in NGC 2099 (M37)

We present new observations of very faint white dwarfs (WDs) in the rich open star cluster NGC 2099 (M37). Following deep, wide field imaging of the cluster using CFHT, we have now obtained spectroscopic observations of candidate WDs using both GMOS on Gemini and LRIS on Keck. Of our 24 WD candidates (all fainter than V = 22.4), 21 are spectroscopically confirmed to be bona fide WDs, 4-5 of which are most likely field objects. Fitting 18 of the 21 WD spectra with model atmospheres, we find that most WDs in this cluster are quite massive (0.7-0.9 Msun), as expected given the cluster's young age (650 Myr) and, hence, high turnoff mass (~2.4 Msun). We determine a new initial-final mass relationship and almost double the number of existing data points from previous studies. The results indicate that stars with initial masses between 2.8 and 3.4 Msun lose 70-75% of their mass through stellar evolution. For the first time, we find some evidence of a metallicity dependence on the initial-final mass relationship.Comment: 5 pages including 3 figures and 1 table, accepted in ApJ Letters. Minor additions to content and typos correcte

The Galactic Inner Halo: Searching for White Dwarfs and Measuring the Fundamental Galactic Constant, Vo/Ro

We establish an extragalactic, zero-motion frame of reference within the deepest optical image of a globular star cluster, an HST 123-orbit exposure of M4 (GO 8679, cycle 9). The line of sight beyond M4 (l,b (deg) = 351,16) intersects the inner halo (spheroid) of our Galaxy at a tangent-point distance of 7.6 kpc (for Ro = 8 kpc). We isolate these spheroid stars from the cluster based on their proper motions over the 6-year baseline between these and previous epoch HST data (GO 5461, cycle 4). Distant background galaxies are also found on the same sight line using image-morphology techniques. This fixed reference frame allows us to independently determine the fundamental Galactic constant, Vo/Ro = 25.3 +/- 2.6 km/s/kpc, thus providing a velocity of the Local Standard of Rest, v = 202.7 +/- 24.7 km/s for Ro = 8.0 +/- 0.5 kpc. Secondly, the galaxies allow a direct measurement of M4's absolute proper motion, mu_total = 22.57 +/- 0.76 mas/yr, in excellent agreement with recent studies. The clear separation of galaxies from stars in these deep data also allow us to search for inner-halo white dwarfs. We model the conventional Galactic contributions of white dwarfs along our line of sight and predict 7.9 (thin disk), 6.3 (thick disk) and 2.2 (spheroid) objects to the limiting magnitude at which we can clearly delineate stars from galaxies (V = 29). An additional 2.5 objects are expected from a 20% white dwarf dark halo consisting of 0.5 Mo objects, 70% of which are of the DA type. After considering the kinematics and morphology of the objects in our data set, we find the number of white dwarfs to be consistent with the predictions for each of the conventional populations. However, we do not find any evidence for dark halo white dwarfs.Comment: 31 pages, including 6 diagrams and 2 tables. Accepted for publication in Ap

The CFHT Open Star Cluster Survey. IV. Two Rich, Young Open Star Clusters: NGC 2168 (M35) and NGC 2323 (M50)

We continue our study of rich Galactic clusters by presenting deep CCD observations of both NGC 2168 (M35) and NGC 2323 (M50). Both clusters are found to be rich (NGC 2168 contains at least 1000 stars brighter than V = 22 and NGC 2323 contains approximately 2100 stars brighter than our photometric limit of V = 23) and young (age of NGC 2168 = 180 Myrs, age of NGC 2323 = 130 Myrs). The color-magnitude diagrams for the clusters exhibit clear main sequences stretching over 14 magnitudes in the V, B-V plane. Comparing these long main sequences with those of earlier clusters in the survey, as well as with the Hyades, has allowed for accurate distances to be established for each cluster (dist. of NGC 2168 = 912 +/- 70/65 pc, dist. of NGC 2323 = 1000 +/- 81/75 pc). Analysis of the luminosity and mass functions suggest that despite their young ages, both clusters are somewhat dynamically relaxed exhibiting signs of mass-segregation. This is especially interesting in the case of NGC 2323, which has an age of only 1.3 times the dynamical relaxation time. The present photometry is also deep enough to detect all of the white dwarfs in both clusters. We discuss some interesting candidates which may be the remnants of quite massive (M > 5 Mo) progenitor stars. The white dwarf cooling age of NGC 2168 is found to be in good agreement with the main-sequence turn-off age. These objects are potentially very important for setting constraints on the white dwarf initial-final mass relationship and upper mass limit for white dwarf production.Comment: 34 pages, including 12 diagrams and 5 tables. Accepted for publication in AJ. Minor typos correcte

The CFHT open star cluster survey

We have used the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope to obtain deep and accurate multi-colour photometry of 19 open star clusters in our Galaxy. The quality and size of the data set are unprecedented when compared with previous studies of open star clusters. The clusters in the survey differ in richness, age, metal content and location in the Galaxy and therefore provide a very diverse database for furthering the research in several areas of astrophysics. Some of the key issues which we address include the comparisons between the observational results and up-to-date theoretical stellar evolutionary models, star cluster dynamics, distance and age determinations, chemical evolution scenarios, and star formation histories. Of particular interest is the study of the properties of white dwarf stars, such as the initial-final mass relationship and the upper mass limit to production. The depth gained in the present survey (limiting V magnitude ~ 25) has allowed us to establish a large catalogue of white dwarf candidates, and our current spectroscopic investigations will provide the much needed observational constraints to white dwarf theoretical models. The colour-magnitude diagrams for the rich, young clusters in the survey possess very tightly constrained, long main-sequences and show a much richer cluster population than previous studies. This thesis summarizes how this was done as well as key results for the two richest clusters in the survey, NGC 6819 and NGC 2099. For NGC 6819 we find: distance = 2500 pc, age = 2.5 Gyrs, size = 9.5', and mass = 2600 M⊙. The cluster is found to be dynamically evolved and exhibits mass-segregation effects. A strong cooling trail of white dwarfs is found to be in excellent agreement with a 0.70 M⊙ theoretical white dwarf cooling model. For NGC 2099 we find: distance = 1500 pc, age = 0.5 Gyrs, size = 13.9', and mass = 2500 M⊙. The cluster exhibits some signs of dynamical evolution, although not as severe as for NGC 6819. The white dwarf cooling age of NGC 2099 is found to be in excellent agreement with the turn-off age.Science, Faculty ofPhysics and Astronomy, Department ofGraduat

Astrophysics with white dwarfs

White dwarfs are the end products of the entire stellar evolutionary process in all intermediate and low mass stars. Over 99% of all stars in our Galaxy will eventually end their lives as white dwarfs. Observationally, studying white dwarfs has proven to be very difficult, primarily due to the faintness of the objects. Bright white dwarfs with M[sub v] = 11 have a luminosity only l/300th of the Sun's intrinsic brightness, while the faintest white dwarfs are 100,000x fainter than the Sun. In this thesis, we describe three related projects aimed at better understanding white dwarfs themselves, as well as their role as inhabitants of our Galaxy. The data that we have acquired to study these faint stars are of unprecedented quality and depth, thereby making possible several scientific results that have eluded investigation in decades of previous effort. First, we provide new insight into one of the most important questions in astrophysics today, what is the nature of the dark matter? Specifically, we are able to marginally rule out the most likely candidates based on microlensing results, namely white dwarfs, as a strong contribution to the dark matter. This study represents the deepest ever look into the Galactic halo and uses Hubble Space Telescope (HST) data. Secondly, we present results from the continuing study of open star clusters in the Canada France Hawaii Telescope (CFHT) Open Star Cluster Survey. This work has improved the quality of the photometry of open star clusters by over an order of magnitude compared to what had been previously possible. We present our findings for two very young clusters, NGC 2168 (M35) and NGC 2323 (M50), including a study of their white dwarf populations. These two clusters, and the white dwarfs that we have found within them, will prove to be crucial in constraining one of the most fundamental relations in stellar evolution, the initial-final mass relationship. In the third project, we use the 8-metre Gemini North and 10-metre Keck telescopes to simultaneously obtain spectra for 22 white dwarfs in the rich cluster NGC 2099. This work represents a planned follow-up study of the white dwarfs in the richest clusters that we identified in the CFHT Open Star Cluster Survey, and has produced several interesting results. First, all white dwarfs in this cluster are hydrogen rich suggesting perhaps that the ratio of hydrogen to helium white dwarfs is different in clusters than in the field, or that all massive white dwarfs are hydrogen rich. Secondly, the NGC 2099 white dwarfs provide the first ever confirmation of a white dwarf cooling age for a star cluster. Thirdly, with just this one cluster, we are able to almost double the number of white dwarfs that exist on the initial-final mass plane, and provide very strong, tight constraints on a key part of the initial-final mass relationship. The previous constraints on this relationship, which show a large scatter, had taken over 30 years to establish. Our findings directly show that stars with masses between 2.8-3.5 M lose 75% of their mass through stellar evolution. Additionally, for the first time, we are beginning to see the effects of metallicity on the initial-final mass relationship. Finally, we are now in a position to obtain further spectroscopy of white dwarfs in the other rich clusters that we have imaged with CFHT, and, in the very near future, plan to put over 100 data points on the initial-final mass plane.Science, Faculty ofPhysics and Astronomy, Department ofGraduat