Study of variable stars in the MOA data base: long-period red variables in the Large Magellanic Cloud

One hundred and forty six long-period red variable stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) from the three year MOA project database were analysed. A careful periodic analysis was performed on these stars and a catalogue of their magnitudes, colours, periods and amplitudes is presented. We convert our blue and red magnitudes to $K$ band values using 19 oxygen-rich stars. A group of red short-period stars separated from the Mira sequence has been found on a (log P, K) diagram. They are located at the short period side of the Mira sequence consistent with the work of Wood and Sebo (1996). There are two interpretations for such stars; a difference in pulsation mode or a difference in chemical composition. We investigated the properties of these stars together with their colour, amplitude and periodicity. We conclude that they have small amplitudes and less regular variability. They are likely to be higher mode pulsators. A large scatter has been also found on the long period side of the (log P, K) diagram. This is possibly a systematic spread given that the blue band of our photometric system covers both standard B and V bands and affects carbon-rich stars.Comment: 19 pages, 19 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

The Milky Way Bulge: Observed properties and a comparison to external galaxies

The Milky Way bulge offers a unique opportunity to investigate in detail the role that different processes such as dynamical instabilities, hierarchical merging, and dissipational collapse may have played in the history of the Galaxy formation and evolution based on its resolved stellar population properties. Large observation programmes and surveys of the bulge are providing for the first time a look into the global view of the Milky Way bulge that can be compared with the bulges of other galaxies, and be used as a template for detailed comparison with models. The Milky Way has been shown to have a box/peanut (B/P) bulge and recent evidence seems to suggest the presence of an additional spheroidal component. In this review we summarise the global chemical abundances, kinematics and structural properties that allow us to disentangle these multiple components and provide constraints to understand their origin. The investigation of both detailed and global properties of the bulge now provide us with the opportunity to characterise the bulge as observed in models, and to place the mixed component bulge scenario in the general context of external galaxies. When writing this review, we considered the perspectives of researchers working with the Milky Way and researchers working with external galaxies. It is an attempt to approach both communities for a fruitful exchange of ideas.Comment: Review article to appear in "Galactic Bulges", Editors: Laurikainen E., Peletier R., Gadotti D., Springer Publishing. 36 pages, 10 figure

Potential Direct Single-Star Mass Measurement

28 pages including 7 figures. Submitted to ApJWe analyze the lightcurve of the microlensing event OGLE-2003-BLG-175/MOA-2003-BLG-45 and show that it has two properties that, when combined with future high resolution astrometry, could lead to a direct, accurate measurement of the lens mass. First, the lightcurve shows clear signs of distortion due to the Earth\'s accelerated motion, which yields a measurement of the projected Einstein radius \\tilde r_E. Second, from precise astrometric measurements, we show that the blended light in the event is coincident with the microlensed source to within about 15 mas. This argues strongly that this blended light is the lens and hence opens the possibility of directly measuring the lens-source relative proper motion \\vec\\mu_\\rel and so the mass M=(c^2/4G)\\mu_\\rel t_E \\tilde r_E, where t_E is the measured Einstein timescale. While the lightcurve-based measurement of \\tilde r_E is, by itself, severely degenerate, we show that this degeneracy can be completely resolved by measuring the direction of proper motion \\vec\\mu_\\rel

NATIONAL STATEMENT OF SCIENCE INVESTMENT DRAFT: Response from Rutherford Discovery Fellowship recipients (2010-2013)

<p>This is a joint response written and co-signed by 97.5% of New Zealand’s Rutherford Discovery Fellows. We are a group of internationally recognised early- to mid-career researchers who have been selected for our innovative approaches to research across the sciences and the humanities. We work in diverse fields, spanning physical, engineering, information and communications technology, medical, molecular and environmental research through to social sciences, law and the humanities. We are based across a wide cross-section of New Zealand’s Universities and Crown Research Institutes (CRIs), and are engaged in basic, applied and near-to-market research. All of us have directly benefitted from the investments and changes that the Government has been making to the Science sector. As a result of the Rutherford Discovery Fellowship, we have chosen to return to, or to stay in, New Zealand.</p> <p> </p