834 research outputs found
Single Stellar Populations in the Near-Infrared - I. Preparation of the IRTF spectral stellar library
We present a detailed study of the stars of the IRTF spectral library to
understand its full extent and reliability for use with Stellar Population (SP)
modeling. The library consist of 210 stars, with a total of 292 spectra,
covering the wavelength range of 0.94 to 2.41 micron at a resolution R = 2000.
For every star we infer the effective temperature (Teff), gravity (logg) and
metallicity ([Z/Zsun]) using a full-spectrum fitting approach in a section of
the K band (2.19 to 2.34 micron) and temperature-NIR colour relations. We test
the flux calibration of these stars by calculating their integrated colours and
comparing them with the Pickles library colour-temperature relations. We also
investigate the NIR colours as a function of the calculated effective
temperature and compared them in colour-colour diagrams with the Pickles
library. This latter test shows a good broad-band flux calibration, important
for the SP models. Finally, we measure the resolution R as a function of
wavelength. We find that the resolution increases as a function of lambda from
about 6 angstrom in J to 10 angstrom in the red part of the K-band. With these
tests we establish that the IRTF library, the largest currently available
general library of stars at intermediate resolution in the NIR, is an excellent
candidate to be used in stellar population models. We present these models in
the next paper of this series.Comment: 17 pages, 19 figures. Accepted for publication in Astronomy and
Astrophysic
The X-shooter Spectral Library (XSL): I. DR1. Near-ultraviolet through optical spectra from the first year of the survey
We present the first release of XSL, the X-Shooter Spectral Library. This
release contains 237 stars spanning the wavelengths 3000--10200 \AA\ observed
at a resolving power . The spectra
were obtained at ESO's 8-m Very Large Telescope (VLT). The sample contains O --
M, long-period variable (LPV), C and S stars. The spectra are flux-calibrated
and telluric-corrected. We describe a new technique for the telluric
correction. The wavelength coverage, spectral resolution and spectral type of
this library make it well suited to stellar population synthesis of galaxies
and clusters, kinematical investigation of stellar systems and studying the
physics of cool stars.Comment: 41 pages, 38 figures, 5 tables. Accepted for publication in A&A.
Webpage: http://xsl.u-strasbg.fr
Evidence for intermediate-age stellar populations in early-type galaxies from K-band spectroscopy
The study of stellar populations in early-type galaxies in different
environments is a powerful tool for constraining their star formation
histories. This study has been traditionally restricted to the optical range,
where dwarfs around the turn-off and stars at the base of the RGB dominate the
integrated light at all ages. The near-infrared spectral range is especially
interesting since in the presence of an intermediate-age population, AGB stars
are the main contributors. In this letter, we measure the near-infrared indices
NaI and D for a sample of 12 early-type galaxies in low density
environments and compare them with the Fornax galaxy sample presented by Silva
et al. (2008). The analysis of these indices in combination with Lick/IDS
indices in the optical range reveals i) the NaI index is a metallicity
indicator as good as C4668 in the optical range, and ii) D is a
tracer of intermediate-age stellar populations. We find that low-mass galaxies
in low density environments show higher NaI and D than those located
in Fornax cluster, which points towards a late stage of star formation for the
galaxies in less dense environments, in agreement with results from other
studies using independent methods.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ
The Stellar Population Histories of Early-Type Galaxies. II. Controlling Parameters of the Stellar Populations
We analyze single-stellar-population (SSP) equivalent parameters for 50 local
elliptical galaxies as a function of their structural parameters. These
galaxies fill a two-dimensional plane in the four-dimensional space of [Z/H],
log t, log , and [E/Fe]. SSP age and velocity dispersion can be taken
as the two independent parameters that specify a galaxy's location in this
``hyperplane.'' The hyperplane can be decomposed into two sub-relations: (1) a
``Z-plane,'' in which [Z/H] is a linear function of log and log t; and
(2) a relation between [E/Fe] and in which [E/Fe] is larger in
high- galaxies. Cluster and field ellipticals follow the same
hyperplane, but their (,t) distributions within it differ. Nearly all
cluster galaxies are old; the field ellipticals span a large range in SSP age.
The tight Mg-- relations of these ellipticals can be understood as
two-dimensional projections of the metallicity hyperplane showing it edge-on;
the tightness of these relations does not necessarily imply a narrow range of
ages at fixed . The relation between [E/Fe] and is consistent
with a higher effective yield of Type II SNe elements at higher . The
Z-plane is harder to explain and may be a powerful clue to star formation in
elliptical galaxies if it proves to be general. Present data favor a
``frosting'' model in which low apparent SSP ages are produced by adding a
small frosting of younger stars to an older base population. If the frosting
abundances are close to or slightly greater than the base population, simple
two-component models run along lines of constant in the Z-plane, as
required. This favors star formation from well-mixed pre-enriched gas rather
than unmixed low-metallicity gas from an accreted object. (Abridged)Comment: To be published in the June 2000 issue of the Astronomical Journal.
28 pages, 13 figures, uses emulateap
The MeerKAT Fornax Survey
We present the science case and observations plan of the MeerKAT Fornax
Survey, an HI and radio continuum survey of the Fornax galaxy cluster to be
carried out with the SKA precursor MeerKAT. Fornax is the second most massive
cluster within 20 Mpc and the largest nearby cluster in the southern
hemisphere. Its low X-ray luminosity makes it representative of the environment
where most galaxies live and where substantial galaxy evolution takes place.
Fornax's ongoing growth makes it an excellent laboratory for studying the
assembly of clusters, the physics of gas accretion and stripping in galaxies
falling in the cluster, and the connection between these processes and the
neutral medium in the cosmic web.
We will observe a region of 12 deg reaching a projected distance of 1.5
Mpc from the cluster centre. This will cover a wide range of environment
density out to the outskirts of the cluster, where gas-rich in-falling groups
are found. We will: study the HI morphology of resolved galaxies down to a
column density of a few times 1e+19 cm at a resolution of 1 kpc; measure
the slope of the HI mass function down to M(HI) 5e+5 M(sun); and attempt to
detect HI in the cosmic web reaching a column density of 1e+18 cm at a
resolution of 10 kpc.Comment: Proceedings of Science, "MeerKAT Science: On the Pathway to the SKA",
Stellenbosch, 25-27 May 201
IMF - metallicity: a tight local relation revealed by the CALIFA survey
Variations in the stellar initial mass function (IMF) have been invoked to
explain the spectroscopic and dynamical properties of early-type galaxies.
However, no observations have yet been able to disentangle the physical driver.
We analyse here a sample of 24 early-type galaxies drawn from the CALIFA
survey, deriving in a homogeneous way their stellar population and kinematic
properties. We find that the local IMF is tightly related to the local
metallicity, becoming more bottom-heavy towards metal-rich populations. Our
result, combined with the galaxy mass-metallicity relation, naturally explains
previous claims of a galaxy mass-IMF relation, derived from non-IFU spectra. If
we assume that - within the star formation environment of early-type galaxies -
metallicity is the main driver of IMF variations, a significant revision of the
interpretation of galaxy evolution observables is necessary.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJL. 6 pages, 4 figure
Carbon stars in the X-shooter Spectral Library
We provide a new collection of spectra of 35 carbon stars obtained with the
ESO/VLT X-shooter instrument as part of the X-shooter Spectral Library project.
The spectra extend from 0.3m to 2.4m with a resolving power above
8000. The sample contains stars with a broad range of (J-K) color and
pulsation properties located in the Milky Way and the Magellanic Clouds. We
show that the distribution of spectral properties of carbon stars at a given
(J-K) color becomes bimodal (in our sample) when (J-K) is larger than about
1.5. We describe the two families of spectra that emerge, characterized by the
presence or absence of the absorption feature at 1.53m, generally
associated with HCN and CH. This feature appears essentially only in
large-amplitude variables, though not in all observations. Associated spectral
signatures that we interpret as the result of veiling by circumstellar matter,
indicate that the 1.53m feature might point to episodes of dust production
in carbon-rich Miras.Comment: 29 pages, 21 figures, 9 tables, Accepted for publication in A&
Single stellar populations in the near-infrared. II. Synthesis models
We present unresolved single stellar population synthesis models in the near-infrared (NIR) range. The extension to the NIR is important for the study of early-type galaxies, since these galaxies are predominantly old and therefore emit most of their light in this wavelength range. The models are based on a library of empirical stellar spectra, the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) spectral library. Integrating these spectra along theoretical isochrones, while assuming an initial mass function (IMF), we have produced model spectra of single age-metallicity stellar populations at a resolution R ~ 2000. These models can be used to fit observed spectral of globular clusters and galaxies, to derive their age distribution, chemical abundances and IMF. The models have been tested by comparing them to observed colours of elliptical galaxies and clusters in the Magellanic Clouds. Predicted absorption line indices have been compared to published indices of other elliptical galaxies. The comparisons show that our models are well suited for studying stellar populations in unresolved galaxies. They are particularly useful for studying the old and intermediate-age stellar populations in galaxies, relatively free from contamination of young stars and extinction by dust. These models will be indispensable for the study of the upcoming data from JWST and extremely large telescopes, such as the E-ELT. Appendices are available in electronic form at http://www.aanda.orgModel spectra are available at the CDS via anonymous ftp to http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (ftp://130.79.128.5) or via http://cdsarc.u-strasbg.fr/viz-bin/qcat?J/A+A/582/A97 and at smg.astro-research.ne
Carbon stars in the X-shooter Spectral Library. II. Comparison with models
In a previous paper, we assembled a collection of medium-resolution spectra
of 35 carbon stars, covering optical and near-infrared wavelengths from 400 to
2400 nm. The sample includes stars from the Milky Way and the Magellanic
Clouds, with a variety of colors and pulsation properties. In the
present paper, we compare these observations to a new set of high-resolution
synthetic spectra, based on hydrostatic model atmospheres. We find that the
broad-band colors and the molecular-band strengths measured by
spectrophotometric indices match those of the models when is bluer
than about 1.6, while the redder stars require either additional reddening or
dust emission or both. Using a grid of models to fit the full observed spectra,
we estimate the most likely atmospheric parameters , ,
and C/O. These parameters derived independently in the
optical and near-infrared are generally consistent when . The
temperatures found based on either wavelength range are typically within
100K of each other, and and are consistent
with the values expected for this sample. The reddest stars ( 1.6)
are divided into two families, characterized by the presence or absence of an
absorption feature at 1.53\,m, generally associated with HCN and
CH. Stars from the first family begin to be more affected by
circumstellar extinction. The parameters found using optical or near-infrared
wavelengths are still compatible with each other, but the error bars become
larger. In stars showing the 1.53\,m feature, which are all
large-amplitude variables, the effects of pulsation are strong and the spectra
are poorly matched with hydrostatic models. For these, atmospheric parameters
could not be derived reliably, and dynamical models are needed for proper
interpretation.Comment: 25 pages (11 pages main part, figures and tables in appendix
Statistical properties of the GALEX spectroscopic stellar sample
The GALEX General Data Release 4/5 includes 174 spectroscopic tiles, obtained
from slitless grism observations, for a total of more than 60,000 ultraviolet
spectra. We have determined statistical properties of the sample of GALEX
stars. We have defined a suitable system of spectroscopic indices, which
measure the main mid-UV features at the GALEX low spectral resolution and we
have employed it to determine the atmospheric parameters of of stars in the
range 4500<Teff<9000 K. Our preliminary results indicate that the sample is
formed by a majority of main sequence F- and G-type stars, with metallicity
[M/H]>-1 dex.Comment: 9 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in Astrophysics & Space
Science, UV universe special issu
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