61 research outputs found
Stochastic 2-D galaxy disk evolution models. Resolved stellar populations in the galaxy M33
We improved the stochastic 2-D galaxy disk models (Mineikis & Vansevi\v{c}ius
2014a) by introducing enriched gas outflows from galaxies and synthetic
color-magnitude diagrams of stellar populations. To test the models, we use the
HST/ACS stellar photometry data in four fields located along the major axis of
the galaxy M33 (Williams et al. 2009) and demonstrate the potential of the
models to derive 2-D star formation histories in the resolved disk galaxies.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure
Disk Galaxy Models Driven by Stochastic Self-Propagating Star Formation
We present a model of chemical and spectrophotometric evolution of disk
galaxies based on a stochastic self-propagating star formation scenario. The
model incorporates galaxy formation through the process of accretion, chemical
and photometric evolution treatment, based on simple stellar populations (SSP),
and parameterized gas dynamics inside the model. The model reproduces
observational data of a late-type spiral galaxy M33 reasonably well. Promising
test results prove the applicability of the model and the adequate accuracy for
the interpretation of disk galaxy properties.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figure
GAIA: AGB stars as tracers of star formation histories in the Galaxy and beyond
We discuss the tracing of star formation histories with ESA's space
astrometry mission GAIA, emphasizing the advantages of AGB stars for this
purpose. GAIA's microarcsecond-level astrometry, multi-band photometry and
spectroscopy will provide individual distances, motions, effective
temperatures, gravities and metallicities for vast numbers of AGB stars in the
Galaxy and beyond. Reliable ages of AGB stars can be determined to distances of
\~200 kpc in a wide range of ages and metallicities, allowing star formation
histories to be studied in a diversity of astrophysical environments.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, to be appear in 'Mass-Losing Pulsating Stars and
their Circumstellar Matter', eds. Y. Nakada, M. Honma & M. Seki, Kluwer ASSL
series, vol. 28
ccd photometry of the m 67 cluster in the vilnius photometric system
The Vilnius photometric system, consisting of seven passbands at 345, 374, 405, 466, 516, 544 and 656 nm makes it possible to determine spectral classes (or temperatures), absolute magnitudes (or surface gravities), metallicities and peculiarity types for stars of all spectral types in the presence of interstellar reddening (Straizys 1977, 1992a, b). This makes the system very useful for the determination of the physical parameters of stars which are too faint to be studied by spectroscopic methods. The system is especially effective when used with CCD detectors which combine a wide field, high sensitivity and high photometric accuracy
Compact Star Clusters in the M31 Disk
We have carried out a survey of compact star clusters (apparent size <3
arcsec) in the southwest part of the M31 galaxy, based on the high-resolution
Suprime-Cam images (17.5 arcmin x 28.5 arcmin), covering ~15% of the
deprojected galaxy disk area. The UBVRI photometry of 285 cluster candidates (V
< 20.5 mag) was performed using frames of the Local Group Galaxies Survey. The
final sample, containing 238 high probability star cluster candidates (typical
half-light radius r_h ~ 1.5 pc), was selected by specifying a lower limit of
r_h > 0.15 arcsec (>0.6 pc). We derived cluster parameters based on the
photometric data and multiband images by employing simple stellar population
models. The clusters have a wide range of ages from ~5 Myr (young objects
associated with 24 um and/or Ha emission) to ~10 Gyr (globular cluster
candidates), and possess mass in a range of 3.0 < log(m/M_sol) < 4.3 peaking at
m ~ 4000 M_sol. Typical age of these intermediate-mass clusters is in the range
of 30 Myr < t < 3 Gyr, with a prominent peak at ~70 Myr. These findings suggest
a rich intermediate-mass star cluster population in M31, which appears to be
scarce in the Milky Way galaxy.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figures, 1 table, accepted for publication in Ap
Global survey of star clusters in the Milky Way I. The pipeline and fundamental parameters in the second quadrant
Aims: On the basis of the PPMXL star catalogue we performed a survey of star
clusters in the second quadrant of the Milky Way. Methods: From the PPMXL
catalogue of positions and proper motions we took the subset of stars with
near-infrared photometry from 2MASS and added the remaining 2MASS stars without
proper motions (called 2MAst, i.e. 2MASS with astrometry). We developed a
data-processing pipeline including interactive human control of a standardised
set of multi-dimensional diagrams to determine kinematic and photometric
membership probabilities for stars in a cluster region. The pipeline
simultaneously produced the astrophysical parameters of a cluster. From
literature we compiled a target list of presently known open and globular
clusters, cluster candidates, associations, and moving groups. From established
member stars we derived spatial parameters (coordinates of centres and radii of
the main morphological parts of clusters) and cluster kinematics (average
proper motions and sometimes radial velocities). For distance, reddening, and
age determination we used specific sets of theoretical isochrones. Tidal
parameters were obtained by a fit of three-parameter King profiles to the
observed density distributions of members. Results: We investigated all 871
objects in the 2nd Galactic quadrant, of which we successfully treated 642 open
clusters, 2 globular clusters, and 8 stellar associations. The remaining 219
objects (24%) were recognised by us to be nonexistent clusters, duplicate
entries, or clusters too faint for 2MAst. We found that our sample is complete
in the 2nd quadrant up to a distance of 2 kpc, where the average surface
density is 94 clusters per kpc. Compared with literature values we found
good agreement in spatial and kinematic data, as well as for optical distances
and reddening. Small, but systematic offsets were detected in the age
determination.Comment: published in Astronomy and Astrophysics, 10 pages, 7 figures (plus 3
pages of appendices incl. 2 more figures), catalogues will be available at
the CDS, all the machine-readable online data described in appendices A, B,
and C are also available at:
http://www.aip.de/People/rdscholz/kharchenko_etal_2012
The design and performance of the Gaia photometric system
The European Gaia astrometry mission is due for launch in 2011. Gaia will rely on the proven principles of the ESA Hipparcos mission to create an all-sky survey of about one billion stars throughout our Galaxy and beyond, by observing all objects down to 20 mag. Through its massive measurement of stellar distances, motions and multicolour photometry, it will provide fundamental data necessary for unravelling the structure, formation and evolution of the Galaxy. This paper presents the design and performance of the broad- and medium-band set of photometric filters adopted as the baseline for Gaia. The 19 selected passbands (extending from the UV to the far-red), the criteria and the methodology on which this choice has been based are discussed in detail. We analyse the photometric capabilities for characterizing the luminosity, temperature, gravity and chemical composition of stars. We also discuss the automatic determination of these physical parameters for the large number of observations involved, for objects located throughout the entire Hertzsprung-Russell diagram. Finally, the capability of the photometric system (PS) to deal with the main Gaia science case is outline
Broad-band photometric colors and effective temperature calibrations for late-type giants. I. Z=0.02
We present new synthetic broad-band photometric colors for late-type giants
based on synthetic spectra calculated with the PHOENIX model atmosphere code.
The grid covers effective temperatures T_eff=3000...5000K, gravities log
g=-0.5...+3.5, and metallicities [M/H]=+0.5...-4.0. We show that individual
broad-band photometric colors are strongly affected by model parameters such as
molecular opacities, gravity, microturbulent velocity, and stellar mass. Our
exploratory 3D modeling of a prototypical late-type giant shows that convection
has a noticeable effect on the photometric colors too, as it alters
significantly both the vertical and horizontal thermal structures in the outer
atmosphere. The differences between colors calculated with full 3D
hydrodynamical and 1D model atmospheres are significant (e.g., \Delta(V-K)~0.2
mag), translating into offsets in effective temperature of up to ~70K. For a
sample of 74 late-type giants in the Solar neighborhood, with interferometric
effective temperatures and broad-band photometry available in the literature,
we compare observed colors with a new PHOENIX grid of synthetic photometric
colors, as well as with photometric colors calculated with the MARCS and ATLAS
model atmosphere codes. (abridged)Comment: 30 pages, 21 figures, A&A in press. Table 2 can be obtained from the
CDS or directly from the author
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