74 research outputs found
Deep Optical Counterpart Searches of Gamma-Ray Burst Localizations
We report the results of a 5 year CCD imaging program of small gamma-ray burst (GRB) error boxes from the First Interplanetary Network and an optical transient field. The fields include GBS 0010 - 16, GBS 0552-08, GBS 1028 + 46, GBS 1205 + 23, GBS 1412 + 79, OTS 1809 + 31, GBS 2006 - 22, and GBS 2252 - 03. A total of 274 hours of open shutter time was used to obtain multiple UBVI-filtered frames covering an area approximately twice that of the 99% confidence localizations. For 2070 objects in these fileds above the survey detection limit of V ~ 22, 79,000 calibrated photometric measurements were made. The objectives of the survey were to search for objects of unusual colours, variability, or proper motions. The final cesus of objects in these fields is consistent with the expected numbers of normal stars, galaxies, and proper motion objects based on statistics on large-scale surveys. While no obvous GRB optical counterparts were found, several potentially interesting objects were discovered, along with marginal evidence for a QSO excess at the rate one per high Galactic latitude localization. The results and implications are discussed in detial along with suggestions for future work
The Brown Dwarf Kinematics Project (BDKP). III. Parallaxes for 70 Ultracool Dwarfs
We report parallax measurements for 70 ultracool dwarfs (UCDs). Using both
literature values and our sample, we report new polynomial relations between
spectral type and M. Including resolved L/T transition binaries in the
relations, we find no reason to differentiate between a "bright" (unresolved
binary) and "faint" (single source) sample across the L/T boundary. Isolating
early T dwarfs, we find that the brightening of T0-T4 sources is prominent in
M where there is a [1.2 - 1.4] magnitude difference. A similar yet
dampened brightening of [0.3 - 0.5] magnitude happens at M and a plateau
or dimming of [-0.2 - -0.3] magnitude is seen in M. Comparing with
evolutionary models that vary gravity, metallicity, and cloud thickness we find
that a near constant temperature of 1200 100 K along a narrow spectral
subtype of T0-T4 is required to account for the brightening and color magnitude
diagram of the L-dwarf/T-dwarf transition. Furthermore, there is a significant
population of both L and T dwarfs which are red or potentially "ultra-cloudy"
compared to the models, many of which are known to be young indicating a
correlation between enhanced photospheric dust and youth. For the low
surface-gravity or young companion L dwarfs we find that 8 out of 10 are at
least [0.2-1.0] magnitude underluminous in M and/or M compared to
equivalent spectral type objects. We speculate that this is a consequence of
increased dust opacity and conclude that low-surface gravity L dwarfs require a
completely new spectral-type/absolute magnitude polynomial for analysis.Comment: 65 pages, Accepted for publication to Ap
New BVI_C Photometry of Low-mass Pleiades Stars: Exploring the Effects of Rotation on Broadband Colors
We present new BVI_C photometry for 350 Pleiades proper motion members with 9 < V ≾ 17. Importantly, our new catalog includes a large number of K- and early M-type stars, roughly doubling the number of low-mass stars with well-calibrated Johnson/Cousins photometry in this benchmark cluster. We combine our new photometry with existing photometry from the literature to define a purely empirical isochrone at Pleiades age (≈100 Myr) extending from V = 9 to 17. We use the empirical isochrone to identify 48 new probable binaries and 14 likely nonmembers. The photometrically identified single stars are compared against their expected positions in the color-magnitude diagram (CMD). At 100 Myr, the mid K and early M stars are predicted to lie above the zero-age main sequence (ZAMS) having not yet reached the ZAMS. We find in the B – V versus V CMD that mid K and early M dwarfs are instead displaced below (or blueward of) the ZAMS. Using the stars' previously reported rotation periods, we find a highly statistically significant correlation between rotation period and CMD displacement, in the sense that the more rapidly rotating stars have the largest displacements in the B – V CMD
The Discovery of an Embedded Cluster of High-Mass Stars Near SGR 1900+14
Deep I-band imaging to approximately I = 26.5 of the soft gamma-ray repeater
SGR 1900+14 region has revealed a compact cluster of massive stars located only
a few arcseconds from the fading radio source thought to be the location of the
SGR (Frail, Kulkarni, & Bloom 1999). This cluster was previously hidden in the
glare of the pair of M5 supergiant stars (whose light was removed by PSF
subtraction) proposed by Vrba et al. (1996) as likely associated with the SGR
1900+14. The cluster has at least 13 members within a cluster radius of
approximately 0.6 pc, based on an estimated distance of 12-15 kpc. It is
remarkably similar to a cluster found associated with SGR 1806-20 (Fuchs et al.
1999). That similar clusters have now been found at or near the positions of
the two best-studied SGRs suggests that young neutron stars, thought to be
responsible for the SGR phenomenon, have their origins in proximate compact
clusters of massive stars.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, accepted Astrophysical Journal Letter
OTS 1809+314 and the Gamma-Ray Burst GB 790325b
We present deep CCD images of the field containing the recurring Optical Transient Source (OTS) 1809+314 recently discovered on the archival plates of the Sonneberg Observatory. At the position of OTS 1809+314 we find no optical counterpart brighter tha V=24.0 24.5, rgunn = 22.0-22.5 and I = 22.0 22.5, and I = 22.0-22.5. In the zero proper motion limit our observations place severe constraints on possible quiescent counterparts. There is no compelling evidence to suggest an association between the historical optical transient source and the gamma-ray burst GB 790325b located ~ 5\u27 to the east of OTS 1809+314
A 10-micron Search for Inner-Truncated Disks Among Pre-Main-Sequence Stars With Photometric Rotation Periods
We use mid-IR (primarily 10 m) photometry as a diagnostic for the
presence of disks with inner cavities among 32 pre-main sequence stars in Orion
and Taurus-Auriga for which rotation periods are known and which do not show
evidence for inner disks at near-IR wavelengths. Disks with inner cavities are
predicted by magnetic disk-locking models that seek to explain the regulation
of angular momentum in T Tauri stars. Only three stars in our sample show
evidence for excess mid-IR emission. While these three stars may possess
truncated disks consistent with magnetic disk-locking models, the remaining 29
stars in our sample do not. Apparently, stars lacking near-IR excesses in
general do not possess truncated disks to which they are magnetically coupled.
We discuss the implications of this result for the hypothesis of
disk-regulated angular momentum. Evidently, young stars can exist as slow
rotators without the aid of present disk-locking, and there exist very young
stars already rotating near breakup velocity whose subsequent angular momentum
evolution will not be regulated by disks. Moreover, we question whether disks,
when present, truncate in the manner required by disk-locking scenarios.
Finally, we discuss the need for rotational evolution models to take full
account of the large dispersion of rotation rates present at 1 Myr, which may
allow the models to explain the rotational evolution of low-mass pre-main
sequence stars in a way that does not depend upon braking by disks.Comment: 20 pages, 4 figure
Parallax and Luminosity Measurements of an L Subdwarf
We present the first parallax and luminosity measurements for an L subdwarf,
the sdL7 2MASS J05325346+8246465. Observations conducted over three years by
the USNO infrared astrometry program yield an astrometric distance of
26.7+/-1.2 pc and a proper motion of 2.6241+/-0.0018"/yr. Combined with
broadband spectral and photometric measurements, we determine a luminosity of
log(Lbol/Lsun) = -4.24+/-0.06 and Teff = 1730+/-90 K (the latter assuming an
age of 5-10 Gyr), comparable to mid-type L field dwarfs. Comparison of the
luminosity of 2MASS J05325346+8246465 to theoretical evolutionary models
indicates that its mass is just below the sustained hydrogen burning limit, and
is therefore a brown dwarf. Its kinematics indicate a ~110 Myr, retrograde
Galactic orbit which is both eccentric (3 <~ R <~ 8.5 kpc) and extends well
away from the plane (Delta_Z = +/-2 kpc), consistent with membership in the
inner halo population. The relatively bright J-band magnitude of 2MASS
J05325346+8246465 implies significantly reduced opacity in the 1.2 micron
region, consistent with inhibited condensate formation as previously proposed.
Its as yet unknown subsolar metallicity remains the primary limitation in
constraining its mass; determination of both parameters would provide a
powerful test of interior and evolutionary models for low-mass stars and brown
dwarfs.Comment: Accepted to ApJ 10 September 2007; 13 pages, 5 figures, 3 tables,
formatted in emulateapj styl
Astrometry and Photometry for 1000 L, T, and Y Dwarfs from the UKIRT Hemisphere Survey
We present positions, proper motions, and near-infrared photometry for 966
known objects with spectral types later than M observed as part of the the
UKIRT Hemisphere Survey (UHS). We augment the photometry and astrometry from
UHS with information from Gaia DR3, Pan-STARRS DR2, and CatWISE 2020 to produce
a database of homogeneous photometry and astrometry for this sample. The
multi-epoch survey strategy of UHS allows us to determine proper motions for
most sources, with a median proper motion uncertainty of 3.6 mas
yr. Our UHS proper motion measurements are generally in good agreement
with those from Gaia DR3, Pan-STARRS, and CatWISE 2020, with UHS proper motions
typically more precise than those from CatWISE 2020 and Pan-STARRS but not Gaia
DR3. We critically analyze publicly available spectra for 406 members of this
sample and provide updated near-infrared spectral types for 100 objects.
We determine typical colors as a function of spectral type and provide absolute
magnitude vs. spectral type relations for UHS - and -band photometry.
Using newly determined proper motions, we highlight several objects of
interest, such as objects with large tangential velocities, widely separated
co-moving companions, and potential members of young nearby associations.Comment: Accepted to A
Fine Structure in the Circumstellar Environment of a Young, Solar-like Star: the Unique Eclipses of KH 15D
Results of an international campaign to photometrically monitor the unique
pre-main sequence eclipsing object KH 15D are reported. An updated ephemeris
for the eclipse is derived that incorporates a slightly revised period of 48.36
d. There is some evidence that the orbital period is actually twice that value,
with two eclipses occurring per cycle. The extraordinary depth (~3.5 mag) and
duration (~18 days) of the eclipse indicate that it is caused by circumstellar
matter, presumably the inner portion of a disk. The eclipse has continued to
lengthen with time and the central brightness reversals are not as extreme as
they once were. V-R and V-I colors indicate that the system is slightly bluer
near minimum light. Ingress and egress are remarkably well modeled by the
passage of a knife-edge across a limb-darkened star. Possible models for the
system are briefly discussed.Comment: 19 pages, 5 figure
- …