9,762 research outputs found
Evolved stars hint to an external origin of enhanced metallicity in planet-hosting stars
Exo-planets are preferentially found around high metallicity main sequence
stars. We aim at investigating whether evolved stars share this property, and
what this tells about planet formation. Statistical tools and the basic
concepts of stellar evolution theory are applied to published results as well
as our own radial velocity and chemical analyses of evolved stars. We show that
the metal distributions of planet-hosting (P-H) dwarfs and giants are
different, and that the latter do not favor metal-rich systems. Rather, these
stars follow the same age-metallicity relation as the giants without planets in
our sample. The straightforward explanation is to attribute the difference
between dwarfs and giants to the much larger masses of giants' convective
envelopes. If the metal excess on the main sequence is due to pollution, the
effects of dilution naturally explains why it is not observed among evolved
stars. Although we cannot exclude other explanations, the lack of any
preference for metal-rich systems among P-H giants could be a strong indication
of the accretion of metal-rich material. We discuss further tests, as well as
some predictions and consequences of this hypothesis.Comment: A&A, in pres
Studying the evolution of galaxies in compact groups over the past 3 Gyr - II. The importance of environment in the suppression of star formation
We present an in depth study on the evolution of galaxy properties in compact
groups over the past 3 Gyr. We are using the largest multi-wavelength sample
to-date, comprised 1770 groups (containing 7417 galaxies), in the redshift
range of 0.01<z<0.23. To derive the physical properties of the galaxies we rely
on ultraviolet (UV)-to-infrared spectral energy distribution modeling, using
CIGALE. Our results suggest that during the 3 Gyr period covered by our sample,
the star formation activity of galaxies in our groups has been substantially
reduced (3-10 times). Moreover, their star formation histories as well as their
UV-optical and mid-infrared colors are significantly different from those of
field and cluster galaxies, indicating that compact group galaxies spend more
time transitioning through the green valley. The morphological transformation
from late-type spirals into early-type galaxies occurs in the mid-infrared
transition zone rather than in the UV-optical green valley. We find evidence of
shocks in the emission line ratios and gas velocity dispersions of the
late-type galaxies located below the star forming main sequence. Our results
suggest that in addition to gas stripping, turbulence and shocks might play an
important role in suppressing the star formation in compact group galaxies.Comment: (Accepted for publication in MNRAS, date of submission November 18,
2015
Solar analogs with and without planets: T trends and galactic evolution
We explore a sample of 148 solar-like stars to search for a possible
correlation between the slopes of the abundance trends versus condensation
temperature (known as the Tc slope) both with stellar parameters and Galactic
orbital parameters in order to understand the nature of the peculiar chemical
signatures of these stars and the possible connection with planet formation. We
find that the Tc slope correlates at a significant level with the stellar age
and the stellar surface gravity. We also find tentative evidence that the Tc
slope correlates with the mean galactocentric distance of the stars (Rmean),
suggesting that stars that originated in the inner Galaxy have fewer refractory
elements relative to the volatile ones. We found that the chemical
peculiarities (small refractory-to-volatile ratio) of planet-hosting stars is
probably a reflection of their older age and their inner Galaxy origin. We
conclude that the stellar age and probably Galactic birth place are key to
establish the abundances of some specific elements.Comment: Proceedings of the GREAT-ITN conference: The Milky Way Unravelled by
Gaia. Will be published in the "EAS Publications Series
Star formation in the massive cluster merger Abell 2744
We present a comprehensive study of star-forming (SF) galaxies in the HST
Frontier Field recent cluster merger A2744 (z=0.308). Wide-field,
ultraviolet-infrared (UV-IR) imaging enables a direct constraint of the total
star formation rate (SFR) for 53 cluster galaxies, with SFR{UV+IR}=343+/-10
Msun/yr. Within the central 4 arcmin (1.1 Mpc) radius, the integrated SFR is
complete, yielding a total SFR{UV+IR}=201+/-9 Msun/yr. Focussing on obscured
star formation, this core region exhibits a total SFR{IR}=138+/-8 Msun/yr, a
mass-normalised SFR{IR} of Sigma{SFR}=11.2+/-0.7 Msun/yr per 10^14 Msun and a
fraction of IR-detected SF galaxies f{SF}=0.080(+0.010,-0.037). Overall, the
cluster population at z~0.3 exhibits significant intrinsic scatter in IR
properties (total SFR{IR}, Tdust distribution) apparently unrelated to the
dynamical state: A2744 is noticeably different to the merging Bullet cluster,
but similar to several relaxed clusters. However, in A2744 we identify a trail
of SF sources including jellyfish galaxies with substantial unobscured SF due
to extreme stripping (SFR{UV}/SFR{IR} up to 3.3). The orientation of the trail,
and of material stripped from constituent galaxies, indicates that the passing
shock front of the cluster merger was the trigger. Constraints on star
formation from both IR and UV are crucial for understanding galaxy evolution
within the densest environments.Comment: Accepted by MNRAS. 12 pages, 7 figures (high resolution versions of
Figs. 1 & 2 are available in the published PDF
Elodie metallicity-biased search for transiting Hot Jupiters IV. Intermediate period planets orbiting the stars HD43691 and HD132406
We report here the discovery of two planet candidates as a result of our
planet-search programme biased in favour of high-metallicity stars, using the
ELODIE spectrograph at the Observatoire de Haute Provence. One of them has a
minimum mass m_2\sin{i} = 2.5 M_Jup and is orbiting the metal-rich star HD43691
with period P = 40 days and eccentricity e = 0.14. The other planet has a
minimum mass m_2\sin{i} = 5.6 M_Jup and orbits the slightly metal-rich star
HD132406 with period P = 974 days and eccentricity e = 0.34. Both stars were
followed up with additional observations using the new SOPHIE spectrograph that
replaces the ELODIE instrument, allowing an improved orbital solution for the
systems.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, to be published in A&
The HARPS search for southern extrasolar planets XXI. Three new giant planets orbiting the metal-poor stars HD5388, HD181720, and HD190984
We present the discovery of three new giant planets around three
metal-deficient stars: HD5388b (1.96M_Jup), HD181720b (0.37M_Jup), and
HD190984b (3.1M_Jup). All the planets have moderately eccentric orbits (ranging
from 0.26 to 0.57) and long orbital periods (from 777 to 4885 days). Two of the
stars (HD181720 and HD190984) were part of a program searching for giant
planets around a sample of ~100 moderately metal-poor stars, while HD5388 was
part of the volume-limited sample of the HARPS GTO program. Our discoveries
suggest that giant planets in long period orbits are not uncommon around
moderately metal-poor stars.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A (replaced by version with minor
language corrections
Abundances of Na, Mg and Al in stars with giant planets
We present Na, Mg and Al abundances in a set of 98 stars with known giant
planets, and in a comparison sample of 41 ``single'' stars. The results show
that the [X/H] abundances (with X = Na, Mg and Al) are, on average, higher in
stars with giant planets, a result similar to the one found for iron. However,
we did not find any strong difference in the [X/Fe] ratios, for a fixed [Fe/H],
between the two samples of stars in the region where the samples overlap.
Finally, the data was used to study the Galactic chemical evolution trends for
Na, Mg and Al, and to discuss the possible influence of planets on this
evolution. The results, in general similar to the ones obtained by other
authors, show that the [X/Fe] ratios all decrease as a function of metallicity
up to solar values. While for Mg and Al this trend then becomes relatively
constant, for Na we find indications of an upturn up to [Fe/H] values close to
0.25dex. For metallicities above this value the [Na/Fe] becomes constant.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A; replaced on the 19/04/2005 with new
version updated for language correction
Construction of a tungsten coil atomic emission spectrometer (WCAES)
It is here discussed the development of a low cost analytical instrument with capacity for metals determination using atomic emission measurements in an electrothermal atomization system with a tungsten coil atomizer. The main goal was to show a new frontier for using this atomizer and to demonstrate that the simple instrumental arrangement here proposed has potential for portability and for solving analytical tasks related to metals determination. Atomic emission of calcium was selected for the adjustment of instrumental parameters and to evaluate the main characteristics of the lab-built instrument. Cobalt was determined in medicines and one alloy to demonstrate its feasibility.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior (CAPES)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e Tecnológico (CNPq)FAPES
A new code for automatic determination of equivalent widths: Automatic Routine for line Equivalent widths in stellar Spectra (ARES)
We present a new automatic code (ARES) for determining equivalent widths of
the absorption lines present in stellar spectra. We also describe its use for
determining fundamental spectroscopic stellar parameters.
The code is written in C++ based on the standard method of determining EWs
and is available for the community. The code automates the manual procedure
that the users normally carry out when using interactive routines such as the
splot routine implemented in IRAF.
We test the code using both simulated and real spectra with different levels
of resolution and noise and comparing its measurements to the manual ones
obtained in the standard way. The results shows a small systematic difference,
always below 1.5m\AA. This can be explained by errors in the manual
measurements caused by subjective continuum determination. The code works
better and faster than others tested before.Comment: 10 pages, 9 figures, Accepted for publication on A&
Abundance trend with condensation temperature for stars with different Galactic birth places
During the past decade, several studies reported a correlation between
chemical abundances of stars and condensation temperature (also known as Tc
trend). However, the real astrophysical nature of this correlation is still
debated. The main goal of this work is to explore the possible dependence of
the Tc trend on stellar Galactocentric distances, Rmean. We used high-quality
spectra of about 40 stars observed with the HARPS and UVES spectrographs to
derive precise stellar parameters, chemical abundances, and stellar ages. A
differential line-by-line analysis was applied to achieve the highest possible
precision in the chemical abundances. We confirm previous results that [X/Fe]
abundance ratios depend on stellar age and that for a given age, some elements
also show a dependence on Rmean. When using the whole sample of stars, we
observe a weak hint that the Tc trend depends on Rmean. The observed dependence
is very complex and disappears when only stars with similar ages are
considered. To conclude on the possible dependence of the Tc trend on the
formation place of stars, a larger sample of stars with very similar
atmospheric parameters and stellar ages observed at different Galactocentric
distances is neededComment: Accepted by A&
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