Showing papers by "Ram Sagar published in 2008"

Ground-based CCD astrometry with wide-field imagers - II. A star catalog for M 67: WFI@2.2 m MPG/ESO astrometry, FLAMES@VLT radial velocities

Abstract: The solar-age open cluster M 67 (C0847+120, NGC 2682) is a touchstone in studies of the old Galactic disk. Despite its outstanding role, the census of cluster membership for M 67 at fainter magnitudes and their properties are not well-established. Aims. Using proprietary and archival ESO data, we have obtained astrometric, photometric, and radial velocities of stars in a 34 × 33 arcmin 2 field centered on the old open cluster M 67. Methods. The two-epoch archival observations separated by 4 years and acquired with the Wide-Field Imager at the 2.2 m MPG/ESO telescope were reduced with our new astrometric techniques, as described in the first paper in this series. The same observations served to derive calibrated BVI photometry in M 67. Radial velocities were measured using the archival and new spectroscopic data obtained at the VLT. Results. We have determined relative proper motions and membership probabilities for ~2400 stars. The precision of proper motions for optimally exposed stars is 1.9 mas yr -1 , gradually degrading down to ~5 mas yr -1 at V=20. Our relatively precise proper motions at V>16 were first obtained in this magnitude range for M 67. Radial velocities were measured for 211 stars in the same field. We also present a detailed comparison with recent theoretical isochrones from several independent groups. Conclusions. For the M 67 area, we provide positions, calibrated BVI photometry, relative proper motions, membership probabilities, and radial velocities. We demonstrate that ground-based CCD mosaic observations just a few years apart are producing proper motions, allowing reliable membership determination. We have produced a catalog that is electronically available to the astronomical community.

Ground-based CCD astrometry with wide field imagers. II. A star catalogue for M67: WFI@2.2m MPG/ESO astrometry, FLAMES@VLT radial velocities

Abstract: The solar-age open cluster M67 (C0847+120, NGC2682) is a touchstone in studies of the old Galactic disk. Despite its outstanding role, the census of cluster membership for M67 at fainter magnitudes and their properties are not well-established. Using the proprietary and archival ESO data, we have obtained astrometric, photometric, and radial velocities of stars in a 34'x 33' field centered on the old open cluster M67. The two-epoch archival observations separated by 4 years and acquired with the Wide Field Imager at the 2.2m MPG/ESO telescope have been reduced with our new astrometric techniques, as described in the first paper of this series. The same observations served to derive calibrated BVI photometry in M67. Radial velocities were measured using the archival and new spectroscopic data obtained at VLT. We have determined relative proper motions and membership probabilities for ~2,400 stars. The precision of proper motions for optimally exposed stars is ~2 mas/yr, gradually degrading down to ~5 mas/yr at V= 20. Our relatively precise proper motions at V>16 are first obtained in this magnitude range for M67. Radial velocities are measured for 211 stars in the same field. We also present a detailed comparison with recent theoretical isochrones from several independent groups. For M67 area we provide positions, calibrated BVI photometry, relative proper motions, membership probabilities, and radial velocities. We demonstrate that the ground-based CCD mosaic observations just a few years apart are producing proper motions, allowing a reliable membership determination. We produced a catalogue that is made electronically available to the astronomical community.

Ground-based CCD astrometry with wide-field imagers

Abstract: Context. The solar-age open cluster M 67 (C0847+120, NGC 2682) is a touchstone in studies of the old Galactic disk. Despite its outstanding role, the census of cluster membership for M 67 at fainter magnitudes and their properties are not well-established. Aims. Using proprietary and archival ESO data, we have obtained astrometric, photometric, and radial velocities of stars in a 34 × 33 arcmin 2 field centered on the old open cluster M 67. Methods. The two-epoch archival observations separated by 4 years and acquired with the Wide-Field Imager at the 2.2 m MPG/ESO telescope were reduced with our new astrometric techniques, as described in the first paper in this series. The same observations served to derive calibrated BVI photometry in M 67. Radial velocities were measured using the archival and new spectroscopic data obtained at the VLT. Results. We have determined relative proper motions and membership probabilities for ∼2400 stars. The precision of proper motions for optimally exposed stars is 1.9 mas yr −1 , gradually degrading down to ∼ 5m as yr −1 at V = 20. Our relatively precise proper motions at V > 16 were first obtained in this magnitude range for M 67. Radial velocities were measured for 211 stars in the same field. We also present a detailed comparison with recent theoretical isochrones from several independent groups. Conclusions. For the M 67 area, we provide positions, calibrated BVI photometry, relative proper motions, membership probabilities, and radial velocities. We demonstrate that ground-based CCD mosaic observations just a few years apart are producing proper motions, allowing reliable membership determination. We have produced a catalog that is electronically available to the astronomical community.

A new activity phase of the blazar 3C 454.3. Multifrequency observations by the WEBT and XMM-Newton in 2007-2008

Abstract: We present and analyse the WEBT multifrequency observations of 3C 454.3 in the 2007-2008 observing season, including XMM-Newton observations and near-IR spectroscopic monitoring, and compare the recent emission behaviour with the past one. In the optical band we observed a multi-peak outburst in July-August 2007, and other faster events in November 2007 - February 2008. During these outburst phases, several episodes of intranight variability were detected. A mm outburst was observed starting from mid 2007, whose rising phase was contemporaneous to the optical brightening. A slower flux increase also affected the higher radio frequencies, the flux enhancement disappearing below 8 GHz. The analysis of the optical-radio correlation and time delays, as well as the behaviour of the mm light curve, confirm our previous predictions, suggesting that changes in the jet orientation likely occurred in the last few years. The historical multiwavelength behaviour indicates that a significant variation in the viewing angle may have happened around year 2000. Colour analysis reveals a complex spectral behaviour, which is due to the interplay of different emission components. All the near-IR spectra show a prominent Halpha emission line, whose flux appears nearly constant. The analysis of the XMM-Newton data indicates a correlation between the UV excess and the soft-X-ray excess, which may represent the head and the tail of the big blue bump, respectively. The X-ray flux correlates with the optical flux, suggesting that in the inverse-Compton process either the seed photons are synchrotron photons at IR-optical frequencies or the relativistic electrons are those that produce the optical synchrotron emission. The X-ray radiation would thus be produced in the jet region from where the IR-optical emission comes.

Mass functions and photometric binaries in nine open clusters

Abstract: Using homogeneous CCD photometric data from the 105 cm Kiso Schmidt telescope covering a 50' × 50' field, we study the mass functions (MFs) of nine open clusters. The ages and Galactocentric distances of the target clusters vary from 16-2000 Myr and 9-10.8 kpc, respectively. The values of MF slopes vary from –1.1 to –2.1. The classical value derived by Salpeter in 1955 for the slope of the initial mass function (IMF) is Γ = –1.35. The MFs in the outer regions of the clusters are found to be steeper than in the inner regions, indicating the presence of mass segregation in the clusters. The MF slopes (in the outer region as well as the whole cluster) undergo an exponential decay with the evolutionary parameter τ (=age/relaxation time). It seems that the evaporation of low-mass members from outer regions of the clusters is not significant at larger Galactocentric distances. It is concluded that IMF in the anti-center direction of the Galaxy might have been steeper than the IMF in the opposite direction. A comparison of the observed color-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) of the clusters with synthetic CMDs gives a photometric binary content of ~40%.

Optical polarimetric study of open clusters: distribution of interstellar matter towards NGC 654

Abstract: We present new B,V and R linear polarimetric observations for 61 starstowards the region of the young open cluster NGC 654. In this study we foundevidence for the presence of at least two layers of dust along the line of sight tothe cluster. The distances to the two dust layers are estimated to be ∼ 200 pcand ∼ 1 kpc which are located much closer to the Sun than the cluster (∼ 2.4kpc). Both the dust layers have their local magnetic field orientation nearlyparallel to the direction of the Galactic plane. The foreground dust layer isfound to have a ring morphology with the central hole coinciding with thecenter of the cluster. The foreground dust grains are suggested to be mainlyresponsible for both the observed differential reddening and the polarizationtowards the cluster.Keywords: polarization-dust, extinction-openclustersandassociations:individual:NGC 654 1 INTRODUCTIONThe wavelength dependence of interstellar extinction and polarization provides constraintson the characteristics of interstellar grains. Interstellar polarization strongly varies withwavelength (Serkowski, Mathewson & Ford 1975; Wilking et al. 1980). In particular, thewavelength of maximum interstellar polarization (λ

A Study of the Long-Term Evolution of Quasi-Periodic Oscillations in the Accretion-Powered X-Ray Pulsar 4U 1626–67

Abstract: We report here a study of the long-term properties of quasiperiodic oscillations (QPOs) in an unusual accreting X-ray pulsar, 4U 1626–67. This is a unique accretion-powered X-ray pulsar in which we have found the QPOs to be present during all sufficiently long X-ray observations with a wide range of X-ray observatories. In the present spin-down era of this source, the QPO central frequency is found to be decreasing. In the earlier spin-up era of this source, there are only two reports of QPO detections, in 1983 with EXOSAT and 1988 with Ginga with an increasing trend. The QPO frequency evolution in 4U 1626–67 during the last 22 years changed from a positive to a negative trend, somewhat coincident with the torque reversal in this source. In the accretion-powered X-ray pulsars, the QPO frequency is directly related to the inner radius of the accretion disk, as per the Keplerian frequency model (KFM) and the beat frequency mdel (BFM). A gradual depletion of accretion disk is reported earlier from the X-ray spectral, flux, and pulse profile measurements. The present QPO frequency evolution study shows that X-ray flux and mass accretion rate may not change by the same factor; hence the simple KFM and BFM are not able to explain the QPO evolution in this source. This is the only X-ray pulsar to show persistent QPOs and is also the first accreting X-ray pulsar in which the QPO history is reported for a long timescale relating it with the long-term evolution of the accretion disk.

Multi-wavelength study of a young open cluster NGC 7419

Abstract: Using UBVRI Halpha CCD photometric observations and the archival NIR and X-ray data, we have carried out a multi-wavelength study of a young star cluster NGC 7419. An age of 22.5+/-3.0 Myr and a distance of 3230^{+330}_{-430} pc are derived for the cluster with a higher value of color excess ratio E(U-B)/E(B-V) than the normal one. There is an evidence for mass segregation in this dynamically relaxed cluster with mass function slope is in agreement with the Salpeter value. NIR and Halpha excess support the existence of a young ( 3.0 M_sun) indicating a second episode of star formation in the cluster region. Using XMM-Newton observations, we found several X-ray sources in the cluster region but none of the Herbig Ae/Be stars is detected in X-rays. We compare the distribution of upper limits for Herbig Ae/Be stars with the X-ray distribution functions of the T-Tauri and the Herbig Ae/Be stars from previous studies, and found that the X-ray emission level of these Herbig Ae/Be stars is not more than L_X ~5.2 x 10^{30} erg/s, which is not significantly higher than for the T-Tauri stars. Therefore, X-ray emission from Herbig Ae/Be stars could be the result of either unresolved companion stars or a process similar to T-Tauri stars. We report an extended X-ray emission from the cluster region NGC 7419, with a total L_X estimate of ~ 1.8 x 10^31 erg/s/arcmin^2. Investigation of dust and CO map of 1 degree region around the cluster indicates the presence of a foreground dust cloud which is most likely associated with star forming region Sh2-154. This cloud harbors uniformly distributed pre main sequence stars (0.1-2.0M_sun) and the star formation in this cloud depend mostly upon the primordial fragmentation.

A new activity phase of the blazar 3C 454.3

Abstract: Aims: The Whole Earth Blazar Telescope (WEBT) consortium has been monitoring the blazar 3C 454.3 from the radio to the optical bands since 2004 to study its emission variability properties. Methods. We present and analyse the multifrequency results of the 2007-2008 observing season, including XMM-Newton observations and near-IR spectroscopic monitoring, and compare the recent emission behaviour with the past one. The historical mm light curve is presented here for the first time. Results. In the optical band we observed a multi-peak outburst in July-August 2007, and other faster events in November 2007-February 2008. During these outburst phases, several episodes of intranight variability were detected. A mm outburst was observed starting from mid 2007, whose rising phase was contemporaneous to the optical brightening. A slower flux increase also affected the higher radio frequencies, the flux enhancement disappearing below 8 GHz. The analysis of the optical-radio correlation and time delays, as well as the behaviour of the mm light curve, confirm our previous predictions, suggesting that changes in the jet orientation likely occurred in the last few years. The historical multiwavelength behaviour indicates that a significant variation in the viewing angle may have happened around year 2000. Colour analysis confirms a general redder-when-brighter trend, which reaches a "saturation" at R ~ 14 and possibly turns into a bluer-when-brighter trend in bright states. This behaviour is due to the interplay of different emission components, the synchrotron one possibly being characterised by an intrinsically variable spectrum. All the near-IR spectra show a prominent H αemission line ( EW obs= 50-120 A), whose flux appears nearly constant, indicating that the broad line region is not affected by the jet emission. We show the broad-band SEDs corresponding to the epochs of the XMM-Newton pointings and compare them to those obtained at other epochs, when the source was in different brightness states. A double power-law fit to the EPIC spectra including extra absorption suggests that the soft-X-ray spectrum is concave, and that the curvature becomes more pronounced as the flux decreases. This connects fairly well with the UV excess, which becomes more prominent with decreasing flux. The most obvious interpretation implies that, as the beamed synchrotron radiation from the jet dims, we can see both the head and the tail of the big blue bump. The X-ray flux correlates with the optical flux, suggesting that in the inverse-Compton process either the seed photons are synchrotron photons at IR-optical frequencies or the relativistic electrons are those that produce the optical synchrotron emission. The X-ray radiation would thus be produced in the jet region from where the IR-optical emission comes.

Mass functions and photometric binaries in nine open clusters

Abstract: Using homogeneous CCD photometric data from the 105-cm Kiso Schmidt telescope covering a 50' x 50' field, we study the mass functions (MFs) of nine open clusters. The ages and Galactocentric distances of the target clusters vary from 16 - 2000 Myr and 9-10.8 kpc, respectively. The values of MF slopes vary from -1.1 to -2.1. The classical value derived by Salpeter (1955) for the slope of the IMF is \Gamma = -1.35. The MFs in the outer regions of the clusters are found to be steeper than in the inner regions, indicating the presence of mass segregation in the clusters.The MF slopes (in the outer region as well as the whole cluster) undergo an exponential decay with the evolutionary parameter \tau (= age/ relaxation time). It seems that the evaporation of low-mass members from outer regions of the clusters is not significant at larger Galactocentric distances. It is concluded that the initial mass function (IMF) in the anticentre direction of the Galaxy might have been steeper than the IMF in the opposite direction. A comparison of the observed CMDs of the clusters with synthetic CMDs gives a photometric binary content of ~40%.

A study of the long term evolution of quasi periodic oscillations in the accretion powered X-ray pulsar 4U 1626-67

Abstract: We report here a study of the long term properties of Quasi Periodic Oscillations (QPO) in an unusual accreting X-ray pulsar, 4U 1626--67. This is a unique accretion powered X-ray pulsar in which we have found the QPOs to be present during all sufficiently long X-ray observations with a wide range of X-ray observatories. In the present spin-down era of this source, the QPO central frequency is found to be decreasing. In the earlier spin-up era of this source, there are only two reports of QPO detections, in 1983 with EXOSAT and 1988 with GINGA with an increasing trend. The QPO frequency evolution in 4U 1626--67 during the last 22 years changed from a positive to a negative trend, somewhat coincident with the torque reversal in this source. In the accretion powered X-ray pulsars, the QPO frequency is directly related to the inner radius of the accretion disk, as per Keplerian Frequency Model (KFM) and Beat Frequency Model (BFM). A gradual depletion of accretion disk is reported earlier from the X-ray spectral, flux and pulse profile measurements. The present QPO frequency evolution study shows that X-ray flux and mass accretion rate may not change by the same factor, hence the simple KFM and BFM are not able to explain the QPO evolution in this source. This is the only X-ray pulsar to show persistent QPOs and is also the first accreting X-ray pulsar in which the QPO history is reported for a long time scale relating it with the long term evolution of the accretion disk.

Multifrequency observations by the WEBT and XMM-Newton in 2007-2008

Abstract: Aims. The Whole Earth Blazar Telescope (WEBT) consortium has been monitoring the blazar 3C 454.3 from the radio to the optical bands since 2004 to study its emission variability properties. Methods. We present and analyse the multifrequency results of the 2007−2008 observing season, including XMM-Newton observations and near-IR spectroscopic monitoring, and compare the recent emission behaviour with the past one. The historical mm light curve is presented here for the first time. Results. In the optical band we observed a multi-peak outburst in July−August 2007, and other faster events in November 2007−February 2008. During these outburst phases, several episodes of intranight variability were detected. A mm outburst was observed starting from mid 2007, whose rising phase was contemporaneous to the optical brightening. A slower flux increase also affected the higher radio frequencies, the flux enhancement disappearing below 8 GHz. The analysis of the optical-radio correlation and time delays, as well as the behaviour of the mm light curve, confirm our previous predictions, suggesting that changes in the jet orientation likely occurred in the last few years. The historical multiwavelength behaviour indicates that a significant variation in the viewing angle may have happened around year 2000. Colour analysis confirms a general redder-when-brighter trend, which reaches a “saturation” at R ∼ 14 and possibly turns into a bluer-when-brighter trend in bright states. This behaviour is due to the interplay of different emission components, the synchrotron one possibly being characterised by an intrinsically variable spectrum. All the near-IR spectra show a prominent Hα emission line (EWobs = 50−120 A), whose flux appears nearly constant, indicating that the broad line region is not affected by the jet emission. We show the broad-band SEDs corresponding to the epochs of the XMM-Newton pointings and compare them to those obtained at other epochs, when the source was in different brightness states. A double power-law fit to the EPIC spectra including extra absorption suggests that the soft-X-ray spectrum is concave, and that the curvature becomes more pronounced as the flux decreases. This connects fairly well with the UV excess, which becomes more prominent with decreasing flux. The most obvious interpretation implies that, as the beamed synchrotron radiation from the jet dims, we can see both the head and the tail of the big blue bump. The X-ray flux correlates with the optical flux, suggesting that in the inverse-Compton process either the seed photons are synchrotron photons at IR-optical frequencies or the relativistic electrons are those that produce the optical synchrotron emission. The X-ray radiation would thus be produced in the jet region from where the IR-optical emission comes.

Optical polarimetric study of open clusters: Distribution of Interstellar matter towards NGC 654

Abstract: We present new B, V and R linear polarimetric observations for 61 stars towards the region of the young open cluster NGC 654. In this study we found evidence for the presence of at least two layers of dust along the line of sight to the cluster. The distances to the two dust layers are estimated to be ~ 200 pc and ~ 1 kpc which are located much closer to the Sun than the cluster (~ 2.4 kpc). Both the dust layers have their local magnetic field orientation nearly parallel to the direction of the Galactic plane. The foreground dust layer is found to have a ring morphology with the central hole coinciding with the center of the cluster. The foreground dust grains are suggested to be mainly responsible for both the observed differential reddening and the polarization towards the cluster.