Institution
European Southern Observatory
Facility•Garching bei München, Germany•
About: European Southern Observatory is a facility organization based out in Garching bei München, Germany. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Galaxy & Stars. The organization has 3594 authors who have published 16157 publications receiving 823095 citations. The organization is also known as: The European Southern Observatory,ESO & ESO.
Topics: Galaxy, Stars, Star formation, Redshift, Population
Papers published on a yearly basis
Papers
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors presented the evolution of the rest-frame optical luminosity density, of the integrated restframe optical color, and of the stellar mass density for a sample of Ks-band selected galaxies in the HDF-S.
Abstract: We present the evolution of the rest-frame optical luminosity density, of the integrated rest-frame optical color, and of the stellar mass density for a sample of Ks-band selected galaxies in the HDF-S. We derived the luminosity density in the rest-frame U, B, and V-bands and found that the luminosity density increases by a factor of 1.9+-0.4, 2.9+-0.6, and 4.9+-1.0 in the V, B, and U rest-frame bands respectively between a redshift of 0.1 and 3.2. We derived the luminosity weighted mean cosmic (U-B)_rest and (B-V)_rest colors as a function of redshift. The colors bluen almost monotonically with increasing redshift; at z=0.1, the (U-B)_rest and (B-V)_rest colors are 0.16 and 0.75 respectively, while at z=2.8 they are -0.39 and 0.29 respectively. We derived the luminosity weighted mean M/LV using the correlation between (U-V)_rest and log_{10} M/LV which exists for a range in smooth SFHs and moderate extinctions. We have shown that the mean of individual M/LV estimates can overpredict the true value by ~70% while our method overpredicts the true values by only ~35%. We find that the universe at z~3 had ~10 times lower stellar mass density than it does today in galaxies with LV>1.4 \times 10^{10} h_{70}^-2 Lsol. 50% of the stellar mass of the universe was formed by $z~1-1.5. The rate of increase in the stellar mass density with decreasing redshift is similar to but above that for independent estimates from the HDF-N, but is slightly less than that predicted by the integral of the SFR(z) curve.
224 citations
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TL;DR: In this paper, a search for stellar clusters has been carried out in 18 nearby spiral galaxies, using archive images from the Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 on board the Hubble Space Telescope, and a catalogue of structural parameters, photometry and comments based on visual inspection of the clusters is compiled and used to investigate correlations between cluster structure, environment, age and mass.
Abstract: A search for stellar clusters has been carried out in 18 nearby spiral galaxies, using archive images from the Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 on board the Hubble Space Telescope. All of the galaxies have previously been imaged from the ground in UBVI. A catalogue of structural parameters, photometry and comments based on visual inspection of the clusters is compiled and used to investigate correlations between cluster structure, environment, age and mass. Least-squares fits to the data suggest correlations between both the full-width at half-maximum (FWHM) and half-light radius (Reff )o f the clusters and their masses (M) at about the 3σ level. Although both relations show a large scatter, the fits have substantially shallower slopes than for a constant-density relation (size ∝ M 1/3 ). However, many of the youngest clusters have extended halos which make the Reff determinations uncertain. There is no evidence for galaxy-to-galaxy variations in the mean cluster sizes. In particular, the mean sizes do not appear to depend on the host galaxy star formation rate surface density. Many of the youngest objects (age < 10 7 years) are located in strongly crowded regions, and about 1/3-1/2 of them are double or multiple sources. The HST images are also used to check the nature of cluster candidates identified in a previous ground-based survey. The contamination rate in the ground-based sample is generally less than about 20%, but some cluster identifications remain ambiguous because of crowding even with HST imaging, especially for the youngest objects.
223 citations
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University of Exeter1, Centre national de la recherche scientifique2, University of California, Santa Cruz3, Princeton University4, University of Arizona5, Tennessee State University6, University of Oxford7, University of Maryland, College Park8, European Southern Observatory9, California Institute of Technology10, Ames Research Center11
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors presented the HST optical transmission spectra of the transiting hot-Jupiter WASP-12b, taken with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph instrument.
Abstract: We present Hubble Space Telescope (HST) optical transmission spectra of the transiting hot-Jupiter WASP-12b, taken with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph instrument. The resulting spectra cover the range 2900–10 300 A which we combined with archival Wide Field Camera 3 spectra and Spitzer photometry to cover the full optical to infrared wavelength regions. With high spatial resolution, we are able to resolve WASP-12A's stellar companion in both our images and spectra, revealing that the companion is in fact a close binary M0V pair, with the three stars forming a triple-star configuration. We derive refined physical parameters of the WASP-12 system, including the orbital ephemeris, finding the exoplanet's density is ∼20 per cent lower than previously estimated. From the transmission spectra, we are able to decisively rule out prominent absorption by TiO in the exoplanet's atmosphere, as there are no signs of the molecule's characteristic broad features nor individual bandheads. Strong pressure-broadened Na and K absorption signatures are also excluded, as are significant metal-hydride features. We compare our combined broad-band spectrum to a wide variety of existing aerosol-free atmospheric models, though none are satisfactory fits. However, we do find that the full transmission spectrum can be described by models which include significant opacity from aerosols: including Rayleigh scattering, Mie scattering, tholin haze and settling dust profiles. The transmission spectrum follows an effective extinction cross-section with a power law of index α, with the slope of the transmission spectrum constraining the quantity αT = −3528 ± 660 K, where T is the atmospheric temperature. Rayleigh scattering (α = −4) is among the best-fitting models, though requires low terminator temperatures near 900 K. Sub-micron size aerosol particles can provide equally good fits to the entire transmission spectrum for a wide range of temperatures, and we explore corundum as a plausible dust aerosol. The presence of atmospheric aerosols also helps to explain the modestly bright albedo implied by Spitzer observations, as well as the near blackbody nature of the emission spectrum. Ti-bearing condensates on the cooler night-side is the most natural explanation for the overall lack of TiO signatures in WASP-12b, indicating the day/night cold trap is an important effect for very hot Jupiters. These findings indicate that aerosols can play a significant atmospheric role for the entire wide range of hot-Jupiter atmospheres, potentially affecting their overall spectrum and energy balance.
223 citations
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European Southern Observatory1, Uppsala University2, Max Planck Society3, INAF4, Université libre de Bruxelles5, Instituto Politécnico Nacional6, Lund University7, University of Concepción8, Millennium Institute9, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile10, Heidelberg University11, University of Porto12, Complutense University of Madrid13, Vilnius University14, Leibniz Institute for Astrophysics Potsdam15, University of Cambridge16, Spanish National Research Council17, University of La Laguna18, Centre national de la recherche scientifique19, Paris Diderot University20, University of Padua21, University of Bologna22, Indiana University23, Massachusetts Institute of Technology24, University of Catania25, University of Liège26, University of Florence27, Australian National University28, University of Hertfordshire29, University of Edinburgh30, Keele University31, University of Alicante32, European Space Research and Technology Centre33, Royal Observatory of Belgium34, Valparaiso University35
TL;DR: In this article, the Gaia-ESO Public Spectroscopic Survey is using FLAMES at the VLT to obtain high-quality medium-resolution Giraffe spectra for about 10(5) stars and high-resolution UVES spectra of about 5000 stars.
Abstract: Context. The ongoing Gaia-ESO Public Spectroscopic Survey is using FLAMES at the VLT to obtain high-quality medium-resolution Giraffe spectra for about 10(5) stars and high-resolution UVES spectra for about 5000 stars. With UVES, the Survey has already observed 1447 FGK-type stars. Aims. These UVES spectra are analyzed in parallel by several state-of-the-art methodologies. Our aim is to present how these analyses were implemented, to discuss their results, and to describe how a final recommended parameter scale is defined. We also discuss the precision (method-to-method dispersion) and accuracy (biases with respect to the reference values) of the final parameters. These results are part of the Gaia-ESO second internal release and will be part of its first public release of advanced data products. Methods. The final parameter scale is tied to the scale defined by the Gaia benchmark stars, a set of stars with fundamental atmospheric parameters. In addition, a set of open and globular clusters is used to evaluate the physical soundness of the results. Each of the implemented methodologies is judged against the benchmark stars to define weights in three different regions of the parameter space. The final recommended results are the weighted medians of those from the individual methods. Results. The recommended results successfully reproduce the atmospheric parameters of the benchmark stars and the expected T-eff-log g relation of the calibrating clusters. Atmospheric parameters and abundances have been determined for 1301 FGK-type stars observed with UVES. The median of the method-to-method dispersion of the atmospheric parameters is 55K for T-eff, 0.13dex for log g and 0.07 dex for [Fe/H]. Systematic biases are estimated to be between 50-100 K for T-eff, 0.10-0.25 dex for log g and 0.05-0.10 dex for [Fe/H]. Abundances for 24 elements were derived: C, N, O, Na, Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Y, Zr, Mo, Ba, Nd, and Eu. The typical method-to-method dispersion of the abundances varies between 0.10 and 0.20 dex. Conclusions. The Gaia-ESO sample of high-resolution spectra of FGK-type stars will be among the largest of its kind analyzed in a homogeneous way. The extensive list of elemental abundances derived in these stars will enable significant advances in the areas of stellar evolution and Milky Way formation and evolution.
222 citations
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University of Exeter1, University of Arizona2, University of California, Santa Cruz3, Princeton University4, University of Maryland, College Park5, University of Oxford6, University of Colorado Boulder7, European Southern Observatory8, Tennessee State University9, California Institute of Technology10, Centre national de la recherche scientifique11
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors presented the Hubble Space Telescope optical and near-IR transmission spectra of the transiting hot-Jupiter WASP-31b, which they combined with Spitzer photometry to cover the full-optical to IR.
Abstract: We present Hubble Space Telescope optical and near-IR transmission spectra of the transiting hot-Jupiter WASP-31b. The spectrum covers 0.3–1.7 μm at a resolution R ∼ 70, which we combine with Spitzer photometry to cover the full-optical to IR. The spectrum is dominated by a cloud deck with a flat transmission spectrum which is apparent at wavelengths > 0.52 μm. The cloud deck is present at high altitudes and low pressures, as it covers the majority of the expected optical Na line and near-IR H2O features. While Na i absorption is not clearly identified, the resulting spectrum does show a very strong potassium feature detected at the 4.2σ confidence level. Broadened alkali wings are not detected, indicating pressures below ∼10 mbar. The lack of Na and strong K is the first indication of a sub-solar Na/K abundance ratio in a planetary atmosphere (ln[Na/K] = −3.3 ± 2.8), which could potentially be explained by Na condensation on the planet's night side, or primordial abundance variations. A strong Rayleigh scattering signature is detected at short wavelengths, with a 4σ significant slope. Two distinct aerosol size populations can explain the spectra, with a smaller sub-micron size grain population reaching high altitudes producing a blue Rayleigh scattering signature on top of a larger, lower lying population responsible for the flat cloud deck at longer wavelengths. We estimate that the atmospheric circulation is sufficiently strong to mix micron size particles upwards to the required 1–10 mbar pressures, necessary to explain the cloud deck. These results further confirm the importance of clouds in hot Jupiters, which can potentially dominate the overall spectra and may alter the abundances of key gaseous species.
222 citations
Authors
Showing all 3617 results
Name | H-index | Papers | Citations |
---|---|---|---|
Robert C. Nichol | 187 | 851 | 162994 |
Richard S. Ellis | 169 | 882 | 136011 |
Rob Ivison | 166 | 1161 | 102314 |
Alvio Renzini | 162 | 908 | 95452 |
Timothy C. Beers | 156 | 934 | 102581 |
Krzysztof M. Gorski | 132 | 380 | 105912 |
Emanuele Daddi | 129 | 581 | 63187 |
P. R. Christensen | 127 | 313 | 88445 |
Mark Dickinson | 124 | 389 | 66770 |
Christopher W. Stubbs | 122 | 622 | 109429 |
Eva K. Grebel | 118 | 863 | 83915 |
Martin Asplund | 118 | 612 | 52527 |
Jesper Sollerman | 118 | 726 | 53436 |
E. F. van Dishoeck | 115 | 742 | 49190 |
Jørgen Christensen-Dalsgaard | 114 | 585 | 48272 |