Showing papers in "Astronomy and Astrophysics in 2009"

The generalised Lomb-Scargle periodogram. A new formalism for the floating-mean and Keplerian periodograms

Abstract: The Lomb-Scargle periodogram is a common tool in the frequency analysis of unequally spaced data equivalent to least-squares fitting of sine waves. We give an analytic solution for the generalisation to a full sine wave fit, including an offset and weights (χ 2 fitting). Compared to the Lomb-Scargle periodogram, the generalisation is superior as it provides more accurate frequencies, is less susceptible to aliasing, and gives a much better determination of the spectral intensity. Only a few modifications are required for the computation and the computational effort is similar. Our approach brings together several related methods that can be found in the literature, viz. the date-compensated discrete Fourier transform, the floating-mean periodogram, and the “spectral significance” estimator used in the SigSpec program, for which we point out some equivalences. Furthermore, we present an algorithm that implements this generalisation for the evaluation of the Keplerian periodogram that searches for the period of the best-fitting Keplerian orbit to radial velocity data. The systematic and non-random algorithm is capable of detecting eccentric orbits, which is demonstrated by two examples and can be a useful tool in searches for the orbital periods of exoplanets.

APERTURE SYNTHESIS WITH A NON-REGULAR DISTRIBUTION OF INTERFEROMETER BASELINES. Commentary

Abstract: In high-resolution radio interferometry it is often impossible for practical reasons to arrange for the measured baselines to be regularly distributed. The standard Fourier inversion methods may then produce maps which are seriously confused by the effects of the prominent and extended sidelobe patterns of the corresponding synthesized beam. Some methods which have been proposed for avoiding these difficulties are discussed. In particular, the procedure CLEAN is described in some detail. This has been successfully applied to measurements taken with several different radio telescopes and appears to be the best method available at the time of writing.

Na-O Anticorrelation and HB. VII. The chemical composition of first and second-generation stars in 15 globular clusters from GIRAFFE spectra

Abstract: We present abundances of Fe, Na, and O for 1409 red giant stars in 15 galactic globular clusters (GCs), derived from the homogeneous analysis of high-resolution FLAMES/GIRAFFE spectra. Combining the present data with results from our FLAMES/UVES spectra and from previous studies within the project, we obtained a total sample of 1958 stars in 19 clusters, the largest and most homogeneous database of this kind to date. The programme clusters cover a range in metallicity from [Fe/H] = −2. 4d ex to [Fe/H] = −0.4 dex, with a wide variety of global parameters (morphology of the horizontal branch, mass, concentration, etc.). For all clusters we find the Na-O anticorrelation, the classical signature of the operation of proton-capture reactions in H-burning at high temperature in a previous generation of more massive stars that are now extinct. Using quantitative criteria (from the morphology and extension of the Na-O anticorrelation), we can define three different components of the stellar population in GCs. We separate a primordial component (P) of first-generation stars, and two components of second-generation stars, that we name intermediate (I) and extreme (E) populations from their different chemical composition. The P component is present in all clusters, and its fraction is almost constant at about one third. The I component represents the bulk of the cluster population. On the other hand, E component is not present in all clusters, and it is more conspicuous in some (but not in all) of the most massive clusters. We discuss the fractions and spatial distributions of these components in our sample and in two additional clusters (M 3 = NGC 5272 and M 13 = NGC6205) with large sets of stars analysed in the literature. We also find that the slope of the anti-correlation (defined by the minimum O and maximum Na abundances) changes from cluster-to-cluster, a change that is represented well by a bilinear relation on cluster metallicity and luminosity. This second dependence suggests a correlation between average mass of polluters and cluster mass.

Analysis of galaxy spectral energy distributions from far-UV to far-IR with CIGALE: studying a SINGS test sample

Abstract: Aims. Photometric data of galaxies covering the rest-frame wavelength range from far-UV to far-IR make it possible to derive galaxy properties with a high reliability by fitting the attenuated stellar emission and the related dust emission at the same time.Methods. For this purpose we wrote the code CIGALE (Code Investigating GALaxy Emission) that uses model spectra composed of the Maraston (or PEGASE) stellar population models, synthetic attenuation functions based on a modified Calzetti law, spectral line templates, the Dale & Helou dust emission models, and optional spectral templates of obscured AGN. Depending on the input redshifts, filter fluxes were computed for the model set and compared to the galaxy photometry by carrying out a Bayesian-like analysis. CIGALE was tested by analysing 39 nearby galaxies selected from SINGS. The reliability of the different model parameters was evaluated by studying the resulting expectation values and their standard deviations in relation to the input model grid. Moreover, the influence of the filter set and the quality of photometric data on the code results was estimated.Results. For up to 17 filters with effective wavelengths between 0.15 and 160 μ m, we find robust results for the mass, star formation rate, effective age of the stellar population at 4000 A, bolometric luminosity, luminosity absorbed by dust, and attenuation in the far-UV. Details of the star formation history (excepting the burst fraction) and the shape of the attenuation curve are difficult to investigate with the available broad-band UV and optical photometric data. A study of the mutual relations between the reliable properties confirms the dependence of star formation activity on morphology in the local Universe and indicates a significant drop in this activity at about 1011 towards higher total stellar masses. The dustiest galaxies in the SINGS sample are present in the same mass range. On the other hand, the far-UV attenuation of our sample galaxies does not appear to show a significant dependence on star formation activity.Conclusions. The results for our SINGS test sample demonstrate that CIGALE can be a valuable tool for studying basic properties of galaxies in the near and distant Universe if UV-to-IR data are available.

The CoRoT satellite in flight : description and performance

Abstract: Context. CoRoT is a space telescope dedicated to stellar seismology and the search for extrasolar planets. The mission is led by the CNES in association with French laboratories and has a large international participation. The European Space Agency (ESA), Austria, Belgium, and Germany contribute to the payload, and Spain and Brazil contribute to the ground segment. Development of the spacecraft, which is based on a PROTEUS low earth orbit (LEO) recurrent platform, commenced in October 2000, and the satellite was launched on December 27, 2006. Aims. The instrument and platform characteristics prior to launch have been described in ESA publication (SP-1306). In the present paper we explain the behaviour in flight, based on raw and corrected data. Methods. Five runs have been completed since January 2007. The data used here are essentially those acquired during the commissioning phase and from a long run that lasted 146 days. These enable us to give a complete overview of the instrument and platform behaviour for all environmental conditions. The ground based data processing is not described in detail because the most important method has been published elsewhere. Results. We show that the performance specifications are easily satisfied when the environmental conditions are favourable. Most of the perturbations, hence data corrections, are related to LEO perturbations: high energy particles inside the South Atlantic Anomaly (SAA), eclipses and temperature variations, and line of sight fluctuations due to the attitude control system. Straylight due to the reflected light from the earth, which is controlled by the telescope and baffle design, appears to be negligible.

ATLASGAL - The APEX Telescope Large Area Survey of the Galaxy at 870 microns

Abstract: (Abridged) Studying continuum emission from interstellar dust is essential to locate and characterize the highest density regions in the interstellar medium. In particular, the early stages of massive star formation are still mysterious. Our goal is to produce a large scale, systematic database of massive pre- and proto-stellar clumps in the Galaxy, in order to better understand how and under what conditions star formation takes place. A well characterized sample of star-forming sites will deliver an evolutionary sequence and a mass function of high-mass star-forming clumps. Such a systematic survey at submm wavelengths also represents a pioneering work in preparation for Herschel and ALMA. The APEX telescope is ideally located to observe the inner Milky Way. The recently commissioned Large APEX Bolometer Camera (LABOCA) is a 295-element bolometer array observing at 870 microns, with a beam of 19". Taking advantage of its large field of view (11.4') and excellent sensitivity, we have started an unbiased survey of the Galactic Plane, with a noise level of 50-70 mJy/beam: the APEX Telescope Large Area Survey of the Galaxy (ATLASGAL). As a first step, we have covered 95 sq. deg. These data reveal 6000 compact sources brighter than 0.25 Jy, as well as extended structures, many of them filamentary. About two thirds of the compact sources have no bright infrared counterpart, and some of them are likely to correspond to the precursors of (high-mass) proto-stars or proto-clusters. Other compact sources harbor hot cores, compact HII regions or young embedded clusters. Assuming a typical distance of 5 kpc, most sources are clumps smaller than 1 pc with masses from a few 10 to a few 100 M_sun. In this introductory paper, we show preliminary results from these ongoing observations, and discuss the perspectives of the survey.

Intrinsic iron spread and a new metallicity scale for globular clusters

Abstract: We have collected spectra of about 2000 red giant branch (RGB) stars in 19 Galactic globular clusters (GC) using FLAMES@VLT (about 100 stars with GIRAFFE and about 10 with UVES, respectively, in each GC). These observations provide an unprecedented, precise, and homogeneous data-set of Fe abundances in GCs. We use it to study the cosmic scatter of iron and find that, as far as Fe is concerned, most GCs can still be considered mono-metallic, since the upper limit to the scatter of iron is less than 0.05 dex, meaning that the degree of homogeneity is better than 12%. The scatter in Fe we find seems to have a dependence on luminosity, possibly due to the well-known inadequacies of stellar atmospheres for upper-RGB stars and/or to intrinsic variability. It also seems to be correlated with cluster properties, like the mass, indicating a larger scatter in more massive GCs which is likely a (small) true intrinsic scatter. The 19 GCs, covering the metallicity range of the bulk of Galactic GCs, define an accurate and updated metallicity scale. We provide transformation equations for a few existing scales. We also provide new values of [Fe/H], on our scale, for all GCs in the Harris catalogue.

Transiting exoplanets from the CoRoT space mission VIII. CoRoT-7b: the first Super-Earth with measured radius

Abstract: Aims. We report the discovery of very shallow (ΔF/F ≈ 3.4× 10 −4 ), periodic dips in the light curve of an active V = 11.7 G9V star observed by the CoRoT satellite, which we interpret as caused by a transiting companion. We describe the 3-colour CoRoT data and complementary ground-based observations that support the planetary nature of the companion. Methods. We used CoRoT colours information, good angular resolution ground-based photometric observations in- and out- of transit, adaptive optics imaging, near-infrared spectroscopy, and preliminary results from radial velocity measurements, to test the diluted eclipsing binary scenarios. The parameters of the host star were derived from optical spectra, which were then combined with the CoRoT light curve to derive parameters of the companion. Results. We examined all conceivable cases of false positives carefully, and all the tests support the planetary hypothesis. Blends with separation >0.40 �� or triple systems are almost excluded with a 8 × 10 −4 risk left. We conclude that, inasmuch we have been exhaustive, we have discovered a planetary companion, named CoRoT-7b, for which we derive a period of 0.853 59 ± 3 × 10 −5 day and a radius of Rp = 1.68 ± 0.09 REarth .A nalysis of preliminary radial velocity data yields an upper limit of 21 MEarth for the companion mass, supporting the finding. Conclusions. CoRoT-7b is very likely the first Super-Earth with a measured radius. This object illustrates what will probably become a common situation with missions such as Kepler, namely the need to establish the planetary origin of transits in the absence of a firm radial velocity detection and mass measurement. The composition of CoRoT-7b remains loosely constrained without a precise mass. A very high surface temperature on its irradiated face, ≈1800–2600 K at the substellar point, and a very low one, ≈50 K, on its dark face assuming no atmosphere, have been derived.

Galaxy cluster X-ray luminosity scaling relations from a representative local sample (REXCESS)

Abstract: We examine the X-ray luminosity scaling relations of 31 nearby galaxy clusters from the Representative XMM-Newton Cluster Structure Survey (REXCESS). The objects are selected only in X-ray luminosity, optimally sampling the cluster luminosity function. Temperatures range from 2 to 9 keV, and there is no bias toward any particular morphological type. To reduce measurement scatter we extract pertinent values in an aperture corresponding to R500, estimated using the tight correlation between YX (the product of gas mass and temperature) and total mass. The data exhibit power law relations between bolometric X-ray luminosity and temperature, YX and total mass, all with slopes that are significantly steeper than self-similar expectations. We examine the possible causes for the steepening, finding that structural variations have little effect and that the primary driver appears to be a systematic variation of the gas content with mass. Scatter about the relations is dominated in all cases by the presence of cool cores. The natural logarithmic scatter about the raw X-ray luminosity-temperature relation is about 70 per cent, and about the X-ray luminosity-YX relation it is 40 per cent. Systems with more morphological substructure show similar scatter about scaling relations than clusters with less substructure, due to the preponderance of cool core systems in the regular cluster subsample. Cool core and morphologically disturbed systems occupy distinct regions in the residual space with respect to the best fitting mean relation, the former lying systematically at the high luminosity side, the latter lying systematically at the low luminosity side. Simple exclusion of the central regions serves to reduce the scatter about the scaling relations by more than a factor of two. The scatter reduces by a similar amount with the use of the central gas density as a third parameter. Using YX as a total mass proxy, we derive a Malmquist bias-corrected local luminosity-mass relation and compare with other recent determinations. Our results indicate that luminosity can be a reliable mass proxy with controllable scatter, which has important implications for upcoming all-sky cluster surveys, such as those to be undertaken with Planck and eROSITA ,a nd ultimately for the use of the cluster population for cosmological purposes.

Na-O anticorrelation and HB - VIII. Proton-capture elements and metallicities in 17 globular clusters from UVES spectra

Abstract: We present homogeneous abundance determinations for iron and some of the elements involved in the proton-capture reactions (O, Na, Mg, Al, and Si) for 202 red giants in 17 Galactic globular clusters (GCs) from the analysis of high-resolution UVES spectra obtained with the FLAMES facility at the ESO VLT2 telescope. Our programme clusters span almost the whole range of the metallicity distribution of GCs and were selected to sample the widest range of global parameters (horizontal-branch morphology, masses, concentration, etc.). In this paper we focus on the discussion of the Na-O and Mg-Al anticorrelations and related issues. Our study finds clear Na and O star-to-star abundance variations, exceeding those expected from the error in the analysis, in all clusters. Variations in Al are present in all but a few GCs. Finally, a spread in abundances of Mg and Si are also present in a few clusters. Mg is slightly less overabundant and Si slightly more overabundant in the most Al-rich stars. The correlation between Si and Al abundances is a signature of production of 28 Si leaking from the Mg-Al cycle in a few clusters. The cross sections required for the proper reactions to take over in the cycle point to temperatures in excess of about 65 million K for the favoured site of production. We used a dilution model to infer the total range of Al abundances starting from the Na and Al abundances in the FLAMES-UVES spectra, and the Na abundance distributions found from analysis of the much larger set of stars for which FLAMES-GIRAFFE spectra were available. We found that the maximum amount of additional Al produced by first-generation polluters contributing to the composition of the second-generation stars in each cluster is closely correlated with the same combination of metallicity and cluster luminosity that reproduced the minimum O-abundances found from GIRAFFE spectra. We then suggest that the high temperatures required for the Mg-Al cycle are only reached in the most massive and most metal-poor polluters.

A probable giant planet imaged in the β Pictoris disk. VLT/NaCo deep L'-band imaging

Abstract: Context. Since the discovery of its dusty disk in 1984, β Pictoris has become the prototype of young early-type planetary systems, and there are now various indications that a massive Jovian planet is orbiting the star at ∼10 AU. However, no planets have been detected around this star so far. Aims. Our goal was to investigate the close environment of β Pic, searching for planetary companion(s). Methods. Deep adaptive-optics L � -band images of β Pic were recorded using the NaCo instrument at the Very Large Telescope. Results. A faint point-like signal is detected at a projected distance of � 8 AU from the star, within the northeastern extension of the dust disk. Various tests were made to rule out possible instrumental or atmospheric artefacts at a good confidence level. The probability of a foreground or background contaminant is extremely low, based in addition on the analysis of previous deep HST images. Its L � = 11.2 apparent magnitude would indicate a typical temperature of ∼1500 K and a mass of ∼8 MJup. If confirmed, it could explain the main morphological and dynamical peculiarities of the β Pic system. The present detection is unique among A-stars by the proximity of the resolved planet to its parent star. Its closeness and location inside the β Pic disk suggest a formation process by core accretion or disk instabilities rather than binary-like formation processes.

The XMM-Newton serendipitous survey. V. The Second XMM-Newton serendipitous source catalogue

Abstract: Aims. Pointed observations with XMM-Newton provide the basis for creating catalogues of X-ray sources detected serendipitously in each field. This paper describes the creation and characteristics of the 2XMM catalogue. Methods. The 2XMM catalogue has been compiled from a new processing of the XMM-Newton EPIC camera data. The main features of the processing pipeline are described in detail. Results. The catalogue, the largest ever made at X-ray wavelengths, contains 246 897 detections drawn from 3491 public XMM-Newton observations over a 7-year interval, which relate to 191 870 unique sources. The catalogue fields cover a sky area of more than 500 deg(2). The non-overlapping sky area is similar to 360 deg(2) (similar to 1% of the sky) as many regions of the sky are observed more than once by XMM-Newton. The catalogue probes a large sky area at the flux limit where the bulk of the objects that contribute to the X-ray background lie and provides a major resource for generating large, well-defined X-ray selected source samples, studying the X-ray source population and identifying rare object types. The main characteristics of the catalogue are presented, including its photometric and astrometric properties

The photodissociation and chemistry of CO isotopologues: applications to interstellar clouds and circumstellar disks

Abstract: Aims. Photodissociation by UV light is an important destruction mechanism for carbon monoxide (CO) in many astrophysical environments, ranging from interstellar clouds to protoplanetary disks. The aim of this work is to gain a better understanding of the depth dependence and isotope-selective nature of this process.Methods. We present a photodissociation model based on recent spectroscopic data from the literature, which allows us to compute depth-dependent and isotope-selective photodissociation rates at higher accuracy than in previous work. The model includes self-shielding, mutual shielding and shielding by atomic and molecular hydrogen, and it is the first such model to include the rare isotopologues C17 O and 13 C17 O. We couple it to a simple chemical network to analyse CO abundances in diffuse and translucent clouds, photon-dominated regions, and circumstellar disks.Results. The photodissociation rate in the unattenuated interstellar radiation field is 2.6 10-10 s-1 , 30% higher than currently adopted values. Increasing the excitation temperature or the Doppler width can reduce the photodissociation rates and the isotopic selectivity by as much as a factor of three for temperatures above 100 K. The model reproduces column densities observed towards diffuse clouds and PDRs, and it offers an explanation for both the enhanced and the reduced N (12 CO)/N (13 CO) ratios seen in diffuse clouds. The photodissociation of C17 O and 13 C17 O shows almost exactly the same depth dependence as that of C18 O and 13 C18 O, respectively, so 17 O and 18 O are equally fractionated with respect to 16 O. This supports the recent hypothesis that CO photodissociation in the solar nebula is responsible for the anomalous 17 O and 18 O abundances in meteorites. Grain growth in circumstellar disks can enhance the N (12 CO)/N (C17 O) and N (12 CO)/N (C18 O) ratios by a factor of ten relative to the initial isotopic abundances.

The Geneva-Copenhagen survey of the solar neighbourhood III. Improved distances, ages, and kinematics

Abstract: Context. Ages, chemical compositions, velocity vectors, and Galactic orbits for stars in the solar neighbourhood are fundamental test data for models of Galactic evolution. The Geneva-Copenhagen Survey of the Solar Neighbourhood (Nordstrom et al. 2004; GCS), a magnitude-complete, kinematically unbiased sample of 16 682 nearby F and G dwarfs, is the largest available sample with complete data for stars with ages spanning that of the disk. Aims. We aim to improve the accuracy of the GCS data by implementing the recent revision of the Hipparcos parallaxes. Methods. The new parallaxes yield improved astrometric distances for 12 506 stars in the GCS. We also use the parallaxes to verify the distance calibration for uvbyβ photometry by Holmberg et al. (2007, AA GCS II). We add new selection criteria to exclude evolved cool stars giving unreliable results and derive distances for 3580 stars with large parallax errors or not observed by Hipparcos. We also check the GCS II scales of Teff and [Fe/H] and find no need for change. Results. Introducing the new distances, we recompute MV for 16 086 stars, and U, V, W, and Galactic orbital parameters for the 13 520 stars that also have radial-velocity measurements. We also recompute stellar ages from the Padova stellar evolution models used in GCS I-II, using the new values of MV , and compare them with ages from the Yale-Yonsei and Victoria-Regina models. Finally, we compare the observed age-velocity relation in W with three simulated disk heating scenarios to show the potential of the data. Conclusions. With these revisions, the basic data for the GCS stars should now be as reliable as is possible with existing techniques. Further improvement must await consolidation of the Teff scale from angular diameters and fluxes, and the Gaia trigonometric parallaxes. We discuss the conditions for improving computed stellar ages from new input data, and for distinguishing different disk heating scenarios from data sets of the size and precision of the GCS.

Extrasolar planet population synthesis - I. Method, formation tracks, and mass-distance distribution

Abstract: Context. With the high number of extrasolar planets discovered by now, it has become possible to use the properties of this planetary population to constrain theoretical formation models in a statistical sense. This paper is the first in a series in which we carry out a large number of planet population synthesis calculations within the framework of the core accretion scenario. We begin the series with a paper mainly dedicated to the presentation of our approach, but also the discussion of a representative synthetic planetary population of solar like stars. In the second paper we statistically compare the subset of detectable planets to the actual extrasolar planets. In subsequent papers, we shall extend the range of stellar masses and the properties of protoplanetary disks.Aims. The last decade has seen a large observational progress in characterizing both protoplanetary disks, and extrasolar planets. Concurrently, progress was made in developing complex theoretical formation models. The combination of these three developments allows a new kind of study: the synthesis of a population of planets from a model, which is compared with the actual population. Our aim is to obtain a general overview of the population, to check if we quantitatively reproduce the most important observed properties and correlations, and to make predictions about the planets that are not yet observable.Methods. Based as tightly as possible on observational data, we have derived probability distributions for the most important initial conditions for the planetary formation process. We then draw sets of initial conditions from these distributions and obtain the corresponding synthetic planets with our formation model. By repeating this step many times, we synthesize the populations.Results. Although the main purpose of this paper is the description of our methods, we present some key results: we find that the variation of the initial conditions in the limits occurring in nature leads to the formation of planets of wide diversity. This formation process is best visualized in planetary formation tracks in the mass-semimajor axis diagram, where different phases of concurrent growth and migration can be identified. These phases lead to the emergence of sub-populations of planets distinguishable in a mass-semimajor axis diagram. The most important ones are the “failed cores”, a vast group of core-dominated low mass planets, the “horizontal branch”, a sub-population of Neptune mass planets extending out to 6 AU, and the “main clump”, a concentration of giant gaseous planets at around 0.3-2 AU.

CHIANTI - an atomic database for emission lines. IX. Ionization rates, recombination rates, ionization equilibria for the elements hydrogen through zinc and updated atomic data

Abstract: Aims. The goal of the CHIANTI atomic database is to provide a set of atomic data for the interpretation of astrophysical spectra emitted by collisionally dominated, high temperature, optically thin sources. Methods. A complete set of ground level ionization and recombination rate coefficients has been assembled for all atoms and ions of the elements of H through Zn and inserted into the latest version of the CHIANTI database, CHIANTI 6. Ionization rate coefficients are taken from the recent work of Dere (2007, A&A, 466, 771) and recombination rates from a variety of sources in the literature. These new rate coefficients have allowed the calculation of a new set of ionization equilibria and radiative loss rate coefficients. For some ions, such as Fe viii and Fe ix, there are significant differences from previous calculations. In addition, existing atomic parameters have been revised and new atomic parameters inserted into the database. Results. For each ion in the CHIANTI database, elemental abundances, ionization potentials, atomic energy levels, radiative rates, electron and proton collisional rate coefficients, ionization and recombination rate coefficients, and collisional ionization equilibrium populations are provided. In addition, parameters for the calculation of the continuum due to bremsstrahlung, radiative recombination and two-photon decay are provided. A suite of programs written in the Interactive Data Language (IDL) are available to calculate line and continuum emissivities and other properties. All data and programs are freely available at http://wwwsolar.nrl.navy.mil/ chianti

Probing the ATIC peak in the cosmic-ray electron spectrum with H.E.S.S.

Abstract: The measurement of an excess in the cosmic-ray electron spectrum between 300 and 800 GeV by the ATIC experiment has - together with the PAMELA detection of a rise in the positron fraction up to 100 GeV - motivated many interpretations in terms of dark matter scenarios; alternative explanations assume a nearby electron source like a pulsar or supernova remnant. Here we present a measurement of the cosmic-ray electron spectrum with H.E.S.S. starting at 340 GeV. The H.E.S.S. data with their lower statistical errors show no indication of a structure in the electron spectrum, but rather a power-law spectrum with spectral index of 3.0 +- 0.1 (stat.) +- 0.3 (syst.) which steepens at about 1 TeV.

The HARPS search for southern extra-solar planets - XVII. Super-Earth and Neptune-mass planets in multiple planet systems HD 47 186 and HD 181 433

Abstract: We report on the detection of two new multiple planet systems orbiting solar-like stars HD 47 186 and HD 181 433. The first system contains a hot Neptune of 22.78 M ⊕ with a 4.08-day period and a Saturn of 0.35 M JUP with a 3.7-year period. The second system contains a Super-Earth of 7.5 M ⊕ with a 9.4-day period, a 0.64 M JUP with a 2.6-year period, and a third companion of 0.54 M JUP with a period of about 6 years. These detections increase to 20 the number of close-in low-mass exoplanets (below 0.1 M JUP) and strengthen the fact that 80% of these planets are in multiple planetary systems.

Massive binaries as the source of abundance anomalies in globular clusters

Abstract: Abundance anomalies observed in globular cluster stars indicate pollution with material processed by hydrogen burning. Two main sources have been suggested: asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars and massive stars rotating near the break-up limit (spin stars). We propose massive binaries as an alternative source of processed material. We compute the evolution of a 20 M star in a close binary considering the effects of non conservative mass and angular momentum transfer and of rotation and tidal interaction to demonstrate the principle. We find that this system sheds about 10 M of material, nearly the entire envelope of the primary star. The ejecta are enriched in He, N, Na, and Al and depleted in C and O, similar to the abundance patterns observed in gobular cluster stars. However, Mg is not significantly depleted in the ejecta of this model. In contrast to the fast, radiatively driven winds of massive stars, this material is typically ejected with low velocity. We expect that it remains inside the potential well of a globular cluster and becomes available for the formation or pollution of a second generation of stars. We estimate that the amount of processed low-velocity material ejected by massive binaries is greater than the contribution of AGB stars and spin stars combined, assuming that the majority of massive stars in a proto-globular cluster interact with a companion and return their envelope to the interstellar medium. If we take the possible contribution of intermediate mass stars in binaries into account and assume that the ejecta are diluted with an equal amount of unprocessed material, we find that this scenario can potentially provide enough material to form a second generation of low-mass stars, which is as numerous as the first generation of low-mass stars, without the need to make commonly adopted assumptions, such as preferential loss of the first generation of stars, external pollution of the cluster, or an anomalous initial mass function.

Formation rates of complex organics in UV irradiated CH3OH-rich ices I: Experiments

Abstract: Context. Gas-phase complex organic molecules are commonly detected in the warm inner regions of protostellar envelopes, so-called hot cores. Recent models show that photochemistry in ices followed by desorption may explain the observed abundances. There is, however, a general lack of quantitative data on UV-induced complex chemistry in ices. Aims. This study aims to experimentally quantify the UV-induced production rates of complex organics in CH3OH-rich ices under a variety of astrophysically relevant conditions. Methods. The ices are irradiated with a broad-band UV hydrogen microwave-discharge lamp under ultra-high vacuum conditions, at 20–70 K, and then heated to 200 K. The reaction products are identified by reflection-absorption infrared spectroscopy (RAIRS) and temperature programmed desorption (TPD), through comparison with RAIRS and TPD curves of pure complex species, and through the observed effects of isotopic substitution and enhancement of specific functional groups, such as CH3, in the ice. Results. Complex organics are readily formed in all experiments, both during irradiation and during the slow warm-up of the ices after the UV lamp is turned off. The relative abundances of photoproducts depend on the UV fluence, the ice temperature, and whether pure CH3OH ice or CH3OH:CH4/CO ice mixtures are used. C2H6 ,C H 3CHO, CH3CH2OH, CH3OCH3, HCOOCH3, HOCH2CHO and (CH2OH)2 are all detected in at least one experiment. Varying the ice thickness and the UV flux does not affect the chemistry. The derived product-formation yields and their dependences on different experimental parameters, such as the initial ice composition, are used to estimate the CH3OH photodissociation branching ratios in ice and the relative diffusion barriers of the formed radicals. At 20 K, the pure CH3OH photodesorption yield is 2.1(±1.0) × 10 −3 per incident UV photon, the photo-destruction cross section 2.6(±0.9) × 10 −18 cm 2 . Conclusions. Photochemistry in CH3OH ices is efficient enough to explain the observed abundances of complex organics around protostars. Some complex molecules, such as CH3CH2OH and CH3OCH3, form with a constant ratio in our ices and this can can be used to test whether complex gas-phase molecules in astrophysical settings have an ice-photochemistry origin. Other molecular ratios, e.g. HCO-bearing molecules versus (CH2OH)2, depend on the initial ice composition and temperature and can thus be used to investigate when and where complex ice molecules form.

ULySS: a full spectrum fitting package

Abstract: Aims. We provide an easy-to-use full-spectrum fitting package and explore its applications to (i) the determination of the stellar atmospheric parameters and (ii) the study of the history of stellar populations. Methods. We developed ULySS, a package to fit spectroscopic observations against a linear combination of non-linear model components convolved with a parametric line-of-sight velocity distribution. The minimization can be either local or global, and determines all the parameters in a single fit. We use χ 2 maps, convergence maps and Monte-Carlo simulations to study the degeneracies, local minima and to estimate the errors. Results. We show the importance of determining the shape of the continuum simultaneously to the other parameters by including a multiplicative polynomial in the model (without prior pseudo-continuum determination, or rectification of the spectrum). We also stress the usefulness of using an accurate line-spread function, depending on the wavelength, so that the line-shape of the models properly matches the observation. For simple models, i.e., to measure the atmospheric parameters or the age/metallicity of a singleage stellar population, there is often a unique minimum, or when local minima exist they can be recognized unambiguously. For more complex models, Monte-Carlo simulations are required to assess the validity of the solution. Conclusions. The ULySS package is public, simple to use and flexible. The full spectrum fitting makes optimal use of the signal.

Probing the evolution of molecular cloud structure: From quiescence to birth

Abstract: Context. Probability distribution of densities is a fundamental measure of molecular cloud structure, containing information on how the material arranges itself in molecular clouds. Aims. We derive the probability density functions (PDFs) of column density for a complete sample of prominent molecular cloud complexes closer than d < 200 pc. For comparison, additional complexes at d ≈ 250−700 pc are included in the study. Methods. We derive near-infrared dust extinction maps for 23 molecular cloud complexes, using the nicest colour excess mapping technique and data from the 2MASS archive. The extinction maps are then used to examine the column density PDFs in the clouds. Results. The column density PDFs of most molecular clouds are well-fitted by log-normal functions at low column densities (0. 5m ag< AV < 3− 5m ag, or−0.5 < lnAV /AV < 1). But at higher column densities prominent power-law-like wings are common. In particular, we identify a trend among the PDFs: active star-forming clouds always have prominent non-log-normal wings. In contrast, clouds without active star formation resemble log-normals over the whole observed column density range or show only low excess of higher column densities. This trend is also reflected in the cumulative forms of the PDFs, showing that the fraction of high column density material is significantly larger in star-forming clouds. These observations agree with an evolutionary trend where turbulent motions are the main cloud-shaping mechanism for quiescent clouds, but the density enhancements induced by them quickly become dominated by gravity (and other mechanisms), which is in turn strongly reflected by the shape of the column density PDFs. The dominant role of the turbulence is restricted to the very early stages of molecular cloud evolution, comparable to the onset of active star formation in the clouds.

The Hipparcos catalogue

Abstract: The principal observational characteristics of the Hipparcos Catalogue, and a summary of its main astrometric and photometric properties, are presented. Median astrometric standard errors (in position, parallax, and annual proper motion) are in the range 0.7-0.9 milliarcsec (mas) for stars brighter than 9 mag at the catalogue epoch (J1991.25). The catalogue is a materialisation of the ICRS reference system, coinciding with its principal axes at the level of ±0.6 mas, and with proper motions consistent with an inertial system at the level of ±0.25 mas/yr. The 118 218 constituent stars provide a mean sky density of ∼ 3 stars deg ―2 . The catalogue is available in printed and machine-readable forms.

Roma-BZCAT: A multifrequency catalogue of Blazars

Abstract: We present a new catalogue of blazars based on multi-frequency surveys and on an extensive review of the literature. Blazars are classified as BL Lacertae objects, as flat spectrum radio quas ars or as blazars of uncertain/transitional type. Each object is identified by a root name, coded as BZB, BZQ and BZU for these three subclasses respectively, and by its coordinates. This catalogue i s being built as a tool useful for the identification of the extragala ctic sources that will be detected by present and future experiments for X and gamma-ray astronomy, like Swift, AGILE, Fermi-GLAST and Simbol-X. An electronic version is available from the ASI Science Data Center web site at http://www.asdc.asi.it/bzcat.

Resolving the mid-infrared cores of local Seyferts

Abstract: We present new photometry of 16 local Seyferts including 6 Compton-thick sources in N -band filters around 12- μ m, obtained with the VISIR instrument on the 8-m Very Large Telescope. The near-diffraction-limited imaging provides the least-contaminated core fluxes for these sources to date. Augmenting these with our previous observations and with published intrinsic X-ray fluxes, we form a total sample of 42 sources for which we find a strong mid-infrared:X-ray (12.3 μ m:2–10 keV) luminosity correlation. Performing a physically-motivated subselection of sources in which the Seyfert torus is likely to be best-resolved results in the correlation L MIR $\propto$ L X $^{1.11\pm 0.07}$, with a reduction of the scatter in luminosities as compared to the full sample. Consideration of systematics suggests a range of 1.02–1.21 for the correlation slope. The mean 2-keV:12.3- μ m spectral index ($\alpha_{\rm IX}$) is found to be -1.10$\;\pm\;$0.01, largely independent of luminosity. Indirectly-computed 12- μ m bolometric corrections range over ≈ 10–30 if a known luminosity trend of X-ray bolometric corrections is assumed. Comparison with ISO data spanning a wider luminosity range suggests that our correlation can be extended into the quasar regime. That unobscured, obscured, and Compton-thick sources all closely follow the same luminosity correlation has important implications for the structures of Seyfert cores. The typical resolution-limit of our imaging corresponds to ~70 pc at a median $z=0.01$, and we use the tightness of the correlation to place constraints on the dominance of any residual emission sources within these physical scales. An upper-limit for any contaminating star formation of ≈ 40% of the unresolved flux is inferred, on average. We suggest that uncontaminated mid-IR continuum imaging of AGN is an accurate proxy for their intrinsic power.

Doppler factors, Lorentz factors and viewing angles for quasars, BL Lacertae objects and radio galaxies

Abstract: Aims. We have calculated variability Doppler boosting factors, Lorentz factors, and viewing angles for a large sample of sources by using total flux density observations at 22 and 37 GHz and VLBI data. Methods. We decomposed the flux curves into exponential flares and determined the variability brightness temperatures of the fastest flares. By assuming the same intrinsic brightness temperature for each source, we calculated the Doppler boosting factors for 87 sources. In addition we used new apparent jet speed data to calculate the Lorentz factors and viewing angles for 67 sources. Results. We find that all quasars in our sample are Doppler-boosted and that the Doppler boosting factors of BL Lacertae objects are lower than of quasars. The new Lorentz factors are about twice as high as in earlier studies, which is mainly due to higher apparent speeds in our analyses. The jets of BL Lacertae objects are slower than of quasars. There are some extreme sources with very high derived Lorentz factors of the order of a hundred. These high Lorentz factors could be real. It is also possible that the sources exhibit such rapid flares that the fast variations have remained undetected in monitoring programmes, or else the sources have a complicated jet structure that is not amenable to our simple analysis. Almost all the sources are seen in a small viewing angle of less than 20 degrees. Our results follow the predictions of basic unification schemes for AGN.

The CoRoT-7 planetary system: two orbiting super-Earths

Abstract: We report on an intensive observational campaign carried out with HARPS at the 3.6 m telescope at La Silla on the star CoRoT-7. Additional simultaneous photometric measurements carried out with the Euler Swiss telescope have demonstrated that the observed radial velocity variations are dominated by rotational modulation from cool spots on the stellar surface. Several approaches were used to extract the radial velocity signal of the planet(s) from the stellar activity signal. First, a simple pre-whitening procedure was employed to find and subsequently remove periodic signals from the complex frequency structure of the radial velocity data. The dominant frequency in the power spectrum was found at 23 days, which corresponds to the rotation period of CoRoT-7. The 0.8535 day period of CoRoT-7b planetary candidate was detected with an amplitude of 3.3 m s −1 . Most other frequencies, some with amplitudes larger than the CoRoT-7b signal, are most likely associated with activity. A second approach used harmonic decomposition of the rotational period and up to the first three harmonics to filter out the activity signal from radial velocity variations caused by orbiting planets. After correcting the radial velocity data for activity, two periodic signals are detected: the CoRoT-7b transit period and a second one with a period of 3.69 days and an amplitude of 4 m s −1 . This second signal was also found in the pre-whitening analysis. We attribute the second signal to a second, more remote planet CoRoT-7c . The orbital solution of both planets is compatible with circular orbits. The mass of CoRoT-7b is 4.8 ± 0. 8( M⊕) and that of CoRoT-7c is 8.4 ± 0. 9( M⊕), assuming both planets are on coplanar orbits. We also investigated the false positive scenario of a blend by a faint stellar binary, and this may be rejected by the stability of the bisector on a nightly scale. According to their masses both planets belong to the super-Earth planet category. The average density of CoRoT-7b is ρ = 5.6 ± 1. 3gc m −3 , similar to the Earth. The CoRoT-7 planetary system provides us with the first insight into the physical nature of short period super-Earth planets recently detected by radial velocity surveys. These planets may be denser than Neptune and therefore likely made of rocks like the Earth, or a mix of water ice and rocks.

A new implementation of the infrared flux method using the 2MASS catalogue

Abstract: Context. The effective temperature scale of FGK stars, especially at the lowest metallicities remains a major problem in the chemical abundance analysis of metal-poor stars.Aims. We present a new implementation of the infrared flux method (IRFM) using the 2MASS catalogue.Methods. We computed the theoretical quantities in the 2MASS JHK s filters by integrating theoretical fluxes computed from ATLAS models, and compare them directly with the observed 2MASS JHK s magnitudes. This is the main difference between our implementation of the IRFM and that of Ramirez & Melendez (2005, ApJ, 626, 446, hereafter RM05), since to introduce new stars at the lowest metallicities they transform the 2MASS JHK s magnitudes into the TCS photometric system. We merge in our sample the stars from Alonso et al. (1996, AA 1999, A&AS, 139, 335, hereafter AAM99), and other studies to appropriately cover a wide range of metallicities, ending up with 555 dwarf and subgiant field stars and 264 giant field stars. We derived a new bolometric flux calibration using the available Johnson-Cousins and the 2MASS JHK s photometry. We also computed new versus colour empirical calibrations using our extended sample of stars.Results. We derived effectives temperatures for almost all the stars in the AAM96 and AAM99 samples and find that our scales of temperature are hotter by K ( K, dwarfs) and K with a K ( giants). The same comparison with the sample of RM05 for stars with [Fe/H] provides a difference of –87 K ( K, dwarf stars) and K ( K, giant stars). Conclusions. Our temperature scale is slightly hotter than that of AAM96 and RM05 for metal-rich dwarf stars but cooler than that of RM05 for metal-poor dwarfs. We have performed an fully self-consistent IRFM in the 2MASS photometric system. For those who wish to use 2MASS photometry and colour-temperature calibrations to derive effective temperatures, especially for metal-poor stars, we recommend our calibrations over others available in the literature. In our implementation we avoid the transformation of the 2MASS magnitudes to a different photometric system and thus fully exploit the excellent internal consistency of the 2MASS photometric system.

The HARPS search for southern extra-solar planets: XVIII. An Earth-mass planet in the GJ 581 planetary system

Abstract: The GJ 581 planetary system was already known to harbour three planets, including two presumably rocky planets which straddle its habitable zone. We report here the detection of an additional planet ‐ GJ 581e ‐ with a minimum mass of 1.9 M" . With a period of 3.15 days, it is the innermost planet of the system and has a # 5% transit probability. We also correct our previous confusion of the orbital period of GJ 581d (the outermost planet) with a one-year alias, thanks to an extended time span and many more measurements. The revised period is 66.8 days, and locates the semi-major axis inside the habitable zone of the low mass star. The dynamical stability of the 4-planet system imposes an upper bound on the orbital plane inclination. The planets cannot be more massive than approximately 1.6 times their minimum mass.

Hydrogenation reactions in interstellar CO ice analogues A combined experimental/theoretical approach

Abstract: Context. Hydrogenation reactions of CO in inter- and circumstellar ices are regarded as an important starting point in the formation of more complex species. Previous laboratory measurements by two groups of the hydrogenation of CO ices provided controversial results about the formation rate of methanol. Aims. Our aim is to resolve this controversy by an independent investigation of the reaction scheme for a range of H-atom fluxes and different ice temperatures and thicknesses. To fully understand the laboratory data, the results are interpreted theoretically by means of continuous-time, random-walk Monte Carlo simulations. Methods. Reaction rates are determined by using a state-of-the-art ultra high vacuum experimental setup to bombard an interstellar CO ice analog with H atoms at room temperature. The reaction of CO + Hi nto H 2CO and subsequently CH3OH is monitored by a Fourier transform infrared spectrometer in a reflection absorption mode. In addition, after each completed measurement, a temperature programmed desorption experiment is performed to identify the produced species according to their mass spectra and to determine their abundance. Different H-atom fluxes, morphologies, and ice thicknesses are tested. The experimental results are interpreted using Monte Carlo simulations. This technique takes into account the layered structure of CO ice. Results. The formation of both formaldehyde and methanol via CO hydrogenation is confirmed at low temperature (T = 12−20 K). We confirm that the discrepancy between the two Japanese studies is caused mainly by a difference in the applied hydrogen atom flux, as proposed by Hidaka and coworkers. The production rate of formaldehyde is found to decrease and the penetration column to increase with temperature. Temperature-dependent reaction barriers and diffusion rates are inferred using a Monte Carlo physical chemical model. The model is extended to interstellar conditions to compare with observational H2CO/CH3OH data.