scholarly journals The Luminosity Determination

1995 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 399-402
Author(s):  
A.E. Gómez ◽  
C. Turon

The Hertzprung-Russel (HR) diagram luminosity calibration relies basically on three kinds of data: trigonometric parallaxes, kinematical data (proper motions and radial velocities) and cluster distances obtained by the zero-age main sequence fitting procedure. The most fundamental method to calculate the absolute magnitude is the use of trigonometric parallaxes, but up to now, accurate data only exist for stars contained in a small volume around the sun. Individual absolute magnitudes are obtained using trigonometric parallaxes or photometric and spectroscopic calibrations. In these calibrations the accuracy on the absolute magnitude determination ranges from ±0.m2 in the main sequence to ±0m5 in the giant branch. On the other hand, trigonometric parallaxes, kinematical data or cluster distances have been used to make statistical calibrations of the absolute magnitude. The standard error on the mean absolute magnitude calibrations ranges from ±0m3 to ±0m6 on the mean sequence, from ±0m5 to ±0m7 on thegiant branch and is of about 1mfor supergiants.Future improvements in the absolute magnitude determination will depend on the improvement of the basic data from the ground and space. A brief overview of the new available data is presented. In particular, the analysis of the first 30 months data of the Hipparcos mission (H30) (from the 37 months data of the whole mission) allows to perform a statistical evaluation of the improvements expected in the luminosity determination.

2003 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 270-278 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Karaali ◽  
Y. Karataş ◽  
S. Bilir ◽  
S. G. Ak ◽  
E. Hamzaoğlu

AbstractWe present a new procedure for photometric parallax estimation. The data for 1236 stars provide calibrations between the absolute magnitude offset from the Hyades main-sequence and the ultraviolet-excess for eight different (B–V)0 colour-index intervals, (0.3 0.4), (0.4 0.5), (0.5 0.6), (0.6 0.7), (0.7 0.8), (0.8 0.9), (0.9 1.0) and (1.0 1.1). The mean difference between the original and estimated absolute magnitudes and the corresponding standard deviation are rather small, +0.0002 and ±0.0613 mag. The procedure has been adapted to the Sloan photometry by means of colour equations and applied to a set of artificial stars with different metallicities. The comparison of the absolute magnitudes estimated by the new procedure and the canonical one indicates that a single colour–magnitude diagram does not supply reliable absolute magnitudes for stars with large range of metallicity.


1998 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 566-566
Author(s):  
C. Jaschek ◽  
A.E. Gómez

We have analysed the standards of the MK system in the B0-F5 spectral region with the help of Hipparcos parallaxes, using only stars for which the error on the absolute magnitude is ≤ 0.3 mag. The sample stars (about one hundred) were scrutinized for companions and for interstellar extinction. We find that the main sequence is a wide band and that, although in general giants and dwarfs have different absolute magnitudes, the separation between luminosity class V and III is not clear. We conclude that there is no strict relation between luminosity class and absolute magnitude. The relation is only a statistical one and has a large intrinsic dispersion. We have analysed similarly the system of standards defined by Garrison and Gray (1994) separating low and high rotational velocity standards. We find similar effects as in the original MK system.


1979 ◽  
Vol 53 ◽  
pp. 494-494
Author(s):  
Karl W. Kamper

An Allegheny parallax series of SS Cyg, consisting of 52 exposures obtained on 15 nights, was recently measured on the PDS microphotometer at the David Dunlap Observatory, and a value of (m.e.) derived for the absolute parallax. This is close to the mean of the two previous discordant measures for this star given in the table below. The weighted mean of the three determinations implies that the absolute magnitude, at quiescent phase, of the star is between 7.0 and 9.0 formally at a 90% confidence level. Recent parallax determinations made at Lick by Vasilevskls et al. (1975) for three other stars, listed below along with the Mt. Wilson value for U Gem, imply even fainter absolute magnitudes.


1989 ◽  
Vol 111 ◽  
pp. 121-140
Author(s):  
Allan Sandage

AbstractIt is shown that the intrinsic spread in the absolute magnitudes of the RR Lyrae variables in a given globular cluster can reach 0.5 magnitudes at a given period or at a given color, due to luminosity evolution away from the zero age horizontal (ZAHB). The size of this intrinsic luminosity spread is largest in clusters of the highest metallicity.The absolute magnitude of the ZAHB itself also differs from cluster to cluster as a function of metallicity, being brightest in clusters of the lowest metallicity. Three independent methods of calibrating the ZAHB RR Lyrae luminosities each show a strong variation of MV(RR) with [Fe/H]. The pulsation equation of P<ρ>0.5 = Q(M,Te, L) used with the observed periods, temperatures, and masses of field and of cluster RR Lyraes gives the very steep luminosity-metallicity dependence of dMv(RR)/d[Fe/H] = 0.42. Main sequence fitting of the color-magnitude diagrams of clusters which have modern main-sequence photometry gives a confirming steep slope of 0.39. A summary of Baade-Wesselink MV(RR) values for field stars determined in four independent recent studies also shows a luminosity-metallicity dependence, but less steep with a slope of dMV(RR)/d[Fe/H] = 0.21.Observations show that the magnitude difference between the main sequence turn-off point and the ZAHB in a number of well observed globular clusters is independent of [Fe/H], and has a stable value of dV = 3.54 with a disperion of only 0.1 magnitudes. Using this fact, the absolute magnitude of the main sequence turn-off is determined in any given globular cluster from the observed apparent magnitude of the ZAHB by adopting any particular MV(RR) = f([Fe/H]) calibration.Ages of the clusters are shown to vary with [Fe/H] by amounts that depend upon the slopes of the MV(RR) = f([Fe/H]) calibrations. The calibrations show that there would be a steep dependence of the age on [Fe/H] if MV(RR) does not depend on [Fe/H]. No dependence of age on metallicity exists if the RR Lyrae luminosities depend on [Fe/H] as dMV(RR)/d[Fe/H] = 0.37. If Oxygen is not enhanced as [Fe/H] decreases, the absolute average age of the globular cluster system is 16 Gyr, independent of [Fe/H], using the steep MV(RR)/[Fe/H] calibration that is favored. If Oxygen is enhanced by [O/Fe] = – 0.14 [Fe/H] + 0.40 for [Fe/H] < –1.0, as suggested from the observations of field subdwarfs, then the age of the globular cluster system decreases to 13 Gyr, again independent of [Fe/H], if the RR Lyrae ZAHB luminosities have a metallicity dependence of dMV(RR)/d[Fe/H] = 0.37.


2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (S289) ◽  
pp. 382-385
Author(s):  
A. K. Dambis

AbstractThe absolute visual and infrared magnitudes of moderately evolved OB-type stars are directly calibrated as a function of Stroemgren four-color and Hβ photometric indices using the trigonometric parallaxes from the new reduction of Hipparcos data. The resulting calibrations have an average accuracy of ~ 0.4 mag and, when applied to members of young open clusters, yield distances that are fairly consistent with those determined using the MV–(B − V) zero-age main-sequence fitting procedure.


Author(s):  
S. Karaali ◽  
E. Yaz Gökçe ◽  
S. Bilir ◽  
S. Tunçel Güçtekin

AbstractWe present two absolute magnitude calibrations for dwarfs based on colour–magnitude diagrams of Galactic clusters. The combination of the Mg absolute magnitudes of the dwarf fiducial sequences of the clusters M92, M13, M5, NGC 2420, M67, and NGC 6791 with the corresponding metallicities provides absolute magnitude calibration for a given (g − r)0 colour. The calibration is defined in the colour interval 0.25 ≤ (g − r)0 ≤ 1.25 mag and it covers the metallicity interval − 2.15 ≤ [Fe/H] ≤ +0.37 dex. The absolute magnitude residuals obtained by the application of the procedure to another set of Galactic clusters lie in the interval − 0.15 ≤ ΔMg ≤ +0.12 mag. The mean and standard deviation of the residuals are < ΔMg > = − 0.002 and σ = 0.065 mag, respectively. The calibration of the MJ absolute magnitude in terms of metallicity is carried out by using the fiducial sequences of the clusters M92, M13, 47 Tuc, NGC 2158, and NGC 6791. It is defined in the colour interval 0.90 ≤ (V − J)0 ≤ 1.75 mag and it covers the same metallicity interval of the Mg calibration. The absolute magnitude residuals obtained by the application of the procedure to the cluster M5 ([Fe/H] = −1.40 dex) and 46 solar metallicity, − 0.45 ≤ [Fe/H] ≤ +0.35 dex, field stars lie in the interval − 0.29 and + 0.35 mag. However, the range of 87% of them is rather shorter, − 0.20 ≤ ΔMJ ≤ +0.20 mag. The mean and standard deviation of all residuals are < ΔMJ > =0.05 and σ = 0.13 mag, respectively. The derived relations are applicable to stars older than 4 Gyr for the Mg calibration, and older than 2 Gyr for the MJ calibration. The cited limits are the ages of the youngest calibration clusters in the two systems.


Author(s):  
S. Karaali ◽  
S. Bilir ◽  
E. Yaz Gökçe

AbstractWe present an absolute magnitude calibration for red giants with the colour–magnitude diagrams of six Galactic clusters with different metallicities, i.e. M92, M13, M3, M71, NGC 6791, and NGC 2158. The combination of the absolute magnitudes of the red giant sequences with the corresponding metallicities provides calibration for absolute magnitude estimation for red giants for a given (g − r)0 colour. The calibration is defined in the colour interval 0.45 ≤ (g − r)0 ≤ 1.30 mag and it covers the metallicity interval −2.15≤[Fe/H]≤ +0.37 dex. The absolute magnitude residuals obtained by the application of the procedure to another set of Galactic clusters lie in the interval −0.28 < ΔM ≤ +0.43 mag. However, the range of 94% of the residuals is shorter, −0.1 < ΔM ≤ +0.4 mag. The mean and the standard deviation of (all) residuals are 0.169 and 0.140 mag, respectively. The derived relations are applicable to stars older than 2 Gyr, the age of the youngest calibrating cluster.


2000 ◽  
Vol 175 ◽  
pp. 117-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle Briot ◽  
Noel Robichon

AbstractAbsolute magnitudes of Be and B stars are computed for each spectral type and luminosity class V and IV, using the Hipparcos parallax measurements. Some simulations have been carried out in order to estimate the effects which could bias the mean absolute magnitude calculations. As a result, only stars with σπ/π < 15% have been used. A first result is that B stars are fainter than previous estimations by about 0.5 magnitude on average. We then observe that on average Be stars are brighter than B stars of the same spectral type and this over-luminosity increases with the spectral type. A possible interpretation is proposed based on the fact that the rotational velocity of the late Be stars is near the critical rotational velocity.


1936 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 228-232
Author(s):  
M. Lindblad ◽  
MM. Bok ◽  
Eddington ◽  
Hertzsprung ◽  
S. Hirayama ◽  
...  

In the wide field of research covered by the Commission considerable progress has been made in recent years, and it is only possible here to touch briefly on the results of a few lines of investigation, without any attempt to completeness.Stellar luminosities. On the basis of the new list of Mount Wilson spectroscopic parallaxes and a compilation of the long series of modern trigonometric parallaxes A. van Maanen finds 617 objects within a distance of 20 parsecs from the sun. It is very doubtful, however, if we know all the stars even in the region of 5 parsecs radius. Almost all the known stars within 20 parsecs belong to the main sequence, the faintest star being of absolute magnitude +16.6. The most interesting deviations from the main sequence are the three “white dwarfs”, Сотр. of Sirius, Comp. o2 Eridani, and van Maanen’s F type star. G. P. Kuiper lists 3 additional white dwarfs at larger distances which were estimated to be of types Bo, B7 and A2. For the first two stars, A.C. 70°8247 and Wolf 1346, a revision of the spectral types by Adams and Humason gives A2 and A5, respectively, although the spectra differ considerably from normal ones. The A2 star in Kuiper’s list is the one discovered by Oosterhoff in the region of the cluster h, X Persei; its spectral characteristics have been examined by Öhman and by Humason. The absence of the high-numbered members of the Bahner series and of the continuous absorption at the Balmer limit seems to be an important criterion of such stars. A white dwarf of quite peculiar spectrum (type probably about B8) is the companion of o Ceti discovered spectro-graphically by Joy in 1922. There appear several additional deviations towards faint magnitudes from the main sequence which may be classed more or less safely among the white dwarfs. A few such cases have been discussed at Lund by J. Tuominen.


1978 ◽  
Vol 80 ◽  
pp. 277-280
Author(s):  
M. Golay

In an attempt to determine the Hyades distance (Golay, 1973), it was assumed that stars of the same “photometric 0m.01 box” (see Golay, 1977a) have the same visual absolute magnitude. The large amount of photometric data in the UBV B1B2V1G photometric system allows a discussion on this hypothesis (Golay, 1977b). We have 60 “photometric 0m.01 boxes”, each containing a central star of known trigonometric parallax and at least one Praesepe star. We select the 16 boxes (Table I) containing single stars or binaries with an estimated mass ratio, a relative probable error &lt; 30% for the parallaxes and a standard deviation for colors &lt;0m.007. The UBV B1B2V1G colors, the indices (B-V), (B2-V1) and the magnitude mVare taken from theSecond Catalogue(Rufener, 1976) and the internal catalogue of the Geneva Observatory. The color index (B-V) is taken from Johnson (1952, 1957), Johnson and Knuckles (1955), the trigonometric parallax from Jenkins (1952, 1963) and Gliese (1969) and the spectral type for Hyades stars from Morgan and Hiltner (1965). The listings of all 0m.01 photometric star boxes in the UBV B1B2V1G system are given by Golay (1977c). The parallax obtained for Praesepe is π(0″.001) = 6.175 ± p.e. 0.1, i.e. a distance modulus (m-M) = 6m.05 and a distance of 162 parsecs. Golay (1977c) published the differences of the distance moduli for pairs of clusters having stars in the same box. The distances of these clusters is given in Table III, assuming a distance of 162 pc for Praesepe. The accuracy of this method is independent of both the distance magnitude and the chemical composition of the stars of a cluster since the stars have to be in the same box as a star with a known trigonometric parallax. The main sequence of Praesepe and a sample of Hyades stars, in the same photometric box with a Praesepe star is given in Table II. The depth effect in Praesepe being very small, the main sequence is very thin and the main sequence fitting procedure is better starting from Praesepe than from the Hyades.


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