scholarly journals GK Car and GZ Nor: two low-luminous, depleted RV Tauri stars

2019 ◽  
Vol 488 (3) ◽  
pp. 4033-4041 ◽  
Author(s):  
I Gezer ◽  
H Van Winckel ◽  
R Manick ◽  
D Kamath

ABSTRACT We performed a photometric and spectroscopic analysis of two RV Tauri stars: GK Car and GZ Nor. Both objects are surrounded by hot circumstellar dust. Their pulsation periods, derived from ASAS (All Sky Automated Survey) photometric time-series, have been used to derive their luminosities and distances via the period–luminosity–distance (PLC) relation. In addition, for both objects, Gaia distances are available. The Gaia distances and luminosities are consistent with the values obtained from the PLC relationship. GK Car is at distance of 4.5 ± 1.3 kpc and has a luminosity of 1520 ± 840 L⊙, while GZ Nor is at distance of 8.4 ± 2.3 kpc and has a luminosity of 1240 ± 690 L⊙. Our abundance analysis reveals that both stars show depletion of refractory elements with [Fe/H] = −1.3 and [Zn/Ti] = +1.2 for GK Car and [Fe/H] = −2.0 and [Zn/Ti] = +0.8 for GZ Nor. In the WISE(Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer) colour–colour diagram, GK Car is located in the RV Tauri box as originally defined by Lloyd Evans and updated by Gezer et al., while GZ Nor is not. Despite this, we argue that both objects are surrounded by a gravitationally bound disc. As depletion is observed in binaries, we postulate that both stars are binaries as well. RV Tauri stars are generally acknowledged to be post-asymptotic giant branch (post-AGB) stars. Recent studies show that they might be either indeed post-AGB or post-red giant branch (post-RGB) objects depending on their luminosity. For both objects, the derived luminosities are relatively low for post-AGB objects, however, the uncertainties are quite large. We conclude that they could be either post-RGB or post-AGB objects.

2018 ◽  
Vol 618 ◽  
pp. A21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajeev Manick ◽  
Hans Van Winckel ◽  
Devika Kamath ◽  
Sanjay Sekaran ◽  
Katrien Kolenberg

Context. Based on their stellar parameters and the presence of a mid-IR excess due to circumstellar dust, RV Tauri stars have been classified as post-AGB stars. Our recent studies, however, reveal diverse spectral energy distributions (SEDs) among RV Tauri stars, suggesting they may occupy other evolutionary channels as well. Aims. The aim of this paper is to present the diverse SED characteristics of RV Tauri stars and investigate their evolutionary nature as a function of their SEDs. Methods. We carried out a systematic study of RV Tauri stars in the SMC and LMC because of their known distances and hence luminosities. Their SEDs were classified into three groups: dusty (disc-type), non-dusty (non-IR), and uncertain. A period-luminosity-colour (PLC) relation was calibrated. The luminosities from the PLC were complemented with those found using their SEDs and the stars were placed on a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram (HRD). I-band time series were used to search for period changes via (O−C) analyses to identify period changes. Results. The four main results from this study are: (1) RV Tauri stars with a clear IR excess have disc-type SEDs, which indicates that the dust is trapped in a stable disc. Given the strong link between disc-type SEDs and binarity in the Galaxy, we postulate that these are binaries as well. These cover a range of luminosities and we argue that the more luminous binaries are post-AGB stars while the lower luminosity binaries are likely post-red giant branch (post-RGB) stars. (2) Two of these objects have variable mean brightness with periods of 916 and 850 days, respectively, caused by variable extinction during orbital motion. (3) Non-dusty RV Tauri stars and objects with an uncertain SED evolve such that the circumstellar dust has dispersed. If they are single stars, they are post-AGB objects of low initial mass (<1.25 M⊙), while if they are binaries, the low-luminosity portion of the sample are likely post-RGB stars. (4) We find that RV Tauri stars with dust are on average more luminous than the rest of the sample.


2004 ◽  
Vol 217 ◽  
pp. 90-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick R. Durrell ◽  
Megan E. DeCesar ◽  
Robin Ciardullo ◽  
Denise Hurley-Keller ◽  
John J. Feldmeier

We present the preliminary results of a wide-field photometric survey of individual red giant branch (RGB) and asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars in the M81 group, performed with the CFH12K mosaic camera of the CFHT. We use deep VI images of 0.65 sq. deg. of sky to map out the two-dimensional distribution of intragroup stars and to search for stars associated with the many HI tidal tails in the group. We place an upper limit on the presence of metal-poor RGB stars in a field located 50-80 kpc from M81, and derive an ‘intragroup’ fraction of < 2%. In a field sampling the M81-NGC3077 HI tidal tail, we find blue stars associated with some of the tidal features, including 2 clumps which we tentatively describe as tidal dwarf candidates. These objects are ~ 1 kpc in size, and, based on their color-magnitude diagrams, have formed stars as recently as ~ 30 – 70 Myr ago, long after the group's most recent interactions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 629 ◽  
pp. A49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Glenn-Michael Oomen ◽  
Hans Van Winckel ◽  
Onno Pols ◽  
Gijs Nelemans

Many disc-type post-asymptotic giant branch (post-AGB) stars are chemically peculiar, showing underabundances of refractory elements in their photospheres that correlate with condensation temperature. The aim of this paper is to investigate how accretion from a circumbinary disc can cause this phenomenon of depletion and how this impacts the evolution of post-AGB stars. We used the MESA code to evolve stars in the post-AGB phase, while including accretion of metal-poor gas. We compared the models to a sample of 58 observed disc-type post-AGB stars with chemical abundance data. For each of these stars, we estimated the luminosity and the mass using the Gaia distance. We modelled the accretion rate onto the binary from a viscously evolving disc for a range of initial accretion rates and disc masses. We find that large initial accretion rates (≳3  ×  10−7 M⊙ yr−1) and large initial disc masses (∼10−2 M⊙) are needed to reproduce the observed depleted post-AGB stars. Based on these high accretion rates, the evolution timescale of post-AGB stars can be significantly extended by a factor between two and five. We distinguish depletion patterns that are unsaturated (plateau profile) from those that are saturated, and we expect that post-red giant branch (post-RGB) stars are much more likely to show an unsaturated abundance pattern compared to post-AGB stars. Finally, because of the slower evolution of the low-mass post-RGB stars, we find that these systems can become depleted at lower effective temperatures (<5000 K). We conclude that accretion from a circumbinary disc successfully accounts for the chemical peculiarity of post-AGB stars.


1999 ◽  
Vol 192 ◽  
pp. 455-458 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Kerschbaum ◽  
W. Nowotny ◽  
J. Hron ◽  
M. Schultheis

This paper is based on photometry from two different observational approaches. Both are of an explorative character and act as feasibility studies. For the future we plan to use these methods to study Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) stars in nearby galaxies.First, we present results on broad-band photometry in Bessell V and I, as well as narrow-band measurements in the Wing 778 nm and 812 nm filters of a galactic globular cluster using the new Austrian Oe-FOSC (Oesterreich Faint Object Spectrograph and Camera), a copy of the ESO Instrument EFOSC mounted on our 1.5 m-telescope.The second part of the contribution deals with the possibilities of using Gunn I, J and KS measurements originating from the DENIS (DEep Near Infrared Survey of the Southern Sky) project on similar objects. A few southern dwarf spheroidals already observed within DENIS (covering now some 40% of the southern hemisphere) are selected.


2019 ◽  
Vol 627 ◽  
pp. A34 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Moehler ◽  
W. B. Landsman ◽  
T. Lanz ◽  
M. M. Miller Bertolami

Context. We have performed a census of the UV-bright population in 78 globular clusters using wide-field UV telescopes. This population includes a variety of phases of post-horizontal branch (HB) evolution, including hot post-asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars, and post-early AGB stars. There are indications that old stellar systems like globular clusters produce fewer post-(early) AGB stars than currently predicted by evolutionary models, but observations are still scarce. Aims. We wish to derive effective temperatures, surface gravities, and helium abundances of the luminous hot UV-bright stars in these clusters to determine their evolutionary status and compare the observed numbers to predictions from evolutionary theory. Methods. We obtained FORS2 spectroscopy of eleven of these UV-selected objects (covering a range of −2.3 <  [Fe/H] <  −1.0), which we (re-)analysed together with previously observed data. We used model atmospheres of different metallicities, including super-solar ones. Where possible, we verified our atmospheric parameters using UV spectrophotometry and searched for metal lines in the optical spectra. We calculated evolutionary sequences for four metallicity regimes and used them together with information about the HB morphology of the globular clusters to estimate the expected numbers of post-AGB stars. Results. We find that metal-rich model spectra are required to analyse stars hotter than 40 000 K. Seven of the eleven new luminous UV-bright stars are post-AGB or post-early AGB stars, while two are evolving away from the HB, one is a foreground white dwarf, and another is a white dwarf merger. Taking into account published information on other hot UV-bright stars in globular clusters, we find that the number of observed hot post-AGB stars generally agrees with the predicted values, although the numbers are still low. Conclusions. Spectroscopy is clearly required to identify the evolutionary status of hot UV-bright stars. For hotter stars, metal-rich model spectra are required to reproduce their optical and UV spectra, which may affect the flux contribution of hot post-AGB stars to the UV spectra of evolved populations. While the observed numbers of post-AGB and post-early AGB stars roughly agree with the predictions, our current comparison is affected by low number statistics.


2019 ◽  
Vol 622 ◽  
pp. A179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Bonatto ◽  
Ana L. Chies-Santos ◽  
Paula R. T. Coelho ◽  
Jesús Varela ◽  
Søren S. Larsen ◽  
...  

Context. As a consequence of internal and external dynamical processes, Galactic globular clusters (GCs) have properties that vary radially. Wide-field observations covering the entire projected area of GCs out to their tidal radii (rtidal) can therefore give crucial information on these important relics of the Milky Way formation era. Aims. The Javalambre Photometric Local Universe Survey (J-PLUS) provides wide field-of-view (2 deg2) images in 12 narrow, intermediate and broad-band filters optimized for stellar photometry. Here we have applied J-PLUS data for the first time for the study of Galactic GCs using science verification data obtained for the very metal-poor ([Fe/H] ≈−2.3) GC M 15 located at ~10 kpc from the Sun. Previous studies based on spectroscopy found evidence of multiple stellar populations (MPs) through their different abundances of C, N, O, and Na. Our J-PLUS data provide low-resolution spectral energy distributions covering the near-UV to the near-IR, allowing us to instead search for MPs based on pseudo-spectral fitting diagnostics. Methods. We have built and discussed the stellar radial density profile (RDP) and surface brightness profiles (SBPs) reaching up to rtidal. Since J-PLUS FoV is larger than M 15’s rtidal, the field contamination can be properly taken into account. We also demonstrated the power of J-PLUS unique filter system by showing colour-magnitude diagrams (CMDs) using different filter combinations and for different cluster regions. Results. J-PLUS photometric quality and depth are good enough to reach the upper end of M 15’s main-sequence. CMDs based on the colours (u − z) and (J0378 − J0861) are found to be particularly useful to search for splits in the sequences formed by the upper red giant branch (RGB) and asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. We interpret these split sequences as evidence for the presence of MPs. Furthermore, we show that the (u − z) × (J0378 − g) colour–colour diagram allows us to distinguish clearly between field and M 15 stars, which is important to minimize the sample contamination. Conclusions. The J-PLUS filter combinations (u − z) and (J0378 − J0861), which are sensitive to metal abundances, are able to distinguish different sequences in the upper RGB and AGB regions of the CMD of M 15, showing the feasibility of identifying MPs without the need of spectroscopy. This demonstrates that the J-PLUS survey will have sufficient spatial coverage and spectral resolution to perform a large statistical study of GCs through multi-band photometry in the coming years.


Author(s):  
Thomas J. Bernatowicz

In recent years the development of special chemical separation techniques has permitted the isolation of material from primitive meteorites that can be unambiguously identified as pre-solar grains-that is, solids that condensed in the atmospheres of ancient stars and later became incorporated into the cloud of gas and dust which gave rise to our solar system. This identification is made possible in part by development of sophisticated mass spectrometry techniques for the analysis of ensembles of these grains and in part by ion microprobe techniques for determining the isotopic structures in single micron-sized grains. In particular, meteoritic grains which have isotopic compositions radically different from the solar system average can be assigned a pre-solar origin. In some cases, plausible astrophysical sites can be identified: for example, isotopic structures of Kr, Xe, Ba, and Nd in some grains resemble those expected to be produced by s-process nucleosynthesis in asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars.


2015 ◽  
Vol 11 (A29B) ◽  
pp. 169-170
Author(s):  
Alexa Villaume ◽  
Charlie Conroy ◽  
Benjamin Johnson

AbstractThe IR emission from galaxies is a unique window into multiple aspects of galaxy evolution including star-formation rates, the age of galaxies, and galactic-scale dust processes. However, asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars continue to introduce uncertainty into stellar population synthesis (SPS) models and limit our ability to interpret the IR light of galaxies. Here we focus on incorporating circumstellar dust around AGB stars in SPS models and understanding the extent to which they influence the IR light of galaxies. We find that the significance of the AGB dust contribution depends on the characteristics of the galaxy. For quiescent galaxies and metal-poor star forming galaxies, circumstellar dust emission can have a large effect, whereas for dusty star-forming galaxies the circumstellar emission is dwarfed by emission from dust in the ISM. The models with circumstellar dust also suggest, in agreement with previous work, that IR colors can be a powerful age diagnostic for older stellar systems. Models such as these will be essential for interpreting data that will be provided by JWST and other next generation IR facilities.


Author(s):  
S. Palmerini ◽  
S. Cristallo ◽  
M. Busso ◽  
M. La Cognata ◽  
M. L. Sergi ◽  
...  

Among presolar grains, oxide ones are made of oxygen, aluminum, and a small fraction of magnesium, produced by the 26Al decay. The largest part of presolar oxide grains belong to the so-called group 1 and 2, which have been suggested to form in Red Giant Branch (RGB) and Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB) stars, respectively. However, standard stellar nucleosynthesis models cannot account for the 17O/16O, 18O/16O, and 26Al/27Al values recorded in those grains. Hence, for more than 20 years, the occurrence of mixing phenomena coupled with stellar nucleosynthesis have been suggested to account for this peculiar isotopic mix. Nowadays, models of massive AGB stars experiencing Hot Bottom Burning or low mass AGB stars where Cool Bottom Process, or another kind of extra-mixing, is at play, nicely fit the oxygen isotopic mix of group 2 oxide grains. The largest values of the 26Al/27Al ratio seem somewhat more difficult to account for.


2021 ◽  
Vol 647 ◽  
pp. A170
Author(s):  
Alina Leščinskaitė ◽  
Rima Stonkutė ◽  
Vladas Vansevičius

Context. Leo A is a gas-rich dwarf irregular galaxy of low stellar mass located in the outskirts of the Local Group. It has an extended star formation history with stellar populations spanning a wide age range (∼0.01−10 Gyr). As Leo A is a well-isolated dwarf galaxy, it is a perfect target to study a galactic structure formed entirely by processes of self-induced star formation. Aims. Our aim is to study populations of the brightest asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars and red giant branch (RGB) stars over the entire extent of the Leo A galaxy. Methods. We analysed populations of AGB and RGB stars in the Leo A galaxy using multicolour photometry data obtained with the Subaru Suprime-Cam (B, V, R, I, Hα) and HST ACS (F475W, F814W) cameras. In order to separate the Milky Way and Leo A populations of red stars, we developed a photometric method that enabled us to study the spatial distribution of AGB and RGB stars within the Leo A galaxy. Results. We found a previously unknown sequence of 26 peculiar RGB stars which probably have a strong CN band in their spectra (∼380−390 nm). This conclusion is supported by the infrared CN spectral features observed in four of these stars with available spectra from the literature. Additionally, we present a catalogue of 32 luminous AGB stars and 3 candidate AGB stars. Twelve AGB stars (three of them might have dusty envelopes) from this sample are newly identified; the remaining 20 AGB stars were already presented in the literature based on near-infrared observations. By splitting the RGB sequence into blue and red parts, we revealed different spatial distributions of the two subsets, with the former being more centrally concentrated than the latter. Cross-identification with spectroscopic data available in the literature suggests that the bulk of blue and red RGB stars are, on average, similar in metallicity; however, the red RGB stars might have an excess of metal-deficient stars of [Fe/H] < −1.8. We also found that the distributions of luminous AGB and blue RGB stars have nearly equal scale lengths (0.′87 ± 0.′06 and 0.′89 ± 0.′09, respectively), indicating that they could belong to the same generation. This conclusion is strengthened by the similarities of the cumulative distributions of AGB and blue RGB stars, both showing more centrally concentrated populations compared to red RGB stars. There is also a prominent decline in the ratio of AGB to RGB stars with an increasing radius. These results suggest that the star-forming disk of Leo A is shrinking, which is in agreement with the outside-in star formation scenario of dwarf galaxy evolution.


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