基于混合模型的疏散星团视向速度和金属丰度研究

疏散星团是研究星族和银河系形成与演化的理想示踪体。基于LAMOST DR7低分辨率光谱,在视向速度和金属丰度两维空间上,构建包含团星和场星的混合模型：以二维正高斯模型来描述团星的分布,以星团天区周围的恒星来构建场星的分布模型。同时,在模型中考虑了观测误差的影响。对3个具有丰富光谱数据的典型疏散星团进行了拟合。年轻星团Melotte 22和中年星团NGC 2281可以较好地约束其视向速度的内禀弥散,分别为：1.47_-1.18^+0.95km·s^-1和2.05_-1.18^+1.39km·s^-1,而年老星团NGC 2682只能给出速度弥散的上限约为0.96 km·s^-1。Melotte22、NGC 2281和NGC 2682的金属丰度内禀弥散分别为：0.170_-0.009^+0.012dex,(0.108±0.012) dex和(0.050±0.005) dex,都明显大于金属丰度的观测误差(约0.02...     

老年疏散星团的金属丰度及银盘金属丰度梯度演化研究

疏散星团是探究银河系结构与演化的良好示踪体,一直以来颇受关注.之前关于疏散星团的研究中,仅有一小部分疏散星团有金属丰度参数,而且,金属丰度的测量,是基于不同质量的观测数据,采用了不同的方法.收集了一个年龄大于2 Gyr的老年疏散星团样本,通过整理这些星团成员星的金属丰度数据,一方面,以星团NGC 2682为例,对比了不同光谱巡天项目给出的星团成员星金属丰度的系统差异;另一方面,计算了星团成员星金属丰度的平均值和中位值,作为该疏散星团的金属丰度推荐值.此外,还利用该样本探究了银盘径向金属丰度梯度随时间的演化,结果表明,早期银盘有着更加陡峭的径向金属丰度梯度,随着演化时间的增加,银盘径向金属丰度梯度逐渐趋于平缓,为银盘化学演化模型提供了更加严格的观测约束.     

GD-1星流金属丰度与运动特性分析

星流在星系形成与演化过程中扮演了重要的角色,对银河系中星流的研究将有助于进一步探究银河系的合并历史.将LAMOST(Large Sky Area Multi-Object Fiber Spectroscopic Telescope)DR6光谱数据以及SDSS(Sloan Digital Sky Survey)DR12光谱数据分别与Gaia(Global Astrometric Interferometer for Astrophysics)DR2天体测量数据交叉匹配,获得恒星自行等数据.对GD-1星流在速度空间、几何空间和金属丰度上进行限制,从LAMOST DR6和SDSS DR12数据中共获得了157颗星流成员星.GD-1星流的平均金属丰度为[Fe/H]=-2.16±0.10 dex,延伸长度超过80°.收集前人给出的GD-1星流高概率成员星,组成较大的成员星样本进行对比分析,发现GD-1星流的金属丰度分布呈现内低外高的特点,沿着星流方向径向速度分布特点是两端大、中间小,?₁=-20°(?₁为GD-1星流坐标系横坐标)和?₁=-60°附近的间隙是因为成员星运动差异形成的.根据成员星分布及其速度分布特性,推测GD-1星流起源位置是在?₁=-40°附近.     

恒星形成区的云核和星团

利用青海站13.7 m毫米波望远镜对17个与星团成协的恒星形成区进行了~(12)CO(J=1-0)、~(13)CO(J=1-0)和C~(18)O(J=1-0)的同时成图观测.除了IRAS04547+4753,这些源均探测到较强的C~(18)O(J=1-0)的谱线发射.由于分子云的大小不同,有13个源观测到~(13)CO(J=1-0)谱线积分强度极大值的一半处,其他源因分子云延展范围较大,没有进行大面积的成图观测.基于观测数据,计算了各云核的谱线线宽、亮温度、尺度、密度和质量等,~(13)CO和C~(13)O云核的维里质量与局部热动平衡(LTE)质量之比分别为0.66和0.74,它们接近于维里平衡状态.为了从形态方面比较云核与星团,将谱线的积分强度图与2MASS的K波段图像叠加.同时,计算了与云核成协的星团的大小和质量,数据采用了2MASS的近红外点源测光结果.基于云核与星团的质量结果,计算了分子云的恒星形成效率,大致在10%～30%的范围.     

NGC 6791的年龄之谜

这张哈勃空间望远镜拍摄的美丽星团称为NGC6791,它位于Lyra座,是我们所知最老和最大的疏散星团之一。疏散星团通常是由数百颗年龄不到10亿年的年轻恒星组成的恒星集团。NGC 6791却极不寻常,它包含10000多颗恒星,而且其中重元素（指的是比氢元素更重的元素）的含量比大多数的星团都高。     

金属丰度对球状星团动力学演化的影响

动力学过程和恒星演化及二者的互相影响都会对球状星团的演化产生重要影响.由于金属丰度会影响恒星的演化轨迹,与之相伴随的恒星质量损失率的变化也会对球状星团的动力学过程造成影响.通过一系列N体模拟研究金属丰度对球状星团的质量损失率、半径等的影响,并分析其原因,同时研究了大质量恒星以及星团初始数密度分布的影响.模拟中采用的球状星团模型初始成员星数目N=50000,运行于类银河系的引力势中并考虑成员星的演化.结果显示,由于低金属丰度恒星拥有较快的演化时标,所以贫金属球状星团在早期会拥有较高的质量损失,但与此同时它们的核塌缩时间会比后者显著推迟,因此在核塌缩之后其质量损失会被富金属星团反超.另外由于大质量恒星演化导致的质量损失较大,所以大质量星的存在会使金属丰度更加显著地影响球状星团早期的扩张以及随后的核塌缩过程,同时星团的初始数密度分布也对该效应有着不可忽视的影响.     

年轻疏散星团NGC 2244的成员概率与空间运动

利用绝对自行资料,确定了年轻疏散星团NGC 2244天区恒星的运动学成员概率,并对星团成员概率以及自行矢量的分布、不同成员概率恒星的位置分布情况、径向数密度轮廓等进行了讨论并给出了星团的特征尺度;进一步结合已知的星团距离和视向速度资料,计算了NGC 2244的三维空间运动速度,结果表明NGC 2244是一个典型的薄盘族星团。     

银河系铝元素丰度研究

恒星的Al元素丰度可以为探索星团和星系的化学演化提供重要线索.通过系统分析银河系薄盘、厚盘、核球、银晕以及M4、M5等球状星团中恒星的[Al/Fe]随恒星金属丰度[Fe/H]的变化趋势,得出银河系薄盘、厚盘和核球恒星的[Al/Fe]随着[Fe/H]的增加而缓慢下降,而球状星团M4和M5恒星的[Al/Fe]随[Fe/H]增加没有下降趋势,这暗示Ia超新星对M4和M5恒星元素丰度的贡献比较小.详细研究了银河系恒星[Al/Fe]与[Mg/Fe]、[Na/Fe]的相关性,结果表明银河系场星的[Al/Fe]与[Mg/Fe]正相关,但在球状星团M4和M5恒星中未见此相关性;银河系盘星及M4和M5等球状星团恒星的[Al/Fe]与[Na/Fe]都存在正相关.     

球状星团M10（NGC6254）的自行研究

利用上海天台和Bonn大学天台的照相底片资料及大视场CCD观测数据,测定了球状星团M10（NGC6254）天台中532颗恒星相对于依巴谷参考系和ACT星表的绝地自行,相对于Hipparcos参考星和ACT参考星分别得到的测定结果符合得很好,根据自行测定结果进行了星团成员判定,有两颗星族II父变星被证实为星团的成员,根据星团的绝对自行,结合其距离与视向速度观测结果,得了了M10的空间运动轨道。     

疏散星团NGC2286的测光研究和HR图

本文给出了疏散星团NGC2286天区中305颗恒星的照相B、V星等,结合其它资料得到了星团的平均色余值为E_(B-V)=0.40m±0.07m,距离模数10.90m±0.10m,相应的距离为r 1510pc±70pc,年龄估值为6×10~7年,由得到的星团HR图讨论了星团的其它性质。     

A Study on the Fundamental Properties of Open Cluster NGC 6791 Based on the SDSS-DR8 and 2MASS Data

The stellar spectroscopic data of SDSS-DR8 (The Eighth Data Release of Sloan Digital Sky Survey) and the near-infrared photometric data of 2MASS (Two Micron All Sky Survey) point sources are used to analyze the fundamental parameters of the open cluster NGC 6791. Using the radial velocities of 274 stars in the region of the cluster, we calculate the membership probability for each star with the maximum likelihood method. Based on the stars with high membership probabilities, we have derived the radial velocity and metal abundance of the cluster to be respectively V_r =−46.4±0.2 km·s⁻¹ and [Fe/H]=0.32±0.11dex, in good agreement with the results obtained by other authors on the basis of high-resolution spectroscopy. Using red clump giants in the cluster as “standard candle”, we have derived the absolute distance modulus of the cluster to be (m − M)₀ =13.02±0.08mag or 4.02±0.15 kpc in distance, consistent with the values obtained from main-sequence fittings by some authors. And our main conclusions are: (1) NGC 6791 is extremely metal-rich; (2) Within the spectral resolution of SDSS, the discriminated 87 cluster members have no evident difference in matallicity; (3) The obtained distance modulus is insensitive to the age, metallicity and dust distinction, so it is a kind of reliable indirect measurement.     

Vilnius Photometry of Red Giant Stars in the Open Cluster NGC 7789

Photoelectric Vilnius seven-color photometry is presented and analyzed for a sample of 24 red giant branch and clump stars in the open cluster NGC 7789. For each star we have determined photometric spectral type, absolute magnitude, interstellar reddening, effective temperature, metallicity, and surface gravity. From averages over the stars in the sample we find the mean reddening to the cluster E _Y−V = 0.21± 0.02 (s.d.), or E _B−V = 0.25, and the apparent distance modulus (m−M) _V = 12.21± 0.10 (s.d.), which yield a distance of 1840 pc. The mean overall metallicity is found to be [Fe/H] = −0.18± 0.09 (s.d.). The clump stars, on average, appear to be slightly more metal-rich than the other red giants, which is most probably caused by evolutionary changes of carbon and nitrogen molecular bands falling in the photometric passbands. A difference in mass between the two groups of stars has also been detected, which suggests that the clump stars might have undergone extra mass loss before reaching their core He-burning phase of evolution.     

Harmonizing the RR Lyrae and clump distance scales – stretching the short distance scale to intermediate ranges?

I explore the consequences of making the RR Lyrae and clump giant distance scales consistent in the solar neighbourhood, Galactic bulge and Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). I employ two major assumptions: (i) that the absolute magnitude–metallicity, M _V (RR)–[Fe/H], relation for RR Lyrae stars is universal, and (ii) that absolute I magnitudes of clump giants, M _I (RC), in Baade's Window are known (e.g. can be inferred from the local Hipparcos -based calibration or theoretical modelling). A comparison between the solar neighbourhood and Baade's Window sets M _V (RR) at [Fe/H]=−1.6 in the range (0.59±0.05, 0.70±0.05), somewhat brighter than the statistical parallax solution. More luminous RR Lyrae stars imply younger globular clusters, which would be in better agreement with the conclusions from the currently favoured stellar evolution and cosmological models. A comparison between Baade's Window and the LMC sets M ^LMC(RC) _I in the range (−0.33±0.09,−0.53±0.09). The distance modulus to the LMC is μ ^LMC∈(18.24±0.08,18.44±0.07). Unlike M ^LMC(RC) _I , this range in μ ^LMC does not depend on the adopted value of the dereddened LMC clump magnitude, I ^LMC(RC)₀. I argue that the currently available information is insufficient to select the correct distance scale with high confidence.     

Period–luminosity relations for type II Cepheids and their application

JHK _s magnitudes corrected to mean intensity are estimated for Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) type II Cepheids in the OGLE-III survey the third phase of the Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment (OGLE). Period–luminosity (PL) relations are derived in JHK _s as well as in a reddening-free VI parameter. Within the uncertainties, the BL Her stars  ( P < 4 d)  and the W Vir stars (   P = 4  to 20 d) are colinear in these PL relations. The slopes of the infrared relations agree with those found previously for type II Cepheids in globular clusters within the uncertainties. Using the pulsation parallaxes of V553 Cen and SW Tau, the data lead to an LMC modulus uncorrected for any metallicity effects of  18.46 ± 0.10  mag. The type II Cepheids in the second-parameter globular cluster, NGC 6441, show a PL( VI ) relation of the same slope as that in the LMC, and this leads to a cluster distance modulus of  15.46 ± 0.11  mag, confirming the hypothesis that the RR Lyrae variables in this cluster are overluminous for their metallicity. It is suggested that the Galactic variable κ Pavonis is a member of the peculiar W Vir class found by the OGLE-III group in the LMC. Low-resolution spectra of OGLE-III type II Cepheids with   P > 20  d (RV Tau stars) show that a high proportion have TiO bands; only one has been found showing C₂. The LMC RV Tau stars, as a group, are not colinear with the shorter period type II Cepheids in the infrared PL relations in marked contrast to such stars in globular clusters. Other differences between LMC, globular cluster and Galactic field type II Cepheids are noted in period distribution and infrared colours.     

A morphological analysis of NGC 7296

A morphological analysis has been presented as a completed work for estimating the most physical properties of open star cluster NGC 7296. For this purpose, near‐IR database of the digital Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS) has been used. Center, radius, membership, distances, reddening, age, metallicity, luminosity and mass functions, total mass, mass segregation and the dynamical relaxation time of the cluster have been estimated. (© 2006 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

A theoretical analysis of the systematic errors in the red clump distance to the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC)

We present a detailed analysis of the uncertainty on the theoretical population corrections to the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) red clump (RC) absolute magnitude, by employing a population synthesis algorithm to simulate theoretically the photometric and spectroscopic properties of RC stars, under various assumptions concerning the LMC star formation rate (SFR) and age–metallicity relationship (AMR). A comparison of the outcome of our simulations with observations of evolved low- to intermediate-mass stars in the LMC allows one to select the combinations of SFR and AMR that bracket the real LMC star formation history, and to estimate the systematic error on the associated RC population corrections.
The most accurate estimate of the LMC distance modulus from the RC method (adopting the OGLE-II reddening maps for the LMC) is obtained from the K -band magnitude, and provides  ( m − M )_0,LMC= 18.47 ± 0.01(random)^+0.05_−0.06(systematic)  . Distances obtained from the I band, or from the multicolour RC technique which determines at the same time reddening and distance, both agree (albeit with a slightly larger error bar) with this value.     

The red giant branch tip and bump of the Leo II dwarf spheroidal galaxy

We present V and I photometry of a  9.4 × 9.4 arcmin²  field centred on the dwarf spheroidal galaxy Leo II. The tip of the red giant branch (TRGB) is identified at   I ^TRGB= 17.83 ± 0.03  and adopting  〈[M/H]〉=−1.53 ± 0.2  from the comparison of RGB stars with Galactic templates, we obtain a distance modulus  ( m − M )₀= 21.84 ± 0.13  , corresponding to a distance   D = 233 ± 15 kpc  . Two significant bumps have been detected in the luminosity function of the RGB. The fainter bump (B1, at   V = 21.76 ± 0.05  ) is the RGB bump of the dominant stellar population while the actual nature of the brightest one (B2, at   V = 21.35 ± 0.05  ) cannot be firmly assessed on the basis of the available data; it may be due to the asymptotic giant branch clump of the main population or it may be a secondary RGB bump. The luminosity of the main RGB bump (B1) suggests that the majority of RGB stars in Leo II belong to a population that is ≳4 Gyr younger than the classical Galactic globular clusters. The stars belonging to the He-burning red clump are shown to be significantly more centrally concentrated than RR Lyrae and blue horizontal branch stars, probing the existence of an age/metallicity radial gradient in this remote dwarf spheroidal.     

Globular clusters and the Mira period–luminosity relation

A globular cluster distance scale based on Hipparcos parallaxes of subdwarfs has been used to derive estimates of M _K for cluster Miras, including one in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC) globular cluster NGC 121. These lead to a zero-point of the Mira infrared period–luminosity (PL) relation, PL( K ), in good agreement with that derived from Hipparcos parallaxes of nearby field Miras. The mean of these two estimates together with data on LMC Miras yields a Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) distance modulus of     in evident agreement with a metallicity-corrected Cepheid modulus     .
The use of luminous asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars as extragalactic population indicators is also discussed.     

The absolute magnitude of field metal-poor horizontal branch stars

Hipparcos satellite parallaxes for 22 metal-poor field horizontal branch stars with V ₀<9 are used to derive their absolute magnitude. The weighted mean value is M_V =+0.69±0.10 for an average metallicity of [Fe/H]=−1.41; a somewhat brighter average magnitude of M_V =+0.60±0.12 for an average metallicity of [Fe/H]=−1.51 is obtained by eliminating HD 17072, which might be on the first ascent of the giant branch rather than on the horizontal branch. The present values agree with the determinations based on proper motions and application of the Baade–Wesselink method to field RR Lyraes; they are 0.1–0.2 mag fainter than those based on calibration of cluster distances obtained by using local subdwarfs and on alternative distance calibrators for the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). The possibility that there is a real difference between the luminosity of the horizontal branch for clusters and the field is briefly commented on.     

X-rays from the open cluster NGC 6633

NGC 6633 is a young, open cluster with a similar age to the Hyades and Praesepe, but probably a lower metallicity. We present the results of ROSAT High Resolution Imager observations of an optically selected catalogue of likely members of NGC 6633. 8 out of 51 NGC 6633 members have been detected, with main-sequence spectral types A to G, above a threshold X-ray luminosity of ≈6–12×10²⁸ erg s⁻¹. We find that NGC 6633 does not contain cool stars that are as X-ray luminous as the most active objects in the Hyades and that the median X-ray luminosity of F-G stars in NGC 6633 is less than that in the Hyades, but probably greater than in Praesepe. However, when X-ray activity is expressed as the X-ray to bolometric flux ratio we find that NGC 6633 and the Hyades are very similar and display similar peak levels of coronal activity. We attribute this discrepancy to a number of possible wide binary systems with higher X-ray (and bolometric) luminosities in the Hyades sample and either a low metallicity in NGC 6633, which makes its cool stars both X-ray and bolometrically less luminous at the same colour, or a distance to NGC 6633 that has been underestimated, which would decrease stellar X-ray luminosities without changing X-ray to bolometric flux ratios.