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Register a new userThe Horizontal Branch population of NGC 1851 as revealed by the Ultra-violet Imaging Telescope (UVIT)
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Annapurni Subramaniam
Publication date
2017
fields
Physics
and research's language is
English
Authors
Annapurni Subramaniam
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We present the UV photometry of the globular cluster NGC 1851 using images acquired with the Ultra-violet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) onboard the ASTROSAT satellite. PSF-fitting photometric data derived from images in two far-UV (FUV) filters and one near-UV (NUV) filter are used to construct color-magnitude diagrams (CMD), in combination with HST and ground-based optical photometry. In the FUV, we detect only the bluest part of the cluster horizontal branch (HB); in the NUV, we detect the full extent of the HB, including the red HB, blue HB and a small number of RR Lyrae stars. UV variability was detected in 18 RR Lyrae stars, and 3 new variables were also detected in the central region. The UV/optical CMDs are then compared with isochrones of different age and metallicity (generated using Padova and BaSTI models) and synthetic HB (using helium enhanced $Y^2$ models). We are able to identify two populations among the HB stars, which are found to have either an age range of 10-12~Gyr, or a range in Y$_{ini}$ of 0.23 - 0.28, for a metallicity of [Fe/H] =$-$1.2 to $-$1.3. These estimations from the UV CMDs are consistent with those from optical studies. The almost complete sample of the HB stars tend to show a marginal difference in spatial/azimuthal distribution among the blue and red HB stars. This study thus show cases the capability of UVIT, with its excellent resolution and large field of view, to study the hot stellar population in Galactic globular clusters.
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We present early results from the Ultra-Violet Imaging Telescope (UVIT) onboard the ASTROSAT observatory. We report the discovery of a hot companion associated with one of the blue straggler stars (BSSs) in the old open cluster, NGC188. Using fluxes measured in four filters in UVITs Far-UV (FUV) channel, and two filters in the near-UV (NUV) channel, we have constructed the spectral energy distribution (SED) of the star WOCS-5885, after combining with flux measurements from GALEX, UIT, UVOT, SPITZER, WISE and several ground-based facilities. The resulting SED spans a wavelength range of 0.15~${mu}$m to 7.8~${mu}$m. This object is found to be one of the brightest FUV sources in the cluster. An analysis of the SED reveals the presence of two components. The cooler component is found to have a temperature of 6,000$pm$150~K, confirming that it is a BSS. Assuming it to be a main-sequence star, we estimate its mass to be $sim$ 1.1 - 1.2M$_odot$. The hotter component, with an estimated temperature of 17,000$pm$500~K, has a radius of $sim$ 0.6R$_odot$ and L $sim$ 30L$_odot$. Bigger and more luminous than a white dwarf, yet cooler than a sub-dwarf, we speculate that it is a post-AGB/HB star that has recently transferred its mass to the BSS, which is known to be a rapid rotator. This binary system, which is the first BSS with a post-AGB/HB companion identified in an open cluster, is an ideal laboratory to study the process of BSS formation via mass transfer.
Ultra Violet Imaging Telescope on ASTROSAT Satellite mission is a suite of Far Ultra Violet (FUV 130 to 180 nm), Near Ultra Violet (NUV 200 to 300 nm) and Visible band (VIS 320 to 550nm) imagers. ASTROSAT is the first multi wavelength mission of INDIA. UVIT will image the selected regions of the sky simultaneously in three channels and observe young stars, galaxies, bright UV Sources. FOV in each of the 3 channels is about 28 arc-minute. Targeted angular resolution in the resulting UV images is better than 1.8 arc-second (better than 2.0 arc-second for the visible channel). Two identical co-aligned telescopes (T1, T2) of Ritchey-Chretien configuration (Primary mirror of 375 mm diameter) collect celestial radiation and feed to the detector system via a selectable filter on a filter wheel mechanism; gratings are available in filter wheels of FUV and NUV channels for slit-less low resolution spectroscopy. The detector system for each of the 3 channels is generically identical. One of the telescopes images in the FUV channel, while the other images in NUV and VIS channels. Images from VIS channel are also used for measuring drift for reconstruction of images on ground through shift and add algorithm, and to reconstruct absolute aspect of the images. Adequate baffling has been provided for reducing scattered background from the Sun, earth albedo and other bright objects. One time open-able mechanical cover on each telescope also works as a Sun-shield after deployment. We are presenting here the overall (mechanical, optical and electrical) design of the payload.
Context. NGC 40 is a planetary nebula with diffuse X-ray emission, suggesting an interaction of the high speed wind from WC8 central star (CS) with the nebula. It shows strong Civ 1550 {AA} emission that cannot be explained by thermal processes alone. We present here the first map of this nebula in C IV emission, using broad band filters on the UVIT. Aims. To map the hot C IV emitting gas and its correspondence with soft X-ray (0.3-8 keV) emitting regions, in order to study the shock interaction with the nebula and the ISM. This also illustrates the potential of UVIT for nebular studies. Methods. Morphological study of images of the nebula obtained at an angular resolution of about 1.3 in four UVIT filter bands that include C IV 1550 {AA} and C II] 2326 {AA} lines and UV continuum. Comparisons with X-ray, optical, and IR images from literature. Results. The C II] 2326 {AA} images show the core of the nebula with two lobes on either side of CS similar to [N II]. The C IV emission in the core shows similar morphology and extant as that of diffuse X-ray emission concentrated in nebular condensations. A surprising UVIT discovery is the presence of a large faint FUV halo in FUV Filter with {lambda}eff of 1608 {AA}. The UV halo is not present in any other UV filter. FUV halo is most likely due to UV fluorescence emission from the Lyman bands of H2 molecules. Unlike the optical and IR halo, FUV halo trails predominantly towards south-east side of the nebular core, opposite to the CSs proper motion direction. Conclusions. Morphological similarity of C IV 1550 {AA} and X-ray emission in the core suggests that it results mostly from interaction of strong CS wind with the nebula. The FUV halo in NGC 40 highlights the existence of H2 molecules extensively in the regions even beyond the optical and IR halos.
We use the pulsational properties of the RR Lyrae variables in the globular cluster NGC 1851 to obtain detailed constraints of the various sub-stellar populations present along its horizontal branch. On the basis of detailed synthetic horizontal branch modeling, we find that minor helium variations (Y~0.248-0.280) are able to reproduce the observed periods and amplitudes of the RR Lyrae variables, as well as the frequency of fundamental and first-overtone RR Lyrae stars. Comparison of number ratios amongst the blue and red horizontal branch components and the two observed subgiant branches also suggest that the RR Lyrae variables originated from the progeny of the bright subgiant branch. The RR Lyrae variables with a slightly enhanced helium (Y~0.270-0.280) have longer periods at a given amplitude, as is seen with Oosterhoff II (OoII) RR Lyrae variables, whereas the RR Lyrae variables with Y~0.248-0.270 have shorter periods, exhibiting properties of Oosterhoff I (OoI) variables. This correlation does suggest that the pulsational properties of RR Lyrae stars can be very useful for tracing the various sub-populations and can provide suitable constraints on the multiple population phenomenon. It appears of great interest to explore whether this conclusion can be generalized to other globular clusters hosting multiple populations.
We present an accurate analysis of the peculiar Horizontal Branch (HB) of the massive Galactic globular cluster NGC 2808, based on high-resolution far-UV and optical images of the central region of the cluster obtained with HST. We confirm the multimodal distribution of stars along the HB: 4 sub-populations separated by gaps are distinguishable. The detailed comparison with suitable theoretical models showed that (i) it is not possible to reproduce the luminosity of the entire HB with a single helium abundance, while an appropriate modeling is possible for three HB groups by assuming different helium abundances in the range 0.24 < Y < 0.4 that are consistent with the multiple populations observed in the Main Sequence; (ii) canonical HB models are not able to properly match the observational properties of the stars populating the hottest end of the observed HB distribution, the so called blue-hook region. These objects are probably hot-flashers , stars that peel off the red giant branch before reaching the tip and ignite helium at high effective temperatures. Both of these conclusions are based on the luminosity of the HB in the optical and UV bands and do not depend on specific assumptions about mass loss.
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