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Register a new userOn the RR Lyrae stars in globulars: V. the complete Near-Infrared (JHKs) census of omega Centauri RR Lyrae variables
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Vittorio Francesco Braga
Publication date
2018
fields
Physics
and research's language is
English
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We present a new complete Near-Infrared (NIR, $JHK_s$) census of RR Lyrae stars (RRLs) in the globular $omega$ Cen (NGC 5139). We collected 15,472 $JHK_s$ images with 4-8m class telescopes over 15 years (2000-2015) covering a sky area around the cluster center of 60x34 arcmin$^2$. These images provided calibrated photometry for 182 out of the 198 cluster RRL candidates with ten to sixty measurements per band. We also provide new homogeneous estimates of the photometric amplitude for 180 ($J$), 176 ($H$) and 174 ($K_s$) RRLs. These data were supplemented with single-epoch $JK_s$ magnitudes from VHS and with single-epoch $H$ magnitudes from 2MASS. Using proprietary optical and NIR data together with new optical light curves (ASAS-SN) we also updated pulsation periods for 59 candidate RRLs. As a whole, we provide $JHK_s$ magnitudes for 90 RRab (fundamentals), 103 RRc (first overtones) and one RRd (mixed--mode pulsator). We found that NIR/optical photometric amplitude ratios increase when moving from first overtone to fundamental and to long-period (P>0.7 days) fundamental RRLs. Using predicted Period-Luminosity-Metallicity relations, we derive a true distance modulus of 13.674$pm$0.008$pm$0.038 mag (statistical error and standard deviation of the median)---based on spectroscopic iron abundances---and of 13.698$pm$0.004$pm$0.048 mag---based on photometric iron abundances. We also found evidence of possible systematics at the 5-10% level in the zero-point of the PLs based on the five calibrating RRLs whose parallaxes had been determined with HST
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New accurate and homogeneous optical UBVRI photometry has been obtained for variable stars in the Galactic globular $omega$ Cen (NGC 5139). We secured 8202 CCD images covering a time interval of 24 years and a sky area of 84x48 arcmin. The current data were complemented with data available in the literature and provided new, homogeneous pulsation parameters (mean magnitudes, luminosity amplitudes,periods) for 187 candidate $omega$ Cen RR Lyrae (RRLs). Among them we have 101 RRc (first overtone), 85 RRab (fundamental) and a single candidate RRd (double-mode) variables. Candidate Blazhko RRLs show periods and colors that are intermediate between RRc and RRab variables, suggesting that they are transitional objects. The comparison of the period distribution and of the Bailey diagram indicates that RRLs in $omega$ Cen show a long-period tail not present in typical Oosterhoff II (OoII) globulars. The RRLs in dwarf spheroidals and in ultra faint dwarfs have properties between Oosterhoff intermediate and OoII clusters. Metallicity plays a key role in shaping the above evidence. These findings do not support the hypothesis that $omega$ Cen is the core remnant of a spoiled dwarf galaxy. Using optical Period-Wesenheit relations that are reddening-free and minimally dependent on metallicity we find a mean distance to $omega$ Cen of 13.71$pm$0.08$pm$0.01 mag (semi-empirical and theoretical calibrations). Finally, we invert the I-band Period-Luminosity-Metallicity relation to estimate individual RRLs metal abundances. The metallicity distribution agrees quite well with spectroscopic and photometric metallicity estimates available in the literature.
[ABRIDGED] $omega$ Centauri (NGC 5139) contains large numbers of variable stars of different types and, in particular, more than a hundred RR Lyrae stars. We have conducted a variability survey of $omega$ Cen in the NIR, using ESOs 4.1m Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA). This is the first paper of a series describing our results. $omega$ Cen was observed using VIRCAM mounted on VISTA. A total of 42 and 100 epochs in $J$ and $K_{rm S}$, respectively, were obtained, distributed over a total timespan of 352 days. PSF photometry was performed, and periods of the known variable stars were improved when necessary using an ANOVA analysis. An unprecedented homogeneous and complete NIR catalogue of RR Lyrae stars in the field of $omega$ Cen was collected, allowing us to study, for the first time, all the RR Lyrae stars associated to the cluster, except 4 located far away from the cluster center. Membership status, subclassifications between RRab and RRc subtypes, periods, amplitudes, and mean magnitudes were derived for all the stars in our sample. Additionally, 4 new RR Lyrae stars were discovered, 2 of them with high probability of being cluster members. The distribution of $omega$ Cen stars in the Bailey (period-amplitude) diagram is also discussed. Reference lines in this plane, for both Oosterhoff type I (OoI) and II (OoII) components, are provided. In the present paper, we clarify the status of many (candidate) RR Lyrae stars that had been unclear in previous studies. This includes stars with anomalous positions in the color-magnitude diagram, uncertain periods or/and variability types, and possible field interlopers. We conclude that $omega$ Cen hosts a total of 88 RRab and 101 RRc stars, for a grand total of 189 likely members. We confirm that most RRab stars in the cluster belong to an OoII component, as previously found using visual data.
We analysed 30 RR Lyrae stars (RRLs) located in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) globular cluster Reticulum that were observed in the 3.6 and 4.5 $mu$m passbands with the Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) on board of the Spitzer Space Telescope. We derived new mid-infrared (MIR) period-luminosity PL relations. The zero points of the PL relations were estimated using the trigonometric parallaxes of five bright Milky Way (MW) RRLs measured with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and, as an alternative, we used the trigonometric parallaxes published in the first Gaia data release (DR1) which were obtained as part of the Tycho-Gaia Astrometric Solution (TGAS) and the parallaxes of the same stars released with the second Gaia data release (DR2). We determined the distance to Reticulum using our new MIR PL relations and found that distances calibrated on the TGAS and DR2 parallaxes are in a good agreement and, generally, smaller than distances based on the HST parallaxes, although they are still consistent within the respective errors. We conclude that Reticulum is located ~3 kpc closer to us than the barycentre of the LMC.
We present new near-infrared ($JHK_s$) time-series observations of RR Lyrae variables in the Messier 3 (NGC 5272) globular cluster using the WIRCam instrument at the 3.6-m Canada France Hawaii Telescope. Our observations cover a sky area of $sim 21times 21$ around the cluster center and provide an average of twenty epochs of homogeneous $JHK_s$-band photometry. New homogeneous photometry is used to estimate robust mean magnitudes for 175 fundamental-mode (RRab), 47 overtone-mode (RRc), and 11 mixed-mode (RRd) variables. Our sample of 233 RR Lyrae variables is the largest thus far obtained in a single cluster with time-resolved, multi-band near-infrared photometry. Near-infrared to optical amplitude ratios for RR Lyrae in Messier 3 exhibit a systematic increase moving from RRc to short-period ($P < 0.6$~days) and long-period ($P gtrsim 0.6$~days) RRab variables. We derive $JHK_s$-band Period--Luminosity relations for RRab, RRc, and the combined sample of variables. Absolute calibrations based on the theoretically predicted Period--Luminosity--Metallicity relations for RR Lyrae stars yield a distance modulus, $mu = 15.041 pm 0.017~(textrm{statistical}) pm 0.036~(textrm{systematic})$~mag, to Messier 3. When anchored to trigonometric parallaxes for nearby RR Lyrae stars from the {it Hubble Space Telescope} and the {it Gaia} mission, our distance estimates are consistent with those resulting from the theoretical calibrations, albeit with relatively larger systematic uncertainties.
We present a detailed spectroscopic analysis of RR Lyrae (RRL) variables in the globular cluster NGC 5139 (omega Cen). We collected optical (4580-5330 A), high resolution (R = 34,000), high signal-to-noise ratio (200) spectra for 113 RRLs with the multi-fiber spectrograph M2FS at the Magellan/Clay Telescope at Las Campanas Observatory. We also analysed high resolution (R = 26,000) spectra for 122 RRLs collected with FLAMES/GIRAFFE at the VLT, available in the ESO archive. The current sample doubles the literature abundances of cluster and field RRLs in the Milky Way based on high resolution spectra. Equivalent width measurements were used to estimate atmospheric parameters, iron, and abundance ratios for alpha (Mg, Ca, Ti), iron peak (Sc, Cr, Ni, Zn), and s-process (Y) elements. We confirm that omega Cen is a complex cluster, characterised by a large spread in the iron content: -2.58 < [Fe/H] < -0.85. We estimated the average cluster abundance as [Fe/H] = -1.80 +- 0.03, with sigma = 0.33 dex. Our findings also suggest that two different RRL populations coexist in the cluster. The former is more metal-poor ([Fe/H] < -1.5), with almost solar abundance of Y. The latter is less numerous, more metal-rich, and yttrium enhanced ([Y/Fe] > 0.4). This peculiar bimodal enrichment only shows up in the s-process element, and it is not observed among lighter elements, whose [X/Fe] ratios are typical for Galactic globular clusters.
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