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Register a new userThe K2 M67 Study: A Curiously Young Star in an Eclipsing Binary in an Old Open Cluster
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We present an analysis of a slightly eccentric ($e=0.05$), partially eclipsing long-period ($P = 69.73$ d) main sequence binary system (WOCS 12009, Sanders 1247) in the benchmark old open cluster M67. Using Kepler K2 and ground-based photometry along with a large set of new and reanalyzed spectra, we derived highly precise masses ($1.111pm0.015$ and $0.748pm0.005 M_odot$) and radii ($1.071pm0.008pm0.003$ and $0.713pm0.019pm0.026 R_odot$, with statistical and systematic error estimates) for the stars. The radius of the secondary star is in agreement with theory. The primary, however, is approximately $15%$ smaller than reasonable isochrones for the cluster predict. Our best explanation is that the primary star was produced from the merger of two stars, as this can also account for the non-detection of photospheric lithium and its higher temperature relative to other cluster main sequence stars at the same $V$ magnitude. To understand the dynamical characteristics (low measured rotational line broadening of the primary star and the low eccentricity of the current binary orbit), we believe that the most probable (but not the only) explanation is the tidal evolution of a close binary within a primordial triple system (possibly after a period of Kozai-Lidov oscillations), leading to merger approximately 1Gyr ago. This star appears to be a future blue straggler that is being revealed as the cluster ages and the most massive main sequence stars die out.
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We present a study of the bright detached eclipsing main sequence binary WOCS 11028 (Sanders 617) in the open cluster M67. Although the binary has only one eclipse per orbital cycle, we show that the masses of the stars can be derived very precisely thanks to a strong constraint on the orbital inclination: $M_A = 1.222pm0.006 M_odot$ and $M_B = 0.909pm0.004 M_odot$. We use a spectral energy distribution fitting method to derive characteristics of the component stars in lieu of the precise radii that would normally be derived from a doubly-eclipsing binary. The deconvolution of the SEDs reveals that the brighter component of the binary is at the faint turnoff point for the cluster -- a distinct evolutionary point that occurs after the convective core has been established and while the star is in the middle of its movement toward lower surface temperature, before the so-called hook at the end of main sequence. The measurements are in distinct disagreement with evolution models at solar metallicity: higher metal abundances are needed to reproduce the characteristics of WOCS 11028 A. We discuss the changes to model physics that are likely to be needed to address the discrepancies. The clearest conclusions are that diffusion is probably necessary to reconcile spectroscopic abundances of M67 stars with the need for higher metallicity models, and that reduced strength convective overshooting is occurring for stars at the turnoff. At super-solar bulk metallicity, various indicators agree on a cluster age between about 3.5 and 4.0 Gyr.
Observations of stellar clusters have had a tremendous impact in forming our understanding of stellar evolution. The open cluster M67 has a particularly important role as a calibration benchmark for stellar evolution theory due to its near solar composition and age. As a result, it has been observed extensively, including attempts to detect solar-like oscillations in its main sequence and red giant stars. However, any asteroseismic inference has so far remained elusive due to the difficulty in measuring these extremely low amplitude oscillations. Here we report the first unambiguous detection of solar-like oscillations in the red giants of M67. We use data from the Kepler ecliptic mission, K2, to measure the global asteroseismic properties. We find a model-independent seismic-informed distance of 816+/-11pc, or (m-M)o=9.57+/-0.03mag, an average red-giant mass of 1.36+/-0.01Msun, in agreement with the dynamical mass from an eclipsing binary near the cluster turn-off, and ages of individual stars compatible with isochrone fitting. We see no evidence of strong mass loss on the red giant branch. We also determine seismic log g of all the cluster giants with a typical precision of ~0.01dex. Our results generally show good agreement with independent methods and support the use of seismic scaling relations to determine global properties of red giant stars with near solar metallicity. We further illustrate that the data are of such high quality, that future work on individual mode frequencies should be possible, which would extend the scope of seismic analysis of this cluster.
Yellow straggler stars (YSSs) fall above the subgiant branch in optical color-magnitude diagrams, between the blue stragglers and the red giants. YSSs may represent a population of evolved blue stragglers, but none have the direct and precise mass and radius measurements needed to determine their evolutionary states and formation histories. Here we report the first asteroseismic mass and radius measurements of such a star, the yellow straggler S1237 in the open cluster M67. We apply asteroseismic scaling relations to a frequency analysis of the Kepler K2 light curve and find a mass of 2.9 $pm$ 0.2 M$_{odot}$ and a radius of 9.2 $pm$ 0.2 R$_{odot}$. This is more than twice the mass of the main- sequence turnoff in M67, suggesting S1237 is indeed an evolved blue straggler. S1237 is the primary in a spectroscopic binary. We update the binary orbital solution and use spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting to constrain the color-magnitude diagram (CMD) location of the secondary star. We find that the secondary is likely an upper main-sequence star near the turnoff, but a slightly hotter blue straggler companion is also possible. We then compare the asteroseismic mass of the primary to its mass from CMD fitting, finding the photometry implies a mass and radius more than 2$sigma$ below the asteroseismic measurement. Finally, we consider formation mechanisms for this star and suggest that S1237 may have formed from dynamical encounters resulting in stellar collisions or a binary merger.
We present and analyse 120 spectroscopic binary and triple cluster members of the old (4 Gyr) open cluster M67 (NGC 2682). As a cornerstone of stellar astrophysics, M67 is a key cluster in the WIYN Open Cluster Study (WOCS); radial-velocity (RV) observations of M67 are ongoing and extend back over 45 years, incorporating data from seven different telescopes, and allowing us to detect binaries with orbital periods <~10^4 days. Our sample contains 1296 stars (604 cluster members) with magnitudes of 10 <= V <= 16.5 (about 1.3 to 0.7 Msolar), from the giants down to ~4 mag below the main-sequence turnoff, and extends in radius to 30 arcminutes (7.4 pc at a distance of 850 pc, or ~7 core radii). This paper focuses primarily on the main-sequence binaries, but orbital solutions are also presented for red giants, yellow giants and sub-subgiants. Out to our period detection limit and within our magnitude and spatial domain, we find a global main-sequence incompleteness-corrected binary fraction of 34% +/- 3%, which rises to 70% +/- 17% in the cluster center. We derive a tidal circularization period of P_circ = 11.0 +1.1 -1.0 days. We also analyze the incompleteness-corrected distributions of binary orbital elements and masses. The period distribution rises toward longer periods. The eccentricity distribution, beyond P_circ, is consistent with a uniform distribution. The mass-ratio distribution is also consistent with a uniform distribution. Overall, these M67 binaries are closely consistent with similar binaries in the galactic field, as well as the old (7 Gyr) open cluster NGC 188. WIYN Open Cluster Study. 83.
As many as 10% of OB-type stars have global magnetic fields, which is surprising given their internal structure is radiative near the surface. A direct probe of internal structure is pulsations, and some OB-type stars exhibit pressure modes ($beta$ Cep pulsators) or gravity modes (slowly pulsating B-type stars; SPBs); a few rare cases of hybrid $beta$ Cep/SPBs occupy a narrow instability strip in the H-R diagram. The most precise fundamental properties of stars are obtained from eclipsing binaries (EBs), and those in clusters with known ages and metallicities provide the most stringent constraints on theory. Here we report the discovery that HD 149834 in the $sim$5 Myr cluster NGC 6193 is an EB comprising a hybrid $beta$ Cep/SPB pulsator and a highly irradiated low-mass companion. We determine the masses, radii, and temperatures of both stars; the $sim$9.7 M$_odot$ primary resides in the instability strip where hybrid pulsations are theoretically predicted. The presence of both SPB and $beta$ Cep pulsations indicates that the system has a near-solar metallicity, and is in the second half of the main-sequence lifetime. The radius of the $sim$1.2 M$_odot$ companion is consistent with theoretical pre-main-sequence isochrones at 5 Myr, but its temperature is much higher than expected, perhaps due to irradiation by the primary. The radius of the primary is larger than expected, unless its metallicity is super-solar. Finally, the light curve shows residual modulation consistent with the rotation of the primary, and Chandra observations reveal a flare, both of which suggest the presence of starspots and thus magnetism on the primary.
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