Single stars in the Hyades open cluster Kopytova, Taisiya G; Brandner, Wolfgang; Tognelli, Emanuele ...
Astronomy and astrophysics (Berlin),
1/2016, Letnik:
585
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Age and mass determinations for isolated stellar objects remain model-dependent. While stellar interior and atmospheric theoretical models are rapidly evolving, we need a powerful tool to test them. ...Open clusters are good candidates for this role. We aim to create a fiducial sequence of stellar objects for testing stellar and atmospheric models. We complement previous studies on the Hyades multiplicity by Lucky Imaging observations with the AstraLux Norte camera. This allows us to exclude possible binary and multiple systems with companions outside a 2-7 AU separation and to create a single-star sequence for the Hyades. The sequence encompasses 250 main-sequence stars ranging from A5V to M6V. Using the Tool for Astrophysical Data Analysis (TA-DA), we create various theoretical isochrones applying different combinations of interior and atmospheric models. We compare the isochrones with the observed Hyades single-star sequence on J vs. J-Ks, J vs. J-H, and Ks vs. Within the measurement uncertainties, the current generation of models agree well with the single-star sequence.
Low-mass stars exhibit substantial pre-main sequence evolution during the first ∼100 Myr of their lives. Thus, young M-type stars are prime targets for isochronal dating, especially in young moving ...groups (YMGs), which contain large amounts of stars in this mass and age range. If the mass and luminosity of a star can both be directly determined, this allows for a particularly robust isochronal analysis. This motivates in-depth studies of low-mass binaries with spatially resolvable orbits, where dynamical masses can be derived. Here we present the results of an observing campaign dedicated to orbital monitoring of AB Dor Ba/Bb, which is a close
M
-dwarf pair within the quadruple AB Dor system. We have acquired eight astrometric epochs with the SPHERE/ZIMPOL and NACO instruments, which we combine with literature data to improve the robustness and precision for the orbital characterization of the pair. We find a system mass 0.66
−0.12
+0.12
M
⊙
and bolometric luminosities in log
L
/
L
⊙
of −2.02 ± 0.02 and −2.11 ± 0.02 for AB Dor Ba and Bb, respectively. These measurements are combined with other YMG pairs in the literature to start building a framework of empirical isochrones in mass–luminosity space. This can be used to calibrate theoretical isochrones and to provide a model-free basis for assessing relative stellar ages. We note a tentative emerging trend where the youngest moving group members are largely consistent with theoretical expectations, while stars in older associations such as the AB Dor moving group appear to be systematically underluminous relative to isochronal expectations.
Context. In multiple pre-main-sequence systems the lifetime of circumstellar discs appears to be shorter than around single stars, and the actual dissipation process may depend on the binary ...parameters of the systems. Aims. We report high spatial resolution observations of multiple T Tauri systems at optical and infrared wavelengths. We determine whether the components are gravitationally bound and orbital motion is visible, derive orbital parameters, and investigate possible correlations between the binary parameters and disc states. Methods. We selected 18 T Tau multiple systems (16 binary and two triple systems, yielding 16 + 2 × 2 = 20 binary pairs) in the Taurus-Auriga star-forming region from a previous survey, with spectral types from K1 to M5 and separations from 0.22″ (31 AU) to 5.8″ (814 AU). We analysed data acquired in 2006–07 at Calar Alto using the AstraLux lucky imaging system, along with data from SPHERE and NACO at the VLT, and from the literature. Results. We found ten pairs to orbit each other, five pairs that may show orbital motion, and five likely common proper motion pairs. We found no obvious correlation between the stellar parameters and binary configuration. The 10 μm infra-red excess varies between 0.1 and 7.2 mag (similar to the distribution in single stars, where it is between 1.7 and 9.1), implying that the presence of the binary star does not greatly influence the emission from the inner disc. Conclusions. We have detected orbital motion in young T Tauri systems over a timescale of ≈ 20 yr. Further observations with even longer temporal baseline will provide crucial information on the dynamics of these young stellar systems.
Low-mass stars exhibit substantial pre-main sequence evolution during the first ∼100 Myr of their lives. Thus, young M-type stars are prime targets for isochronal dating, especially in young moving ...groups (YMGs), which contain large amounts of stars in this mass and age range. If the mass and luminosity of a star can both be directly determined, this allows for a particularly robust isochronal analysis. This motivates in-depth studies of low-mass binaries with spatially resolvable orbits, where dynamical masses can be derived. Here we present the results of an observing campaign dedicated to orbital monitoring of AB Dor Ba/Bb, which is a close M-dwarf pair within the quadruple AB Dor system. We have acquired eight astrometric epochs with the SPHERE/ZIMPOL and NACO instruments, which we combine with literature data to improve the robustness and precision for the orbital characterization of the pair. We find a system mass 0.66−0.12+0.12 M⊙ 0 . 66 − 0.12 + 0.12 M ⊙ $ 0.66^{+0.12}_{-0.12}\,M_{\odot} $ and bolometric luminosities in logL/L⊙ of −2.02 ± 0.02 and −2.11 ± 0.02 for AB Dor Ba and Bb, respectively. These measurements are combined with other YMG pairs in the literature to start building a framework of empirical isochrones in mass–luminosity space. This can be used to calibrate theoretical isochrones and to provide a model-free basis for assessing relative stellar ages. We note a tentative emerging trend where the youngest moving group members are largely consistent with theoretical expectations, while stars in older associations such as the AB Dor moving group appear to be systematically underluminous relative to isochronal expectations.
The past decade has seen increasing efforts in detecting and characterising exoplanets using high-contrast imaging in the near- and mid-infrared, which is the optimal wavelength domain for studying ...old, cold planets. In this work, we present deep adaptive optics imaging observations of the nearby Sun-like star
ϵ
Ind A with the NaCo (
L
′) and NEAR (10–12.5 microns) instruments at VLT in an attempt to directly detect its planetary companion, whose presence has been indicated from radial velocity (RV) and astrometric trends. We derive brightness limits from the non-detection of the companion with both instruments and interpret the corresponding sensitivity in mass based on both cloudy and cloud-free atmospheric and evolutionary models. For an assumed age of 5 Gyr for the system, we get detectable mass limits as low as 4.4
M
J
in NaCo
L
′ and 8.2
M
J
in NEAR bands at 1.5′′ from the central star. If the age assumed is 1 Gyr, we reach even lower mass limits of 1.7
M
J
in NaCo
L
′ and 3.5
M
J
in NEAR bands at the same separation. However, based on the dynamical mass estimate (3.25
M
J
) and ephemerides from astrometry and RV, we find that the non-detection of the planet in these observations puts a constraint of 2 Gyr on the lower age limit of the system. NaCo offers the highest sensitivity to the planetary companion in these observations, but the combination with the NEAR wavelength range adds a considerable degree of robustness against uncertainties in the atmospheric models. This underlines the benefits of including a broad set of wavelengths for the detection and characterisation of exoplanets in direct imaging studies.
Context. The wind driven halo is a feature observed within the images delivered by the latest generation of ground-based instruments equipped with an extreme adaptive optics system and a ...coronagraphic device, such as SPHERE at the VLT. This signature appears when the atmospheric turbulence conditions are varying faster than the adaptive optics loop can correct. The wind driven halo shows as a radial extension of the point spread function along a distinct direction (sometimes referred to as the butterfly pattern). When present, it significantly limits the contrast capabilities of the instrument and prevents the extraction of signals at close separation or extended signals such as circumstellar disks. This limitation is consequential because it contaminates the data a substantial fraction of the time: about 30% of the data produced by the VLT/SPHERE instrument are affected by the wind driven halo.Aims. This paper reviews the causes of the wind driven halo and presents a method to analyze its contribution directly from the scientific images. Its effect on the raw contrast and on the final contrast after post-processing is demonstrated.Methods. We used simulations and on-sky SPHERE data to verify that the parameters extracted with our method are capable of describing the wind driven halo present in the images. We studied the temporal, spatial and spectral variation of these parameters to point out its deleterious effect on the final contrast.Results. The data driven analysis we propose does provide information to accurately describe the wind driven halo contribution in the images. This analysis justifies why this is a fundamental limitation to the final contrast performance reached.Conclusions. With the established procedure, we will analyze a large sample of data delivered by SPHERE in order to propose, in the future, post-processing techniques tailored to remove the wind driven halo.
The European Extremely Large Telescope (ELT) is a 39m large, ground-based optical and near- to mid-infrared telescope under construction in the Chilean Atacama desert. Operation is planned to start ...around the middle of the next decade. All first light instruments will come with wavefront sensing devices that allow control of the ELT’s intrinsic M4 and M5 wavefront correction units, thus building an adaptive optics (AO) system. To take advantage of the ELT’s optical performance, full diffraction-limited operation is required and only a high performance AO system can deliver this. Further technically challenging requirements for the AO come from the exoplanet research field, where the task to resolve the very small angular separations between host star and planet, has also to take into account the high-contrast ratio between the two objects. We present in detail the results of our simulations and their impact on high-contrast imaging in order to find the optimal wavefront sensing device for the METIS instrument. METIS is the mid-infrared imager and spectrograph for the ELT with specialised high-contrast, coronagraphic imaging capabilities, whose performance strongly depends on the AO residual wavefront errors. We examined the sky and target sample coverage of a generic wavefront sensor in two spectral regimes, visible and near-infrared, to pre-select the spectral range for the more detailed wavefront sensor type analysis. We find that the near-infrared regime is the most suitable for METIS. We then analysed the performance of Shack-Hartmann and pyramid wavefront sensors under realistic conditions at the ELT, did a balancing with our scientific requirements, and concluded that a pyramid wavefront sensor is the best choice for METIS. For this choice we additionally examined the impact of non-common path aberrations, of vibrations, and the long-term stability of the SCAO system including high-contrast imaging performance.
Abstract
We examine the level of substructure and mass segregation in the massive, young cluster Westerlund 1. We find that it is relatively smooth, with little or no mass segregation, but with the ...massive stars in regions of significantly higher than average surface density. While an expanding or bouncing-back scenario for the evolution of Westerlund 1 cannot be ruled out, we argue that the most natural model to explain these observations is one in which Westerlund 1 formed with no primordial mass segregation and at a similar or larger size than we now observe.
Orbital monitoring of M-type binaries is essential for constraining their fundamental properties. This is particularly useful in young systems, where the extended pre-main-sequence evolution can ...allow for precise isochronal dating. Here, we present the continued astrometric monitoring of the more than 200 binaries of the AstraLux Large Multiplicity Survey, building both on our previous work, archival data, and new astrometric data spanning the range of 2010-2012. The sample is very young overall-all included stars have known X-ray emission, and a significant fraction (18%) of them have recently also been identified as members of young moving groups in the solar neighborhood. We identify ~30 targets that both have indications of being young and for which an orbit either has been closed or appears possible to close in a reasonable time frame (a few years to a few decades). One of these cases, GJ 4326, is, however, identified as probably being substantially older than has been implied from its apparent moving group membership, based on astrometric and isochronal arguments. With further astrometric monitoring, these targets will provide a set of empirical isochrones, against which theoretical isochrones can be calibrated, and which can be used to evaluate the precise ages of nearby young moving groups.
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